A few minutes later, the lead actors and screenwriters also arrived one after another.
Chen Tianming then walked in with Fang Yanhuan and Fei Qingqing.
"Alright, today is a script reading session. Let's all introduce ourselves. I am Chen Tianming, the director."
"Yang Huanyang, assistant director."
"Screenwriter Guo Yuan."
"Producer Lin Yi."
"Hello everyone, I am the actor playing the female lead, Ruo Lan," Fang Yanhuan stood up, offering a polite smile. "Fang Yanhuan. If you don't mind, you can call me Yanhuan. I hope we can cooperate happily and please give me your guidance."
"I am the actor playing Chen Yao, Fang Miaomiao."
"Wen Wenlan," Wen Wenlan stood up, his tone calm. "The actor playing Shi Lian."
In about ten minutes, the main personnel had introduced themselves.
"Very good. Now, let's discuss your understanding of your characters. As for the costume photos, due to time constraints, we'll have to shoot them in a few days."
"I'm fine with that."
"We have no issues."
Chen Tianming nodded with satisfaction. "Then, Wenlan, could you share your understanding of the character Shi Lian?"
Wen Wenlan frowned. Although he didn't understand why he was the first, he simply stated his understanding: "Shi Lian is a very complex person. He is a genius and a leader of the base, which contributes to his arrogance and his sense of responsibility towards the base's people. However, he also has a dark side. He doesn't want others to surpass him because, to a certain extent, he is also insecure."
The character Shi Lian was a highly challenging role. If not played carefully, he could easily come across as greedy and envious of others' success. This was why Wen Wenlan was willing to take on the role.
He wanted to challenge himself. He could vaguely feel that his acting had reached a bottleneck, and if he could portray this character well, he was sure to break through that plateau.
Chen Tianming frowned, neither praising nor criticizing. "Next, Fang Yanhuan."
"Ruo Lan is a strong and very compassionate person."
After Fang Yanhuan finished speaking, she blinked in confusion as everyone's gaze fell on her. "Director, did I say something wrong?"
"It's fine. Anything else?"
Fang Yanhuan thought for a moment and continued, "She is the guardian deity of the base, and she takes protecting the base as her mission. This is also something I deeply admire about her. I hope that in the future, I can become a person like her, strong enough to protect my family."
Chen Tianming's expression was complex. Finally, he turned his gaze to Fang Miaomiao. "Your turn."
Uh, Fang Miaomiao somehow felt that Chen Tianming's eyes seemed to be saying that if she didn't understand the character Chen Yao well, she would surely face consequences.
Thinking of this, Fang Miaomiao obediently shared her understanding.
After she finished, there was silence in the room.
"Did I... say something wrong?" Fang Miaomiao asked in confusion.
It shouldn't be. It wasn't her boasting, but she felt her understanding of Chen Yao was quite good. Chen Yao, seemingly ruthless, was actually deeply emotional. She was also a lunatic, a pervert, otherwise the female lead wouldn't have wanted to completely get rid of Chen Yao later.
However, she didn't expect that not only did the female lead not kill Chen Yao completely, but instead, she provoked Chen Yao's rebellious spirit and anti-social personality, turning her into a villain who would kill anyone who stood in her way.
"Not bad," Chen Tianming nodded, a rare smile appearing on his face since the start of the script reading. "Fang Miaomiao, you've studied well. I hope you will diligently hone your acting skills later. Don't just lounge around in your trailer and hotel rooms; come and watch others act when you have time."
As he spoke, not only Fang Yanhuan but even Wen Wenlan glanced at Fang Miaomiao a few more times. When he had seen Fang Miaomiao's audition video earlier, he had only thought that Fang Miaomiao had just happened to act a segment well by chance.
However, after hearing Fang Miaomiao's understanding of the character, he felt that perhaps it wasn't just a fluke.
This Fang Miaomiao had truly put effort into understanding the character.
Not bad.
Thinking this, Wen Wenlan's gaze softened slightly. It seemed he could no longer view Fang Miaomiao with his old perspective.
Later, Chen Tianming guided the lead actors through the dialogue.
Any observant staff member could see the stark difference in Chen Tianming's attitude towards Fang Yanhuan and Fang Miaomiao.
"Fang Yanhuan, your lines are not like this."
"Did you not read the script carefully earlier?"
Fang Yanhuan's eyes turned red, yet no one stepped forward to comfort her.
In fact, whispers could be heard from behind her.
"Didn't the internet say Fang Yanhuan was very dedicated? How come the emotion in her lines is so lacking? It's like a primary school student reading a textbook, truly awkward."
"I'm also impressed. Just for one script reading, how much time has she wasted? I think she's not as good as Fang Miaomiao."
"Alright, alright, say a few less words."
Fang Yanhuan gritted her teeth and lowered her head.
Chen Tianming shook his head helplessly. What was all this about.
"Okay, that's all for today's script reading. Yanhuan, you should practice your lines well. We're going to Hengdian tomorrow."
"Yes, Director."
"Meeting adjourned," Chen Tianming said, raising his hand.
Back at the hotel.
Cui Mantong could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter. "Miaomiao, did you see Fang Yanhuan's face? It was like a kaleidoscope, it was hilarious!"
"Ahem, we're not in our room yet. Keep it down, what if someone overhears?"
Cui Mantong pouted, her words filled with disdain. "She reads so poorly, yet she's afraid of being talked about? I don't know how thick-skinned she is to take on the role of Ruo Lan so shamelessly. Tsk tsk tsk, if Director Chen doesn't teach her how to act properly later, the role will definitely be ruined by Fang Yanhuan."
Fang Miaomiao shook her head.
"What is wrong with you? Besides shaking your head, what else do you do?"
"Because I don't know. I'm not involved."
"But, speaking of which, you and Fei Qingqing?"
"I was young and foolish back then," Fang Miaomiao shrugged. "I had a fight with Fei Qingqing on set, and then Fei Qingqing was kicked out of the crew."
Hearing this, Cui Mantong was stunned. "When you entered the entertainment industry, weren't you... ahem, with your family?"
"I'm fine, you continue."
"Didn't you break ties with your family when you entered the entertainment industry? I remember that incident caused quite a stir at the time."
The entertainment industry has always been a place where connections and backing matter. How could an adopted daughter who had severed ties with her family cause the crew to go to such lengths to expel an actress with good acting skills?
It didn't make sense.