I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 204, "The Triads," A Funeral for Old Hong Kong
At this moment, even Du Qifeng looked at Xiang Huaqiang beside him with some surprise and astonishment. This President Xiang could actually give such a high score.

Speak frankly
Frankly speaking, as a director, Du Qifeng doesn't think Li Xuan's performance was much better than Gu Tianle's.

Perhaps it's due to a biased view of people in this circle, or perhaps it's due to his past perceptions, that he thinks gangsters and young thugs are like this.

This kind of emotion is called
A touch of vanity and hypocrisy, just right.

A tiny bit of longing, and this longing became a crucial factor in Xiang Huaqiang's choice of Li Xuan.

Give them more weight to score higher.

"Wouldn't Gu Tianle be dissatisfied with this?"

Du Qifeng looked at Gu Tianle, and to his surprise, Gu Tianle froze on the spot. He was somewhat astonished by the score given by Xiang Huaqiang, but he did not seem to disbelieve it.

There was no distrust, no resentment; they seemed to believe that there was a reason behind the score.

Even their opponents had this expression.

Gu Tianle.

He didn't seem to have any objections.

I give up.

"Ok?"

"He definitely understands this role better than I do." Gu Tianle sat down with a bitter expression, drinking milk tea and eating a pineapple bun. He had indeed lost this opportunity, and he accepted it wholeheartedly, and it was a loss he couldn't undo.

I still can't face my past self.

The person I used to be when I was a hoodlum, the person I became when I became a gangster.

"There's no such thing as being in the underworld with no choice. People in this world do it voluntarily, plundering others and using their lives as sustenance. That's what gangs and organized crime are all about. They're something that arises from a lack of a sound legal system. In an era where you try to reason with fists and knives, you've chosen to pick up a knife instead. How can you say you have no choice?"

Xiang Huaqiang lit a cigarette, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Du Qifeng's understanding of gangsters was merely superficial; no matter how deep your understanding, it was only based on conclusions drawn from others and from past literary and artistic works. Back then, movies were dominated by gangsters, so how could they not say good things about you? Everywhere you looked, there was talk of brotherhood. Even the "Young and Dangerous" series, which was banned in mainland China, seemed to be telling everyone that this was a place of faith and righteousness.

That's true. The younger brother is loyal and trustworthy, while the older brother is a Mercedes-Benz.

Xiang Huaqiang sighed.

"Let Li Xuan come. Let him participate in the funeral of the old era with the most realistic 'gangster.' No matter how well he acts or what the outcome is, in my eyes, he is very 'real.' I'm tired, I'm going back first."

As he got up and left the tea restaurant, he gently patted Li Xuan on the shoulder as he passed by.

"Good lad, not bad."

When Xiang Huaqiang left, Du Qifeng also left. Since the other producer had already spoken out, there was nothing more to say.

Whether Li Xuan's acting skills are better than Gu Tianle's, or whether he can deliver a better performance, remains to be seen.

At least the genuineness he displayed won over Xiang Huaqiang.
Then it's you, Li Xuan.

A contract was signed on the spot. Given Li Xuan's current market value, signing a contract for a fee of around 150,000 yuan wouldn't be a problem.
Kung Fu Hustle didn't elevate his status to a whole new level.

But your value has definitely increased—you deserve this price.

As for how to negotiate with the producer, that's your own business.

Currently, the payment is still 80,000 after filming, with the remaining amount to be settled after the film is released.

"Um"

Li Xuan's salary is still much cheaper.

Like Gu Tianle's film salary and movie star status.

His status in the film industry is similar to Li Xuan's, but his net worth is more than ten times that of Li Xuan. The nationwide hit of "A Step into the Past" and winning the Best Actor award are the reasons for his high net worth. He won't act in films with lower pay.

In a sense, this can be seen as an obstacle for some TV actors transitioning to acting. Generally, ambitious actors develop in parallel, like Edison Chen and Xie Jinfeng, whose pay curves are very smooth. Unlike Gu Tianle, who hasn't proven his box office ability but still needs a top-tier salary, this actor faces an awkward situation.

It's fortunate that it's Gu Tianle; if it were someone else playing the same game, things wouldn't go well.

Only then did Du Qifeng belatedly realize that Li Xuan's development path was already within your consideration.

From the very beginning, I planned to stand out in both the film and television industries, avoiding any awkward situations of being at different levels.

Dual-circle development means a broader upper limit and development space. At the same time, it is also a way for individuals to check and balance capital. Generally speaking, the film industry and the television industry have two different capital models.

It's hard to imagine that Li Xuan didn't sign with a legitimate agency based on this career plan.

It's a bit incredible.

“I did think about how I was rejected. It wasn’t that I didn’t expect it. Was the salary too high? I thought about reducing the salary. My bottom line is HK$70. I can’t go any lower than that.”

The issue of actor pay is considered an unspoken rule based on star power, and it's also something the actors' association uses to protect its collective interests. A actor's salary should reflect their true worth, and they shouldn't be allowed to lower their salary arbitrarily.

Li Xuan knew this.

This is considered an unspoken rule in commercial film production; it's only acceptable for very low-budget art films.

Today you use bidding to attract people of the same level.

So, can he use an even higher price tomorrow?

Some even believe that paying to act or pay to work is a blessing.

Therefore, Li Xuan believes that the significance of filming TV series and movies simultaneously lies in this: the difference in acting skills can easily turn the longer leg into a hindrance, thus smoothing out the pay curve.

A top-tier TV King, a rising star actor.

These two completely unrelated attributes appear in Gu Tianle.

However, this is also something that Gu Tianle finds hard to let go of. This time, his loss was not due to the price or the length of the legs, but rather to his understanding of the character... a problem that he himself could clearly see.

This is a fig leaf.

A fig leaf to cover up one's past life.

Even if he understood, there was one thing he didn't have the courage to face in a meaningful way: back then, as a small-time hoodlum, he genuinely felt very powerful.

I really think that a boss like President Xiang is really impressive.

What I hate is not the protection money.

It's not me who's collecting protection money.

This deep-seated sense of shame caused him to feel a profound self-loathing.

This is a sound, overt strategy.

Gu Tianle knew that his understanding of Li Xuan's character was correct.

It's a kind of correctness that I'm ashamed to face.

"Having watched a lot of Hong Kong films in the past, I understand how to portray this kind of character," Li Xuan said with a slight smile.

"When I first saw your performance, I thought you had actually been a gangster. But after seeing how you acted later, I knew you had never been a real gangster, but were just acting."

Gu Tianle smiled at this moment.

"When you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny. You can't even fool a mainlander like you."

but.

Thank you.
Incredibly, the role was snatched away, yet Gu Tianle actually felt a sense of gratitude towards Li Xuan. Perhaps it was because Li Xuan, right in front of him, tore off the mask he had been desperately hiding. It hurt a little, but tearing it off brought a greater sense of relief.

I think I'll be in even better shape next time.

For Gu Tianle, his experience in the "Young and Dangerous" series was more like a demon in his heart. His desire to act in "Election" and portray a funeral of the old era was not only about breaking into the film industry, but also a peculiar way of saying goodbye to and burying his past self.

This time, Gu Tianle was somewhat convinced of his defeat; he understood the role, and a loss was a loss.

He himself felt that Li Xuan deserved to win, and said with a smile.

"To make friends."

"My name is Li Xuan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope that next time we won't be opponents, but partners working together on the film set. It must be very interesting to act opposite you."

One failure is not particularly strange.
Auditions are all about understanding the role and whether you're a good fit. As for appearance, Gu Tianle didn't think Li Xuan's appearance was any worse than his own.

After leaving his phone number, Gu Tianle turned and left the tea restaurant.

Li Xuan also breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in the chair.
They snatched away Gu Tianle's first resource in his film career.

He really brought the character to life in "Election" because he was playing himself, and he certainly had a more "direct and explicit" understanding of the role.
Our competition isn't over yet.

Li Xuan murmured to himself at that moment.

Which film, the one from my past life, will achieve better results and success: the one I acted in in this life?

He might have soared to fame with "Election," but that doesn't necessarily apply to me. It all depends on my performance. Wasn't the gangster "Airplane" well-acted? Wasn't "Dongguan Boy" well-acted? Wasn't "Ah Xue" well-acted?
To get ahead, you still have to rely on your own abilities.

After auditioning for "Election," I got the role. Next, after finishing filming "The Myth," I'll go straight to filming "Election."

The filming process for this work was not long. Although it was two parts filmed back-to-back, this was Hong Kong.

The entire film "Infernal Affairs" could be completed in just one month.

After temporarily returning to Beiping and then to the Beijing Film Academy, I consulted with Professor Wang Jinsong about filming matters.

The film "Election" was very difficult to film, otherwise it wouldn't have won so many awards.

However, the filming was indeed very difficult. The actors involved, such as Leung Ka-fai and Simon Yam, were all well-known actors at the time. Moreover, this film has a very, very, very large number of interior scenes, and many dialogue scenes take place in small spaces, such as rooms, in a single shot, where two or three people are showcasing their acting skills.
This movie is about [basic skills].

It's a complete mess when everyone's on screen together; whoever has the worst acting skills will feel awkward.

However, "The Myth" also has its own challenges, namely understanding the character Meng Yi, an ancient general who actually existed in history.

Since he has inherited this name, he must have the imposing presence of it and exude the aura of a 'Great General of Qin'.

These two films are quite important to me in the film industry.

"I can't give you much advice. Actually, among all my students, you're the one who's ahead, the fastest, and the most mature."

Wang Jingsong paused, looking at Li Xuan.

His greatest compliment to Li Xuan wasn't about his acting skills or his understanding of the characters, but rather his maturity.
Choosing his own path with maturity. He's so calm and collected, unlike a student actor, that he seems more like a seasoned one. That's what Wang Jinsong finds most impressive.

It's not just about talent as an actor, but also about maturity as an individual.

Whether it was the path she chose at the beginning of her career in both film and television, or something else entirely. "Okay."

"If I had to give advice, you only need to think about one thing right now: consider the core of the role and its suitability. It's like that masculine aura of yours, which you can turn on and off at will. It definitely wouldn't be suitable for a small role in 'Election,' but it would be perfect for playing Meng Yi, the ancient general, in 'The Myth.'"

When it comes to turning the device on and off at will, Wang Jinsong still finds it quite unbelievable to say such a thing.

This gave Wang Jinsong a somewhat absurd idea.

If he can be "masculine," does that mean he can also be "feminine," or perhaps "hybrid"?

As mentioned earlier, Leung Ka-fai, the versatile actor in "Election," is a master of portraying a thousand different characters, convincingly embodying each role he plays.

That guy, Li Xuan, whose temperament can change at any time.

Does it also have this potential, or even be superior?
After saying goodbye to Wang Jinsong, Li Xuan returned to the dormitory and chatted with the guys for a while. Huang Bo was the second person in the dormitory to get a role. No one expected that this unremarkable-looking guy would get roles so quickly. This time, he got a role in a work called "Migrant Workers," which is a CCTV production, a work with a strong political background, and focuses on the working class and peasantry.

Regardless of his appearance, Huang Bo's down-to-earth and unpretentious nature has led to his potential being recognized.

He's now playing the male lead, which makes Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin quite envious.

"Holy crap, the male lead is even more famous than our boss."

"Bullshit, he only got a thousand yuan for the whole movie. Why don't you ask the squad leader how much he gets paid?"

"Boss, how much are you paid?"

They were also very curious about Li Xuan's current net worth after filming "Kung Fu Hustle".

"120,000 now. It depends on the type of production crew."

"Depend on!!"

Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin were so envious they cried. 120,000!

The entertainment industry really is a damn money-making business and a place of fame and fortune. For these two people from middle-class backgrounds, their most basic wishes and hopes are pinned on this entertainment industry.

Besides realizing self-worth, it's about creating economic value—making money, making money, making money, and more making money. Living a good life and making money is the simplest of principles.

120,000 is considered a second-tier actor's salary in the industry.

The salaries of truly top-tier actors are unimaginable.

Damn, I'm so envious.

"Back when Zhao Yanzi filmed 'Princess Pearl,' her salary was only tens of thousands of yuan. Now our boss's salary is over 100,000 yuan. Does that mean our boss is even more amazing than Zhao Yanzi back then?"

"Isn't this obvious?"

Zhu Yawen crossed her arms, looking confident: "Now we just need one more award, and our boss will surpass Zhao Yanzi from back then."

At this moment, as a loyal fan of Li Xuan, Zhu Yawen was very curious whether Li Xuan could get a few nominations in this year's awards, then our dormitory would be incredibly awesome.

When no one thought Li Xuan could win an award.

The three roommates all felt that Li Xuan should be nominated, after all, the Iron-Blooded Marquis, who is the best in the world, is quite impressive in terms of acting skills.

Maybe, there really is a chance I could get a nomination or something.

Three major awards.

A lifetime of honor for an actor.

For an actor, a nomination is already a source of pride; winning an award makes life truly fulfilling; and achieving a grand slam is the ultimate goal.
At this moment, Li Xuan thought for a moment.

Based on the timeline of the previous life, only six male actors, including Zhang Jiayi, Wang Zhiwen, and Chen Baoguo, were able to achieve a grand slam in the Best Actor category.

According to the system...

You have to achieve a Grand Slam, or even a Grand Slam as the main character, to redeem the ultimate reward—the really awesome kind.

Ah.

I've already come all this way.

How can we not set our sights on the Grand Slams?
"Actually, I think the boss's 'Number One Under Heaven' is still quite competitive. I really love this TV series. It's been a long time since I've felt such pure martial arts."

At this moment, Luo Jin was eager to turn on the 8 PM drama tonight to watch the battle between Eunuch Cao and Zhu Wushi in "The World's Number One".

Li Xuan was curious about which storyline the three roommates liked to watch the most.

Huang Bo prefers the Cheng Shifei line.

Zhu Yawen particularly likes the Guihai Yidao storyline; this cool guy is really stylish.

Luo Jin prefers Duan Tianya's storyline, but there are also some parts that she finds curious.

"Boss, what do you think of Duan Tianya? He's so handsome, how come his record is so bad? It seems like he only contributed a little by cutting down the Liu family members, and he didn't seem to play any role in the battle against Cao Zhengchun's camp."

Luo Jin then touched his chin.

At least Shangguan Haitang seems smart and is the brains of the script. Cheng Shifei and Guihai Yidao, the pair of clueless and unhappy, are at least incredibly skilled in martial arts. One is usually very powerful and the other is indestructible and the best in the world.

Only Duan Tianya.

What's the point of using it?
"What use is Duan Tianya anyway?"

At this moment, Ma Jia looked at the TV in front of her with some contemplation and doubt. It was clearly a high-definition color TV, and Duan Tianya on it was quite handsome. At least in terms of appearance, he hadn't been mistreated too much.

But the word "useless" lingered in Ma Jia's mind.
"Yeah, what good is Duan Tianya?"

At this moment, Li Yapeng also seemed to be deep in thought. Looking back on the experience of watching this drama, it seems that this top-level secret agent has not accomplished anything serious along the way. The kung fu he secretly learned from Japan seems to be only good for killing Japanese people. Apart from being a rookie in the Yagyu family, he has no other achievements to show for it.

In his contest with Cao Zhengchun, he didn't seem to play any particularly important role.

Ma Jia couldn't hold back any longer.

Fuck you, Duan Tianya.

You're a fucking piece of trash.

"This guy is the male lead? This is just... this ...

"I do not know why either."

Li Yapeng is somewhat withdrawn. He didn't feel this way while filming, but now that the show is airing, he can clearly see that the character seems to have no real purpose, barely even worth mentioning.

It can only be said that this character's popularity with women and the care he receives from everyone make him seem like a male lead.

A male lead who's all show and no substance.

Even if it has some use, it's not completely useless.

At this moment, Ma Jia felt a little unwilling.

This time, he's truly the male lead.

Should we really give it to people in the Taiwanese and Hong Kong entertainment circles?

"This publicity campaign is really going to benefit people in Taiwan and Hong Kong."

Ma Jia was unwilling to accept this, looking at the giant bird among birds, Peng, with a hint of melancholy. It seemed that all the publicity resources allocated to the world's number one company had just benefited those two sides.

The struggle for the lead role in an ensemble drama has always been like this.

Now it's really their turn to be happy. They've already received a call from a motorcycle enthusiast in Taiwan, saying they want to celebrate the success of this "Number One Project in the World" and congratulate our protagonist, Guihai Yidao, on achieving remarkable results.

His popularity remains high; even in online polls about the three main characters, Duan Tianya is inferior to the other two.

"Alright, alright, I got it. That's all for now. Bye, the signal is bad here."

Ma Jia hung up the landline, cursing incessantly in her thick Beijing accent. This wasted resource was a real loss.

On the phone, people in the Taiwanese entertainment circle were very arrogant.

That tone was incredibly arrogant.

At this moment, Li Yapeng was also somewhat unwilling.

Suddenly, something came to mind.

Thinking about something.

Hong Kong and Taiwan seem to be celebrating too soon.

I can't be the male lead.

Do you think you can do it?

If I can't be the one, then nobody should be the one!

Li Xuan didn't have much time to watch "The World's Number One" anymore. He went back to have a meal with his uncle Wei Ming, and then hurriedly had to rush to Xi'an to film.

By this time, the crew of "The Myth" had already started filming.

Filming has even been underway for some time.

It's safe to say that Cheng Shilong truly deserves his reputation as the king of prestige. It would be extremely difficult for anyone else in the world to do something like this, as he managed to film a movie at the Terracotta Army.

Back when Zhang Yimou was still an actor, he couldn't have filmed a movie at the Terracotta Army like he does now. Such a grand spectacle is truly unique.

This is probably the kind of preferential treatment that national-level actors receive.

It can be said that even if Cheng Shilong didn't make his own movies, he would still be one of the world's top actors, standing at the top of the food chain. Even as a pure actor, he would be able to stand on equal footing with capital.

He even occupies a higher ecological niche.

If we were to use a metaphor, Li Xuan would say that Cheng Shilong is an absolute numerical monster.

At this moment, Li Xuan also felt somewhat emotional.

"The Myth, I used to really dislike Yi Xiaochuan, but I also felt sorry for Gao Yao, who actually became Yi Xiaochuan's brother."

However, the movie version is ultimately different from the TV version.

Li Xuan arrived at the film set.

I received the script.

As the Fire Cloud Evil God in "Kung Fu Hustle," he was already somewhat famous, but when he came to this set, he still felt a little insignificant and ignored by everyone.

Everyone there was a big shot.

(End of this chapter)