This director only directs blockbusters.

Chapter 13: Actor Auditions

Fan Binbin changed into sportswear today, went makeup-free, and wore a ponytail, looking much more refreshed.

"Director Yang, I'd like to try out page 89, the scene in the medical room," she said proactively.

Yang Ning nodded.

Fan Binbin walked to the conference table and used it as a hospital bed.

The hand is loosely holding the "surgical instrument," and the fingertips are steady, but a closer look reveals subtle tremors.

The sewing and thread-cutting were done swiftly and efficiently.

Then he stopped and looked at Lu Ran's face.

"What are you trying to prove?" The voice was soft and weary.

"Run when the monster comes..." She continued stitching, but her speech slowed. "You think if you die, I'll live a good life?"

He suddenly smiled.

It was short, but her eyes were red.

"Lu Ran, you're a fucking idiot."

After sewing, cut it.

He slumped down, his forehead pressed against the edge of the table, his shoulders twitching.

There was no sound.

Five seconds later, she looked up, wiped her face, and her eyes regained their composure.

"The wound must not get wet for three days. Change the dressing tomorrow."

He turned around and packed up the equipment.

"Stop," Yang Ning said.

Fan Binbin smoothed his hair, his breathing still a little rapid.

Yang Ning brought up the system in his mind.

[Analysis of Actor Audition Footage]

Actor: Fan Binbin

Character: Lin Xue

• Match rate: 89%

• Suggestion: Pay more attention to details of the hands, such as unconsciously clutching the hem of clothing.

"Okay. Very good," Yang Ning said. "Wait for further notice."

Fan Binbin's eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Director Yang!"

Her agent quickly followed up, saying, "Director Yang, we can discuss the salary. Binbin really values this opportunity on the big screen..."

"I'm not in charge of this. You talk to the production manager," Yang Ning waved his hand.

Zhou Xun arrived at 3:30 PM.

She came alone, without an agent, carrying a backpack, looking like a college student.

"Hello, Director Yang." She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Sister Hua asked me to tell you that the payment will be handled according to your rules here; she won't interfere."

Old Xu clicked his tongue in disapproval. Wang Jinghua was clearly trying to curry favor.

"Which one to try?" Yang Ning asked.

"Page 112, Su Man's report upon her return from the investigation." Zhou Xun put down his backpack. "But Director Yang, can I add a bit of improvisation?"

"certainly."

Zhou Xun walked to the window, turning his back to it.

Take a deep breath and move your shoulders back and forth.

He turned around, his face expressionless, but his eyes held an uncontrollable turmoil—the aftereffects of having just "seen" a bloody scene.

"An abandoned shopping mall in the East District, three floors. Fifteen mutants, there's an ambush." The speaker's pace was calm, but each word was spoken with clenched teeth. "I suggest you take a detour."

Old Xu chimed in, "Taking a detour adds three kilometers to the journey. Should we just force our way through?"

Zhou Xun glanced at "Chen Meng".

That glance was profound—it showed concern, but even more so, it reflected a rational assessment.

"Forcing our way in will result in at least three deaths. The probability is 80%."

Are you sure?

"I 'saw' it." As Zhou Xun said this, his left hand unconsciously pinched the web between his right thumb and index finger. "The appearance of the corpse was very detailed."

She turned her face away, her Adam's apple bobbing.

It felt like swallowing nausea that was rising up.

"I'll listen to you," Old Xu said.

Zhou Xun nodded and turned to leave.

It stopped again.

He didn't turn around.

"Chen Meng," she said softly, "don't rush in so quickly next time."

He paused for a moment.

"If you die, Lu Ran will go crazy."

After saying that, he walked away quickly, but stumbled at the door and had to hold onto the door frame to steady himself—a detail that showed he was mentally exhausted.

"Stop," Yang Ning said.

Zhou Xun turned back, his eyes still carrying the weariness from the play.

Match rate: 93%

[Recommendation: None.]

"Su Man is yours now," Yang Ning said directly. "Have Lao Xu sign the contract. This role has a lot of inner monologues; you'll need to think about it a lot."

"Thank you, Director Yang," Zhou Xun smiled. "I won't let you down."

After she left, Chen Qiming sighed, "This girl, she came here to put on a show."

Old Xu flipped through the schedule: "Next up are Peter Ho and Brother Hu, see you tomorrow. Xu Qin and Lin Xuan can come anytime. Liu Yong's niece is still waiting outside."

"Let the girl in," Yang Ning said.

When Yang Zi came in, she was timid, but her eyes were bright.

Liu Yong followed behind, rubbing his hands together: "Director Yang, the child has prepared a piece..."

"I'll read it myself." Yang Ning handed her the script. "Scene 1: Finding Mom in the Ruins."

Yang Zi took the script, glanced at it a few times, and then put it down.

She walked to the corner, squatted down, and began to "rummage through" the items with her little hands.

He was very careful – first he moved aside the “broken cement”, then peered out and found half a “cookie”. His eyes crinkled as he carefully tucked it into his pocket.

Then I heard footsteps.

He suddenly looked up, his ears perked up. His eyes changed instantly; he looked left and right, then quickly crawled under the table, curled up, and covered his mouth with his hand.

But his eyes were still sticking out, staring in the direction of the footsteps.

The innocence of childhood and the fear of the apocalypse were mixed together.

"Stop," Yang Ning said.

Yang Zi climbed out, patted her knees, and looked at Yang Ning.

Match rate: 95%

[Advantages: A natural blend of innocence and fear.]

"She's the one," Yang Ning said to Liu Yong. "The payment will be according to the rules. You'll be with her the whole time during filming."

Liu Yong's eyes immediately welled up with tears: "Thank you, Director Yang! Thank you!"

Yang Zi then realized what had happened, grinned, and revealed her missing front tooth.

I met Xu Qin and Lin Xuan again in the afternoon.

Xu Qin played the role of teacher Jingjing. She auditioned for a scene where she took care of the wounded. Her gentleness was tempered with resilience, and she passed the audition.

Lin Xuan's portrayal of the lone wolf female warrior was so convincing that her fierceness and despair almost overflowed from her eyes—Yang Ning even felt that she was more resolute than the character was written in the script.

By the time we finished testing everything, it was completely dark.

Yang Ning instructed Lao Xu to inform everyone that the formal signing would take place three days later.

Everyone left, leaving him alone in the conference room.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Those faces flashed through my mind—Huang Xiaoming's ruthlessness, Fan Binbin's stubbornness, Zhou Xun's cleverness, and Yang Zi's eyes.

My phone vibrated.

A system message popped up:

[Main actor compatibility test complete]

Average match rate: 91%

[Expected performance boost: Box office potential +18%]

The new player gift pack "Special Effects Upgrade Coupon" is now available.

[Instructions for use: After filming is completed, the special effects of the entire film can be upgraded to achieve the ideal visual effect in the user's mind.]

Yang Ning stared at the last line.

Use it after you've taken the picture.

In other words, he first needs to produce the film through solid filming. Upgrading special effects is icing on the cake, not a necessity.

That's better.

He turned off his phone and stood up.

Outside the window, the night view of Beijing is dazzling.

This city has never experienced the apocalypse.

But he wanted to take it to see them.

Three days later, the contract was signed.

A week later, the script was read out and training began before filming started.

One month later, filming officially began.

Time is tight.