Entertainment: I just want to be the boss behind the scenes

Chapter 61 Balala Energy!
"Zhao Jinmai, born in 2002, actor experience——

2010 "Can't Live Without Mom"
2013 "When Human Heart Meets Kind Heart",
2014 "Balala the Fairies 2" Movie
......"

Looking at the audition resume in his hand, Meng Bai's gaze lingered on the last line for a few seconds and he couldn't help but laugh.

I really didn't expect that "Balala the Fairies" could be made into a movie, and even the second part.

But then again, no one has stipulated that children's works cannot be made into movies. "Pleasant Goat" and "Big Bear and Little Bear" also have a big movie every year, and the quality is pretty good. In terms of box office and reputation, they are not inferior to some so-called "movie blockbusters".

Perhaps it was because he played music a little too loudly, which seemed a little out of place in the quiet room, and Wu Bai and others nearby couldn't help but turn their heads to look at him.

Zhao Jinmai, who was auditioning, also stopped, thinking that there was something wrong with her performance. She looked nervously at the brother who claimed to be the "screenwriter".

Seeing that he had interrupted everyone's attention, Meng Bai did not show any panic on his face. He coughed lightly and said, "Don't be nervous, little sister. You performed very well. But the emotions were a little exaggerated. Just react naturally when making expressions. You don't have to deliberately show your emotions. Do you understand me?"

The tone of his voice was natural and friendly, as if he was giving instructions to the other person.

Good-looking people often have a natural favorability bonus, even for children. Hearing the "gentle advice" from the handsome older brother in front of him, Zhao Jinmai put down his nervousness and nodded seriously, "Okay, screenwriter brother, I understand."

"Okay, let's try again."

Seeing the little girl getting back into the mood for the performance, Meng Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why, do you think this girl is pretty?" Wu Bai asked in a low voice.

When the two little girls who were auditioning for the same role were performing, Meng Bai didn't say anything, except for this one who interrupted and gave suggestions. It seemed that he was more satisfied with the performance of this little girl.

Meng Bai naturally wouldn't say that he was distracted and just laughed himself out, so he could only nod and say, "It feels okay, it has that feeling, but the temperament is a little more sunny and energetic. There's no problem in the early stage of the plot, but I don't know if it can match up later."

The character of this little girl is called "Liao Yafan". In the plot, she first lost her father at a young age, and then her mother became an accomplice in a case and accidentally fell to her death, causing her to become an orphan. It is a very tragic character.

Although there is not much plot, he is still a key role in the case story, and the requirements for the young actor are relatively high.

The audition didn't involve many scenes, so Zhao Jinmai's performance ended quickly. Meng Bai stood up and talked to Zhao's mother about the crew's approximate shooting time and requirements. Seeing that she had no objections, he considered the audition over.

As for the final result, it certainly cannot be decided directly on the spot and we have to wait for further notification.

"Goodbye, director uncle, and goodbye, screenwriter brother." Before leaving, Zhao Jinmai did not forget to say goodbye to Meng Bai and others.

"Goodbye." Meng Bai smiled as he watched the little girl and her mother leave together.

Turning back, he and Wu Bai said, "She's a very cute girl."

Wu Bai nodded in agreement: "Indeed, if she were five or six years older, she could definitely play the female lead. If she's lucky in the future, she might even become a popular actress."

Of course, he just said that casually. There are many talented and good-looking young actors in the circle every year, but only a few of them can continue to work in the film and television industry and develop well when they grow up.

"Which of the three girls who auditioned for the role of 'Liao Yafan' this afternoon do you think is more suitable?" Meng Bai asked.

Wu Bai thought for a moment and commented, "I'd rule out the first one. Although her image and temperament fit the role, her acting is too poor. If I remember correctly, her mother said that she had only filmed print commercials before and didn't have much acting experience."

"Then this Zhao Jinmai, her acting is OK, she should be able to meet the requirements of the role. But the problem is just like you said, her temperament is a bit sunny, I don't know if her acting skills can support the needs of the later plot."

At this point, Wu Bai raised his voice and said, "I think the second girl named Jiang Yiyi is pretty good. She was a child star and has a lot of acting experience. Her acting skills are good enough, and her image and temperament are also suitable. For now, I prefer her."

Meng Bai fell into deep thought after hearing this. It was indeed as Wu Bai said, and he also felt that the little girl named Jiang Yiyi was more suitable. She was one year older than Zhao Jinmai, and her film and television shooting experience was more than ten times richer.

Look at her audition resume - "Little Ming Yue Xin" in the new "Tian Ya Ming Yue Dao", "Little Guo Fu" in the new "The Return of the Condor Heroes", "Little Ren Ying Ying" in the new "Swordsman"...

It’s all big production!
"That girl is indeed good..." Meng Bai smacked his lips and said, "But, she's expensive!"

"No, Producer Meng, Mr. Meng! Our production cost for one episode is two million, are we still short of the pay for a small actor?" Wu Bai said helplessly.

Meng Bai also said helplessly: "You, the director, are of course not afraid of spending money. In the end, I am the one who works so hard to find a way to avoid overspending."

As for Meng Bai and Wu Bai, their cooperation in filming and production has always been very good. The only point of disagreement is on cost and budget.

As a director, Wu Bai always hopes to use the best actors, the best scenes, the best props, and then shoot the best shots.

As a producer, Meng Bai is more concerned about cost-effectiveness. As long as it does not affect the quality of the film, he will save as much as possible.

In fact, this is not just a problem between the two of them, but a conflict that exists between almost all directors and producers around the world.

Without the producer's control, the director may plunge into his own creative inspiration and eventually lead the entire project down a wrong path; and without the director's persistence, the producer may simplify the filming as much as possible for the sake of cost efficiency, which will ultimately greatly reduce the effectiveness of the work.

These two professions exist to cooperate with each other and yet restrict each other.

After a few arguments, Meng Bai finally compromised: "Okay, I'll go talk to Jiang Yiyi's mother to see if the schedule and salary are suitable. If it is suitable, we will choose her; if not, we will change to Zhao Jinmai."

Wu Bai gave him a thumbs up to express his approval.

Meng Bai sighed. Fortunately, the budget this time was sufficient and he did not need the salary of a small actor like this.

After deciding on the initial choice, Meng Bai took out his phone and sent a WeChat message. A moment later, Li Yitong came in from outside and said with a sweet smile: "Hello, teachers. My name is Li Yitong. I am auditioning for the role of 'cheerleader' Deng Linyue."

"Hmm?" Wu Bai asked in confusion, flipping through the list of people scheduled for auditions. Was this girl on the previous list?
Meng Bai handed over an audition resume: "I have it here, it's added temporarily."

Wu Bai was stunned for a moment, and glanced at Meng Bai, but didn't say anything. He took the resume, glanced at it, and then arranged for the staff to give the audition script to Li Yitong.

After receiving the script, Li Yitong thanked him and started reading it carefully. The audition script was very thin, only one page, and the main story was about the male protagonist being frustrated and depressed because of the obstacles in solving the case and the fading of his "memory" of his girlfriend, and then the school beauty who was the suitor came to comfort him.

The plot is not complicated and the emotions are very simple. It can be regarded as a relatively simple play.

Of course, this “simple” is not for newbies who have only taken classes for one month.

She took a deep breath and calmed down. Although she knew she was just here for the experience and it didn't matter whether she was selected or not, when the time came, Li Yitong couldn't help but get nervous.

And deep down, she also had an idea: what if she actually had a talent for acting and could pass this audition?
The preparation time passed quickly, and feeling that she was almost ready, Li Yitong told the director team that she could start.

"Do you need an actor to act opposite you?" Wu Bai asked.

"Okay, thank you for your help." Li Yitong said.

Wu Bai was just about to arrange for a staff member to cooperate, but unexpectedly Meng Bai beside him stood up and said, "If you want to act together, let me do it."

　Thanks to “天下虽大” for the reward!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)