Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 512 - 331: A Natural Actor

As they walked forward, Xu Qingqiu, who had been listening in on the whole conversation, seemed to sense Chu Tian’s thoughts. She gently took his hand and gave him a reassuring look.

Feeling the warmth in his palm, Chu Tian’s irritation vanished. He turned to smile at Xu Qingqiu and gave her a comforting expression in return.

The two of them didn’t say anything, but it seemed as if they understood each other perfectly.

"By the way, Uncle Wei, how did you end up choosing Xu Ruyan?"

As they walked, Chu Tian suddenly thought, Since Shen Qian dropped out, couldn’t they just choose someone else, preferably someone experienced? It’s not that Xu Ruyan was a bad actress, but she had just graduated. No matter how good her acting was, how far could she really go? She definitely couldn’t be as skilled as those seasoned actors, so how could she be the one chosen?

Speaking of this, Wei Chuan also looked reflective.

"Actually, it was quite a coincidence.

"After Shen Qian dropped out, we discussed it for a long time and felt we needed to hold auditions again. Then I heard from Liangxiao that Cao had a very spirited actress. He sent me a video and asked what I thought. Without much thought, I took a glance and realized this girl was a perfect fit for my vision of Shirley Yang.

"Initially, I didn’t take it seriously, since she was so young and I was afraid she lacked experience. I didn’t really consider using her.

"But during the auditions, I just felt that something was missing. We tried several actresses, but none fit the role—either their acting was too contrived or they lacked the right essence.

"Chu, you should understand, the role of Shirley Yang is crucial; she acts as a connecting thread and becomes a key figure later on. In terms of acting demands, they’re high, yet in a way, they’re not excessively so. This role, in my opinion, needs to evoke that ’just right’ feeling. She’s not simply eye candy, but she also doesn’t require the traits of a character with intense dramatic presence. Actresses with too much technical skill tend to over-perform, making the character feel artificial, while those with less skill can’t grasp the essence.

"Later on, I thought, why not have that girl come and try? But Cao was reluctant. He said they were at a critical point in shooting and didn’t want to release anyone. After I called to talk about it, he finally sent her over, HAHA."

The ’Cao’ he mentioned was Cao Zheng. Ever since handing iPartment over to Lin Peng, Cao Zheng had been completely immersed in producing Immortal Sword. You wouldn’t believe it, but as expected of someone who shoots period dramas, he became almost addicted to filming Immortal Sword. He threw himself into it so deeply it was as if he were possessed. At a time like that, could you really expect him to let his leading lady go? Was that even possible?

But however tough Cao Zheng might be, he was no match for Wei Chuan. To put it bluntly, even though Cao Zheng was an experienced director, he had grown up hearing the names of Wei Chuan and his contemporaries. He often regarded Wei Chuan as a mentor. If others made a request, it might be impossible, but Wei Chuan himself had spoken. What could Cao Zheng say? He could only obey.

At this thought, Chu Tian almost couldn’t help but laugh. Who would have thought that such a prominent director as Wei Chuan would still poach an actor from a junior?

"Don’t laugh. I was in a bad mood at the time, and after Cao rebuffed me, I just had to dig my heels in.

"It’s a bit embarrassing to talk about it. When I find the time, I’ll have to chat with Cao, HAHA. This old guy pulled rank to get his way for once. I wonder if Cao got angry or held a grudge, HAHAHA."

Listen to him, laughing so heartily. Is he really trying to apologize? Chu Tian thought.

"Uncle Wei, I don’t know if Director Cao is angry, but you’re surely very pleased."

"HAHA, you little rascal, you get me, HAHAHA. But let me tell you, I took a liking to that girl the moment she arrived.

"Never mind that she hasn’t even graduated yet; her acting is genuinely excellent!

"Of course, she can’t compare to those veteran actors, but do you know that sometimes a role really relies on an actor’s innate talent?

"You know what I mean? Some actors, no matter how skilled they are technically, just lack that certain something. But with others, they just need to stand there, and it’s as if the character has come alive!

"That’s precisely what happened with Xu Ruyan. She came here and just acted out a short scene, and I felt as if I were seeing Shirley Yang standing right in front of me. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was born for this role.

"The key is that this young lady is only in her early twenties. Shirley Yang, however, is meant to be more mature. She’s a returnee from studying abroad, perceptive, decisive, and efficient, yet underneath it all, she’s full of tenderness for the male lead.

"For a young person to portray such complex feelings isn’t easy! But this young lady, she managed it!

"Do you think it’s acting ability? It’s not. I asked her how she grasped the character, and she was quite honest and said she just felt that’s how it should be played. Listen to that! What do you call it? That’s talent! That’s innate flair!

"She has such an amazing flair for acting. Honestly, if you were to sign this girl to your company, her future achievements will definitely be extraordinary. I liked her so much, I decided to cast her right then and there!"

Listening to Wei Chuan rave, Chu Tian exchanged a glance with Xu Qingqiu. They both felt something was a little strange.

Was he really talking about Xu Ruyan? His own little sister? Was she truly that amazing?

"Uncle Wei, do you really think she can carry the role?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

If this were his past life, he wouldn’t be worried. In many film and TV productions back then, Shirley Yang was just a pretty face, and very few could truly bring out the character’s depth through their acting.

But this was different. Wei Chuan had put a lot of effort into it; each character was crucial, and each possessed their own unique story, personality, and charm.