Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 246, Section 244: Burn!

On the third Monday of August, Beijing awoke in the morning light. The heatwave seemed to have subsided slightly compared to the weekend, but the buzz surrounding Shengying Media and Fan Xiaopang continued to burn, fueled by media hype.

Wang Sheng sat in a large chair in his office on the ninth floor of the Jingxin Building, with a newly delivered copy of the China Youth Daily spread out in front of him.

This newspaper, known for its seriousness and depth, published an interview with Fan Xiaopang in its culture section with a vibrant and energetic touch. The headline was particularly eye-catching: "Fan Xiaopang: 'Hot Girl' is a Burning Girl and an Unyielding Boy."

The report did not limit itself to a simple description of Fan Xiaopang's personal career path. Instead, it used her candid recounting on the Beijing TV program "The Screen Connects You and Me" as a starting point to deeply analyze her complete journey from being a lone migrant worker in Beijing, sticking to the gate of the Beijing Film Studio, to being recognized by Wang Sheng and admitted to the Beijing Film Studio under strict requirements, and then to entering the public eye with two completely different roles: the lovable "Tie Xinlan" in "The Legendary Twins" and the "Wang Xiaojia" in "Flying Colors".

The writing is steady and composed, yet warm and engaging.

The reporter had clearly done thorough research, not only quoting Fan Xiaopang's original words on the show but also adding some behind-the-scenes interview content. By cleverly using Fan Xiaopang's words, the concept of "Flying Colors" was elevated from the title of a movie to a tribute to youth, struggle, and indomitable spirit.

The report specifically emphasized Fan Xiaopang's profound agreement with Wang Sheng's statement that "actors ultimately compete on culture and understanding," and quoted her further interpretation of this statement:
"Mr. Wang's words enlightened me. So I think that the word 'hot girl' doesn't just refer to girls. It's more like a kind of spirit—a spirit that, no matter how low the starting point or how difficult the situation, still has a strong will, refuses to admit defeat or accept fate, and insists on burning itself out and breaking free from difficulties."

Like Wang Xiaojia in "Flying Colors," she may face the mountain of academic challenges; but on a broader level, she can represent any "teenager" or "teenager" struggling in the mire of life or on the path to their dreams. "Burn!" This shout isn't just encouragement for young women, but a shared aspiration for all teenagers with dreams who refuse to be ordinary, and indeed for all those striving forward in the tide of our times!

The angle and thematic focus of this report are extremely ingenious.

It's not just about promoting a rising star; it's about closely linking Fan Xiaopang's personal struggles with the values ​​conveyed in the movie "Flying Colors" and the grand historical context of deepening reform and opening up, where society encourages individuals to change their destiny through knowledge and realize their value through hard work.

Fan Xiaopang's statement was definitely polished by the artist management department, or rather, by Wang Sheng.

It's almost immediately predictable that this report will trigger a chain reaction: among college students, it will resonate strongly with the themes of struggle and triumph; among young urban white-collar workers just entering the workforce, it will spark discussions about the pressures of reality and the perseverance to pursue dreams; and even on a broader societal level, this positive and inspiring spirit aligns with mainstream values.

Although the Film Special Fund Management Office has not yet released precise box office data for the second weekend of "Flying Colors," based on the occupancy rates reported by partner cinemas across the country and the company's own rough statistics, the film's box office performance has maintained a strong momentum despite the unfavorable environment of rampant piracy. The decline in box office revenue during the second weekend was well controlled, and the film even achieved growth against the trend in some regions.

The positive word-of-mouth that has been building up over the years, as well as the in-depth reporting by authoritative media outlets like the China Youth Daily that has elevated the film's quality and social significance, have played a crucial role in this success.

……

Bang bang bang!
Just then, someone knocked on the office door.

"Enter."

Wang Sheng responded.

"Mr. Wang, we have compiled the preliminary list of candidates and their information for the male lead in 'Happy Family'."

Wu Yiyi walked in, handed over the folder, and spoke with the meticulousness typical of her work.

Wang Sheng took it and carefully read through it.

Several names on the list were expected: Chen Kun, with a melancholic air and delicate acting skills, but perhaps too "handsome," requiring more development to portray Chen Mo's early sense of decadence and despair; Liu Ye, with a stubbornness and innocence in his eyes, possessing strong versatility, and whose image is closer to that of an ordinary young man; Xia Yu, a former film emperor, whose acting skills are beyond doubt, but whose temperament is somewhat "rogue" and "spirited," needing to tone it down a bit when playing a lower-class character; Pan Yueming, with a slightly scholarly air, needs to break through; Huang Xiaoming, with an image that is too sunny…

These are all outstanding young male actors in China, each with their own strengths, and each also needs to overcome the issue of fitting their roles.

Wang Sheng's gaze continued downwards, his fingers slowly tracing the lines of the paper. Suddenly, his fingertip paused on a name: Huang Bo.

A brief resume follows his name: born in 1974 in Qingdao, Shandong Province; age 25. He previously sang in nightclubs and bars across the country, formed the band "Blue Wind and Sand," and worked as a dance instructor. His acting credits include "Crazy Lottery 2" and several television films directed by Wu Yiyi.

The man in the photo is not handsome; in fact, one could say he's somewhat "ugly." He has small eyes, high cheekbones, and dark skin, but his wide smile exudes a vibrant, down-to-earth energy.

"This Huang Bo..."

Wang Sheng looked up at Wu Yiyi: "What do you think?"

Wu Yiyi replied, "He's from Qingdao, speaks with a noticeable accent, and isn't a professionally trained actor. This information says that he was introduced by one of his fellow villagers. He's worked with me a few times, and in 'Crazy Lottery 2,' he brought to life a character who was a bit timid but also clever."

I think that Chen Mo's early portrayal of life's weariness and the temperament of a lower-class person might offer a more natural and relatable interpretation, different from that of classically trained actors.

Of course, this is only a preliminary list; his appearance, his accent... these could be major points of contention.

Wang Sheng nodded slightly.

Should Huang Bo be cast as Chen Mo, the male lead in "Happy Family" at this time?

In terms of appearance, Huang Bo can indeed portray Chen Mo's early despondency, loneliness, and even a bit of "despair." The traces of being crushed by life can be found on his weathered face almost without much acting.

His extensive experience at the grassroots level also helps him better understand the hardships and resilience of ordinary people.

However, Chen Mo in "Happy Family" is not a purely ordinary person from the lower class.

He is essentially an urban youth who has closed himself off due to childhood trauma. He needs to portray a complex psychological transformation from despair and numbness to being gradually warmed in "dreams" and finally opening his heart.

This places extremely high demands on the actors' inner emotions and nuanced emotional depth.

At this time, Huang Bo's acting skills were undoubtedly still in the stage of exploration and accumulation, far from reaching the level of "being able to play any role convincingly" that he would later achieve.

Can he handle a role that requires a lot of inner strength and has a wide emotional range?

Can a precise balance be found between comedic pacing and heartwarming tear-jerking moments?

Risks exist.

However, what Wang Sheng valued was Huang Bo's unadorned, authentic quality derived from life, as well as his undeniable versatility and performance potential that would prove incredibly strong in the future.

"Notify the casting director," Wang Sheng pondered for a moment and made a decision: "Have Huang Bo come to the company at 2 PM today so I can audition for him myself."

"Okay, Mr. Wang, I'll arrange it right away."

(End of this chapter)