With the initial funding issue for the new drama resolved, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before plunging into a new round of busy work. The preparations for the new drama were incredibly complex, and every step was crucial; the slightest mistake could affect the entire project's progress and quality.
Casting was the top priority. Due to the unique subject matter and complex characters of the new drama, the acting skills and temperament of the actors were extremely demanding. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran personally participated in the audition process. They sat in a corner of the audition room, their eyes fixed on every actor on stage, not missing a single subtle expression or movement.
However, the audition process did not go smoothly. Many actors, despite their good looks and basic acting skills, lacked a deep understanding and natural emotional expression when portraying their characters. Ling Yichen watched the actors perform on stage, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper, a sense of worry creeping into his heart. He knew that actors were the soul of a drama; without suitable casting, even the best script would struggle to achieve the desired effect.
"Yichen, it seems that the casting process is more difficult than we expected," Jun Mozhan said softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Ling Yichen nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "We can't lower our standards. We must find the most suitable actor for the role. Perhaps we can broaden the scope of the auditions, not just limiting ourselves to the existing pool of actors, but also looking for promising newcomers in some niche theater groups or performing arts schools."
So, the production team began to issue audition notices more widely, attracting many young people with dreams to participate. In one audition open to performing arts schools, a young actor named Lin Yu caught the attention of Ling Yichen and Jun Moran. Although Lin Yu didn't have much acting experience, his performance in the audition was impressive. His understanding of the character was profound and unique, his acting was natural and fluid, and his emotions were sincere, as if he were the character in the drama.
“This young man has great potential. I think he’s very suitable for the role of the protagonist,” Ling Yichen said excitedly to Jun Moran.
Jun Mo Ran also agreed: "That's right, his performance has a unique charm, which allows people to feel the emotional fluctuations of the character. However, he is, after all, a newcomer, and he still needs some time to hone his skills and grow."
After some discussion, the production team decided to give Lin Yu a chance, casting him as the lead in the new drama. To help Lin Yu better understand the character, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran personally provided him with character analysis and performance guidance. Under their meticulous guidance, Lin Yu's acting skills improved rapidly, and he gradually found his footing in the role.
After resolving the casting issue for the main characters, the production team faced the challenge of selecting supporting actors. Compared to the main characters, supporting actors have relatively fewer scenes, but they play equally crucial roles in the drama. Each supporting actor needs to establish a good interaction with the main characters to jointly drive the plot forward.
Although there were some setbacks during the auditions for the supporting roles, several suitable actors were eventually found. They each had their own unique characteristics, solid acting skills, and their chemistry with the lead actor, Lin Yu, gradually developed through continuous collaboration.
However, just as the casting process was nearing completion, the problem of filming locations arose. The filming locations originally booked by the production team suddenly became unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, plunging the entire crew into crisis. If a new filming location couldn't be found in time, it would not only delay filming but could also lead to the production team breaching its contract.
Ling Yichen and Jun Moran were extremely anxious. They personally led their staff to search for suitable filming locations. They scoured every corner of the city, inspecting countless potential locations, but none could meet the crew's needs for various reasons. Either the environment of the location did not meet the requirements of the script, or the rental fee was too high, exceeding the crew's budget.
"Are we really going to stand still because of this problem?" Jun Mo Ran asked anxiously.
Ling Yichen gritted his teeth and said firmly, "No, we will definitely find a solution. We will expand our search area, not just to the city, but also to the surrounding suburbs or other cities."
Just when the crew was almost in despair, by chance, Ling Yichen learned from a friend that there was an ancient manor in a small town not far from the city, which would be perfect as a filming location. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran immediately led the staff to the town to investigate.
When they arrived at the ancient manor, the scene before them was a sight to behold. The manor's unique architectural style, brimming with historical charm, perfectly matched the scenes depicted in the script. Moreover, the manor's owner was incredibly welcoming and supportive of the film crew's shooting plans, with the rental fees falling within the crew's budget.
"This is it!" Ling Yichen said excitedly. "This manor is practically tailor-made for our new drama."
Jun Mo Ran also showed a long-lost smile: "Great, we've finally found a suitable filming location. It seems our efforts haven't been in vain."
However, just as the film crew was preparing to sign the lease agreement with the estate owner, an unexpected situation arose. Another film crew also took a liking to the estate and was willing to offer a higher price. Tempted by the potential profit, the estate owner began to hesitate and his attitude towards the film crews became ambiguous.
Upon learning of this, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan felt incredibly angry and helpless. They knew that if they lost this filming location, all their previous efforts might be in vain. They decided to negotiate with another film crew to strive for fair competition.
At the negotiating table, Ling Yichen sincerely explained his production team's situation and their needs for the manor. He stated that the team chose the manor not only because its environment was suitable for filming, but more importantly, because its rich historical and cultural heritage aligned with the theme of the new drama. Filming there would add a unique charm to the new series.
The other film crew was moved by Ling Yichen's sincerity. After some negotiation, the two crews finally reached an agreement. The other crew agreed to relinquish their lease on the manor, and in exchange, Ling Yichen's crew would provide them with some assistance during future filming.
With the filming location issue resolved, the crew could finally begin formal preparations for filming. However, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran knew this was only the beginning of their new drama's creation; various difficulties and challenges would arise during filming. Would they be able to successfully complete the filming? Would the new drama be well-received by audiences after its broadcast? Everything remained uncertain. But they firmly believed that as long as they united and forged ahead, they would overcome all difficulties and create an excellent work.
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