"What, there's a TV series looking for me? And they want me, Old Li, to play the lead?" Li Youbin received a call from the factory that morning after his run, saying a company was looking for him to film a TV series.
As an actor of the older generation, Li Youbin didn't have an agent. All his business was handled through the Changchun Film Studio, which was responsible for helping him find acting jobs.
The fees earned from filming were also distributed to the studio according to a certain proportion, making him a rare genuinely practical person.
This time, the studio had found another role for him, but it seemed this role had come looking for him, specifically requesting Li Youbin for the lead.
"It's not going to be some idol drama or mother-in-law drama, is it? I can't act in those!" Li Youbin chuckled.
"Dream on. What idol drama would cast a wrinkle-faced fellow like you as the lead?" the director couldn't help but laugh. "It's a war drama, where you'll play an independent regiment commander of the Eighth Route Army. You won't refuse this, will you?"
"Eighth Route Army, sounds good. Old Li hasn't played an Eighth Route Army soldier before!" Li Youbin said with a smile. "Director, do you have the script?"
"No script yet, but there's a novel. The script adaptation has just begun," the director replied.
"They've already chosen the lead actor before the novel is even adapted. This crew is really impatient. Which director is it, and which company?" Li Youbin asked curiously.
"I think they haven't found a director yet, but the project is from Tangren Film and Television in Shanghai, Director Li Guoli's company. It was recently acquired, and they're about to release a work, aren't they?" the director said.
"Is this project reliable? This is the first time I've heard of them looking for actors before finding a director!" Li Youbin suddenly felt a bit apprehensive. There were many scammers around lately. Could this crew be one of them?
"I'm not sure about that, but their attitude is quite good. They said if you're interested, you can fly to Shanghai directly for discussions. Director Li Guoli himself called me. I don't think such a big director would be a scammer!"
"Besides, you're a nobody, poor and insignificant. You're not a big star, so why would anyone scam you?" Li Youbin felt what the director said made sense. Moreover, Li Youbin really wanted to play an Eighth Route Army soldier, and to be offered the lead role directly was quite a rare treatment.
After all, to be honest, although Li Youbin had starred in several movies, he had never been the lead in a TV series. This was his first time being a lead character!
So, Li Youbin agreed. He had originally planned to go to Shanghai in a few days, but when they heard he was willing to visit Shanghai, they immediately wired him 10,000 yuan for travel expenses. They also stated that they were in a crucial actor selection phase and hoped to consider his opinions as the lead actor, asking him to help choose other actors as well.
As a result, Li Youbin, somewhat bewildered, took a flight to Shanghai that same afternoon. He stayed at a hotel arranged by Tangren that night and met Li Guoli the next morning.
However, to Li Youbin's great surprise, their meeting was not in Tangren's office but directly at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Li Guoli, along with Chen Li and a man and a woman, came to the entrance of the Shanghai Theatre Academy to greet him.
"Old Li, haven't we seen each other in two years?" Upon meeting, Li Guoli warmly embraced Li Youbin. In reality, they didn't have much of a relationship. It was only two years ago, when the movie "Suddenly Emerged" was released, that Li Guoli attended a press conference and shook hands with Li Youbin. Yet, at this moment, they acted as if they were old friends.
"Director Li, I've been waiting for your summons, but there was no opportunity!" Li Youbin said, with his characteristic Commander Li smile, chuckling. He then added, "Director Li, why don't you introduce me?"
"Oh, look at me. Let me introduce you. This is Chairman Huang He of Tangren Film and Television, our big boss, who approved the filming of "Drawing Sword." And this is the secretary to Chairman Huang, Ms. Leng Zhiruo, CEO of Jiangnan Commercial Group. You know Jiangnan Group, right? They're the ones who sell blind boxes!"
"Blind boxes… Huang He… You're that brother-in-law…" Old Li almost blurted it out but managed to bite his tongue midway.
"Hahahaha, that's right, I'm the Huang He who ran off with his sister-in-law. It's just a shame my business didn't go bankrupt. My Jiangnan Leather Factory and I have come back to life!" Huang He laughed heartily, and Li Youbin joined in.
"I didn't expect that, Mr. Li, you know my name, Huang He!" Huang He said with a smile.
"There's no helping it. Your blind box stall was set up right below my building. When I went out, just around the corner, I could hear the Jiangnan Leather Factory's loudspeakers for over three months. It's hard not to remember your name!" Li Youbin chuckled.
"Oh, then have you bought our blind boxes, Mr. Li?"
"Coincidentally, look at this wallet of mine, and these leather shoes, aren't they from Jiangnan!" Li Youbin showed off his wallet and shoes, which were as good as new and eye-catching.
"Oh, they are indeed from Jiangnan. Mr. Li, you've maintained them very well."
"It's not that I maintained them well, it's that I couldn't bear to wear them. My wife always hid them in the closet for me. Today, hearing that I was coming to Shanghai to meet the big boss, she finally let me wear them!" Li Youbin said with a smile.
"But Mr. Li, do you call yourself 'Old Li' in real life?" Huang He asked curiously.
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"No, it's just that the lead character of 'Drawing Sword,' Li Yunlong, also says 'Old Li' all the time. This role is a perfect match for you!"
The distance between them immediately shortened.
"By the way, shouldn't we be going to the company to discuss this? Why are we at the Shanghai Theatre Academy?" Li Youbin asked curiously.
"It's like this, Jiangnan has just taken over Tangren Film and Television and plans to recruit some good seedlings from the academy, sign them, and cultivate them slowly. So, Director Li and I are here today to scout for talent. Since I heard Mr. Li was coming, I shamelessly invited you over to be a judge and help us identify some outstanding talents from the students."
"Haha, I wouldn't dare to call myself a judge, but I can certainly offer some suggestions. Old Li isn't bragging, but my eyes are quite sharp. I can tell if a talent is good or bad with just one glance!" Li Youbin said.
"Then we'll count on your keen eye!" Huang He embraced Li Youbin warmly and, led by Li Guoli, entered the Shanghai Theatre Academy.
Once inside the academy, it was evident that it was filled with handsome men and beautiful women, all of whom were attractive and good-looking, truly a place with a high concentration of good looks in the country.
Similarly, these handsome men and beautiful women were all curiously sizing up Huang He and his entourage.
Some of their gazes fell upon Li Guoli or Li Youbin, and they covered their mouths in surprise, clearly recognizing their identities.
"Damn, it's Director Li and Teacher Li Youbin! Why are they together? Are they here to be our teachers?"
"Nonsense. If they were here for a surprise class, the schedule would have been posted. I think it's more likely that a film crew is here to scout for actors."
"A film crew! Does that mean we have a chance?"
"Yeah, let's hurry and ask our counselor if a film crew is here. We need to seize the opportunity!" These students were all sharp, and just seeing this lineup, they guessed quite a lot. They rushed to the counselors' offices and learned that it wasn't a film crew scouting actors, but a film and television company signing new talents.
However, the academy only recommended students from their third and fourth years to audition. First and second-year students were not considered, which greatly disappointed the freshmen.
Soon, led by the academy's teachers, the group entered a performance classroom with a stage. Many students were waiting outside, nervously clutching their application forms. A rough estimate suggested over a hundred people, almost all the third and fourth-year students from the acting department of the entire theatre academy.
"Director Li, shall we start calling in students one by one?" the responsible teacher asked.
"No rush yet!" Before Director Li could speak, Huang He said, "I think this classroom is quite spacious. Could we call all the students in so I can have a word with everyone?"
"Okay!" The teacher hesitated but nodded, then called in all the students waiting outside. Huang He glanced casually and saw many familiar faces from his previous life. If it were the Huang He of his previous life, he might have started asking for autographs.
However, this time, Huang He looked at everyone calmly. After everyone quieted down, Huang He cleared his throat and said, "Greetings, aspiring performing artists. Let me introduce myself. My name is Huang He, and I am the chairman of Tangren Film and Television Group. We are here today to recruit a batch of talented individuals for our Tangren Film and Television Group, with the aim of cultivating them into towering trees in the film and television industry."
"My presence here today, Huang He, demonstrates the importance I place on this endeavor. Every person I recruit today will be cultivated as a pillar of the future film and television industry."
"However, our company has rather special rules, so I need to explain some things to you all beforehand, so you can make your decision about whether or not to sign with our company!" Huang He paused after speaking, and the handsome men and beautiful women in the audience began to ponder.
"So, how are our company's rules special? Firstly, we don't sign for 5 years, but for 10 years, because this allows the company to cultivate you with more confidence and boldness. Of course, whether you agree or not is your own decision; you can consider it yourselves!"
"Secondly, our company highly values works. Every work will be invested with heart, and every actor must make sacrifices for the work. Therefore, you may encounter situations where, for an excellent work, you need to spend several months or even a year learning martial arts, dance, or special skills, or experiencing life in a military camp. These are all determined by the importance of the work."
"Thirdly, we have a unique triple distribution system, which is as follows…" Huang He explained a series of points. "Of course, considering that many students will not have acting roles for a while, you will each receive a basic salary every month. However, regardless of who you are or what achievements you may make in the future, the basic salary will be the average salary in Shanghai, adjusted annually according to the data released by the state, with no other changes."
As soon as these three sentences were uttered, many people in the classroom began to prepare to leave. The conditions seemed too demanding, and the salary too low. Even as a worker, their income seemed higher. What was the point of this?
Of course, no one actually left because Huang He had not finished speaking.