He Xin was surprised to receive a pager from Niu Le. Although he had kept in touch with several close friends on the crew in private, this was the first time that Niu Le had contacted him.
At first, when Niu Le told him on the phone that a director wanted to meet him, he was quite excited. He didn't expect to have a job so soon, and he kept thanking him.
But later when he heard that this was a drama about gay love, his expression became more subtle. What was more important was that the role he was auditioning for was the one on the receiving end.
He is a straight man and has been for two lifetimes, not to mention that it involves a man's dignity, which obviously has a huge psychological barrier.
He didn't know what to say to Niu Leduo on the phone, so he just agreed vaguely.
After hanging up the phone, he felt uneasy thinking about it and called Wang Xiaoshuai again.
On the one hand, Niu Le told him that Director Wang had recommended him in the first place, and this was because of Wang Xiaoshuai's reputation; on the other hand, Wang Xiaoshuai could be said to be the person who led him on this path, and He Xin was more willing to communicate with him about some of his inner thoughts.
.
"What are you thinking? Let me tell you, Kwan Jin-peng is a famous director in Hong Kong. Do you think anyone can be in his movie? Do you know how many people want to play this role? You don't want to play it yet? Can they?
I can’t fall in love with you, why are you making excuses! The director wants to see you, so he’s giving you a chance, so why are you putting on such a stinky air?"
"...If you can't let go of this, why are you still an actor?"
"...This is a movie, this is art, and I'm not really asking you to do this!"
"... Hong Kong directors are very generous, so don't cherish the opportunity!"
"...Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and meet people, and remember to have a correct attitude!"
On the phone, He Xin hesitated and expressed that he felt awkward and didn't want to take the job, but Wang Xiaoshuai scolded him.
What Wang Xiaoshuai talked about about movies, art, etc. was a commonplace in the classroom. As for Hong Kong directors, He Xin only knew a few names such as Xu Ke, Wu Yusen, Wang Jing, and Lin Chaoxian.
Guan Jinpeng, just like when I first heard Wang Xiaoshuai's name, it sounds familiar to me, but I really don't know who he is?
But this time he learned his lesson and secretly inquired with his classmates in private. The result once again confirmed his ignorance.
Guan Jinpeng is a veritable director who has won the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Director. The films he has shot include "Rouge Button" and "Ruan Lingyu" which he has seen, as well as "A Woman's Heart" which he has never heard of.
”, “The more you fall, the happier you become” and so on.
In short, Guan Jinpeng is at least a better director than Wang Xiaoshuai.
Wang Xiaoshuai talked a lot, but He Xin actually listened to one sentence: "Hong Kong directors are generous."
It’s not that he has never dreamed of being a star, but he is very self-aware and always feels that he has no such destiny. He chose to do this business mainly to make money, because acting can make money quickly and buy a house early in the future.
Art or something like that has nothing to do with him at the moment.
…
The meeting place is scheduled to be at Starbucks in Xidan.
He Xin has never been to a place like this, it’s expensive!
When you walk into an unknown place, or a place that does not match your identity, no matter how well you disguise yourself, you will always feel a little bit restricted.
Perhaps because it was a working day, there were not many customers. They were scattered in small groups in the shop, and their clothes clearly distinguished them from the ordinary working people.
He didn't know what the director looked like, so he stood in the middle of the store and looked around blankly.
"Congratulations!"
In the corner, a middle-aged man in a suit stood up and waved to him.
There was another person sitting next to him. They seemed to be about the same age, in their early forties, but the other one was actually wearing a sweater.
"My name is Zhang Yongning, and this is director Guan Jinpeng."
The man in the suit took the initiative to introduce, and the man in the sweater also stood up.
"Mr. Zhang!"
"director!"
He Xin quickly stepped forward to shake hands and call for help.
"Hello."
Compared to Zhang Yongning's warm and powerful handshake, Guan Jinpeng's hand was soft and a little damp, and he loosened it with just a slight squeeze. His Mandarin accent was very strange, probably the so-called "Hong Kong Putian".
"Xiao He, sit down and have something to drink?" Zhang Yongning greeted.
He Xin looked at the coffee in front of them and said politely: "Whatever, just a cup of boiled water."
"If you don't want coffee, let's have a cup of lemon black tea." Zhang Yongning noticed his look and said with a smile.
"Oh, okay, okay!"
He Xin originally thought that a waiter would come to take orders, but Zhang Yongning actually stood up, walked to the bar, paid, and then came back with a cup of tea.
He Xin quickly stood up and apologized: "Mr. Zhang, I'm really sorry. It's my first time here and I don't know the rules here..."
"It's okay, it's okay, sit down, sit down!"
"I heard that you are studying at China National Theater Academy?" Zhang Yongning asked.
"Yes, but I am in a refresher course. I just entered the school not long ago." He Xinda said.
"Good!"
Zhang Yongning nodded approvingly. He had also studied acting before, similar to He Xin, and he also attended a similar training class. Then he said, "Do you understand the situation of our drama?"
"I know. Brother Niu told me the general plot on the phone."
"You don't have any worries, do you?"
When Zhang Yongning contacted Liu Ye before, he was always pushed back and forth. To be honest, he was really worried.
"Well……"
He Xin glanced at Guan Jinpeng subconsciously. From the time he came in until now, apart from saying hello, Guan Jinpeng had been sitting there without saying a word, just looking at him with a smile, which made him feel a little nervous. He wanted to follow him several times.
The other person strikes up a conversation, but doesn't know what to say.
There are definitely worries, mainly because it is difficult to overcome the hurdle in his heart. But now that he is here, he can only ask shamelessly: "Mr. Zhang, I just want to ask, this... how much is the salary?"
Huh?
Zhang Yongning was stunned, and even Guan Jinpeng, who looked calm, subconsciously sat upright at this time. From the beginning of selecting actors to now, this was the first time he met someone who asked about the salary.
"Uh, don't you have an agent?" Zhang Yongning forced a smile.
Isn't it up to the agent to negotiate the remuneration issue?
"No." He Xin said simply.
He was not stupid. When he saw the shocked expressions of the two people, he simply made his words clear and said: "To be honest, it's difficult to film a movie with this theme without worries. If the money is small, I will definitely not do it."
In fact, when he came here, he had already thought about it. For the sake of money, if it worked, it would be fine, but if it didn't, it wouldn't work. Anyway, it was a one-time deal.
"Well, well... the main reason we met today is to see you as a person. As for the issue of remuneration, it seems too late to talk about it now..."
Before Zhang Yongning could say anything, he heard a voice next to him: "Eighty thousand!"
"What?"
He Xin simply couldn't believe his ears.
Zhang Yongning also turned his head and looked over in surprise.
Guan Jinpeng first nodded slightly towards Zhang Yongning, indicating that he knew what he knew, and then smiled at He Xin who looked in disbelief: "What do you think of the 80,000 yuan salary?"
Eighty thousand!
He Xin never dreamed that it would be such a big number.
You must know that the price in his mind was only 10,000 yuan. Even if he bargained for 8,000 yuan, he would probably do it. But he never expected that it would suddenly increase tenfold. No wonder Wang Xiaoshuai said that Hong Kong directors are generous.
He swallowed hard and said with trembling lips: "No... no problem, I'll take it."
Then he took a deep breath, calmed down a little, and asked eagerly: "Director, where is the script?"
He Xin's purpose in life has always been to take money from others and eliminate misfortunes with them. Since the other party is so sincere, there is no need for any psychological barriers. The most important thing is to perform the trick well.
Guan Jinpeng smiled and said, "Please make another trip to the Friendship Hotel tomorrow and go through the formalities. I will give you the script when the time comes."
"Okay, then I'll come over tomorrow morning."
After the matter was finalized and it was almost time, He Xin stood up and left.
"Liu Ye, don't you want to look at it anymore?" Zhang Yongning asked impatiently as soon as they left.
Although Liu Ye has been reluctant to agree to meet, he has not given up yet. In his mind, Liu Ye should be more suitable than He Xin. After all, he graduated from China National Theater with a four-year undergraduate degree and won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Nominate.
To put it bluntly, Zhang Yongning was worried about He Xin's acting skills.
But Guan Jinpeng shook his head and said: "Forget it, I won't read it anymore, it's just him."
He didn't tell Zhang Yongning that in fact it was He Xin's confused and innocent eyes that flashed from time to time, which deeply moved him.