After all, as an international metropolis, Magic City clearly offered far more job opportunities. What was more, they had majored in the relatively obscure field of broadcasting.
Thanks to that, a great deal of time was saved for both sides.
"I heard from Siyu that you plan to sign any voice actors you take a liking to?"
Yang Li sent the address of Fang Zheng's company to their class group, then put down her phone and looked at Fang Zheng curiously.
To be honest, finding a job wasn't easy for broadcasting majors. Aside from a small number of lucky people like her, anyone without family connections would have a hard time finding work related to their field.
Therefore, once she sent out the message, many of her former classmates expressed their willingness to come and give it a try.
"That's right. No one says a voice actor can only dub one character, right~"
Fang Zheng spread his hands and looked at Yang Li, not understanding why she was asking.
"What do you think of me?" Yang Li rested her chin on her hands and looked at Fang Zheng with a smile. "Do you like what you see? Do I meet your standards for signing?"
"You?" Fang Zheng sized Yang Li up and down before saying irritably, "You're giving up such a cushy job as a television host to come work as a voice actor for me? Did you hit your head?"
"I'm not joking. I'm being serious with you!"
Yang Li raised her voice, her expression becoming extremely solemn. She had her own reasons.
Working at a television station looked glamorous, and the pay and benefits were indeed good, but television stations were also places where the strong preyed on the weak.
She was a young woman with no background or support. On top of that, she was young and beautiful, so trouble was unavoidable. What she hated most was the harassment from her superiors.
Being the station's top female host sounded impressive, but only she knew that if the higher-ups wished it, her position could be taken away at any time.
To avoid such disgusting matters, Yang Li had long been considering resigning.
She simply hadn't found a job she liked before, and had no idea what to do if she resigned recklessly.
But things were different now. She liked anime, she liked the profession of voice acting, and as a broadcasting major, joining Fang Zheng's voice-acting team seemed like a good choice.
Besides, she didn't have to worry about unspoken rules at Fang Zheng's company. She still trusted her own judgment of people.
"You're serious?"
Seeing that Yang Li's expression was genuine, Fang Zheng became serious as well.
After spending some time with Yang Li, Fang Zheng had discovered that her voice was practically perfect for voice acting. Whether it was her tone or her expressiveness, she was astonishing.
"Of course I'm serious. Just tell me whether you agree or not."
Yang Li looked at Fang Zheng and waited for his reply.
"If you're willing to join us, you're more than welcome." Fang Zheng lowered his head and thought for a while before looking at Yang Li. "But I have to tell you in advance: although your voice is excellent, it isn't suitable for every role."
Yang Li understood the deeper meaning behind Fang Zheng's words.
Through dubbing Shiru, she had already gained a basic understanding of the profession of voice acting.
Just as Fang Zheng had said, although she had received professional training, she might not be suited for every anime character. This wasn't a matter of fundamentals, but of her innate vocal qualities.
For example, a loli character needed a voice actor with a relatively young and lively voice. Her gentle vocal quality was obviously unsuitable.
The reason Fang Zheng was telling her this was simply to prepare her mentally. She could participate in dubbing Akame ga Kill!, but she might not have a place in the next production.
"I understand everything you've said, but I've still decided to join."
With Yang Li having put it that way, Fang Zheng wasn't the type to hem and haw. He immediately stood up and said, "Then... welcome aboard!"
Fang Zheng stood up and shook Yang Li's hand. After settling some contract details, Yang Li signed her name with great flair.
Zhang Siyu was overjoyed from the bottom of her heart to see her friend join the company.
As Yang Li's closest friend, she knew that Yang Li hadn't been happy at the television station. Escaping that swamp sooner rather than later might not be a bad thing.
To celebrate Yang Li joining the company, Fang Zheng specially took the two women out for a celebration. By the time they returned to the company, the former classmates Yang Li had notified had already arrived.
Fang Zheng appointed Yang Li as manager of the voice-acting department. She would oversee all the company's voice actors in the future, making her a minor official, so to speak.
After a brief round of introductions, Fang Zheng led everyone directly to the company's recording studio and got straight to the point.
"Your name is Duan Shuiqing, right?"
"Yes, Director Fang."
Fang Zheng glanced at the résumé in his hand. Duan Shuiqing had graduated in the same year as Yang Li, but she hadn't been as lucky. She was currently singing resident performances at a bar.
According to Yang Li, Duan Shuiqing's voice was rather distinctive. Exactly how it was distinctive was something Fang Zheng would have to experience for himself.
"Before the audition, everyone has to sign a confidentiality agreement. I don't want the audition material getting out."
Fang Zheng had no experience interviewing voice actors, and he didn't know what kind of voice actors suited which roles.
Therefore, in pursuit of the perfect anime experience, he had chosen the script from Akame ga Kill! In other words, the material these voice actors would audition with consisted of lines from the original characters.
That way, Fang Zheng could directly judge the quality and see who suited which role.
Since Akame ga Kill! had not yet aired, a confidentiality agreement was necessary.
Yang Li supervised everyone as they signed the confidentiality agreements. Only then did Fang Zheng hand the first script to Duan Shuiqing.
This script belonged to none other than Esdeath, the villain from Akame ga Kill! whom people couldn't bring themselves to hate.
"Before we begin, I'll introduce Esdeath's character to you."
To help these voice actors better understand the personalities of the characters they needed to dub, Fang Zheng had no choice but to explain everything himself.
This step couldn't be skipped, or a huge misunderstanding might result.
Take Esdeath, for example. She was clearly designed as a queen, but if the voice actor didn't understand that and gave her a loli-like voice, it would be unbearably jarring.
"Esdeath is a general of the Empire in the original work, and one of the antagonists of this story. She's a battle maniac with somewhat sadistic tendencies, and her creed is survival of the fittest."
Fang Zheng recalled Esdeath's personality traits, then looked at the voice actors present. "Carefully feel out this character, then dub her with a voice resembling that of a 'queen.'"
With that, Fang Zheng gestured for Duan Shuiqing to enter the recording studio. He himself walked over to the recording equipment, while the others stood quietly outside and waited.
Before long, Duan Shuiqing gave Fang Zheng an "OK" gesture through the studio glass, and the recording officially began.
"After slaughtering the enemy, it's time for a delightful reward~"
"The weak die. That's all there is to it~"
"How boring. Go die!"
"Before you die..."
As he listened to Duan Shuiqing's dubbing, Fang Zheng's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Her performance failed to satisfy him—or rather, it didn't match the Esdeath in his mind at all.
It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Duan Shuiqing's dubbing. Her voice simply wasn't suitable.
Esdeath's domineering presence was missing, as was the feeling of someone who enjoyed tormenting her enemies. Fang Zheng couldn't sense her bloodthirsty personality or her belief in the law of the jungle at all.
"Stop for now~"
Hearing Fang Zheng's voice, Duan Shuiqing's mood in the recording room visibly sank. She pressed her lips tightly together and walked out.
"Director Fang, could you give me one more chance?"
Duan Shuiqing truly didn't want to miss this opportunity. Anime was a newly emerging industry, and dubbing was undoubtedly very important to it. Anyone with discernment could see the potential of the voice-acting profession.
Besides, she genuinely liked working in an industry related to broadcasting, so she was extremely unwilling to give up just like that.
"You're not suitable."
Duan Shuiqing's face turned somewhat pale. Fang Zheng's words struck her like a heavy blow, shattering the last trace of hope in her heart.
"I'm sorry for bothering you~"
Duan Shuiqing handed the script back to Fang Zheng dejectedly, then turned and slowly walked out of the recording room.
Seeing Duan Shuiqing's desolate back, the classmates who had come with her all showed subtle changes in expression.
To be honest, they had all majored in broadcasting, and their control over their voices was far better than ordinary people's.
Precisely because of that, they had thought that dubbing an anime would be a piece of cake.
But reality had given them all a harsh lesson: becoming a voice actor was absolutely not as simple as they had imagined!
"Stop!"
Looking at Duan Shuiqing's deeply dejected figure, Fang Zheng felt lines form across his forehead.
Why did he feel like some heartless exploiter? Did he really look that much like a villain?
"Director Fang..." Duan Shuiqing paused, then turned around in confusion and looked at Fang Zheng, puzzled about why he had called her back.
Her audition was already over, and she had lost her value. There was no reason for her to stay.
Suddenly, Duan Shuiqing noticed the script in Fang Zheng's hand. Her expression cleared as she understood.
"Director Fang, don't worry. Since I signed a confidentiality agreement, I definitely won't reveal what happened today. I still have that much professional integrity."
Duan Shuiqing didn't suspect anything else. She simply thought Fang Zheng was worried that she might leak the audition material.
"Hey, Fang Zheng, that's going too far! She already signed a confidentiality agreement. Why are you still suspicious of her?"
Yang Li also stood up for Duan Shuiqing, looking at Fang Zheng as though he were a heartless coal boss.
"I..." Fang Zheng was stunned by Yang Li's words. Was that what he meant?!
"How did you conclude that I was worried about a leak?"
Fang Zheng glared at Yang Li irritably. There was nothing wrong with this woman except for her careless, thick-headed personality, which gave him a headache.
If this keeps up, I'm docking her pay. I'm definitely docking her pay. Is that how you're supposed to speak to your superior?
Fang Zheng couldn't be bothered to deal with the somewhat reckless Yang Li. He looked at Duan Shuiqing and said, "You may have misunderstood me. There was nothing wrong with your dubbing. Your voice simply isn't suitable for Esdeath's character."
Before you continue