EFB Chapter 46 Start-up
Chapter 46 Start-up
Gao Yuanyuan ultimately got the role.
However, it wasn't Lin An who made the choice; it was Lin Cong who made the decision.
"Her temperament is suitable for the second female lead."
Lin Cong flipped through the script without looking up. "Intellectual, gentle, and a little stubborn, she fits the character very well."
Lin An opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.
"What, you have a problem with that?" Lin Cong looked up at him.
"No," Lin An shook his head decisively, "Director Lin is wise."
Gao Yuanyuan sat on the folding chair next to her, holding the script in her hands, her lips slightly upturned, and her eyes curved into two crescent moons.
"Thank you, Director Lin. Thank you, Manager Lin." Her voice was soft, with a natural gentleness.
Director Lin... Lin An was so embarrassed that he gripped the ground with his toes, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the floor.
Just call me Lin An.
He coughed lightly and said, "Director or something... sounds like a balding middle-aged man in his forties."
Gao Yuanyuan smiled but didn't reply, continuing to flip through the script.
Lin Congze instinctively wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but with outsiders present, he could only steer the conversation back to the main topic:
"How are the other character selections going?"
Lin An pulled a list out of his schoolbag.
Lin Cong took the list, glanced at it, and was surprised to find the names of freshmen from the Central Academy of Drama. His brows immediately furrowed.
According to the rules, first- and second-year students at the Central Academy of Drama are not allowed to take on acting roles outside of school.
Lin An scrutinized her gaze and explained:
"I asked, and she said it was no problem. It seems someone from the Central Academy of Drama put in a good word for me."
After exchanging greetings, Lin Cong pursed her lips but didn't say anything.
"Besides Gao Lu, who else could it be?"
Lin An said, "Qiao Zhenyu from Beijing Dance Academy and Shen Teng from PLA Academy of Arts."
Lin Cong asked with a strange expression, "Not a single one from the Beijing Film Academy?"
Lin An nodded honestly.
Teacher Zhang Hua probably won't be too happy... Lin Cong tried hard to suppress his laughter and continued:
"Where's the third male lead?"
Lin An sighed, "It's not easy to find someone suitable for the role. Those who are suitable don't want to play it, and those who want to play it don't have the right appearance."
After all, the character is portrayed as a womanizer, and many people these days are quite resistant to this type of role.
Lin Cong thought for a moment, then said:
"Let's ignore the third male lead for now."
She stood up, picked up the walkie-talkie from the table, and tucked it behind her waist.
"Hurry up and select the remaining roles today, and help them with auditions while you're at it. I'm busy setting up the equipment, so I don't have time to waste with you."
"Me alone?" Lin An's eyes widened.
Lin Cong had already turned and taken two steps when she heard this. She turned back to look at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Aren't you the director?"
Lin An's face darkened.
Watching Lin Cong's figure disappear behind the set, he took a deep breath, trying to calm the urge to curse.
"Do you need my help?"
Gao Yuanyuan raised her head and said softly, "I know a few senior actors on set who are quite good at acting. Maybe they would be willing to give it a try."
Lin An thought for a moment, then asked seriously, "Can they forgo their pay?"
Gao Yuanyuan: "..."
……
……
No. 15, Wanquanhe Road.
A gray office building stands on the street, its glass curtain wall reflecting the glaring sunlight.
The office at the end of the corridor on the third floor.
Ye Daying stood quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her hands behind her back.
The office was quiet.
On the mahogany desk lay a copy of the Beijing Youth Daily, half of the entertainment section filled with reports on "Internet Addict's Diary".
In the photo, Yingda, Wang Shuo, and himself are sitting side by side, all smiling.
The door was pushed open.
Tan Lin walked in, his footsteps very light, as if afraid of disturbing something.
"Director Ye."
Ye Daying didn't turn around, but simply hummed in response.
Tan Lin stood in front of his desk, carefully choosing his words: "There's new information from the Beijing Film Academy."
"explain."
"The film set has been set up over there. The main roles are three men and three women, and most of them have been finalized. If all goes well, filming will begin in a few days."
Ye Daying finally turned around, her gaze falling on Tan Lin's face, as calm as a stagnant pool:
"He secured investment a week ago, and the film set is already set up today?"
Tan Lin lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.
The only sound in the office was the ticking of the wall clock.
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics either."
Tan Lin's voice was very low, as if he were reporting something, or perhaps trying to excuse himself:
"We received news that Ji Tao went to see him; he may have used some personal connections."
Ji Tao... Ye Daying narrowed his eyes, recalling the minor character who had questioned him during the meeting and was ultimately marginalized by him.
After a few seconds of silence, he glanced at Tan Lin and said calmly:
"Director Tan, your Asia Pacific Management needs to be strengthened."
Tan Lin nodded awkwardly.
Although he really wanted to go back and tear Ji Tao apart, the planning department was not his personal fiefdom.
He can sow discord between Ji Tao and pressure him to leave the crew, but he has no right to fire him.
At that moment, an assistant walked in, looking somewhat hesitant.
Ye Daying glanced at Tan Lin.
Tan Lin understood immediately, gave a slight bow, and turned to walk towards the door.
He had just stepped out of the room, and before the door was fully closed, he heard a muffled "bang" behind him, followed by the crisp sound of something breaking.
Tan Lin froze for a moment, then quickened his pace and disappeared at the end of the corridor without looking back.
in the office.
Ye Daying stood in front of the desk, his right hand still in the gesture of throwing something, his chest heaving.
The blue-and-white porcelain bowl on the ground was smashed to pieces, and tea soup was splashed all over the ground.
The assistant stood at the door, caught in a dilemma, not daring to breathe.
Ye Daying said with a sinister look in his eyes:
"Did they really say that?"
The assistant pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded slightly.
He said, "They are planning reforms over there, intending to merge the Bureau of Culture and the Bureau of Television to form a cultural, broadcasting, film and television group, and to marketize the business of radio, television, film, and performing arts."
Ye Daying's lips twitched, and after holding back for a long time, he finally couldn't help but burst into a tirade of curses.
A moment later, the door was gently pushed open.
Yingda walked in, his gaze sweeping over the broken teacup on the floor and the damp carpet, his brow furrowed.
He waved to his assistant, who was stuck at the door.
The assistant, feeling as if granted a pardon, quietly closed the door.
The office fell silent.
Ye Daying stood behind the desk, his chest still heaving.
Yingda said, "Getting so angry will harm your health."
Ye Daying glanced at him, her tone curt:
"You're quite composed."
Yingda sat down on the sofa, speaking in a calm and unhurried tone:
"He's just a kid, what kind of trouble can he cause?"
Ye Daying remained silent, his expression still stiff.
Yingda continued, "He has no connections, no resources, and his filming and set construction costs are several times higher than ours. It's questionable whether he can even produce a normal drama series."
Ye Daying coldly reminded him, "But I've already received news that they've completed the set design."
Yingda said dismissively, "The budget is what it is; it'll just be a makeshift operation anyway."
He reassured them, "The Ying family has a professional production team. The script is currently being refined, and I will personally take charge of the filming. As long as we get the series out first, it won't be of much use to them."
Ye Daying narrowed his eyes and stared at Yingda for a few seconds:
Are you confident?
Yingda said speechlessly, "Director Ye, when I was making sitcoms, that kid was still in elementary school."
Ye Daying's expression softened a bit, but she still felt uneasy:
"I'll invite a few celebrities to the film set, and you can arrange a few shots for them to generate buzz."
Yingda asked with a strange expression, "Is it necessary?"
Ye Daying said, "Better safe than sorry."
Yingda said nothing more.
This is a minor matter; besides, getting to know these celebrities was his very purpose in connecting with the Beijing entertainment circle.
……
……
Factory on Longgang Road.
Lin An stared at Lin Cong in disbelief, blinked, blinked again, and finally managed an awkward but polite smile:
"That's a lame joke."
Lin Cong shook his head and said seriously:
"I discussed it with Teacher Zhang Hua, and we both agreed that you are very suitable for this role."
Lin An's forehead veins throbbed, and he gritted his teeth, saying:
"I'm the screenwriter!"
Lin Cong added, "A screenwriter who can draw storyboards."
Lin An's lips twitched, and he suddenly felt like he had shot himself in the foot.
In order to finish the storyboard as quickly as possible, he showed off his skills to Lin Cong.
Using a drawing cassette tape, I could draw all the shots of a scene in twenty minutes, even clearly marking the camera positions.
Lin Cong's gaze towards him at that time was rather strange.
Looking back now, that was the look in a hunter's eyes when he sees his prey.
"I can't act," Lin An tried to make a last-ditch effort.
"Who is born a natural actor?"
Lin Cong flipped through the script, her tone nonchalant:
"The third male lead, a womanizer, appears in seven scenes with less than eighty lines in total. You can just play yourself."
What does it mean to play yourself? Lin An was furious, feeling that his dignity had been insulted.
Lin Cong ignored all of this and filled in Lin An's name in the actor column.
At this point, the entire creative team has been finalized.
The six main creators are: Shen Teng, Qiao Zhenyu, Lin An, Gao Yuanyuan, Gao Lu, and Dong Xuan.
Director: Lin Cong
Producer: Ji Tao
Screenwriter: Lin An
Art Design: Tang Yu
Project Name: Love Apartment.