Chapter 450 - Taken (II)
After the video was played, the crowd was silent.
The video quality was high and they could clearly see the expressions of the people inside. At the start was a brief voice of a director telling which scene in the script was being acted out.
The audition recording was about a scene where the 'Lone Star' went out to find the general, long after the general had told her that he would be back after the war and left.
The Lone Star, who had been waiting for many years, decided to set out and look for the general herself. She traveled far, only to find that the humorous and strong young man had already died.
Song Xuantin was kneeling dazedly on the ground. Her face was blank, yet there was a feeling of disbelief, denial, and despair around her. There was nothing in front of her, but everyone seemed to see what she was seeing—a grave.
The pale-faced woman could not accept what she was seeing.
It was not real.
Her clenched fists seemed to tremble slightly. And yet the same image stayed in front of her. Her beloved's gravestone.
He was gone. He had died.
Any semblance of light seemed to slowly seep out from her eyes, leaving only utter desolation. Her world had turned dark.
Her world had no sound, had no meaning.
The tensed fists slowly unclenched, and her body faintly slackened, as if devoid of energy. Droplets of tears uncontrollably rolled down one by one. She stayed still like a blank statue. She did not sob, nor did she make a sad or grieving expression, yet her emptiness made it feel even more heartbreaking.
Her despair seemed to reach out to the heavens.
It was a short scene, where she remained in a single position without any lines.
Song Xuantin was wearing a red dress that reached to her knees. The background was clearly a white wall of a studio and a door at the corner.
Yet the people watching seemed to see her wearing a flowing red robe, behind her was a desolate sky and barren mountains, and in front of her was a gravestone.
No one spoke even after the video had stopped playing.
On the stage, Song Xuantin looked away from the video. In her mind, she decided to bury what she had been imagining at that scene as a lifelong secret.
She would never tell anyone that in her mind, she was looking at a grave with the carved words, 'No seeing Gu Zhen until you get the role'.
Meanwhile, Xiong Zhi nodded in satisfaction.
Very good, Xiao Mei's hard work and infinite scolding made the lazy bum Song Xuantin grow into an amazing actress in just a few years.
Those tears, she bet, were actually tears of hard work and results of beating, ah.
In a way, she did not know that she was infinitely close to the truth.
The producer took this moment to promote Song Xuantin, the main female lead, again.
"As you can see, Miss Song Xuantin showed an impeccable performance. During the audition, she mesmerized us with her amazing acting skills. We all put our own opinions together, from the directors, the author, the screenwriters, and the producers... We all believe that with Miss Song Xuantin taking the role of the 'Lone Star', she will be able to give justice to every emotion and behavior that our dear author would like to portray through the role. She will make 'Lone Star' come to life. This is why we chose her."
The media, although they liked to mess around and create sensations, could not help but nod at what the producer had said. Even they, mere bystanders who did not have a deep understanding in acting as much as the professional team had, were mesmerized by Song Xuantin's short scene.
The National Goddess Song Xuantin was already doing great in the Cursed Family Series, but apparently, that was not the extent of her ability.
Anyone who watched the video could see that.
Everyone except for one.
Xiong Wuyue clenched her fists.
"I can do better. I can act better! Just because I didn't audition, you decided to exclude me from getting the role." Her voice rang out again.
Everyone shook their heads.
What kind of statement was that? Shouldn't it be a given to not choose you? You did not even audition for the role, not even entering the threshold, and you expect them to gift you the role?
Was Xiong Wuyue always like this? A mindless idiot?
The producer frowned. He could not put sense to this woman. Even the image of the mighty Xiong name could not be related to the crazed and desperate woman in front of them.
"Miss Xiong Wuyue, what else do you want us to explain? We have clearly given you a chance. It was you and your team who looked down on us and didn't even attended the audition."
"Why should I? Did see you the movies I starred in? A lot of them are box-office hits! My movies are famous, because of my acting skills!"
The crowd fell silent.
Xiong Wuyue's acting skill as an actress… was average, or just slightly above.
She was decent enough to not eat a lot of NG's, but she was not stellar either.
However, aside from her average acting, she has a pretty face, good PR team, huge fan-base, and high taste in fashion.
All this made her highly popular to the point that she became the rising candidate as Queen of Entertainment.
Everyone here worked in the entertainment industry, so they knew the movies Xiong Wuyue was talking about.
They also knew that there were many ways to make a movie famous without even depending on the cast's acting skills, such as full support of advertising and bribes on the screen directors of cinemas.
Xiong Wuyue might not have known the real reason why her movie were famous, but the directors and producers had an idea of it.
It was because of her doting father who bought months of timeframe for her movie to be played in the cinemas and ensuring that the movie premiere and box-office schedule would not collide with other more significant films.
The public would only see her movie as the cinema's choice and watch her films.
All of those support, investments, and publicity were freely given as long as they let Xiong Wuyue star as the female lead.
Xiong Wuyue's acting was at least decent, not as bad as other vase actresses, and as long as they made sure that the rest of the cast had good acting skills and the production was high quality, with Xiong De's all out support, the films would naturally shine through.
That was why there were many directors and producers who wanted her in their movies—because of the infinite support of Xiong De.
It was definitely not because of her acting skill.
Thus, after watching such a majestic display of Song Xuantin's acting, they all disagreed with Xiong Wuyue's claim that she could act better.
They sighed in unison.
In the end, they confirmed that Song Xuantin did not get the role because of hidden rules. What a shame of the greatest scoop today.
However, there were still quite a bit that they could talk about.
Just as they thought that this farce was about to end, the familiar cold voice from earlier spoke again in a slow, dragging manner.
"Then, why don't you prove it?"
It brought back everyone from their thoughts to reality.
They looked at the nonchalant Xiong Zhi.
"I am the biggest investor in this movie."
Xiong Wuyue's eyes widened.
The woman continued with an indifferent face.
"If you manage to convince me, and the directors, the producers, as well as the author with your acting, we can replace Song Xuantin with you."
The interior of the hall exploded.
****
Additional scene.
When Xiong Zhi said she could replace Song Xuantin if Xiong Wuyue proved that her acting was better, Song Xuantin was complaining at the side.
Song Xuantin: What about my hard work to get this role, ah? Are you really my friend! You, not even a warning, although I know you're likely bluffing but… wait, hold on! Come to think of it, if I end up not starring in this movie, didn't that mean that I will have more free time! I don't need to spend months away from my boyfriend. There will be more time with my Gu Zhen!
Song Xuantin's eyes brightened.
She could escape from the Satan Xiao Mei for a while!
Oh, please! Replace me!
Xiong Zhi: You wish.
Xiong Zhi ignored her best friend's eyes and stared at Xiong Wuyue.
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