Huayu: Starting with mentoring female stars

The next morning, Chen Zhou arrived at the Beijing Film Academy.

He was greeted by his junior apprentice, Zhu Yilong.

The two walked side by side on campus, chatting casually.

"Senior brother, I heard that your new movie has already started preparations, and the two roles you've chosen are both from the Central Academy of Drama, one is Sun Honglei, and the other is Duan Yihong," Zhu Yilong said.

"You knew all along?" Chen Zhou was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, I heard it from the teachers at the school, and Professor Tian Zhuangzhuang, the head of your directing department, also knows about it."

"I heard he was a bit upset about this, saying that directors from Beijing Film Academy will eventually focus their attention on actors from the Central Academy of Drama."

Zhu Yilong preached.

Hearing this, Chen Zhou simply smiled.

While he considers people from the Beijing Film Academy when selecting actors, he ultimately chooses based on the suitability for the role; he can't just blindly select actors from the Beijing Film Academy.

However, he still mentioned to Zhu Yilong, "This time when I come back, I still want to select people from our Beijing Film Academy to see if there are any suitable ones."

The scene of Chen Zhou and Zhu Yilong walking together on campus was witnessed by many students at the Beijing Film Academy.

This caused some whispers among the people.

"Look, it's Senior Brother Chen Zhou! Our school's newest great director, and he's only a few years older than us."

"I didn't have a chance to see him up close last time, but now that I see him, Senior Brother Chen Zhou is really handsome. He's the kind of guy who's kind of roguishly handsome, and I'm completely powerless against that type."

"I really envy Senior Zhu Yilong. I had never heard of him before at school, but after acting in Senior Chen Zhou's movie, he has now become the number one celebrity in the school, even more popular than our school's child star, Senior Yang Mi."

"We were both junior brothers, so why couldn't I have met Senior Brother Chen Zhou sooner? Fate is really playing tricks on people."

"I also want to latch onto Senior Brother Chen Zhou's coattails."

Hearing everyone else praising him, one of the boys said, clearly annoyed, "Look at you all! Chen Zhou just made one movie, is it really necessary for you to fawn over him like this? Can't you have any backbone?"

Upon hearing this, another person said, "I just heard Senior Brother Chen Zhou say that he came back this time to select actors for his new movie. I don't know when the auditions will start, but I have to give it a try."

Upon hearing this, the previously disgruntled boy immediately pressed on, asking, "Really? Senior Brother Chen Zhou is going to select actors from our Beijing Film Academy again? I told you, Senior Brother Chen Zhou is the pride of our Beijing Film Academy, we should support him, we should let Senior Brother Chen Zhou lead us to new heights, and I'll be the next Zhu Yilong!"

A while later, Chen Zhou and Zhu Yilong went to the office and met Tian Zhuangzhuang.

"Teacher Tian, ​​it's been a while. How have you been lately?" Chen Zhou greeted.

"That's good. If you hadn't heard that, and you had gone to choose someone from the Central Academy of Drama first, I might have been even better off." Tian Zhuangzhuang said, sipping her tea.

"I'm here this time to continue casting for actors at the Beijing Film Academy. The male and female leads haven't been decided yet," Chen Zhou said.

Upon hearing this, Tian Zhuangzhuang immediately put down her teacup. "I knew it! You remember our Beijing Film Academy!"

"However, there's something I'd like to ask Teacher Tian for a favor," Chen Zhou said.

"Just ask, anything I have the authority to do, I can get it done for you. If you need any connections, I can also help you make the connections," Tian Zhuangzhuang assured him, patting his chest.

"It's nothing major, I just wanted to trouble Director Tian to inform the acting teachers so they can select some good actors to audition for roles in my new movie."

"As for the time, let's start in the afternoon."

Chen Zhou preached.

"Okay, no problem, I'll take care of it." With that, Tian Zhuangzhuang walked to Chen Zhou's side with a smile.

"Congratulations, kid, your first movie has already grossed 1.5 million."

"Such an achievement is unique to this day, and I am proud of you."

"No matter what, the future always belongs to the young."

Tian Zhuangzhuang sighed deeply.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, teacher," Chen Zhou said.

After their conversation, Chen Zhou and Zhu Yilong left the office.

By 2 p.m., everything had been arranged.

To facilitate Chen Zhou's actor auditions, the Beijing Film Academy arranged the largest rehearsal room specifically for him to select actors.

At the entrance to the rehearsal room, there was a sign that read "Actor Audition for the No Man's Land Film".

However, to Chen Zhou's dismay, the number of actors who came to audition far exceeded his expectations.

The rehearsal room was packed with people.

He guessed that those people were no longer just students from the performing arts department; students from other departments must have come as well, all wanting to get on board with him.

Chen Zhou sat in the rehearsal room, with a row of tables in front of him.

Zhu Yilong, who was sitting next to him, had come specifically to help Chen Zhou, so that Chen Zhou wouldn't have too much work to do.

Others included some teachers and school leaders.

In situations like these, they always have to step in to lend a hand and maintain order.

Otherwise, they were genuinely worried that, given the current situation, the students outside would devour Chen Zhou.

After all, no student would not want to become famous overnight by relying on Chen Zhou.

Take Zhu Yilong's current treatment as an example. The entire school has given him the most resources, and he is also in charge of various publicity activities.

Not to mention, Zhu Yilong is now a popular movie star.

Everyone knows that Zhu Yilong has a lot of film and television offers right now. Just pick one of them and other students will be so happy they won't be able to sleep.

Therefore, with Zhu Yilong as a living example, Chen Zhou naturally became a hot commodity in everyone's eyes, and even just being able to smell him was a good thing.

A moment later, the interview officially began.

According to the rules set by Chen Zhou, the interviewees were divided into several groups of ten people each.

To avoid making students who are going to be interviewed later anxious and worried that they will not be able to get the interview.

Chen Zhou also told them that he would not cancel the interviews halfway through, until the very last person was interviewed.

With this news, the students felt relatively at ease and stayed outside obediently.

Like a bystander, I wanted to see how Chen Zhou conducted the interview.

Zhu Yilong, holding the prepared list, began to read aloud: "First group of interviewees, those whose names you hear, please come in: Jing Tian, ​​Kan Qingzi, Chai Biyun, Shuangzi..."

Soon, 10 students stood in a row in the rehearsal room.

At this moment, Jing Tian and the others all looked extremely nervous.

After all, they were now facing their senior director Chen Zhou, whom they greatly admired.

Moreover, they all remembered the scene where Chen Zhou helped them direct a play when he returned to the Beijing Film Academy.

That was truly remarkable, beyond description, and it made them realize that there are differences between directors.

Chen Zhou looked at them calmly and said, "Of the ten of you, who is willing to be the first to step forward for an interview?"

As Chen Zhou finished speaking, Jing Tian and the others all stood still, without making a sound.

There's no other reason, it's just that the pressure is too much.

Chen Zhou and a group of teachers were sitting in front of them, while a large group of students were watching from outside. This kind of interview was tantamount to public execution, making people sweat profusely.

Seeing this, Chen Zhou frowned. "Is nobody here?"

Then, Jing Tian gently bit her lip, as if she had made a momentous decision.

She slowly raised her hand and stammered, "I...I'll do it."