I'm not mentally ill, I'm a master of a thousand faces!

Chapter 375, Hello, Yu Zecheng

Li Yuxuan did not doubt his nephew's acting skills.

On the contrary, after experiencing the days of youth and the crucible.

He had a very clear understanding of Li Yun's acting skills.

He is a genius actor, a genius actor that makes his elders proud.

Unparalleled immersion and engagement.

For the audience, it's definitely a treat.

He is an excellent actor.

Even so, this time, in the main cast of "Lurking", there is a "notorious" Feng He'en.

A veteran actor known for his domineering and powerful acting.

Li Yuxuan was never worried about whether Li Yun could keep up with Feng He'en's acting skills.

This is a kind of confidence.

Li Yuxuan's concern is whether, as an actor, he can express the character's sense of conviction.

The passionate students in "The Young Students".

And the spies in "Lurking".

They had completely different feelings.

Everyone has been a student. Even the fiery youth of our lives is still within the realm of student passion, and it easily resonates with people.

They share common traits that appeal to youthful passion.

But what about spies?

If we continue with the feeling of "just like when we were young students," then we're completely doomed.

No matter what, students are still students, and the cruelty they face is still within the range that students can bear.

In addition, the production team of "Lurking" has indeed encountered quite a few problems this time, including director Jiang Wei.

He really stirred up a huge controversy; the entire industry knows about the trouble he caused.

He caused quite a stir at the Directors Guild, making a lot of fools out of it by specifically asking famous directors to be his assistant directors.

There are quite a few people in the Directors Guild who are looking forward to seeing him make a fool of himself.

Especially when the name of the 'assistant director' came out.

Li Yun

A rookie film director looks like someone who was temporarily replaced.

"Since you don't think much of him, why are you so happy? You seem to really like your nephew," Ji Tielan said calmly.

"It's precisely because I like him that I hope he can encounter some setbacks so that he can understand the importance of the family. If he returns to the family, he will definitely be a powerful member of our family." Li Yuxuan paused for a moment and then said, "Even from the perspective of an elder, I hope he can encounter some setbacks when he is young. Sometimes the stumbles and lessons learned in youth will become nourishment for the future."

At this moment, Ji Tielan could not agree.

"Have you forgotten something?"

"Um?"

"He's different from you kids who grew up in a sweet environment; he's already experienced countless setbacks in the first half of his life."

"He is a honed and sharpened edge."

Meanwhile, on the other side.

As Jiang Wei's friend, Zhang Dahuzi was somewhat worried.

I'm worried that my friend might encounter setbacks here.

He and Jiang Wei had a very good relationship; Jiang Wei was his junior, a classmate from their school days.

After his outburst at the Directors Guild, Zhang Dahuzi advised him not to pursue unrealistic ambitions.

Once the filming of "Lurking" produces something and gains fame and resources, then naturally big directors will come to endorse it.

Now is not the time.

"Friend, I understand your concerns and thank you for your concern. Actually, I had thought about these things many times before filming 'Lurking.' In fact, my idea at the time was a bit impulsive. I searched all over the industry, but no one was willing to be my assistant director."

Jiang Wei admitted to the predicament he faced at that time.

After quite frankly admitting it, he was completely in a state of stubbornness.

Yes, I was just being stubborn back then.

There was no assistant director; I was entirely responsible for filming myself.

This workload would break even an iron man.

At that time, Jiang Wei was stuck in a dead end, stubbornly and arrogantly believing that his script was only worthy of a great director.

"If I hadn't met Li Yun later, who could have helped me solve some of the problems, I really wouldn't know what I would have done," Jiang Wei said with emotion at this moment.

Li Yun?

"Since you've brought up Li Yun, I'm actually a little confused too. Why did you end up using Li Yun as the assistant director?" Zhang Dahuzi asked, somewhat puzzled.

Indeed.

He also admired this rising star in Beijing's film circle. As a director who was also in Beijing's film circle, he was proud of him, after all, Li Yun was someone he had personally promoted.

He, as a senior, would be proud of it.

Although I know he is growing very fast.

But there has to be a limit to this speed.

It will not exceed a certain limit.

For example, appointing Li Yun as the assistant director of a spy drama series.

Spy dramas are a very special category, with a large number of older men who enjoy acting and having fun.

You are a rising director.

How do I manage to command these old men?

That's very difficult.

This presents considerable difficulties.

A very real question is whether they will respect you as a young person.

In addition, there are a few notorious guys who only care about their own acting and ignore everyone else.

They are absolutely impossible to control.

The root of the problem is...

You went from choosing veteran directors to finally picking a newcomer. How are those veteran directors supposed to balance that?

Even Zhang Da Huzi himself couldn't balance it out.

After all, this friend of mine, who has extremely low emotional intelligence, once tried to invite me to participate in his TV series "Lurking".

But Zhang Da Hu Zi would never agree to this. Putting aside the question of who should take the lead, their expertise is completely mismatched.

I play martial arts dramas.

Spy dramas and I are just not compatible.

The art style is completely different.

Li Yun's expertise was even more mismatched; although he had directed films like "Silenced," spy films were completely unsuitable for him.

Taking too big a step can easily lead to trouble.

A crude proverb is enough to explain the situation at this moment.

However, Zhang Dahuzi couldn't say anything, since Jiang Wei in front of him looked very confident, and he couldn't say anything to discourage him.

Of course, there's one thing about Zhang Da Huzi that won't be surprising at all.

That is, regarding Li Yun's acting skills.

As an immersive actor.

He should know what he's capable of.

"I hope Li Yun can surprise me with his acting skills. It would be quite interesting to watch him act alongside that old man Feng He'en."

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Zhang Dahuzi now.

What kind of surprise will the spy Li Yun give him?

Of course, as for the overall quality of the finished product, if it reaches his production level, it would already be considered a second-tier production.

What's more, there's a young guy dragging us down.

This is truly a helpless situation.

Li Yun was also at home waiting for the spy drama to air.

In terms of predicted viewership ratings.

It shouldn't be too bad.

One advantage of mainstream TV dramas is that they have a fixed audience, mainly middle-aged and elderly people who love watching them when they turn on the TV.

Elderly people, especially those who experienced that period of war, love watching it even more.

After all, for them, it was a projection of a past era, so they naturally felt a sense of identification with it.

Just like how young people watch urban dramas these days.

When you feel involved, everything becomes much easier and more efficient.

The minimum market guarantee for a fixed audience.

This is why war dramas and spy dramas are so difficult to make well, yet people keep coming back to film these genres.

The lower limit is definitely not low.

When the lower limit can be guaranteed.

There will be enough investment and production to drive it.

at the moment.

Li Yun sat in front of the TV and took a moment to peek at the upcoming program before it started airing.

The most visible examples of historical dramas are the Qin Dynasty's collapse and the new Three Kingdoms.

In terms of timeline, the recruitment process for the new Three Kingdoms will be faster than that for the Qin Empire: The Rift.

Historical dramas are CCTV's top priority.

CCTV will never mistreat historical dramas, no matter who it may mistreat.

Both of these dramas feature top-tier productions and top-tier casts.

The new Three Kingdoms is particularly unique. Not only does it have an unparalleled script, but most importantly, it uses a nationwide open audition process.

The fact that he held open auditions for all applicants means that he wasn't choosing the more famous ones, but rather the more suitable ones.

This is the casting standard for the new Three Kingdoms.

"If we're talking about the new Three Kingdoms, it's not entirely true that it was a completely open audition. In fact, most of the actors were chosen from within the system," Jiang Wen said casually while having tea at Li Yun's house.

He also became a must-have member of Li Yunjia's movie-watching group.

Although he felt like he was the third wheel.

But they seem to enjoy it too.

It even has a slightly perverse sense of humor.

"It's not that CCTV is biased; they only have requirements for acting skills and appearance. Those aren't actors from within the system. People from the performing arts troupes are the most suitable," Jiang Chenggang said at this point. "It's determined by the nature of the industry."

Yes, that's something determined by the nature of the circle.

In places like the Shanghai entertainment circle, there seems to be a unified standard for appearance.

This applies to both men and women.

If you're not conventionally beautiful, don't even think about trying to get into Shanghai's elite circles.

The Beijing circle is not to be outdone; their standards for appearance are slightly lower than those of the Shanghai circle, but they are still at least within the range of good-looking.

Within the system, when it comes to appearance, there are all sorts of strange and wonderful people; you can find the most good-looking and the ugliest.

But it is precisely these bizarre and varied postures that better reflect the truth of the grand history.

"The Hong Kong film industry should be able to screen out a few people, and that's about it. Your Aerospace Force should also be in charge of the auditions, so you can go and try out then."

"I know that."

After finishing this installment of "Lurking", I should be able to audition for "New Three Kingdoms".

Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Romance that belongs to men.

"I'm at least somewhat skilled in both academics and martial arts, so I should be able to snag one or two."

"Could it be one and a half?" Gao Yuanyuan teased from the side.

"Then how about two, to make it a round number?" Li Yun joked.

Amidst the chatter and noise.

The TV series "Lurking" has already begun.

Spies lurking in the shadows.

Their story.

the other side.

The historical drama "Da Ming Dynasty", a favorite project of the state-owned enterprise.

It started playing amidst the clamor.

As a historic undertaking.

Top-tier resources and production quality; premiered on Hu Nan TV.

"Lurking" premiered on Southern Television.

"I heard that this time, the actor who played one of the 'Three Friends of Xiangjiang' was the assistant director and also the lead actor in the film?"

"Your information network is really impressive."

"I occasionally observe the actors in the industry. My new TV series is about to start filming, so I'm looking for suitable candidates."

"Have you found the right one yet?"

"Give it a try. It's just an open selection process anyway, so we'll use whichever one suits us best."

At Hu Nan TV Station, former station director Ouyang Lin was chatting with another middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man's name is Gao Xinxin, a graduate of the Directing Department of China Film Group, who was once nominated for the Magnolia Award for Best Director.

More than once.

Unfortunately, he always failed to advance beyond the nomination stage.

However, his strength is beyond doubt. The reason he didn't win any awards before was simply because his era was a golden age of talent, with top players competing fiercely.

They always lost by a narrow margin.

This time, Gao Xinxin felt she wouldn't suffer a narrow defeat.

After all, he now carries out a project called the Three Kingdoms.

The New Three Kingdoms.

Adapted from one of the Four Great Classical Novels.

We'll use this work to sharpen our skills.

They're already looking for a shortlist, prioritizing actors with proven track records. It's a realistic approach; even though it's called a shortlist, they'll still consider your past performance.

Only then will they consider whether to send you an audition invitation.

Director Ouyang Lin was not surprised by this and readily recommended his favorite actor from "The Ming Dynasty".

He had absolute confidence in this Ming Dynasty.

Almost blind confidence.

It was in some competition with "Lurking," which aired around the same time as the neighboring Southern Television station.

It has a fixed audience of middle-aged and elderly people.

They all have a fairly high lower limit.

It appears to be a competitive relationship.

The old station director, Ouyang Lin, was certain that this time, he would be able to surpass the Southern TV station's "Lurking".

It's definitely a crushing defeat.

"You just praised Li Yun, so why do you have so little faith in him now?"

Gao Xinxin smiled at this moment.

"It's not that we lack confidence in him, but rather that we have absolute confidence in our own project. Given the same audience, I believe they'll be more likely to choose historical dramas," said the former station director, Ouyang Lin, with a smile. "Besides, our stance isn't static, is it?"

The last time we were young students, we were a trustworthy partner.

This time it's an opponent.

Their attitudes will naturally change as well.

That's how the entertainment industry is; the positions of friends and rivals can change over time.

It is not something that remains unchanged.

The situation has now changed.

Now Li Yun has become an opponent.

But the current version of "Lurking" is definitely no match for the Ming Dynasty.

Even if I could acknowledge your excellence.

But the gap in overall production quality and the target audience for the subject matter remain.

This is an indisputable ironclad law.

One is a first-tier city, and the other is a second-tier city.

Both have roughly the same audience reach.

This time, however, former station director Ouyang Lin did not consider everyone in the current term as an opponent.

His opponent is the excellent TV series "Master Li".

Including historical dramas from the past.

Also including the future.

"In some ways, we're competitors too."

After all, every era and every historical drama has its records of achievements.

"New Three Kingdoms" is undoubtedly a historical drama series.

This is also a TV series that will be recorded in CCTV's broadcast history.

Gao Xinxin smiled too.

They are indeed future rivals.

"So, Director Ouyang, your promise to introduce me to good actors is no longer valid?"

"You're really overestimating me. Not only will I not stop you, I'll introduce you to even better actors!"

Ouyang Lin burst into laughter.

after all.

The opponent's excellence.

Only then can one's own excellence be highlighted.

Let's leave aside the future historical drama projects for now.

Currently.

The Ming Dynasty has begun.

"Why did you play a eunuch?"

"Nonsense about eunuchs! This is a powerful minister, Lü Fang!"

Sun Honglei rolled his eyes at his friend, speechless.

It's said that being uncultured is truly terrifying, but the difference between a eunuch and a court official is vast!

"Then you might as well play this spy; at least it sounds pretty cool."

"You're really superficial. How can a spy's worth compare to that of a complex and multifaceted eunuch? Forget it, you're not an actor, so there's no point in me talking to you. Anyway, you have plenty of time. You've watched 'Lurking' and 'The Ming Dynasty.' You'll understand the difference once you've watched them."

When his friend's ignorance left him helpless, Sun Honglei didn't have much of a temper left.

After all, things can't be like in the movies.

Ask him if he guarantees the watermelon will be ripe.

This is indeed a rather interesting question.

Sun Honglei's next movie-watching plan will probably include taking some time to watch this "Lurking" series that he himself had given up on.

There's always some curiosity involved.

At this moment, Liu Qianqian is eating watermelon in front of the TV.

She acted as if she were at home, with her dog resting beside her.

Liu Qianqian acted like a lady of the house returning home, skillfully feeding the dog, rummaging through the refrigerator, and feeding it.

"Can I say I'm not interested in this type of content? If it weren't for Brother Li, I probably wouldn't have even clicked to watch it."

"That means you're still young," Li Yun said with a smile, looking at Liu Qianqian.

She was quite outspoken.

If it weren't for Li Yun, she probably wouldn't have come to see us.

But there are many causes and effects in this world.

Because of Li Yun, she would go to see it.

The same principle applies to the theme of "When We Were Young"—this subject matter naturally lacks a young audience.

They find it difficult to connect with that era of constant warfare.

They were all born in a time of peace.

They probably don't understand that feeling.

"Actually, I still can't forget that feeling," Gao Yuanyuan said at this moment.

I don't know if you can understand.

"I understand."

At this moment, Liu Qianqian said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Although I don't understand infiltration, I have experienced what it was like to film with Brother Li."

I completely agree.

Jiang Wen, who was standing next to him, suddenly chimed in, arms crossed, as if he agreed.

Jiang Chenggang's lips twitched. Two women make a drama, but you getting involved just doesn't look right.

But what exactly does it feel like?

We'll have to wait until the TV series airs to find out.

at this time.

As Li Yun watched the opening credits of the infiltrator, his consciousness gradually sank into the era of interwoven light and shadow.

Those days when even sleeping required discipline are truly unforgettable.

Hello, this is Yu Zecheng.

We meet again.

(End of this chapter)