593: Chapter 593 Auditioning New Actors

After filming the "Flying Dagger Snipes Chairman Feng" scene, Lin Chuyan's character Mike calls his employer, only to discover that Chairman Feng is his employer.

Shocked, confused, and utterly baffled.

After being completely dumbfounded by the whole event, Mike finally lets out his last soul-stirring line in the film: "I'll screw your lungs..."

"Cut!" Director Li Hao signals Lin Chuyan, "Boss, take a break. We'll change the look for the next shot."

"Alright." Lin Chuyan agrees casually.

Xu Zhen, the bald actor playing Chairman Feng, is chatting with Lin Chuyan at the moment.

Before Lin Chuyan got involved, Xu Zhen was arguably the most famous actor in crazy stone.

He started as a stage actor, and a few years after his debut, he played Zhu Bajie in a mythical drama, gaining considerable fame. Nowadays, he can be considered a fairly typical comedic actor.

When Director Li Hao originally approached him to play the role of Chairman Feng in crazy stone, it was someone from Lin Chuyan's company who extended the invitation. Xu Zhen naturally wouldn't refuse; transitioning from a TV actor to a film actor was something he had always wanted to do, not to mention it was a film produced by Lin Chuyan—he didn't want to miss it.

The most magical part is that news came in these past two days that the actor he was originally supposed to have a scene with had actually been replaced by Lin Chuyan... This was truly an unexpected joy.

Doubts like the role of Chairman Feng not having much screen time, the film's low investment cost, or the possibility that it wouldn't make waves even with Lin Chuyan's endorsement... all these concerns were completely dispelled. Now? Now he has already added Lin Chuyan on WeChat.

Come to think of it, if he ever had a script on hand and lacked funding, would he have a chance to get Lin Chuyan to invest? This wasn't delusional; if a newcomer like Director Li Hao could do it, there was no reason he couldn't.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but speak up: "Director Lin, perhaps we might have a chance to collaborate in the future?"

Lin Chuyan naturally wouldn't refuse: "No problem. If you have any difficulties or needs, come to me. As long as the script is good, everything is negotiable. Oh, right, if you have any good actors around you who don't have a company, feel free to recommend them to me."

"Actually, I do have one. But..." Xu Zhen hesitates.

"But what?"

"But what Director Lin said the other day, that cultural workers must have culture..." Xu Zhen shakes his head, "My friend's flaw is that he doesn't have much academic background, so I didn't dare recommend him to you."

"Eh, that wasn't my original quote, was it?" Lin Chuyan is amused, "If that's how you interpret it, it's better to say actors must have Acting skills. The 'culture' in cultural workers isn't absolutely tied to academic qualifications. Tell me, what's his education level?"

"Cough, well..." Xu Zhen feels embarrassed again, "My friend doesn't have a formal education."

You could at least say elementary school education? Meaning he never went to school, right?

Lin Chuyan: "...Your friend wouldn't happen to have practiced martial arts since childhood, would he?"

"How did Director Lin know?"

"Just a guess." Lin Chuyan says calmly, "So how did you two meet?"

"He's an extra, but there are differences among extras. I happened to meet him on a set. I feel he just lacks an opportunity..." Xu Zhen gets less confident as he speaks, and adds, "I think he'd definitely be fine as a supporting actor..."

Lin Chuyan interrupts: "I'm interested. How about we meet up sometime?"

"Great! He'll be thrilled. By the way, it's okay if he's a bit rough-looking, right?"

Lin Chuyan looks at Wang Bo: "Teacher Xu, take a look at Brother Bo. Between your friend and Brother Bo, who do you think looks better?"

"Hahaha! If it weren't for Director Lin signing Brother Bo, I wouldn't have recommended my friend!"

Tsk tsk tsk, is this fate? Lin Chuyan feels good: Are the benefits of signing Brother Bo already showing?

"Okay, we must meet! I appreciate talent like that."

"Is Director Lin leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow afternoon. Going back to Hollywood to film my own movie. Tell your friend to wait for me. We'll meet as soon as I get back."

However, after filming that night, Lin Chuyan met Xu Zhen's friend.

He didn't expect that because he agreed to meet, Xu Zhen contacted his friend, and the latter came over by car immediately.

This is called seizing an opportunity when it arrives: Wait for Lin Chuyan to finish filming? That would be months later. By then, the opportunity would be cold, and he might not even remember. Must strike while the iron is hot.

"Hello Director Lin, my name is Wang Yongqiang, I'm an actor."

No problem, extras are actors too.

The person standing in front of Lin Chuyan is as unattractive as Brother Bo, but his appearance is different. Brother Bo is shrewd; this guy just looks honest and simple.

But in Director Lin's eyes, it's different.

The Wang Yongqiang in front of him purses his lips, lowers his head slightly, looks up, blinks... If he weren't so average-looking, Lin Chuyan would want to use the word "pure" to describe him.

Good, good, good, truly a talent! This kind of talent is exactly what Starfire needs!

Xu Zhen explains from the side: "Director Lin, Yongqiang has a talent for improvisation. Feel free to audition him."

Lin Chuyan has a flash of inspiration, he actually thinks of an audition idea.

"Do you smoke?"

"Director Lin, I don't smoke."

Lin Chuyan nods: "Very good. Now, you are a bottom-tier, marginalized person in a dilapidated little village in the North. You are tortured by the trauma of your brother's tragic death and your father's legacy. You don't have a decent job, and you are looked down upon by your younger brother, friends, and everyone in the village. You live like a walking corpse, your mental world constantly at odds with reality, sometimes sober, sometimes insane. You crave respect, you crave warmth, but you always hit walls in reality. This instability in your mental state is the core of your character. And your signature action is smoking. Now, I want you to use the action of smoking to express this character's confusion, anxiety, and numbness."

Xu Zhen didn't expect Lin Chuyan to give such a specific description: "Director Lin, is this a character from your next... script?"

Lin Chuyan doesn't answer: "Teacher Xu, do you have a cigarette?"

"Yes." Xu Zhen is interested, "Hey, let me try Acting this character too."

Lin Chuyan has no objection: "Sure."

Xu Zhen thinks, pulls out a cigarette, lights it.

But after lighting it, he suddenly realizes he doesn't know how to smoke it. He tries various ways of holding it, shifting the cigarette between his fingers, feels awkward: "If you let me act, I might be fine; but making me express the character through the act of smoking, that's interesting."

Wang Yongqiang on the side speaks up: "Director Lin, I'm ready."

"Good, go ahead."

Wang Yongqiang has already entered the state.

Before, Wang Yongqiang gave Lin Chuyan the impression of being energetic, but at this moment, his posture suddenly hunches a bit.

He furrows his brows slightly, his eyes narrow, as if they can never fully open. The expression on his face is like he wants to smile but doesn't dare. His hands seem to have nowhere to rest, always wanting to do something.

So he picks up the cigarette.

Lights it.

Smoke spills slowly from his slightly parted lips, seemingly not inhaled.

The hand that Xu Zhen didn't know where to put, Wang Yongqiang knows.

He stretches his hand out, then stays perfectly still, without a single wasted movement.

His eyes narrow deeper, looking hollow and profound.