Chapter 10 Determining the Actors
July 7th, Xingchen Films Company.

In addition to Gu Wei, there was also a person in charge sent by China Film Group in the office. However, he only provided advice and the decision-making power was still in Gu Wei's hands.

The first person to audition was Yan Danchen, who was wearing a white dress. Although it was still a few years before she filmed The Lotus Lantern, she still looked like Chang'e descending to earth. Gu Wei felt that she was even more beautiful in person than on TV, and had a special charm.

Yan Danchen, a graduate of the 96 acting class, is also Gu Wei's senior.

"Hello, Senior Danchen."

"Hello, Director Gu."

Yan Danchen greeted Gu Wei with a smile.

Yan Danchen, who graduated from the undergraduate class of 96 at Beijing Film Academy, had a very good audition. After watching her performance once, Gu Wei decided to cast her as the female lead. Born in 78, she is only 23 years old this year, which is the right age.

"Senior, you don't have any work arrangements for the next two months, right?" Gu Wei asked directly.

"Director Gu, I haven't signed any contracts with other crews yet, so I have plenty of time in the next two months."

"Well, this is a movie script. Go back and take a good look at it."

"Director, I am that role," Yan Danchen asked with her teeth slightly opened.

"The female lead has been decided tentatively, and the contents of the script are kept confidential."

"Ah, thank you, thank you director, I will read the script carefully and work hard on the filming," Yan Danchen said excitedly.

As a student who just graduated from Beijing Film Academy last year, Yan Danchen never expected that she would get the leading role right at the start. It was also the first commercial film directed by a Golden Bear Award-winning director. One can imagine how excited she was.

The two chatted for a few more words in the reception room, and then Yan Danchen said goodbye to Gu Wei, taking a file bag with him when he left.

When the other interviewers outside the door saw Yan Danchen coming out with the file bag, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous. With one role missing, the subsequent competition would only become more intense.

"Congratulations, Danchen," the agent who was standing next to the car downstairs said directly.

When she saw Yan Danchen coming out with the file bag, she knew that the audition was successful, but she didn't know that Yan Danchen got the leading female role. Then the two of them drove away directly.

Xingchen Film and Television Company is not big and cannot accommodate nearly fifty artists and their agents at the same time, so the auditions are divided into three days. Most of the stars choose to wait in the car downstairs. Those who have the conditions drive up in RVs, while the general public can only sit in the car with the air conditioner on and wait for the audition notice. The weather in July is very hot, and staying outside for five minutes may ruin your makeup. For the sake of the role, you can only endure it.

"Next group," the person in charge of China Film Group shouted to the outside of the door after seeing Gu Wei's instructions.

Auditions are like this, with dozens of people vying for roles in a movie, but only a few succeed. Then he interviewed three or four more artists, but none of them met Gu Wei's requirements in terms of appearance or acting skills, so he just told them to go back and wait for notification.

Everyone knows what's going on. If we go back and wait, we'll know the result. No one is a fool.

Each person's audition time was not long, averaging only half an hour per person. However, there were so many people that it took until five in the afternoon on the first day to finish auditioning the dozen or so artists for the day. This was a speed that Gu Wei could only achieve because he had been working almost nonstop all day.

The next day, Gu Wei met Qin Hao, a star he liked in his previous life. Qin Hao is only in his early twenties now, but his acting skills are impeccable. He graduated from the 96 undergraduate class of the Central Academy of Drama. Judging only from acting skills, actors from the Central Academy of Drama are indeed better than those from the Beijing Film Academy.

"Do that part again," Gu Wei said, looking at him.

"Okay, director."

Although Qin Hao was a little confused, he still followed the script and re-acted the lines and actions.

"The role of the male protagonist connects all the characters in the play and is the most important role in the entire movie. Brother Qin Hao, I hope you can go back and read the script several times to understand this role thoroughly."

"Thank you, director. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely seize it." Qin Hao's reaction was even more excited than Yan Danchen.

This person's acting career in his previous life was not smooth. In 04, he starred in the art film "Qinghong" and went to Cannes for the first time with the crew. He did not become famous until he starred in the web drama "The Undocumented Crime" in 17.

"Take the script back with you, but keep it confidential. We will notify you in advance when you will join the crew," Gu Wei said to him.

"Okay, director."

After leaving the gate of Xingchen Film and Television Company, Qin Hao still couldn't believe that he was chosen as the male lead.

"How is it? Haozi, what did the director say?" Qin Hao's classmate Chen Minghao asked as soon as they walked out the door.

Qin Hao just graduated last year and doesn’t have an agent yet. This time, his classmate Chen Minghao accompanied him here.

"Haha, Lao Chen, I'm going to be rich," he said, waving the file bag in his hand.

"Kid, what role did you get?" Chen Minghao asked impatiently as soon as they got into the car.

"I didn't expect to be the male lead. I thought I was just coming here for a formality, just like going to any other crew," Qin Hao said with a sigh.

"Of course, Haozi, you'll be the leading actor in the great director's first commercial film. Don't forget me, your brother, when you become successful in the future," Chen Minghao said with envy.

Seeing Qin Hao getting the leading role in a big director's movie, Chen Minghao was filled with envy. He himself had also graduated, but he had almost never been on a film crew and could only stay in school and perform in dramas.

This is the sadness of some actors. They have good acting skills but no one supports them, and they don’t have an advantage in appearance. They can only play small supporting roles in the crew, and they don’t know when they will become famous.

"Old Chen, don't worry. When I arrive at the crew, I will invite you to visit the set. Our director is also young. If we can get along well, maybe I can ask you to play the leading role in the next movie," Qin Hao turned and said to him.

"You kid, you're just playing tricks on me. Come on, you have to treat me today. I'll feel bad if I don't treat you well," Chen Minghao said jokingly.

"Next one," the person in charge of China Film Group continued to shout.

"Quite self-aware," Gu Wei glanced at him and thought to himself.

The next person to enter the reception room was Gao Yuanyuan, whom I met at the Berlin Film Festival. She was the one who called Gu Wei privately a few days ago. In her previous life, she was also a goddess in the hearts of many people. Now, she gave people a pure and natural feeling. "Hello, Director Gu."

Gao Yuanyuan said in a gentle voice.

The sound is really nice, cough cough.

"Hello, Yuanyuan, please perform this clip."

Although she started out as an advertising model, her acting skills are no worse than those of actors who graduated from film schools. She did very well in the audition and she is a very sweet person.

"I don't think there will be any film contracts in the next two months," Gu Wei asked directly.

"No, director, I will be very free in the next two months," Gao Yuanyuan said sweetly.

"The role of the hero's sister is also very important in the crew. Here is the script. Go back and read it carefully. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me directly."

"Thank you, director. I will watch it carefully."

"Then go back first. I'll notify you to come over and sign the contract in two days."

"Okay, Director. I'm leaving now."

Next, Gu Wei auditioned Dong Xuan. Although her acting skills are still a bit immature, there is no problem for her to play the male protagonist’s first love. This character does not appear much, mainly in the early part of the movie, so there should be no problem.

Dong Xuan should be the person who got the role the fastest, and also the only one who was predetermined to play the role.

As the roles were confirmed one by one, the media would certainly not miss this kind of news. Since the first day of the audition, the media has never stopped reporting on it. Various portals have reported on it, and at the same time analyzed the reasons why those stars were successful and those stars were not successful, as if they were there at the scene.

Afterwards, Gu Wei auditioned Li Bingbing and Zhou Xun. To be honest, their acting skills are impeccable, but one was born in 73 and the other in 74, so they were a bit too old and not very suitable for movie roles.

After saying something tactful and looking forward to working together next time, the two of them were smart people and understood what Gu Wei meant instantly. When they saw there was a way out, they took the initiative to step down.

After all, they are the most famous among this group of celebrities, and it is indeed a bit embarrassing to be eliminated in the first round this time. The two also said that they still have roles in other crews, and they came here mainly to meet Director Gu. Gu Wei was also very considerate and said that he would treat them to dinner when he was free, and then sent them off.

After two days of auditions, most of the cast members were female artists, and the female roles have been basically confirmed.

On the third day, the last day of the audition, Gu Wei looked at the person who walked in and felt a little emotional. He tried a scene and there was no problem. He was a good actor.

"Hello, Director, I'm actor Huang Haibo."

"Have you finished filming "The Passionate Years"? You should have time in the next few months," Gu Wei asked Huang Haibo who came in.

Upon hearing this, Huang Haibo felt that there was a chance, and said directly: "The first half of the year is over, Director. I am free in the second half of the year and have not accepted any other film contracts."

"Here is the script. The role of the male protagonist's roommate doesn't have many scenes, but it is a test of your acting skills. You should go back and think about it carefully," Gu Wei handed the script to him directly.

"I understand, director. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I will definitely study hard and will not let you down," Huang Haibo said politely.

Walking out of the company gate, Huang Haibo suddenly felt that his luck had come. He had just finished a TV series directed by Kang Honglei in the first half of the year, and now he had received a film directed by Jin Xiong. It would not be wrong to describe his current mood as being very proud and complacent.

"Next," a voice came from the reception room.

"Hello, Director Gu."

"Gongsun Ce acted well and he is very handsome," Gu Wei said, looking at Ren Quan in front of him.

"Haha, thank you for the compliment, director."

This guy likes doing business more than acting. His most classic role is Gongsun Ce in "Young Justice Bao". Born in 73, he is 28 years old this year, but still looks quite young. Later, Gu Wei let him try all the plays.

"The role of my sister's boyfriend requires a younger face, so you must take good care of yourself when you go back," Gu Wei said jokingly.

Hearing this, Ren Quan couldn't help but understand, and said directly: "Thank you, Director. I will definitely take good care of myself when I go back."

"Here is the complete script. Take it back and read it carefully. Come back in two days to sign the contract. The time to join the crew will be notified in advance."

"Director, I'll go back first, you go on with your work," he said, standing up and bowing.

"That's quite polite," Gu Wei said, looking at his back.

The audition is finally over, and Gu Wei has been exhausted these days.

Two days later, the main actors were notified to come and sign the contract, and the media got the news the next day.

The crew of the movie "Time and Space Lovers" has just confirmed the list.

The male lead is Qin Hao, the second male lead is Huang Haibo, and the third male lead is Ren Quan.

The female lead is Yan Danchen, the second female lead is Gao Yuanyuan, and the third female lead is Dong Xuan.

The cast list was announced, and the media and portals reported it one after another. Netizens commented:

"Except for the director, there is no one else famous."

"Director Gu Wei's selection of candidates is quite balanced, with candidates from all three major schools selected."

.........

(End of this chapter)