It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 112 Which actress has the strongest "wife-like" vibe? (5000 words, please vote!)

Wise Vision.

Audition scene for "Remote Control".

Lu Rui looked at Ge You sitting in front of him with admiration in his eyes.

He truly deserves to be called a veteran actor of "national actor" caliber!
He can play a "social idler" in "The Troubleshooters," portray a "bandit leader" in "Yellow River Ballad," and showcase the spirit of a fallen aristocrat as "Master Yuan" in "Farewell My Concubine"...

Lu Rui's most profound memories of him are Ge You lying down in "I Love My Family" and Fugui in "To Live".

And now, when he auditioned for the role of a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man in "Remote Control," he still portrayed the character with remarkable precision.

Sitting on the sofa, slowly chewing a cucumber in my hand, I felt completely numb from being overwhelmed by work.

His performances possess a down-to-earth absurdity, capable of portraying both the character's obsession with his career and his cleverness, while also conveying the character's later regret and tenderness through subtle expressions.

Especially in the relaxed atmosphere of family scenes, it perfectly matches the contrast between the character's transformation from utilitarianism to returning to his true self.

"Okay, let's stop here."

Seeing that Ge You seemed unable to finish chewing the cucumber, Lü Rui called out to stop.

Ge You then swallowed the cucumber in his mouth, stood up, and nodded with a smile to Lü Rui and the others.

“Teacher Ge, is your schedule open for the first half of the year? This movie will probably be filmed from March to May.”

After seeing Ge You's performance, Lü Rui no longer considered looking for other actors.

While there are many actors in the Chinese entertainment industry who can play middle-aged men, very few can carry a comedy and still have box office appeal.

In addition, Ge You's acting style has become somewhat fixed in recent years, and audiences love his comedic image, so choosing him is definitely the right choice.

In Lü Rui's opinion, Ge You absolutely deserves the title of "Actor with a Thousand Faces".

Unfortunately, in recent years, Feng Xiaogang has dragged him into making too many comedy films, which has gradually limited his acting range, and more and more people regard him as a pure comedy actor.

"It's empty."

Filming for The Banquet won't start until September of this year, so Ge ​​You is currently free.

"That's good." Lu Rui smiled with satisfaction, patted Zhao Peng on the shoulder, and instructed, "Take Teacher Ge to sign the contract."

"it is good."

Zhao Peng got up and led Ge You through the side door to the next room.

Once the male lead was confirmed, the biggest star of the entire film was decided.

Shen Ao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling inexplicably excited!
It's worth noting that Ge You had previously worked with directors of the caliber of Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, and in recent years he even earned the title of "leading man in New Year's comedy films."

Casting him as the male lead in "Click" means that as long as the movie isn't bad, it will definitely break even!

"Call the next person in."

Now that he was here, Lü Rui planned to take the opportunity to finalize the main character lineup.

Actually, this movie mainly tells the story of the male protagonist. The only other slightly outstanding characters are his gentle and virtuous wife, his domineering and pragmatic boss, his father who loves his family deeply, and the mysterious boss who sells "remote control" to the male protagonist.

Ge You is undoubtedly the biggest name among them.

As for the others, given that the film's budget was only 800 million, they didn't consider casting any A-list actors.

Among those who initially signed up were even Li Bingbing and Xu Jinglei.

Their ages met the requirement of female artists around 30 years old, but their fees were too high, so they were rejected.

"Hello Director Lü, I'm Ding Jiali, I'm 46 years old..."

Listening to the actress who had just walked in introduce herself, Lü Rui's expression remained unchanged, but he couldn't hide his doubts.

According to gossip media reports, this person has already been divorced twice and is almost 50 years old. How could she get together with Sun Honglei?
With such a large age gap, it's impossible for the two of them to stay together, so this current "feud" is perfectly normal.

As a top actress in the 90s, Ding Jiali's acting skills were not a problem, but unfortunately her image did not quite match the requirements of the role.

Putting aside her gentle and virtuous nature, she has lost the ability to project the image of a sexy housewife and a wife.

"Call the next person."

After Ding Jiali left, Lü Rui continued to instruct his assistant to call for more people.

The door opened, and a familiar figure walked in with a smile.

"Hello, Director Lü and Director Shen, my name is Mei Ting, and I'm 30 years old..."

Compared to Ding Jiali, Mei Ting, who follows closely behind, is clearly a level above the female lead in terms of compatibility.

However, due to her roles in the films and television series "Don't Talk to Strangers" and "Gone Girl," her character image has become somewhat fixed.

After watching her performance, Lü Rui added her name to the shortlist.

If you really can't find a more suitable one, then use her.

After all, they are old acquaintances who have worked together several times, and the pay is not expensive.

Just then, another person walked in.

"Hello, directors. My name is Zeng Li, I'm 29 years old, and I graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 96. I've starred in TV series such as 'Smoke and Rain Beauty' and 'A Match Made in Heaven'..."

The 96 class of the Central Academy of Drama, like the 96 class of the Beijing Film Academy, is a well-known star class in the industry.

The Central Academy of Drama has produced actors such as Zhang Ziyi, Liu Ye, Qin Hailu, Yuan Quan, and Mei Ting.

The Beijing Film Academy has Zhao Yanzi, Chen Kun, Huang Xiaoming, Zu Feng, Yan Danchen, and others.

Many outsiders believe that Zhang Ziyi has developed the best among the two classes, while Zeng Li has the best temperament and appearance.

But Lü Rui didn't see it that way. He thought Yan Danchen was prettier, with an oval face, fair and delicate skin, which suited his aesthetic.

On the other hand, Zeng Li always felt that this person's face was too long and not to his liking.

Furthermore, he didn't quite understand this woman's "aesthetic" style when choosing a boyfriend.

Her ex-boyfriend was Fu Dalong, and her current boyfriend is Li Yixiang, who played Jinbao in the TV series "Conquest".

This poor taste truly does not live up to the praise she has received for her temperament and appearance.

After a brief self-introduction, Zeng Li began to perform as required by the script.

As an actor who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, his acting skills are naturally beyond question.

However, the female lead in "Click" needs to have a gentle feel, while her facial features are rather strong and have a kind of "aggressive" quality, which is not quite suitable.

The next person walked in quickly.

"Hello Director Lü, my name is Jiang Qinqin, I'm 30 years old, and I've acted in TV series such as 'The White-Haired Witch' and 'Wind and Cloud'..."

Looking at the person in front of him, Lü Rui's eyes lit up slightly.

With excellent looks and temperament, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, a solid fan base, and being new to the film industry, her salary isn't too high, making her undoubtedly one of the best choices.

The only regret is that, perhaps because she is unmarried, she lacks a bit of "wifely charm".

However, this defect should be remedied soon.

Zhuo Wei, a reporter from the Beijing News, recently broke the news of Chen Jianbin and Jiang Qinqin's relationship, which is currently generating a lot of buzz online!

Although neither side has admitted to it yet, they have not denied it either, and are in a state of tacit agreement.

If nothing unexpected happens, it will be completed in no time.

After watching Jiang Qinqin's performance, Lü Rui also added her to his shortlist.

Were there any other actresses auditioning?

After trying several rounds, Lü Rui's eyes were starting to get tired.

It was almost noon, and if no one else was around, he planned to go eat first and continue in the afternoon.

Shen Ao glanced at the list and reminded him, "There's one last one."

"Okay, let them in."

As soon as he finished speaking, a moment later, the door to the audition room was slowly pushed open, and a woman walked in.

The moment Lü Rui looked up and saw the person in front of him, he was taken aback.

She exudes such a strong "wife" vibe!
"Hello director, I'm Liu Tao. I've acted in 'Princess Pearl III' and 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'..."

Compared to the actresses who were over 30 years old, Liu Tao is actually a few years younger.

But for some reason, the moment she stood there, an indescribable aura of a young married woman was undeniably exuded!

Even though she's not married yet, her face, which exudes both a sense of peace and prosperity and a captivating charm that makes you want to be unrestrained, is simply too alluring.

"No wonder netizens strongly recommend her to play Teacher Bai."

Lu Rui muttered to himself, then said, "Two requests: first, give me a seductive look; second, give me a look of love when I see my husband."

"Good!" Liu Tao's acting skills were already quite good, especially his role as A'Zhu in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", which left a deep impression on people.

Lu Rui was actually quite curious whether the rumors about Hu Jun and her were true.
But both of them looked quite respectable, and didn't seem like the kind of people who would do such a thing.

As he was thinking, Liu Tao, while readily agreeing, subtly raised the corner of his eye slightly.

First, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, her pupils seeming to hold a glimmer of light. She glanced at Lü Rui from the side, her eyelashes fluttering. There was no direct, fiery heat, but rather a soft breeze with a hook.

The red tips of her eyes lifted slightly, her lips were pursed in a half-smile, and even her shoulders slumped loosely, as if offering a temptation casually. Even though you knew it was an act, you couldn't help but want to take it.

But in the blink of an eye, that alluring charm dissipated.

It was as if something gentle had suddenly struck her heart, her shoulders trembled again, and the sly look in her eyes softened instantly. The glint in her pupils turned into warm, watery light, and the red at the corners of her eyes faded into a natural blush.

The corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards, not in a big laugh, but in an irrepressible way, a smile that started in his eyes.

Even her eyebrows were slightly raised, as if she had spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Her breathing even became lighter, and her eyes were filled with a comforting warmth, gently falling as if afraid of disturbing something...

"Is this okay?"

After exchanging glances twice, Liu Tao asked softly, his voice still carrying a hint of gentle warmth.

"can."

Lu Rui nodded slightly, finally understanding the true value of "Teacher Bai".

The author probably modeled the classic character after the person in front of him, right?

"You can go back now. If you pass the audition, we will contact your agent."

"Ok."

Liu Tao nodded gently, turned around and left the audition room.

Watching her leave, Lü Rui turned to Shen Ao and asked for his opinion: "Among those actresses, who do you think is more suitable to play the female lead?"

“Liu Tao!” Shen Ao blurted out, then hesitated, “Jiang Qinqin seems quite suitable too.”

He was undecided for a moment.

Lu Rui smiled and made the decision for him: "Let's go with Liu Tao. She has a gentler face and is more suitable for playing the role of a caring wife. Jiang Qinqin's face is relatively domineering and assertive, which is not quite right."

"it is good!"

Shen Ao nodded in agreement and immediately arranged for someone to contact Liu Tao's agent.

After the male and female leads were confirmed, suitable candidates were found for the other roles that same afternoon.

The villainous boss in the movie, who was extremely ambitious and repeatedly tricked the protagonist, was eventually won over by Fu Biao.

This well-known "good guy" in the industry played a wealthy boss who was learning English in "A World Without Thieves" last year, and his portrayal of the state of being "obsessed with lust" was very accurate.

Lu Rui was initially somewhat worried about his condition.

After all, he was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer last August and had undergone a liver transplant.

But Fu Biao himself said there was no problem. He's eating well now and has nothing better to do than stay at home. He'll take on any suitable roles that come his way.

Moreover, he still has some outstanding debts to pay off, and he also has the idea of ​​paying them off by acting.

In addition, this "villainous boss" role has few scenes and is not very difficult, and he can also work with his friend Ge You, so he is quite satisfied with it.

After confirming several times that he was in good health, Lü Rui signed a contract with him.

As for the role of the father at the end, Lü Rui directly called Li Xuejian over.

This character is quite crucial; he serves as a "symbol of redemption" for the protagonist in the later stages of the story, and his death is also the catalyst for the protagonist's transformation.

Li Xuejian's performance carries a profound emotional tension, conveying the depth of fatherly love without needing many lines.

Especially in the audition for the "final scene," he was able to convey the character's longing for his son through his eyes and subtle movements alone, reinforcing the protagonist's regret that "missing out is forever"...

This audition was absolutely amazing!
Lu Rui immediately slammed his fist on the table and made the decision.

You can't go wrong choosing him!
In fact, Li Xuejian is only 3 years older than Ge You in terms of actual age.

However, in terms of appearance, because he looks older than his age, he looks like he is over 60 years old. With makeup, he looks even older. The two of them standing together playing father and son is completely incongruous.

The mysterious merchant who sold Ge You the "remote control" that allowed him to successfully pause time was "snatched" away by Jiang Wen, who came over to join the fun.

Anyway, it's not like I have many scenes, so I'll just consider it a cameo.

Like Fu Biao, Jiang Wen also wanted to have some fun with Ge You on set.

Their friendship began when they filmed "The Emperor's Shadow" in 96.

At that time, Jiang Wen played Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng, while Ge You played the musician Gao Jianli.

The clash between power and art in the play directly set the tone for a "two heroes acting showdown," and also led to a deep friendship between the two actors off-screen.

Even in the decades that followed, whenever Jiang Wen made a movie, Ge You would accompany him without hesitation, risking her life for him!
On the day the cast was confirmed, Ruishijie immediately issued a notice:

"The comedy film 'Remote Control of Life,' produced exclusively by Rui Vision with an investment of 800 million yuan, produced and written by Lü Rui, and directed by Shen Ao, has officially completed its casting today."

Starring Ge You, Liu Tao, and Fu Biao, with special appearances by Jiang Wen and Li Xuejian, the film tells a story of time 'pausing' and 'accelerating'.

The news immediately sparked heated discussions online:

"With this cast, and it's a comedy? This film is practically guaranteed to be the box office champion for this year's Lunar New Year season!"

"Time stop? Is it the kind I'm thinking of? How about some seeds? Let's share it together."

"Looking forward to it..."

Discussions erupted across various blogs and forums, and the film and television industry was thrown into a state of panic.

Chen Kexin is preparing for "Perhaps Love," which is also targeting this year's Lunar New Year film season.

Seeing multiple media outlets promoting "Click" as a potential contender for the Lunar New Year film season and even aiming for the box office champion, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

On his first trip north, he was determined to achieve something, as this was crucial for his subsequent plans and he couldn't afford any mistakes.

Compared to him, Chen Kaige on the other side only glanced at the news before forgetting about it.

It's just a comedy, how can it compare to his martial arts epic "The Promise"?

"I guarantee that no one can surpass 'The Promise' in this year's Lunar New Year film season, or even in terms of the annual box office champion."

When he looked up and said those words, he immediately earned the admiration of his wife, Chen Hong: "I believe you, honey, you're the best!"

As a big-budget commercial film, "The Promise" certainly has the capital to be confident.

However, the chances of Zhang Yimou's "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles" being successful are uncertain.

"My main goal is to win awards. It would be best if the box office was high, but it doesn't matter if it's a little lower."

He acted quite nonchalantly, but in reality, he was just trying to fulfill his dream.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent five years writing the script and specially invited his idol from 28 years ago, now over seventy years old, Japanese movie star Ken Takakura, to play the role of "Takada" in the film.

But Zhang Weiping, sitting opposite him, was having a headache and couldn't help but mutter to himself:

You are noble! You are amazing!

You're talking about winning awards and achieving your dreams? But how are you going to recoup a 6000 million investment? If the box office doesn't sell, won't you lose money?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but urge again: "After this movie is finished, I think we still need to push for commercial films. Art films are no longer the mainstream."

After the huge success of "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", Zhang Weiping realized that if you want to make money, you have to make big productions; everything else is just a gimmick!
"Ok, I know."

Zhang Yimou nodded slightly, then suddenly turned to the side, opened his bag, and took out a book.

Zhang Weiping peeked out and saw two large characters written on the cover: "Thunderstorm"!
His eyes lit up immediately, and he eagerly asked, "Have you decided?"

“Hmm.” Zhang Yimou took a deep breath and said seriously, “Let’s do it your way. We’ll use ‘Thunderstorm’ as the story prototype, and make a blockbuster that can rival ‘Gladiator’ while balancing artistry and commercial appeal.”

"Hahaha, great! That's wonderful!"

Zhang Weiping was extremely satisfied and immediately said he would not bother Zhang Yimou any further, allowing Zhang Yimou to focus on preparing the script.

As for himself, he naturally went to find ways to make money.

The huge investments in films like "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" didn't come from his own pocket.

He's already mastered the art of "getting something for nothing."

Meanwhile, Liu Zhenwei's "A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella" officially began preparations in Hong Kong, and he extended an invitation to the currently popular Fan Bingbing...

In contrast, Lü Rui ignored the online discussions.

After finishing his work on "Remote Control," he immediately set off for Chongqing.

Ning Hao's film "Crazy Stone" is about to start filming, and as the producer, he naturally can't favor one project over the other; he has to balance both...

(End of this chapter)