Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 64: A Good Actor

Beijing in July.

It remains unbearably hot during the day.

But Wang Sheng remained focused on his work.

For the next two days, he entered a state of high-intensity work.

During the day, he buried himself in his desk at the dispatch center, his pen flying across the manuscript paper as he painstakingly extracted details from his mind about "Harmony Brings Prosperity," transforming them into concrete lines, scenes, and action prompts.

Occasionally he would stop, frown and ponder, or flip through the few comedy theory books and old scripts at hand for reference, trying to make the "borrowed" story fit the context of 1996 and the humor of the North.

The cicadas chirped incessantly outside the window, while the old-fashioned electric fan inside creaked and whirred, stirring the manuscript papers scattered on the corner of the table.

Night falls.

The daytime heat dissipated slightly.

Wang Sheng's "battlefield" then shifted to Li Xiaoran's residence.

Li Xiaoran's infatuation with Wang Sheng grew stronger day by day. Having tasted the sweetness, and with her youthful body recovering quickly, she demanded him almost every night without restraint.

Fortunately, at nineteen, he had the strength of an ox.

Sometimes, the somersault cloud would sneak into the room, staring with its big, round eyes, occasionally tilting its head and meowing.

They seemed puzzled as to why this strange human "fighting" lasted so long, and the two seemed to be even closer the next day.

After such tireless efforts, on Sunday afternoon, July 28th, Wang Sheng finally finished writing the last page of the script for the three-part series "Harmony Brings Prosperity".

He let out a long sigh, tossed the pen onto the table, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his aching wrists and brow.

Although most of the memories were "copied" from his previous life, he also spent a lot of time and energy transforming them into filmable texts that fit the current era and the characteristics of the actors, while avoiding some unreleased plot points and potential policy risks.

"Finally done."

He picked up a thick stack of handwritten manuscripts and skimmed through it. Although the details might still need polishing, the overall framework, humor, and character arcs were already clear.

……

During the two days that Wang Sheng was in seclusion working on his manuscript, the news that he was organizing the filming of a family comedy, with the female lead yet to be confirmed, spread like wildfire throughout Beijing's literary and artistic circles.

These days, although there are more film and television projects than in previous years, high-quality resources are still scarce.

In particular, the project, spearheaded by Beijing Film Studio, managed by Shengying Media, and with a list of potential lead actors including comedy heavyweights like Zhao Benshan and Guo Da, is enough to excite many actors and their agents.

Actresses around thirty years old with certain acting skills and fame, who are in the rising or stagnant phase of their careers, are particularly interested.

Leading lady!
"Capable of handling situations, a bit feisty yet possessing a maternal glow, around thirty years old"—this character description, once circulated through the factory's art office, immediately made many people automatically identify with the description and their minds start to race.

……

Here.

Beitaipingzhuang.

Feng Xiaogang's residence.

Xu Fan had just finished rehearsing a play and returned home, looking somewhat tired.

The summer of 1996 was not a smooth one for her.

As her boyfriend Feng Xiaogang's creative career hit a low point, her film and television career also followed suit.

Although Xu Fan gained some attention with "Da Sa Ba" and "Yong Shi Wo Ai", she did not immediately follow up with film projects of sufficient importance. She originally wanted to take her career a step further with "Living a Miserable Life", but things went wrong. At present, she has to focus her energy on the stage of Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Sharing a similar plight, Xu Fan could clearly sense Feng Xiaogang's anxiety, frustration, and the pent-up frustration of being unable to exert his strength.

She turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the fatigue and the faint anxiety in her heart. Just as she was drying her face, her phone, which was on the table, rang.

"Hello, who is this?" Xu Fan picked up his phone and answered, his voice still slightly damp.

"Fanzi, it's me." The person on the other end of the phone was an old acquaintance of hers from the Beijing Film Studio. The voice was low and mysterious: "I want to ask you something, or rather, I want to tell you something."

"What's all the mystery about?" Xu Fan walked to the fan and let the air blow on him.

"Have you been in touch with Xiaogang's side lately? Have you had any new projects going on?" the other party asked tentatively.

Upon hearing this, Xu Fan gave a wry smile: "Hey, don't mention it. You know Xiaogang's situation, his last play fell through, and he's still recovering. There's no way he'll have any new developments anytime soon."

Her tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"Oh." The person on the other end of the phone paused, seemingly choosing their words carefully. "And what about you? Do you have any plans to take on any outside acting roles?"

"Of course I'd like to find a suitable one; I can't just sit around waiting. What's up? Do you have connections?" Xu Fan keenly sensed the hidden meaning in the other person's words.

"I wouldn't say I have any connections, I just heard some news." The other person lowered their voice: "You know Wang Sheng, right?"

"Wang Sheng?" Xu Fan had certainly heard of this name before; in recent months, it had almost become a legend in the industry. "What happened to him?"

"He organized a project to film a family comedy, apparently aimed at airing during the Chinese New Year. He supposedly wrote the script himself and is also directing. The key thing is, the cast is pretty impressive; I heard Zhao Benshan and Guo Da have already been confirmed for the roles!"

"Zhao Benshan and Guo Da?!"

Xu Fan was somewhat surprised. She knew very well what those two names meant, and asked in confusion, "He can get these two people to come?"

Her tone carried a hint of disbelief, but more so, curiosity.

"Oh my sister, don't underestimate this man!" The other person's tone became urgent. "He's now a favorite of Director Han."

Xu Fan, holding her phone, subconsciously straightened up. The fan's breeze ruffled her hair, but she seemed oblivious: "And then?"

She pressed for details, a suspicion beginning to form in her mind.

"The key point is, the female lead hasn't been decided yet!" The other party finally revealed the crucial information: "I heard the requirements are around thirty years old, able to hold her own, a bit feisty, and also have a maternal glow. As soon as I heard these requirements, I immediately thought of you!"

Fanzi, you're such a perfect candidate! A pillar of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, your acting skills are undeniable.

Xu Fan's heart inexplicably quickened.

Partnering with national-level actors like Zhao Benshan and Guo Da, and playing the lead role... for her, who was at a low point in her career, this was undoubtedly an extremely tempting opportunity.

Especially now that Feng Xiaogang's projects are facing obstacles, and he himself needs more film and television works to make a comeback.

If there's any shortcoming, it's a pity it's a TV series, which doesn't match her status as a film actress.

But when I think of Wang Sheng and Beijing Film Studio, I can't help but feel tempted.

If he had connections, Xu Fan wouldn't be clinging to Feng Xiaogang. It's not that he has no connections, but that's why he can only play the sentimental card with Feng Xiaogang, waiting for Feng Xiaogang to make a comeback. As for when Feng Xiaogang will make a comeback, Xu Fan has no idea. Wang Shuo's matter is quite serious, and Feng Xiaogang is his 'lackey.' What if he gets implicated?

"Is the information reliable?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"It's 100% reliable. It's from the Arts Office. Several artists are asking about it. Do you want to try to find some connections at the factory and put in a good word? Xiaogang isn't doing well right now, but he still has some old connections, right?" the other person suggested, their tone encouraging and eager to help her.

Xu Fan held the receiver and remained silent for a few seconds.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the window, as if she could see through the wall and into her boyfriend's eyes, who was troubled by a career slump.

How do I find Xiaogang's connections?

He's in a terrible state right now, barely able to take care of himself. Why bother him with something like this?
but……

She is an actress, an actress who longs for good roles and good opportunities!
"Okay, I understand. Thank you, sis." Xu Fan's tone returned to its usual gentleness, but his heart was in turmoil. "I'll find out the details myself first."

(End of this chapter)