The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

"I have a role for you. Since you're so ambitious, why don't you give it a try?"

On the day she joined the crew, Zhang Ruonan wore a plain outfit and stood quietly in the makeup room.

When the makeup was finished and the bronze mirror was raised, the entire dressing room fell silent for a brief moment.

Her face was too clean.

But Qin Banruo was not only delicate, but also stunningly beautiful.

The makeup artist hesitated for a moment: "Should we... go for a more glamorous look?"

"No need," Shen Mo's voice came from the doorway.

"that's all."

"A delicate, innocent flower is more attractive when she can portray ruthlessness."

"Later, when I officially started filming, my makeup gradually became more glamorous."

Zhang Ruonan looked up and met his gaze in the mirror.

With a slight smile, I showed no nervousness. If I couldn't seize this opportunity, then I shouldn't even think about making progress.

A dozen minutes later, Zhang Ruonan performed exceptionally well in front of the director.

It perfectly highlights his shrewdness, competence, and ruthlessness.

Only at this moment did she breathe a sigh of relief.

I seized the opportunity.

The day I officially started performing.

When she wore an ancient costume and had her hair styled in an exquisite updo.

Looking at the face in the mirror, which was made even sweeter and more delicate by makeup, everyone still felt that something was missing.

Until, when a hint of beauty was revealed in her eyes.

The makeup artists finally understood why Shen Mo and the director had both approved this sweet little white flower for the role.

Sometimes, the most dazzling performance is the one that is the extreme contrast.

Moreover, playing Qin Banruo might actually be a kind of release for Zhang Ruonan herself.

My first scene with the crew was a scene with Shen Mo.

Qin Banruo's visit to consult Mei Changsu was actually a test and a warning.

Her performance was not particularly amazing.

However, it perfectly combined Qin Banruo's outward submissive concern with her hidden probing.

That delicate, innocent face, when uttering these words involving power struggles, created a strange and captivating charm.

It makes one unconsciously want to explore what kind of thoughts are hidden beneath this sweetness.

Until the director's "CUT" sound rang out.

Zhang Ruonan immediately dropped the sweetness and probing expression she had been deliberately creating on her face.

She returned to her usual self and looked at Shen Mo, awaiting any possible comments.

Shen Mo also snapped out of his Mei Changsu state and looked at Zhang Ruonan.

"I think I got a good grip."

"Using the most harmless expression to say the most scheming things is the right approach."

He paused, walked behind the monitor, and gestured for Zhang Ruonan to come over as well.

"However, look here, you could hide the aggression in your eyes a little deeper."

"Qin Banruo's actions at this moment are a combination of probing and recruitment, rather than interrogation."

"Being too aggressive is a bad move and will only make Mei Changsu more wary."

"You drew your sword too early."

Zhang Ruonan nodded.

"clear."

There was no explanation, no defense.

The second time, she really changed.

Shen Mo stood behind the monitor again, looking at the screen, a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth.

His gaze swept over her face, which was still covered in makeup and hair, and he suddenly asked a question.

"How does it feel to act in period costume?"

"It's very different from when you were a Taobao model, isn't it?"

Zhang Ruonan didn't expect him to ask this.

He paused for a moment, then smiled calmly.

"The difference is huge."

"I feel that playing a role is an opportunity to experience a different life."

"Like Qin Banruo, she is not a purely bad person; she has her own stance, ambitions, and reasons for not being able to do what she wants."

"Beautiful on the outside, ruthless on the inside."

"Mr. Shen, you probably just want to see just how dark this innocent-looking girl really is, right?"

Zhang Ruonan pursed her lips and relaxed her expression.

She spoke directly, making no attempt to hide her resonance with the character's core values ​​and her own personal traits.

Shen Mo smiled too. He wasn't wrong. This girl's appearance was extremely deceptive. Inside, she was clear-headed, pragmatic, and even a bit ruthless.

"It's because you know how to seize opportunities."

Zhang Ruonan responded.

"No, I should say thank you, Mr. Shen, for giving me this opportunity to improve."

Suddenly, her tone softened, carrying a hint of reminiscence and sadness.

"Mr. Shen, actually I regret it quite a bit."

Shen Mo glanced sideways.

"Regret what?"

"I regret not agreeing to Mohen's request back then."

She spoke very calmly.

"Actually, I've known for a long time that I'm not cut out for getting into university."

"At the time, I was just unwilling to accept it."

"It turns out that two years were wasted."

"Do you know how envious and regretful I felt when I watched 'A Little Reunion' and 'A Little Joy'?"

Zhang Ruonan turned her head and stared at Shen Mo's profile.

"But I don't regret it now."

Shen Mo didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.

"Because I know what I want."

Her eyes became clear and open.

Shen Mo looked at her for two seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Then don't waste this role."

Zhang Ruonan nodded, her smile clean.

"I won't let you down."

She turned and left, her back straight.

-----------------

The TV series "Swords of Legends", in which Dilraba Dilmurat plays the second female lead, has been released.

On the third day after its release, the data for "Gu Jian Qi Tan" took off across the board.

Blueberry TV's prime-time ratings have steadily surpassed 2%, and the online viewership curves on both Tencent Video and iQiyi platforms have also risen rapidly, with the density of bullet comments almost covering the screen.

The combination of "fantasy + martial arts + ensemble cast" precisely hits the aesthetic gap in the current market.

What's more, this is Yang Mi's return to the fantasy drama genre after many years.

Its popularity is naturally high.

Among them, Dilraba Dilmurat's portrayal of the second female lead, Xiangling, has garnered significantly more attention than expected.

Dressed in yellow, lively and charming, this little fox from southern Xinjiang immediately caught the audience's attention upon her appearance.

Although not the main character, it is extremely eye-catching.

"This second female lead is so pretty, who is she?"

"I hadn't paid attention to her before, but I started to remember her after Gu Jian."

"Ahhh, Xiangling is so cute! Sending love!"

"I prefer Xiangling to Feng Qingxue."

"Welcome to follow our Baba, Tan Yan from 'My Love from the Star,' Liang Shuang from 'Twenty Your Life On,' and a super beautiful girl from Northern Xinjiang."

Dilraba's fans seem to have finally seen a chance to "raise their heads" and are carefully promoting her, enjoying the joy of being recognized in a small circle.

However, just as this momentum was gaining traction, a single Weibo post instantly changed the situation.

Congratulations to "Gu Jian Qi Tan" on its great success!

I'm so envious. If nothing had gone wrong, I could have experienced Xiangling's happiness too.

Post ID: Zheng Shuang

In an instant, public opinion was ignited.

"So Xiangling was snatched away from our Shuangzi!"

"Gu Jian's results should have been Shuangzi's!"

"Why should someone as minor as Karami be cast as Shuangzi?!"

"Some people rise to power through capital; do they really think no one can see it?"

The comment section was quickly flooded with Zheng Shuang's fans.

Soon, the focus shifted to Dilraba's Weibo account.

Her Weibo comment section was flooded with countless offensive remarks.

"When it comes to competing for roles and resources, even the best-looking face is useless."

"If it weren't for you, Zheng Shuang would have ascended to heaven long ago."

"A plaything of capital, stop trying to whitewash it."

Immediately afterwards, the firepower was rapidly upgraded.

The attacks started with Dilraba Dilmurat personally, then spread to the production team being accused of "black box operations," the production company being accused of "capital bullying," and the production company being accused of "ruining people's futures."

Dilraba's fans were initially confused.

They knew Dilraba's personality very well: gentle, strong-willed but not competitive, and even somewhat passive.

Otherwise, how could he have been in the industry for several years without having a major drama to his name?

But patience does not equate to weakness.

When insults escalate from "role controversy" to personal attacks,

There have even been instances of photoshopping images, spreading rumors, and implying unspoken rules.

They were completely outraged.

"The role was selected through proper procedures, and the contract is clearly written! The production team also gave us a very clear explanation!"

"You don't have the talent or acting skills to hold a role, so you blame others for having better acting skills?"

"If you can't compete in acting, why resort to these sleazy remarks? What are you trying to achieve?"

The two sides engaged in a direct battle on major social media platforms, and related topics quickly became trending topics.

#Zheng Shuang Ancient Sword#

#Dilraba Dilmurat steals a role#

#The Truth Behind the Casting Change in Gujian Qitan#

Things really got out of control an hour later.

Some people have begun to "analyze the timeline," pointing the finger at the key figure who made the decision to replace the actor.

Who made the decision to replace the actor back then?

"Isn't it Shen Mo?"

"Oh, I understand."

"Shen Mo is bullying others by abusing his power!"

"Those with connections and influence should get out of the entertainment industry!"

"Is Shen just here in the entertainment industry to play around with women?"

"So, our Shuangzi was replaced because she doesn't fear the powerful or accept unspoken rules?"

"Who accepted the unspoken rules? It's so hard to guess!"

Shen Mo's name was officially dragged into the battlefield, and the focus of the conflict instantly shifted.

The ink, which had been observing indifferently, was instantly enraged by this wave of dirty water.

"Do you think someone with a surgically enhanced face like Shen Mo can just take advantage of a scam?"

"The contract is legal, and the role reassignment is compliant with regulations. Aren't you looking at the facts?"

"They messed up their own opportunity, and now that the show is a hit, they're trying to ride on the coattails of its popularity?"

"So you're just trying to ride the coattails of others now that you've lost popularity and traffic, huh?"

Shuangzi's fans are arguably the craziest group in the fandom; they attack anyone they see, their logic is chaotic, and they are highly aggressive.

In contrast, ink excels at presenting facts, reasoning, and listing data.

Some people dug up interviews with industry insiders from back then, some posted the production team's public statement, and some compiled a timeline.

Meanwhile, one sentence repeatedly received high praise: "A role is not an inheritance; it doesn't belong to whoever stands in that position first for life."

Dilraba only learned the full story after finishing work late that night, from her assistant's hesitant expression and the barrage of messages on her phone.

She looked at the scrolling comments about herself on her phone, feeling neither anger nor resentment.

But seeing those blatant attacks on Shen Mo, her heart felt as if it were being gripped by an icy hand.

More than anger, there was a deep sense of powerlessness and guilt.

After all, it was a fact that Shen Mo took him to change roles.

She remained silent for a long time, her fingertips icy cold.

"Should we respond?" the assistant asked cautiously.

Dilraba shook her head.

"No. Anything I say now will be misinterpreted."

"Let's wait and see what the company decides."

"Besides, I acted, and the audience saw it, that's enough."

She chose to believe Shen Mo and Yang Tianzhen.

When Yang Tianzhen discovered this public opinion, she planned to respond directly.

However, Shen Mo refused over the phone.

"Her Weibo post wasn't really about seeking an explanation."

"Her Weibo post wasn't really about seeking an explanation."

"If she wants to take advantage of the situation, then let her."

"She just saw that 'Gu Jian' was popular and wanted to use the controversy to increase her own popularity, and also to see if she could stir up trouble and gain some benefits."

"Or... just to vent my anger."

Yang Tianzhen was taken aback. "What happens after you've borrowed them?"

Shen Mo chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a hint of indifference and a cold, playful tone.

"Once you borrow it, you naturally have to return it."

"Contact Huanrui, as well as the director, producer, and other actors of the production team."

"Tell them to let the public opinion ferment for another half day."

"Let those who are kicking someone when they're down come out."

"Then, tomorrow morning, we will act in unison."

Yang Tianzhen instantly understood Shen Mo's intention.

"Is President Shen planning to wait until the topic reaches its peak of popularity, until the other side has revealed all their cards, and then unite all stakeholders to reverse public opinion in one fell swoop?"

"Not only." Shen Mo paused.

"Isn't this a great opportunity to promote 'Gu Jian Qi Tan'?"

"The 'casting change controversy,' 'capital game,' 'truth reversal'... this is much more sensational than ordinary press releases."

"Huanrui and the platform know what to do if they don't want this show to be ruined by this dirty water."

After a night of public discussion, the trending topics related to Gu Jian Qi Tan and Dilraba Dilmurat have climbed to the top spot.

Just when Shuangzi's fans thought the other side was helpless, the situation suddenly reversed!

The next morning at 10 a.m., the official account of "Gu Jian Qi Tan" posted a long Weibo post that seemed calm but contained a great deal of information.

The title is simple: [Explanation of the casting process for the characters in "Gu Jian Qi Tan"].

The main text contains no emotion, no mention of names, only a timeline.

On July 15, 2013, the production team began casting.

On July 25, 2013, candidate A was included in the initial shortlist for the role of Xiangling, but no formal contract was signed.

On August 2, 2013, candidate B was included in the initial shortlist for the role of Xiangling, but no formal contract was signed.

On August 10, 2013, after internal review by the production team, candidate B was confirmed and an actor contract was finally signed.

And in the final paragraph, he sealed the deal with an extremely calm statement.

[All actors' final performances are subject to their official contracts. There is no question of being "snatched" from their roles.]

After this Weibo post was published, the comment section was silent for a brief minute.

Then online opinions quickly began to diverge, and casual observers now find Zheng Shuang's Weibo post jarring.

"Oh, so there was no contract?"

"Your idol is amazing! Once she auditions, everyone else who auditions becomes a competition to steal her role!"

"Does that mean that once you've chosen a role, no one else can play it?"

……

At noon, the producer of "Gu Jian Qi Tan" from Huanrui gave an interview.

The reporter's question was very direct.

"Some online voices believe that the role of Xiangling was unfairly replaced. What's your opinion?"

The producer's answer was also brief.

"When casting actors, we only consider three conditions: first, whether they fit the final character description; second, whether they pass the audition; and third, whether they sign a contract."

"This is the industry standard."

"If you have been unfairly replaced, please provide relevant evidence such as the contract signed before the replacement."

Then he added another sentence.

"If just missing out on an audition counts, then the film and television industry would be unfairly replacing actors every day."

This passage was screenshotted verbatim and began to circulate on various forums.

Meanwhile, several videos circulated online from unknown microblog accounts.

It's a comparison audition video of Zheng Shuang and Dilraba.

The title is also very impactful: "It's not about who stole whose role, it's about who is more suitable for the role!"

The video's comment section was filled with numerous comments.

Several of these sentences were repeatedly liked, quoted, and shared.

"If it weren't for her convincing performance, the capital wouldn't have been able to support her."

"If it weren't for her, this role might have been ruined."

That afternoon, a new highly-rated question suddenly appeared in the public discourse:

[If it was truly an "unfair replacement," why wasn't it mentioned then? Why wait until the show became a hit before speaking out?]

This sentence, like a needle, directly pierced through that "victim filter".

More passersby began to realize what was happening.

"Isn't this just jumping on the bandwagon?"

"They only jump out when the show becomes popular; if it doesn't, they just ignore it?"

"There's some tea now, to be honest."

There has been no further response from Zheng Shuang at this moment.

Her fans started to panic.

However, more responses will not stop because of their misfires.

The actors who appeared in "Swords of Legends" also posted on Weibo, but they did not comment on the casting change.

However, they all praised Dilraba's character and personality, and expressed their liking for her acting skills and attitude.

Online, a number of influential entertainment media outlets and film critics began publishing in-depth articles that traced the ins and outs of the incident.

The Truth Behind the "Actor-Swapping Rashomon": Who's Lying?

"Looking at Industry Rules Through Casting at Xiangling: Contractual Spirit and Professional Competence Are Both Indispensable"

"The Smear Campaign Against 'Capital': How a Normal Business Decision Can Be Distorted"

A series of combined measures, involving multiple parties, resulted in conclusive evidence.

The public opinion field, which was originally dominated by the frenzied emotions of fans, has begun to see rational voices gain the upper hand.

"This person really benefited from this; they didn't even act in the show, but they still got a lot of buzz!"

"From this perspective, Dilraba truly earned the role through her own abilities, and her performance was indeed superb."

"I support using legal means to protect our rights! The internet is not a lawless zone!"

On the set of "Diamond Lover," Dilraba held her phone, watching the rapidly reversing storm, her eyes slightly moist.

Isn't this a reflection of the reality of the TV series I'm currently filming?

It's just that I haven't become a big star like Gao Wen yet.

Focus on acting, don't worry about public opinion outside the drama, I'm here for you!

A WeChat message arrived, warming Dilraba's heart.

However, less than a minute later, another message came in.

Happy birthday! I haven't forgotten, but I probably won't be able to be there to congratulate you.

The first four words of this message struck Dilraba like a thunderbolt, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Even with his busy schedule and dealing with such complex public opinion, he still remembers his birthday.

She slowly closed her eyes, trying not to let the tears fall, and then gently pressed her phone against her chest.

Thank you for protecting me!

Thank you for your concern!