In the Performance Department office, Xu Xiaodan, Chen Bing, and a few others curiously glanced at Wu Chen, then went back to their own work.
Wu Chen pulled up a stool and sat beside Teacher Wang's spot, quietly asking, "Teacher Wang, I need your help recommending some actors."
"Hmm?" Teacher Wang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yours?"
Seeing Wu Chen nod slightly, Teacher Wang thought for a moment, not bothering with his surprise, and stood up, saying, "Alright, come with me!"
The two found an empty classroom. After Wu Chen explained, Teacher Wang finally recovered from his shock.
"Wu Chen, you really surprised me."
Teacher Wang sighed, remarking that just a few days ago, Wu Chen was helping his class with photography, and now, in the blink of an eye, he was about to shoot a movie.
"Isn't this a tradition of our Beijing Film Academy? They all say to make a name for yourself early." Wu Chen chuckled. "Teacher Wang, I always remember your teaching: help each other when you're out and about..."
Teacher Wang heard this, chuckled wryly, and then said with confidence, "You've found the right person. Tell me your criteria!"
"Teacher Wang, I want someone with a suitable age, good image and temperament, good acting skills, low fame, low pay, low risk factor..."
......
Wu Chen's series of demands directly silenced Teacher Wang.
Teacher Wang began to doubt his years of teaching and industry experience.
Why did he feel his reserves were insufficient? After hearing these conditions, why was his mind almost blank?
"How about it, Teacher, do you have any suitable candidates?" Wu Chen asked with anticipation, his eyes almost sparkling with adoration.
This pair of expectant eyes made Teacher Wang feel both happy and troubled.
"Ahem, of course, there are, don't rush!" Teacher Wang feigned composure. "Alright, your conditions are still too broad. Be more specific, and I'll definitely recommend a few..."
"Mm-hmm, Teacher is still the professional!"
Wu Chen secretly chuckled. He deliberately didn't state the specific character requirements so that Teacher Wang would have room to maneuver.
When it comes to selecting suitable candidates and filtering for cost-effectiveness, in this era, finding these Performance Department teachers is more reliable than finding casting directors.
"The male lead, ideally between 25-30 years old, a professional symphony orchestra conductor, needs to show selfishness and indifference beneath a gentle exterior, with a reserved and melancholic temperament, skilled at portraying complex psychological drama...
One of the female leads, the male lead's ex-girlfriend, between 20-28 years old, young and beautiful, sensitive and suspicious. I need to express a broken beauty through her appearance to convey the tearing sensation of despair and resilience;
The male lead's current girlfriend, between 20-28 years old, needs to possess both an angelic face and a dark psyche, outwardly gentle but deeply cunning...
The landlady...
The local police...
The violinist..."
Wu Chen unhesitatingly stated the requirements for the three main characters and three supporting characters.
These six people already covered 90% of the scenes.
"You've provided quite a lot of detail. Let me think." Teacher Wang nodded with a smile, his mind racing, searching for suitable people based on the information Wu Chen provided.
He had just confidently guaranteed his student. If he couldn't find suitable people, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
No matter what, he couldn't lose face.
Teacher Wang's first thought was the male lead, as Wu Chen's description indicated a very complex character for him, but he also needed to have good acting skills, low fame, low pay, and a low-risk factor...
Wu Chen wasn't in a hurry, waiting quietly.
He knew that despite the many requirements, Teacher Wang, given his connections, would still be able to select someone.
Teacher Wang's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Don't tell me, there really is someone suitable, and the fit is quite high."
"Teacher, who is it?"
"Zu Feng!"
"Teacher Zu Feng?" As Wu Chen muttered the name, the image of Li Ya, the insidious military intelligence agent from "insidious," appeared in his mind.
"Yes, he graduated in 2000 and is now a teacher in the Performance Department. There's no problem with his acting skills;
He has a melancholic temperament and is skilled at portraying complex psychological drama. This year, he participated in the TV series 'The Silent Witness,' playing Shi Yin, a schizophrenic patient.
Although the TV series hasn't premiered yet, Director Jiang Wei has a high opinion of Zu Feng. He should be quite suitable..."
After Teacher Wang finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Wu Chen. Zu Feng theoretically seemed quite suitable, but the specifics would depend on Wu Chen, the director.
To be honest, he still had an unreal feeling.
"Is the Photography Department's feng shui really that good?" Teacher Wang muttered to himself.
Wu Chen quickly calculated. Zu Feng's acting skills were definitely not an issue, and his age was very suitable. With glasses and a slicked-back hair, he would perfectly embody the refined scoundrel type, his image fitting the role.
Now, the most important thing was the pay, but "insidious" hadn't come out yet, so Zu Feng's pay at this time definitely wouldn't be high.
It's doable!
Wu Chen quickly made a judgment.
"Teacher Wang, you're too professional! I've been thinking for days and couldn't find a suitable candidate. Teacher Zu Feng is too perfect..." Wu Chen buttered him up. This character choice was excellent.
"Ahem, it's alright." Teacher Wang felt a sense of joy akin to an itch being scratched. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, being recognized is a high level of satisfaction.
However, Wu Chen wasn't too satisfied with Teacher Wang's recommendations for the two female leads.
Che Xiao, Yang Xue, Yao Di, Ma Su, Wang Luodan...
Teacher Wang also noticed, so the two tacitly skipped over the female lead section.
"For the landlady, you asked for someone over 50 years old. I did think of a very suitable person. Her acting skills are absolutely no problem, and she loves acting."
Teacher Wang thought of a retired woman at this moment.
"What do you think of Teacher Xu Xiulin?"
Wu Chen was stunned. "Teacher Wang, how can I possibly invite Teacher Xu Xiulin now? Even if I wanted to, I don't know her..."
A famous performing artist, a national first-class actress of the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Even Teacher Wang called her 'Teacher,' which shows her importance.
"Teacher Xu has been reluctant to leave the stage and screen her whole life. Last time for 'Good Wife,' she went without a second thought even without pay.
If you think she's suitable, I'll talk to her. She won't ask you for much pay; being able to act is enough for her."
Originally, Wu Chen had planned to just find anyone, but now that there was a better candidate, he wasn't foolish and quickly agreed: "Then I'll trouble Teacher Wang."
"No trouble. Teacher Xu always talks about joining film crews. We all keep an eye out for her, and yours is just right.
As for the police, how about Zhou Yiwei? For the violinist, how about picking from the recent Beijing Film Academy students?"
Teacher Wang mused, clearly hoping Wu Chen would give more opportunities to Performance Department students.
Although he didn't know how Wu Chen's film would turn out, such practical opportunities were rare, especially for the big screen.
"Of course, if the acting isn't good, they still have to be screened out!"
"Okay, Teacher, I will consider it!"
Wu Chen nodded. That was no problem, and his budget was limited, so he had already planned to choose from students...