I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

Historically, movies came first, followed by television series.

From an artistic perspective, film is an independent art form, while television series is not.

In terms of the actors' performances, the film needs to be shown on a huge screen and allow the audience to experience extreme emotions and a condensed story within one or two hours.

Movie actors must capture the audience's attention from the very beginning; otherwise, the hour or so will fly by if the audience loses focus.

Television dramas can extend the viewing experience, gradually guiding the audience and giving actors ample room to showcase their talents.

From a business perspective, movie box office revenue is real money, straightforward, and very easy to collect data on.

Moreover, it's very easy for audiences to distinguish whether they're going to see a movie because of the actor, director, or special effects.

An actor may have multiple works; it's easy to draw conclusions by controlling for variables.

It's not that movie box office figures can't be faked, but the cost is too high, and it could easily become illegal.

Moreover, once an actor is negatively labeled in the minds of moviegoers, it is extremely difficult to recover.

At the same time, TV ratings are just numbers. Firstly, most TV viewers are channel-dependent, making it difficult to distinguish whether they are attracted to the TV series by the actors or to the channel by the actors.

Secondly, and most importantly, it's too easy to falsify data in TV dramas.

Of course, there are also very high-profile TV drama actors, such as veteran artists like Chen Baoguo, Chen Jianbing, and Chen Daoming.

Their work and awards prove their status, their acting skills are teacher-level, and they also have the ability to create hype and generate buzz.

A top professional in any field can earn respect in unrelated fields as well.

This reflects people's respect for 'professionalism'.

As for the 'commercial value' of traffic stars, well...!

If it can't translate into box office revenue, and is merely the ability to sell merchandise, and only within a fan base, then it shouldn't be compared within the acting circle; it would be more appropriate for them to set up a stall outside.

In short, all status in the entertainment industry is economic status. Whoever earns more and makes money faster has a higher status. If a popular star's movie isn't a hit, he'll always remain a nobody.

Unless she's possessed, Fan Shuangbing would never refuse to act in a movie and choose a TV series instead.

Moreover, director Yip Wai-sun is a well-known director. Although he may not be as famous as Cheng Sheng, he is still quite famous in China. With two Hong Kong superstars starring, Fan Shuangbing knew exactly how to choose.

Of course, it would be different if it were a Cheng Sheng film.

……

A private kitchen in Kyoto.

"The Sichuan food here is pretty good, Xiaoran. Please order whatever you like."

Cheng Sheng handed the menu to Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran is from Kyoto but lives in Shanghai. She came to Kyoto from Shanghai today and immediately asked Cheng Sheng to treat her to a meal.

When a beautiful woman makes a request, Cheng Sheng naturally won't refuse.

Moreover, Li Xiaoran often gives him perks, so it wouldn't be right not to treat him to a meal!

"Xiaoran, do you really like spicy food?"

Cheng Sheng was quite surprised when he saw the dishes Li Xiaoran ordered.

"It's alright! Cheng Sheng, why don't you order a few dishes you like too!" After ordering five or six dishes, Li Xiaoran handed the menu to Cheng Sheng.

Although it was only five or six dishes, the price wasn't cheap, since private chefs are known for their expensive offerings.

Cheng Sheng glanced at the menu and said to the waiter, "Crispy roast pigeon, sea duck egg black gold fatty fork, just these two, and a pot of aged Pu'er tea."

After Cheng Sheng finished speaking and the waiter left, Li Xiaoran smiled and said, "Both of the dishes you ordered are Cantonese. Do you like Cantonese food?"

"I like all eight major cuisines of China, but I still like Peking duck and Beijing-style fried noodles the most," Cheng Sheng said with a smile.

Cheng Sheng had been in Kyoto for a long time and had gotten used to the food there.

"Then why didn't you order roast duck?" Li Xiaoran asked curiously.

"If you want to eat roast duck, you should go to Quanjude or one of the Bianyifang restaurants near Qianmen. Let's skip it here," Cheng Sheng shook his head.

Although private chefs have excellent culinary skills, they can't make authentic roast duck.

Li Xiaoran smiled and said, "You're more like an old Beijinger than I am."

As the two talked, the dishes they ordered were served one after another.

The two ate and chatted, mostly about everyday life and interesting stories from the entertainment industry.

At this moment, Li Xiaoran said with a smile, "I'm inviting you out for dinner, so don't forget me!"

Cheng Sheng smiled upon hearing this. He knew what Li Xiaoran meant; she just wanted a role in "Nirvana in Fire"!
In fact, Cheng Sheng had long wanted to give a role to Li Xiaoran.

There is a role in "Nirvana in Fire" that is very suitable for Li Xiaoran. Although it is a supporting role, all the female characters in "Nirvana in Fire" are outstanding.

In "Nirvana in Fire," many female characters are highlights of the series with their unique charm and profound layers. They are either heroic and valiant, intelligent and shrewd, or resilient and tolerant. They shine in the intertwining of power struggles and emotions, unlike the vases in other dramas.

If you perform well, you'll definitely become a breakout star.

Cheng Sheng prepared the role of Qin Banruo for Li Xiaoran. This role was originally played by Wang Ou, and Wang Ou and Li Xiaoran are actually very similar.

Qin Banruo is the last descendant of the Hua Kingdom. She possesses both beauty and wisdom. With revenge as her goal, she maneuvers between the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, becoming a key figure in the power struggle. Her character as a femme fatale is full of dramatic tension.

This character is actually very similar to the Eldest Princess in "Joy of Life," and Li Xiaoran's portrayal of the Eldest Princess has attracted the attention of countless viewers and received high praise from them.

In the drama "Joy of Life", Li Xiaoran's portrayal of the Eldest Princess is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling characters in the series.

In particular, Li Xiaoran showcased her unique charm in the scene where the eldest princess was pruning flowers in the corridor.

In addition, the princess's casually tied-up hair, with strands fluttering in the wind, added a touch of liveliness and elegance to the whole scene.

Especially the moment she turned her head, the elegance and composure revealed in her deep eyes were truly captivating.

In addition to her solid acting skills, Li Xiaoran's grasp of the character's emotions is also remarkable. Her monologue while doing Wan'er's makeup in the drama is both arrogant and affectionate, which truly shows the character's inner world.

Moreover, Li Xiaoran portrayed the ruthlessness of the eldest princess perfectly.

In Cheng Sheng's opinion, as long as Li Xiaoran has eight-tenths of the acting skills she had in "Joy of Life", playing Qin Banruo will definitely not be a problem.

"Sister Xiaoran, my company has a drama series about to start filming, and there's a role that would be perfect for you. I wonder if you'd be interested?" Cheng Sheng said.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoran's lips curled into a slight smile. She had come all the way from Shanghai to Beijing to find Cheng Sheng precisely for this reason. (End of Chapter)