Chapter 73 Role Competition
After Xu Zhizhi selected the script, the next step was to study the relevant knowledge and acting skills.
In the entertainment industry, there is a chain of contempt for acting in movies and TV dramas, from high to low. It seems that success can only be from low to high, and meritocracy prevails.
The bottom layer is web dramas and online movies, followed by TV series and movies, and finally dramas and Lunar New Year tribute dramas. The top resources are nothing more than TV series and movies produced by official film and television stations such as CCTV, which are used for positive publicity.
Most of the topics are about the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, people who made outstanding contributions in the war, decisive battles, poverty alleviation, documentaries, etc.
For most actors in the entertainment industry, participating in these films, even if there is no pay, is an honor.
Inviting Xu Zhizhi was a sign of respect for her. She asked who made the final decision to invite her to the audition.
It is Director Zhou Yu, the director of the previous movie "Deception". She was unfortunately targeted by a counterfeiting criminal gang. She infiltrated the criminal gang and turned the entire gang into the elder who rescued the other party from danger.
Xu Zhizhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry when she saw the name. Director Zhou is really capable and he really gives roles to people when there are any.
When she saw the other party's name, she insisted on going for the audition.
The audition is in more than 20 days, and Xu Zhizhi's top priority now is to improve her physical fitness and acting skills.
She knew that Director Zhou was just giving her an opportunity.
Whether she can seize this opportunity depends on her personal efforts.
After doing the math, Xu Zhizhi felt a surge of urgency.
She contacted Yun Ziwei and arranged for her to have more than 20 days of physical training, as well as a professional acting teacher.
Before this, Xu Zhizhi had never received any professional acting training, and often relied on her own understanding and the exploration of her predecessors.
The most crucial thing is that she needs to have a local dialect for this role. Xu Zhizhi has no confidence in herself and is afraid that she will have to learn it on her own.
Think about it, I still have a lot of things to do.
When Yun Ziwei heard Xu Zhizhi choose the script, she also started to get busy with it.
She had a hope in her heart that Xu Zhizhi could be nominated for Best Actress for this role.
But this is just a thought. The filming of this kind of TV series takes at least half a year, and it will be next year when it is completed.
If there is to be a review, it will be next year.
However, she also lamented that Xu Zhizhi's career luck is really strong, and directors she has worked with will recommend her whenever there is a chance. As long as she seizes these opportunities, they will all be her steps.
Following these steps, Xu Zhizhi will reach the top step by step.
Yun Ziwei started looking for someone, and finally her eyes fell on Feng Jie. She was the strong woman who worked out with Xu Zhizhi!
Besides, the money will not go to outsiders, so she can definitely earn this salary.
It's just that it's hard to find a teacher. The only thing that needs to be changed in Xu Zhizhi's acting is the evil spirit, and to increase her gentle and firm expression.
The sunny and enthusiastic college students devoted themselves to the poverty alleviation cause and, together with the first secretary, gradually changed the poor village into a new look.
She only needs one positive role to completely separate herself from the villains she played in the past. She may be a professional villain, but she must also be an actor who can play a positive role.
Diversity is the way out for actors.
Another thing is that the TV series resources are really the best resources.
If people in her circle knew that Xu Zhizhi didn’t even go for the audition, they would probably laugh their heads off.
Yun Ziwei approached several veteran actors in the industry for this, but they all declined. Weng Xin was in poor health and was hospitalized for treatment, so he also declined.
Finally, Zhong Man, who was preparing for her wedding and had no business activities for the time being, heard about it and offered to help Xu Zhizhi.
The other party didn't ask for money, and Xu Zhizhi didn't send any.
Just treat her as a friend and check in at her house at a fixed time every day.
Zhong Man should be able to win the Magnolia Best Actress Award at the end of the year for "The Walking Dead". During this period, she only had two endorsements and spent most of her time preparing for her wedding with Zhou Ling.
The two are planning to get married at the end of the year. If they win the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, they will be the perfect combination of actor and actress, a match made in heaven.
So during this period, she had nothing to do except for some wedding matters.
All of this is taken care of by their specially hired wedding planning team, and they only need to make choices and try on wedding dresses.
Xu Zhizhi followed her and learned every day, and then mastered everything about the role.
The only thing that doesn't fit the script is that the heroine is described as just pretty. Xu Zhizhi is a bright and beautiful woman with a dark complexion. Even if she changes her skin tone and uses makeup to cover it up, her facial features can be faded, but her actual appearance is difficult to cover up.
Apart from this point, Xu Zhizhi has no other shortcomings.
After reading the script, Zhong Man also mentioned this problem, but she still recommended Xu Zhizhi to give it a try. It doesn't matter if she is not selected, after all, she has the audition experience, and the rest will be left to the selection.
In the entertainment industry, except for those with strong capital, no role is necessarily assigned to a certain person. This is not only known by Zhong Man, but also by Xu Zhizhi.
For example, she had played the villain role in the ancient costume drama very well before, and she thought it was worth considering.
But she was rejected on the spot. From that moment on, Xu Zhizhi knew that even if she auditioned for a role and performed well, it might not be hers.
As long as you are not satisfied, you may change it even if it is officially announced.
These are commonplace in the entertainment industry.
Besides acting skills, the other thing is physical fitness. Physical training is very difficult at first, but if you grit your teeth and persevere for seven days, it will be much smoother afterwards.
During this period, she also underwent a brutal fascia knife operation, which was mainly to prevent her from getting hurt and to correct some body problems.
It can be said that Xu Zhizhi did her best for the role.
Two to three hours of physical training every day, two hours at Zhongman’s home, and the rest of the time back at the company practicing in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
Jiang Yuchuan was very happy to know Xu Zhizhi's audition. He watched Xu Zhizhi perform every day and brought his teammates with him.
Xu Zhizhi's heart was as solid as a rock, and she showed no sign of lingering affection for the group of handsome and sunny young men.
Jiang Yuchuan's teammates were originally very reserved. They had seen many girls screaming in front of them. This kind of admiration was good, but they still wanted friends who looked at them with a more normal attitude.
The captain’s sister is their sister. A group of teenagers aged eighteen or nineteen look at Xu Zhizhi every day, eat together, and call her sister.
Fans were a little unhappy at first, but they were all photographed with genuine eyes looking at the sister. They were full of respect and admiration, but not love. The fans who took the photos all confirmed that there was nothing fishy at all.
However, what this top male group in the domestic entertainment industry is most famous for is the company's internal rules and the idols' moral character.
Unless these people are disbanded, they cannot fall in love, make random appointments, or even swear. If they are caught, they will be warned and fined at the very least, or expelled from the team at the worst.
Jiang Yuchuan was arrested for making false accusations at that time. In fact, the company had already made preparations. If it was true, Jiang Yuchuan would withdraw from the group and be asked to pay a huge amount of compensation.
That amount of money is hard for ordinary people to imagine.
The most crucial thing is that Xu Zhizhi is far away from these idols, and she has no scandals since her debut, so she has to clear up all the negative news on her own.
Just looking at these, fans are convinced.
There are even fans who go to Xu Zhizhi's Weibo to ask for photos of their idol, both individual and collective.
The photos Xu Zhizhi took before were so beautiful and handsome that both the group fans and the solo fans were moved for a long time.
Xu Zhizhi took the photo and sent it to the team, and they decided whether to publish it or not.
Then the team took a wave of early autumn photos. Xu Zhizhi's photos were beautiful from sharp angles and were very acceptable.
She thinks it has something to do with being able to draw, and these are all effects that come with the skill.
The days passed one by one, with daily physical and acting training, occasional hanging out with Chen Han, Zhong Man and other friends, or interacting with them and appearing on social platforms.
Soon, Xu Zhizhi had her formal audition.
Participants in this audition include veteran actors, producers, screenwriters, and directors. They will professionally score the auditioners, and then comprehensively consider the various scores to finally select the roles.
Only twelve people were invited to audition for the female lead, but each of them had a very good reputation in the entertainment industry and had good acting skills and reputation.
There are even five Best Actresses, and the rest are all talented actors, so the competition is extremely fierce.
The male protagonists are no less impressive, many of them are even household names, and almost all of them have the title of Best Actor or Best Television Actor.
Xu Zhizhi knew them all, from TV and movies, or from other people's introductions.
As soon as Xu Zhizhi arrived, she was stopped by Chen Han. She was also there to audition for the female lead. But according to her, even if she was forced to audition by an agent through connections, her chances were slim.
She held Xu Zhizhi and whispered to encourage her.
Xu Zhizhi whispered back, "I don't have confidence either."
"It's okay. If it doesn't work, just settle for the second best role. Let me tell you, that role is actually more likable than the female lead. Although it was not liked by the audience in the early stage, it is a flesh-and-blood character. In the later stage, it used its fame to open up publicity channels for the male and female lead." Chen Han held Xu Zhizhi's arm and whispered in Xu Zhizhi's ear.
Today is the selection of the female lead and the male lead, and tomorrow is the selection of the second female lead.
Given Xu Zhizhi's relationship with Director Zhou, it wouldn't be difficult to get another invitation.
Xu Zhizhi nodded imperceptibly, "My appearance may not be favored by the judges, but everyone has acting skills, and some may even be better than me."
"Don't be discouraged. Come and gain some experience like me," Chen Han comforted.
After becoming friends with Xu Zhizhi in the entertainment industry, Chen Han's arrogance has decreased a lot, but it is only revealed in daily communication.
The two agents sat close to each other and were confused about their friendship. They were clearly competitors, but now they looked like they were just on a picnic.
When the male lead group arrived, they started auditioning.
The audition scene was about the poverty alleviation cadre's expression when he first arrived at the village where he was working and heard about the current situation of the place.
It's a very vague question and it's hard to say what the result will be.
The same is true for Xu Zhizhi's audition for the female lead. How did you react when you heard all this for the first time and saw those real situations?
Many people at the scene were holding scripts and still flipping through the pages.
One can tell at a glance that many pages of the scripts have been flipped.
Chen Han was also communicating with Xu Zhizhi in a low voice, exchanging messages.
This is like a question that has no fixed answer. Whether it is exaggerated or reserved, no one can be sure.
Yun Ziwei looked at the scene and tried her best to comfort Xu Zhizhi.
After sitting for more than two hours, the heroine's audition officially began.
Xu Zhizhi was unlucky and drew the second one.
After the first one entered, she began to prepare.
People who are able to sign up for poverty alleviation have some ideas in their minds. In fact, the heroine and the hero are not the male and female protagonists in the love story, but a man and a woman are chosen to represent the man and woman of the poverty alleviation team.
Of the two, the heroine was born in this place. With the support of the villagers, she was admitted to a good university. After careful consideration, she decided to return to her hometown and lead it out of poverty and into prosperity.
She came with ideals, and according to the experience of the prototype, she continued to build bridges and roads for the countryside, carried out relocation, and led the villagers to explore the characteristics and developed a road unique to the countryside.
In the end, she sacrificed herself on the job and died on the eve of her success in alleviating poverty due to her exhaustion.
He is a miniature of the more than 1,800 Chinese who sacrificed their lives in poverty alleviation jobs. He can be considered a perfect person.
It's difficult to play a person like this.
His eyes were clear and pure, his heart was full of sincerity, and his whole body was filled with the energy to move forward.
This is completely different from Xu Zhizhi's own personality. She is a salted fish at best.
Fortunately, Xu Zhizhi has acting skills, which can make up for most situations.
Xu Zhizhi is not wearing any makeup and has a bare face.
After a few months, her hair reached her collarbone, so Xu Zhizhi chose to wear a wig and tie it up with a rubber band.
After the first audition was over, she walked in.
She looked at the judges, bowed slightly, introduced herself, and then asked, "Can I have a microphone?"
Several judges exchanged glances, and finally the venue staff brought a microphone.
After Xu Zhizhi took the microphone, her dark eyes stared firmly in front of her, as if she was looking at the familiar mountains and rivers.
After a while, she looked at the others and said, "No need to introduce myself. Uncle Lai, don't you know me? Let me introduce myself to everyone!"
She is not a stranger, she is from here and her roots are here.
So, she should be introduced to everyone.
Xu Zhizhi's eyes sparkled as she began to introduce the information about all the poverty alleviation households in the script. She talked about the plight and poverty in the countryside, and she talked about education and the road.
She didn't express many emotions, and there was no intonation when she spoke, and she even had a hint of her local accent.
He spoke calmly and distressedly, and finally put down the phone and looked at the other two college student village leaders who came with him.
Finally, he smiled and said gratefully, "Thank you for coming here."
When she said this, tears welled up in her eyes.
Return the microphone, the performance is over.
This was her understanding, and she knew that her chances were slim.
So just use all you know.
In terms of acting, Xu Zhizhi's personal style has basically taken shape, and her ability to express and appeal emotions has reached a very strong level.
So after Xu Zhizhi finished her performance, the scene fell into silence.
After a while, the judges whispered to each other before starting to score. The scores were combined to get the average score. The one with the highest score won, and Xu Zhizhi's final score was 9.89.
Xu Zhizhi left with the score. There was only one actor auditioning for the female lead ahead of her, so she had no idea what the result would be and could only wait until it was over.
The third one was a film queen, and Xu Zhizhi acted very friendly with her.
In fact, the audition scene was quite harmonious, and on the surface many people would not quarrel with each other.
After sitting down, Chen Han asked Xu Zhizhi about the result, and Xu Zhizhi only told him the score.
Chen Han nodded. Xu Zhizhi's score was at least good enough to make it to the final round.
"I've asked around, and most of the male lead candidates scored 9.78. These judges are very picky." Chen Han soothed.
Xu Zhizhi nodded slightly, "I know."
Then there was a long wait, and Chen Han also came in and out.
As she expected, she got an average score of 9.68, which was lower than the average, but she could still accept it.
She has acted in many ancient costume dramas and idol dramas, and many directors actually have no requirements for her acting skills. Over time, her acting skills have become slack and she has not been striving for perfection.
The female lead was also announced based on her score, with a score of 9.91. She has a gentle appearance and is not that gorgeous or powerful.
She has never won a Best Actress or Best TV Actress award, and her rank is similar to Xu Zhizhi.
After Xu Zhizhi looked at her carefully, she knew why she was chosen, because her appearance and temperament were really like the prototype.
The 0.02 that Xu Zhizhi lacked might be here.
It's not a big pity, after all, these roles are not exclusive to her.
Just like the audition for the villain role in a historical drama before, it wasn’t because she worked hard that the role would definitely be hers, because others also worked hard.
When the others heard the result, they could only leave in disappointment.
Xu Zhizhi and Chen Han decided to go to a private restaurant to eat Sichuan cuisine, as they wanted to try something spicy.
Their assistants and agents naturally went together, and it became more lively with more people.
They put on masks and hats before going out, and walked out of the hotel talking and laughing.
At this moment, someone stopped Xu Zhizhi.
"Director Zhou wants you to come over," the man said very politely.
Xu Zhizhi was surprised for a moment, and then thought about it and realized that she had indeed not specifically greeted Zhou Yu. She mainly wanted to visit him after this time, so as to avoid being accused of using a backdoor.
She didn't care, Zhou Yu had been innocent for half his life.
Chen Han didn't want to go at first, but Xu Zhizhi dragged him along anyway.
Soon they arrived at the audition site, and Xu Zhizhi smiled and called out, "Uncle Zhou."
"Are you disappointed after losing the election?" There was no one around Zhou Yu, so he sat casually on a chair and motioned Xu Zhizhi to sit down before saying.
Xu Zhizhi shook her head. "I'm mentally prepared. I came here to gain some experience."
Chen Han knew that Zhou Yu was a bit socially anxious, so he sat on the other side, farther away from him.
There were many people at the scene, including the judges from before, and they all smiled at Xu Zhizhi when they saw her.
"Your character's main disadvantage is your appearance," Zhou Yu said bluntly.
Xu Zhizhi smiled and nodded, "Then I'll take it as a compliment."
"Let's not talk too much. Come and audition for the second female lead role tomorrow. I think that role is better than the female lead. The key is that she is beautiful in the script, and you fit the role very well." Zhou Yu directly stated the purpose of why he asked Xu Zhizhi to come.
Xu Zhizhi had read the script and knew the role of the second female lead.
She is actually a very realistic and immersive character.
If the heroine is a perfect person, then the second female lead is a very...imperfect and even initially disgusting character.
In the early days, when many people didn't know about it, this character was fierce and tyrannical, going in and out of her husband's house three times with a kitchen knife, scolding everyone who came, and forcibly seizing her parents-in-law's property and occupying their land.
Even when the male and female protagonists came to the door, they were chased away several times.
She swore nasty words and was so fierce that everyone in the village hated her.
The village wanted to build a road and occupy a piece of her land, but she refused to agree no matter what. No matter how hard she tried to persuade, she would not back down, and even encouraged others to say that they would not agree without compensation.
When the plot reaches the middle stage, it continues to add obstacles to the poverty alleviation cause.
No matter what I do, she will always say she disagrees.
Gradually, the heroine got to know the second female lead, who was only two years older than her, more deeply.
Then, by telling her the facts and reasoning, I broke everything down and told her everything.
Finally, I convinced her by starting with the child.
She also opened her heart and told the whole story.
She is a young single mother in the countryside. Her husband died while working on a construction site, and she has been struggling to survive alone with her son and one daughter.
Even so, the parents-in-law did not help at all, and even wanted to pocket all the husband's compensation, saying that she would take the money and leave the children and run away.
She went in and out of her husband's family three times, just to make him shut up and to ask for money, a share for her and her children, so that her children could go to school in the county and have money to go to high school and college.
The most important thing is that she insulted her husband because his brother also wanted to embezzle the money and even planned to force her to live with him. He wanted people to think that they were together, and then they would get married and embezzle all the compensation.
As for the land, it was because she had prepared a cemetery for her husband. A Taoist priest in the village said that burying him there would bless their two children.
In fact, it is a story about a young single mother who lives stubbornly in the countryside.
However, this story accounts for a large proportion, because later on, this person was filmed selling mountain products and vegetables in the city, and gradually became an Internet celebrity with millions of fans.
It was also she who promoted and sold the village's mountain products and unique bamboo weaving crafts for free when they could not be promoted, helping the village sell all those things.
She also gradually came out of the haze, and began to cooperate sincerely with the male and female protagonists, becoming the publicity ambassador of Taoyuan Village and selling everything in Taoyuan Village.
Even when there were not enough products to sell, it still brought benefits to several surrounding villages.
She received awards from the county and city and started her own business.
He is the person who has changed his destiny most successfully in the whole drama.
Not a villain, but a real person with flesh and blood.
The drama is heavy and the character is very likable in the later stages.
Yun Ziwei was very excited when she heard this. This is almost the role with the most important part in this poverty alleviation drama except for the main character, and it is also the easiest to be liked by people.
Only Xu Zhizhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Okay, but I still want to ask, Director Zhou, did you plan to let me audition for the second female role if the female lead isn't good enough?"
"Yes, the main reason for attracting you to the role is the female lead. I was afraid that you would think that the second female lead was a villain in the beginning and only became good in the middle. You would feel that it was overlapping your previous roles and you would not want to act in it." Director Zhou is not a person who tells lies very often, so he admitted it directly.
Xu Zhizhi held her forehead and sighed, "I won't not come if I think this role is not good, because she is very good. I even thought about trying the role of the second female lead if the female lead is not good enough. I was thinking of sending you a message tonight, but I didn't expect you to invite me first. I will definitely come tomorrow, but the result is uncertain."
"Give it a try. It all depends on your ability." Zhou Yu said.
Xu Zhizhi nodded, "I will try my best."
After that, the two exchanged some pleasantries before leaving the hotel.
Yun Ziwei was very happy because this was a hopeless situation.
She has read the script and found that the role of the second female lead is actually better than many other roles. Her character, reversal and everything behind it will leave a deep impression on the audience.
If the female lead doesn't have it, then the second female lead can also try for it.
And judging by the lineup of today's audition, the role of the female lead is really hard to get, and Xu Zhizhi doesn't actually have many opportunities.
Judging from Xu Zhizhi's performance, she probably thinks so too.
Thinking of this, Yun Ziwei breathed a sigh of relief.
Apart from the minor setbacks in the past, Xu Zhizhi has actually been on a very smooth road in the entertainment industry, from web dramas to TV and movies, to the current invitation to play in serious dramas and the previous role of a villain in serious dramas.
Every step taken by Xu Zhizhi exceeds the efforts of many people over several years. Even some actors with capital backing them are not as fast as Xu Zhizhi.
Compared to the others, she had experienced nothing but some bizarre things. No groveling, no drinking, no being forced to play a role.
If one is successful at a young age, becomes arrogant and complacent, and acts recklessly, then destruction will be waiting for him.
There was a classmate in her hometown who passed the civil service exam when he graduated in 2015. Then he took advantage of the opportunity and made tens of millions.
In that small city, in the eyes of everyone at that time, he was a rare talent among men, and his life was full of ambition and success, reaching the pinnacle.
He is surrounded by people, and his life is like a script from a cool drama, with no setbacks.
But within two years, the 24-year-old was ruined by his blind self-confidence and became addicted to an online gambling game.
That game once made him worth 15 million.
But what followed was rapid shrinkage.
He quickly lost everything, then mortgaged his house and car, and even dragged his parents into the mess.
He was almost fired from his civil service job because of gambling.
But he was still addicted and owed nearly a million dollars.
In the end, there was nothing left to lose, and my parents had to buy a house and sell a car to fill all the holes.
It is only when he reaches thirty that he finally understands everything and starts to live a peaceful and calm life.
Everything that money and admiration bring is hard for ordinary people to imagine. Many people who became famous at a young age in the entertainment industry ended up in jail.
Without experiencing any setbacks, it's like a gift with a price secretly marked by fate, which will suddenly explode at a certain moment.
In the end, it leads to eternal damnation.
This kind of setback makes people realize how high the sky is and how deep the earth is. It's good to experience it once.
When Xu Zhizhi turned around, she saw Yun Ziwei's solemn expression, as if she was thinking about something.
She asked and Yun Ziwei answered.
Xu Zhizhi smiled helplessly, "Life is not satisfactory. It is impossible to get everything you want. I am not the protagonist of a novel. Besides, I am a salted fish. Even if I am asked to act in a web drama now, I can still do it. It doesn't matter."
"...Yes." Yun Ziwei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was worrying too much about Xu Zhizhi's personality.
After the discussion, we arrived at the hotel and had a happy meal.
This is the meaning of making money, so that you can eat what you want and play what you want.
As for work, who wants to work.
After the meal, everyone went home. Xu Zhizhi pondered the script and fell asleep in the middle of the night.
The audition continued the next day. If this role was not suitable, Xu Zhizhi wanted to try the previous script role again.
After thinking about the role of the second female lead, Xu Zhizhi really likes it.
Dare to love, hate, think and act. Live in difficult situations, but still look towards the light and are not afraid of any comments from the outside world.
The requirements are also high. In the early stage, you almost have to be a peasant woman, more rustic, and you have to be very familiar with farm work.
Apart from going two shades darker to create the appearance of being exposed to the sun, there is actually no need for much modification.
Rural women, especially those in their early twenties, are not that different from city women, except that their hands and feet are a little rougher and their skin is healthier.
In the later stage, the other party's career is still an internet celebrity, so it won't be too bad.
It is still a bit difficult to have this kind of aura of toughness.
It's different from the previous ones, this one wants to have a deeper sense of immersion.
Moreover, this tough aura will later evolve into the character of a strong woman, who will not only achieve her own career but also boost the village's economy.
Fortunately, Xu Zhizhi had lived in the countryside and was able to imitate a thing or two.
But you can't be completely tough, you also have to show a bit of helplessness, otherwise you won't be likable.
After getting ready, Xu Zhizhi went for the audition.
Wait, then go to the audition.
Xu Zhizhi’s imitation ability is very good, and she portrayed the toughness and stubbornness of the second female lead vividly.
With the bonus of her appearance, Xu Zhizhi scored 9.95.
Without a doubt, she became the actress of the second female lead Yang Mai.
Yun Ziwei was very happy. This role, to some extent, also represents Xu Zhizhi's transformation!
As long as this drama is a little bit popular, Xu Zhizhi's acting career will be visibly broadened. At the very least, she will no longer be limited to villain-like roles.
Xu Zhizhi was also very happy.
During the audition and contract signing, Director Zhou joked that Xu Zhizhi was more suitable for more complex roles, and that Xu Zhizhi would be more limited in playing roles that were simply righteous or passionate.
For example, a person who bears national hatred and family feuds, but never forgets his original intention and always strives for justice even when he is pushed to the extreme, rather than a character who is just for justice's sake. For example, a character who looks rebellious and has a less perfect personality, but is passionate inside, rather than a character who is passionate without a starting point.
The subtext is that Xu Zhizhi is suitable for a good script.
Xu Zhizhi said she would remember this and that she would find such a role in the future.
Yun Ziwei was also thoughtful, considering the choice of Xu Zhizhi's role.
During this discussion, the contract was signed and Xu Zhizhi was ready to join the team.
Because they were in the countryside, Yun Ziwei was really afraid of her, so she brought an extra assistant for Xu Zhizhi.
She would go there from time to time, mainly to handle the content of Xu Zhizhi's new studio. Once she finished filming this drama, the studio would be officially launched.
Hiring employees and finding an office space all take time.
Xu Zhizhi spent all her money from several endorsements on this. The studio is not something that came out of nothing; it requires money.
Regarding these, Xu Zhizhi always listens to Yun Ziwei, Yun Ziwei's ability is really strong.
As for the staff, there are at most seven or eight people, ranging from public relations personnel to art editors and people who coordinate endorsement and commercial activities.
It would take Yun Ziwei at least three or four months to complete all of this.
And it would take at least three months to build a celebrity studio, even if there were several people involved.
I have been going through the formalities before, and now I can finally officially start.
Just like that, five days later, Xu Zhizhi followed the crew to the mountain village where the filming was taking place.
Xu Zhizhi, who was in the middle, contacted a reliable charity organization and provided targeted financial assistance to three rural girls, the youngest of whom was in the first grade of junior high school.
Fearing that the funds would flow to someone who didn't need them, Xu Zhizhi once asked the other party to send back receipts, not for tuition, but for miscellaneous fees. She also asked for photos of the clothes or stationery she bought for the girl to ensure that her money was spent on her.
The people at the charity organization don’t know Xu Zhizhi’s identity, but they know that she has sponsored several children, so they will help with supervision.
For example, test scores, photos of studying, etc.
Of course, these platforms will charge a small fee, but if it is not necessary, they will not charge. The supervisors are volunteers, and the small fee is for their meals and a little subsidy.
Xu Zhizhi likes this model very much, so she chose this one.
None of this is used to avoid taxes because there is no need.
By the time Xu Zhizhi had dealt with all this, she was already on her way to the village.
The roles are part of the village and part of the city. After all, the origins of these people need to be explained clearly. Their respective experiences, various funding approvals, etc., all need to be shown.
When she arrived, Xu Zhizhi was stunned by the environment arranged by the crew.
The crew had told them before the audition that they should spend half a month in the countryside to adapt. If they couldn't make it, the crew wouldn't want them.
But the wooden house, the wood stove, and the simple living environment still stunned them.
The male and female protagonists, the supporting male and female lead, as well as the actress who played the male protagonist’s girlfriend were all stunned.
After the inventory, the only thing that could comfort them was that they had enough places to sleep and enough food so they would not starve to death.
Because it was an unwalled house with two rooms and an ear room, everyone was divided into men and women, and then found a room to sleep in.
The crew stipulated that all the main actors had to eat and sleep here for half a month.
Assistants were not included because they were stopped from entering the village, so the actors were allowed to come in on their own.
Amid the onlookers from the crew and villagers, everyone managed to settle themselves down.
Xu Zhizhi had lived in the countryside before, so she helped everyone pack up and change into their own bedding and toiletries.
The consolation is that these places are kept very clean.
They probably wouldn't intentionally create an environment with rats in it, causing everyone to suffer so severely.
From airplanes to shuttle buses, to coaches, and then to vans that can drive smoothly on rugged concrete roads.
It took them ten hours to reach the village in the mountains.
They ate some bread on the way and were already starving.
After everyone packed up, they looked towards the crew.
The assistant director spread his hands and said directly: "Everyone has to cook their own meals and dishes. The good thing is that there is an electric rice cooker, a vegetable garden next to it, and oil and salt are also placed next to the stove."
Star actors are high and mighty, and are used to enjoying the luxurious life of feasting and revelry. In order to prevent these people from performing a completely suspenseful feeling, the director and producer decided to do this, so that everyone can have a concept of the countryside and a realistic understanding of the poverty alleviation cadres.
So they won't deliberately make things hard for them, but they will definitely have to cook and work, because they also have to film these things in the beginning.
"Okay, let's do it ourselves," said actor Zhao Yunxing, who plays the male lead.
Yan Xue, the actress who played the female lead, agreed, and the six of them marched into the kitchen, then were dumbfounded when they saw the earthen stove that needed to be heated.
An actor stepped forward and said, "I'll wash the rice and cook. Two of you will get the firewood to start the fire. Two of you will go to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables. One of you will wash the pot."
Xu Zhizhi took the initiative to suggest lighting the fire, which was not difficult for her.
The male partner of similar age followed suit and offered to go together to fetch firewood to start a fire.
The hero and heroine looked at each other and went to choose dishes together.
The remaining person is to clean the pot and add some oil, salt and water.
The good thing is that they don't need to carry water because there is running water here.
Fortunately, these were not difficult tasks, and everyone just made a few jokes and moved on.
The only difficult part is probably what dish to cook.
After lighting the fire, Xu Zhizhi searched around and found the prepared meat, and decided to just make a hot pot.
Everyone thought about their own cooking skills and nodded in agreement.
In fact, most of them are good at cooking, but they used to deal with very delicate ingredients and environments. In the current environment, all six of them are at a loss.
Xu Zhizhi had no choice but to cut the meat and prepare a clear soup hot pot.
Those who were lighting the fire and washing the vegetables all started to move.
The cameraman was filming them the whole time, and if you didn't know better you would think they were participating in some rural life variety show.
In front of the camera, everyone was in a good mood. After working together, everyone finally sat down at the square dining table and looked at the hot pot in front of them.
Yan Xue thought for a long time before picking up the chopsticks and putting the food into her bowl and starting to eat.
She didn't eat these in the past because they didn't look very delicious.
But it had been more than ten hours since her last meal, and she was really hungry.
The others did the same, they hesitated but still picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
Unexpectedly, the taste is still good, the meat is very delicious, and the vegetables are also very flavorful.
Several people's eyes lit up and they began to use chopsticks to quickly pick up the food or put in the vegetables and meat.
After eating, everyone except Xu Zhizhi went to wash the dishes.
Everyone knows that it is better to cook than to wash the dishes.
After doing all this, it was getting dark.
The weather has been good these days. You can see the stars by looking up from the courtyard of the house.
Xu Zhizhi noticed that there were not many people in the village, only boys and girls aged between a few years old and teenagers, and grandparents in their sixties and seventies.
They were very curious about their arrival, so whenever they had free time, they would sit on the long stone bench in front of the house and watch them with curiosity in their eyes.
School has not started yet, and many of them are boys and girls aged thirteen or fourteen. Their world is closed, and they don’t know Xu Zhizhi, but they know the male protagonist Zhao Yunxing.
Zhao Yunxing is nearly 40 years old and is a very famous actor who has played many classic roles, so these children who usually can only watch TV know him.
But they just watched timidly from a distance, without going forward, let alone asking for autographs.
Xu Zhizhi took out a few chocolates from her pocket, counted them, and handed one to each of them.
As a child raised in the mountains, she knows best what they like.
I handed them one by one, and if they refused to take them, I would just stuff them into their hands.
When it was the last girl, she looked up at Xu Zhizhi.
When Xu Zhizhi stuffed chocolate into her mouth, she smiled at Xu Zhizhi and said, "Thank you, sister."
There are no street lights in the countryside, and as it gets darker, it’s hard to see people clearly.
Xu Zhizhi felt that the girl in front of her looked familiar.
"No," she replied with a smile.
The girl smiled shyly at Xu Zhizhi again, took the chocolate and ran away quickly.
Xu Zhizhi's gaze fell on the girl's back. She frowned and thought for a moment before turning around and sitting next to her.
The signal was not good in the mountains, so everyone moved their chairs and took the desk lamps they brought with them to sit under and read the script.
Xu Zhizhi sat for a while and then joined in, introducing herself and acting with her seniors.
Yan Xue’s acting is very good. Xu Zhizhi looked at her and thought of the prototype photo she saw in the news. She felt that the two looked really alike.
She deserved to lose.
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