NCCnovel Chapter 287 Yu Dong
Chapter 287 Yu Dong
Bai Li introduced first: "It's actress Yu Dong, who also plays the female lead, Lin Qiu, in 'Tian Gong'."
Director Saiweng, who was about to answer, nodded in agreement.
As the film's producer, Bai Li naturally knew the female lead very well, and she had already given her answer before director Sai Weng could even explain.
However, this answer left the other investors looking at each other in bewilderment, all showing expressions of doubt.
In fact, their doubts are understandable.
If investors are involved in casting, they may force actors who are not suitable for the role to be inserted based on commercial interests, causing the film to deviate from the original intention of the script and thus affecting its artistic quality.
Therefore, the contract signed by all parties specifically stipulates that the investors shall not interfere with the casting process.
This is the basic premise for Baili to accept the entry of investors.
If investors want to make money from Bai Li, they have no choice but to comply.
This is why, apart from Bai Li, the other investors present could not know about the casting in advance and were naturally unfamiliar with the name.
“Yu Dong?” An investor muttered the name, his brow furrowing slightly. “Never heard of him.”
Similar confusion is spreading among all investors.
Yu Dong, an extremely unfamiliar name.
Everyone here is in the entertainment industry, having worked there for many years. You might not know all the top and second-tier stars, but you can name them all by heart.
However, Yu Dong is clearly not on that list, which suggests that she is most likely only a third-tier celebrity.
Yu Dong is indeed not a particularly famous celebrity.
When questioned by other investors, Shirari confirmed this fact.
"Is it too risky to invest such a huge amount in a movie and cast a third-tier actress as the female lead?" someone voiced the doubts of the crowd.
Admittedly, the performance just now was quite brilliant, but there must be many veteran actresses who could perform at this level.
The public has a low level of familiarity with third-tier celebrities, and they lack sufficient influence and popularity in the market, which will inevitably bring difficulties to the film's post-production promotion.
Each investor has its own criteria for calculation, and their thoughts differ for a time.
It seems that Day and Night Entertainment has never been fond of using popular or veteran stars as lead actors.
The same thing happened with "Asking Immortals" before, which even used amateur actors.
However, the success of the promotion of "Asking Immortals" may just be a coincidence.
One reason is that it benefited from the popularity of the original work.
Furthermore, since it coincided with the annual entertainment summit, coupled with an attractive cast, it naturally garnered considerable attention, further fueling the film's popularity.
"The Craftsman" is not a transparent script, and its scheduled release date is not even close to the promotional activities at the Entertainment Summit.
Although the role of the female lead, Lin Qiu, does not require a stunningly beautiful actress to play, Yu Dong's appearance is far too ordinary by the standards of the entertainment industry.
The comment "average appearance" might be harmless in other fields, but in the entertainment industry where looks matter, it can sometimes be considered a "sin."
This bold decision made the investors present very nervous.
They believed in the value of white pears, but now things have developed so differently from what they expected, and from their professional perspective, the increased risk of the investment is another matter entirely.
Seeing the investors' doubts, Bai Li turned her attention to Director Saiweng and asked, "Is Yu Dong on set?"
The old man nodded.
The female lead is, of course, present.
Bai Li then gestured to her assistant, who quickly led the person to the VIP lounge.
Yu Dong was clearly unaware of this unexpected visit to the set.
As soon as she pushed open the door to the lounge, she was suddenly faced with a room full of somewhat unfamiliar faces. Her steps faltered slightly, her breath caught in her throat for a moment, and a hint of undisguised astonishment flashed across her face.
But she recognized Director Saiweng and Bai Li.
Bai Li gave her a reassuring smile, and she quickly calmed down. Her gaze swept over the crowd, and she vaguely recognized several well-known investment tycoons in the industry. Her heart started racing.
In a flash, she understood the situation she was facing.
It turns out that today was the day for investors to visit the set.
However, the production team did not receive prior notice.
That means it was a random visit.
And I am facing a scrutiny of my role.
Yu Dong gradually understood the key to the matter, and the confusion in his eyes quickly faded away, replaced by a calm demeanor as he met those scrutinizing gazes.
Bai Li took in Yu Dong's subtle changes in expression and nodded to herself.
As expected, Yu Dong was Lin Qiu's only choice.
Although Bai Li couldn't see Yu Dong's face clearly when the footage was projected, because the sand and dust obscured it, she shouldn't have been able to recognize him so quickly.
But Bai Li always remembered Yu Dong's exceptionally bright eyes.
Before recognizing Yu Dong, Bai Li recognized those eyes first.
It was precisely these eyes that allowed Yu Dong to stand out in the extremely fierce competition during the interview selection process.
Among the interviewees were veteran actors and popular actresses, some bright and cheerful, some innocent and pure, some profound and mature, each with their own unique charm.
Even more outstanding actresses, some of whom are award-winning, auditioned for the role.
Director Saiweng has even shortlisted several potential candidates, just waiting for the final decision.
However, Yu Dong's arrival led director Sai Weng to overturn all the original candidates.
Yu Dong was not particularly outstanding among the interviewees at first.
She lacked a sufficiently impressive resume, her appearance was too plain in the glamorous entertainment industry, and her age was stuck at that invisible "watershed".
In the entertainment industry, there is a widely accepted "watershed" regarding the age of female celebrities.
The upper age limit for leading actresses in mainstream idol dramas is usually around 35 years old. Those who are older than this age are easily marginalized, unable to play leading roles or even younger characters.
Although some female celebrities have managed to cross the watershed, cultivate an independent female image, break age prejudices, and reach new career peaks, they are still a minority.
Most female celebrities cannot escape transitioning to functional roles such as "mothers" or "supporting roles".
Therefore, Yu Dong, who is 35 years old this year, had his resume buried at the very bottom.
If it weren't for director Sai Weng's meticulous selection process, Yu Dong wouldn't have even received the final audition invitation.
But she won over the discerning eye of the old man with just one audition.
When Bai Li received the casting results from Sai Weng, she was incredulous.
Yu Dong's appearance was not outstanding among the interviewees; in other words, she was not the kind of stunningly beautiful according to mainstream aesthetic standards.
But undeniably, she has a very "comfortable" appearance.
Her facial features are soft, without sharp angles, exuding a gentle temperament that gives people a clean and pure feeling.
While it may not be immediately stunning and captivating, a closer look reveals its unique charm and approachability.
This kind of "ordinary" beauty, in an entertainment industry full of exquisite features, actually gives it a unique and distinctive appeal.
What truly convinced Bai Li to make the final decision was when she witnessed Yu Dong's performance firsthand.
"Yu Dong," Bai Li spoke, breaking the brief silence, "we want to see Lin Qiu."
There were no extra pleasantries, no explanations, and not even a specified setting.
—Just Lin Qiu.
The seemingly simple requirement of Bai Li is actually the most difficult test.
This means that Yu Dong had to bring the character "Lin Qiu" to life without any preparation, set design, or co-stars.
All investors' eyes were focused on Dong, some scrutinizing him, some doubting him, and some simply curious.
Mr. Li has been in contact with Bai Li the longest, and he is also the investor who trusts Bai Li the most among today's investors.
He had no doubts about Bai Li's choice.
Bai Li is not the kind of person who is blindly influenced by capital or traffic. As the producer and the largest investor, she must have her reasons for choosing the unassuming Yu Dong.
Therefore, he only felt pure curiosity about Yu Dong.
What is so special about her?
Yu Dong did not back down in the face of these various gazes, but simply said in a deep voice, "Okay, I'll get ready."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Yu Dong knew perfectly well that this was his only chance.
Three months ago, her contract with her agency was nearing its expiration.
The company's response was: no renewal.
This is a blow to Yu Dong, who has been working hard in the entertainment industry for ten years.
She is not without acting skills, but she has been unable to land leading roles for a long time.
The reason is quite ridiculous: she doesn't look like the "female lead".
Therefore, she could only play a supporting role.
Therefore, her acting career did not take off for a long time.
At her age, unless she's a very famous star, her acting opportunities will only become narrower and narrower.
As she gets a few more years older, she will basically have to leave the mainstream of the industry and can only play minor roles like aunties or grandmas.
This is the current state of the industry, and it is also her tragedy.
As an actress, her value will diminish infinitely.
This is also why the agency chose not to renew the contract; they are not optimistic about Yu Dong's future development.
Yu Dong was plunged into deep anxiety, as her acting skills and passion were about to have nowhere to be displayed.
Perhaps wanting to prove himself one last time, Yu Dong submitted his resume to the "Tian Gong" production team after terminating his contract.
Unexpectedly, she was chosen.
This is the first time she has landed a leading role in the entertainment industry after nearly ten years of hard work.
Moreover, she is the female lead in a major film project under Day and Night Entertainment.
After disbelief came ecstasy; the moment she received the news, all her past grievances seemed to vanish.
Thinking of this, Yu Dong straightened his back, which had been slightly hunched over due to nervousness.
She cherished this opportunity more than anyone else; she wanted to prove that she could also play the leading role well.
The shift in thinking happens in an instant.
Yu Dong's overall demeanor underwent a strange transformation with each breath.
The awkwardness that once characterized actor Yu Dong has vanished, replaced by a calm focus and a restrained sharpness honed by the years.
The person is still the same person.
But the feeling is completely different.
Yu Dong's gaze fell on a virtual panel that existed only in her mind.
Her left hand had its five fingers spread out, as if stabilizing a floating control panel in the air, while her right hand's fingers were slightly bent, precisely dragging in the air, seemingly operating the interface.
Suddenly, her pupils contracted sharply, her movements abruptly halted, her right hand hovered in mid-air, her fingertips trembling slightly, as if she had seen something extremely terrifying.
Everyone present noticed the change in her eyes.
Those eyes became unusually bright, sharp, and unfathomable.
Immediately afterwards, a look of mixed fervor and shock appeared on Yu Dong's face.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes burning with an astonishing intensity, as if showing her assistant or team member the amazing discovery she had just made, her tone filled with disbelief.
"Did you...did you see that?"
Yu Dong's voice was no longer his original tone; it was hoarse and dry due to the huge impact.
"They...are not mistakes, they are not out of control, they are...evolution!"
Yu Dong's gaze fixed on a certain focal point in front of her, the fervor in her eyes gradually subsided, her shoulders slumped slightly for a moment, and her lips opened and closed silently a few times.
Then, the most classic line from the last page of the script for "The Craftsman," a line long etched in Yu Dong's heart, flowed out with a heavy, almost sighing tone:
“We...we have never been the creators, we are merely...the collaborators of nature.”
The performance has ended.
Yu Dong stood still, maintaining that posture of gazing into the void for a few seconds before slowly withdrawing the powerful aura belonging to Lin Qiu around him.
Her gaze refocused, and she transformed back into actress Yu Dong.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yu Dong's forehead, and his breathing was more rapid than before. Clearly, he had not fully recovered emotionally and was also a little nervous about the trial.
silence.
Absolute silence enveloped the VIP lounge.
The investors, who had just been frowning and calculating, almost forgot to breathe.
After a brief, unsettling silence.
"Crack, crack..."
A burst of applause broke the silence in the lounge.
The investor who initially muttered that he didn't recognize Yu Dong's name and had some reservations about her had somehow sat up straight, and the doubt on his face had disappeared.
He probably understands Bai Li and Director Sai Weng's intentions now.
There are many actors who can portray a character, but few who can bring a character to life.
The relatively unknown actor Yu Dong was a perfect fit for Lin Qiu. Despite being completely unprepared, he was able to quickly get into character and bring the role to life, which is no easy feat.
This also shows that, with the help of set design and other actors during daily filming, her performance will only become more captivating.
The investors admitted they were impressed and made no attempt to hide their admiration: "Director Sai, President Bai, you have excellent judgment!"
Director Saiweng smiled knowingly, a hint of smugness in his expression; his judgment was never wrong.
Bai Li also expressed her satisfaction, saying, "You acted very well."
She knew Yu Dong's abilities well, which is why she allowed him to perform freely.
Yu Dong's performance clearly did not disappoint her.
This performance was of a very high standard.
There are no flowery lines or intense physical conflicts.
Yu Dong brought Lin Qiu to life with just his eyes, subtle movements, and a few lines.
In her own way, she made all the doubters clearly "see" Lin Qiu, see the core of "Tian Gong", and at the same time, they recognized her.
Receiving the praise finally put Yu Dong's mind at ease.
She bowed slightly, a sincere smile on her face: "Thank you, Mr. Bai, Director Saiweng, and all the investors for your recognition. I will certainly live up to everyone's expectations and do my best to portray Lin Qiu."
……
After a brief exchange, the sandstorm and sun outside gradually subsided, and the film crew was finally able to resume work.