Chinese entertainment: Top stars have no holidays

Chapter 95 ultimately stole Brother Xi's luck.

"The next movie?"

Jiang Bai can't possibly take any of the empty promises made by director Da Peng.

Da Peng's next feature film is not a project for the next year or two.

Instead, it wasn't until 2023 that "Keep You Safe" was released.

We can't be thinking about things that far ahead right now. In the entertainment industry, verbal promises are the least valuable thing.

With the collaboration going smoothly and the box office results being good, they promised to tailor-make a male lead exclusively for him.

But when a few years have passed and things have changed, who will remember those casual remarks made at that moment?

Given the changing circumstances surrounding the script, market demand, actors' availability, and popularity, this promise will naturally fall through.

So Jiang Bai politely accepted the other party's kindness, but didn't take it to heart at all.

After hanging up the phone, the film set returned to silence.

Jiang Bai's work continues.

The popularity of "Sewing Machine Band" continues to grow across the internet.

Now that the film has been in theaters for more than a week and the fan traffic brought by Jiang Bai has faded, the real reviews from ordinary viewers have begun to surface.

Fortunately, the film's reputation has remained consistently above average.

It also has a 7.0 rating on Douban.

It's not outstanding, but as a comedy, it's decent and doesn't have many flaws.

However, as the number of viewers increased, different voices gradually emerged online, mostly from Jiang Bai's fan base.

After watching the movie, countless fans took to social media to make fun of and criticize it.

"Who understands! The entire online promotion is all about Jiang Bai, but he barely has any screen time in the actual film!"

"This is truly a top-tier fraudulent publicity campaign by the production company—giving the least amount of screen time to generate the most aggressive promotion!"

"Dynamite's three-minute appearance was cool enough for the entire movie, but we just couldn't get enough of it!"

These kinds of complaints are frequently seen in discussion forums for the movie "Sewing Machine Band" on platforms such as Weibo and Douyin.

However, it did not trigger any major negative public opinion; it was just some banter among Jiang Bai's fans.

Ultimately, it's because "City of Rock" itself is of decent quality and didn't disappoint the audience who paid for the tickets.

Although I felt a little "scammed," it was still worth going to the cinema to see this movie.

Fans are never complaining about the quality of the film; they are simply disappointed that their idols have too few scenes and they can't get enough of their handsome shots—a sweet kind of trouble.

They knew that the movie was using Jiang Bai's popularity to attract viewers, but because this was Jiang Bai's first movie, the fans were willing to be "used" by the production company, hoping that this would help Jiang Bai open up the film market.

And the fans' expectations were indeed met.

Their praise for Jiang Bai brought her to the attention of more people in the film industry.

Everyone is smart enough to see Jiang Bai's contribution to the movie "City of Rock".

Even if he wasn't the lead or second lead, the production company used his popularity for publicity and marketing to attract fans to the theater, which at least added 1 to 2 million yuan to the film's box office!

What does this tell us?

This means that if Jiang Bai stars in a movie, it can bring in a base of 1-2 million yuan at the box office!

How disgusting!

Moreover, Jiang Bai's acting skills are indeed quite good. Whether it's a TV series or a movie, he seems to fit the character well and doesn't break character at all.

That actor would become a hot commodity!

Some film studios that are interested have already started taking action!

On September 11, the filming location of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

As evening fell, the day's filming came to a successful conclusion, and the crew wrapped up on time.

After changing into his own clothes, Jiang Bai made plans to play games with Li Xian that evening, and then went to explore the QD city area with his assistant and have dinner there.

During this period, the actors in the crew all spent their free time visiting Qingdao's tourist attractions. However, Jiang Bai's schedule was so packed that they didn't have time to explore Qingdao at all.

It's rare that he has so few filming commitments today, so he has time to play around in Qingdao, go out for beer and eat clams!

However, just as Jiang Bai was about to set off, his agent Xu Xu arrived at the theater, his expression showing undisguised joy and solemnity.

"Finished work?"

Xu Xu nodded to Jiang Bai, put his arm around his shoulder, and said, "That's perfect, let's go back to the hotel together, I have something important to tell you."

.

Seeing this, Jiang Bai nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions. He had no choice but to cancel the sightseeing plan and return to the hotel with Xu Xu. After closing the door, Xu Xu took out a beautifully bound paper script from his briefcase and solemnly handed it to Jiang Bai.

The cover is clean and simple, with the four large characters "Better Days" prominently displayed.

Jiang Bai took the script, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This movie actually came knocking on our door?

Looking at his expression, Xu Xu smiled and explained, "This drama started inviting auditions on a small scale two months ago. Many new generation artists and promising young actors in the industry have tried to get roles. Basically, all of the four big and three small actors have considered it."

The director and producer of this film are the same people who directed and produced "Soulmate".

That alone is enough to make this movie a hot commodity, attracting fierce competition among industry professionals.

After all, "Soulmate" directly earned Zhou Dongyu the Golden Horse and Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress, as well as the Golden Rooster and Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Film.

Even Ma Sichun managed to snag a Golden Horse Award for Best Actress in a tie.

How could this new movie, which this duo is now preparing, not attract attention and be fought over by the industry?

"Yi Yangqianxi took the initiative to sign up for the audition some time ago, showing great sincerity, but director Derek Tsang rejected him directly after watching the audition materials."

Xu Xu slowly revealed the inside story and detailed the background of the casting process: "The reason is simple. He was only seventeen years old at the time. He was too young and looked too immature."

"The director felt that his presence was too weak, that he couldn't carry the male lead role, and that he couldn't overshadow Zhou Dongyu, who was in the same frame, so he was eliminated directly."

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"By the way, Zhou Dongyu was the designated female lead; she was cast when the show was first in pre-production."

"For the past two months, the production team has been searching for a suitable male lead. They have auditioned male actors who are over ten years old, but they have not been able to find one who fits the character. The director has not been satisfied."

At this point, Xu Xu looked at Jiang Bai and said with some surprise, "And you were the one Zhou Dongyu actively recommended to the director."

Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow, full of doubt.

Zhou Dongyu?

His interactions with the other party were so superficial as to be almost negligible.

The only contact between the two was when Zhou Dongyu made a cameo appearance as Lili, the online love interest of the character Dynamite, during the filming of "Sewing Machine Band".

The two only worked together for one day, and after filming their scenes together, they had no further contact and no private communication.

Even their WeChat contacts were only added when Jiang Bai went to the Beijing premiere of "Sewing Machine Band".

However, it was Zhou Dongyu who brought up that he hadn't exchanged contact information during his last cameo appearance, so the two exchanged WeChat contacts.

As I said before, top stars and newcomers are treated differently.

However, how could such a small connection lead the other party to proactively recommend themselves to the "Better Days" production team?

Jiang Bai's mind flashed back to the impression he had of Zhou Dongyu from his previous life, which he had learned about online.

At the time, most people on the internet said that Zhou Dongyu had low emotional intelligence, was self-centered, and was very willful.

Logically speaking, a person with this kind of personality would never proactively offer resources or make recommendations to a colleague they've only met once.

This sudden act of kindness left Jiang Bai somewhat puzzled.

"I was quite surprised too." Xu Xu nodded in agreement and continued to explain, "Zhou Dongyu collaborated with director Derek Tsang on 'Soul Mate,' and the director had already decided to cast her as the female lead in 'Better Days' from the very beginning of its preparation."

"Therefore, her recommendation carries a lot of weight with the director."

"It just so happens that 'City of Rock' was released in theaters around this time, and director Derek Tsang took the time to go to the cinema to watch it. He had a very high opinion of you after watching it."

"The character you played, Dynamite, with his buzz cut, cold demeanor, and silent rebellious aura, and the wild and aloof feeling he conveyed in some scenes, is quite similar to the male lead in 'Better Days' in his mind."

"So the director directly contacted our team through someone and proactively extended an audition invitation to you, hoping you could participate in the selection process for the male lead, Xiao Bei."

After hearing the whole story, Jiang Bai's doubts hadn't completely disappeared, but he had to admit that it was a good thing.

Chinese-language films are actually on a downward trend.

"Better Days" is one of the few films in recent years that has achieved both critical and commercial success, while also being both artistic and commercially viable.

Unlike commercial comedies like "City of Rock".

This drama is a realistic, award-winning production that can elevate the actors' acting reputation and industry standing.

Moreover, it was a box office and artistic success, making this movie all the more worthwhile.

In his previous life, Yi Yangqianxi completely transformed from an idol to an actor thanks to the role of "Xiao Bei".

She also became the only one of the three boys to successfully transition into adulthood and establish herself in the film industry.

And now, this opportunity that originally belonged to him has fallen into his hands ahead of schedule.

Jiang Bai pondered, if he remembered correctly.

In the original timeline, after Yi Yangqianxi was rejected in his first audition, his team did not give up.

At the beginning of next year, he will try to get another audition through his team.

However, the production team still felt that he looked too young, and that it was unclear who would protect whom when standing next to the female lead, so they rejected him again.

Until April or May of the following year, the production team was still unable to find a suitable male lead, and the start of filming was repeatedly delayed.

At that time, Yi Yangqianxi's "Street Dance of China" was a hit. His stage presence and aura on the show made Derek Tsang feel that he was somewhat similar to Xiao Bei.

The director finally relented and gave him a chance for a video interview.

After more than an hour of in-depth communication, it was finally decided that he would play Xiao Bei, and the film was postponed from May to July.

In other words, Yi Yangqianxi is still considered unqualified and rejected by the director, and has no competitive advantage whatsoever.

This is an excellent opportunity for him to get involved.

"We must seize this opportunity," Jiang Bai said with a determined look and a crisp tone.

In terms of character quality, script depth, and overall artistic potential, "Better Days" is a top-tier resource that is hard to come by, and he had no reason to miss it.

Seeing Jiang Bai readily agree, Xu Xu smiled and nodded: "I've already coordinated with the production company."

"Tomorrow we'll schedule a video interview for you with the director, producer, and screenwriting team."

"The video will last about an hour. The director mainly wants to see you on set first, talk to you about the character, and do a virtual audition."

"If all goes well, we might be able to finalize the deal right away."

Nothing was said that night. Jiang Bai carefully studied the character biographies and script synopsis sent by the production company.

He had actually seen the finished film "Better Days," but Yi Yangqianxi's acting style might not be suitable for him.

Jiang Bai also needs to have his own understanding of the character and his own approach to acting.

The online interviews began on time the following morning.

The moment the camera connected, the lineup on the other side of the screen was exceptionally large.

Director Derek Tsang, producer Jojo Hui, and the core screenwriting team are all in place.

The casting for "Better Days" was actually quite demanding.

Derek Tsang and Jojo Hui did not completely follow the trend of chasing popularity.

After all, judging from their current achievements, popular actors haven't really done very well in the film industry. It seems that the formula for top stars doesn't work in the film industry.

Therefore, the producers of "Better Days" focused more on whether the actors truly fit the characters.

This is also the core reason why the production team spent several months and was unable to finalize the male lead.

Prior to this, Derek Tsang had already interviewed more than ten up-and-coming male actors in the industry.

However, they either have too clean and refined aura, which doesn't match the roughness and wildness of Xiao Bei's life on the streets.

Either his appearance is too sharp and fierce, lacking any sense of fragility, or too aggressive, failing to reflect the youthful nature of the male protagonist at 17.

Many popular actors also have too much of an idol image to maintain, resulting in poor performances.

But when the camera focused steadily on Jiang Bai, Derek Tsang and Xu Yuezhen on both sides of the screen almost simultaneously lit up.

Jiang Bai appeared on camera today without any special makeup or styling, completely bare-faced.

Even without makeup, his features remain refined, with sharp and defined bone structure.

However, he doesn't have the slightest hint of a pretty boy; instead, he has an unrefined, rugged profile and sharp brow bones that accentuate his features.

This quality is extremely unique, contradictory yet sophisticated.

In layman's terms, it can withstand close-up shots and has a wild beauty.

He possesses both the youthful slenderness and naiveté of a teenager, and the deep-seated, ruggedness of someone who has spent years mingling in the streets.

When his eyes are calm, they are indifferent and detached, carrying a sense of numbness and stubbornness.

It perfectly matches Xiao Bei's character setting: being in the mud but yearning for the light, growing wildly.

Through the screen, Derek Tsang leaned forward slightly, his tone clearly appreciative: "Jiang Bai, I've seen your performance in 'City of Rock'."

"To be honest, you don't have many scenes, and Dynamite only looks wild on the outside, but is actually very shy inside, which doesn't fit the character of Xiao Bei."

"But now it seems that your temperament is quite suitable for Xiao Bei."

Producer Hsu Yueh-chen, who was standing nearby, nodded slightly and added, "We auditioned many young actors, but most of them were either too well-behaved or too fierce."

"You are different. There is a sense of fragility in your temperament, but also a sense of resilience. Moreover, you have a good image. You are not immature, but you still retain a youthful feel."

After a brief assessment of his appearance and demeanor, Derek Tsang immediately began the on-site audition.

"You don't need to act deliberately. Try to relax a bit and let go of all the rigid postures of an actor."

"Imagine yourself as Xiao Bei, abandoned by your parents when you were a teenager, with no one to rely on, wandering the streets and alleys, fighting every day to make a living, with no one to care for you or care for you, having seen the worst people in the world, and having endured the most brutal bullying, and getting used to using indifference and toughness to disguise yourself."

"You're standing on the street right now, you've just finished a fight, you're exhausted, and you're not afraid of anything. You're wary and distant if anyone even glances at you. Try to present yourself in that state."

This is an impromptu audition without any dialogue, which is the ultimate test of an actor's attention to detail and empathy for the character.

Without plot development or dialogue, the characters' living conditions and personality are conveyed entirely through body language, eye contact, and expressions.

This is considered a very difficult test.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai instantly abandoned his usual composure and politeness during the interview, completely transforming his aura in a second.

He made no exaggerated movements, nor did he display any deliberately fierce expressions.

He simply slumped his shoulders and back slightly, abandoning his upright posture, and became relaxed and lazy, exuding the casualness and roguishness unique to street youths.

This is the physique of someone who grows up freely and unsupervised for many years.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his eyelids drooping, concealing most of the emotions in his eyes. His jawline tightened slightly, and his aura instantly became somber.

There was no smile, no emotional fluctuation, only a numb expression and a silent indifference.

It's as if they have no expectations or enthusiasm for the world around them, and have become numb and indifferent to the cold stares and malice they've seen.

A few seconds later, he slowly raised his eyes.

This one glance amazed the two industry leaders on the other side of the screen.

The eyes lacked the clear brightness often seen in young people; instead, they held a thin layer of coldness and aloofness.

His wary eyes were like those of a lone wolf, curled up in the shadows and covered in thorns.

They may appear quiet and honest, but they are actually ready to fight back at any time and will never back down.

But upon closer inspection, beneath that cold, hard exterior lies a vulnerability and bewilderment unseen by anyone—the grievances and purity of a young person forced to endure hardship, yearning for warmth but never being treated kindly.

Jiang Bai didn't stop, continuing to advance the character's state of mind according to the biography.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping casually across the void beyond the camera lens, as if surveying a noisy and unfamiliar world.

His eyes were indifferent and expressionless, his hands hung casually at his sides with his knuckles slightly clenched—a habitual defensive gesture, a subtle, instinctive movement to prepare for any external harm.

There wasn't a single line of dialogue or a single exaggerated movement throughout the entire film.

With just his posture, eyes, and micro-expressions, he brought to life a helpless, downtrodden, yet resilient street kid in front of the camera.

On the other side of the screen, Derek Tsang and Jojo Hui exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise.

This up-and-coming actor is pretty good!

Xu Yuezhen couldn't help but sigh softly, "That's exactly the feeling, it's so right."

Derek Tsang nodded repeatedly, completely putting aside all his previous concerns, and sincerely praised, "Your understanding is spot on, and your description perfectly matches Liu Beishan's."

"Many actors can only portray the fierceness of thugs," but you portrayed the abandoned child, his wariness of the outside world, and the vulnerability beneath his fierce exterior.

"Xiao Bei is not a purely bad kid; he is toughened up by life."

"He was a man full of contradictions, a wildness and a purity coexisting, stubbornness and vulnerability intertwined."

"This is Xiao Bei, whom we've been searching for for months."

Jiang Bai nodded, and based on the biographical sketches he had studied, slowly explained his understanding: "Xiao Bei's life is dark. His family of origin abandoned him, and society treated him coldly. There is no sunshine or kindness in his world."

"So his indifference wasn't an act; it was an instinct for self-preservation, and his aggression was his weapon for survival."

"But he always kept a clean corner in his heart, so when he met Chen Nian's ray of light, he would do his best to protect her, regardless of gains or losses or the outcome. Even if he was in the mud, he was willing to look up at the light."

"Well said." The head screenwriter, who had been silent all along, nodded.

"Your eye acting is excellent; you have eyes that can convey a story."

Derek Tsang agreed, saying, "That's right, that's your biggest advantage; you have eyes that can speak."

Jiang Bai nodded reservedly, indicating his approval.

Almost every director who has worked with him praises his eyes and his excellent eye acting; he's gotten used to it.

"So it's settled then?" Producer Hsu Yueh-chen said finally.

No one spoke up to refute it.

Even director Derek Tsang nodded subconsciously.

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