Chapter 48: Director's Space

Chapter 48: Director's Space

"Why did you choose I Am Somebody as our piece?"

"I should be asking you that. I picked it first, so why did you pick it too? Were you trying to act alongside me from the start?"

"..."

Looking at Yuan Bingyan's feigned look of innocence, Chen Ping decided not to dwell on the question.

Since all forty actors had now chosen their respective scripts, the time had come for rehearsals.

At that moment, the assistant director walked over and said, "The two of you should discuss how you want to perform this scene."

The assistant director, as the title suggested, was an assistant to the main director.

Although the show's format utilized the continuous-shot style of stage plays, a director was still fundamentally necessary.

"Chen Ping, you tell me. How should we perform this piece?"

"You haven't figured it out yet?"

"Nope."

"Then why did you pick this piece?"

"Weren't you going to figure it out?"

"Alright..."

Chen Ping chose not to dwell on that issue either.

He looked at Yuan Bingyan and spoke honestly, "To be honest, this script is difficult to perform. Even if we act well, it might not necessarily stand out."

"Why?"

"Think about it. What was the box office for I Am Somebody, which was personally directed by Director Er? If we re-interpret it now, can we possibly surpass the original version?"

"I wouldn't have thought of that if you hadn't mentioned it."

This was indeed a serious problem.

While I Am Somebody was well-known, to be completely frank, it was hardly a hit.

The reason it was famous was simply because it was a very unusual film.

It portrayed the stories of a group of background extras.

Moreover, it was a work by the renowned director Er Dongsheng.

Yet, as sentimental as it sounded, reality taught Director Er a harsh lesson: the film was a massive box office failure.

"Earlier, I was just thinking that since I used to work as an extra for a period of time, and you did too, I chose this piece," Yuan Bingyan said.

Of course, she had also believed that once she picked this script, Chen Ping would follow suit.

Even if someone else had already selected this piece, Chen Ping would undoubtedly have used his S-tier authority to snatch it back.

However, hearing Chen Ping's assessment, Yuan Bingyan couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Compared to some of the other trending scripts, this piece was genuinely obscure and lacked box office appeal.

A low box office performance proved that audiences simply didn't care for it.

"Assistant Director, what do you think?"

Yuan Bingyan turned to the assistant director for guidance.

After a moment of thought, the assistant director gave a realistic assessment: "The film I Am Somebody employs a rather realistic technique, almost like watching a documentary. Because of this, the entire plot is exceptionally true to life, but realism doesn't always appeal to mainstream audiences. Many extras never really make it big; no matter how long they persevere, they remain mere extras in the end. Furthermore, there are quite a few tragic stories woven into it, which tends to dampen the audience's affection for the show."

Take, for instance, the characters Lin Chen and Wei Xing in this specific scene.

Both were minor contract-level actors. Lin Chen appeared to be doing somewhat better, but to secure a role or two, she had to smile and flatter countless people.

Wei Xing was even more frustrating. Despite being nothing more than a minor extra himself, he had grandiose ambitions while lacking practical ability, constantly dreaming of becoming a big star. Even when he went to the film set, he expected to receive the exact same treatment as established superstars. In the end, he broke up with his girlfriend and embarked on a path where no one knew where he would end up.

Even worse was Shen Kai, the restaurant owner, whose mind cracked under the pressure after a conflict with his wife over obtaining a minor role.

Ultimately, it was a tragedy.

The assistant director's analysis caused Yuan Bingyan's heart to sink.

It seemed this would be even harder to perform than Three Lives Three Worlds.

However, having graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, even if I Am Somebody wasn't the ideal script, Yuan Bingyan managed to pinpoint its advantages: "Personally, I think we can still perform it well. After all, this is a film about actors. Most people present here, including the four directors, have worked as actors at some point. At the same time, they understand actors better than anyone else, especially the inner world of extras. The reason Director Er chose to make a film about extras was probably because these extras touched his heart, which is why he took it on."

"Tsk tsk, not bad at all."

Chen Ping gave Yuan Bingyan a thumbs-up. "Graduating from a professional academy really makes a difference."

"Pffft... Since that's the case, let's begin."

"Hold on."

"What is it?"

"Catching the four directors' interest is only the first step. But don't you think this piece leaves Director Er with a sense of regret?"

"With the poor box office, I suppose it does, to some extent."

"Not just the box office. In fact, I think we can modify our script. If we follow the original scene strictly, it remains a tragedy. But what if we change it into a piece filled with positive energy?"

"You mean—?"

"Come, let's break it down."

Holding the script, Chen Ping began to analyze it for Yuan Bingyan.

The original plot revolved around the extra Lin Chen pulling many strings to secure an acting opportunity for fellow extra Wei Xing, but Wei Xing refusing to take it because it was just another extra role. At the same time, Wei Xing wanted to spend 50,000 yuan on an acting training academy, leading to a fierce argument between the two. In the original version, after the quarrel, Wei Xing left Hengdian, marking the end of their relationship and ensuring they never saw each other again.

Chen Ping's idea was to keep the first half as it was, but in the second half, following their argument, Wei Xing would experience a sudden awakening. He would come to re-evaluate himself and realize that the most important thing in his life wasn't acting after all, but his girlfriend, Lin Chen. As long as Lin Chen was by his side, he would be willing to do anything...

This modification made the assistant director's eyes light up. "We can give that a try."

However, Yuan Bingyan hesitated slightly on the side: "Chen Ping, are we altering the script?"

"You could say that."

"This..."

Thinking back to how Director Chen Kaige had previously berated actors for arbitrarily changing scripts, Yuan Bingyan still felt a lingering sense of apprehension.

Chen Ping, however, wasn't bothered in the slightest. "Don't worry. This is a variety show, not a real film production. As long as the changes are well-received, the four directors won't raise any objections."

After a brief consideration, Yuan Bingyan concluded that this was indeed the safest and most viable approach. Without further hesitation, she dove into the rehearsals.

The next day, after finishing their preparations, Chen Ping—playing Wei Xing—and Yuan Bingyan—playing Lin Chen—officially took the stage.

"Director Er, what's it like? How does it feel to watch a scene you directed being performed?"

Chen Kaige, seated nearby, teased good-naturedly.

"I have no idea."

Er Dongsheng shook his head.

His emotions at that moment were deeply conflicted.

The film I Am Somebody was the project into which he had poured the most energy and placed the highest hopes.

Leading up to its production, he had traveled to Hengdian to interview over a thousand extras, accumulating more than two hundred distinct stories about them.

The raw material alone had amounted to two million words.

Ultimately, he had selected a few representative stories from those two million words and brought I Am Somebody to the screen.

To make the film happen, Er Dongsheng had even invested his own money.

Furthermore, he had persuaded dozens of stars and directors to make cameo appearances as extras in the movie.

Yet, regrettably, the project he had poured his heart into had flopped so badly it reached the ends of the earth.

Now, watching Chen Ping and Yuan Bingyan re-enact his I Am Somebody, Er Dongsheng couldn't help but recall the scenes from back when he was shooting the film.

Yet, just as Er Dongsheng expected Chen Ping to storm off during the argument with Yuan Bingyan, something unexpected happened.

To his surprise, Chen Ping suddenly experienced a moment of realization amidst the quarrel.

When he saw Chen Ping and Yuan Bingyan embrace one another, a quiet tear slipped down Er Dongsheng's cheek.

Immediately following this, the system prompt rang out in Chen Ping's mind:

[Resolved Er Dongsheng's regret. Rewarded with 1 Talent Point and a Director's Talent: Director's Space.]