vstars Chapter 77 Brother Lin Yu is so kind!
Chapter 77 Brother Lin Yu is so kind!
Lin Yu heard Li Chengyuan's words.
I was still a little excited.
After all, the acting skills required for an actor to participate in a movie are much higher than those required for a TV series.
If a TV series is poorly produced, viewers will simply change the channel.
If the movie is a flop, the audience will want a refund.
Although he has played the third male lead in "Untouchable Lovers" and the second male lead in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", those were all TV dramas.
The male lead in a movie is something else entirely.
After calming down and thinking it over, Lin Yu realized there were probably three reasons why the company would give him this opportunity.
First, he is indeed very popular recently.
After the premiere of "Grade One Graduation Season", the number of Weibo followers soared to two million, and it appeared on several trending topics, with the topic remaining highly discussed.
Why not take advantage of this kind of popularity?
Secondly, he is a person of light.
When it comes to making money within the family, the company naturally prioritizes its own artists for the male lead in its films.
Third, his uncle is Wang Changtian.
Although no one says it, everyone knows it in their hearts.
Lin Yu wasn't being coy; it would be foolish not to use resources he had.
In his past life, he was just too aloof.
I think I can do it.
After ten years of hard work, he finally landed a role as the male lead in a web series.
In this life, he learned his lesson.
The next morning, Lin Yu arrived at the headquarters of Enlight Media.
In Li Chengyuan's office, the script was already laid out on the table.
Lin Yu picked it up and saw that the cover read "A River of Sadness Flows Backwards".
He froze for a moment.
He knows this movie very well.
When this movie was released in his previous life, he was still working as an extra in Hengdian. He went to see it during his break.
The audience in the movie theater were crying their eyes out, but after watching it, he felt that something was off.
Later, he went online and saw the rating: 5.9.
The comments section was filled with criticism, saying the plot was melodramatic, the characters' logic was flawed, and the tragedy was just for the sake of tragedy.
But the box office was surprisingly good; with an investment of 30 million, it grossed 350 million, making a huge profit.
Lin Yu opened the script and quickly skimmed through it.
It was similar to the plot he remembered.
The story is about school bullying.
The female protagonist, Yi Yao, comes from a poor family. Her mother is a masseuse, and she is looked down upon at school.
She has a childhood sweetheart neighbor named Qi Ming, who is academically gifted, handsome, and comes from a wealthy family. He is the prince charming of all the girls in the school.
Tang Xiaomi, a transfer student, had been bullied in the past. After transferring schools, she began to bully Yi Yao in order to fit into the new environment.
Gu Senxi and Gu Senxiang are siblings; one is a roguish and rebellious type, while the other is gentle and kind.
In the end, Gu Senxiang died unexpectedly, and Yi Yao was wrongly accused. After making a fuss by the river, she jumped into the river and committed suicide.
Lin Yu frowned after reading it.
The problem with this script is exactly the same as the movie from my previous life.
Li Chengyuan sat opposite Lin Yu, looking at Lin Yu's expression with some curiosity.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with the script?"
"Brother Li, don't be angry if I'm being honest. This script has quite a few flaws," Lin Yu said, putting down the script.
Li Chengyuan became interested and leaned back in his chair.
Tell me about it.
Lin Yu didn't stand on ceremony and directly began to explain his understanding.
Lin Yu discovered that after his understanding of the character reached the intermediate level, his understanding of the characters in the script was significantly more thorough than before.
"First, the plot is too melodramatic. Using rumors about gynecological diseases to create conflict—how could anyone come up with that? A high school student going to a gynecologist and being falsely accused—did the screenwriter never even go to high school?"
Li Chengyuan's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.
"Secondly, the characters' logic is flawed. Qi Ming, the male lead, watches Yi Yao being bullied from the sidelines, occasionally saying a few meaningless words, and finally asks Yi Yao, 'Why didn't you tell me?' Dude, why don't you just ask?!"
"Third, Tang Xiaomi is evil for no reason. She is a villain from the moment she appears, as if she was born to bully others. But she herself was also bullied, and this transformation is not explained at all, which makes the character seem very flat."
"Fourth, everyone's intelligence has been compromised. Where are the teachers? Where are the parents? Where are the school leaders? How can it be reasonable that such a serious bullying incident occurred in a school and not a single adult stepped forward to handle it from beginning to end?"
Fifth, the ending felt forcedly sentimental. Yi Yao's monologue by the river was very poetic, but it felt out of place in that scene. How could a high school student who had been bullied to the point of collapse be in the mood to recite prose?
After Lin Yu finished speaking, he picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.
Li Chengyuan was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.
"You little brat, you even know anything about scripts?"
"I've seen it a lot when I have free time, so I naturally understand it," Lin Yu said modestly.
"I've met many actors, and quite a few can spot problems with the script, but you're the first one who can articulate those problems so clearly," Li Chengyuan said, shaking his head with admiration.
"Brother Li, you flatter me."
"But just talking about the problem isn't enough; you need a solution." Li Chengyuan looked at Lin Yu with a hint of testing in his eyes.
"If you can fix these flaws, I'll be impressed."
"Brother Li, are you asking me to revise the script?" Lin Yu asked with a bright smile.
"I was just saying it casually, and you actually took it seriously?" Li Chengyuan said with a smile.
"But if you really want to change it, I won't stop you. Send it to me when you're done, and I'll submit it for you to take a look. Of course, whether the screenwriter will agree or not is another matter."
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
Lin Yu agreed on the spot.
He wasn't acting on impulse; he genuinely wanted to change.
He's the male lead in this movie; if he performs well, it will be a brilliant achievement in his resume; if he messes it up, it will be a black mark on his career.
Rather than passively accepting a problematic script, it's better to proactively revise it.
Besides, he has experience from his past life, so he knows where the audience's criticisms lie, giving him a clear direction for making changes.
Li Chengyuan sent the electronic version of the script to Lin Yu.
"I'll give you three days. Revise as much as you need. Just don't let it interfere with the important work."
"That's enough." Lin Yu nodded.
Lin Yu took the script and returned to his rented room.
He turned on his computer and began revising the script.
In order to fully dedicate himself to revising the script, he even asked his homeroom teacher for a few days off.
He didn't rush to start writing; instead, he read the original script three times from beginning to end.
Each viewing offers a different perspective.
The first time, put yourself in the audience's shoes and feel where the plot feels awkward.
The second time, put yourself in the character's shoes and consider whether their actions are reasonable.
The third time, I put myself in the screenwriter's shoes and figured out how to revise it to both retain the core conflict and make the plot flow more smoothly.
After reading it three times, Lin Yu had a plan in mind.
He opened the document and began typing.
The first to use the knife was the male protagonist, Qi Ming.
In the original script, Qi Ming was a typical bystander-type male lead.
He felt bad seeing Yi Yao being bullied, but he did nothing about it.
He frowned when he saw Tang Xiaomi spreading rumors, but said nothing.
He clearly had the ability to stop all of this, but he chose to remain silent.
When Yi Yao finally broke down, he said, "Why didn't you tell me?" He was treating the audience like idiots.
Lin Yu added a few more scenes for Qi Ming.
In the first scene, Qi Ming overheard Tang Xiaomi spreading rumors in the classroom and immediately stood up to refute them.
"Tang Xiaomi, do you have any evidence to prove what you're saying?"
"Shut up if you have no evidence."
"Yi Yao is my neighbor, I know her better than you do."
Although the scene was brief, it transformed Qi Ming from an "observer" into an "actor".
He wasn't unaware of what had happened; he was simply waiting for the right opportunity.
In the second scene, Qi Ming goes to find Yi Yao's mother.
"Auntie, Yi Yao is being bullied at school. Could you please pay more attention to her?"
Yi Yao's mother is a masseuse who lives in poverty and has a bad temper, but she loves her daughter deep down.
Qi Ming's words made her start to reflect on her attitude towards her daughter.
Adding this scene not only enriched Qi Ming's character but also gave Yi Yao's mother a more three-dimensional feel.
In the third scene, after Gu Senxiang's unexpected death, Qi Ming did not stand there in a daze as in the original script, but immediately called the police and then went to find Yi Yao.
"Yi Yao, I believe you didn't do it. The police have already launched an investigation, and the truth will soon come to light."
Although the sentence was simple, it gave Yi Yao a glimmer of hope.
It also gave the audience a glimmer of hope.
Although Yi Yao still jumped into the river in the end, Qi Ming's line transformed his image from a "cowardly bystander" to a "protector who tried his best."
After revising Qi Ming, Lin Yu began revising the female lead, Yi Yao.
In the original script, Yi Yao was a "victim" from beginning to end.
She was bullied, wronged, and isolated, but she never fought back.
She simply endured, retreated, and cried.
Viewers may feel sorry for such characters, but it's difficult for them to empathize with them.
Lin Yu added a setting to Yi Yao: warm on the outside, cold on the inside.
She has a warm and sweet appearance, and is always smiling, like the most lively girl in the class.
But this outer shell was what she used to hide her inferiority complex.
She came from a poor family, and her mother was a masseuse. She felt ashamed of this, so she tried her best to appear cheerful and optimistic so that others wouldn't see her vulnerability.
When school bullying struck, her outer shell began to crumble.
She stopped laughing and talking; she became silent, gloomy, and defensive.
This contrast is more compelling than a simple "victim" image.
This also suits Tian Xiwei's characteristics better.
After revising Yi Yao, Lin Yu began revising the villain Tang Xiaomi.
In the original script, Tang Xiaomi was a stereotypical, vicious female supporting character.
She was evil from the moment she appeared, evil inexplicably and without any reason.
But Lin Yu felt that a person wouldn't turn bad for no reason.
He added a backstory to Tang Xiaomi.
When she first transferred to our school, she was a sweet, lovely, beautiful, and kind-hearted girl.
She took the initiative to greet her classmates, offered help to those in need, and actively integrated into the new group.
But no one appreciated it.
Her classmates mocked her accent, disliked her clothes, and ostracized her.
She tried, but it was no use.
Then, she saw Yi Yao.
Although Yi Yao came from a poor family, she had Qi Ming protecting her and friends by her side, so she lived a happier life than Qi Ming.
Tang Xiaomi felt resentful.
Why?
Why am I still being ostracized despite my hard work?
Why are you liked even though you do nothing?
The seeds of jealousy took root in my heart and sprouted into vines of malice.
In addition, due to her past experience of being bullied, she learned to use bullying to protect herself.
If you bully others, you won't be bullied by others.
This is the logic behind Tang Xiaomi's turning bad.
She wasn't born evil; rather, her environment distorted her.
Lin Yu added another scene, a one-woman show by Tang Xiaomi.
She sat on her bed in the dormitory, staring blankly out the window.
Her roommates were all asleep, but she was still awake.
She recalled her former self, a time when she loved to laugh, was kind, and felt sad for the misfortunes of others.
But now, she has become the kind of person she hates most.
she cried.
There was no sound, only tears streaming down my face.
Adding this scene made Tang Xiaomi's character much more three-dimensional.
She is no longer simply a "bad person," but a "pitiful person" who has been hurt and distorted.
Finally, Lin Yu changed two key scenes.
In the first scene, Gu Senxiang dies unexpectedly.
In the original script, Gu Senxiang's death was very abrupt.
She received a phone call saying that Gu Senxi had an accident and that she needed to go to a certain place. She went there, then fell from the building and died.
There was no explanation what happened to her or who made the call.
Lin Yu added a paragraph.
Gu Senxiang received a call from an unknown number. The caller said that Gu Senxi had been beaten up on the school rooftop and asked her to come over immediately.
She rushed to the rooftop, but didn't see Gu Senxi; she only saw a stranger's back.
She walked over to ask what was going on, but stepped on oil that someone had deliberately spilled on the ground, slipped, and fell off the edge of the rooftop, which had no railings.
As for who made the call and who spilled the oil, Lin Yu didn't specify.
Leave it blank, let the audience guess for themselves.
In the second scene, Yi Yao jumps into the river.
In the original script, Yi Yao delivered a long monologue by the river, with very long and literary lines, like she was reciting prose.
Lin Yu shortened it.
She only said a few words.
"I don't want to die, but I can't go on living."
"Each of you is a murderer."
"If there is an afterlife, I don't want to know any of you again."
After saying that, she turned around and jumped.
There were no lengthy speeches, no sentimental background music, and not even tears.
But that kind of despair is more impactful than any language.
Three days later, Lin Yu sent the revised script to Li Chengyuan.
He worked day and night for three days, and now he has dark circles under his eyes.
He looked like he had just been evacuated from the battlefield.
Li Chengyuan received the email, opened it, and was stunned.
"You call this a minor change?"
The document Lin Yu sent was covered in revision marks.
Red indicates deletion, blue indicates addition, and green indicates annotation.
Almost every page has been revised.
It took Li Chengyuan two hours to finish reading it.
After reading it, he remained silent for a long time.
Then, he picked up the phone and called Guo Jingming and screenwriter Luo Luo respectively.
"Director Guo, Teacher Zhao, one of my actors has given some suggestions for revising the script, which I think make a lot of sense. May I send them to you for a look?"
Guo Jingming on the other end of the phone was clearly unhappy.
He hates it when people change his scripts.
However, since Enlight Media was an investor, he did not directly refuse, but simply said so.
"Send it over."
Li Chengyuan sent Lin Yu the revised script.
At the same time, they cleverly added a sentence to the email.
"This is the personal opinion of our male lead, Lin Yu, and is only for the two teachers' reference."
The meaning is clear: it's not the company that wants to change it; it's just something an actor came up with on their own. You guys decide what to do.
Of course, they will figure out Lin Yu's identity on their own.
Guo Jingming opened the email, glanced at it, and frowned.
Then, his brows slowly relaxed.
Then, his expression changed from impatient to serious.
Then, he picked up his phone and called Luo Luo.
"Did you see it, Teacher Zhao?"
"I've seen it."
What do you think?
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
"His changes...make a lot of sense."
Guo Jingming also fell silent.
He didn't want to admit it, but he had to.
The actor named Lin Yu did indeed point out some issues in the script that he hadn't noticed before.
Moreover, his approach to the changes was very clever. He didn't alter the core framework, but only made adjustments to the details, making the characters more three-dimensional and the plot smoother.
"The light source said to let us see what happens," Guo Jingming said.
"Let's take a look then." Zhao Jiarong sighed. "Anyway, the general direction hasn't changed, so changing a few details won't hurt."
Of course, the two of them still inquired about Lin Yu's identity.
After all, there aren't many actors that Enlight Media can value.
This investigation revealed something quite significant.
Lin Yu's relationship with the CEO of Enlight Media is truly extraordinary.
Both of them are shrewd enough to understand this relationship.
Therefore, Lin Yu's revised proposal was adopted.
Of course, it's not a 100% copy.
Guo Jingming and Zhao Jiarong made some further adjustments based on Lin Yu's revisions, and unified the language style.
But overall, the direction did indeed follow Lin Yu's ideas.
When the news reached Guangxian, Li Chengyuan immediately informed Lin Yu.
"Xiaoyu, the director and screenwriter have approved your revised proposal."
Lin Yu was secretly delighted, but he didn't show it on his face.
"What about the actresses for the lead and second lead roles?" he asked.
"Don't rush. The director, screenwriter, and producer said that although the script revisions are good, the actors' acting skills are still what matters. You, Tian Xiwei, and Zhang Ruonan need to come to the company for an audition in three days," Li Chengyuan said with a smile.
"Of course." Lin Yu nodded.
He understands.
An investment of 30 million is no small sum.
The director and producer wouldn't simply hand over the male lead to him just because he's an artist under Enlight Media.
Auditions are the fairest way.
Meanwhile, in Haicheng, at the girls' dormitory of the Shanghai Theatre Academy.
Tian Xiwei was applying a face mask in bed when her phone suddenly rang.
She picked it up and saw that it was her agent, Liang Mu, calling.
"Hello, Sister Liang!"
"Xiwei, I have good news for you." Liang Mu's voice was filled with laughter.
"The company invested in a movie called 'Cry Me a Sad River,' and the company recommended you to audition for the female lead role."
Tian Xiwei's face mask almost fell off.
"A movie...? The lead actress?"
"Yes. Come to Kyoto for the audition in three days. I'll send you the script later, so prepare well."
Tian Xiwei was so excited she almost jumped out of bed, but she held back and asked calmly.
"Sister Liang, why did the company think of recommending me? I only signed the contract not long ago."
"It was Lin Yu who recommended you. He thinks you're perfect for the role. So you should seize the opportunity and not let him down," Liang Mu said with a smile.
Tian Xiwei's heart was pounding.
Recommended by Brother Lin Yu?
Does Lin Yu think she's suitable?
Her face turned red instantly, and even the face mask couldn't hide it.
"Don't worry, Sister Liang, I'll definitely prepare well!"
After hanging up the phone, Tian Xiwei tossed and turned in bed, too excited to sleep.
"Xiwei, what are you doing?" Her roommates were woken up by her noise and asked groggily.
"I...I'm going to audition for a movie!" Tian Xiwei finally couldn't hold back and shouted it out loud.
"What?!"
The three roommates instantly woke up.
"Really?"
"What movie?"
"The female lead?"
Tian Xiwei was completely bewildered by the questions, but she still honestly confessed.
"She's the female lead! And... she was recommended by Brother Lin Yu!"
"Brother Lin Yu? You mean that Lin Yu?"
"Yes, yes, that's it!"
My roommates were instantly incredibly envious.
"Xiwei, you're so lucky!"
"Does Lin Yu need more friends? I can be one too!"
"I also want to be recommended by Brother Lin Yu!"
Tian Xiwei blushed as her roommates teased her, but she was secretly delighted.
She picked up her phone, wanting to send Lin Yu a message to thank him, but she didn't know what to say.
I thought for a long time, typed a line and then deleted it, then typed it again, going back and forth several times.
In the end, she only sent one sentence.
"Brother Lin Yu, thank you! I will definitely work hard!"
Then, she pressed her phone to her chest and smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Girls' dormitory at Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou.
Zhang Ruonan also received a call from Liang Mu.
"Ruonan, the second female lead in 'Cry Me a Sad River,' your company recommends you for an audition. Come to Kyoto in three days."
Zhang Ruonan was stunned.
Second female lead?
The second female lead in the movie?
Her hand holding the phone trembled slightly.
"Sister Liang, how could the company...?"
"Lin Yu recommended you. He thinks you're suitable for the role. Ruonan, this is a great opportunity, you should seize it," Liang Mu said directly.
Zhang Ruonan's breathing became rapid.
Recommended by Brother Lin Yu?
She recalled those two days in Kyoto when Lin Yu drove her and Tian Xiwei to visit the Forbidden City and climb the Great Wall, taking photos of them on the Great Wall.
She remembered Lin Yu's WeChat profile picture and their occasional chats.
She recalled Lin Yu's performance in "Grade One Graduation Season," the breakup scene, and the song "Light."
She recalled the first time she met Lin Yu; he was so dazzling in the crowd that she couldn't take her eyes off him.
Then, she nodded vigorously, though Liang Mu couldn't see it.
"Sister Liang, I will definitely do my best."
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Ruonan sat on the bed, her heart still racing.
"Ruonan, what's wrong? Your face is so red?" Her roommates noticed her unusual behavior and came over to ask.
"No...it's nothing." Zhang Ruonan lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.
She picked up her phone and sent a message to Lin Yu.
"Brother Lin Yu, thank you. I will do my best."
After sending the message, she stared at the screen for a long time, eagerly awaiting Lin Yu's reply.
A few minutes later, the news arrived.
"Prepare well, don't overthink it. Believe in yourself."
As Zhang Ruonan looked at these words, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
She took a deep breath, put down her phone, opened the script Liang Mu had sent her, and began to study it carefully.
See you in Kyoto in three days.
She will work hard and will definitely not waste this opportunity recommended by Lin Yu.