I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

Chapter 411 Liu Dehua plays an eunuch?

"Brother Hua, then I wish you great success at the box office in advance," Cheng Sheng said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Thank you. I greatly admire Director Cheng's talent. I wonder when we can collaborate?" Liu Dehua said.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Sheng began to ponder. This was not the first time Liu Dehua had proposed a collaboration. When Liu Dehua made a cameo appearance in "Ten Red Army Soldiers," he mentioned wanting to work with him.

Cheng Sheng admires Liu Dehua as a dedicated actor and hopes to work with him once.

“I’m writing a new film, and there’s a role you’d like to try out for,” Cheng Sheng said after thinking for a moment.

"Oh, what role?" Upon hearing that Cheng Sheng was going to shoot a new film, Liu Dehua immediately became interested.

It's worth noting that every film Cheng Sheng made was a classic, not only winning awards but also breaking box office records.

If I could star in his movie, I could not only turn my career around, but also become famous internationally.

Such opportunities are rare, so you absolutely must seize them when they come along.

“Eunuch,” Cheng Sheng said.

"Eunuch?"

Liu Dehua was taken aback. If he hadn't been wearing a mask, his expression would have been absolutely priceless.

It's not that he doesn't want to play an eunuch, but if he does, the audience might easily lose immersion in the role.

"Director Cheng, if I play an eunuch, will the audience not accept it?"

Liu Dehua is a little worried because his image has become too fixed in the minds of the audience.

Cheng Sheng smiled slightly, knowing that Liu Dehua's worries were not unfounded.

If we were to name the Chinese male actors least likely to play an eunuch, it would probably be Liu Dehua.

Liu Dehua's image and temperament are too different from his roles. Since his debut, he has always presented a sunny, positive and energetic image. His classic roles, such as Yang Guo's dashing and romantic nature, Xiao Shiyilang's ambiguous morality, and Hong Qigong's open-mindedness and carefree attitude, are all based on the core of a "standing tall and upright" masculine temperament.

In film and television dramas, eunuch characters are often given a sense of "repression due to castration" and "feminine or gloomy qualities," and their living conditions are even reflected through their hunched posture, obsequious behavior, or shrewd and calculating eyes.

Liu Dehua's tall and upright figure, angular face, and imposing presence stand in stark contrast to the typical eunuch's role of "serving others" and "competing for favor and power," making it difficult for viewers to associate him with such a character.

Furthermore, Liu Dehua's voice and acting style are not well-suited to the role of an eunuch.

Eunuchs' lines often need to be delicate, sharp, or have a tone unique to "castrated men" to highlight the special nature of their status.

Liu Dehua has a deep and masculine voice, and his performance style tends to convey emotions through strong body language and a firm gaze.

For example, his portrayal of Lau Kin-ming in "Infernal Affairs," though internally conflicted, still conveyed the contradiction of a policeman being drawn into darkness, rather than the distortion and repression of someone who has been castrated.

If someone were to force themselves to portray a eunuch, their voice and performance style might make the audience feel "out of immersion".

And if Liu Dehua plays a eunuch, I'm afraid the audience won't accept it.

Liu Dehua has long been regarded as a representative of "model worker" and "good man". His public image is far removed from the characteristics of "being deprived of normal rights" and "emotional repression" represented by eunuchs.

Audiences' expectations of his roles have always revolved around "tough guy" and "responsibility," while the role of a eunuch needs to demonstrate his value through "loyalty" or "scheming." This contrast greatly increases the difficulty for audiences to accept.

Just as casting Wu Jing as a weak scholar required immense effort to convince the audience, Liu Dehua faced a similar challenge in playing an eunuch.

Ultimately, there is a fundamental contradiction between the character's core essence and the actor's traits.

The core of the eunuch role is "a distorted state of existence," while Liu Dehua's characteristic is "being able to stand tall and face adversity."

This "masculine spirit" fundamentally clashes with the "rare femininity" required of eunuchs, making it difficult for the actor to completely dispel the audience's preconceived notions about the character through acting alone. If Cheng Shengzhen had cast Liu Dehua as the eunuch, the film would most likely have flopped.

This is also what Liu Dehua is concerned about.

"Don't worry, I know the audience won't accept you playing a eunuch, but this eunuch is very unique and is also very famous in history."

Cheng Sheng said with a smile.

Other eunuchs may not fit the image of Andy Lau, but the eunuch in his new film is not like other eunuchs who are scheming; instead, he is more like a general.

Upon hearing Cheng Sheng's words, Liu Dehua's heart immediately relaxed.

But I was also more curious.

What kind of eunuch could make Cheng Sheng say such a thing?

Because of Cheng Sheng's filming of historical movies, people in the entertainment industry are now quite keen on reading history books.

This is all due to Cheng Sheng's casting requirements. To make a film about Cheng Sheng, acting skills are required, but the most important thing is to understand history.

If you don't understand history, you won't even get past the preliminary selection stage.

Therefore, in today's entertainment industry, any actor who wants to work with Cheng Sheng will spend their free time studying a thick history book.

Liu Dehua was no exception. He had read many history books. He wouldn't say he was an expert in history, but he knew about most of the famous people in history.

Liu Dehua also knew a little about Liu, a famous eunuch in history.

The first one should be Zhao Gao, a eunuch of the Qin Dynasty. He altered Qin Shi Huang's will, forced Fusu to commit suicide, and supported Huhai to succeed to the throne. Later, he seized power by pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, which hastened the demise of the Qin Dynasty.

Since Cheng Sheng asked him to play the role of a eunuch, it's unlikely that Zhao Gao would be involved.

The second famous eunuch should be Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Cai Lun, known as the "Sage of Paper," is a figure familiar to most people who have attended school. He improved papermaking techniques, creating "Cai Hou Paper" from tree bark, rags, and other raw materials, which promoted cultural dissemination and influenced the world.

Cai Lun was a eunuch during the Eastern Han Dynasty, and a native of Guiyang County.

He entered the palace as a eunuch during the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, served as a junior eunuch during the reign of Emperor Zhang, and was promoted to a senior eunuch during the reign of Emperor He to participate in government affairs.

He also served as the Director of the Imperial Workshops, overseeing the production of imperial supplies, during which time he systematically improved papermaking techniques.

He used inexpensive raw materials such as tree bark, hemp fibers, rags, and old fishing nets to produce high-quality paper through processes such as soaking, crushing, steaming, and rinsing.

In the first year of Yuanxing (105 AD), the production method was reported to the court, and Emperor He of Han ordered its promotion throughout the country.

This new type of paper, known as "Caihou paper," was lighter and more economical than the previous silk and bamboo slips.

He was later granted the title of Marquis of Longting, with a fief of three hundred households.

During the reign of Emperor An, he was demoted for his involvement in court intrigues and eventually committed suicide by poisoning himself.

Playing Cai Lun might be possible, since his image is quite noble and righteous, but his temperament doesn't fit, so it probably isn't him.

The third is Gao Lishi of the Tang Dynasty, who helped Emperor Xuanzong of Tang quell the rebellion of Empress Wei and loyally served him for nearly 50 years, and was known as "the foremost virtuous eunuch of all time".

Gao Lishi was a famous eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. His original name was Feng Yuanyi. He was born in 684 in Gaozhou, Lingnan.

He entered the palace as a child and was adopted by the eunuch Gao Yanfu, after which he changed his surname to Gao. He began serving in the palace during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian.

(End of this chapter)