Chapter 00106: The Emperor's Appreciation for Talent
# The Emperor's Appreciation for Talent
Chapter 106
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 106: The Emperor's Appreciation for Talent
More than twenty people from the Beijing Film Academy arrived, all young students from the 78th class of the acting department.
Zhang Tielin, Zhang Fengyi, Xie Yuan, and others were there, but Zhou Lijing and Fang Shu were absent—they were off filming.
Those two were the stars of the class, already ahead of the pack.
"Wow, the Beijing Film Studio has built an entire street! How extravagant!" Zhang Tielin exclaimed.
"What kind of big production is this for?"
"I heard it's for Rickshaw Boy. They're casting actors right now. Hey, Old Zhang, I think you'd make a great Xiangzi," Xie Yuan joked.
"Me? No way! I couldn't play Xiangzi," Zhang Tielin replied, though deep down, he was intrigued.
Zhang Fengyi, swaying his head, was also interested.
"The Beijing Film Studio is really going all out for this martial arts film. Look at all those costumes and props. I wonder what roles we'll get?"
"Doesn't matter. It's just side work. A dollar a day is still money," Xie Yuan said, struggling to tuck his hands into the tight cuffs of his long-sleeved shirt.
Suddenly, he whispered, "Hey, here they come! Be sharp, everyone. Let's try to land good roles."
Chen Qi, holding a megaphone, approached and called out, "Students from the Beijing Film Academy, gather around! Let's talk about the scene!"
"Today, we're filming the male lead's first arrival in the capital. He encounters the villain's henchmen harassing a woman, steps in to teach them a lesson, and that's it. Simple. Let's try to finish it in one day."
"Those of you in the back, go get your makeup done first."
"There are also a few minor roles with lines. I'll assign them now. Xie Yuan!"
"Here!" Xie Yuan stood at attention.
"You'll play a tea drinker by the roadside. You have one line. Memorize it and practice. You're all professional students, so don't embarrass yourselves."
"Got it!"
Xie Yuan took the slip of paper with his line: "The Prince's hounds are causing trouble again!" He nodded, clutching it like a treasure, and went off to practice.
Many of his classmates already had acting experience, but this was his first real opportunity.
"Wang Yue (the first Tang Sanzang)!"
"Here!"
"You'll play a tea seller. The male lead will ask you for directions. You have two lines."
"Understood!"
"Zhang Fengyi!"
"Here!"
"You'll play one of the Prince's henchmen. You have three lines. You whip the male lead, then get knocked down."
"Don't worry, I'll do my best!"
Zhang Fengyi had been cast in Rickshaw Boy earlier that year, which had made him famous.
He had married a woman obsessed with religion and magic, but they later divorced and never spoke again.
Rumor had it that Zhang Fengyi was gay.
"Shen Danping!"
"Here!"
"You'll play the woman being harassed. You'll cry and shout, 'Let me go! Let me go!' Got it?"
"I understand!"
Chen Qi had a bit of a collecting habit.
Thirty years later, when audiences watched The Tai Chi Master, they'd recognize even the smallest roles as familiar faces, and Chen Qi would bask in the satisfaction.
As the assignments continued, Zhang Tielin grew anxious.
He had acted in a single-episode drama for CCTV the previous year, so he had some experience.
Why hadn't he been called yet? Just then, Chen Qi called his name.
"Zhang Tielin!"
"Here!" He perked up, his eyes shining.
"You have a good look, very handsome. I have an eye for talent, so I'm giving you the most substantial role in this scene. You'll play the Jade-Faced Second Son, the Flower Butterfly, a trusted subordinate of the Prince. He's a womanizer, handsome, and dashing..."
Chen Qi smiled kindly at the future Emperor and said, "You'll play a lecherous scoundrel."
"Ha ha ha!"
"Jade-Faced Second Son!"
"Flower Butterfly!"
A while later, Xie Yuan and Zhang Fengyi, already in costume, burst out laughing at the sight of Zhang Tielin.
Zhang Tielin was dressed in a garish robe, with a flashy purple belt adorned with a thumb-sized emerald.
He wore a hat with a red flower stuck in it.
His face was caked with white powder, making him look like a plastered wall.
"I think that guy has it out for me. Why am I playing a lecherous scoundrel?"
"Being a scoundrel is great! You have several lines. I only have three," Zhang Fengyi said.
"I only have one!" Xie Yuan added.
"Are we done here?"
Chen Qi walked over, inspected Zhang Tielin, and praised, "Excellent! Zhang Tielin, you really look the part. I'll definitely call you for similar roles in the future."
"Thank you for your confidence in me!"
Zhang Tielin's mouth twitched.
Why me? You're the scoundrel, your whole family are scoundrels! The kind who sticks their tongue out during kissing scenes!
"By the way, Zhang Fengyi," Chen Qi turned to him, "Director Ling Zifeng is preparing to film Rickshaw Boy. They haven't settled on an actor for Xiangzi yet. I think you'd be perfect. I'll recommend you to the director."
"Really? Oh, thank you so much!"
Zhang Fengyi was overjoyed.
Though four years older than Chen Qi, he kept bowing.
"You're my benefactor. I'll never forget this."
"Alright, alright. It's nothing. Get ready, and do your best later."
The three of them watched Chen Qi's retreating figure with admiration.
He was only twenty, yet he was already giving orders on such a big set.
The way he handled the extras was smooth and meticulous.
He was truly talented.
Meanwhile, Li Lianjie, Gong Xue, and Wang Qun sat at a tea stall, drinking tea and asking for directions.
Gong Xue's makeup and costume followed Chen Qi's instructions.
She wore a white blouse with a light blue skirt, a small pouch of stones hanging at her waist, and two braids with bangs.
Her fair, delicate skin made her look younger than Li Lianjie.
"Excuse me, how do I get to Prince Rong's mansion?" she asked in a clear voice.
Wang Yue, playing the tea seller, replied, "Go down this street to the archway, then turn west. You'll see a large estate—that's Prince Rong's mansion."
"Thanks!"
Wang Qun tossed a few copper coins on the table.
Just as they were about to leave, they heard a commotion.
Xie Yuan, as the tea drinker, delivered his line: "Ah, the Prince's hounds are causing trouble again!"
Zhang Fengyi, wearing an eyepatch, was whipping someone with a whip.
Zhang Tielin, in his role as the lecherous scoundrel, grinned lewdly and lunged at Shen Danping, who screamed, "Please, let me go! Let me go!"
"Cut! Great job!" Li Wenhua, the director, shouted.
The professionally trained actors really stood out.
Next, Yuen Woo-ping stepped in to choreograph the fight scene.
Zhang Fengyi was fine, but Zhang Tielin's face turned pale as he listened to the instructions.
"You do this, then fall like this."
"Your hat gets knocked off, rolls on the ground, and ends up behind a horse. The horse defecates on it, kicks it, and it hits a table... It's a mess. The only thing left intact is the flower on your head."
"You're the scoundrel, so Wang Qun's character deals a brutal final blow, crushing your... you know, ending it."
Zhang Tielin winced.
Did it have to be so harsh?
He regretted coming, but he couldn't refuse.
In those days, sacrificing for art was expected.
If you complained about the scene being too hard or the ground being too dirty, you'd be kicked out and shunned by the entire industry.
"Any questions?" Yuen Woo-ping asked.
"N-no!"
"Then let's begin!"
Li Lianjie and Wang Qun quickly took down the henchmen.
Zhang Tielin's scene was a disaster.
His colorful robe was covered in filth, a prop horse dung smeared on his face, his features contorted in agony.
Yet, the flower on his head remained pristine, making the whole thing even more ridiculous.
"Ouch!"
Xie Yuan couldn't bear to watch.
"This dollar isn't worth it. It's undignified, utterly undignified."
"Ha!"
Chen Qi was thoroughly enjoying himself.
He had strong likes and dislikes, especially when it came to certain directors, the Emperor, and Xu Cairen.
Unfortunately, Xu Cairen was only six, and Zhao was four—too young to bully.
He hadn't found a chance to mess with the director yet, but the Emperor was getting his due.
From now on, whenever there was a lecherous scoundrel role, Zhang Tielin would be the go-to guy.
He'd become the 80s version of Hou, a face everyone recognized, even if they didn't know his name.
His typecasting would be the envy of many.
(End of Chapter)