Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

The recruitment email inbox was overflowing with hundreds of resumes. Zhang Lei and Chen Nianbei initially narrowed it down to about twenty people and notified them of the first round of interviews.

The interview was held in a small rehearsal room at the school.

For two consecutive days, all sorts of young girls came and went.

Some are from acting programs and have solid acting skills, but their delivery is a bit too polished.

Some are beautiful, but their eyes are empty and lack a story;

Some were shy and nervous, unable to even give a complete self-introduction.

Zhang Lei was taking notes in his notebook, while Chen Nianbei sat quietly to the side observing, occasionally giving Zhang Lei a wink regarding the suitability of the role or the potential of the performance.

When Liu Haochun received the phone call, he almost couldn't believe it.

She specifically asked her teacher for half a day off and changed into her most suitable clothes.

She wore a light blue shirt and faded jeans, and her hair was styled in a simple ponytail.

When she entered the rehearsal room, her palms were sweating with nervousness, but her back was ramrod straight, a habit she had developed from years of dance practice.

The interview was not complicated: a script excerpt (Shi Miao's monologue when she was furious because her brother was being naughty), and an impromptu situational reaction (her first reaction after learning that her brother had "disappeared").

There are no complicated movements; it all comes down to eye contact, tone of voice, and the explosive power of emotions delivered in an instant.

When it was Liu Haochun's turn, she took a deep breath and walked to the center of the room.

"Hello teachers, my name is Liu Haochun, and I am a student at the Affiliated High School of Beijing Dance Academy." After introducing herself, she began her performance.

She had no professional acting training, and you could even hear a slight abrupt pause when she read her lines.

But strangely, when she read "that bastard of a brother of mine...", the genuine feeling of gritting her teeth and feeling a little helpless was more touching than a lot of deliberately performed anger.

Especially those clear eyes, which widen when angry and droop slightly when aggrieved, filled with pure and direct emotions.

In the improvisation section, Zhang Lei presented the following scenario:

"You find that your brother no longer fights with you for the remote control, and no one hides your homework anymore. You push open the door, and the house is unusually quiet."

Liu Haochun paused for a few seconds. She didn't immediately make an exaggerated sad expression. Instead, her eyes first swept blankly across the empty "living room," then her lips pursed slightly, her shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.

It was a sense of helplessness and... vague unease that came with suddenly losing a familiar adversary.

It's subtle, but it perfectly captures Shi Miao's early state of "saying he hates it but actually being dependent on it."

Chen Nianbei and Zhang Lei exchanged a glance. The girl's performance was very awkward, and could not even be called a complete "performance".

But she possesses an unrefined quality and an eye and temperament that perfectly match the character.

Her "stubbornness and gentleness" are not an act; she seems to possess these qualities in real life.

"Have you studied acting?" Zhang Lei asked.

"No...no, I study dance."

Liu Haochun answered honestly, his voice a little dry from nervousness.

Why did you want to become an actor?

Liu Haochun paused for a moment, his fingers tightening their grip, then he raised his head, his voice not loud but clear:

"I like it... and I'd like to give it a try. Besides, if I get paid, it can help ease the financial burden on my family."

Her candor surprised both Zhang Lei and Chen Nianbei.

After the first round of interviews, Liu Haochun's name was placed on the waiting list, and it was a key name on the waiting list.

Another girl named Zhou Yiran, from the vocational high school class of the Central Academy of Drama, has a sweet and lively image. Her acting is a bit formulaic but well done, and she was listed as a candidate for "Miao Miaomiao".

After another round of in-depth script reading and communication with the director and Teacher Li, the final selection was made:

Liu Haochun plays Shi Miao, and Zhou Yiran plays Miao Miaomiao.

Next came the formal contract negotiations. Zhang Lei, as one of the directors and producers, along with Chen Nianbei, communicated with the two girls and their guardians about their salaries and schedules.

Based on industry newcomers' standards, and taking into account the film's total investment and the importance of the role, they provided a quote:

Shi Miao, as the leading actress, received a salary of 400,000 yuan.

Miao Miaomiao, as an important supporting actress, received a salary of 300,000 yuan.

The filming period is expected to last for two months during the summer vacation, and I will need to be on set the whole time.

Zhou Yiran quickly reached an agreement through her agent, and the contract was signed smoothly.

Liu Haochun, however, encountered some difficulties.

When Liu Haochun received the phone call confirming his selection and the payment, he was almost stunned—400,000!

This is an astronomical figure for her family.

She immediately called her hometown. On the other end of the line, her parents were first shocked, then filled with great worry.

"Acting? Could it be a scam? Hao Chun, don't be fooled!"

The mother's voice sounded somewhat nervous.

"Dad, Mom, it's not a scam. It's a legitimate film project, made by students from the Beijing Film Academy. The contract is all ready; you just need to come to Beijing to sign it."

Liu Haochun tried his best to explain, mentioning the project background, school support, and even the registration information he found online.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before the father's hoarse voice came through: "...Four hundred thousand? That much?"

"Yes, the director said it's the female lead's salary."

Liu Haochun's nose tingled with emotion. "Dad, Mom, please come over. Once we sign the contract, we can pay part of the money first. The family...the family urgently needs the money, doesn't they?"

These words struck a nerve with the parents.

Another silence fell, then the mother said, her voice choked with emotion, "Okay, okay, Mom and Dad will buy the tickets and go tomorrow."

The following evening, Liu Haochun's parents arrived in Beijing, travel-worn and exhausted.

Their faces bore the weariness of a long journey and an undisguised anxiety.

They met Chen Nianbei and Zhang Lei in a quiet teahouse near the school.

Chen Nianbei and Zhang Lei presented the prepared contract, project filing documents, school support certificates, and other materials one by one, patiently explaining each clause.

In particular, it concerns the payment method (30% before filming begins, 40% during filming, and the final payment upon completion), the filming period, insurance, and responsibilities and obligations.

Their composure, professionalism, and the solid backing of the school gradually dispelled Liu Haochun's parents' doubts.

Looking at the thick stack of official documents, and then at her daughter sitting beside her, her eyes filled with longing and determination.

Liu Haochun's father rubbed his calloused hands, finally nodded, and solemnly signed his name in the guardian section.

The mother held her daughter's hand tightly, her eyes reddening.

After the signing was completed, the first deposit of 120,000 yuan was quickly transferred to Liu Haochun's parents' account, as per the contract.

As they left the teahouse, Mr. Liu suddenly stopped, looked at his daughter, then at the balance displayed on his mobile banking app, and let out a long sigh, as if he had made a great decision.

"Haochun, this money... came just in time."

The father's voice was deep and firm, "After that incident... your mother and I couldn't sleep well at night."

That's great! With this money, we can figure out a way to scrape together some more.

Tomorrow I'll contact them and see if I can... give it to them all at once, get the agreement signed, and settle this matter once and for all!

When he said "了了" (that's it), he seemed relieved.

Looking at his father's eyes, which suddenly lit up with a resolute expression, Liu Haochun felt a pang of sadness mixed with a surge of warmth.

She nodded vigorously: "Yes! It's okay, Dad, I can earn more in the future!"

The mother was wiping away tears, but she was also smiling.

The night breeze swept through the streets of Beijing, carrying the slight warmth of early summer.

For this family, an unexpected film contract not only meant that their daughter was embarking on another possible path in life, but also seemed like a ray of light piercing through the heavy gloom, bringing hope to solve their immediate problems and even turn their predicament around.

As for Chen Nianbei and Zhang Lei, the two most important pieces of the actor puzzle have finally been finalized.

Holding the signed contract, Zhang Lei was even more motivated:

"The main cast is all here! Next up is assembling the crew, refining the storyboards, scouting locations... Nianbei, our movie is really about to begin!"

Chen Nianbei looked out the window at the neon-lit night scene and nodded.

In addition to his commercial and professional expectations for this project, he also felt a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Take My Brother Away" carries more than just a fantastical story between siblings; it also tells the story of a group of young people pursuing their dreams.

The final preparations before filming began in earnest.