Chapter 6: Chance Encounter with Liu Tianxian
Lunch was eaten in the cafeteria. After getting their food, the two sat down. Seeing that there were only two of them, Cao Bingkun asked, “Hao Zi, is he coming today…?”
Even though Ning Hao had graduated, he lived near Beijing Film Academy and usually joined them for cafeteria meals, sometimes even bringing his girlfriend, Xing Naina.
Zhang Chen waved his hand, “Don’t worry about him. He just called me. Someone offered him a private job, and he went to discuss it with them. He told us to eat by ourselves for lunch.”
Speaking of this, Zhang Chen was actually quite envious. Many students in college could get private jobs, like shooting covers or commercials, but those in their directing department had no connections.
The two ate and chatted. Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the cafeteria entrance.
They looked over and saw a mother and daughter entering from the doorway. It was… Liu Tianxian and her mother.
No wonder.
Beijing Film Academy was full of beautiful women, and celebrities often came and went. Beijing Film Academy students were already used to seeing stars and had no star-struck tendencies.
However, Liu Tianxian was an exception.
Every part of this woman's features couldn't be called top-tier, but combined, they possessed an ethereal and refined beauty that men and women alike found captivating.
And Aunt Liu was also a beauty.
So, when two beauties, one older and one younger, appeared in the cafeteria, they immediately attracted people's attention. But it was only attention; any overly enthusiastic behavior was impossible.
They themselves were future big stars; why would they chase stars?
“Beautiful, truly beautiful.”
Cao Bingkun clicked his tongue in admiration. He was a looks fanatic, and his eyes lit up from the moment he saw Liu Tianxian.
“Hmm, she is indeed beautiful. No wonder she could give birth to such a daughter.”
Zhang Chen’s focus was completely different from Old Cao’s.
“Are you mistaken? I was talking about Liu Yifei.”
“No mistake, I was talking about her mother.”
Then Old Cao noticed Zhang Chen looking at him with disdain: “Liu Yifei was born in ’87, so she’s only 17 this year. She’s still underage, what are you thinking?”
Cao Bingkun had a ‘What the f*ck’ stuck in his chest, desperate to let it out: “Now you’re acting all high and mighty with Grandpa. Who was it last night, when he was drunk, who kept shouting about wanting a foot massage? And he even said things like ‘love arises with the bell, but when the bell stops, the feeling lingers,’ and ‘goddesses are not as good as technicians; you should get more foot massages.’”
Cao Bingkun was about to continue when Zhang Chen covered his mouth. The latter nervously looked left and right. Fortunately, the people nearby were all looking at Liu Tianxian and apparently hadn’t heard.
“Old Cao, you’re trying to ruin my reputation.”
Old Cao sat with his legs crossed, with a look that said, ‘Hurry up and appease me, or I’ll make you regret it.’
Zhang Chen smiled apologetically: “Those were all side effects of drinking. Alright, Grandpa Cao, I was wrong. Let’s hurry and look at the beauty; she’ll be gone in a moment.”
Cao Bingkun no longer pursued the matter, and the two continued to admire Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu should be just over forty now, but she was very well-preserved and looked only in her early thirties.
Standing next to Liu Yifei, saying they were sisters would be an exaggeration, but saying they were mother and daughter, probably few people would believe it.
Compared to Liu Yifei’s youthful innocence, she possessed something called charm.
Zhang Chen expressed disdain for the surrounding students who praised Liu Tianxian’s beauty. Youngsters don’t appreciate the goodness of an aunt, mistakenly treating a young girl as a treasure.
It wasn’t that he was detached from mainstream aesthetics; it was just that Liu Tianxian was still a child at this time, with baby fat on her face, and not his type.
In contrast, Aunt Liu was more feminine.
As the old saying goes, only those who have eaten meat know that fatty meat is more fragrant than lean meat.
Liu Tianxian and her mother circled around once and then left. They probably intended to eat there but left after realizing they had attracted attention.
Liu Tianxian left, but discussions about her in the cafeteria had just begun. The topic of conversation at almost every table was related to her.
Although Liu Tianxian was in the same class as him, both from the '02 cohort, she had actually only been to school a few times.
She debuted in the story of a noble family, then was admitted to Beijing Film Academy.
Then she starred as Wang Yuyan in demi-gods and semi-devils, gaining widespread recognition, and from there, she went on a roll with Chinese Paladin and The Return of the Condor Heroes…
Counting the days, Chinese Paladin should be starting filming around this time. Her visit to the school this time was most likely to ask for leave.
Speaking of which, people's destinies are truly vastly different.
The young girl's acting skills were clearly mediocre, but the trilogy of demi-gods and semi-devils, Chinese Paladin, and The Return of the Condor Heroes directly forged her into an supreme goddess, making her a super tank.
Afterwards, her career steadily declined, but no matter how much she faltered, she always maintained her first-tier status.
In later generations, the only person in a similar situation was Gu Tianle, who relied on his character, but his resilience was far less than hers.
“Speaking of which, how are you considering the actors for this movie?” Cao Bingkun suddenly asked.
“What, do you have any recommendations?”
“Don't you think Liu Tianxian, from just now, would be very suitable?”
“Liu Tianxian? Where do you see her as suitable? At least her age isn’t right. If it were her mother, that might work.”
Wait, why was he thinking of Aunt Liu again? Zhang Chen shook his head, pushing that absurd thought out of his mind.
Amitabha ~
“You can slightly modify the script, you know. As long as she’s willing to join, you won’t have to worry about this movie being released.”
Cao Bingkun, of course, had good intentions. People who don't understand the industry might think every movie has a chance to be released, but that's not the case.
For a movie to be released in cinemas, it first needs a distribution company.
Before distribution, the distribution company will review the film. If they deem it to have distribution value, then the film has a chance of being released; otherwise, it can only go to DVD.
And for a movie like Zhang Chen's, if it uses all new actors and is really not well-regarded, it might genuinely not make it to cinemas.
However, Zhang Chen wasn't too worried about this. The script for the descent was good enough, and the quality of the finished movie would definitely not be bad. As long as the distribution company wasn't blind, they shouldn't refuse it.
After all, the original movie wasn't directed by a big-name director, and all the actors were third-tier unknowns, yet the box office performance was equally outstanding.
Moreover, even if she were suitable, he would most likely not collaborate with Liu Tianxian. Liu Tianxian at this time was not very friendly to small film crews, or more accurately, it should be Aunt Liu.
After all, Liu Tianxian was still young, and many decisions were made by Aunt Liu on her behalf.
He remembered that when Liu Tianxian was filming Chinese Paladin, she took a leave of absence midway to go to Taiwan and shoot a movie called love winner.
Filming two projects at once is fine, but you're the main character!
If the other party pulled a stunt like that in Zhang Chen's small film crew, it would directly bankrupt him.
…
After eating, they returned to the dorm for a nap.
People from Coal Province must take a nap.
Around two o'clock, Zhang Chen woke up. Cao Bingkun was playing a game, a chinese odyssey 2. He had just spent 1000 to buy a monkey, which was incredibly powerful, cutting everything down in one blow.
Zhang Chen washed his face and then prepared to go out.
“Where are you going?” Cao Bingkun asked, turning his head.
“I’m going to the Acting and Directing Building. You keep playing.”
The Acting and Directing Building was a two-story building, shared by the acting and directing departments, which is how it got its name.
Zhang Chen’s target this time was Teacher Fu.
Teacher Fu’s name was Fu Donglai, and he was the professor for their year’s directing department, as well as Zhang Chen’s class teacher.
“Are you really going to ask Teacher for help?”
“Why not? I'm completely broke right now, no money, no people. If we want to make this movie, we have to ask the school for help.”
Beijing Film Academy is a professional institution. It can be said that, except for the acting profession which might be slightly inferior to Central Academy of Drama, all other majors are the strongest.
To produce a movie, all the various types of work needed can be found here, and they can be completed very well.
Not to mention, Beijing Film Academy also has Qingying Film Studio underneath it, with ready-made equipment and venues. Every year, countless students' first works are born here.
“Wait a moment, I’ll go with you.”
Cao Bingkun stopped playing his game, set up a loop with a key macro, grabbed a jacket, and left with Zhang Chen. He was very attentive to his friend’s affairs.