1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Chapter 114 Filming, this is my first time acting
At the cordial invitation of Lao Teng and others, Cheng Xuemin followed them out of the office and out of the office building!
Entering the playground downstairs of the recording studio next door, there was a long line of people waiting to sign in, fill out forms, and prepare for the interview.

In fact, the building at Yanying Studio is quite new. Let Lao Teng and the others introduce it!

Their Yanying Studio moved from the Xiaoguan factory area in Andingmen to Beitaipingzhuang in 1972.

This was the former site of the General Staff College of Surveying and Mapping, so many of the college's old buildings are still preserved.

However, the recording studio building, the photography studio building and the stunt studio building were newly built later and have only been in use for a short time.

"Students!"

In the long line, Cheng Xuemin saw Zhu Lin at a glance. She also looked over here and called him while standing in the line.

Close to the recording studio, there is a table on each side of the door with registration forms on them. When the line reaches the front, two people come up one by one to fill out the forms.

After filling out the form, wait for your name to be called.

Cheng Xuemin followed him into the recording studio. In a room outside, the preliminary interview had already begun, which was all about basic skills!

For example, if you have a good command of the lines, you can read them with some emotion! If you have a good singing foundation, you can also hum a few lines, which can add extra points, but it is not a real performance!
If you have problems even with the basic recitation of lines, you will basically be eliminated, and there will be no re-examination at all.

Cheng Xuemin was brought into the re-examination stage by Lao Teng and others.

Now part of the preliminary examination outside has been completed. Lao Teng and his team didn’t prepare for long inside before they started inviting those who had passed the interview outside to come in for the re-examination!

"Xuemin, what we are testing is mainly your dialogue skills and acting talent!"

"Old Xie will be the chief examiner, Xuemin, you will help with the grading!"

Lao Teng introduced Cheng Xuemin again and then gave him some instructions.

"Teacher Teng, Director Xie, I just came here to join in the fun. Everything should still be based on the two teachers!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled shyly, then sat down next to his brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao in the examiner's seat.

"Director Xie, is Lao Teng Jiazhao here?" Just as they sat down, a young female comrade in her thirties came in from outside. She greeted Lao Teng and the others when she saw them, then looked at Cheng Xuemin and asked in confusion, "This young comrade looks unfamiliar!"

Siqin Gaowa!

The first moment the female comrade came in, Cheng Xuemin should have recognized her. It should be Teacher Siqin!

But at this moment, Cheng Xuemin was not sure whether her name was Siqin Gaowa, nor was he sure whether this was her real name or stage name, so he did not take the initiative to greet her.

"Siqin, this is Lao Xu, the author of The Shepherd, and also the screenwriter of our movie script. His real name is Cheng Xuemin!"

Seeing this, Lao Teng introduced Cheng Xuemin again: "Xuemin, this is Comrade Siqin Gaowa. She will be in charge of directing the male comrade's rivalry later!"

"Hello, Teacher Siqin!"

It was indeed Siqin Gaowa. Cheng Xuemin greeted her and the information about Siqin Gaowa quickly popped up in his mind!
Siqin Gaowa was probably selected and brought back to Yan Film Studio when the studio went to Inner Mongolia to select actors for the movie "Homeward Bound" in early summer this year.

Meanwhile, the filming of the movie "Homeward Bound" has been completed and has entered post-production. It will be officially released in April next year. The leading actress Siqin Gaowa will become famous overnight and make her official debut.

Now from what Lao Teng said, he wanted Siqin Gaowa to audition with those gay male interviewees, and the role that would be assigned to her would most likely be Li Xiuzhi's role.

So, there will be differences between the actors in the original novel?

It is normal to have discrepancies. After all, the film crew of "The Horse Shepherd" started three years ahead of the original novel. The original "The Horse Shepherd" began to be planned and filmed in 1982!

At this point in time, the heroine Cong Shan seems to have not yet been admitted to Yanjing, so it is reasonable to replace her with Siqin Gaowa.

After all, Siqin Gaowa's performance in the "Homeward Bound" crew is obvious to all.

However, the male lead Zhu Shimao was chosen by director Shui Hua of Yan Film Studio to play the role of Fu Hailong in the film "Children of the Paracel Islands" three or four years ago, thus becoming famous and making his debut. He is now considered a well-known male actor in Yan Film Studio.

So unless something unexpected happens, the role of Xu Lingjun will not be replaced.

However, for such a big event as the script audition for "The Shepherd", Zhu Shimao did not show up on the scene. There may be other reasons.

"Ah! It's Comrade Lao Xu, the author of The Wrangler! Everyone says that Comrade Lao Xu must be an old man with great knowledge. I didn't expect you to be so young. You should be called Xiao Xu!"

Siqin Gaowa teased Cheng Xuemin with a smile on her face, making Cheng Xuemin see the sunny and young teacher Siqin Gaowa.

"Teacher Siqin, you are so humorous. Just call me Xiao Cheng or Xuemin!" Cheng Xuemin smiled awkwardly. This was not the first time he saw a real person saying that he was young. Why did he take the old-fashioned pen name of 'Lao Xu'?

"Okay, then I'll call you Xuemin, and don't call me Teacher Siqin. Just call me Sister or Sister Siqin!"

Siqin Gaowa and Cheng Xuemin were not polite. After saying hello, she said to Lao Teng, "Lao Teng, Teacher Zhu is not available today. How about letting Xuemin try the lesbian rivalry?"

"He is the original author or screenwriter. He must have a better control over the lines than us. Why don't we ask him to give me some pointers?"

"Xiao Zhu can't come?!" Lao Teng was also stunned when he heard that. Everyone was notified yesterday?
He looked at his watch again. It was almost half past nine. He couldn't delay the interview, so he looked at Cheng Xuemin and asked, "Xuemin, look, our candidate for Xu Lingjun, Xiao Zhu, has something to do and can't come for the time being!"

"How about you give it a try, Xuemin?"

Cheng Xuemin was stunned when he heard Siqin Gaowa's suggestion. When Lao Teng asked for his opinion, he came to his senses and waved his hands, saying, "No, no, I rarely watch movies, how can I act!"

"No, no, no, Mr. Teng and Sister Siqin, please don't embarrass me. I really can't do this!"

Let Cheng Xuemin help with the audition?
What a joke! Cheng Xuemin had hardly ever been on stage in his previous life and has absolutely no acting talent.

Asking him to audition for the role of Xu Lingjun, wouldn't that be too difficult for him and make him look bad?
This really doesn't work!

He came here today to collect his royalties. He was originally drafted into the army accidentally, and now they are going even further and asking him to act directly in the show. What a joke!
If he had known that he would have to help with the audition, Cheng Xuemin would never have taken the job.

"Xuemin, why don't you give it a try! I think the Xu Lingjun you wrote is written according to your own image and temperament!" "So even if Siqin doesn't suggest it, Lao Teng and I have discussed it and will let you try the role of Xu Lingjun to see the effect!"

Director Xie Jin also narrowed his eyes and directly told them what they had planned long ago.

Just as Xie Jin said, Cheng Xuemin had already been arranged to audition. He really wanted to see how Cheng Xuemin himself would play the role of Xu Lingjun.
It is true that this guy writes articles well, writes scripts well, and even better, draws storyboards well.

It feels like he is copying himself!
Why not just let Cheng Xuemin himself try it?
"No! Director Xie, please don't joke like that. I really can't come by myself. I can't come!"

Cheng Xuemin still waved his hands quickly. He would never go up even if he was beaten to death. It would be so embarrassing!

“Don’t be modest!”

"It's understandable that you're a little nervous. How about you take the script and go to the side to familiarize yourself with it?"

"Now Jiazhao, you go first, respond to the emergency!"

Lao Teng made the final decision right away and asked Cheng Xuemin to familiarize himself with the script first. However, the script was originally written by Cheng Xuemin, so there was no need for him to familiarize himself with it. The main thing was to adjust how to get into the role.

Then he called on his elder brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao to go first!
"Ah?! Lao Teng, I'm a screenwriting teacher, and I haven't acted in any plays?"

Originally, the elder brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao was watching the show on the sidelines, and he also wanted to see if his brother-in-law had any acting talent!

Anyway, when it comes to writing articles and scripts, my brother-in-law is really impressed. But he didn't expect that this would happen to him in the blink of an eye!
"Why? Now there are only a few of us comrades. Siqin is responsible for Li Xiuzhi's lines, and I have to play two roles, Xu's father and Guozi!"

"If Xu Lingjun doesn't come, who will? Unless you convince your brother-in-law to come up?"

Lao Teng glared at Feng Jiazhao with dissatisfaction. Cheng Xuemin was not his soldier, so it was fine if he was useless!

Can this nephew actually float?

I give him some orders, but he's still so hesitant and uncooperative?

"Students..."

Feng Jiazhao immediately became timid when he heard this, and looked at Cheng Xuemin for help.

"Brother, I'll go to the side and familiarize myself with the script lines. You take over here first!"

Cheng Xuemin left as soon as she said she would, and quickly moved aside. She was familiar with the lines in the script, and ignored her brother-in-law's aggrieved expression.

Of course, looking at the current situation, there is no way to escape, and we may really be forced to do something soon.

Cheng Xuemin could only familiarize himself with the script in his hand first. Then a magical scene happened and memories of the movie scenes began to emerge in his mind!
In this way, Cheng Xuemin naturally immersed himself in it and put himself into the role of Xu Lingjun!

At this moment, Cheng Xuemin was galloping on his horse on the grassland, and had already transformed into the character of Xu Lingjun!

"Lao Xu, do you want a wife? As long as you open your mouth..."

Immediately afterwards, with the help of matchmaker Guozi, the heroine Li Xiuzhi made her shy appearance!
Cheng Xuemin was so immersed in it that he didn't notice the passage of time!
"Xuemin, Xuemin, I really can't come. I've made a fool of myself several times. You should come!"

It was unknown how much time had passed, but Cheng Xuemin was woken up by his elder brother-in-law. He also lost interest in the performance immediately, and said to his embarrassed elder brother-in-law, "Let me try. Don't laugh at me if I don't perform well!"

"No one is laughing, no one is laughing. Now it's the turn of a lesbian to be interviewed. Come on, Xuemin!"

Xie Jin waved his hand and told Cheng Xuemin not to feel pressured. Even if he didn't perform well, no one would laugh at him. After all, he was not a professional actor and everyone has their first time.

"Okay, Director Xie, I'll give it a try!"

Cheng Xuemin digested the gains from his immersion and was indeed eager to try again.

What also surprised Cheng Xuemin was that the female comrade who came in for the re-examination was actually the Queen of the Kingdom of Daughters, Feng Jiayou’s childhood best friend Zhu Lin.

Did she pass the initial test?
But soon he thought that it would be strange if it was just a first try. After all, Zhu Lin had a natural talent for acting, he was smart and had a solid foundation in lines. After all, the Zhu family was a family of old artists.

So, now Zhu Lin will play the heroine Li Xiuzhi?

As expected, Feng Jiazhao had already taken on the role of stage manager and arranged for Zhu Lin to do a simple costume make-up.

This audition started with the classic "Old Xu, do you want a wife or not?" The characters included Xu Lingjun played by Cheng Xuemin, Guo Zi played by Lao Teng, and Li Xiuzhi played by the interviewer Zhu Lin.

It can be seen that Zhu Lin was very nervous when she knew she was going to audition directly for the role of the female lead.

Even though she had read the novel "The Horse Shepherd" more than a dozen times and knew the script lines very well, she was still nervous when she was asked to act!
"Don't be nervous, your opponent is Xuemin, he plays Xu Lingjun!"

Feng Jiazhao next to him helped to comfort him!

"Ah!? Xuemin plays Xu Lingjun? Didn't he just say that he wasn't here to apply for an actor position?"

Zhu Lin looked very surprised. He didn't expect that this time when he came to apply for the job, he would not only have the opportunity to audition for the role of Li Xiuzhi, the heroine of "The Shepherd".

You know, when she was at home before, thinking about her years as an educated youth in the countryside, she often fantasized that she was Li Xiuzhi and longed to find her own Xu Lingjun!

But who would have known that now, not only would she have the opportunity to audition for the role of Li Xiuzhi, but Xu Lingjun was also someone she knew, and the lover of her good sister Feng Jiayou, Cheng Xuemin.

This... When I met Cheng Xuemin this morning, didn’t he say that he was not here to apply for a job?

How come he suddenly turned into Xu Lingjun?
"Xuemin is the author of this script. He also adapted the script of The Shepherd himself. Just now, Director Xie felt that Xu Lingjun was based on himself, so he wanted to see how he would perform as Xu Lingjun!"

"So Zhu Lin, don't be nervous. Xuemin is also acting for the first time!"

……

(End of this chapter)