Chapter 1833: Veto

In Zhao Fusheng's view, the rivalry between the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama was really pointless.

These two schools, just from their names, were actually completely different.

Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama—one studies film, the other drama; they are inherently different.

Of course, the Central Academy of Drama also has a film and television department and offers some exposure to film and television knowledge. The educational direction: BFA aims to cultivate a new generation of outstanding filmmakers; CAD aims to cultivate a new generation of outstanding dramatists!

But that's nonsense. As for what they actually teach, both schools can be summed up by one principle.

If you're making a film today, the Beijing Film Academy has majors in directing, acting, cinematography, recording, and art—everything a film crew needs. Every aspect has a dedicated major for study, and even film theory is studied in the Film Studies Department, so BFA also has an academic atmosphere.

Similarly, if you're staging a play today, the Central Academy of Drama also has specific majors for every aspect.

In terms of style, many people think that CAD students are low-key, cultured, and have class, while BFA students are more like a bunch of lunatics.

Zhao Fusheng felt that this didn't really matter. A school has so many people that you can't sum up everyone's personality in one sentence.

Maybe it's because CAD has stricter management, giving the outside world a more reserved and low-key impression. Besides, drama is considered the grandfather of film, so the historical沉淀 is clearly distinguishable at a glance.

Moreover, in its early years, CAD even prohibited students from taking acting jobs outside before their senior year—something BFA could never match.

Some say CAD produces actors, while BFA produces stars, probably for this reason.

But in reality, with the arrival of the new millennium, this rule gradually disappeared from CAD. In Zhao Fusheng's memory, many later criticized traffic stars also included CAD graduates.

So, in Zhao Fusheng's view, this difference was no longer significant.

Given that, the casting for "The Legend of the Wulin" didn't really matter who was chosen.

As long as they were newcomers.

"Alright, I'll pass the word along."

Jiang Wen didn't say anything more after hearing Zhao Fusheng's words.

He knew very well that Zhao Fusheng's statement was less for the outside world and more to tell him and Ye Jing that he was their most loyal supporter.

As the boss, this was the only thing Zhao Fusheng could do for them—bear all the pressure.

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "That's it. If anyone wants to recommend their own people, tell them to come to me."

He didn't believe that, when he only wanted newcomers, they would dare to recommend any miraculous candidates.

If they were really that unreliable, Zhao Fusheng would actually dare to spit in their faces.

…

…

Three days later, in the Future Films conference room.

Looking at the pile of photos in front of him, Zhao Fusheng wore a helpless expression.

"What's wrong? Look at your face."

Jiang Wen said to Zhao Fusheng with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng glared at him and snorted: "Do you think I should praise you?"

"Praise isn't necessary. What do you think of these actors?"

Jiang Wen looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment, pointed to the pile of photos in front of him: "Is this all?"

"Of course."

Jiang Wen nodded: "After our initial selection and final consideration, these are the final candidates. Each role has two choices. You decide."

"Me?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, looking at Jiang Wen in surprise: "This is clearly your job, isn't it?"

"I selected these people, but you have to decide on the main roles."

Jiang Wen smiled and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, sighed helplessly, picked up a photo at random, glanced at it, and frowned.

Chen Yao, a young actress who graduated from BFA in 2003. Her appearance was not outstanding in the entertainment industry full of beauties. Although she had played many roles during school, most were minor. She had previously worked with Ning Wanchen.

This time, standing out among many competitors was also a bit of luck for her.

In fact, Zhao Fusheng had no liking for this so-called Weibo Queen and public intellectual.

She was a pure example of someone who acts like a bitch and still wants a reputation. Calling her a white lotus was not an exaggeration.

You know, in the entire entertainment industry, the only ones comparable to her were probably Dong·White Lotus·Jie and He·I Didn't Cheat·I Just Like Having Kids·Jie.

These were all formidable characters who, after divorce, threw dirty water on their ex-husbands, turning them into universally reviled scumbags while they themselves whitewashed their images.

When times changed and the truth was exposed, they remained unscathed.

It must be said, just based on that, one had to admit they were truly ruthless!

"What, do you know her?"

Jiang Wen asked curiously, seeing Zhao Fusheng pick up Chen Yao's photo.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "Don't talk nonsense. How could I possibly know her."

"Then what do you mean?" Jiang Wen asked, puzzled.

Then he said to Zhao Fusheng: "This person was recommended to Feihong by an acquaintance from BFA. I checked her out; her acting is passable, and she's willing to sign with our company."

"Better forget it."

Zhao Fusheng's lips curled into a cold smile. He shook his head and slowly said to Jiang Wen: "I think we'd better not sign this person."

"Huh?"

Jiang Wen was stunned, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. It was rare to see Zhao Fusheng so clearly express dislike for someone.

Generally, even if Zhao Fusheng really disliked someone, he rarely showed it so explicitly, unless it was someone like Ning Wanchen. But this Chen Yao seemed to have no connection with him—how had she offended Zhao Fusheng?

And judging by Zhao Fusheng's expression, he really wasn't interested in this person. It was a rare display of aversion from him.

"Pick the other one."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and didn't explain to Jiang Wen. He couldn't exactly tell Jiang Wen that this was someone who became a completely different person after gaining fame.

Simply put, in Zhao Fusheng's view, Chen Yao was like an ungrateful wolf. Although her ex-husband wasn't great either—not as good as Pan Yue'an—at least, in comparison, Chen Yao was worse.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't completely blacklist her just because of what she did in her past life. He just wouldn't give her the opportunity.

This was a bit of his own selfishness, and Zhao Fusheng felt that now he had the right to do such a thing.

"Alright."

Jiang Wen nodded. He didn't mind; the person wasn't recommended through his connections. Moreover, even if it was Yu Feihong, given her nature, she would only have included the girl in the candidate pool.

To pass, Zhao Fusheng's approval was still needed.

Besides, for Yu Feihong, Zhao Fusheng's opinion was far more important than others'.

In other words, friendship also depends on the person.

"For the rest of the cast, you choose. I won't interfere."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and said to Jiang Wen with a smile: "But let me say this first—you'll have to make a cameo later."

"Me?"

Jiang Wen was taken aback, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Not just you, Old Ye too. Everyone in the company under contract, including Xu Shanzheng, Ning Hao, and the others—every single one of them has to show up and make an appearance, understand?"

"Alright…"

Jiang Wen didn't think much of it; he just thought Zhao Fusheng intended to make this sitcom an all-star cast.

But in fact, he didn't know that Zhao Fusheng had his reasons for doing this.

A sitcom, especially one produced by the company, can't just be one season. Like the legendary "iPartment," after gaining market recognition, it quickly started filming subsequent seasons.

In short, it's because it can make money.

But the problem was that Future Films' sitcom couldn't copy all the gags from American and Korean dramas like "iPartment" did.

Thus, Zhao Fusheng had to find another way to solve this problem.

And his solution was naturally an all-star cast.

In a sense, Zhao Fusheng thought his all-star sitcom was actually a good approach. At the very least, as long as he wanted, this show could produce various spin-offs.

The key to success lay in the director's control ability.

Why, whether for films or TV series, even under a producer system, one must find a good director? If the director's skill is insufficient, even the best script can be ruined.

Ultimately, it's because the director is like an engineer for a production.

There was a foreign joke about a factory machine breaking down. Everyone was puzzled and didn't know what to do. They hired an engineer who listened for a while, drew a line on a certain pipe, tapped it, and fixed the machine.

This repair cost ten thousand dollars.

The workers were envious, thinking they could have done it themselves if given time.

But the boss said that the engineer's ability to listen and draw that line alone was worth ten thousand dollars.

For a film or TV series, the director is like that engineer.

Even with the same subject matter, a good director and a bad director can produce completely different results.

The most obvious examples are "Lobster Cop" and "Big Brother." The former was remade by Koreans, the latter was a remake of a Korean work.

But in reality, the results spoke for themselves.

This was not only due to differences in national conditions but, more importantly, differences in the director's skill.

And fortunately, this time the director Zhao Fusheng chose was Jiang Wen.