Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

Los Angeles.

A month later.

The Shawshank Redemption has officially entered the preparation stage.

Unlike Paris.

There are no romantic streets here.

It also lacks the tranquility of a private cinema.

This is Hollywood.

Countless scripts are created every day.

Numerous projects were launched.

Countless projects have also disappeared.

Production office.

The walls were covered with all sorts of documents.

Photos of the actors.

Audition record.

Character analysis.

On the table.

Dozens of actor resumes were displayed.

The most prominent position in the middle.

It has a name written on it.

Andy Dufresne

The producer picked up a list.

"The male lead."

"We have already selected a group of actors."

"There are several young stars."

"It has good box office appeal."

"There are also several award-winning actors."

"There are no problems with my acting skills."

Michael took the documents.

Turn the pages one by one.

He didn't speak.

Lin Yuan sat down beside him.

Looking at those photos again.

After a while.

He suddenly asked:

"These people."

"Who is truly like Andy?"

The office fell silent for a moment.

The producer looks up.

"What do you mean?"

Lin Yuan put down the documents.

They are all fine.

"but……"

"They're like actors."

"Not Andy."

The producer frowned.

"But we need actors."

Lin Yuan shook his head.

"No."

"What we need is someone who makes the audience forget about the actors."

The producer picked up another list.

"Forest."

"You should know."

"Movies aren't just made for directors."

"A leading man without any stars."

"The risk is very high."

"Especially since this is your first time in Hollywood."

"The audience needs someone they know."

Michael did not refute this.

Because what he said is true.

Commercial films.

You always need to consider the market.

Lin Yuan looked at the list.

There was a moment of silence.

"If the audience sees him at first glance."

"I was thinking of actors."

"Then we've failed halfway."

The producer looked at him.

Why?

Lin Yuan:

"Because Andy isn't a celebrity."

"He's just an ordinary person."

"He didn't just stand there and tell everyone."

Look at me.

"He simply exists."

"Then let the audience gradually believe it."

"This person really went through all of this."

The office quieted down.

Michael looked at Lin Yuan.

He didn't speak.

But he knew.

This is why Lin Yuan persisted.

a few days later.

The actor auditions have officially begun.

Audition room.

One actor after another went in.

Some people are angry.

Someone is crying.

Some people expressed despair with trembling voices.

They brought their imagined prison into the room.

Someone growled:

"I have lost my life."

Someone was kneeling on the ground.

Performance collapsed.

Some people use all their strength.

I want everyone to see:

This character endured so much suffering.

but.

Lin Yuan remained silent.

The day is over.

Only a few people remained in the audition room.

The staff packed up their materials and left.

Michael walked up to Lin Yuan.

I saw that he was still watching the video.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Yuan did not look up.

They are all fine.

Michael:

"but?"

Lin Yuan turned off the recording.

"But they are all proving one thing."

"This proves that Andy is in great pain."

Michael remained silent.

Lin Yuan looked at the paused scene on the screen.

"But Andy isn't that kind of person."

"Of course he's in pain."

"He has lost his freedom."

"I've lost my life."

"Trapped inside a high wall."

"but."

Lin Yuan paused for a moment.

"If an actor only lets the audience see his pain."

"Then he was just playing a prisoner."

Michael looked at him.

Lin Yuan:

"Andy's most important place."

"It wasn't him who was locked up there."

"It's not that he truly belonged there."

The room was quiet.

"His body is in prison."

"But what's in his heart?"

"They never got in."

Michael remained silent for a long time.

Then he said softly:

"so……"

"You're not looking for someone who shows despair."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"I'm looking for one."

Even standing in the darkest place.

"It also makes people feel..."

"He is someone who still has light in his heart."

a few days later.

Another audition.

in the afternoon.

The door to the audition room opened.

A man walked in.

There was no deliberate attempt to project an aura.

There was no rush to prove himself.

He simply sat down quietly.

The staff handed him the script.

He looked down at it for a while.

Then begin.

There was no anger.

There was no crying or shouting.

There were no exaggerated movements.

His voice was very calm.

The air in the room slowly changed.

Everyone fell silent.

Because they suddenly discovered it.

This man wasn't telling them:

"I was put in jail."

He was telling them:

Even if this is a prison.

I am still me.

His eyes were calm.

Yet it also carries a sense of remoteness.

Like a person.

Standing inside the high walls.

But his soul.

Still gazing at the world beyond the wall.

Michael slowly sat up straight.

He glanced down at the documents.

"Tim Robbins".

Lin Yuan remained silent.

His gaze remained fixed on the man auditioning.

The audition is over.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

The producer looked at Michael.

"How is it?"

Michael did not answer.

Because of this moment.

He didn't know how to evaluate it.

At this time.

Lin Yuan spoke.

"It's him."

Everyone turned their heads.

The producer was stunned.

"Are you so sure?"

Lin Yuan nodded.

"Um."

"Just ten minutes ago."

"He didn't let me see a single prisoner."

What I saw was...

Lin Yuan looked at the recording from earlier.

"A person who is temporarily trapped."

The air was quiet.

Michael suddenly smiled.

It's not because it's funny.

Rather, it's a sense of relief after finally finding the answer.

"You didn't hire an actor."

Lin Yuan looked at him.

"no."

He paused.

"I'm looking for Andy."

a few days later.

Production meeting.

The producer looked at the list.

"The male lead has been confirmed."

"And what about Reed?"

The meeting room was quiet.

Lin Yuan picked up the documents.

"This character."

"Harder."

Michael looked at him.

Why?

Lin Yuan:

"Because Reed was not a bystander."

"He is the eye of this film."

"The audience got to know Shawshank through him."

"But more importantly..."

He paused.

"He represents those who have been tamed by high walls."

Michael nodded.

"so."

"He has to convince people."

"He once longed for freedom too."

Lin Yuan:

"right."

"Because there was only one person who once had hope."

"Later, I gave up hope."

"Andy's appearance."

"That's what will truly change him."

night.

hotel.

Lin Yuan turned on his computer.

Folder:

The Shawshank Redemption

Cast list.

Andy Dufresne:

Tim Robbins

Red:

(blank)

Lin Yuan stared at the empty space.

he knows.

The true story.

just began.

The phone rang.

Michael sent me a message.

"To be continued tomorrow."

"Find Red."

Lin Yuan replied:

"it is good."

There was a pause.

Another one:

"But I should remind you."

Michael:

"What?"

Lin Yuan:

"Reed is hard to find."

Michael:

Why?

Lin Yuan:

"Because he's not in prison."

"He is in the hearts of the audience."

A few seconds later.

Michael replied:

"You talk sometimes."

"Doesn't seem like a director."

Lin Yuan:

"What does that look like?"

Michael:

"Like someone who has seen the answer beforehand."

Lin Yuan looked at the message.

I smiled.

outside the window.

The lights of Los Angeles are twinkling.

New actors.

A new team.

A new movie.

It is slowly taking shape.