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

Chapter 242, Edison Chen: I'm so happy that my idol praised me!
The release date of "The Myth" is getting closer and closer, with a December release window.

Meanwhile, "The Promise" will also be released, and this time, the leading film will be "Initial D" in November.

I've always felt that crossing boundaries is a truly magical thing.

Or rather, crossing over into a new field is actually a very difficult thing. Going from actor to singer, or from singer to actor, is never an easy or simple matter.
However, Jay Chou still has considerable appeal as a top singer. The hype started from the day the song was released and remained high. In particular, "Initial D" was already a top-tier manga in this era, and manga of this caliber naturally possesses strong IP value and promotional value.

Just like this time, several of my roommates said they wanted to see it—they all showed considerable interest in the movie.

For many people in this era, childhood memories were filled with nothing more than "Initial D" and "Slam Dunk." Zhu Yawen, in particular, was an absolute fan of "Slam Dunk," and it was because of "Slam Dunk" that he became a basketball master. "Initial D" is just another example of the same thing.

Li Xuan, Luo Jin, and Huang Bo went to the cinema to watch it.

It was very enjoyable, not bad, surprisingly good.

"Wow, that's awesome! Jay Chou is still so handsome, and his driving scenes are also so cool. Edison Chen's looks are truly top-notch, he's almost as good as our boss." Zhu Yawen, a comic book fan, gave a thumbs up, saying that the movie was surprisingly good, not just for nostalgia, but it was actually made to watch.

Luo Jin, who was standing next to him, then spoke.

"You saw the passion of youth, but I only saw the cruelty of reality."

"The harshness of reality?"

"No matter how fast the AE86 goes downhill, it can't outrun Uncle's Mercedes. It's a sad story." Luo Jin shrugged. "Takumi is amazing, but Uncle is even more amazing! This movie is more like a realistic film."

It hurts, it hurts too much.

Luo Jin's words pierced Zhu Yawen's heart like a bayonet: Why did you have to tell me all this—Xia Shu, my Xia Shu!

Oh no, Natsuki is like that in the manga too.

Damn, even places like this are so realistic.

Hearing the two clowns' antics, Li Xuan chuckled happily.

However, the feedback for Initial D this time is quite different. At least, the previous evaluation of this work was nothing more than harvesting nostalgia, nothing more than Uncle's Mercedes and Takumi's 86.

All I can say is that cartoonists of that era were very daring.

And then there's Jay Chou's unchanging cool acting style, with the same expression from beginning to end, which actually fits the character of Takumi Fujiwara quite well.
This time, however, there were more topics of discussion, including Edison Chen's improved acting skills.

This Mr. Chen gave up his hobby of photography. This time, there was no sex photo scandal or the overwhelming scandal that plagued him. Instead, he received positive reviews online, like what we see now. Besides his good looks, his acting skills have also improved, which was very noticeable in "Initial D".

More nuanced emotional expression and more close-up shots are a director's instinct.

Those with superior acting skills will receive more "rewards".

That means more shots.

More and closer shots.

And more scenes.

In this installment of "Initial D," there are numerous close-up shots that showcase Edison Chen's handsomeness, charm, and the character's attributes.

These are all signs of strength.

These are all expressions of Edison Chen's strength and abilities.

At this moment.

This time, Edison Chen has completely shed his title as a photography master.

He is an actor.

He is a star.

Just as Li Xuan was feeling somewhat sentimental and regretful—regretful that he wouldn't be able to see Mr. Chen's photo collection this time—a phone call came in. It was from Edison Chen.

"So, did you see my performance?"

"That's a good idea."

"Hmph, that's for sure. I've been training my acting skills these days, and I'm a completely different person now. Don't underestimate me."

"Of course, who would dare to underestimate our Edison Chen?"

"Hey hey hey."

At this very moment, Edison Chen is on the other side, talking on the phone with Li Xuan, and on the phone, Edison Chen is showing off his performance in "Initial D".

His performance here is second to none; among the main actors, it's basically the best. This is evident from the close-up shots given by the director, which personally confirms his progress from 'idol' to 'acting skills'.

While the media was still fixated on comparing the luxury goods she wore with Yu Wenle, she had already gone on to hone her acting skills.

He talks about acting training lightly, but only he knows how much he has sacrificed behind the scenes.

Training in acting skills, in oneself, and in micro-expressions is always more difficult than simply trying to look cool or handsome, and it is always more difficult than pretending to be cool or suave. This is an undeniable fact.

There were clearly easier paths for him, but he chose the more difficult, yet more promising, one.

This was Edison Chen's own choice.

Hearing Li Xuan's praise, Chen Guanxi's lips curled into a wide smile, and he looked extremely happy.
There is a certain kind of...
The feeling of being recognized.

"Do you know how despicable you are?" Xie Jinfeng, standing next to him, narrowed his eyes, then frowned, a nameless anger rising within him. This was clearly a rich second-generation heir of the same level as him, someone who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

They were all from the same social circle, yet the other person was trying to gain Li Xuan's approval.

After gaining Li Xuan's approval, he was even more delighted!
Why don't you ask me? I could praise your progress and hard work too!

Why aren't you so happy when I praise you?

"Yeah, a little bit, but I can't control it."

At this moment, Edison Chen said somewhat helplessly, "I knew it. When I get his praise, I feel very happy. I can't suppress this feeling. As for getting your approval, I will be very happy too."

Hey, you're being really perfunctory!
You're really being perfunctory!
At this moment, Xie Jinfeng felt an inexplicable fire burning within him, and his face turned red as he tried to suppress it.

"Forget it, I won't argue with you anymore." Xie Jinfeng took a deep breath and said, "My films 'A Chinese Odyssey' and 'The Promise' are about to be released, and these two works will also be a test of my achievements."

"What are your box office predictions?"

"I don't care about box office predictions, I only care about my own performance."

"Actually, you care about Li Xuan quite a bit too."

"I don't!"

"If you do it this way, you'll definitely get it."

On the other hand, with the release date of "The Myth" approaching, Li Xuan naturally received an invitation to the premiere. This time, the premiere will be held in Beiping, where everyone will go to see the movie together.

Actually, some minor incidents occurred during this period.

It's also related to the celebrity actors in the school. Both Huang Shengyi and Liu Yifei have received some endorsements. Huang Shengyi is the spokesperson for Pepsi, while Liu Yifei is the spokesperson for Perfect World's game "Perfect World". They cosplayed the Feathered Archer class in the game and received considerable endorsement fees.

One advantage of taking the path more akin to an 'idol' is the extra income, particularly from advertising endorsements, which can be significantly higher than that of those pursuing an 'actor' career.

This reflects the different areas of advantage arising from the nature of their professions. An actor's advantage lies naturally in their acting skills, while an idol's advantage is more in their fame. This is more advantageous when endorsing products, meaning they have two income streams: advertising and acting. Actors, on the other hand, truly rely solely on acting.

'Celebrities' have the advantages of both, earning income from advertising and acting.

"There's no need to envy their endorsements. Let's pursue the path of actors. Our salaries will steadily rise in the future." At this moment, Wang Jinsong was still 'comforting' Li Xuan in the office.

Judging from the current atmosphere within schools, shooting commercials and endorsements means that your fame has reached the point where it can be monetized. Huang Shengyi and Liu Yifei have already started doing endorsements, while Li Xuan doesn't seem to have any endorsements yet.

Perhaps they cherish their reputation, or perhaps they haven't received any advertising offers. In any case, there are probably various reasons for this.

As a teacher, Wang Jinsong naturally offered words of comfort from the sidelines. After all, the lack of endorsements and advertisements must have been a disappointment for many.

After all, from the perspective of Beijing Film Academy students, Li Xuan should be the one with the most promising acting skills.

There's still a bit of a letdown without endorsements or advertisements.

Unexpectedly, Li Xuan smiled slightly at this moment, his eyes clear, "I don't care - it's just an endorsement. When my value is higher, they will have to spend more money to hire me again."

Li Xuan was confident about this.
Of course, there is another reason, probably because for me, I can 'gain' more from filming and acting, and I basically don't feel the same sense of loss as when I do advertising endorsements.

Because I am the only one, the most special one.

Advertising and endorsements will only affect the speed at which I film.

I love making movies, I love acting!

"Indeed, you are my best student."

Wang Jinsong smiled, relieved, attributing it to Li Xuan's excellent self-regulation ability. This ability to regulate one's mood and overcome feelings of disappointment is actually a very superior skill.

I'm increasingly impressed with you, Li Xuan. Your self-regulation ability is terrifying!
"Alright, it's good that you have no objections. We will definitely support you this time with 'The Myth'. We'll organize the classmates to go see it and let them see how amazing you are."

Li Xuan is now a junior at the Beijing Film Academy and a model student there. Letting other students see how this role model acts is certainly part of the education.

And it's a very important part, so he's very curious to see what kind of performance Li Xuan will deliver.
In terms of project planning, he has more faith in "The Promise," but if he had to say, he would prefer to see his students' performances.

Upon returning home, Li Xuan saw that Wei Ming had brought him two projects. One project was "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan," sent by Tangren Media, which was a highly anticipated project.

The Yang family generals are very famous.

Tangren Media really wants to collaborate with Li Xuan a second time, and this time, even Chairman and founder Cai Yulong personally sent an invitation.
After all, for Cai Yulong, Li Xuan was definitely a 'fierce general'.

A powerful figure who can enrich his own dramas, a powerful figure who can lead his own actors and the Hu Qu he promotes forward.

The treatment and role he was given were also quite good; he was Yang Yande, one of the five generals of the Yang family.

The main point is that "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan" does fit the current tone of Tangren Media: a lighthearted story in the beginning, followed by a tragic ending, creating a bittersweet experience.

This is the same old path that Tangren Media has taken.

I know this move really well.

In "Chinese Paladin", it was this trick that Tangren Media seems to have a path dependency. The story of the Yang family generals is very simple: a family of loyal martyrs, they killed the eldest, then the youngest, then the women. In short, the whole family sacrificed themselves in the fight against the Liao. Later, this legend was changed into the story of "The Generals of the Yang Family" and "The Women Generals of the Yang Family", which continued to exploit loyalty and righteousness.
To be honest, the character is somewhat interesting—but Li Xuan really doesn't like the script, because the emperors of the Song Dynasty are really too despicable, especially those with the background of the Yang family generals. They were basically all persecuted to death by treacherous officials in the court, and later when they had to go to the battlefield, they made their young and old widows go with them.

The taste is too strange.

The emperors of the Song Dynasty were truly a collection of scoundrels. To be honest, Li Xuan felt that this drama was not suitable for him—especially after looking at his upcoming schedule, he felt even more unsuitable.

Another drama is called "Plot Against," a spy drama that demands high acting skills and requires the lead actors to be "actors." It is somewhat obscure because it was director Liu Guanglong's first time directing.

This is also an invitation. In terms of production level, it should be a level lower than "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan", but the subject matter is spy photography, and the roles offered are the main characters, An Zaitian and Qian Zhijiang.
It's a new film by a new director, set against the backdrop of the Beijing entertainment circle.

Li Xuan is a rare find in Wuhu; he actually has a project from the Beijing entertainment circle that he can get.

The importance of 'purity'.

There will always be people who can't help but come looking for you.

After careful comparison, Li Xuan still felt that exploring spy dramas like "Plot Against" was a good option, and this could also pave the way for "The Young Pioneers".

My impression of that era of bloodshed and fire is mostly hearsay, without any real experience.
You have to find your footing eventually; as an actor, you also need to broaden your range of roles.

As for "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan," just turn it down. I'd rather die for Song than work for him!

Next, we'll film "The Plot," but for now, let's look at "The Myth."

Initial D certainly ignited enthusiasm in the film market, but it can only be considered a 'dessert before the main course' at best.

In terms of results, this film is quite good as a pioneer, and the fact that Hollywood blockbusters are all at the end of the year does not affect the two major works of this year.

This time, we'll see how "The Myth" and "The Promise" far turn out, as these two works are currently the most popular.

The Promise was directed by Chen Kaizi, who also directed Farewell My Concubine.

"The Myth" is a film starring Cheng Shilong, and also features excellent supporting actors from India and the Korean Peninsula. It can be said that this film is aimed at the Asian region and is full of ambition.

Currently, "The Promise" is the most anticipated film, followed by "The Myth".

"Do you want to see 'The Promise'?"

"I'm not watching it anymore."

"You definitely want to see 'The Myth'."

"what"

"Your mood is so easy to guess."

At this moment, Jiang Yan looked at Liu Yifei with a teasing expression. She could tell at a glance what work Liu Yifei was going to watch, after all, "The Myth" was a work by Li Xuan.

However, Jiang Yan was more curious about "The Promise". After all, "Farewell My Concubine" often appeared in the textbooks of Beijing Film Academy, and Chen Kaizi's name was well-known. No matter what, she would watch "The Promise" first.

"Ah huh."

Liu Yifei blushed slightly.

Jiang Yan, standing next to her, looked on with envy. That collagen, that face—it was impossible to even feel jealous. It was just too top-notch. Her fair skin turned red when she was shy.

She's too easily insecure.

"By the way, as your best friend, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"What is it? Just say what you have to say. We're like family."

"You didn't see it, but when the boss took Kim Sun-hee and Choo Ja-hyun to stroll around the Beijing Film Academy campus, those two older sisters were really beautiful, top-tier beautiful. Everyone says Kim Sun-hee is the number one beauty on the peninsula, and that's no exaggeration. And Choo Ja-hyun, she's so quirky and really super beautiful. I felt inferior just looking at her from afar."

Jiang Yan added in her mind, "I feel inferior standing next to you!"
At this moment, Jiang Yan, who was standing next to him, said, "You'd better be careful~~~ You're not big enough yet."

"What does my age have to do with Kim Sun-hee and Choo Ja-hyun?"

"Hey, you're still a young girl after all. Anyway, they have their advantages too. Don't let our leader be snatched away. He's so outstanding. I don't know what it would be like to work with him on a film, but he's a shining person. No matter what achievements someone has, if he's shining, or if he's earnestly pursuing the path of light, he's super beautiful! He's shining brightly!"

Jiang Yan made no attempt to hide her longing at this moment, but the distance between her aspirations and reality was still too far away.
At this moment, Liu Yifei was also confused, but it seemed that she understood a little.

A small sense of crisis did indeed inexplicably rise in my heart.
(End of this chapter)