The popularity of the live-action adaptation of "Living with a Big Shot" has remained sky-high. Shortly after the production team hinted at the project, celebrities flocked to audition, with reports of over a hundred hopefuls, including A-listers and top-tier stars. Even movie stars who had previously declared they wouldn't participate in TV dramas actively sought opportunities, some even willing to accept lower salaries.
When Su He arrived at the hotel, she was met with a feast of handsome men and beautiful women. Those who thrive in the entertainment industry naturally possess good looks, and after meticulous grooming, they were all stunning, leaving one dazzled.
Su He suddenly understood the satisfaction of an ancient emperor selecting concubines.
"So many beautiful women..."
"Isn't that the campus goddess who was so popular recently? Why is she here too!"
"Am I mistaken? That's Tang Xiaoying!"
"Ahhhhh, and the lead actress from last year's massively popular 'Qing Yao Zhuan'!"
Her assistant, accompanying Su He, was so astonished her jaw nearly dropped.
The male lead had already been decided, leaving only the female lead and supporting roles. Therefore, most of the auditionees were actresses. Of course, there were also male actors. After all, the roles of the second and third male leads were quite compelling and likable, and many aimed to break through with this drama.
Su He was dressed discreetly. After a brief look around the lobby, she followed her assistant to meet the director.
The director of this series was quite famous and specialized in art-house films. He had produced many critically acclaimed works in recent years. This was his first time directing an idol drama, so many people were drawn to him.
As the original author of the novel, Su He didn't hold much sway within the production team. However, given that she was Mrs. Lu Yanbei, she deserved some consideration. Therefore, upon hearing she wanted to observe the actor auditions, the director made an exception and arranged a seat for her.
"Which actress do you like, Mrs. Lu?" The young director was dressed in a rather artistic style. He had long hair, wore a vintage hat, a clean white shirt, linen pants, and a full beard. He smiled kindly.
Initially, he had a chosen candidate for the male lead, but then Su Lin, who had never acted before, was unexpectedly cast. He was not pleased but, having weathered many storms in this industry, he could still smile outwardly. However, if Su He intended to interfere further, he would absolutely not allow it.
Fortunately, Su He was sensible.
She waved her hand and said, "I'm just here to join the fun. As for who to cast, that's entirely up to you, Director."
Seeing that she had no intention of pushing for more people, the director nodded with satisfaction.
Once the auditions officially began, Su He went to study the cameras. Occasionally, when she felt inspired, she would chat with the cameraman. These things were entirely new to Su He, and she found them quite novel.
At first, everyone was quite wary of her. However, upon seeing that she had no intention of interfering, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Although many actresses came to audition, not everyone had the opportunity to appear before the director. First, a batch was eliminated according to the director's strict requirement of no cosmetic surgery. Then, those with no acting experience were also removed. This reduced the pool to half. Even so, it took a full day to complete.
Su He stood, sat, and walked around intermittently, which tired her out considerably. If she was this exhausted, others were even more so, especially those running errands. Su He truly admired them.
Finally, after enduring it all, everyone gathered to finalize the cast.
"The male actors are mostly settled. There are quite a few female roles. Excluding those with poor acting skills and unsuitable appearances, we've narrowed it down to these ten." As the staff spoke, they handed out the relevant information.
Su He also received a copy.
Although she was only there to observe, the director couldn't completely ignore her.
After seeking opinions from others, the director finally turned his gaze to Su He. "Mrs. Lu, do you have any thoughts on the choice for the female lead?"
Su He blinked in surprise and said, "You've stumped me! When it comes to judging people, I'm no match for Director Zhang!"
Su He's humility seemed to please him.
He stroked his beard and said, "To be honest, I don't have a particularly strong favorite among these actresses. The female lead in this drama is a recent college graduate, lively and bright, in short, two words – young! The actresses here who are being considered are either too old or their acting is too artificial... In short, they lack the pure vivacity of a young girl!"
Su He had also watched the performances of several actresses and strongly agreed with the director's sentiment. "Your summary is very accurate."
Su He flipped through the profiles. The remaining actresses had extensive resumes and had appeared in numerous films and television series, making them familiar faces to the public. Casting them as the female lead would guarantee a certain level of viewership. However, she felt there was still a gap between them and her comic.
Su He wasn't looking for ratings; she wanted a good piece of work.
"Why not consider a newcomer?" Su He proposed a bold suggestion. She took out her phone and found a candid photo she had just taken. "I think this girl is quite good. I don't know about her acting skills, but she has a pair of clean, clear eyes."
Director Zhang leaned in to look at the phone screen, and his eyes lit up. "This is the feeling I was looking for!"
"That's not right, she wasn't among the people auditioning earlier, was she?" After his initial excitement, Director Zhang suddenly remembered.
Could it be that Su He had a pre-selected candidate?
Seeing his expression, Su He knew he had misunderstood. "Ah, I don't know her either. I just ran into her on the way to the restroom. It seems she was eliminated without even passing the preliminary round!"
Director Zhang immediately beckoned to his assistant. "Go find out this girl's information."
The assistant nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Not long after, the girl's resume was brought to Director Zhang. "This girl looks very spirited!"
"Han Yutong, a third-year student at an arts academy, majoring in dance." Director Zhang murmured after reading her personal details. "No wonder she was eliminated in the first round; she has absolutely no experience!"
The others in the room exchanged glances before one of them spoke up.
"Director Zhang, it's questionable whether this young lady can act..."
"Yes, what if she's just a pretty face and the drama is ruined because of her? I think we still need to cast professional actors!"
"Without acting skills, the audience won't buy it!"
Director Zhang, however, was unusually stubborn. "I understand your concerns. But don't forget, I've helped many newcomers become famous. If it's a piece of raw jade, I know how to make it shine."
Upon hearing his words, the others dared not object further.
Indeed, Director Zhang's judgment of talent had always been accurate. None of the actors who starred in his films were subpar, and many went on to become internationally renowned superstars.
Thus, the female lead was decided.
As for the other roles, Su He didn't interfere further. Unsurprisingly, on the day of the commencement of filming, Su He unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure among the extras.