Chapter 017
Jiang Tao was talking about the scandal about Zhou Qingyu from a month ago.
A month ago, Zhou Qingyu was working late at night on the set filming. She was photographed by paparazzi while using eye drops to moisten her eyes. Coincidentally, the next scene was a crying scene, so the paparazzi spread rumors that she needed eye drops for the crying scene.
Zhou Qingyu knows that her acting skills are average, but not so bad that she needs eye drops even during crying scenes. Those paparazzi are clearly brainless bashers.
But every role she played in the past was criticized, so when this news came out, everyone immediately believed it and thought her acting was terrible.
Zhou Qingyu gritted her teeth and said, "Anyway, that news was just the paparazzi slandering me! I don't need eye drops for crying scenes!"
Jiang Tao: "Then I'll give you one minute, and you can try to cry!"
Zhou Qingyu sneered, "If I cry, will you let me play your heroine?"
Jiang Tao paused, these words choked him. Jiang Tao thought about it carefully, and still shook his head, "No, even if you can cry, I can't let you play my heroine. You are not suitable. I have to be responsible for my work!"
Zhou Qingyu: "..."
Zhou Qingyu didn't say anything. Her fox-like eyes stared at Jiang Tao without blinking. In just a few seconds, Zhou Qingyu's beautiful eyeballs had turned red and were filled with tears.
[Oh my god, Zhou Qingyu actually cried? ]
[It's less than a minute, right? It feels like only a few dozen seconds! ]
【Just say that the previous eye drops incident was mindless bashing! 】
[Although Zhou Qingyu's acting skills are average, she was able to cry within one minute, which is amazing! ]
Jiang Tao stared at Zhou Qingyu in a daze. Zhou Qingyu in front of him looked very aggrieved. Her watery eyes made her aggressive and beautiful face look much softer.
Jiang Tao suddenly realized that he had done something wrong. Even if Zhou Qingyu's acting skills were poor, he shouldn't have said it in front of her. It would be such a big blow to the little girl!
The next second, Zhou Qingyu's expression changed instantly, and she looked at Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu with energy, "How is it, I acted pitiful well, didn't I?"
Xiao Yu was stunned. For a moment, she thought that Zhou Qingyu was crying because Jiang Tao scolded her.
"It's a good performance!" Xiao Yu exclaimed.
Jiang Tao felt the same way. At that moment, he truly felt Zhou Qingyu's grievance.
"Your acting skills... are better than I thought." Jiang Tao stiffened his neck and had to admit it.
Everyone believed in Zhou Qingyu's "acting skills", including Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu, and some viewers in the live broadcast room.
Only Yan Xi placed her hands gently on the back of Zhou Qingyu's hands.
She realized that Zhou Qingyu's grievance just now was real, and the words she added later were just acting.
Zhou Qingyu's acting skills are indeed average, but she has been proud since she was a child and doesn't want others to say that she is a bad actress.
"Your acting skills are good enough for idol dramas," Jiang Tao commented calmly, "but Xiao Yu and I are going to produce a suspense drama next, and the heroine is a hardworking forensic doctor, which doesn't match your image."
"In the acting industry, it is very important for the actor and the role to fit together. Your current appearance is suitable for playing a rich lady or a beautiful villain. This can highlight your own characteristics. The roles you played in the past are not suitable for you."
[Director Jiang really spoke my mind! Zhou Qingyu is so pretty, she should play that kind of peerless beauty! ]
[Every time I see Zhou Qingyu playing a silly and innocent role, I feel that it is a waste of talent and it really doesn’t fit at all! ]
[Qingqing! Listen to Director Jiang and play roles that suit you! ]
Zhou Qingyu pouted, "Alright, I don't need your comfort. You might as well think about your investment. You don't even have any investment, so why are you looking for actors?"
"As long as the work is good enough, we will definitely be able to attract investment!" Jiang Tao said without showing any weakness, "Besides, I have found the male lead, who fits the image of the male lead in the script very well. I have confidence in my work!"
"Have you found the male lead?" Yan Xi was a little surprised.
Jiang Tao's casting requires auditions, but Qin Li is busy recording variety shows during this period, so how can he have time for an audition?
Was it last night when Qin Li asked Jiang Tao to perform alone?
"Can you tell me who the male lead is?" Yan Xi pretended to be curious. "It's live now. Director Jiang, if you tell me, maybe some investors will be interested."
Jiang Tao thought for a moment. He didn't expect the male lead to attract investment for him, but it would be okay to show it to Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu, so that they would know what real acting is!
Jiang Tao took out his cell phone and showed the two of them the audition clip of the male lead.
The audition clips were not released, and the PD who followed the film did not allow the audition content to be broadcasted. Only the sounds of some actors' performances could be heard.
This is a solo scene for the male protagonist. As the captain of the criminal police team, he lost his memory while catching a criminal. After waking up, he was rescued by the criminal and thought he was also a criminal.
The actor is now performing a scene where he is forced to sell drugs. He feels in his heart that this is wrong, but his identity as a criminal forces him to do this, and he is deeply entangled.
This kind of emotionally rich scene is difficult to interpret. It needs to have a sense of life and not leave the audience feeling suspenseful, so that the audience can better empathize with the story.
The male protagonist is a criminal, but he also needs to have the sense of justice of a policeman. This is a very contradictory situation.
But the moment Jiang Tao shouted "action", the man on the phone screen had already immersed himself in the role. Identity and inner justice pulled him apart. He was confused but determined.
Yan Xi looked at the person on the screen, and seemed to be in the same dilemma as him. Should he sell drugs? If he didn't, he would be the one to die. But if he really did this, he would feel bad!
Yan Xi was curious about the male lead's choice and unknowingly started watching, but before she could see the ending, the audition clip came to an abrupt end.
Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu both had expressions that showed they were not satisfied. Although one of them was not in the same industry and the other had average acting skills, it was clear that Jiang Tao had found a male lead who was worthy of an award.
It's no wonder that he is confident in his work this time. Jiang Tao is serious this time and will no longer accept any capital to change the script or insert new actors.
But this male protagonist is not Qin Li.
The male protagonist Jiang Tao found was not Qin Li!
Yan Xi remembered very clearly that Jiang Tao's work was called "Bottom Line". It became a hit as soon as it was broadcast, and Qin Li also won the Magnolia Best Actor Award for this work.
If we say that Qin Li's acting skills are better, it is understandable that Jiang Tao chose to replace him after seeing Qin Li's audition.
But Yanxi has watched "Bottom Line", and she is sure that the male lead Jiang Tao has found now is much better than Qin Li!
In the novel, Qin Li brought investment to Jiang Tao after he participated in "Bottom Line". Although he is only a second-tier actor, he is good enough to play in such a suspenseful production. Due to his popularity, there are also platforms willing to participate in the investment.
It seems that Jiang Tao still failed to raise funds in the end and had to compromise. Although the original male protagonist was good, Jiang Tao really couldn't bear the pressure of funds.
Yan Xi glanced at Jiang Tao's phone and saw the name of the original male lead - Shen Xinghe - on the audition title.
An ordinary name, he might be a newcomer, or he might be a small-time actor who has worked hard for many years but still failed to make it.
The closest he ever came to fame was when he auditioned for The Line.
But fame is like a flash in the pan, appearing brilliantly and disappearing in a hurry. Shen Xinghe ultimately failed to star in "Bottom Line" and remained an unknown actor all his life.