Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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With a soft creak, the door to the dressing room was pushed open from the outside.

Old Deng swaggered in.

His original long hair with gray bangs was cut into a clean and refreshing buzz cut, with new black hair growing at the roots, showing signs of weathering.

Her cheeks were thin, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired and old, not at all like a well-maintained celebrity.

But this sluggish state,
Upon seeing Gu Qing, he was instantly filled with excitement.
Deng Chao suddenly clapped his hands, winked, and opened his arms wide, "Who is my superhero~?"

"You are my superhero~"

"I'll sing this love song for you right now~"

I see,

Old Deng slid over and, while singing, suddenly began to perform his signature pole dance around Gu Qing in an abstract manner.

Han Han: "???"

The renowned literary talent standing to the side suffered a severe mental shock.

what happened?
What... what exactly is this thing?

Is this middle-aged man, who is dancing around Gu Qing, singing off-key and enjoying himself, really the movie star Deng Chao?

Han Han was dumbfounded.

"I can't bear to look, I can't bear to look..."

Deng Chao's fiery pole dance made Zhao Liying, who was standing next to him, cover her eyes shyly, but her fair fingers honestly parted a thin gap as she watched Deng Chao's enchanting dance with great interest.

I have to say, he really has a professional feel to him; no wonder he's trained specifically for this.

"Brother Chao, try to be normal..."

Surrounded by the "dance," Gu Qing felt a chill run down her spine and dared not move.

They were afraid of accidentally touching any of Deng Chao's "dancing" joints, which could trigger even more unpredictable "artistic behavior".

"Haha, am I not normal?"

Deng Chao's dance moves suddenly changed, seamlessly switching from "pole dancing" to a festive Northeast Yangko dance. He started twisting and turning, shouting, "What's wrong with me? Little brother, come on! Let's get hyped!"

"Brother Chao, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Gu Qing gave up struggling, stretched out her left hand, swung it left and right twice, and started dancing to Aaron Kwok's "I Can't Stop Loving You" with a natural sense of rhythm.

"Wasn't I thinking of giving you a surprise?"

Upon seeing Gu Qing accept the dance, Old Deng beamed with joy. He suddenly turned to the side, crossed his arms, and twisted his shoulders up and down. He then looked at Zhao Liying, raised an eyebrow, and grinned mischievously, "Liying, this is your third time dancing with me, right? Happy?"

"Brother Chao, I'm...I'm really happy..."

Under Deng Chao's encouraging gaze and Gu Qing's subtle "you're not getting away either" look, Zhao Liying...
She had no choice but to bite the bullet and join.

She clumsily waved her left hand upwards, stiffly spun her right hand around, and moved her toes slightly to the left and right, performing a completely self-created "Zhao-style dance for a dance fanatic".

His movements were uncoordinated, but his expression was serious, which gave him a unique kind of endearing clumsiness.

These three people—one a madman and an abstract thinker, one barely cooperating, and one clumsy and awkward—actually created an extremely bizarre yet inexplicably harmonious "chaotic dance of demons" scene in this small dressing room.

Han Han: "..."

This talented director, known for his sharp writing and profound thoughts, was now completely lost in cognitive confusion.

Are... are they a bunch of lunatics?
Or am I hallucinating because I've been under too much stress lately?

How come they were chatting and getting their makeup done, and suddenly the three of them started singing and dancing for no apparent reason?

and also,

How do they manage to dance completely different steps while still having a smooth conversation?

Just as Han Han began to doubt his life, and even subconsciously raised his hand to rub his eyes, wanting to confirm whether he was seeing things.

His hands were suddenly grabbed.

"Director Han, Director Han Han! I've heard so much about you. I read all your books before coming here, and I've benefited greatly from them!"

Deng Chao had somehow slid up to him, a warm smile on his face, and tightly grasped Han Han's hands, spreading his arms without a word.

"Ah? Uh... thank you... thank you, Teacher Deng..."

Han Han was completely passive and bewildered. His brain was still processing the information flow in front of him, but his body had already been led by Deng Chao and naturally started to dance to some non-existent rhythm.

"Little brother, what's wrong with Brother Chao?"

While Deng Chao was "harming" Han Han, Zhao Liying finally stopped her hand, which was spinning rapidly like a helicopter, and quietly moved to Gu Qing's side. She covered her mouth with her hand and asked softly,
“I feel like there’s something really off about him.”

"There's something wrong."

Gu Qing also frowned slightly, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as she observed Deng Chao, who was still "torturing" Director Han.

Although Brother Chao was known for being "crazy," "mischievous," and a "comedian" in the past, he would suddenly get "excited" from time to time and do some things that made people laugh and cry.

But this was the first time he had ever seen a mental state of such near-madness as today.

Hong Jie, huddled in the corner: "I think all four of you are pretty crazy."

"Could it be that Brother Chao exhausted his main personality after filming 'Psychological Crime'?"

Gu Qing secretly guessed.

He recalled how much effort his brother Chao had put into playing the genius detective Fang Mu in "Psychological Crime".

That character was several levels heavier in terms of psychological "bitterness" and "sorrow" than Mei Changsu, whom he had played before.

Mei Changsu carries a deep-seated hatred and endures humiliation, yet the very first episode is already in a fast-paced, satisfying mode.

The ending is a bittersweet tale of self-sacrifice for the greater good.

And what about square timber?

He himself is a PTSD sufferer with severe psychological trauma, and in the drama, he constantly witnesses the tragic deaths of his close friends, the deaths of his lover, and the suffering of his relatives... He is in a state of extreme pain, depression, and on the verge of collapse for a long time.

However, due to their profession and personality, they have to force themselves to face everything with an almost indifferent rationality, and their emotions are suppressed and unable to be vented.

To portray such a character, an actor needs to immerse themselves in the role for an extended period and become deeply involved.

Immersed in such an extremely gloomy and painful mood for several months in a row, anyone would probably have some psychological problems.

This is why Deng Chao accepted Gu Qing's invitation to "There's a Comedy" almost without hesitation and joined the crew ahead of schedule with such excitement.

He desperately needs to reward himself with a comedy.
This allowed him to completely relax, laugh freely, and wash away the gloom left in his heart by "Fang Mu".

"Snapped--"

Deng Chao stopped walking, let go of her hand, and exhaled with extreme pleasure.

He... came back to life!
"Is it done?"

Han Han held his forehead, supporting himself on the chair with his other hand, feeling his head buzzing.

"Director Han, it's all done, it's all done."

Deng Chao regained some composure and laughed apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, I was just too happy to see you and Liying. Please don't mind."

"Let's not talk about that now, Teacher Deng. Please go and stand between your brother and Liying."

Han Han took off his glasses, blinked hard to dispel the dizziness, and then put them back on.

"Huh? I'm standing in the middle?"

Deng Chao hesitated, "Wouldn't it be bad to ruin things for these two young people?"

Hearing this,

Sister Zhao smiled foolishly with her eyes crinkled, and Gu Qing waved helplessly, "Brother Chao, be serious, the director wants to audition."

"Alright, alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Deng Chao walked over, took Gu Qing's arm, leaned on his shoulder with a 'shy' look on his face, and bumped into Sister Zhao with his hip, making her stumble. "Liying, don't blame me for interfering in your relationship."

Zhao Liying: "???"

This is wrong!

"Teacher Deng, stop joking around."

Han Han was amused by his actions, but quickly became serious and said, "Move forward a little more... Yes, a little more... Okay, squat down, yes, squat down a little lower... Okay, like that, hold it."

Deng Chao followed the instructions with a blank expression, and finally squatted down in front of Gu Qing and Zhao Liying in a standard, slightly comical "Asian squat" posture.

He looked up at Gu Qing and Zhao Liying, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, standing side by side above him.

Then, turning to look at Han Han, who was gesturing with his hands to "frame the viewfinder," she asked, puzzled, "Director, why am I posing like this? Am I practicing squats? My back is fine; I don't need to train beforehand."

Han Han did not answer immediately, but instead carefully examined the scene composed of the three people in front of him through the virtual "viewfinder".

Han Han's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his previous worries vanished.

Not bad, not bad, the awkwardness is really gone!

He had previously worried that if Gu Qing and Zhao Liying stood together, the difference in their styles would make them look too much like siblings and not like a couple.

But now, Deng Chao has joined.

This "son" has a weathered face, a stubble beard, and is squatting on the ground.

The whole scene became incredibly harmonious.

Old Deng, relying on his own strength,
It helped Gu Qing and Zhao Liying bridge the age gap, and even highlighted their "youth" and "vitality".

In front of Deng Chao, the two of them suddenly appeared incredibly "naive" and "fresh," almost like two high school students who were completely unaware of the ways of the world.

This absurd contrast is precisely one of the core comedic elements needed for this film.

The son is more mature than his father, and when they travel back in time, they become brothers. This mismatch in identity and visual perception is a perfect source of humor.

"Teacher Deng, you play their son in the play,"

Han Han put his hand down and explained with a smile, "I need to see if the three of you look like a family when you're in the same frame."

"Son...son?!"

Deng Chao was stunned and almost fell headfirst.

Next second,
He sprang to his feet, shouting in a hoarse voice, "What do you mean?! Whose son am I playing?!"

"You brat, you want me to play your son?!"

Enraged, Old Deng grabbed Gu Qing by the throat, yelling, "You think you can fly to the sky?!"

Only then did he belatedly realize the "seriousness" of the problem.

Gu Qing had contacted him before, only saying that there was a good comedy script and asking if he was interested in collaborating with him based on his schedule.

At a time when the controversy surrounding the "grain replenishment campaign" has not yet subsided, many projects have stalled, and actors are all feeling insecure, which actor with ambition would be unable to find time?
Moreover, it was Gu Qing who took the initiative to invite him, and it was a comedy.

Deng Chao agreed without even thinking about it or asking about the script outline.

After all, he's good at comedy!
But Deng Chao racked his brains and never expected that Gu Qing, this kid, would quietly want him to play the son! Is this some kind of rebellion?!

"Brother Chao, you're a professional actor, you'll definitely be fine."

Gu Qing smiled and pleaded, "I'll show you the script; you'll definitely like it."

"I like it my ass! If I really had to let you play my dad, how could I ever face Chi Chi and the others again?!"

Deng Chao couldn't even imagine meeting Chen He and the others on Running Man; he'd probably be laughed at for the rest of his life.

"No, if we're going to act, I'll play your dad!"

"Brother Chao, I don't want to be paired with you, don't scare me."

Sister Zhao shook her head like a rattle-drum, her resistance written all over her face, "I don't like old men."

"Pfft-"

Old Deng felt like he'd been stabbed. "Liying, you..."

"Haha, Teacher Deng, don't you think this creates a lot of contrast?"

Han Han chuckled and said, "Even you find it hilarious. The audience will definitely burst out laughing when they see it!"

"It's funny, but you're making me call my little brother and Liying..."

Even Deng Chao, who is usually carefree, is now finding it difficult to speak.

This is so embarrassing.

“Brother Chao, in my heart you are a comedy genius. Playing this kind of role will definitely be a piece of cake for you.”

Gu Qing praised him gently, "When I was filming 'Detective Chinatown' with Brother Chi Chi, you said you wanted to act with me. Now you have the opportunity, don't you?"

"Let's work together and try to surpass the box office of Detective Chinatown. Let's see how Brother Chi can brag to you then!"

"this…"

Thinking of Chen Chichi's despicable face, Old Deng hesitated.

Since filming "Detective Chinatown" with Gu Qing, it broke the box office record.

Every few days, Chen Chichi would taunt Deng Chao, mocking him with a smug grin: "Old Deng has acted in movies for over ten years, and the total box office of all his movies doesn't even equal the box office of one of mine. Trash~ Little~ Trash."

Hard, fist hard!
On one hand, he was calling Gu Qing "Dad," and on the other hand, he was slapping Chen Chichi, that big bastard, across the face.

Choose one of the two.

Deng Chao chose the latter without hesitation.

He also felt that this movie had a lot of potential.

He calls Gu Qing "Dad" in such a serious manner, who could stand it?
Even Deng Chao himself couldn't hold back.

Who knows, a miracle might actually happen!
Old Deng finally "overcame his inner demons" and gritted his teeth to take on this challenging role.

The core three-person cast of "Riding the Waves" has officially assembled.

Next,
That is, the determination of other important supporting roles.

One of the characters, though not many, is quite crucial – the upright yet slightly comical "police station chief".

Gu Qing exercised his "small privilege" as an investor and made the decision on the candidate himself.

If he doesn't install a few actors he approves of and who are talented, then he's just wasting his time as an investor.

of course,

His primary criterion for selecting actors is always their acting skills and suitability for the role.

He asked his assistant Zhao Ya to contact a veteran actor whom he greatly respected and admired—Mr. Jin Shijie.

This old gentleman was not only from the same hometown as Gu Qing, but the two had also had two pleasant collaborations before:

One instance was in the movie "Brotherhood of Blades".

Jin Yong portrayed the sinister, ruthless, and powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian;

Another instance was in "Detective Chinatown," where he made a cameo appearance as Mr. Yan, a mysterious, deep-thinking, slow-talking yet incredibly intimidating gangster boss.

Gu Qing benefited greatly from both collaborations.

This elderly gentleman not only possesses superb acting skills, but is also happy to mentor younger generations.

During breaks from filming, Gu Qing would humbly seek advice, and Director Jin would happily share all the acting experience he had accumulated over the years.
Whether it's the intonation and rhythm of the dialogue, or breath control,
Or it's the subtle movements of facial muscles that convey complex emotions.

Even the meticulous etiquette, posture, and graceful movements in period dramas...

These valuable experiences allowed Gu Qing to make significant progress in her acting skills.

In terms of experience and ability, Jin Shijie is undoubtedly a true veteran actor.

In the realm of historical dramas, he successfully portrayed the renowned prime minister Wei Zheng in the classic historical drama "The Reign of Zhenguan," and his performance was hailed as "both in spirit and form," a universally recognized classic.

His skill in dialogue delivery and voice acting is equally profound. In last year's hit Chinese animated film *Big Fish & Begonia*,

He voiced the "Spirit Woman" who governs all the souls of the deceased and whose voice is eerie, ethereal, and full of philosophical insights.

Jin Yong played countless supporting roles, creating many unforgettable characters.

Unfortunately,

He has received only a handful of nominations for major performance awards, just two or three.

But the old gentleman has a very good attitude. He once publicly stated that he acts because of his love for it, and it is also a job that can support his family and reflect his value. He takes fame and fortune lightly.

Gu Qing greatly admires and appreciates such veteran artists.

He is also willing, within his capabilities, to provide more good opportunities for these truly talented and ethical veteran actors.
This allows them to receive generous compensation while also gaining recognition and exposure from a more mainstream audience.

"Little brother, you said you hired Jin Shijie, the voice actor for 'Ling Po'?!"

Upon learning that Gu Qing had invited Elder Jin, Sister Zhao, who was standing nearby, was instantly stunned. Her round almond-shaped eyes widened, sparkling with surprise.

"Yes, Sister Liying, what's wrong?"

Gu Qing was somewhat surprised by her strong reaction.

"Little brother, I absolutely love 'Big Fish & Begonia'!"

Zhao Liying excitedly grabbed Gu Qing's arm, "When the movie was released last year, I secretly went to the cinema to watch it twice by myself!"

I wanted to ask you to go with me back then, but I was afraid of being photographed by paparazzi or fans and causing unnecessary trouble, so I didn't dare to ask you..."

She became more and more excited as she spoke: "I never expected that the voice actress for the Spirit Woman would be Teacher Jin! I must ask Teacher Jin for her autograph when the time comes!!"

Sister Zhao has a rather niche hobby.

She is a loyal fan of Chinese animation!
She has been spotted in the theaters of almost every Chinese animated film that has been released.

Sister Zhao herself will also help promote it on her blog for free, without asking for a single penny of promotion; it's purely out of passion.

Seeing Zhao Liying's adoring fangirl look, Gu Qing was stunned for a moment, then found it both funny and exasperating.

My dear sister Liying has truly never had anything good to eat...

Is Big Fish & Begonia a good film?

From both a technical and artistic perspective, it is indeed a landmark breakthrough for the Chinese animation industry.

The visuals are exquisite, full of rich traditional Chinese style and fantastic imagination. The character designs, scene designs, and use of color are all top-notch, and the voice acting cast is also very strong.

It has pushed the aesthetics of Chinese-style visuals to a new level and greatly increased the domestic audience's expectations for domestic animated films.

But the key point is,

Who watches a movie just for the visuals?
Gu Qing still remembers that she was full of enthusiasm back then.

As a young anime enthusiast who frequents Bilibili (a Chinese video-sharing website), I reluctantly spent several tens of yuan to go to the cinema to support Chinese animation, hoping to contribute to the cause.

The result...

I was completely shocked by the movie's plot and character settings.

None of the main characters are likable.

"Whose love do you think you're accepting? You're accepting the love of a god!"

Especially when 'Qiu' shouted this sentence, the whole theater was filled with joyful laughter.

The film received polarized reviews, with both praise and criticism.

Those who like it praise it as a masterpiece, while those who don't scoff at it.

As for Gu Qing, who was a centrist,
I think giving it an encouraging passing grade of 6 is acceptable.

but,

Zhao Liying's reaction unexpectedly served as a reminder to Gu Qing.

The future market for Chinese animated films is a huge, rapidly growing "red ocean" with enormous potential!

While the story of "Big Fish & Begonia" may be controversial, it has undoubtedly ignited the market's enthusiasm for high-quality domestic animated films.

This proves that this path has enormous commercial potential and a large audience base. The Chinese-style visual wave it sparked has had a far-reaching impact.

Since investing in movies is an investment, isn't investing in promising domestic animated films also a form of investment?

Especially considering the changes in the overall environment of the film and television industry in the next few years, the so-called "film and television winter" is not unfounded.

Live-action film and television projects are facing increased risks and fierce competition.

Planning ahead and appropriately focusing investments on the booming animation industry is a wise move to diversify risks and plan for the future.

"I remember there seem to be a few domestically produced animated films that have received good reviews and performed well at the box office in the future."
In the early stages of production, funding issues made progress extremely difficult, and the production team gritted their teeth and persevered to barely complete the project…

Gu Qing fell into deep thought.

If these films had more funding, could they have been produced better in terms of production cycle, visual quality, and marketing and distribution?
The final effect is even better?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

With his current financial strength, industry connections, and huge online influence, he could easily try to play the role of an "angel investor" to discover and support high-quality domestic animation teams that are creative, technically skilled, but lack funding.

this way,
Firstly, it can help truly talented creators overcome difficulties and use their own traffic to promote the development of the domestic animation industry.

Secondly, if the project succeeds, he can also obtain a considerable return on investment, achieving both fame and fortune.

more importantly,
As a cultural product, animated films are more likely to overcome cultural barriers and gain recognition and popularity in overseas markets than live-action films.

In the past, Chinese animation often occupied a place on popular overseas trend discussion lists, and was widely welcomed by overseas audiences.

It far surpasses pop music and live-action films, and rivals the food and travel sectors.

Promoting traditional culture and earning money from foreigners.
This has always been Gu Qing's goal.

……

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(P.S.: First, Happy New Year to all my darlings! I was originally planning to take a day off and update again tomorrow night.)

But I was also worried that the people who wait for the updates every night wouldn't know about the notifications in the group, so I stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish writing.
I hope you all get some rest and don't stay up too late. The new chapter will be updated at 9 PM on the 2nd. I need to adjust my biological clock. If it's not updated by then, it will definitely be there when I wake up the next morning. (End of Chapter)