Actresses

Chapter 48 Taking a Walk

Although He Yuran had never been treated like this before, she was flexible and adaptable. She first suppressed her anger, then adjusted her hat brim, bowed slightly, said sorry, and stepped aside.

If it were her usual temper, she probably would have already stood with her hands on her hips, pointing fingers and flying into a rage. But today, she had to hold back, because it wasn't for her own sake; she had to consider the occasion. She was accompanying Jiang Fan to the audition, and if she affected Jiang Fan, she didn't know how she would apologize.

Jiang Fan moved his lips, but seeing that He Yuran didn't react, he didn't say anything more.

The assistant director next to me said, "Let's begin."

The character is a single mother, which is practically a natural fit for Jiang Fan. These scenes all involve this single mother breaking down in front of others, confiding in different people. In the first scene, the person listening is a stranger she met while shopping, and a young man walks in next to her as her co-star.

The two nodded to each other as a greeting.

This wasn't a smooth transition either; it still faltered, but it barely connected with the emotions that followed. Jiang Fan appeared respectable on the outside, but her inner pride was even stronger, and this kind of basic mistake was extremely damaging to her. But it had already happened, and facts are facts; no matter how embarrassed she was, there was no way to change it. She could only apologize repeatedly.

The director, sitting in the middle, looked very troubled. He waved his hand and said, "Sigh, Mr. Jiang Fan, there are actually quite a few people competing for this role, but your performance today is really disappointing. We can only say that it's been a lot of trouble for you to come all this way. Actually, we originally called you here because we saw your story with your ex-husband online a while ago, and you seemed the most suitable for the role. But we didn't expect you to have so much trouble getting into character, and I'm quite disappointed."

Jiang Fan probably felt guilty and didn't defend himself, but said, "Director, I'm sorry, could you give me one last chance to try again?"

"I think we should forget about it. You can leave now." The director stretched and said to the person next to him, "Take a break, then call the next one."

Jiang Fan was still unwilling to give up: "Then see, are there any other conditions... that I can meet... I really want to be in your play! I..."

The director then turned around. "Let me think about it. I'll let you know later, okay? We still have people to meet, so let's not waste any more time."

"Okay, okay. I'll go back and wait for your contact."

Jiang Fan looked visibly embarrassed, his eyes were a little red, and he picked up his bag, lowered his head, and walked out.

He Yuran stood at the back and watched helplessly as his best classmate was treated so casually and disrespectfully by a young director who seemed to have come from nowhere.

She desperately wanted to take off her mask, reveal her identity, and hurl a few insults at the other person, but what would be the point? Would it make her seem famous and assertive? The tables have turned; now the other person is sitting across from her, holding the role. They have a company behind them; who knows, the next role might be someone begging for someone else's attention.

In the past two years, it has become increasingly difficult to get roles, and the number of available characters has dwindled. Casting is basically controlled by a few large casting companies in the industry. The owners behind these companies all have their own backgrounds and connections. In addition to being deeply tied to the platforms, they often collaborate with large agencies that have priority in casting. In other words, they are part of a powerful and unknown system. As for you, He Yuran, no matter how famous you are, you are just a large individual in the industry.

He Yuran sighed, suppressing her anger, and followed Jiang Fan out of the room.

She felt like she couldn't breathe if she stayed there for even a second longer.

Having to read other people's faces is really unpleasant.

Jiang Fan and He Yuran entered the elevator one after the other, neither of them speaking until they exited the building.

"Should we find somewhere to stay for a while?" Jiang Fan said in a low voice, glancing at the coffee shop across the street.

He Yuran was clearly still upset. She gritted her teeth and said, "These people haven't been working for many years, have they? How can they be so rude to you, so sarcastic? And what do you mean by 'you're a perfect fit for the character'? What, do actors have to play roles that are exactly like themselves in real life? With your abilities, what kind of role can't you play?"

"Ranran, we're all in a difficult situation. Let's not talk about these things." Jiang Fan didn't say anything more.

Both of them knew they had no chance of getting the role.

"Give me a break." He Yuran swung his arms, panting as he walked to the curb. He stood with his hands on his hips, his chest heaving.

Jiang Fan seemed to have recovered from her earlier slump. After all, she must have seen similar scenes many times over the years. She smiled and pointed to the blue sky.

"Let's take a walk. Look, the weather's pretty nice today."

He Yuran glanced around Jiuxianqiao Street. It was hard to say how much had changed; it seemed to have remained the same for many years. The commercial area wasn't particularly bustling, but there was always a steady flow of people on the streets.

He Yuran thought for a moment, "How about we go for a stroll around Lido, which is nearby?"

Jiang Fan laughed, "Sure, then I'll take advantage of you and come into the city with you."

He Yuran frowned and clicked her tongue. "Don't imitate those people upstairs, talking in such a sarcastic way."

Then, He Yuran called Xiao Zhao to bring the car over, and the two of them drove straight to Lido. As they drove past the former location of Lido New Elements, they couldn't help but sigh together.

"It's been so many years since it went bankrupt? I wonder how many shops it's changed hands over time," He Yuran said. "Back then, paparazzi patrolled this area every day, trying to ambush people."

"Indeed, we used to meet here often to discuss things. Back then, the film and television industry was still very glamorous," Jiang Fan said with a sigh.

He Yuran felt that many things had changed, yet nothing had truly changed. Although it was afternoon, there were still quite a few joggers on Lido Street. Judging from their physiques, these people were well-maintained and lived comfortable lives. However, when passing by Lido Plaza, perhaps due to renovations, it not only lacked its former vitality but also appeared unusually dilapidated. Both of them fell silent.

"I can't recognize it at all," He Yuran said. "The shops I remember seem to be all closed down."

"Let's not dwell on the past. Let's look forward. Hey, how about we go for a walk in the park?" Jiang Fan said.

"Okay!" He Yuran immediately told Xiao Zhao, "Ben Si De Park."

Xiao Zhao readily agreed.

When He Yuran looked up again, she was already at the entrance of Si De Park. Xiao Zhao went to find a parking space and rest, while He Yuran and Jiang Fan got out of the car and entered the park.

Sida Park is a popular spot for exercise enthusiasts, and celebrities often come here to jog; bumping into stars is commonplace. The park isn't very large, but the trails are smooth and wide, and the lawns are meticulously manicured. A rich variety of greenery intertwines here, creating a vibrant atmosphere. In a place like Jiangtai Road, it's a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.

With his hands in his pockets, He Yuran walked along the roadside, saying, "If I run into a fellow actor here today, I'll drag him along to join our show."

Jiang Fan laughed, "Ranran, if you're not afraid to say something that might offend you, most of the celebrities you meet here probably don't have time to wait for our film."

He Yuran became even more frustrated. "Hey, say something nicer!"

"Fine, fine. You're the one who doesn't consider them. So, how's the progress?"

"Sigh, it's quite difficult to do something concrete." He Yuran dodged the question, avoiding a direct answer.

Jiang Fan nodded. "Alright, you focus on your work during this time, and I'll visit a few more teams."

The anger He Yuran had accumulated at the audition and the resentment she felt as a bystander all dissipated without her realizing it in this park.

She couldn't remember the last time she had been outdoors like this—in a place like a park. It felt like being in a vast, natural energy field, where her own human emotions seemed insignificant.

Watching the geese leisurely gliding on the lake, and the parents strolling with their children, the more vibrant the everyday scene, the more surreal it feels.

He Yuran said with emotion, "Maybe... the industry has changed too much in recent years, and I'm not used to it yet."

"Yeah. And it's changing faster and faster." Jiang Fan said, "I feel like I haven't just been away for a few years, but for more than ten or twenty years. I've never felt like this before, that everything has changed so much."

"I was really angry just now, they treated you like that..." He Yuran sighed.

"Actually, it's already pretty good to have an audition opportunity. I had some issues with my own performance, so I can't blame anyone else. But I'll try to find someone to help me out. By the way, why did you ask me about the play that our homeroom teacher's son, Yueming, is in today? I actually contacted him a few days ago."

"Oh, how so?"

"Because I saw Yueming's name on that casting call, I asked the old stuntman to inquire about it. I know that Yueming has gotten to know many actors over the years because of his father's connections. They drink and socialize together every day, and he has a lot of friends. Moreover, some actors and investors have teamed up with him for this production, so he directly became the executive producer. After adding Yueming on WeChat, I asked him if he could spare some time for me recently. He said it would probably be next month. Because they have been out of town recently, they are in talks for two important roles."

"What about the female lead?" He Yuran knew that there was a female character in the play, although not the most central character, but she had a significant role in about two-thirds of the story. This was the role Zhuang Pan wanted to play.

"It's hard to find someone." Jiang Fan shook his head. "The pay for this role is extremely low. Yue Ming was still willing to talk to me because I could accept working for free. As for the female lead, I heard she'll be on set almost the entire time, for at least six months. I don't know her pay, but it's definitely far below what most actors would normally expect."

"That's not surprising. Aren't actor salaries going down these days? You might only get a few hundred thousand for a role in a TV series."

"We can't get there."

"It can't be fifty, right? It's half a year."

"I heard it's the 25th. And during the broadcast period, I have to cooperate with the promotion throughout, and I also have to do my own makeup and hair during the promotion period."

"They don't even reimburse makeup and hair?" He Yuran's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are they out of their mind?"

"Ranran!" Jiang Fan frowned upon hearing the swear words and looked around.

He Yuran had calmed down by now, but then she started getting worked up again. "Even if I'm cursing, I didn't cheat anyone. What I'm angry about is why Yueming is pretending to be stupid? She's supposed to be the female lead in such a big-budget drama. Can't she even squeeze out this much budget? If you calculate it like this, going to act in it is practically like she's losing money. I've never heard of having to do your own makeup and hair during the promotional period."

"Well, you can't say that. These days, it's already a good opportunity to get on a show like this. That's why Yueming and the others aren't in a hurry to cast the female lead, because there are quite a few actresses they're in talks with."

"Am I crazy, or is this industry crazy?"

"Maybe we were living too well before. Now everyone feels a sense of crisis."

"Wait a minute. What about the male lead? There are several male leads in this show."

"I don't know about that. Yueming didn't say, and it's not my place to ask anyway."

Jiang Fan was too rule-abiding, which now seems like a flaw, but He Yuran didn't dare to ask any more questions.

He Yuran recalled what Shi Jiahe had told her and became even more certain that her guess was true. Zhuang Pan was definitely not hesitating at home about which drama to choose, but rather the conditions of this serious drama were simply too harsh, causing her great inner conflict, which was why she couldn't make a choice.

This isn't even a matter of acting skills. Because even the most basic salary has such a serious discrepancy between expectations and reality.

He Yuran is the boss and is aware of the studio's monthly staff expenses.

For a talent agency like Zhuang Pan's, just maintaining basic operating expenses is a significant monthly cost. If, assuming an artist's income (including tax) is 25 yuan, and they're on set for more than six months, even with commercial revenue, it won't cover the studio's costs. With the remaining six months, they can only take on one more project at most. If unforeseen circumstances arise with that project, delaying their start date or causing payment delays, the artist's studio might not even turn a profit for the entire year. But no one would believe this. Given Zhuang Pan's fame, it's hard to imagine her team not making money for a year.

He Yuran shook her head. "I'm afraid things might get complicated if we delay. Why don't you call Yueming and set a time for next week?"

Jiang Fan hesitated for a moment. "Alright! Actually, if you hadn't told me, I would have been avoiding this matter."

"Oh! Don't be so shy. It's always the bold who get rich, and the timid who starve. There's no time like the present, let's do it now!"

The two walked to a bench and sat down.

He Yuran nodded, and Jiang Fan took out his phone. After mentally preparing himself for a while, he opened Yueming's screen and prepared to make a call.