Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

Chapter 100 Start-up

April 2018, Hengdian, Zhejiang.

Spring is in full bloom, and the peach blossoms are at their peak.

Chen Nianbei arrived at the hotel where the film crew was staying three days in advance.

This is his consistent habit—before getting into a role, he needs time and space to gradually "immerse" himself in it.

Go down.

On the way from Beijing to Hengdian, he kept reading the script. The dense lines and annotations were worn and curled up from his constant reading.

The script reading session for "Joy of Life" is scheduled for 9:00 AM on April 10th in the hotel conference room.

Chen Nianbei arrived at 8:30. The meeting room was empty, except for the script, bottled water, and nameplates neatly arranged on the long table.

He found his place—to the right of director Sun Hao. Opposite him was Chen Daomin.

Chen Daomin. These three words themselves carry weight.

A recognized veteran actor in the Chinese film and television industry, he has played roles such as Emperor Kangxi, Liu Bang, and countless other unforgettable characters.

In "Joy of Life", he will play Emperor Qing, an unfathomable emperor who never shows his emotions, and also Fan Xian's biological father.

Chen Nianbei looked at the nameplate and her heart stirred slightly.

In his past and present lives, he has met countless actors, but Chen Daomin is one of the names he truly looks up to.

At 8:50, everyone gradually arrived.

The first to arrive was Wu Gang, who played Chen Pingping. He was wearing a gray casual jacket, his hair was gray, but his eyes were sharp.

After entering the room, he glanced around the conference room, his gaze lingering on Chen Nianbei for a moment before he nodded slightly.

Then there's Gao Shuguan, who plays Fan Jian.

He was more amiable than I had imagined, greeting everyone with a smile as soon as he entered, which made the atmosphere in the meeting room much more relaxed.

Li Xiaoran, Song Yi, Li Chun — one face after another appeared.

Chen Nianbei greeted everyone politely and respectfully.

At 8:59, the door opened again.

Chen Daomin walked in.

He was wearing a dark blue jacket and had a slender build, but his presence instantly silenced the entire conference room for a few seconds.

He didn't make any deliberate expression; he simply glanced around calmly before walking to his seat opposite Chen Nianbei.

He paused for a moment as he passed by Chen Nianbei.

"Chen Nianbei?" His voice was not loud, but clear.

Chen Nianbei stood up and bowed slightly: "Hello, Teacher Chen."

Chen Daomin looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze, but it didn't make him uncomfortable.

A few seconds later, he nodded, said nothing, and sat down.

At nine o'clock sharp, Sun Hao walked into the conference room. He held a thick script in his hand, a smile on his face, but his eyes held the focus unique to a director.

"Everyone's here?" He looked around. "Okay, let's begin."

The first item on the agenda for the reading session was Sun Hao's introduction of his understanding of the entire drama.

"What is 'Joy of Life'?" He stood in front of the whiteboard and wrote two words: "Jianghu? Imperial court? Power struggles? Love? It is all of these, and it is none of these."

He turned to look at everyone present: "I think it boils down to two words—loneliness and choice."

The meeting room fell silent.

"Fan Xian is lonely. He comes from another world, carrying modern memories, and lives in a completely different era."

He loved his family, but could never be completely honest; he made friends, but always needed to be wary of betrayal; he possessed power, but constantly asked himself if it was all worth it.

He looked at Chen Nianbei.

"But what touched me most was not his loneliness, but that even in loneliness, he still chose to be kind."

He can be as cold-blooded as Emperor Qing, as scheming as Chen Pingping, and as crazy as the Eldest Princess.

But he didn't. He chose to protect those he wanted to protect, in his own way.

Chen Nianbei listened quietly, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the script.

Sun Hao continued, "Emperor Qing was also lonely. His supreme power was exchanged for the betrayal and alienation of his people."

Does he love Fan Xian?

He loved. But he loved his empire, his political maneuvering, and his grand strategy even more.

He looked at Chen Daomin and said, "Teacher Chen, I'm entrusting the role of Emperor Qing to you."

Chen Daomin nodded slightly without saying anything.

Sun Hao then looked at Wu Gang: "Chen Pingping, a man who walks in darkness, yet always wanted to give Fan Xian a glimmer of light. Teacher Wu Gang, I beg you."

Wu Gang laughed: "Director, please don't say that, I'm under a lot of pressure."

A soft laugh rippled through the conference room, and the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

The reading officially began, proceeding page by page in the order of the script.

The first scene is Fan Xian's childhood memories in Danzhou.

Chen Nianbei had no lines; he simply listened to the young actor playing the childhood version of Fan Xian recite his dialogue.

He closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

In the second scene, Fan Xian meets Fei Jie for the first time and learns to identify and distinguish poisons.

Chen Nianbei doesn't have many lines, but the rhythm and tone of each line are just right.

In the third scene, Fan Xian learns that he must leave Danzhou for the capital. In that scene, he has a monologue: "I don't want to go."

Danzhou is my home. But I know I have to leave.

Some things must be done. Some people must be met. Some answers must be sought.

When Chen Nianbei read this passage, her voice was not loud, and even somewhat flat, but the undercurrent beneath that flatness silenced everyone present.

After reading it aloud, Sun Hao didn't say anything, but simply wrote something in his notebook.

A small incident occurred halfway through the morning's reading session.

There is a scene where Fan Xian and Emperor Qing meet for the first time. In the script, Emperor Qing looks down at Fan Xian with neither servility nor arrogance.

Between the two, there is a subtle tension, a tension that is both a father-son bond and a clear distinction between ruler and subject.

After Chen Daomin finished reading Emperor Qing's lines, he looked at Chen Nianbei and said, "Read your part again."

Chen Nianbei paused for a moment, then read Fan Xian's response aloud again.

After listening, Chen Daomin remained silent for a few seconds. Then he said, "Being neither humble nor arrogant is correct. But don't be arrogant." At this time, Fan Xian didn't know that Emperor Qing was his father; he was just a young man from Danzhou, facing the highest ruler of the country.

He has pride, but not arrogance. You need to find that difference.

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

Chen Nianbei looked at Chen Daomin and nodded seriously: "Thank you, Teacher Chen. I'll try again."

He read it again.

This time, his voice was less sharp and more like the instinctive, cautious exploration of a young person facing the unknown world.

After listening, Chen Daomin nodded and said nothing more.

Sun Hao watched from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips.

At lunchtime, Chen Nianbei carried her tray and sat down in a corner.

A short while later, a man named Chen Daomin sat down opposite him.

"You don't mind, do you?" Chen Daomin asked.

Chen Nianbei shook her head: "No problem, please, Teacher Chen."

The two ate in silence for a while. Then Chen Daomin spoke up: "You've acted in period dramas before?"

"I have acted in dramas. I played Prince Jing in 'Nirvana in Fire' and Mingtai in 'The Disguiser,' which are also period dramas set in the Republican era."

Chen Daomin nodded: "I've seen Prince Jing's performance. He acted well. But Fan Xian is more difficult to portray than Prince Jing."

"I know," Chen Nianbei said.

Chen Daomin glanced at him: "Good to know. Prince Jing is a straightforward person; his beliefs have never changed from beginning to end."

But Fan Xian is different.

He is growing, changing, and shaping himself through each choice.

You need to show the audience the process, not a static, unchanging person.

Chen Nianbei listened attentively, then asked, "Teacher Chen, what do you think is the most essential aspect of Fan Xian?"

Chen Daomin remained silent for a while.

"It's fear," he said.

Chen Nianbei was slightly taken aback.

"He was afraid of losing. He was afraid of losing his family, his friends, and the world he had finally found that belonged to him."

Chen Daomin put down his chopsticks. "So he desperately tried to protect it. But in the process of protecting it, he found himself changing as well. And this contradiction is both his charm and his tragedy."

He looked at Chen Nianbei: "Can you act it out?"

Chen Nianbei met his gaze without looking away: "I'll give it a try."

Chen Daomin nodded, stood up, and left with his tray.

The afternoon reading session continued.

After the morning's adjustment period, the atmosphere in the afternoon was noticeably more harmonious.

Wu Gang's acting skills were astonishing. Those seemingly plain lines, when spoken by him, carried the unique gloom and deep affection of Chen Pingping.

Li Xiaoran perfectly captured the princess's madness and despair.

The young actresses, including Song Yi, Li Chun, and Li Lin, each have their own unique strengths.

At 6 p.m., the first day of group reading ended.

Sun Hao closed the script and looked at everyone: "Today's script reading went very smoothly, even though everyone was sleeping."

We'll continue tomorrow.

The opening ceremony will be held the day after tomorrow, followed by the official filming.

Everyone, go home early and get some rest today.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

As Chen Nianbei was packing her things, she discovered that Chen Daomin was still there.

He stood by the window, watching the twilight outside.

Chen Nianbei hesitated for a moment, but still chose to walk over.

"Thank you so much, Teacher Chen, for today."

Chen Daomin turned his head and glanced at him: "No need to thank me. I'm just doing this for the sake of the play."

He paused, then said, "You're more composed than I expected. Among young actors, you're the one I've seen who's truly grounded."

This was the longest sentence Chen Daomin had said to him that day.

Chen Nianbei bowed slightly to him: "I will continue to work hard."

Chen Daomin nodded, smiled, and then turned and left.

Two days later, on April 12th, it is an auspicious day for consecration, praying for offspring, and betrothal.

The opening ceremony for the TV series "Joy of Life" was held at the Hengdian Ming and Qing Palace Scenic Area.

Chen Nianbei got up at six o'clock in the morning.

He changed into the uniform provided by the production crew—a white Chinese-style jacket with a front opening and black trousers.

Simple and clean.

At 7:30, all the main creators gathered at the Taihe Hall Square in the Ming and Qing Palace Garden.

The altar, offerings, and red silk have already been set up at the scene.

Staff members were coming and going, making final preparations for the opening ceremony.

The media area was packed with reporters and photographers, their long lenses and microphones aimed at the main stage.

At 8:00 AM sharp, the opening ceremony for "Joy of Life" officially began.

Sun Hao was the first to take the stage and give a speech. He didn't give a long speech, but simply said a few words: "Joy of Life is a good novel, a good story, and also a difficult challenge."

Thank you to the entire production team and all the staff.

Over the next few months, we'll work together to make this story a success.

Then the production company representative gave a speech. Then Chen Daomin was invited to the stage.

The moment he opened his mouth, the noisy scene instantly fell silent.

"I don't have much to say."

Holding the microphone, Chen Daomin spoke in a low but clear and powerful voice, "I have only one sentence—act seriously, be true to yourself and be worthy of the audience."

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

Finally, all the main creators offered incense together.

Chen Nianbei stood next to Chen Daomin, took the incense from the staff, and then stood in front of the incense table.

He closed his eyes, silently recited something in his mind, then bowed three times respectfully and placed the incense sticks into the incense burner.

The incense smoke rose gently, clearly visible in the morning sunlight.

After the incense offering ceremony, it was time for media interviews.

Chen Nianbei was surrounded by reporters.

Problems came flying in like snowflakes—

"Nianbei, how is your portrayal of Fan Xian different from your previous roles?"

"Fan Xian is much more complex than Prince Jing. He is not a one-dimensional person; he grows, changes, and becomes himself through repeated choices. This is a great challenge, but I'm really looking forward to it."

"Was there a lot of pressure working with Professor Chen Daomin?"

"The pressure is still immense," Chen Nianbei smiled, "but it's also a great learning opportunity. Teacher Chen gave me a lot of guidance on the first day of the group reading, and I will definitely cherish this opportunity."

"Some netizens say you're the chosen one, Fan Xian," what do you think?

Chen Nianbei paused for a moment, then laughed: "I still dare not accept the title of the chosen one."

All I can say is that I will do my best to show the audience a worthy Fan Xian.

After the interview, the crew took a group photo.

Chen Nianbei was seated in the middle of the second row, in front of veteran actors such as Chen Daomin, Wu Gang, and Gao Shuguan.

As the shutter clicked, he smiled slightly, his eyes clear yet seemingly hiding something.

After the group photo was taken, everyone dispersed.

Chen Nianbei stood still, looking at the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the distance.

The sunlight was perfect, shining on the golden glazed tiles and reflecting a dazzling light.

Sun Hao slowly walked to his side and handed him a bottle of water.

"What are you thinking about?"

Chen Nianbei took the water, turned it on, and took a sip.

"I was thinking—" He paused, "When Fan Xian first stepped into Kyoto, the sunlight must have been just like this."

Sun Hao laughed: "Perhaps. But at that time, he probably wasn't in the mood to look at the sunlight; his mind was preoccupied with how to survive."

Chen Nianbei smiled and said, "That's true."

The two gazed silently at the distant palace.

After a long silence, Sun Hao said, "Nianbei, this role is yours."

Chen Nianbei turned her head and looked at the director.

"Don't worry, Director," he said.

That evening, Chen Nianbei returned to his hotel room and sat down at his desk.

He took out the script and turned to the first page. On the cover were two characters he had written himself: Fan Xian.

He opened it and began to read it from the beginning.

Outside the window, the night in Hengdian quieted down, with only the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.

Under the light, his profile was focused and serene.

Tomorrow is the first scene.

Fan Xian's life will begin here.

And he was ready.