Huayu 2011: Starting with Hilarious Men

Chapter 94 Setting Up the Event

After a long explanation, Reba finally convinced Professor Long that the two of them were innocent.

While Dilraba was busy explaining, Zheng Nan just stood by and watched, without saying a word to help.

Dilraba was so angry that she secretly kicked Zheng Nan's calf.

"Filming? The male and female leads, Zheng Nan, you have a new drama to film?" Professor Long looked at Zheng Nan. Other production teams would never let two sophomores play the male and female leads.

"It's a web series invested in by Sohu, and the script is adapted from a novel—" Zheng Nan explained when asked.

"Oh, it's important business. How long will it take?"

Zheng Nan estimated that not many other students at the Shanghai Theatre Academy were taking long leave to do serious work; Professor Long had probably shaped their thinking to a certain extent.

"It might take more than two months," Zheng Nan replied after a quick calculation.

Filming a movie for more than two months is not a long time. When Jiang Jinfu filmed "Xuan-Yuan Sword", it took more than four months, and he didn't come to the Shanghai Theatre Academy to study for almost a whole semester.

If someone is unlucky enough to be cast in a film by Wong Kar-wai, it's normal for it to take several years to film.

But that's the good thing about the Shanghai Theatre Academy; students are granted leave as long as they have a valid reason.

They give it to you even if you're pregnant, without a legitimate reason.

"Can you make it back before the end of the semester?" Professor Long asked.

It's the end of March now. If the two of them start filming in half a month, it will be July in two and a half months, which is almost summer vacation time.

"I'll try my best to get back." Filming is a long-term project, and Zheng Nan couldn't guarantee that no unexpected situations might arise.

"Okay, I understand." Professor Long nodded.

After leaving Professor Long's office, Reba angrily punched Zheng Nan with her small fists.

"Are you mute? Why didn't you explain for me just now?"

"What's there for me to explain? I'm not at a disadvantage," Zheng Nan retorted, shrugging.

Reba thought about it and realized what he said made sense. "I'll be the one carrying the pregnancy; Zheng Nan will only be there for the delivery at most."

Wait a minute! We've got him hooked! Who wants to have his baby?!

When Reba came to her senses, she raised her little fist again, only to find that Zheng Nan had already run far away.

Shortly after the two left, Guo Xiaoting also came to ask for leave.

"You're also taking a long leave? Why?" Professor Long wondered, noticing how many people were taking leave today.

Fortunately, Guo Xiaoting came on her own, and since she is a child star, it's normal for her to go out to film, so Professor Long didn't think much of it this time.

"My agency, Tangren Media, found me a role in their new web series directed by Zheng Nan," Guo Xiaoting explained.

"Oh, I know about that."

With Zheng Nan and Reba leading the way, Guo Xiaoting's leave application process went very smoothly.

With the leave issue resolved and Tangren looking for the venue, Zheng Nan shifted her focus to finding actors.

Currently, the male and female leads are played by Zheng Nan and Dilraba. The roles of Jiang Niannian and Jian Dan, the two best friends of the female lead, have also been cast. The only main character who is still missing is Lu Xinghe.

Lu Xinghe is actually an original character; there is no such person as Lu Xinghe in the novel.

The main role of this character is to act as a "catalyst" to advance the romantic relationship between the male and female leads, breaking the ambiguous balance between Geng Geng and Yu Zhun and making their relationship clear. Therefore, this role is very important and requires acting skills.

The original Lu Xinghe was played by Wang Lexin. Wang Lexin perfectly captured Lu Xinghe's "somewhat roguish yet not unlikeable" qualities. During the airing of "With You," Wang Lexin frequently trended on social media and was even jokingly called "Best Actor" by netizens.

'

This character is very well-developed; he is affectionate, romantic, rebellious, and kind.

It's not easy for the average person to play this role well.

Who should be chosen to replace Wang Lexin?

"Wait a minute! I think I'm overthinking this. Why did I need to find someone to replace Wang Lexin? I could have just hired him to play the role!"

Zheng Nan slapped his head hard. He was used to adapting the original version and subconsciously ignored the original actors.

Wang Lexin, born in 1989, is only 23 years old this year. Playing a high school student now is more in line with the character than playing it four years later.

Moreover, after Wang Lexin released his first EP "A Perfect Match" in early 08, his music career had been dormant for three or four years. During this period, his exploration of film, television and hosting was not very successful.

So he would be very happy to invite Wang Lexin to act at this time, and he wouldn't need to pay a lot of money.

Just do it if you have an idea.

Zheng Nan immediately called Aya: "I've got my eye on an actor, but I don't know who his previous agency was. Could you help me get in touch with him? I'd like to invite Wang Lexin to star in my new web series."

"Wang Lexin, right? I've got it. Are there any other actors I need to contact? If so, I'll contact them all together," Aya asked.

"Wait a moment, let me think about it."

Are there any roles in "With You" that require acting skills?

Han Xu, the top student? Xu Yanliang, the class monitor? Zhang Ping, the homeroom teacher and physics teacher?

The teacher role is also very important; they are the guides to youth throughout the entire series, and it would be best to cast a veteran actor to play it.

When Zheng Nan thinks of the word "teacher," the first face that comes to mind is Tian Yu's character in "Goodbye Mr. Loser."

"The teacher can't remember. Teachers don't hold grudges."

"You dare hit a teacher?"

"Why do you care what they're competing in... Just yesterday, Yuan Hua won first prize in the district-wide essay competition. The essay was titled 'My District Chief Father'."

"How did you manage to treat what the teacher said like it was nothing?"

These lines are truly classic.

Another reason why Zheng Nan was so impressed with Tian Yu was that he was Tang Wei's ex-boyfriend.

The movie "Lust, Caution" ruined Teacher Tian Yu's home.

"There's another actor, Tian Yu. Could you help me get in touch with him too?" Zheng Nan remembered that Tian Yu wasn't famous at the moment; he was just a small-time actor who did odd jobs everywhere. It wouldn't be difficult to get him to come.

"Just these two?"

"Yes, there aren't any others at the moment."

"OK, I'll contact them."

Aya's work progressed quickly this time; she replied to Zheng Nan in just two days.

"We've contacted both of them, and they both said they're open to acting, but we haven't given them a specific filming schedule, so we can't guarantee whether their schedules will be compatible."

"I also want to give them time to film, but the approval for the filming location from Tangren Media hasn't come through yet. What can I do?" Zheng Nan was also anxious to join the crew and start filming.

"You should urge them on," Aya said. "We're the clients who pay us, so isn't it normal to urge the contractors on their work progress?"

"Good idea."

Then Zheng Nan started making five phone calls a day to Cai Yinong to urge her to make progress.

On the second day, Tsai Yinong became impatient: "What's the use of urging me? Your filming location is a school. Do you think it's that easy to get approval?"

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's entertainment restriction order issued last year has led to stricter approval processes for filming in various localities.

Good news came from Cai Yinong in mid-April: the site had been approved.

Zheng Nan quickly contacted everyone to prepare for filming!