Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 174, Section 172: Mobilization Meeting
February 27, 1998, Friday.

The first day of the second lunar month should have been a time of spring's return and the revival of all things, but a strong cold air mass from Siberia swept across most of China, shrouding the morning in Beijing in a chilly spring atmosphere.

Pedestrians on the street wrapped their coats tightly around themselves and hurried along, their breath instantly dissipating into the dry, cold air.

Outside the performance department examination hall of Beijing Film Academy.

Despite the biting cold, the Beijing Film Academy campus was already bustling with people.

Handsome men and beautiful women from all over the country, filled with aspirations for the Avenue of Stars, gather here to face the life-changing art exams.

Two figures stood out in the crowd.

Gao Yuanyuan wore a beige long down jacket and a light pink cashmere scarf. Her face, which was not covered in makeup, was slightly red from the cold, but it made her look even more pure and clear, like a daffodil swaying in the cold wind.

She stood quietly in the corner, silently reviewing the lines she had prepared. Tiny frost seemed to have formed on her long eyelashes, and her eyes held a hint of nervousness, but more so, determination.

Fan Xiaopang, on the other hand, opted for a more striking outfit.

A well-tailored red short down jacket, paired with black skinny jeans and ankle boots, accentuates her already impressive figure.

Her makeup was exquisite, and her eyes and brows exuded a defiant spirit and a precocious charm beyond her years.

Unlike others who crammed at the last minute, she sharply scanned her competitors, like a young leopard poised to pounce.

"Look! Isn't that Gao Yuanyuan? The girl in the short film singing 'Chinese People'?"

"It's her! She's so beautiful and innocent-looking, even prettier in person than on TV!"

"Who's that woman in red next to you? She's so beautiful and has such a commanding presence..."

"It seems to be another trainee from Shengying Media, named Fan Xiaopang?"

"My God, is Shengying Media going to dominate the charts? Just seeing those two standing there makes me feel so much pressure..."

Whispers spread among the test takers.

Gao Yuanyuan gained some fame for participating in the short film "Chinese People" welcoming the return of the Chinese people and "Super Girl" (although she was eliminated), and her pure image is deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Although Fan Xiaopang is not widely recognized by the public, his bright and dazzling appearance and confident attitude are equally hard to ignore.

The two were like the two poles of a magnet, one as cool as the moon and the other as fiery as fire, which brought enormous psychological pressure to many candidates around them who were confident in their own abilities.

Some candidates who were chatting and laughing suddenly became serious upon seeing them, and subconsciously tidied their clothes and makeup.

Gao Yuanyuan felt the gazes from all around her, took a deep breath of the cold air, and whispered to Fan Xiaopang beside her, "Xiaopang, a lot of people are looking at us."

Fan Xiaopang snorted and raised his chin slightly: "Let them see. It'll be good for the examiners to see in advance what constitutes a high-quality student."

She turned to look at Gao Yuanyuan, her eyes filled with challenge: "Yuanyuan, I won't go easy on you. We'll compete on merit in the exam."

Gao Yuanyuan smiled, her eyes clear and earnest: "Yes, let's work hard together."

When the examination staff called Gao Yuanyuan's name, she took off her down jacket, revealing a simple white sweater and blue jeans underneath. She walked into the examination room with an upright posture, and her natural and unadorned purity impressed the examiners.

When it was Fan Xiaopang's turn, she took off her red coat, revealing a fitted black turtleneck sweater underneath, which accentuated her slender figure.

She bowed gracefully and greeted everyone with a direct and confident gaze, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

These two girls from Shengying Media, like two pebbles thrown into a calm lake, stirred up quite a ripple on the first day of the Beijing Film Academy entrance exam.

……

Meanwhile, in the conference room of the Beijing Film Studio's administration building.

The cold wind howled outside the window, but was kept out by the thick curtains. Inside, the heating was on full blast, and the air was thick with smoke, creating a serious and focused atmosphere. The final pre-production briefing for "Postmen in the Mountains" was being held here.

Director Huo Jianqi sat on one side of the long table, surrounded by the assistant director, cinematographer, art director, and other key members of the creative team.

Factory director Han Sanping was not present, leaving the decision entirely to Wang Shenglai, the project initiator and actual controller.

Wang Sheng sat in the main seat, wearing a simple dark sweater, unconsciously twirling a pen between his fingers, listening attentively to the report.

Huo Jianqi personally gave the final statement: "The final location for the outdoor shooting has been decided in the mountainous areas around Fenghuang and Huaihua in western Hunan. We have completed the third location scouting, and the route, camera positions, and local coordination have all been finalized. The weather is the biggest variable, but we have also prepared a contingency plan for shooting during the rainy season."

He paused for a moment, then began to report on the cast: "For the role of the father, we invited Mr. Teng Rujun from the Central Academy of Drama. Mr. Teng's acting skills and temperament, his calm and reserved demeanor, and his weathered look perfectly match our imagination of an old rural postman. He has been studying the role in depth for more than a month."

Wang Sheng nodded slightly. Teng Rujun was the actor who played the father in the original version, so he was relieved.

"The son's role."

Huo Jianqi looked at Wang Sheng, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction: "After multiple rounds of auditions and considerations, we have finally decided on Huang Xiaoming, who was just signed by Enlight Media."

He added, “Although Xiaoming is young, he has a sunny and upright image, and his eyes have a stubbornness and a sense of simplicity, which fits the image of the son we want who ‘walks out of the mountains and returns to his hometown.’”

The key point is that he participated in the filming of several of Zhang Yang's TV movies over the past year, playing both leading and supporting roles. He has rich practical experience and a much stronger sense of camera presence than many of his peers, so the integration process will be quick.

Wang Sheng understood.

Huang Xiaoming in this timeline, thanks to the mass production of TV movies by the Beijing Film Studio Alliance, has gained far more opportunities for practice than his peers. Although he doesn't have a representative work that makes him an instant star, his basic skills and experience have become much more solid. He has shed some of his naivety and is in the golden period of his acting career.

Huo Jianqi chose him because he valued the reliability that had been "preliminarily verified by the market" and the suitability for the role.

"The role of the mother is played by Ms. Chen Qian, a veteran actress from our Beijing Film Studio Actors Troupe. Her acting skills are profound and she can command the stage."

"As for the key female character in the film, that clear-eyed Dong girl:" Huo Jianqi's tone became more relaxed as he said this: "We invited Li Xiaoran to make a cameo appearance. She has a lot of fame and audience appeal right now, and her salary... is very cost-effective according to internal rates. Her temperament is more urban, but the styling can be adjusted to highlight that pure feeling like a mountain spring."

Wang Sheng didn't say anything.

"The other supporting roles, such as villagers and township officials along the way, were basically selected from local drama troupes, art groups, or amateurs with acting potential when we were scouting locations, in order to make them authentic and down-to-earth."

The finance and production manager then reported on the budget details.

When the cost of some equipment rentals and subsequent glue-to-magnet conversion was mentioned as slightly higher due to fluctuations in international exchange rates, Wang Sheng interjected, "The aftermath of the financial crisis in Southeast Asia is still lingering, so cost control needs to be more meticulous. The budget can be appropriately relaxed, but every penny spent must be clearly accounted for."

He didn't delve into the details, but the issues he raised were incisive, causing the production staff present to tense up and nod in agreement.

This is Wang Sheng's style: focus on the big picture and let go of the small details, but never be confused about the key aspects.

After all the reports were finished, the meeting room fell silent, and everyone looked at Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng put down his pen, crossed his hands on the table, glanced at Huo Jianqi and the entire creative team, and calmly began to speak:
"Director Huo, everyone, the project 'Postmen in the Mountains' is different from the commercial genre films we've made before. It's about flavor, atmosphere, and the subtle, pervasive emotional power. I've read the script; Mr. Peng's story is excellent, and Ms. Su's adaptation has captured the essence."

He paused, his tone becoming even more resolute: "I have confidence in you. Beijing Film Studio and Shengying Media will be your strongest support. If you need any support, just ask. I have only one request—to calm down and film the mountains, the people, the dog, and the father-son relationship in western Hunan in their entirety and with authentic sincerity."

Finally, he raised the teacup beside him, using tea instead of wine, his tone sincere and forceful:
"I won't say anything more. I wish the crew a safe journey and a smooth filming process! I'll be in Beijing, waiting for your triumphant return to throw you a celebration banquet!"

"Thank you, Mr. Wang!"

"I will definitely live up to your trust!"

Huo Jianqi took the lead, and all the main creators raised their glasses in response, filling the meeting room with an encouraging and excited atmosphere.

The meeting ended and everyone left.

(End of this chapter)