Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

Autumn in Huairou cools down faster than in the city center.

Chen Nianbei has been on set for three days and has already figured out the rhythm of things here.

Every morning at 5:30, the production crew begins preparing the props and set for the first scene.

He worked alongside several veteran stagehands, doing everything from moving sandbags to arranging streetscapes.

"Xiao Chen, bring that box of grenade props over here. Be careful, even though they're fake, you'll still get fined if they break!"

Old Zhang from the props team shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Coming!" Chen Nianbei jogged over.

After three days, no one in the crew treated him as a "favorite."

During lunch break, Chen Nianbei squatted on the steps outside the photography studio and ate her boxed lunch.

Today's dish is braised chicken with potatoes, all oily and typical of a film crew's meals—enough to fill you up, but not for anything fancy.

"Xiao Chen, come sit here." Old Zhang beckoned.

Chen Nianbei moved over, and Old Zhang handed him a bottle of iced tea:

"You've got a good job, kid. I'll treat you to a drink."

"Thanks, Uncle Zhang."

"You're welcome."

Old Zhang shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth. "You're from the Beijing Film Academy? Studying acting?"

"Yeah, sophomore year."

"Then why are you doing odd jobs here?"

Old Zhang lowered his voice, "Didn't Director Kong... offer us a role to try out?"

Chen Nianbei smiled and said, "If you're not skilled enough, forcing it will only make you look foolish. Let's see how the real stuff is filmed first."

Old Zhang stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly patted him on the shoulder:

"I understand. I've been in this industry for twenty years and I've seen too many young people who are overly ambitious, wanting to play the lead role right away, but they don't even know how to move properly."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But don't just do odd jobs. Take the opportunity to observe how the actors prepare."

Yang Zhi is a very hardworking girl. She arrives an hour early every day and practices her lines in front of the wall.

Chen Nianbei nodded.

He had indeed noticed these past few days that Yang Zhi often hid alone in a corner of the rest area, repeatedly pondering the tone of a certain line.

Once, he passed by and heard her practicing a crying scene. She didn't cry directly, but first suppressed her emotions, then trembled, and finally let the tears fall—a very delicate treatment.

This is the combination of formal training and natural talent; neither can be lacking.

"Oh, right."

Old Zhang suddenly remembered something.

"There's a scene in a field hospital this afternoon, and we need some extras to lie on the bed and pretend to be wounded."

I had already found people, but a few couldn't make it at the last minute. Would you like to give it a try?

No lines, just lie there.

Chen Nianbei's eyes lit up: "Sure."

"It's settled then. Go to the makeup team at 1:30 and have them do the damage effects for you."

……

2 PM, scene at a field hospital.

Chen Nianbei lay on a makeshift hospital bed, his face smeared with dark red blood plasma, and his left arm wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage.

He played a seriously wounded and unconscious soldier, keeping his eyes closed throughout the entire performance.

With my eyes closed, my ears are even more sensitive.

He heard Kong Sheng directing the camera positions over the walkie-talkie, heard the slight creaking of the camera slide, and heard Yang Zhi's footsteps as she walked in.

It was very light, carrying hesitation and fear, which matched the character's state of mind at that moment.

"Scene 23, 3-shot, begin!"

Yang Zhi's voice rang out, trembling:

"Brother... Brother, where are you...?"

She began searching among the rows of hospital beds, her fingers gently brushing across the face of each wounded soldier.

When he reached Chen Nianbei's bedside, he felt her fingertips linger on his forehead for a moment; they were cold and sweaty.

This scene was filmed four times.

Each time, Chen Nianbei remained completely still, even controlling her breathing to be extremely steady.

A person who is seriously injured and unconscious will not have their chest heaving too much.

After the fourth take, Kong Sheng shouted, "Cut!"

Chen Nianbei then opened her eyes and met Kong Sheng who was walking over.

"You're lying down comfortably."

Kong Sheng rarely praised you, saying, "Some extras can't stay still; they always want to move or peek at the camera. You have great self-control."

"Thank you, director."

Chen Nianbei sat up; the blood plasma was a bit sticky.

"Come find me after you finish work tonight."

After Kong Sheng finished speaking, he left.

Chen Nianbei's heart skipped a beat.

We should give him a chance.

……

Meanwhile, at a photography studio on the East Third Ring Road in Beijing.

Naza, wearing a sequined dress, stood in front of a pure white backdrop and posed in various ways as instructed by the photographer.

"Good! Lift your chin a little higher... Yes! Make your eyes more ethereal... Very good!"

The flashbulbs kept going off, making her eyes sting.

This is her first boyfriend after signing with Sugarman.

Agent Li said this is a good start; the brand image is fresh and fits her current "campus goddess" positioning.

"Ten-minute break!" the photographer called out.

Naza breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the rest area.

The assistant jogged over to hand over water and tissues.

Sister Li also came over; she was in her early forties, with short, neat hair, and was holding a tablet computer to check her schedule.

"You have an interview this afternoon, and the brand is having a dinner party tonight, so you need to make an appearance."

"Um."

Naza took a sip of water and couldn't resist taking out his phone to browse.

On social media, several classmates were sharing their class notes or rehearsal photos.

She scrolled down and suddenly saw a post from Wang Hao: "I envy the brothers who got into the film crew. We're stuck at school, struggling to rehearse plays."

The accompanying picture shows the stage of the Beijing Film Academy's small theater.

A mutual friend commented below, "Who joined the cast?"

Wang Hao replied: "Chen Nianbei went to the set of 'Battle of Changsha' to learn from the crew."

The man paused, his fingers heaving.

"What are you looking at?" Sister Li peeked over.

"Oh, my classmate joined a film crew."

Naza casually mentioned, "Kong Sheng's 'Battle of Changsha'."

Sister Li raised an eyebrow: "Kong Sheng? The Kong Sheng from Noon Sunshine?"

"I think so... I didn't ask for details."

"What's your classmate's name? What role does he/she play?"

Sister Li became interested.

"Chen Nianbei. He probably isn't playing a role; he said he went there to do odd jobs and learn."

After saying that, Naza himself found it a bit funny—does doing odd jobs require taking special leave?

Sister Li seemed thoughtful: "Odd jobs... Ha, those who can get into Kong Sheng's film crew to do odd jobs are not ordinary people."

She looked at Naza and asked, "Does your classmate have some connections?"

Naza thought for a moment: "It seems his father is in business, but I don't know the specifics."

"That's right."

Sister Li had a knowing look on her face. "In this industry, sometimes connections are more important than ability."

Your classmate, whether he's doing odd jobs or whatever, being able to get into that group means he has connections.

We can keep in touch more often.

Naza paused, then said, "But... his academic performance is just average."

"What do grades matter?"

Sister Li laughed, "Look at those who are famous now, how many of them were first in their major courses back then?"

In this circle, having more friends means having more opportunities. Since you're just starting out, it's even more important to cultivate relationships.

She patted Naza's shoulder:

"When you take a break later, send a message to your classmate and ask how things are going on set."

Don't make it too special, just show concern like a normal classmate.

Naza nodded, his heart filled with mixed feelings. After hesitating for a few seconds, he typed:

"How are you doing on set? Are you settling in?"

send.

Almost simultaneously, the photography assistant called out, "Nazar, get ready for the next shoot!"

She put down her phone and stood back under the light.

……

In Huairou, Chen Nianbei had just washed the blood off his face when he saw Nazha's message.

He wiped his hands and replied, "It's alright, doing odd jobs, but I've learned a lot. How about you, how's the GG filming?"

After clicking send, he couldn't help but smile.

At this point in her past life, Naza was probably filming that phone camera, and later she even gained some popularity because of a set of photos, being dubbed "the most beautiful new phone model" by the media.

Back then, he was still drifting through his school days, and when he saw the news, he would think sourly, "Being good-looking is just good luck."

Looking back now, I realize there's no such thing as pure luck.

The fact that she was able to secure good resources right after signing the contract shows that Sugarman has high hopes for her and is willing to invest in her.

My phone vibrated again.

Nazar: "It went smoothly, just tiring. Did you see Wallace Huo?"

Chen Nianbei thought for a moment and replied, "I saw him. Huo Jianhua's lines are very good; he usually gets them right in one take."

This is the truth.

From what he's observed over the past few days, Huo Jianhua is indeed dedicated. He rehearses silently before each scene and doesn't chat with others.

Naza replied immediately: "Envious! I also really want to join a film crew. Right now, all I do is give interviews and get rejected."

A sense of longing permeates the words.

Chen Nianbei can understand.

Newcomers are all like this; they're eager to prove themselves and get noticed.

He was the same back then.

He typed: "Don't rush, the sugar man is helping you get a boyfriend to build up exposure."

When a suitable script comes along, you'll naturally be cast.

Let's focus on doing the job at hand well now; every shot is a valuable experience.

After sending it out, he felt that what he said was too old-fashioned and not something a twenty-year-old boy should say.

But Nazar replied quickly: "You're right. Sister Li said the same thing."

Then she added, "And what about you?"

Chen Nianbei looked at the question and hovered his finger over the screen for a few seconds.

In the distance, Kong Sheng was discussing tomorrow's shooting plan with the director of photography.

"First, do the odd jobs."

His final reply was, "Learn everything you need to learn, so you can seize opportunities when they come."

Click send.

The bell rang to signal the end of the workday.

The production crew began packing up the equipment, and the extras walked out laughing and joking.

Chen Nianbei put away his phone and walked towards Kong Sheng's tent.

Inside the tent, Kong Sheng was reviewing tomorrow's storyboard. Seeing him enter, he pointed to the folding chair opposite him:

"sit."

Chen Nianbei sat down without taking the initiative to speak.

Kong Sheng looked at him for a while, then suddenly asked, "Where do you think Yang Zhi's scene today could have been better?"

coming.

Chen Nianbei sat up straight, knowing that the "homework" had begun.

Meanwhile, in the BJ photography studio, Naza was looking at the sentence on his phone screen.

"You can only seize an opportunity when it comes," he paused for a moment, lost in thought.

"Nazar! Look at the camera!" the photographer shouted.

She looked up, and the lights came on again.

Two roads, in two different places, are slowly stretching forward.