Huayu: The Best Actor starts with obtaining the role entry

Chapter 103 - Revising the script for the Legend of Chu and Han: Killing four birds with one stone!
imperial capital.

Under Gao Xixi's arrangement, Bai Ye, Chen Daoming, and screenwriter Wang Hailin gathered together.

In the hotel private room.

Gao Xixi then gave Chen Daoming a detailed introduction to Bai Ye.

When Gao Xixi proposed revising the script during this meeting, she hesitated for a while, but she still talked to Chen Daoming about it later.

Originally, this drama was actually created by Wang Hailin at the invitation of Chen Daoming, who wrote the biography of Liu Bang.

However, it was subsequently shelved due to investment and policy issues.

Ultimately, it was Gao Xixi's efforts that brought the project to fruition.

Although Gao Xixi has a lot of say in the production crew.

However, Chen Daoming is currently one of the top actors in China.

In addition, Chen Daoming was in charge of this drama from the beginning, so naturally, if the script did not satisfy Chen Daoming...

In fact, this drama could not be filmed.

Therefore, Gao Xixi directly brought up the matter of revising the script with Chen Daoming.

Chen Daoming was also quite interested.

Based on the points marked by Bai Ye that Gao Xixi brought over, I suddenly felt that this drama might actually have some serious problems.

He previously thought the script was well-polished.

But looking at it now, the script is really bad.

So, thanks to Chen Daoming's insistence, we have this situation today.

"I've heard that Bai Ye is very popular recently. How could I not know him?"

Chen Daoming wasn't pretentious at all.

Although Bai Ye's status is quite different from his own.

However, this was just a private gathering between members of the film crew.

Therefore, in Chen Daoming's view, there was no need for him to put on airs.

I'd like to hear Bai Ye's interpretation of the script later.

Besides, who in the industry doesn't know Bai Yehong these days?

It's impossible not to understand something yourself.

"Teacher Chen Daoming, how can I be considered famous? I grew up watching your TV dramas!"

"What are you looking at?"

"The Eighth Prince!"

Bai Ye wasn't lying; she really did grow up watching Chen Daoming's TV dramas.

Of course, to be honest, he didn't watch that much, but he did watch Young Justice Bao.

I've watched it many times; I both loved and was afraid of watching it when I was little.

"Your Zhou Yu and Zhao Gao are not bad either!"

Chen Daoming nodded, then nodded at Bai Ye as well.

Chen Daoming wasn't really interested in the TV dramas Bai Ye had acted in before, such as Chinese Paladin 3 and With You.

I watched some of the myths and the new Three Kingdoms series.

I felt that Bai Ye's acting skills were quite good.

Therefore, later, after Gao Xixi suggested that Bai Ye was the candidate for Xiang Yu.

He also thought it was quite suitable; Bai Ye's acting skills were excellent.

"By the way, did you bring up that script thing?"

Chen Daoming then changed the subject, shifting the focus to the script.

He felt there was little need for mutual flattery in business dealings.

"Yes, Mr. Chen Daoming, I think there are some illogical points in this script."

Since we've brought it up, let's get to the bottom of it.

Even under Chen Daoming's gaze, Bai Ye showed no sign of stage fright.

After all, the worst that can happen is that they simply stop acting.

He felt that even if he acted in the script, he would probably be criticized.

"Bai Ye, although I don't want to say it, sometimes it's a big no-no for actors to ask for script changes."

Gao Xixi couldn't help but remind him from the side.

They revised the script, and on a large scale, because they often knew there were problems with it.

But bringing this up makes the screenwriter and director lose face.

Gao Xixi just thought it would be better to mention it to Bai Ye.

Otherwise, if he hadn't shunned Bai Ye, he would have simply told Bai Ye not to act at all.

Those who criticize and interfere with the script.

This is something no great director could tolerate.

The director must have authority and control over the entire production team; otherwise, the lead actor will revise the script today, and the investor will revise it tomorrow.

The day after tomorrow, your investor's mistress and her lover will come and make some changes.

Then we might as well not film this script!
"I know Director Gao, but I think if this drama isn't changed, it will definitely be affected."

Since acquiring that learning entry, and with his later understanding of screenwriting, Bai Ye...

He felt that he had made significant progress.

Before coming here, I stayed home for a few days and found many more problems in the script.

"I know you're doing this for the show, so that's why I brought people here, right?"

Gao Xixi didn't say much, which made Lin Wan, who was standing to the side, feel terrified.

Or you could say Bai Ye is bold.

They actually dared to say these things out loud!

If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't dare to say that to Gao Xixi.

There was even a Chen Daoming standing next to them, whose emotions were hard to discern.

"Bai Ye, why don't you tell us first? We'll consider it further. Anyway, the reason we're having this dinner is to talk about this."

At this moment, Chen Daoming also spoke up.

This dinner party was originally created to solve a problem.

"it is good."

Bai Ye nodded, then took out the script. "First of all, the Three Character Classic is intruded into the Qin Dynasty."

The Three Character Classic was written in the Song Dynasty, a thousand years later than the Qin Dynasty.

Then came the edict of Qin Shi Huang, which prominently displayed the phrase "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees," a format first created by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, based on the paper mentioned here, if I understand correctly, although hemp paper existed in the Western Han Dynasty, the mainstream writing material in the Qin Dynasty was still bamboo slips or silk.

This is just the beginning.

We're filming a historical drama; if even this kind of flaw appears, then being criticized is a minor issue.

I'm afraid I'll be called illiterate then; it just feels too out of place.

Don't these people do any research before writing this?!

Just throw everything in here!
If it's a time-travel drama like a myth, then Bai Ye won't say anything.

After all, you've traveled through time, so it's normal for some strange and incongruous things to appear.

But this is precisely historical evidence.

Previously, after the new Three Kingdoms aired, Gao Xixi was heavily criticized for drastically changing many lines.

Now Gao Xixi has actually come again.

Based on previous Three Kingdoms scenarios...

Bai Ye felt that Gao Xixi had most likely interfered with the script.

Otherwise, as a senior screenwriter, Wang Hailin, no matter how well he writes, wouldn't have so many common-sense problems.

Chen Daoming was speechless when Bai Ye finished pointing out these flaws.

He looked at the script for a long time and felt there were no problems with it.

So there are so many problems?!

He didn't say anything, and just waited for Bai Ye to speak.

"Then there was Qin Shi Huang's conquest of the six states, including the State of Wei, but historically the State of Wei had already been annexed by the State of Wei during the Warring States period."

Even potatoes were included in the drama, despite being only introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty. Later in the script, there's even a scene of a woman from the late Qin Dynasty lifting a bronze ritual vessel (鼎) to wash clothes; these ding were ritual objects, not everyday utensils.

These are just minor flaws.

However, the key to a TV series' success often lies in whether it can completely eliminate its major flaws.

Then try to avoid minor flaws, and the plot can be closed.

This is actually a very good TV series.

Moreover, the plot of this drama has serious flaws, a slow pace, and unrealistic character behavior.

"Also, as previously noted, the first 40 episodes overemphasized the internal struggles of the Qin Dynasty, while the scenes of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu's Chu-Han Contention came late."

Doesn't this look like a Qin Dynasty palace drama?! It's similar to the myth I starred in, but the myth is a time-travel drama, while we're filming a serious drama.

and"

Bai Ye paused for a moment as he spoke.

He didn't speak, but simply focused his gaze on Chen Daoming.

Noticing Bai Ye's gaze, he was somewhat puzzled, but still said, "Just tell me."

Does it concern me?!
Although Chen Daoming didn't know what Bai Ye was going to say, he could roughly guess that it might be related to him.

"Also, this is a TV series about two heroes vying for supremacy, but Liu Bang has far more screen time than Xiang Yu, which is a bit off-topic."

After reading the script, Bai Ye realized that Xiang Yu, as one of the main characters, had far fewer scenes than Liu Bang.

Is this a dual protagonist story or is Liu Bang the main character?!
Liu Bang did win in the end, but Xiang Yu was clearly the protagonist before that!

Even in the end, Xiang Yu did not lose. Xiang Yu is also the only person who was not an emperor but was included in the annals of emperors.

After listening to Bai Ye's words, Chen Daoming finally understood why Bai Ye had hesitated earlier.

So you feel like you don't have enough screen time?

But it also makes sense; I have a lot of screen time, while Xiang Yu, one of the main characters, has much less.

However, the original title of the drama was "The Legend of Liu Bang," so naturally Liu Bang had more screen time.

Gao Xixi and the screenwriter, who were standing to the side, were also at a loss for words.

Bai Ye is really amazing.

They spoke so freely, even mentioning the added scenes directly to the face of another lead actor.

But what they said made a lot of sense, and there was no way to refute it.

"What next?"

"Xiang Yu and Yu Ji's first encounter was adapted into a chance meeting by the river, where she smiled sweetly. Qin Shi Huang's burning of books and burying of scholars alive was triggered by the unequal distribution of meat, completely ignoring the need for ideological unity in the historical context."

Moreover, judging from the dialogue, Liu Bang lacks roguishness and has an excess of righteousness, while Xiang Yu is a nobleman turned brute. As a descendant of the Chu nobles, he is brave and good at fighting. The dialogue and narration make it seem as if Xiang Yu is just a brave but foolish man.

Zhang Liang's lines are also poorly written. Furthermore, history books say that Yu Ji followed Xiang Yu in battle and was inseparable from him, but this plot setting blames the tragic deaths of her family members on the Chu army, artificially creating emotional conflict.

The ministers reported to Qin Shi Huang that Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had started an uprising, and that they should be used to incite rebellion, right?
What else is there to look at with new respect, a do-or-die battle?
Shouldn't we really think about these lines carefully?

Bai Ye is truly exhausted; she's been spending the last few days reading scripts.

He was so dizzy from looking at it, and this was the only one he could find.

Some of those that haven't been found, I guess they're still around.

After Bai Ye finished explaining the problems with the script, Chen Daoming was completely numb.

So the script I thought was pretty good before actually turns out to be terrible!
"You have insights into historical dramas too?!"

Gao Xixi said with some surprise.

Previously, I just thought that Bai Ye might have some of his own insights.

But to everyone's surprise, Bai Ye discovered so many problems.

It seems Bai Ye is really good at screenwriting.
Gao Xixi had heard rumors that the screenwriter of "The Best of Us" was Bai Ye.

But youth dramas and historical dramas are different.

Bai Ye might be good at youth dramas because he is a young man himself, having just graduated from school not long ago.

But historical dramas are different.

"I wouldn't call it insightful; if you asked me to write it down, I definitely couldn't. But if you're looking for faults, I could point some out."

Bai Ye has a clear understanding of her own position.

After saying all that, he stopped talking.

We've basically found all the problems we could find, so now it's up to Gao Xixi to decide what to do.

Should we revise the script?

This also determines whether or not to cooperate in the future.

"Bai Ye, are you planning to make a movie first, and then film the Legend of Chu and Han?"

Chen Daoming's sudden remark left Bai Ye speechless.

He hasn't even been confirmed to star in the Legend of Chu and Han yet.

"If the script is revised, then you'll be next, right?! I'd really like to act opposite you, what do you say?"

At this point, Chen Daoming directly brought up the subject.

He's also an actor with aspirations; if you don't know that, then forget it.

But now that Bai Ye has found so many problems, he has to demand that they be revised.

Chen Daoming began preparing for this drama in 2005.

Later, due to many unexpected events, they eventually gave up.

He doesn't want the show to be criticized so harshly just because of the script issues, now that it's being restarted.

The fact that Bai Ye was able to raise these questions shows that he has a certain level of control over the script.

On one hand, he acknowledges Bai Ye's acting skills, noting that his previous performances as Zhao Gao and Zhou Yu were also excellent.

He even glanced at the appearance of the Demon Lord Chonglou. In fact, if Bai Ye were to play Xiang Yu, his image would be a good fit.

“I would also like to collaborate with Mr. Chen Daoming once. In fact, I agreed without hesitation because I heard it was you.”

Bai Ye wasn't lying; he genuinely wanted to collaborate with Chen Daoming.

"So, Director Gao, what's your opinion?"

Clearly, both of them were interested.

But now it all depends on what Gao Xixi decides to do.

"Let's revise it. It's perfect timing, Bai Ye, while you're filming the movie. We can use this time to revise it according to your ideas. What do you think?!"

Gao Xixi gritted her teeth; both lead actors had decided to rewrite the script.

Even if he didn't want to change the script, he had no choice but to do so.

Ultimately, they've already made it very clear that if I don't change, Bai Ye and Chen Daoming probably won't act anymore.

So who did Xiang Yu and Liu Bang seek out?
"Reduce some plot points, cut most of the princess's scenes, and focus the plot mainly on the Chu-Han Contention, as well as some wars to destroy Qin, and make some plot changes."

Actually, the original plot was supposed to have 82 episodes, but if the story had been explained clearly, it could have been much longer.

Bai Ye also offered her own advice.

He did have some personal motives, mainly to win awards, and historical dramas like this are the easiest to win awards.

Bring Gao Xixi's train of thought back.

Stop playing his romantic games.

If you put this in the context of the war to overthrow Qin or the Chu-Han Contention, wouldn't the plot be just as exciting?!

"Then you two should talk it over."

Gao Xixi took a deep breath and finally decided to let Bai Ye and Wang Hailin talk about this matter.

He did indeed interfere with a lot of scriptwriting.

The reason they were willing to delegate power was partly due to the actors, and partly because the new Three Kingdoms series was heavily criticized.

Aside from the Battle of Red Cliffs, there are many other flaws.

However, the original Battle of Red Cliffs was not like this at all. The reason why the Battle of Red Cliffs scene was able to be filmed well was because Bai Ye was given more screen time, and some of Bai Ye's opinions were also taken into consideration.

Therefore, at this time, Gao Xixi was actually somewhat superstitious about Bai Ye's abilities.

Although he didn't care about winning the lottery, he only thought about making money.

But if Bai Ye could actually cut some of the plot and still get the TV show to win awards, and make a lot of money, maybe even more, then...

Why not?!
Anyway, I don't have to revise the script myself later.

Bai Ye wanted to win awards and make more money; Chen Daoming wanted to perfectly portray Liu Bang; and Wang Hailin wanted to reclaim his rights as a screenwriter.

Now this has happened.

All four of them achieved their goals.

Isn't this killing four birds with one stone?!
(End of this chapter)