Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 465 Huang Xiaoshan's Angle Set

The final selection of "Huang Xiaoshan" has attracted not only media attention, but also the attention of the performance departments of several major film and television academies.

Nortel is keeping a particularly close eye on it.

If they choose students who haven't graduated yet, and then the Beijing Film Academy can't recruit them, wouldn't they be laughed at?

Wang Jinsong, carrying out his mission, inquired about Wu Chen.

"Is Dean Chen so concerned about this matter?"

"What do you think?" Wang Jinsong couldn't help but laugh.

He still vividly remembers the time when Wu Chen approached him to find suitable actors; however, so many years have passed, and it seems like only one actor is being cast each year.
"The candidate hasn't been decided yet. As for whether or not someone will ultimately apply to our college, that depends on the individual."

"Professor Chen's intention is to contact you as soon as you've made your decision, in order to prevent the Central Academy of Drama, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, or other schools from 'snatching' you up."

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

Is there even a scene of them trying to snatch someone away?

The audition arrangements were being made quickly, and at that moment, Wu Chen received a call from the Film Bureau early in the morning. It was Tong Gang's secretary calling.

"Director Wu, the script for '1939' has passed the review and the project has been approved."

Even Wu Chen couldn't help but show a hint of joy upon hearing the news.

"Director Tong and the others have given your new script high praise."
"Mainstream themes are a subject the bureau has been emphasizing this year, and we hope Director Wu and your team will pay more attention to and make more films of this type in the future."

"understand!"

Wu Chen nodded. No wonder it was Tong Gang's secretary who called him this time.

The spring of patriotic films is quietly approaching.

Soon, the script for "1939" passed the review, the official website was updated, and the news of the project's approval spread.

The news truly shocked the industry.

Because it only took about half a month from the time the script was submitted to the end of the review process.

"That doesn't make sense. Even Wu Chen should need a month, right?"

"Normally, the review process takes at least two or three months. How come it's so efficient this time?"

"Is the script really that good? The bureau even gave it high praise. Is it because of the subject matter or something else?"

"."

Many people in the industry are discussing this, expressing envy for Wu Chen's consistent treatment of scriptwriters, but many others have also subtly sensed something in the future.

The media coverage was very timely:
[“1939”: Focusing on the Heroic Ordinary People of the Anti-Japanese United Army, Highly Praised by the Film Bureau!]

[“1939” is the fastest war film to pass censorship in recent years; the Film Bureau directly gave it the opinion of 'encouraging its production'.]

【.】

All entertainment media outlets are waiting for the final conclusion of the auditions for "1939". Outside the Starry Night Pictures building, reporters and paparazzi gathered again, and the list of auditionees on Weibo was also circulating wildly in various group chats.

Who are these people?

"They're all newcomers; I've never heard of them before."

"Wow, Director Wu Chen really dares to use newcomers."

On the day of the second round of auditions, dozens of young actors who had passed the initial selection arrived at Starry Night Pictures.

A tense atmosphere filled the corridor.

Some children looked anxious, their palms sweating.
Some, however, were filled with a fierce determination, constantly reciting their lines in their minds.

Several casting directors and assistants were shuttling back and forth.

Han Sanping and Ning Hao were already seated properly.

The former came specifically to take a look, while the latter was someone Wu Chen asked to come and check on.

Wu Chen looked at Han Sanping sitting in the director's seat with a serious expression, his expression stern and unsmiling. Coupled with his buzz cut and his inherent imposing manner, he looked rather fierce.

Of course, Ning Hao wasn't much better off.

"I have a feeling that you and Chairman Han sitting here will scare them. They're all young people who are sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen years old," Wu Chen teased the two of them after sitting down. He then called his assistant over and prepared to start the audition.

"Nonsense, my affability is widely recognized throughout the company," Han Sanping said irritably.

Upon hearing this, both Wu Chen and Ning Hao suppressed their laughter.

Han Sanping was displeased: "Ha, what do you mean by laughing like that?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

The two waved their hands repeatedly.

Soon after, the audition began.

This time, the casting director clearly noticed that Wu Chen nodded more often than before and was also more diligent in recording the information of each auditionee.

They've been looking at so much material these days. Although the studio auditions are easier than the on-site auditions, it's still tiring to screen people this way.

"Next." As the staff called out, a young man from Northeast China, wearing an old military uniform, with dark skin and a stubborn look in his eyes, walked out.

"Hmm, I vaguely remember this one, isn't it called..."

Ning Hao seemed to have thought of something.

Wu Chen looked at it, his eyes brightening slightly, then he looked down at the documents again.

"Li Gan, from Harbin, Heilongjiang." The boy's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to resonate in everyone's heart.

"Li Gan."

Ning Hao muttered to himself, "This guy's got some interesting charisma, even just standing there."

Han Sanping couldn't help but nod.

He had served in the army and knew this taste very well.

Have you taken any acting classes?

"No, but I really enjoy performing; I'm passionate about plays, movies, and stage productions."

Wu Chen smiled and nodded upon hearing this; he had all the information. "Then let's look at a clip."

The audition scene begins.

Wu Chen set up an impromptu task: to have the teenagers act as messengers, running through blizzards and gunfire to deliver orders to friendly forces.

Li Gan truly showed no trace of formal acting training, nor any stage presence. He crouched low, panting heavily, his eyes darting around for cover, falling, rolling, and getting back up.
"Lie down!" Wu Chen added on the spot.

Li Gan took the opportunity to kneel down, sliding two meters with his body close to the ground. He suddenly looked up, a stubborn glint in his eyes.

Ning Hao nearly spat out his tea, muttering under his breath, "No wonder it's from the Northeast, this has a real wild flavor."

After the audition, Li Gan stood up straight, panting heavily, scratched the back of his head, and asked in a straightforward tone with a Northeastern accent, "Director, how was my performance?"

Wu Chen and the others smiled.

Han Sanping couldn't help but ask in return, "What do you think?"

When Han Sanping spoke, Li Gan became noticeably more reserved, but still responded, "I think it's great; these are all things I've learned from watching and studying many movies."

Everyone laughed.

"It's barely acceptable, but there's potential," Ning Hao said.

Finally, Wu Chen spoke up: "Okay, that's settled for now. We'll issue a notice later."

Dozens of people from all over the country are here auditioning and waiting. If they have to go back to notify them, it will be a real hassle. Whether or not they have found someone, Wu Chen has no intention of dragging it out.

As soon as Li Gan left, Wu Chen looked at Han Sanping and said with a smile, "Right, Chairman Han, what I said might scare people, right?"

"Hahaha"

Ning Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Han Sanping looked at the two of them with annoyance, "An isolated case doesn't prove anything."

The auditions continued, and after interviewing more than ten people, the staff called Jiang Qiming in.

The slender young man from Guangdong and Guangxi has a natural talent for acting and a very distinctive face.

All three nodded in agreement.

The auditions had just ended in the afternoon when the casting director's notes were handed to Wu Chen one by one.

"Li Gan, Jiang Qiming"

The casting director has basically locked in these two.

“Li Gan has a strong physique and a wild, “street kid” vibe. He’s a bit mischievous and would be suitable to be portrayed as a young anti-Japanese soldier who can endure hardship from the beginning and has a tough, grassroots spirit.”

"Jiang Qiming has a soft face, and his natural childlike innocence is more obvious. His acting skills are considered to be the kind that are spiritual, but in terms of image, Li Gan might be more suitable. It depends on what kind of Huang Xiaoshan you want to portray. The two Huang Xiaoshans have two different flavors."

Ning Hao and Han Sanping also commented on the two.

The two are quite suitable, but there is always someone more suitable than the other, so it's about choosing the best of the best.

"Four messengers disappeared without a trace. Knowing it was a 99% certain death sentence, Huang Xiaoshan, this kid, still stepped forward. I think this character should have a bit of stubbornness and a bit of the ruthlessness of the lower class."

As Wu Chen spoke, he stood up, looked around at everyone, and finally wrote his name on the whiteboard—Li Gan.

"He's the one for the role of Huang Xiaoshan."

That evening, entertainment news headlines were flooded with a new wave of explosive news:
[The nationwide casting call is over! Amateur teenager Li Gan will play the male lead Huang Xiaoshan in Wu Chen's new film "1939"!]

From Weibo to the big screen, 18-year-old Li Gan becomes the male lead in Wu Chen's war film!

【.】

The Weibo hashtag #FindingHuangXiaoshan# instantly transformed into #LiGanHuangXiaoshan#, sparking a frenzy of comments from netizens:
"It's amazing that an ordinary teenager has gone straight to the big screen!"

"Wu Chen is so daring! I can't wait to see what he does!"

"Sure, the project synopsis I saw is about the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, and they chose a young man from Northeast China whose image and temperament fit the bill. I'm looking forward to it."

(End of this chapter)