novellhall Chapter 12 Wang Hao's Good Intentions
Chapter 12 Wang Hao's Good Intentions
The classroom 201 gradually filled up with people.
Chen Nianbei was still reading the script, mentally going over Zhou Ping's scene again.
Just then, the classroom door was pushed open, and Wang Hao rushed in, carrying a bulging backpack, clearly having just come from the library.
He glanced around the classroom, saw Chen Nianbei, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over.
"Nianbei! You're back?"
Wang Hao sat down in the empty seat in front of him, turned around, and asked with a curious look, "When did you arrive? How's it going with the team?"
"I just arrived at noon."
Chen Nianbei closed the script, smiled, and said, "The crew was great; I learned a lot."
"Tell me more about it!"
Wang Hao leaned closer and lowered his voice, "What did you learn from Director Kong Sheng? I heard he's extremely demanding."
"It is indeed strict."
Chen Nianbei nodded, "But there are advantages to being strict. Every shot is meticulously reviewed, and if even a single wrong look is wrong, we have to start over."
He spoke casually, but Wang Hao listened with great interest.
The man next to him was looking down at his script, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
She recalled the real, heart-wrenching performance of Chen Nianbei being pinned to the church floor on the set in Huairou.
Now he simply says, "I've learned a lot."
That's too modest, or rather, too good at hiding one's talents.
"Do you feel you've made significant progress?"
Wang Hao then asked, his tone genuinely concerned, "I mean, have you improved your acting skills during your time on set?"
Chen Nianbei thought for a moment: "A little bit. It's mainly about watching how others act and figuring it out myself."
"That's good."
Wang Hao patted him on the shoulder, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief, "I was worried when you left, afraid that you would just be doing menial tasks and wouldn't learn anything."
He meant well when he said that, and Chen Nianbei could tell.
"Oh, right."
Wang Hao suddenly remembered something, "We're casting this afternoon. Which role are you planning to audition for? I suggest you try Zhou Chong or Lu Gui. They don't have many scenes, but it's easy to stand out."
Before Chen Nianbei could speak, the shoulder next to him twitched slightly, as if he was trying to suppress a laugh.
She quickly lowered her head even further, pretending to be focused on reading the script.
"I want to try out Zhou Ping," Chen Nianbei said.
Wang Hao was stunned.
He stared at Chen Nianbei for several seconds, making sure the other wasn't joking, before hesitantly saying:
"Zhou Ping? Um... Nian Bei, the role of Zhou Ping is quite difficult."
He put it mildly, but his meaning was clear.
Zhou Ping is one of the most complex characters in "Thunderstorm," with a great deal of inner turmoil and rich emotional layers.
Given Chen Nianbei's previous professional level, it was indeed unlikely that he could handle it.
I know it's difficult.
Chen Nianbei said calmly, "That's why I wanted to give it a try."
"But……"
Wang Hao scratched his head, seemingly considering his words.
"This casting is very important. Teacher Li said that those who perform well will have the opportunity to be recommended to audition for the film crew."
You just got back, you might not be fully prepared yet, why don't you choose a safer option first?
He spoke with a very sincere expression, clearly showing that he was considering his classmate's feelings.
Naza finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth.
Wang Hao turned to look at her, completely bewildered: "What are you laughing at?"
"N-nothing."
Naza waved her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed, "I just... suddenly thought of something funny."
Wang Hao looked at her, then at Chen Nianbei, his eyes scanning back and forth between the two of them before suddenly realizing something.
"oh--"
He drawled out the words, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "I was wondering when you two became so close? Sitting together like that..."
Before he could finish speaking, Nazha's face turned completely red.
"Wang Hao, what nonsense are you talking about!"
She glared at him, but her voice unconsciously rose a little, attracting the attention of several classmates around her.
Chen Nianbei remained calm; he was all too familiar with this kind of banter between classmates.
"Don't make wild guesses."
He spoke up at the opportune moment, changing the subject, "Haozi, which role are you planning to audition for?"
Wang Hao's attention was indeed drawn away.
He straightened his back, a hint of confidence on his face: "Zhou Ping. I've been preparing for almost a month, practicing in the dorm every night."
He said this with a hint of pride in his voice, not as a boast, but more as a sense of entitlement to the effort he had put in.
"Teacher Li praised me in the last class, saying that I had improved in understanding the character."
Wang Hao added, his eyes lighting up, "I think this opportunity is quite good."
Chen Nianbei nodded: "That's good, you've always been very hardworking."
This is from the heart.
Although Wang Hao wasn't famous in his previous life, he worked diligently in the industry, starting with small roles and eventually becoming a well-known and respected supporting actor after more than a decade.
Actors who are steady and reliable are actually more respectable than many fleeting celebrities with only a short-lived popularity.
"And what about you?"
Wang Hao then looked at Nazar, "Which one do you want to try?"
"Four Phoenixes".
Naza had returned to normal and spoke calmly, "But the competition is quite fierce; several classmates want to try."
"Sifeng is indeed good."
Wang Hao said, "I have a lot of scenes and a complete emotional storyline; if I act well, it will be particularly outstanding. However..."
He paused, then lowered his voice, "I heard that Zhang Yue also wants to try for the fourth brothel. She ranked second in her final exams last semester, and Teacher Li thinks highly of her."
Naza pursed her lips: "I know."
The classroom gradually quieted down.
Casting starts at 2:00, it's 1:50 now, Teacher Li should be here soon.
The students were making their final preparations. Some were quietly rehearsing their lines, some were silently rehearsing with their eyes closed, and some were so nervous that they kept drinking water.
Chen Nianbei leaned back in her chair, looking out at the sycamore trees.
The leaves have begun to turn yellow, and a few have been blown down by the wind, swirling in the air.
He suddenly recalled the scene from his previous life when he first participated in the casting for "Thunderstorm".
At that time, he auditioned for Zhou Chong, a relatively simple role, but he still performed it terribly.
His lines were delivered haltingly, his movements were stiff, and his eyes were vacant.
Teacher Li frowned on the spot and eventually gave him a servant role with only three lines.
After class, he squatted alone behind the teaching building for half an hour and smoked half a pack of cigarettes.
At that time, I felt like the sky was about to fall.
Looking back now, it wasn't really a big deal.
It was just an ordinary failure when I was young.
"The teacher is here!"
Someone whispered something.
The classroom fell silent instantly.
Teacher Li pushed open the door and came in, carrying a folder and a thermos.
She was wearing a dark gray knitted cardigan and thin-rimmed glasses today, with a serious expression.
"Is everyone here?"
Teacher Li walked to the front of the classroom and glanced around.
"Chen Nianbei is back?" She raised an eyebrow when she saw Chen Nianbei.
"Yes, teacher, I just got back this morning." Chen Nianbei stood up.
"Please sit down."
Teacher Li nodded and opened the folder.
"The casting this afternoon will be in order of student ID number. Each person will have three to five minutes to perform a scene of their choice."
She paused, then added:
"This casting is not only about assigning roles for the end-of-term performance, but also a showcase of your learning achievements this semester."
"I have emphasized many times that Thunderstorm is a classic of Chinese drama, and each character has its own complexity and depth."
Don't just think about how many scenes you have; choose roles that suit you and that you can handle.
The classroom was completely silent.
"in addition,"
Teacher Li adjusted her glasses. "As I mentioned before, I will recommend those who perform outstandingly in this performance to audition for film crews. We'll discuss which crews specifically after the performance."
These words caused a slight commotion in the classroom.
The students exchanged glances; some were nervous, some were excited, and some were eager to try.
Naza looked at Chen Nianbei and found that he remained calm, as if he hadn't heard what he said.
"Alright, let's begin."
Teacher Li sat down, opened the list, and said, "Number one, Liu Xinran."
A girl with a ponytail stood up, took a deep breath, and walked to the small open space in front of the classroom.
She auditioned for the role of Fan Yi, choosing the scene from the first act where Fan Yi and Zhou Ping were talking.
Chen Nianbei watched quietly.
To be fair, Liu Xinran did a good job, with full emotion and clear lines, but in some parts she acted too extroverted.
Fan Yi's repression and madness are mostly restrained, the undercurrents surging beneath a calm surface.
However, for a college student, that's already very good.
After reading it, Teacher Li nodded and made a few notes in her notebook: "Next, number two..."
The casting process is proceeding smoothly.
Some people were so nervous that they forgot their lines, some acted too obviously, and some were surprisingly impressive.