Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 239, Section 237: Fan Xiaopang: We were all forced into it.
In August, the heatwave in Beijing had not yet subsided, but the popularity of Fan Xiaopang continued to rise, just like the temperature of the season.

The ratings for "The Legendary Twins" on Hunan TV have been soaring, and the name Tie Xinlan, along with Fan Xiaopang's beautiful yet lively face, has entered thousands of households.

Meanwhile, the box office of "Flying Colors" with a rough opening weekend of 6.37 million yuan undoubtedly threw a heavy stone into the domestic film market in 1999, stirring up ripples.

As one of the core lead actors in both works, the name Fan Xiaopang has finally moved beyond small-scale discussions and gained widespread recognition.

The phone at Shengying Media's artist management department has become busier than ever before.

In addition to a flood of commercial performance and advertising endorsement inquiries, I've also received numerous invitations from television talk shows.

On Li Tingting's desk were piles of program invitations from all over the country.

With a focused expression, she held a red pen in her hand and quickly marked and annotated the invitation.

As Fan Xiaopang's agent and also the head of artist management, she must be responsible for the long-term development of her artists and carefully select every exposure opportunity.

"This 'Happy Family' on Shanghai TV... its target audience is mostly housewives, and it doesn't generate enough buzz, so it's a pass."

"Yangcheng TV's 'Urban Night Talk'... is too late and its style is too down-to-earth, which is not suitable for Xiaopang's current image."

“This… the Beijing TV Arts Channel’s ‘The Screen Connects You and Me’…” Li Tingting paused, carefully looking at the program information and the latest viewership report.

This is a long-running interview program on Beijing TV, which started in the early 90s. The host, Tian Ge, is known for her friendliness and intellectualism. The program's style emphasizes art and humanistic care, and its audience is mainly urban residents who are interested in culture and entertainment. Its reputation and viewership have been quite stable.

Its influence is not to be underestimated, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin area.

She hesitated for a moment, then picked up another guest invitation from Hunan TV's "Happy Camp".

"Although the cooperation with Hunan TV was pleasant, 'Happy Camp' mainly focuses on games led by He Jiong and Li Xiang, and the interviews lack depth. It's fine for publicity and exposure, but not suitable as the first in-depth interview." The invitation from Shenjiang Service Guide is more of an attempt to transform print media, as the video's reach is limited.

In the end, Li Tingting drew a circle on the invitation to "The Screen Connects You and Me" with her red pen.

"This is it. The Beijing area is our base, contributing a lot to the box office, and 'Flying Colors' had the best response there. Tian Ge's hosting style can guide Xiao Pang to say more meaningful things, which will help to shape her positive image of hard work and gratitude." She muttered to herself as she made her decision.

……

Soon, Fan Xiaopang received a notification from Li Tingting.

"《The Screen Connects You and Me》? The one hosted by Teacher Tian Ge?" Fan Xiaopang was somewhat surprised, but also a little excited. She had occasionally watched this program before, and those who appeared on it were all people who had achieved a certain level of success in the arts and culture circle.

"Yes, the production team watched 'The Legendary Twins' and 'Flying Colors' and felt that your experience was very representative, so they would like to invite you to do an exclusive interview."

Li Tingting said seriously, "This is your first formal personal television interview, which is of great significance. I will give you a rough interview outline, and you can focus on some key points, such as how you were discovered by President Wang and how you were admitted to the Beijing Film Academy. These positive and inspiring experiences can be discussed in detail."

Remember, be sincere, neither servile nor arrogant. Express your gratitude to the company and General Manager Wang, but don't be obsequious. You are now a student in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy and an actress heavily promoted by Shengying Media. You need to have your own confidence and style.

Fan Xiaopang nodded seriously: "Sister Tingting, I understand."

……

On the day of the recording, Fan Xiaopang, accompanied by Li Tingting, arrived at the studio of Beijing TV station.

She wore a light pink dress that Li Tingting had chosen for her, which suited her age yet still exuded star quality. Her makeup was fresh, and her hair was softly draped over her shoulders, making her look both beautiful and with a touch of student-like innocence.

The studio was decorated in a warm and elegant style, with soft lighting illuminating the seats of the hosts and guests.

The host, Tian Ge, dressed in a well-fitting business suit, greeted Fan Xiaopang with a warm smile.

"Welcome, Little Fatty! I've been seeing you on TV and the big screen a lot lately, you're really popular!" Tian Ge greeted him at the beginning.

"Hello, Teacher Tian Ge, you flatter me." Fan Xiaopang bowed slightly and responded politely, appearing somewhat nervous.

"Don't be nervous, let's just treat this as a chat."

With her rich experience, Tian Ge quickly steered the conversation: "Many viewers know you through Tie Xinlan, the heartbreaking character in 'The Legendary Twins,' and Wang Xiaojia, who makes a comeback in the currently showing 'Flying Colors.'"

Everyone is curious: how did such a talented young woman embark on her acting career? Could you share your experience of coming to Beijing to develop your career?

The camera focused on Fan Xiaopang, who took a deep breath and had a look of reminiscence on her face.

"Actually... when I came to Beijing, I was only fifteen years old, not even sixteen." Her voice carried a hint of reminiscence: "Back then, I just had a bit of foolishness in my head. I thought there were many opportunities in Beijing, and I wanted to act and become a star, so I bought a train ticket and came here by myself." She recounted her initial helplessness upon arriving in Beijing, being besieged by real estate agents at the train station, and trying to save money by renting the cheapest bungalows in Beitaipingzhuang.

“Back then, I lived in a very small place, and the rent took up a large part of my living expenses. But I felt that as long as I could be closer to acting, it was all worth it.”

"How did you look for opportunities back then?" Tian Ge asked at the opportune moment.

"It's... a really stupid method."

Fan Xiaopang smiled sheepishly: "I went to the entrance of Beijing Film Studio every day to wait for work with those extras. I was laughed at, people said I was overestimating myself, and that I waited for almost ten days without getting a single role."

There was no complaint in her tone, only a calm acceptance of the past: "I was really disheartened at the time, and I almost thought about going back."

"So what led you to your current company, Shengying Media?" Tian Ge guided the conversation to the key turning point.

When this was mentioned, Fan Xiaopang's eyes lit up noticeably, and his tone became much more lively.

"It was when I was most confused and about to give up that one day I... I mustered up my courage and sneaked into the Beijing Film Studio."

She winked mischievously as she said this: "Then, right in front of the main building, I ran into President Wang, um, that's Wang Sheng, Director Wang."

"Oh? This sounds like a very dramatic encounter." Tian Ge showed great interest.

"Yes, it still feels like a dream when I think about it now."

Fan Xiaopang recalled with an incredulous expression: "I don't know where I got the courage, but I just rushed up to him and told him I wanted to act and begged him to give me a chance. He looked at me, asked me a few questions, and then... and then he signed me."

She omitted some details but emphasized Wang Sheng's decisive role.

"So it was Director Wang Sheng who saw your potential at first glance?"

"I think it's more that Mr. Wang... is willing to give young people a chance."

Fan Xiaopang is very good at talking: "He told me at the time that good looks alone are not enough. If you want to be an actor, especially a good actor, you must have professional skills and a solid foundation. He gave me an opportunity and signed me to Shengying Media as a trainee, but there was one condition..."

"What conditions?"

"He demanded that I take the college entrance examination and be admitted to the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy."

Fan Xiaopang's tone became serious: "If you fail the exam, the contract will automatically terminate."

A soft gasp of surprise rippled through the studio. Tian Ge also looked surprised: "That condition must have been a lot of pressure for you back then, right? Your previous academic performance..."

"The pressure is immense!"

Fan Xiaopang nodded vigorously, his expression even carrying an exaggerated sense of "unbearable memories": "I didn't even finish high school properly back then, so my academic foundation was extremely weak. On top of that, I also had to do vocal, physical, and dialogue training at the company at the same time. That period was really... exhausting."

She described how Wang Sheng arranged for her to have tutoring from retired master teachers, how he strictly required her to complete daily learning tasks, and how the other trainees in the company (Gao Yuanyuan) worked together.

“Sometimes I would cry while doing practice questions and study until dawn. I really thought about giving up. But when I thought of what Mr. Wang said and the opportunity he had fought for for me, I told myself that I couldn’t let him down and I had to pass the exam.”

"It seems that Director Wang Sheng was not only your mentor in your career, but also played the role of a strict teacher during a crucial stage of your personal growth," Tian Ge concluded.

"Yes!" Fan Xiaopang affirmed without hesitation, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude. "I am especially grateful to President Wang. If it weren't for him, I might still be working as an extra on some film set, or I would have already returned to my hometown."

He led me into this field, and he also pushed me to learn and improve myself. He always said, "In the end, what actors rely on is culture and understanding."

I didn't quite understand it before, but now that I've studied at the Beijing Film Academy for a year and then went back to play Wang Xiaojia in "Flying Colors," I can really understand this sentence.

Without that period of arduous study, I probably would never have been able to understand Wang Xiaojia's psychological journey from despair to struggle and then to perseverance when facing her studies.

Her words were sincere and emotional, creating a vivid and three-dimensional image of a young actor who seizes opportunities, is grateful to his mentor, and strives to improve himself.

"So, looking back now at those days when you were 'forced' to study, how do you feel?" Tian Ge asked.

Fan Xiaopang laughed, his smile bright and sincere: "Right now, I'm just grateful. Really, Sister Tingting and Sister Yuanyuan both know that I often say that the person I'm most grateful to for getting into the Beijing Film Academy, for having the opportunity to play Tie Xinlan, and for playing Wang Xiaojia is President Wang."

He not only gave me an opportunity, but also showed me the right direction. He made me realize that in this industry, luck and looks alone aren't enough to go far; you have to have real substance.

(End of this chapter)