Chapter 524 Continuing with Turtle Soup (8,000-word update!)

The show "The Birth of an Actor" is bound to be controversial.

For example, acting skills cannot be objectively measured through a ten-minute segment on a stage.

For example, actors with a strong sense of camera presence might suffer a lot when performing on this stage.

For example, using a competition format to test acting skills would definitely cause a lot of trouble.

But Lu Yanhe always believed that nothing in this world is without negative consequences. If you want to accomplish something perfectly, then you might as well not do anything at all.

For many actors today, the show "The Birth of an Actor" is definitely more beneficial than harmful.

For example, young actors who want a stage to hone their acting skills, actors who want an opportunity to showcase their good acting skills, and actors who haven't found a suitable script yet but want to maintain their exposure...

Lu Yanhe used to have some doubts, thinking that this kind of show might be too superficial in terms of acting skills. Now he thinks that whether something is superficial or not sometimes does not depend on the thing itself, but on whether you treat it superficially.

Lu Yanhe suddenly had the idea for a variety show, which was quite unusual.

They seem to value the Northern Lights video quite a bit.

Not only did the Northern Lights video receive attention, but Yuehu TV, upon learning the news, also actively contacted them immediately.

Aurora Video had long been aware of Lu Yanhe's talent for program creativity. Even now, "Rooftop Confession" is not as attractive as it was at the beginning, but because of its extremely low production cost, it is still one of the programs with the highest return on investment.

If you have a good program idea and you produce it all in one go, you can really make money while lying down.

To be honest, Yue Hutai's contact was only to maintain his relationship with Lu Yanhe.

Lu Yanhe's talent in program production is not actually well-known in the industry.

However, when they learned about Lu Yanhe's ideas for the program, they were all stunned.

Because Lu Yanhe's idea was indeed groundbreaking.

Why bring established actors onto a stage for an acting competition?

Are you crazy?

Who will come?

However, putting that aside, if this program were to actually be filmed, it would definitely be a hot topic and attract a large number of viewers.

The difficulty with this idea lies in its execution.

However, with Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan's connections, the power of Yuehu TV, and the power of Aurora Video, how could they not find enough actors to make this show?

Most importantly, this show has the potential to be a huge hit. In the entertainment industry, you can be shameless, but you can't stay unknown forever.

After initial surprise and doubt, Aurora Video and Yuehu TV began to realize the enormous potential of the program.

We're all in this industry. If you can't even spot the potential of a hit show, you might as well switch careers.

Because a unified consensus was reached, the program progressed very quickly.

The show needs to find three mentors who are big names and persuasive. They need to have influence and status in the industry, and the audience should be able to tell at a glance that they are qualified to sit here and comment on others.

For most people, dealing with such a big shot would be incredibly difficult, requiring three visits to his door. But for Lu Yanhe, it was a simple matter.

In the few years since his debut, he has collaborated with a lot of big names, to say the least.

The directors include TV drama directors like Luo Yuzhong and Chen Lingling, as well as film directors like Wang Zhong and Liu Bige. Although Liu Bige has only directed one film, his first film won a major award, a truly impressive achievement.

Among the actors, Shang Yongzhou and Chen Bige, the two new senior brothers and sisters, can be said to be the absolute ceiling of actors with absolute credibility. In terms of national popularity, Jia Long, the ceiling of comedy, is also an old acquaintance. In addition to them, there are a large number of actor friends such as Jiang Jun, Huang Kairen, Bao Zhenzhu, Liu Zi, and Zeng Qiao who can come and serve as flying mentors.

Lu Yanhe is a professional coder.

Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan discussed it and finalized a preliminary list of invitees.

As for the competition format, Lu Yanhe felt that the simpler the better. He thought the format of the original first season was the clearest and most entertaining: two-on-two battles, head-to-head competition, and finally, a champion was chosen. Because it wasn't a formal competition; the competition was just the format. The core was to let the audience discover that there were so many actors with decent acting skills.

Think back carefully, how many actors gained fame or experienced a significant leap in their fame and industry image through this program?

Xin Zhilei's first major breakthrough wasn't with "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace," which hadn't even aired yet. It was her competition with Shu Chang on this show. The two were incredibly competitive, but ultimately, neither lost—it's unclear why Shu Chang didn't capitalize on that buzz to launch a second career as an actress. At the time, Shu Chang clearly had both a good reputation and considerable popularity.

Not to mention the classic case of Mr. Zhou being chosen by Ms. Zhang at first sight, a true leap forward. Many people say that he failed to achieve his goal of advancement after filming a TV series with Ms. Zhang, but they don't even look at how many leading roles he has played since that show, roles that were previously unattainable for him.

Peng Yuchang already had a nickname at the time, but he was still a bit weak when he participated in the show. He didn't even think about advancing. But after one performance, he stood out and was later recommended by Ms. Zhang to Zhang Yibai. It wasn't an instant rise to fame, but it definitely took a big step in his career.

...

Lu Yanhe thought to himself that the success of the first season was because that stage had topics, competitions, and even farces and feuds, including many memorable moments, such as the show's famous "Ants Race" and "Haiwa". But at its core, the one who ultimately advanced on that stage was always the one with the best acting skills.

Regardless of whether there was any behind-the-scenes manipulation, at least the actors who emerged from this show all earned their success through solid acting skills.

He must insist on making "The Birth of an Actor".

The actors participating in the show can be anyone—you can have never acted before, you can be a king of bad movies, or you can be a hot topic—it doesn't matter. The show needs gimmicks, topics, and viewership; that's an objective fact. But one thing is certain: the show must be fair. You can't become royalty and get preferential treatment just because you're good at causing trouble or making a scene. You can't have a shield just because you have connections with someone.

Lu Yanhe had a good impression of the show for many reasons, one of which was that the daughter of the original female lead from "My Own Swordsman" participated. After her performance, the judges' comments were quite harsh and outspoken, just like Ms. Zhang throwing her shoe—

A show that's too highbrow, featuring only seasoned actors showcasing their skills, simply won't attract a large audience. It needs to be a mix of established and popular actors, with some passionately recounting their difficult acting journeys while others address scandals like plastic surgery and diva-like behavior. Only then will the show be flashy, attention-grabbing, and a massive hit. But creating drama is fine; mutual flattery and blatant lies are truly disgusting to viewers.

As "The Birth of an Actor" progressed, various problems were exposed, but at least it maintained a basic standard regarding the quality of acting and did not distort the truth.

-

"Sister Zhiyin, I think you can come and have some fun."

Lu Yanhe extended an invitation to Liu Zhiyin when he was recording the fifth season of "The Days of Youth".

Liu Zhiyin was taken aback.

"Huh? Me? I haven't acted in any plays before, can I still go?"

“It’s precisely because you haven’t acted in many dramas that you can go on without any burden,” Lu Yanhe said. “If you don’t act well, people will be more forgiving of you, since you are a singer after all.”

"Then I'll be eliminated immediately?" Liu Zhiyin asked.

Lu Yanhe said with a smile, "If you are eliminated in an acting competition program, everyone will think it's normal and won't think you're bad. On the contrary, if you have an incredible performance that surprises everyone, you will also receive more applause."

Liu Zhiyin: "Why do I feel like you're just trying to fool me? Although I'm already a little tempted by your words."

Lu Yanhe laughed and said, "Because a new program needs attention and novelty, I hope there are contestants of all types in this program. You are the most suitable contestant in this crossover type. You are very popular, famous, and have tried acting, but you don't have much experience yet, which makes people look forward to it."

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Zhiyin said, "I need to go back and think about it seriously. It's not that I don't want to agree, it's just that I'm really a little afraid to go on this stage."

“Understood, Sister Zhiyin, I’ll wait for you to contact me.” Lu Yanhe winked at Liu Zhiyin, “There’s another benefit to you participating in this program.”

"What are the benefits?" Liu Zhiyin asked.

“Because you are interested in acting, but you have no experience, you don’t dare to play significant roles easily, and you are basically just guest stars,” Lu Yanhe said. “On this stage, although your performance time may only be ten minutes or so, it’s just a segment, but in that segment, you are the protagonist, and the drama is all on you. You don’t need to go through a formal filming project to test whether you have the talent to be an actor. You can feel it by coming to this program. There will be professional acting coaches to guide your acting skills, top-notch screenwriters to tailor-make scripts for you, and the best mentors to evaluate your performance.”

Liu Zhiyin took a deep breath.

"You're so mean, you tempted me like that!"

Lu Yanhe laughed.

-

Lu Yanhe was very happy to re-record "The Days of Youth" with everyone.

Because they know each other too well.

This familiarity comes from spending time together; we know each other well about what has happened over the past few years, and there is no sense of unfamiliarity between us.

Since everyone hadn't seen each other for a long time, no tasks or games were assigned on the first day, and everyone was free to do as they pleased.

By the time a show reaches its fifth season, it doesn't really need to do much more with the formalities.

Just the sight of these old acquaintances sitting together and talking is quite interesting, and many people would watch.

They hadn't seen each other for a long time, and finally they could sit together and have a good chat.

This meeting is actually the best time.

Everyone's career is thriving; no one is frustrated or unsuccessful.

There's no need for anyone to have any reservations.

In addition to his own talk show, "Zhixing," Peng Zhixing has appeared on many other programs.

He's not the kind of host who's particularly witty or funny, but he gives off a relaxed vibe, and being quite handsome, he also has a lot of fans who admire his looks.

Upon meeting Peng Zhixing this time, Lu Yanhe invited him to a meeting.

“Brother Zhixing, why don’t you be the host of the show ‘The Birth of an Actor’?” Lu Yanhe said.

This show absolutely needs a host. Although many people say that Lu Yanhe's current achievements are enough for him to sit on the mentor's seat, he feels that as a young man in his early twenties, he is not suitable at all—this also takes into account the feelings of the audience and the contestants.

No matter how good his acting skills are, it's just not appropriate for him to be commenting on and giving advice to a group of actors who are older than him on stage.

This is unreasonable and inappropriate.

Therefore, Lu Yanhe plans to take on the role of Zhang Guoli's teacher, the convener.

Of course, he is also the convener of this program.

Peng Zhixing is the person who has collaborated with Lu Yanhe the most in the past four years on the program "The Days of Youth", along with Li Zhibai and Yan Liang.

The main reason is that his profession is a host.

Lu Yanhe only has one truly close relationship with any host.

Therefore, for the premieres or special screenings of films and television dramas starring or written by Lu Yanhe, Peng Zhixing is usually invited to host them.

Lu Yanhe himself would also bring others to his talk shows and other programs he hosted to promote his work.

In addition, Peng Zhixing is also a special interviewer for the film and television version of "Jump Up," conducting film and television interviews.

After four years of collaboration, it can be said that, thanks to Lu Yanhe, Peng Zhixing is one of the younger generation of hosts who has very close ties with the film and television industry.

Especially the interview segment for the film and television version of "Jump Up," which he ran for four years, showcased Peng Zhixing's unparalleled understanding, aesthetic appreciation, and insights into film and television—something other hosts simply cannot match. He discussed the different film and television productions in various countries and regions, the current state of the industry in China, the works of various directors, the evolution of their styles, and the current situation of the actors—

It takes years of accumulated basic skills to truly conduct an in-depth and substantial interview.

Otherwise, you'll only be able to ask others, "How do you maintain such a slim figure?" "What was it like filming this movie?" "What would you like to share with everyone about your role?"

They were all very basic questions; anyone could ask them.

It can be said that over the past four years, Peng Zhixing has become the most suitable young host for the show "The Birth of an Actor".

Because he understands it well enough.

Peng Zhixing agreed without hesitation.

-

"Yan He, I thought you'd settle down for a bit after you came back from filming abroad, but I didn't expect you to be quietly stirring up big trouble again," Xiao Yun said with a smile. "How come you're so good at causing trouble?"

Lu Yanhe: "I can't sit still; ideas keep popping into my head one after another."

After the broadcast of "My Own Swordsman", Xiao Yun's popularity skyrocketed.

If Liu Zi, who played Tong Zhanggui, became known in the industry and sparked heated discussions because of her very distinctive acting style, then Guo Furong, played by Xiao Yun, has become one of the most popular characters among young people.

Especially for students, who are not yet old enough to appreciate the charm of the character Tong Zhanggui, their favorite characters are Bai Zhantang, played by Huang Kairen, and Guo Furong, played by Xiao Yun.

That's the charm of the character.

Especially the character Guo Furong, who dares to love and hate, is carefree, and sometimes confused. She is a very unconventional female knight-errant. Strictly speaking, she only dreams of being a female knight-errant, but in this martial arts world, no one recognizes her as such.

This is the kind of character that has resonated with many young people.

In a sense, her character is similar to Rachel from Friends. In real life, they both have many minor flaws, but because their essence and underlying nature are that of very kind and good people, all their flaws ultimately become endearing and lovable qualities.

Xiao Yun benefited from the popularity of the character and the audience's perception of him, and his popularity soared, as did his national recognition.

This is a rare character that people of all ages will not find offensive.

Xiao Yun said to Lu Yanhe, "My boss has been wanting to treat you to dinner to thank you for giving me this role, haha."

"No need to be so polite."

Xiao Yun: "I know you're definitely not interested; these kinds of dinners are really boring."

Lu Yanhe nodded: "I'm really not that interested. I'd rather go to the movies with you than spend the time on a meal like this."

"And then rumors will start spreading right away." Xiao Yun laughed, raising his hands and making an X. "These days, cameras are everywhere."

Lu Yanhe also smiled.

"Then let me put it another way: I'd rather stay home and read books."

Xiao Yun asked Lu Yanhe in surprise, "Do you still read books often now?"

"Mm." Lu Yanhe nodded.

Xiao Yun sighed regretfully, seemingly with some envy, and said, "I really wish I could be like you and still be able to read books, but now when I open a book, I simply can't concentrate on reading those words line by line."

"So how do you read the script?"

“Reading the script is actually not a problem; it just makes me feel different. When I read the script, I know that I might be playing this story in the future, so I am reading the script entirely from an actor’s perspective,” Xiao Yun said. “Moreover, I think the script is much easier to read than many literary works.”

There's no need to force yourself; if you can't get into it, just let it go.

“But I remember you said in an interview, right? Actors need to read more books because that’s how they can broaden their horizons and aesthetic sense as much as possible,” Xiao Yun said. “When I first saw that interview, I thought you were being too literary. But now I’m increasingly aware of my limitations—I get a lot of scripts sent to me, and all I can really tell is whether the script is appealing or makes me want to keep reading. Beyond that, I have absolutely no ability to judge the script’s literary value. To be honest, Yan He, if the script for the movie you starred in, ‘The Road to Glory,’ were sent to me, I wouldn’t even be able to finish reading it. I would find it very boring.”

Lu Yanhe: "This—"

He was at a loss for words.

Xiao Yun: "I still want to force myself to read more books, I can't really waste my time like this."

She seemed determined to do it.

Lu Yanhe didn't know what to say because he always felt that if you really couldn't concentrate on your studies, there was no need to force yourself to study, so why make yourself unhappy?

However, as an actor, literary knowledge largely determines the complexity of the roles one can portray in the future.

Many actors are talented and perform exceptionally well from the start. But talent cannot sustain a lifetime. Any talented actor, if they cannot continuously enrich and improve themselves, will eventually become confined to a certain performance style. Over time, this will cause the audience to feel repetitive and experience aesthetic fatigue.

Reading more books expands one's inner world.

Only when an actor's inner world expands can he/she reach a wider world in his/her performances.

To be honest, actors of their generation haven't experienced much of the changing times or the ups and downs of life. Lu Yanhe, on the other hand, has seen a lot – which is why many media outlets believe his performances possess a richness far exceeding that of his peers. Most young actors lead relatively uneventful lives: studying, going to university, then joining a film crew. In the end, even the most basic acts of crying and laughing require rigorous training to present a relatively authentic performance.

It would be almost impossible for them to portray a more complex character, one that is more detached from everyday life.

Reading is a shortcut.

For actors, it is essential to read more texts rather than pictures and videos.

Because words allow actors to empathize in an imagined world, a function that pictures and videos cannot replace.

-

Xiao Yun is already considered to have good acting skills among the younger generation of actors.

Her acting career has actually been one of the smoothest.

Not long after her debut, she starred alongside Lu Yanhe in Chen Lingling's "Phoenix Terrace," for which she won the Best Supporting Actress award at the China Film Directors Association Awards. Although it's not one of the three major mainstream awards, it's not a trivial award either, so it still has some prestige.

Now, Xiao Yun has become a sensation again thanks to "My Own Swordsman", rising to fame on the spot.

It can be said that among the younger generation of actresses, she is already in the top tier.

But under these circumstances, Xiao Yun could see the gap between himself and Lu Yanhe more clearly.

Xiao Yun was not jealous of any of Lu Yanhe's achievements; this was her honest opinion.

However, when Xiao Yun realized that her reserves were pitifully small, she felt a sense of insecurity at such a young age, knowing very well that this was because she had been acting with many excellent actors at a very young age. She didn't compare herself with her peers, but with the actors from "Phoenix Terrace" and "My Own Swordsman". And when she did, she felt ashamed of herself.

Xiao Yun couldn't even tell anyone, because if she said she felt ashamed at this moment, people would only think she was a Versailles.

Just like Lu Yanhe when he first started acting.

Lu Yanhe was actually quite surprised.

Despite his sudden rise to fame overnight, Xiao Yun didn't immediately become arrogant or complacent. Instead, he proactively realized that his cultivation level was far from sufficient.

This is quite different from Xiao Yun's usual carefree and joyful demeanor.

Xiao Yun is the kind of person who looks very confident.

-

That evening, after everyone had dinner together, Song Linxin suddenly said, "We haven't played games together in a long time, how about we play some games?"

"What do you want to play?" Peng Zhixing asked immediately.

Song Linxin asked, "Actually, I really wanted to play Turtle Soup. Later, I played it a few more times with other people, and I quite liked the game."

It was Peng Zhixing who brought the turtle soup game to this show, which scared a lot of people.

Peng Zhixing asked, "Does anyone have any good turtle soup?"

Li Zhibai was the first to raise his hand: "I encountered one when I was playing with other people before. I don't know if you guys have heard of it. If you have, please mute your microphones and don't speak."

Everyone laughed and said okay.

At this moment, Peng Zhixing suddenly looked at the camera and explained: "Dear viewers, if you don't know what 'Turtle Soup' is, I recommend you watch the first season of our show first. Let me explain it simply: the game involves the questioner posing an event that is difficult to understand on the surface, which we call the 'soup noodle.' Participants can ask any questions to try to narrow down the scope and find the real reason behind the event, which we call the 'soup base.' During the process, the questioner can only answer the questions with yes, right, no, wrong, or it doesn't matter."

The host's instincts were spot on.

With everything ready, Li Zhibai suggested the turtle soup noodles: "The soup noodles are like this: I was playing hide-and-seek with my mom, and when she saw me, I couldn't move at all."

Song Linxin was the most proactive, immediately asking, "Am I dead?"

Li Zhibai said, "No."

Yan Liang then asked, "Am I stuck somewhere?"

"No, not exactly." Li Zhibai shook his head.

Qin Zhibai asked, "Is the reason I'm not moving related to my mother seeing me?"

"Yes." Li Zhibai nodded.

"Am I standing still because I'm nervous and scared?" Lu Yanhe guessed.

Li Zhibai laughed and nodded: "Yes."

Liu Zhiyin hugged her arms with both hands.

"Why does this feel a little scary?"

Su Xiao grabbed Xiao Yun's arm and asked nervously, "Are there any dead people in this story?"

Li Zhibai nodded, "Yes."

Song Linxin immediately realized, "So it wasn't me who died, it was Mom who died?"

Li Zhibai nodded again, "Yes."

“She’s dead, how can she still be watching me?” Yan Liang immediately questioned.

Liu Zhiyin's voice trembled slightly, "Did you die with your eyes open in disbelief?"

"yes."

"Ah—" Liu Zhiyin hugged Xiao Yun tightly, "Why is it always this kind of terrifying stuff!"

Li Zhi smiled triumphantly.

"So, have we figured it out already?" Yan Liang asked.

“No, you haven’t guessed why I’m not moving in the story,” Li Zhibai said. “You still haven’t figured out the reason.”

Lu Yanhe sighed.

"What's wrong?" Li Zhi asked.

"I think I've figured it out."

"What is it?" Song Linxin asked.

Lu Yanhe: "It's a bit... creepy."

Lu Yanhe looked at Li Zhibai: "In the story, am I hiding under the bed or in the closet, in a secluded place where I won't be easily discovered by others?"

Li Zhibai nodded: "Yes."

Lu Yanhe continued, "Mom is dead, but her eyes are still open, and she can see me—was it because I was playing hide-and-seek with Mom, and I found a place to hide and stayed there for a long time, when suddenly someone dragged Mom's body in, so I saw Mom's unseeing eyes and was too scared to move?"

The four girls, including Xiao Yun who was the bravest, were all stunned and stared at Lu Yanhe in disbelief.

Li Zhibai looked at Lu Yanhe in disbelief and asked, "Have you seen this turtle soup before?"

"No," Lu Yanhe shook his head. "Just guessing."

Li Zhibai: "Wow, that's way too much! You guessed it already?"

“Because everyone’s questions had actually revealed all the clues,” Lu Yanhe said. “In the story, it’s just me and my mother. Song Linxin asked me if I was dead, because she thought I was dead since I wasn’t moving. You said no. Later, Su Xiao asked if anyone was dead, and you said yes. So the only dead person could be my mother. There must be a reason why I wasn’t moving. So I asked you if it was because you were nervous and scared, and you said yes. Then, Zhiyin asked if my mother died with her eyes open, and you said yes. Basically, the whole storyline came out.”

"You really are a screenwriter! You've connected all the clues so quickly." Peng Zhixing laughed. "To be honest, just this short story could be the opening of a very engaging horror movie."

Lu Yanhe also laughed, "But the story is hard to reconcile."

Is it difficult to make a perfect circle?

“Hmm.” Lu Yanhe nodded. “The turtle soup basically tells the whole story. If you want to continue, it's basically about me escaping from the murderer or avenging my mother—those are the two possibilities. Then you have to explore why my mother was killed. But even if it's made into a movie, it needs a plot. Within this framework, I'm just a kid. I can't think too maturely or be too intelligent, otherwise it won't feel real and will seem fake. I don't have the energy to explore that unless I introduce more characters, like neighbors or police officers, to give the characters more perspectives. Otherwise, in the current situation, the power imbalance between the two sides is too great. It's really difficult to form a power struggle and write a complete story with a beginning, development, climax, and resolution on that basis. It's too difficult.”

"If you were to carry out this, how would you do it? How could you break free from this cliché?" Yan Liang asked curiously.

“Yes, if you were given a story like this, you would definitely be asked to write it. You would have to write it. How would you write it?” Xiao Yun asked curiously.

Lu Yanhe thought about it seriously for about three minutes, and everyone waited quietly for him to think.

Lu Yanhe finally came up with an idea and laughed.

"I think the idea I came up with is also quite terrifying."

"Huh? What's the idea?"

“I discovered that the person who killed my mother was actually my father, and my father knew that I was also in this house,” Lu Yanhe said.

(End of this chapter)