Auditions and surprises
September 9 arrived, the day of the auditions.
With so many people auditioning, Chen Zhiming had been forced to rent a whole floor of hotel conference rooms for the interviews.
Besides director Wei Jin, producer Chen Zhiming and a staff member from China Film Group were also there to cast the roles. Wei Jin naturally took the seat at the head of the table.
Outside the conference room, the corridor was packed with men and women waiting to audition. For a time, it was rather noisy.
"Do you think the director will open the back door for us Beijing Film Academy students?"
The speaker was Jiang Yiyan, a Beijing Film Academy student from the class of 2002. Quite a few people from the academy had come to audition, and they had spontaneously gathered in a circle.
"Hard to say. Senior Wei Jin barely came to school last semester, and he doesn't really know us."
Another Beijing Film Academy girl spoke up.
"I'm just afraid Senior Wei Jin will follow the other directors' lead and go next door to find actors."
She had a point. As the saying went, the Beijing Film Academy produced directors, while the Central Academy of Drama produced actors. Directors from the Beijing Film Academy really did have a soft spot for Central Academy of Drama actors.
"Hey, who do you think has the best chance?"
"I think it's Senior Yan. She was the acknowledged campus belle of our school's class of 1996, and she has plenty of acting experience. Playing a high school belle should be a piece of cake for her."
While the Beijing Film Academy group chattered away, the Central Academy of Drama performers had gathered to talk on the other side. They all placed considerable importance on this opportunity.
"Jingjing, isn't Wei Jin close to Pear? Did you hear any inside news? And why isn't Pear auditioning?"
The speaker was Zhang Tong from the Central Academy of Drama's class of 1996.
"I heard Pear say she didn't think she was right for it. Apparently, her temperament didn't quite fit."
Hu Jing answered.
"Seniors, do you know Director Wei Jin? Is he easy to talk to?"
The one who cut in was Tang Yan from the Central Academy of Drama's class of 2002.
Several other girls then gathered around Hu Jing to ask about Wei Jin's likes and dislikes. They were only clasping Buddha's feet at the last minute.
"Number one, who's number one?"
The staff began calling numbers.
"Me, it's me. Excuse me..."
A Beijing Film Academy girl answered nervously and walked into the conference room. The auditions officially began...
After interviewing several people in a row, Wei Jin still hadn't found what he wanted. He was growing irritated and was just about to ask a staff member to pause so he could take a cigarette break when the conference room door opened again.
"Sister Jing, what brings you here?"
Wei Jin was surprised to see that it was Hu Jing.
"I'm an actress too, and I meet your requirements. What, won't you even give me a chance to audition?"
Hu Jing had known Wei Jin for a long time and wasn't nervous in the least.
"Of course I will. Which role are you auditioning for?"
"Pear told me the female lead's temperament doesn't suit me, so I'm here to try for the second female lead."
Hu Jing's words gave Wei Jin a reassuring pill to swallow.
"All right, please begin your performance."
Hearing her answer, Wei Jin also considered how well Hu Jing would fit the role of the second female lead.
After watching Hu Jing's performance, Wei Jin exchanged a few words with Chen Zhiming and wrote "pending" on her résumé.
"Sister Jing, go home and wait for word. We'll give you an answer within three days."
Wei Jin didn't give her a definite answer; after all, the auditions still had to continue.
Hu Jing nodded and left the conference room.
Another seven or eight girls auditioned in succession, but none of them particularly moved Wei Jin.
"Hello, teachers. I'm Fan Bingbing, and I'm auditioning for the female lead."
This was the first time in either of Wei Jin's lives that he had met the wealthy and powerful "Master Fan."
"Hello, Miss Fan. To be honest, you're not quite right for this role."
Almost everyone auditioning that day wore a student uniform, and Fan Bingbing was no exception. But seeing her in one, Wei Jin couldn't help feeling it had a touch of role-play from an adult film.
Fan Bingbing was about to ask why when Wei Jin explained:
"You're too beautiful, with a kind of aggressive beauty. It doesn't quite suit the role of a pure and innocent school belle."
"Director, you really do know how to talk. All right, then. I hope we get a chance to work together in the future."
Naturally, Fan Bingbing was happy to be complimented. She exchanged phone numbers with Wei Jin, and she couldn't really be said to be disappointed; she had only come to try her luck in the first place.
The conference room door opened again.
"Hello, teachers. My name is Yan Danchen, and I'm here to audition for the female lead."
Looking at the woman before him, with her elegant and understated air, Wei Jin grew somewhat interested.
"Hello, Miss Yan. Tell us your understanding of this character."
Yan Danchen had read the novel beforehand, and her understanding of the character was quite good. She rattled on at length.
"Could you perform a scene? This one."
Yan Danchen took the script, spent a few minutes preparing herself, and began her performance.
After Yan Danchen left, Wei Jin wrote her name in the female lead's slot in his casting notebook.
The conference room door was pushed open, and two people walked in. Wei Jin was speechless when he saw them.
"Yifei, what brings you here too? Aren't you about to join the production of The Return of the Condor Heroes?"
The newcomers were Liu Yifei and her mother.
"Hello, Director. Filming doesn't start until next month. Mom told me to come and try."
Liu Yifei explained like a little kitten. Beside her, Mother Liu was somewhat speechless at her words, but she went on to explain:
"Director Wei, it's like this. I heard the role was a student, and I thought Xixi was a fairly good fit, so I had her come and try. If she gets the part, I'll coordinate the filming schedule with Director Zhang."
Looking at the innocent-faced Liu Yifei before him, Wei Jin pictured her in the role and thought she might do quite well.
"Then perform this scene."
After watching Liu Yifei's performance, Wei Jin felt a headache coming on. Her acting still needed polishing.
"Go home and wait for word. You'll definitely have an answer within three days."
The auditions that followed passed without incident, until this one.
"Sister Yuanyuan, what brings you here too?"
Wei Jin felt that holding open auditions had been a mistake. Why did they keep giving him "surprises"?
"What do you mean, 'too'? Do you have several other good sisters? What, don't I look like a school belle? Are you trying to be Zhang Wuji?"
Gao Yuanyuan hadn't seen Wei Jin for a long time since Berlin. Sometimes she also went to 501, hoping for something, and at his words, she shot back with a double meaning.
Wei Jin understood what Gao Yuanyuan meant, of course, and hurried to explain:
"No, aren't you about to join the production of World's Finest? How will you manage your schedule?"
As an investor, Wei Jin naturally knew who was in the cast. But looking at Gao Yuanyuan dressed as a student, her long hair falling past her shoulders, he could see a trace of that innocent school belle aura.
"It's not like I have anyone backing me. I'm just playing a supporting role, so how many scenes could I have? Aren't you an investor? Just coordinate it."
At this, Gao Yuanyuan felt somewhat resentful. Why did Zeng Li get to play the female lead? Why wasn't this man hers?
"Ahem, Sister Yuanyuan, how about you perform this scene?"
A little embarrassed, Wei Jin hurriedly changed the subject.
Gao Yuanyuan took the script, looked over the scene, and began her performance.
Watching Gao Yuanyuan tie her hair into a ponytail, Wei Jin felt, in a daze, as though he had returned to the day they first met...
"Sister Yuanyuan, go home and wait for word. Whatever the result, I'll let you know."
Wei Jin knew that when people were told to wait for word after an audition, they often never heard anything more, so he spoke with particular earnestness.
"All right, I'll hold you to that. By the way, do you still want to rent the apartment?"
Gao Yuanyuan ventured the question, a little hopeful.
"Yes!"
On her way out, Gao Yuanyuan wore a smile, sending another chill through the hearts of the actresses still waiting outside.
The auditions continued...