Huayu: Starting with Rejecting 00s Actresses on a Dating Show

"I did report it," Chen Yao sighed. "But you know some things too."

Tan Wen nodded without asking any further questions.

"Attention all actors."

At this moment, a staff member came over with a megaphone: "Come and collect your actor level badge."

Everyone followed the staff to a spacious observation room.

The observation room has glass walls on all four sides, and a huge monitor hangs in front of it, which is currently black.

Below the monitor are three genuine leather chairs, and opposite the chairs are steps, which are divided into three colors.

The steps were marked with three different labels: B, A, and S. The B steps were black, the A steps were silver, and the S steps were red.

Although most of the actors' eyes were fixed on the S-class steps, their bodies were neatly squeezed into the B-class steps.

At this time, many cameras are pointed at the actors, capturing their facial expressions. These small details are captured and edited as selling points.

"The directors have already assigned everyone's actor level. Now, those whose names are called, come up and receive yours."

"Chung Hsin-Tung, S-class."

All eyes were on her; compared to her acting skills, her singing duo Twins with Charlene Choi was more well-known.

Her fame was no less than Mingdao's, but when she went on stage to receive her card, she kept her head down and seemed not very confident.

"Niu Junfeng, Grade A."

"Yan Yalun, Grade A."

"Mingdao, S-rank."

"Chen Xiaoyun, Grade A."

······

"Wang Churan, Grade B."

Upon hearing that she was a B-level student, Wang Churan breathed a sigh of relief and sat down at the innermost part of the B-level steps with her card in hand.

······

"Tan Wen, Grade B."

That makes sense. Tan Wen believes that the criteria for this level are acting skills and popularity. Few people know about Tan Wen's acting skills, and his popularity is basically zero.

Seeing so many familiar faces, he knew that he had already succeeded in being qualified to participate in the program.

He walked over to Wang Churan and sat down one seat away from her.

······

"Zhou Ye, Grade A."

Zhou Ye took the card, glanced at Tan Wen, and walked towards the A-level steps.

"Mao Xiaohui, Grade B."

······

In the end, all 33 actors received their cards: 9 were rated S, 11 were rated A, and 13 were rated B.

What should have been a simple process of getting a badge took more than half an hour, thanks to the staff's controlled pace.

The staff member cleared his throat.

"Actually, right now, there are three famous directors watching you from behind the screen. Do you know which three directors they are?"

"Director Chen Kaige." Everyone uttered Chen Kaige's name in unison, while the other two looked at each other in bewilderment.

The other two directors were unaware of this; it was mainly because the production team deliberately released the information that Chen Kaige was coming in order to attract the public.

"OK, you'll find out about the other two directors in a bit. They're currently randomly selecting your nameplates according to a set ratio."

You will be divided into three groups and temporarily assigned to your respective directors' teams.

After the staff left, everyone started chatting in small groups again.

Tan Wen looked around and didn't know anyone. He wondered if he should talk to Wang Churan for a bit, but she took the initiative to speak first.

"Are you from Beijing Film Academy?"

"Hmm, how did you know?"

"I saw you chatting with Zhou Ye. I know her. By the way, I'm from the Shanghai Theatre Academy."

"Hmm, you seem a little nervous?"

"Yes, a little. I'm not used to having my performance critiqued on stage, and I feel a bit flustered."

"Everyone's the same, as long as you don't act awkwardly, there's nothing to worry about."

Aren't you nervous?

Tan Wen twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a self-deprecating smile:

"Now I finally understand the benefits of recording that dating reality show. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to be nervous in front of the camera every day."

Wang Churan suddenly stared at Tan Wen with her big eyes:

"A dating reality show? I remember who you are now. You're Tan Wen, the guy everyone both loves and hates!"

She seemed to have discovered some secret, and her voice unconsciously rose a little.

"Ahem, could you explain 'hate' in more detail?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm just advising you that you're delusional to try and catch two girls, and you'll end up catching neither of them."

"Why don't you just stay nervous?"

"Oh, why did you remind me that I'm nervous?"

······

Half an hour had passed by the time the staff came to lead them to their respective directors' offices.

Tan Wen's group has 3 S-level, 3 A-level, and 4 B-level actors, and Wang Churan was coincidentally assigned to the same group as him.

Zhou Ye gave him a regretful look and left with the other group.

Wang Churan stood up and subconsciously took half a step behind Tan Wen.

He was tall, and his silhouette in front of me seemed to slightly ease my tension.

A group of people followed the staff through the corridor to a recording studio.

A slender figure sat in a chair with his back to them. Hearing the noise, he turned around, and that's when everyone realized that their mentor was Guo Jinming.

Everyone was a little disappointed, since they would have preferred to join Chen Kaige's group rather than Guo Jinming's.

Guo Jinming stood before the crowd, his presence far surpassing his stature. He surveyed the group before speaking:

"Although you've been assigned to my group for now, I might not want any of you after the first round of performances."

So when I'm going to explain the scene later, you'd better pay attention and not waste each other's time.

Everyone nodded.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Guo Jinming continued, "I've already assigned you the scripts, three in total..."

Tan Wen, Wang Churan, and Yu Xiaotong were assigned a segment from the play "Against the Current".

The three got to know each other. Yu Xiaotong has been acting for 13 years, has acted in Chen Kaige's movies, and has also played the young Jia Baoyu.

They were scheduled to perform in the last group, and the three of them began to familiarize themselves with the script together.

The wait was long, during which Guo Jinming reprimanded the actors very rudely, his voice so loud it was hard not to hear.

"This isn't difficult. It's just a simple emotion. What's so difficult about it? People will laugh at you if you say that."

"What are you two doing? Are you even actors?"

"You said you've been acting for seven or eight years, I'm embarrassed for you when I hear that."

"If I don't make you cry, you're not qualified to be an actor."

······

Wang Churan started fidgeting with her fingers again. Tan Wen was about to comfort her when Yu Xiaotong clicked her tongue impatiently.

"You're quite confident, bro," Tan Wen said to Xiaotong.

Yu Xiaotong glanced at him but ignored him.

Around 5 p.m., it was finally Tan Wen's group's turn.

Despite several hours of directing the filming, Guo Jinming remains full of energy.

As expected, about ten minutes later.

"I love you? Who do you love? Is there any emotion in your words? You don't love anyone!"

Wang Churan was scolded until she cried, and Yu Xiaotong was also scolded until her face turned pale.

"You're Tan Wen, right? I heard that Director Ning Hao specifically recruited you, but you can't even control the details."

Tan Wen patiently listened to Guo Jinming's instructions, even though his understanding of the scene differed from Guo Jinming's from the very beginning.

Having personally experienced high-level performance props, he had developed his own understanding of the emotional expression in certain scenarios.

But on his first day here, as a complete newcomer, he didn't want to cause any trouble, so he just listened patiently.

They acted for over an hour with little progress. Tan Wen became increasingly uncomfortable, and Guo Jinming's temper grew worse.

Finally, Tan Wen couldn't help but whisper, "This kind of scene, this kind of performance, is too dramatic. If it's too dramatic, it looks a bit fake."

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became silent, and even the stagehands held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Yu Xiaotong unconsciously swallowed, and Wang Churan didn't know whether to admire Tan Wen's courage or pray for him.