Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

Chapter 237 Where did the love in his eyes go?
"Oh, who do we have here? It's Sister Leying! Are you here for the auditions? Is there a role you're interested in?"

The moment Tong Yulu met Chi Leying at the audition, the two were destined to start bickering; enemies are enemies after all.

"Isn't your sister the same?"

Chi Leying paused for a moment, then said, "So, your recent decision to enter the comedy genre was all part of your strategy for this show. You've really got a long-term vision."

If someone else said this, it might be a compliment, but coming from her mouth, it was definitely sarcastic. Tong Yulu gritted her teeth; she was being made fun of by her abstract ideas.

She originally wanted to retort directly, but she swallowed the words back. To be honest, she always felt inferior to Chi Leying.

Since her re-lyricized version of "Youth" became a hit at the Capital Concert, Chi Leying is now incredibly famous and even has a government job.

In comparison, I am far inferior, not even in the slightest, not even in the same league. Before, we were evenly matched, but now I have absolutely no confidence.

A true rival is one who is head-to-head with the opponent; she's probably no longer worthy of being their opponent...

"uh-huh?"

Her willingness to back down completely surprised Chi Leying. Was this still the same Tong Yulu? She just let it go like that?
Perhaps because she had heard so much of the other party's sarcastic remarks, she felt rather uncomfortable, and always felt something was missing if she didn't get a good scolding.

While they were arguing, the afternoon auditions officially began. Yu Wei and several directors took their places one after another. There weren't many main female roles in "Goodbye Mr. Loser," so it didn't take much effort.

Qiu Ya's seemingly innocent but actually pragmatic persona is quite suitable for Chi Le Ying, but the difference is that Chi Le Ying has her own methods.

As for Ma Dongmei, she has a bit of a comedic element, so Tong Yulu could give her a try. To be honest, Yu Wei doesn't have high expectations for her, because the role requires a lot of acting skills later on.

It's worth mentioning that, despite being old acquaintances, Zhou Mumu didn't get to benefit from him for free, not because she refused, but because he had no say in the matter.

Zhou Mumu's agency wouldn't budge an inch, and Yu Wei was too lazy to argue with them. If they didn't want to come, they didn't want to come. They'd regret it once the movie was released.

He also contacted teachers Meng Han and Su Xinnan for a few other roles, but they are currently in Shanghai waiting for the finale of "Music Blind Box" and cannot come at the moment.

It's really not a big deal, since Yu Wei has to go back the day after tomorrow to finish filming the last two episodes of the show first, and there's still some time before the movie officially starts filming.

Since there were only two main female characters, Qi Yunming simply let them both come in together, which would make it easier for them to rehearse their scenes.

Seeing Tong Yulu and Chi Leying standing on opposite sides, Yu Wei actually wanted to laugh a little. Apart from the variety show at that time, these two have probably never worked together before, right?
This movie is a rare opportunity to bring these two sworn enemies together, and Yu Wei can't wait to see their scenes together...

"Let me first talk about my understanding of the role."

Qi Yunming was already dozing off. He needed to finish the preliminary selection quickly so that Yu Wei could take full charge and Peng Chao could assist him. Then he could rest for a while.

While Tong Yulu was still organizing her thoughts, Chi Leying confidently stepped forward and gave her a demonstration.

"Qiuya is not just a single, symbolic school beauty. During her school days, she was a top student and a good student in the eyes of her teachers, but she also knew how to make use of her strengths."

"Qiuya's classic line: It doesn't matter if a man is old and ugly, the most important thing is that he is talented. This is not only what she said to Xia Luo, but also a declaration of her values. It seems realistic, but in fact it represents the helpless choice that many people face in life."

She has a thorough understanding of the character and even analyzed the core of the role, which is exactly the same as Qi Yunming's.

However, to be honest, the character of Qiuya is a bit thin, and even if you overanalyze it, you can't really figure out anything.

At least in terms of appearance, she is very suitable for the role of Qiu Ya. She has an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows. If she were wearing a school uniform, her quiet temperament would definitely make her a school beauty.

"Okay, Little Deer, you'd like to come?"

Qi Yunming interrupted Tong Yulu, who was still silently choosing her words. They received the scripts at about the same time, so how come there is such a big difference between them?
Tong Yulu had actually prepared, but she was clearly a little nervous. She really wanted to get the role, and the more she cared, the more nervous she became.

He'll terminate his contract immediately, then seamlessly transition into a film crew, make a name for himself, and instantly become a top star...

Besides the opportunities brought by the film, she was also very satisfied with the role's identity. She was the female lead, while he was the second female lead. Even someone as strong as Chi Leying could only play a supporting role for her.

When the billing order is announced, her fans will definitely jump back in strong. It's a bit childish, but that's how it's always been in the competition for the crown prince position.

When called upon to ask a question, she could only bite the bullet and continue: "Ma Dongmei has a very outgoing personality. She's the kind of girl who would grab a javelin and yell at a bunch of thugs, 'Charlotte, I'm here to save you!'"

"But beneath her outgoing exterior lies a sensitive and persistent heart. In reality, she manages her household and works three jobs, while in her dreams she remains persistent and brave. She may seem carefree, but she is actually quite sensitive."

Tong Yulu also wanted to learn from Chi Leying and analyze the core of the character, but she tried for a long time and still couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped there.

The more you say, the more mistakes you make. It's best not to show off your understanding of things you're not even sure about yourself.

However, this is enough. At least Tong Yulu has a good understanding of the character. It all depends on her acting skills.

Both of them came from talent shows, and I guess the acting skills of girl group idols aren't that great...

Chi Leying auditioned first, and she chose to play Qiu Ya's reaction when Xia Luo asked, "If I can't write songs anymore, will you still love me?"

This scene is a reflection of the character Qiu Ya. She never loved Xia Luo; she only loved Xia Luo's fame and fortune.

Chi Leying's expression instantly became complicated.

She first forced a smile, trying to hide her inner hesitation; her eyes darted around, and her fingers unconsciously twisted together. In those brief seconds of silence, she perfectly portrayed Qiuya's inner struggle at that moment, weighing the choice between love and reality.

In the end, she answered evasively, "Charlotte, you are a genius."

But those flickering eyes already revealed the truth.

Chi Leying's acting was surprisingly good; she had clearly done targeted practice. Her emotions were a bit lacking, but her expressiveness was sufficient.

As a self-proclaimed "hanger-up" (a term used to describe someone who is overly critical or malicious), Yu Wei doesn't really have any thoughts on this scene. Personal experiences don't need to be proven or disproven. If Sun Wukong were just an ordinary monkey, would Tang Sanzang still love him? Such questions are meaningless.

As an online novelist, he understands even better that this kind of thinking is unacceptable. Once the protagonist starts to pursue self-discovery, the plot is likely to go awry.

Why ask so many "what ifs"? That's just being a busybody. Just live a good life, what's wrong with that?
"It needs improvement, but it's not bad. You could try to understand the character's inner world more."

Qi Yunming gave a brief comment, and although there wasn't much praise, his words clearly conveyed only one message: You passed!
The pressure is on Tong Yulu. Other supporting actresses have already passed the test, and she wants to be the female lead, so she has to have something to offer.

She was tasked with the scene where Xia Ma Dongmei cooks fennel noodles for Xia Luo in a 40-square-meter small house, but she didn't get into character as quickly as Chi Leying, and hesitated for a moment before getting into character.

Tong Yulu's expression gradually softened. She virtually picked up a pot and skillfully cooked and seasoned the ingredients, each movement exuding a sense of realism.

The acting was alright, but gesturing at thin air always felt a bit funny, probably because the image of a comedic female character is so deeply ingrained in people's minds.

As she virtually placed the bowl of noodles in front of the judges, her eyes held a warmth and expectation: "Eat it while it's hot..."

She seemed to be in a good mood, but unfortunately, Tong Yulu forgot her lines. What was the next line again? "Don't drink alcohol if you have a bad stomach."

The scene became a little awkward, but Qi Yunming didn't dwell on those details. He said he could memorize the lines later; today, the main focus was on whether the role suited him.

Overall, her performance was quite good; at least there was a hint of warmth in her eyes during the moment she finished the scene.

It just feels like something's missing...

"Try acting out another scene."

Tong Yulu has entered the second review stage. After all, she is the female lead of the film, so even Qi Yunming can't help but be stricter.

This time she plans to act in a campus drama, and Ma Dongmei tries to imitate Qiu Ya but is ridiculed for her poor imitation.

This is exactly what Yu Wei wants to see. Xiao Chi, what are you waiting for? Go up and act with him!

The performance began, and this scene was supposed to be Ma Dongmei looking at Xia Luo with tenderness and shyness in her eyes, but Tong Yulu just couldn't portray that feeling; her gaze was empty.

Qi Yunming knew where she was lacking, where the love in her eyes had gone. Tong Yulu's performance completely lacked that feeling of caring and liking.

That won't do. The most outstanding aspect of Ma Dongmei's character is her love for Xia Luo. How can we not portray that?
Whether in reality or in her dreams, she loved Charlotte dearly, but her love was not about possession; it was about wishing him true happiness.

In comedies, this kind of deep emotion can be a little less intense, but it can't be absent. Tong Yulu completely lacks that feeling of "having eyes only for one person".

"Could you please help with the filming?"

Qi Yunming looked at Yu Wei. Many new actors are like this; without a reference point, it's easy for them to make mistakes when acting alone. He planned to have Yu Wei help out.

Yu Wei didn't refuse. Anyway, they were going to act together sooner or later, so he might as well treat it as a rehearsal.

He wasn't actually that suitable for the role of Charlotte, but after looking around, there weren't many people suitable for the male lead. Hiring other stars would cost a lot of money, and there was no guarantee that their acting skills would be up to par, so it was better to do it himself.

It's good to keep the good stuff in the family. At least he has it all figured out perfectly, so there's no need to worry about his acting skills, and his image is actually not bad either.

Shen Teng was also a heartthrob at the PLA Academy of Arts, but his comedic image is more fitting. Yu Wei is probably seen as quite irreverent by netizens now, so as long as he acts well, that's fine.

When Yu Wei stood there, Tong Yulu treated him like Xia Luo and acted out the scene again, but the same problem remained: there was no love in her eyes.

Tong Yulu had no choice. Her relationship with Yu Wei was that of genuine friends and colleagues. She might admire him a little, but it was far from being completely infatuated with him.

She's never even been in a serious relationship, so she can't really empathize with the characters. Does writing love letters to the tomboy in her middle school class even count?

Qi Yunming rubbed his temples. He had thought that the artists he had acquired for free were all suitable, but he didn't expect that there would be a problem with the key female lead.

"Try again."

He encouraged Tong Yulu to try a couple more times; as a popular idol who doesn't ask for payment, she should try her best to secure the role.

Tong Yulu tried to gather her emotions and repeated the process several times. In the end, she blushed unconsciously, but she still couldn't quite capture the love in her eyes.

"How about we try the final kissing scene?"

Yu Wei was taken aback by what he heard, and looked at Qi Yunming with a hint of confusion in his eyes. It was hard to imagine that Old Qi would make such a request.

Is this how the preliminary selection is done? Are you afraid that Qi Luoan will not remove his oxygen tube later?

(End of this chapter)