Chapter 491 Casting for the new drama, joining after the viewing
"Do you have any audition plans for the middle school actor who plays the main role?"
The framework of the crew has been put together, and now it’s time to fill it with the team.
Professional personnel are responsible for the service aspect, and Fang Xing pays more attention to the progress of the casting.
Because of this show, there are two timelines.
The first timeline is the timeline of the heroine's middle school years.
The heroine was bullied by a bully group when she was in middle school. She endured the humiliation and transferred to another school and continued to study hard.
In the background setting of this story, social classes have been solidified, and people at the bottom have almost no way to rise.
In this country, being able to pass the exam and become a teacher is already a very, very powerful thing.
It took the heroine eighteen years to become a teacher.
In the second timeline, eighteen years later, the heroine has become a strong woman and comes back to take revenge on the members of the bullying group.
Since the two timelines are eighteen years apart, young actors need to be found to play the characters in middle school.
"We have arranged for some young actors with acting experience to audition. Director Fang, do you want to watch together?" the casting director replied.
"Okay, call me when the time comes." Fang Xing also had very high requirements for middle school actors.
In other words, every actor in the entire drama must have good acting skills, even the young actors in middle school are no exception.
"Director Fang, does the image of an actor in middle school need to be consistent with the image of an actor as an adult?" the casting director asked.
"Of course, it's best for the audience to know at a glance that these two actors are playing the same character," Fang Xing emphasized.
"As for the adult actress for the lead female role, it is still confirmed..." the casting director reminded.
"There are some differences between the actors in the two periods of the female lead. The female lead was a weakling in middle school. She was bullied and was unable to resist, so I tried to find actors who looked weak and vulnerable. When the female lead becomes an adult, she will
To become a strong and determined person, your image and temperament must be in contrast to those in middle school." Fang Xing warned.
"Okay, let's look in this direction." The casting director wrote them down one by one.
…
While the meeting was being discussed, Fang Xing's cell phone rang.
I picked it up and saw that it was a WeChat message from Song Li.
"Are you free? Come out and have a chat."
Fang Xing thought for a moment and sent back a message: "It's okay at night, but I need to eat something to fill my stomach."
Song Li sent her a snickering expression: "Okay, I'll let you know when I've booked a restaurant."
night.
In a western restaurant in Linjiang.
Song Li booked a seat on the terrace. Sitting there, she could see the night view of the riverside.
Fang Xing ordered steak, and Song Li only ordered a salad.
When watching Song Li eating salad, Fang Xing couldn't help but joked: "Do you eat grass like this every day?"
Song Li put down her fork, looked over with resentful eyes, and said angrily: "You men, you ask female celebrities to be thin, and you also tease us about eating grass."
Female celebrities in the entertainment industry are indeed very strict about their carbohydrate intake.
The kind of female star who can eat all kinds of things and still maintain a figure is definitely a gifted person.
If female celebrities really want to manage their figure, even when eating vegetables, they have to use paper towels to absorb the oil from the vegetables.
Fang Xing pointed at the steak and said, "Eating meat does not count as carbohydrate."
Song Li shook her head and said with a smile: "I have already eaten two meals today. Whatever I eat now will exceed the limit."
"Watching you eating grass makes me feel quite awkward eating so much." Fang Xing said.
Song Li raised her eyebrows and said, "What? You haven't had dinner with other female stars? Director, how clean are you to this extent?"
It's not that Fang Xing has never dined with other female celebrities, but most of them were just business discussions and he didn't care what he ate.
As for eating in private, there are indeed very few, almost none.
Song Li picked up the knife and fork, helped Fang Xing cut the steak into small pieces, and said, "Eat it, I've long been used to it."
After finishing the steak, the waiter brought us two cocktails with very low alcohol content.
Fang Xing took a bite and asked proactively: "It's only been two days since we last met. Isn't it just a meal this time?"
Song Li had almost finished eating her salad. She took a paper towel and wiped her mouth. She folded the paper towel stained with lipstick and put it on the tablecloth:
"I read the script you gave me, and then I checked the place names in the script. I found that some of these place names are real, and the background doesn't seem to be in China."
Fang Xing smiled and replied: "Since you have checked everything, you should be able to find more things."
Song Li nodded and admitted: "Yes, I found some campus bullying news on the Internet, which matches the place names in the script."
Fang Xing also admitted frankly: "It is true that most of the plot of this script is fictional, but for the story of the heroine who was bullied in middle school, I made reference to some foreign school bullying incidents."
In other words, the campus bullying incident in this script is based on a real incident, but the plot of the heroine's revenge eighteen years later is fictional.
Therefore, this script cannot actually be said to be an adaptation of real events, it can only be said to be based on real events.
Fang Xing stared into her eyes for a while and asked, "Are you interested?"
In fact, even if you don't ask this question, Fang Xing probably knows the answer.
The script was only given to her for two days and she took the initiative to make a dinner date, so she must be interested.
Of course, it’s hard to say how great the interest will be.
With Song Li's current celebrity status, she no longer makes a movie for money, but more for the awards.
Not long ago, she just lost out on the Eagle Award for Best Actress three times and is currently in a slacking off period.
Song Li thought for a moment and asked: "After this drama is filmed, can it be broadcast?"
Fang Xing shook his head and replied: "I'm not sure yet. The competent authorities have approved my filming, but it's hard to say whether it will pass the review in the end."
Song Li asked again: "What should I do if it can't be broadcast?"
Fang Xing did not hide anything: "Considering overseas distribution, of course it would be best to broadcast it domestically. Moreover, if Teacher Song Li is willing to star, I think it will be easier to pass the review."
Song Li's status in the field of TV dramas is not low. If she were to star, with her connections and company strength, it would indeed be easier for the drama to pass review.
Song Li nodded and asked: "Have you considered any cooperation plans? Is it possible? Leave the script to me and I will shoot it."
She was really interested in the script.
However, in recent years, after she selects a script, she will take it over and let her own company find a film and television company to cooperate in filming.
In other words, her company will be the producer.
Fang Xing shook his head and replied: "My crew has been assembled. Auditions will begin in two days. If Teacher Song is willing to join, we can consider investing."
Song Li pondered and did not agree immediately.
She still hopes to win awards when filming dramas.
If you want to compete for awards, your level in all aspects must be high enough.
She was worried about a team that was not formed by her company.
Fang Xing saw her hesitation and asked, "Do you have any concerns?"
Song Li said frankly: "It's not my own team. I'm worried it's a waste of time."
Fang Xing smiled and said: "After you have read the script, you should know that the male protagonist of this drama is a tool man, mainly to highlight the female protagonist.
"I also know that you want to compete for awards, but I can't guarantee anything about awards. It all depends on your own vision.
"This drama is divided into two seasons, with eight episodes in each season. Sixteen episodes were shot in one go, which is not a long time, about five months.
"If you are willing, we will cooperate once. If you feel that the fate has not come, it doesn't matter."
Song Li thought about it and asked, "How much are you prepared to invest?"
Fang Xing smiled and replied: "It depends on how much Teacher Song Li's salary is. Excluding the heroine's salary, the investment is about 50 million to 60 million."
If the heroine's salary is calculated as 30 million, then the total investment in this drama is about 80 million.
In China, investing 80 million yuan in a TV series is actually not a big investment, it is just an A-level investment.
However, the reason why the investment does not seem high is because the total number of episodes is only 16.
Compared with current TV series with 40 or 50 episodes, the investment per episode is actually not low.
The reason why this drama only has 16 episodes is because the subject matter is not suitable for a watery plot.
It's not like an idol drama, where the male and female protagonists can fall down, kiss, hug and lift each other up for one episode.
The subject of school bullying cannot be filmed in this way, the plot must be compact.
Song Li thought about it and asked: "If my company invests in this drama, can it send a team to the crew?"
Fang Xing shook his head and refused: "No, I have the final say on how this drama will be filmed, and no one else is allowed to interfere."
A crew can only have one voice.
If Song Li sends a team into the crew to intervene in the filming, there will definitely be problems.
Fang Xing would not agree to this request.
Even if it were a different female lead, she would not agree.
"Okay, I'll go back and discuss it with my agent and give you a reply in two days." Song Li did not make an immediate decision.
"Okay, then I'll wait for the good news from Teacher Song." Fang Xing responded with a smile.
…
Although Song Li didn't agree on the spot, Fang Xing had a feeling that she would agree.
It is normal for Song Li not to make a decision directly.
The more cautious she is, the more interested she is in the script.
Two days passed.
The crew officially started auditioning actors.
For roles with few audition scenes, Fang Xing basically leaves them to the directing team.
Fang Xing has more important work to be responsible for, and roles with only one or two lines can be left to the directing team for auditions.
When filming, if it is discovered that the actors selected by the director's team are not qualified, it will be too late to change them at that time.
After all, if it's not enough for an actor who only has one or two lines, it's okay to find someone to make a cameo.
Of course, the crew of Ark Culture has been formed through five TV series. It is already quite mature and has a high level of quality. It is rare that the actors selected fail to pass the standard.
If it is an important role, Fang Xing will audition in person.
First day of audition.
Fang Xing received Song Li's reply.
Song Li: "I have accepted this drama. An agent will go to your company to discuss the specific contract."
Fang Xing: "It's a pleasure to cooperate."
After getting Song Li's reply.
Fang Xing turned around and said to the director team in charge of the audition: "Song Li has agreed to star. Everyone, please work hard."
"Really? Director Fang actually took care of Song Li?" Zhang Yigao was a little surprised.
You know, now Song Li may not film a movie in three years. As long as she does, it will definitely be of an award-winning level.
"That's great. If this show doesn't become popular, it would be unforgivable." The casting director also became excited.
He already had a premonition that another hit TV series would appear on his list of works.
…
The audition begins.
The person invited to audition today is an actor in middle school.
Since the actor is playing a middle school student, his appearance must be consistent with his age.
The first actress who came in for the audition, Fang Xing recognized immediately, was Meng Xiaoyan.
Meng Xiaoyan has filmed many TV series and is already twenty-eight years old.
If we go by the casting requirements, for middle school casting, the image needs to be like a middle school student, which means it is best to be eighteen years old, or even younger.
Meng Xiaoyan's age is definitely inappropriate, but her image is consistent.
Because of her type, she looks very small.
Although he is twenty-eight years old, he is thin and looks like a middle school student.
Moreover, in terms of image, it also fits the heroine's pitiful appearance when she was in middle school.
However, Fang Xing saw her try out two scenes and felt average, so he asked:
"Meng Xiaoyan, you are actually quite well-known. In fact, in our drama, although you auditioned for the heroine, she was a middle school heroine and she didn't have many roles.
"With your popularity, there seems to be no need to take on such a small role."
There are not many competing products for Meng Xiaoyan's type in the film and television industry.
She has also filmed many campus youth dramas, because she looks like a middle school student. In a few years, when she is thirty, she may still be able to play this type of role.
However, she has filmed many dramas and is well-known, and her salary has even risen to 18 million.
You know, Lin Yingxue has so many popular dramas, and her salary is only 20 million.
Therefore, from a celebrity perspective, Meng Xiaoyan actually rarely takes supporting roles.
When Fang Xing asked, Meng Xiaoyan quickly explained: "Because I particularly like Director Fang's dramas, I can play any role. If the role doesn't have many roles, I can also make a guest appearance for Director Fang."
She took the initiative to propose a guest appearance.
If it's a guest appearance, the pay won't be much.
Her market price salary is 18 million. It is not cost-effective to hire her to film a role with very few scenes.
She took the initiative to offer a guest appearance, which meant that she took the initiative to reduce her salary, and it could be reduced to a very low level.
Fang Xing glanced at the casting director next to him.
The casting director understood and said, "Okay, we have watched your performance. Let's go back and wait for the news. Thank you for the audition."
"Thank you, director." Meng Xiaoyan bowed her thanks and then exited the room.
After Meng Xiaoyan went out, Zhang Yigao turned around and asked: "Director Fang, how do you feel? With Meng Xiaoyan's acting skills, there must be no problem. She is good at playing the role of pitiful Chu Chu."
Fang Xing slowly shook his head: "I still feel that my age is not right, and my appearance is right, but I still feel that it is not young enough. Moreover, Meng Xiaoyan is too well-known, and the audience will be disappointed if they see her. I tend to find new people."
Since the heroine's role is in middle school, it is not the main role.
When the heroine becomes an adult, the image played by Song Li is the image that the audience should remember, and the image in middle school is just an auxiliary.
Song Li is already well-known, if she was also well-known as an actress in middle school.
Then the audience will know that these are two people, not the same person.
The effect Fang Xing wants to achieve is that when the audience watches the drama, they will naturally regard the heroines from the two periods as the same person.
