Zhen Shu never expected Jian Shuangshuang to be so welcoming, her heart immediately settled, and she happily exposed her thoughts: "I’ve long wanted to say that those people acting during auditions are too stiff.
I feel I’m much better than them, just teach me, I’ll learn diligently. I don’t dream of surpassing you, Sister Shuangshuang, but at least I won’t appear like a paper effigy."
Zhen Shu’s words are indeed quite sharp, but Jian Shuangshuang recalled those people’s performances and had to admit that while Zhen Shu’s words were venomous, her descriptions were vividly accurate.
Jian Shuangshuang felt helpless; she thought that people who hadn’t learned acting skills certainly wouldn’t perform well, but didn’t expect them to be so bad that they couldn’t even move their limbs, leaving her deeply disappointed.
Jian Shuangshuang is also a straightforward person, and after watching too many cringeworthy performances today, she was in a gloomy mood, urgently needing a change of mood.
Jian Shuangshuang took out the script she was holding and chose the role of the second female lead for Zhen Shu. It’s not that Jian Shuangshuang didn’t want to give Zhen Shu the lead female role, but her appearance wasn’t suitable for the character.
The lead female role that Jian Shuangshuang set was a naive and simple muddled girl, with an appearance that’s cute and innocent and often performs good deeds that end up going wrong.
Such a character setup is quite clichéd, yet it cannot be denied this setup can easily produce comedic effects; someone wholeheartedly striving to do good deeds but each time ends up in laughably embarrassing situations and resolves them with an unexpectedly funny approach.
The second female lead, on the other hand, is the protagonist’s sister, a highly capable and strong woman who is also a sisterly protector, though frequently finds her persona disrupted by her sister’s pranks, creating a dramatic contrast.
This contrasting character requires high acting skills, but Jian Shuangshuang feels the role truly fits Zhen Shu.
Strong-willed and decisive, yet occasionally causing humorous situations due to her sister’s antics, resulting in a funnier effect than forced comedy.
Jian Shuangshuang directly selected a segment from the second female lead’s role for Zhen Shu to audition, where the protagonist ends up in a brothel after trying to help someone.
This process naturally shouldn’t be serious but rather swap to a comedic style, like entering the brothel, the protagonist refusing everything, causing chaos within, while the madam and her cronies chase her around only to end up pranked.
At this point, the second female lead kicks open the brothel door and dramatically appears to rescue her sister, akin to a divinely descended hero, making the scene beautifully cinematic. Then, amid this setting, the fleeing protagonist falls from above, flattening the second lead, turning the cool moment into comedy.
Jian Shuangshuang first demonstrated the scene of the second lead kicking in the door and being flattened by the protagonist, then asked Zhen Shu to mimic the scene.
Zhen Shu pondered for quite a while before starting her performance. To make it realistic, Zhen Shu didn’t mind using her own tavern as a prop, genuinely kicking her tavern’s door flying.
The tavern staff were terrified by the suddenly flying door, and seeing Zhen Shu kick the door left them stunned. What’s happening? Is their boss trying to bulldoze her own establishment?!
Zhen Shu, however, ignored the staff’s bewilderment, earnestly completing her performance and then eagerly waited for Jian Shuangshuang’s announcement on whether she could act.
Jian Shuangshuang was astonished by Zhen Shu’s performance; she thought Du Xinning already had remarkable acting talents, but Zhen Shu was even more incredible. She managed to act reasonably well all on her own.
Jian Shuangshuang laughed and immediately placed the script she wrote right in front of Zhen Shu, clapping emphatically as she praised: "Sister Zhen, you are truly talented in acting, impressive.
Sister Zhen, look at this script. I think this second female lead suits you perfectly; your aura is just right."
Zhen Shu took the script, glanced at it, and indeed found Jian Shuangshuang’s insight on point. She was neither suitable for nor liked the naive troublemaking protagonist; she couldn’t embody it. The second lead seemed interesting and suited her tastes.
After finalizing the second female lead, Jian Shuangshuang was happy for about two minutes before becoming dejected again, having solved the second female lead issue; but what about the first female lead and the second male lead? Maybe just let the second lead stay single, Shangshuang pondered.
Ji Yuzhe saw Jian Shuangshuang bustling for the first female lead and second male lead these days and hesitated a bit before saying to Jian Shuangshuang: "Boss, actually I have a junior sister who fits this role quite well. Shall I call her for a tryout, see if she’s usable? It would be great if she is usable, otherwise nothing lost."
Ji Yuzhe’s junior sister is undoubtedly an actor too; he actually wants to uplift his junior sister a bit, as gratitude.
He was penniless and too sick to walk, it wasn’t for his junior sister Jiang Wanling emptying her savings to buy him medicine, who knows if he would have died of stomachache by now.
Nowadays shooting films is so profitable, and his junior sister is also demurely lovely, fits the image needed for this film’s female lead perfectly, coupled with Jian Shuangshuang’s dissatisfaction over the female lead, so Ji Yuzhe felt exploratory enough to speak.
Hearing this, Jian Shuangshuang’s eyes brightened again, what a lucky day! The second female lead sorted out and now a potential first female lead came along who learned acting skills.
Ji Yuzhe is a reticent yet reliably capable person. Since he opened his mouth, it suggests this junior sister of his is definitely good.
The counterpart studied opera too; singing, reciting, acting, and martial arts are learned, though different from acting, skills in one field can benefit another, Ji Yuzhe learned to act rather quickly.
Even if she isn’t suitable for female lead, there’s a chance for her at the third female role, groomed for the subsequent movie, she lacks actors anyway. Keeping good candidates is paramount.
With this thought, Jian Shuangshuang decisively nodded: "Since she’s your junior sister, Yu, she’s definitely excellent; let her try for a suitable role.
It’s okay if she can’t do the first female lead, performing as the third or fourth female lead for practice, I won’t shortchange payment, definitely earning more than opera."
This Ji Yuzhe trusts thoroughly, even for a previous horror film, just two villagers with two lines earned two silver coins each from Jian Shuangshuang, which was generous enough to make Ji Yuzhe wince on behalf of Jian Shuangshuang.
Jiang Wanling trusts her senior brother Ji Yuzhe much; Ji Yuzhe asked Jiang Wanling to meet, told her about the film offer and, without reservation, Jiang Wanling immediately went along.
Since Jiang Wanling wasn’t owned by any troupe, she was free to leave as she pleased, regardless of how the troupe leader angrily smashed objects nearly passing out. Jiang Wanling firmly left.
Truly seeing Jiang Wanling in person, first impression satisfied Jian Shuangshuang a bit. Jiang Wanling’s appearance is that of a petite beauty, a demure and elegant type.
Most importantly, when Jiang Wanling smiles mildly at someone, she naturally radiates an innocent purity, fitting the female lead image perfectly.
If acting skills were poor, then having a persona and character that align would best compensate for acting inadequacies.