Chapter 923: Who Is that Man Looking for?
However, after getting married and having a child five years ago, she had switched to working behind the scenes. She had established her own film company, acting as a producer and an agent. Even if the few idol dramas she had filmed in the past few years had not been immensely popular, they had still gotten slightly popular, above the average level.
Due to her own professional requirements, Ling Sheng had watched the dramas she had filmed in recent years. The actors’ standards and the scripts were mediocre, and the actors in the other two dramas had been personally selected by their financiers. It was impossible not to film them. There were no stunning works, so they were just above the pa.s.sing mark.
Ever since she had established a film company and become self-employed, she had been forced to profit by pressure. Most of the time, she could not care about too many areas and had no choice but to compromise. After all, she had many people working under her. If she did not make dramas or movies, there wouldn’t be any money. If he did not have money, the company could only wait to go bankrupt.
Actually, how a drama became tremendously popular also required favorable timing, location, and conditions. A good script, good actors, and a good director. Even if the drama could not become crazy popular, at the very least, it would not flop. If one wanted to make a big hit, the kind that got so popular that it went international—like “Gla.s.s Shoes”—one really needed to depend on fate.
The preparation time for “School Bully” was short. From the cast selection to the confirmation of the actors and the commencement of the shooting, there had been less than a month’s time. As for promotional activities such as makeup photos and posters, they had to be filmed after the opening ceremony.
Su Guo and Mei Xuelin had a good relationship. After Ling Sheng had received the script, she had added her on WeChat. In order to play the role well, she had often communicated and exchanged opinions with her on WeChat. Gradually, the two of them became familiar with each other too.
Although this was the first time they had officially met, there was no sense of unfamiliarity or distance between them. It felt like they had known each other for a long time.
Su Guo also liked and admired Ling Sheng a lot. In the past few years, this was the first time she had met an actress who strived to improve constantly. Her acting skills were already excellent. But in order to act her role well, she had started a.n.a.lyzing the character the day she had received the script. When she had encountered something she could not figure out, or when she had felt that the script could be improved, she would discuss it with her.
In recent years, there had been a very common phenomenon in the Chinese film and television drama circle. Most actors were eager to achieve instant benefits. Among the young male and female celebrities, how many of them could calm down to a.n.a.lyze their characters and take the script seriously?
In particular, after film investors entered the markets, people with high popularity had started to flow into the industry, and the economic ability of the fans had also risen. Those who did not have any acting skills also dared to take on acting roles. They claimed to be actors, but the characters they had acted out were so awkward that it was unbearable to watch.
She had personally experienced it before. A financier would point out a certain young female celebrity he wanted. In the end, her acting skills were no good, and her temper was quite bad. She had gotten so p.i.s.sed that she could not film anymore and wanted to quit.
Did the investors think that idol dramas were easy to act in? Did they think that people with high popularity and no acting skills could act in idol dramas? That the audience could just watch their faces? They must be crazy! Did they think that the audience were fools who would eat sh*t if they were fed that?
This time, “School Bully” was filmed by Huo Ci’s Studio. In order to support Si Chengluo, he had asked her to film it. In the past few years, she had been so worn out that she no longer had a temper. Without a good script and a good actor, it was the same whatever she filmed. There were so many mouths waiting for her to feed them in the company. What could she do if she did not film?
Sometimes, when one entered the entertainment circle, one would know that few people could defend their initial aspirations and persistence. In front of money, unless one did not want to survive in the industry anymore, one could only go with the flow.
The script for this drama was still quite good. It was charming, sweet, refreshing, and quite hilarious too. As long as the actors’ acting skills weren’t too bad and their looks were suitable for the audience, the drama definitely wouldn’t fail.
Later, when she found out that the chosen female lead was Ling Sheng, she finally felt a little more confident. She had watched Ling Sheng’s dramas, and her acting skills were really good. The directors who had worked with her had all praised her.
She had initially thought that Si Chengluo, this little fresh meat[1], would be very cold and arrogant. She had not expected him to be quite nice too. After adding her on WeChat, as this was his first time filming, when he encountered something he did not understand or could not figure out, she would seek her advice.
When Ling Sheng went over, everyone was waiting for her. She saw Song Yiyan standing beside Si Chengluo immediately and asked Su Guo softly, “Director Su, why is Song Yiyan here?”
Song Yiyan turned around and saw Ling Sheng. Her eyes lit up as she waved excitedly. “Ling Sheng, I’m here.”
When she spoke, the actors and production crew members beside her were stunned. Ever since she had entered the film set, she had not said a word other than greeting people!
Si Chengluo turned his head. When he saw Ling Sheng, his lips also curled into a joyful smile. He nodded coolly at her as a greeting.
Only then did Ling Sheng know that Song Yiyan was acting as the second female lead. She was a true girl delinquent called Qiao Xing. She was also a joker. Before Ke Ai’ai lost her memory, she had led others to bully her all day long. After Ke Ai’ai lost her memory and became impressive, she taught Qiao Xing a lesson and she became Ke Ai’ai’s best friend and lackey.
“You want to act as Qiao Xing?” Ling Sheng had not seen Song Yiyan act before, but her personality was very different from the little delinquent Qiao Xing’s.
She was a little suspicious. Would she be able to portray the feeling of Qiao Xing? Besides, she was the eldest daughter of the Song Family. What kind of resources did she not have? Would she need to act as the comical second female lead in a school drama?
“You said before that you can’t judge people by their looks.” Song Yiyan looked at her seriously. “Ling Sheng, my acting skills are very good. The directors, actors I worked with and the audience all say that my acting skills are good.”
This was the first time Ling Sheng had seen someone so brazenly praise her own acting skills. My sister, you should at least act a little humble in front of outsiders!
“Sheng Sheng, Teacher Song’s acting skills are really good.” Director Su Guo laughed as she walked over to the duo and helped Song Yiyan clear her name.
The two of them seemed to have quite a good relationship. Ever since Song Yiyan had arrived, she had not spoken more than ten sentences. When she saw her arrive, she was excited.
The uproar that had taken place before the new year had even ended up turning into an anti-workplace hara.s.sment campaign! It had started because of the two of them. Ling Sheng had saved Song Yiyan, so she could be considered her savior!
Si Chengluo also joined in, his handsome face still wearing a cool expression. “I saw Teacher Song’s acting performance. This can also prove that Teacher Song’s acting skills are very good.”
Only then did Ling Sheng take a closer look at her younger brother. Compared to before the new year, he seemed to have grown taller again. She only reached his shoulders now. She did not know if he had been well-fed during the Lunar New Year, but he was not as skinny as before. The clean, cold, and outstanding male G.o.d was simply a duplicate of the male lead, Le Yu.
Next was the opening ceremony, where they had to pay their respects to the ancestors. Then, they had to film the makeup photos. After the makeup photos were taken, the actors in the film crew would naturally become close to one another.
Campus dramas had always been about youthfulness, explosive laughter, and sweetness. However, most of the time, it was about teenage girls experiencing their first awakening of love. There were not many intimate scenes. Even if there were, it was not allowed to be broadcast in such a widespread environment now either. Even the makeup photos were the humorous type.
At noon, the actors’ makeup photos were done. Ling Sheng, Si Chengluo, Song Yiyan, and a few other main actors walked out chatting and laughing, going to collect their bento boxes.
Si Chengluo’s eyes turned hard and cold abruptly as he looked in the opposite direction with a few notes of provocation. His hands in his pockets tightened involuntarily.
Song Yiyan tugged at Ling Sheng’s arm and pointed at the man opposite them. In a small voice, she asked, “Sheng Sheng, who’s that man? He’s very handsome. He’s looking over at us. Who do you think he’s looking for?”
[1] Internet slang 小鲜肉/little fresh meat refers to young, attractive men. In the entertainment industry, most of these young boys started out as teen idols.