Chapter 129: Stunning (4000-word mega chapter, begging for first subscription)_2
The one who stood up to speak was a middle-aged man with a mustache; he was a director from Heavenly Immortal Entertainment. His purpose for coming was to assist Shi Yuan Entertainment with a short film's shooting task.
The initial actress chosen by the company for the lead role was Deng Yun'er, a top-tier superstar from Heavenly Immortal Entertainment, but she was rejected by Qin Zixuan at the last stage.
This made the middle-aged director slightly displeased, so there wasn't much respect in his voice.
Of course, he belonged to Heavenly Immortal Entertainment, not under Qin Zixuan's management, so he didn't need to care too much about her attitude.
Qin Zixuan, seated at the main position, simply glanced at him and then focused her gaze on the several female lead candidates opposite her.
On Shi Yuan Entertainment's side, the candidates included top-tier actresses Sun Qing and Lin Wanqiu, as well as a newcomer; naturally, on the Heavenly Immortal side, it was Deng Yun'er, who had been the predetermined choice.
The short film had an initial investment of thirty-five million, and that was just the preliminary funding; the post-production investment intended for special effects was astronomical. After the film was completed, it would be promoted across the entire network.
It can be said without hesitation that as soon as this short film, centered entirely around the female lead, was broadcast, the actress in the lead role would become an internet sensation across the network.
Naturally, the choice of actress for the lead role was extremely crucial.
With a total investment of several tens of millions, the short film was entirely funded by Shi Yuan Entertainment. Under such circumstances, Qin Zixuan naturally hoped to use an artist from her own company.
If they chose Deng Yun'er, that would mean Shi Yuan Entertainment was spending money to benefit someone else, something Qin Zixuan couldn't possibly agree to.
While the collaboration between the two companies was decided by Chu Mo and the Zhou family patriarch, Qin Zixuan could not veto it, so she could only strive to use an artist from her own company.
Her gaze swept over each candidate before finally settling on the middle-aged director. In a calm voice, she said:
"Director Wang, I've read the script for the short film, and I still think Deng Yun'er's temperament doesn't quite match that of the female lead. The character of the female lead requires a touch of ethereal charm, and I think Sun Qing fits that better."
Sun Qing no longer controlled the company's managerial powers, but she was still an artist under the company, and Qin Zixuan would definitely not let go of any rights she should fight for on her behalf.
Upon hearing this, the mustachioed middle-aged director immediately frowned and said:
"President Qin, haven't we discussed this before? Speaking of ethereal charm, Miss Sun indeed has an advantage over Yun'er. However, among the four candidates, the one with the most of that Heavenly Immortal quality is actually the trainee, Ding Qian. Surely, we can't possibly choose a trainee with no experience at all to be the lead."
Qin Zixuan sighed slightly. Among the four candidates, three were top-tier superstars, while the fourth was a trainee from Shi Yuan Entertainment.
The only reason this trainee was included in the list of candidates for the female lead role was because this girl named Ding Qian was extraordinarily exceptional.
In the entire hall, with over twenty people mostly being company executives and top-tier superstars, everyone was top-notch in status or appearance. But even with Sun Qing, known as the national goddess, when it came to sheer looks, she was still half a step behind the trainee.
This showed how otherworldly the latter's appearance was.
However, the girl named Ding Qian, despite her otherworldly looks, was just a minor trainee. Compared to the three top-tier actresses, she didn't have the slightest fan base, which was her biggest disadvantage.
Directing her gaze at the middle-aged director and taking a deep breath, Qin Zixuan eventually said, resignedly:
"Neither of us will be able to convince the other, and continuing to argue is just wasting time. If that's the case, let's decide by voting. All four candidates have read the script, and each will perform an excerpt on the spot. Everyone present gets one vote, and whoever receives the most votes will be the final choice for the female lead."
As her words fell and seeing hesitation on the face of the middle-aged man, Qin Zixuan's voice suddenly turned three degrees colder as she calmly stated:
"Director Wang, this matter is being pushed forward by the forces behind both Shi Yuan Entertainment and Heavenly Immortal Entertainment. If our disagreement affects the cooperation between the two companies, I believe neither of us can bear that responsibility."
The mustachioed middle-aged man's complexion darkened slightly. He could disregard Qin Zixuan, as they were not in the same system, but he could not defy the forces behind Heavenly Immortal Entertainment.
After hesitating repeatedly for a moment, the middle-aged man slowly nodded and said:
"Let's do it this way."
He turned his gaze toward Deng Yun'er, his voice gentle as he said:
"Yun'er, just perform normally when it's your turn, you go first."
Deng Yun'er, as a top-tier female celebrity in the domestic industry, certainly had an impressive aura and stage presence. She rose leisurely, her beautiful eyes brimming with self-confidence.
She had read the script countless times and, without hesitation, stood up and walked to an empty space at the back of the meeting room.
Positioning herself, she took a moment to breathe, then her whole being silently began to move, like a nine-heaven fairy from the celestial palace, her figure swaying gracefully...
After a minute, Deng Yun'er, her breath slightly disordered, stopped dancing, gave a gentle bow, and then returned to her place.
In the meeting room with more than 20 attendees, the majority were high-level executives from Shi Yuan Entertainment, while Tianhua Entertainment was less represented. As Sun Qing Ruoxi was about to perform second, Qin Zixuan quickly started to ponder.
Having a greater number of people on her side meant an advantage in votes, but there were three candidates from her side. If the votes were spread out, each person's tally would surely not match up to Tianhua Entertainment's Deng Yun'er.
If she wanted the votes to concentrate on one individual, she needed to be the first to vote during the voting phase. By casting her vote for either Sun Qing Ruoxi or Lin Wanqiu, the other executives would naturally follow her lead.
Having made her decision, Qin Zixuan felt somewhat at ease.
By now, Sun Qing Ruoxi's performance had ended, and the third to take the stage was the recently recruited Lin Wanqiu.
Just like Sun Qing Ruoxi, Lin Wanqiu owned her own villa on Green Grass Boulevard, but the two didn't socialize personally. As one of the country's four great young actresses, Lin Wanqiu's fame had also skyrocketed across Huaxia in the past two years.
The movies she starred in had achieved impressive box office returns and she herself had won the Best Actress award at several major Hua Country ceremonies, a rare combination of talent and beauty.
Her performance was standard but thoughtful, and her nuanced facial expressions vividly conveyed the character's emotions.
After this top-tier superstar's performance, the entire meeting room suddenly fell silent, with all eyes unconsciously turning to the last candidate.
Ding Qian, the only one among the four who wasn't a top-tier female star, also possessed a temperament most fitting for the lead female role as a trainee.
As she gently stood up, everyone in the meeting room instinctively held their breath, and with all eyes intently upon her, she boldly walked to the open space of the meeting room, then with a slight bow, her voice as melodious as a heavenly choir, she began:
"Thank you, President Qin, for giving me this opportunity. I will perform the scene where the female lead suddenly looks back."
Sweet and soft, her voice, fragrant like nature itself, caressed the ear, and Qin Zixuan could feel a layer of goosebumps rising on her arms.
Being female with exceptional looks herself, and with recent training that should have strengthened her resolve considerably, she was still uncontrollably moved when she saw the girl's eyes reflecting her own image.
She averted her gaze, but upon seeing Director Beard, with a goatee fully engrossed, she turned back and said gently: Explore stories on empire
"Do well, begin."
As the girl nodded gently, revealing a sweet smile, and although Qin Zixuan reminded herself not to look too much, she couldn't help but steal a glance at the young woman.
The girl's cherry-lip corners were slightly upturned, blooming shallow dimples on her stunning cheeks like blossoming flowers.
Her bright eyes, reflecting the brilliance of the starry sky, curved into crescents, adding a touch of vivacity and ethereal charm to her being.
Just that fleeting look made Qin Zixuan's heart uncontrollably flutter.
Biting her lip slightly, she forced herself to look away, but before she could let out a sigh of relief, she noticed the conference room door gently pushed open.
Then, a young man with golden glasses appeared before her.
"Chu..."
Her voice barely began when she saw the young man across from her make a signal for silence, halting her words abruptly in her throat.
Qin Zixuan immediately stood up, her heart pounding as if in panic.