dkrc Chapter 35 The bleak autumn wind blows again, but the world has changed!
Chapter 35 The bleak autumn wind blows again, but the world has changed!
Xu An did not return to Hengdian.
Instead, they boarded a flight to Beijing.
He needed to go to the company to report on his work. After all, he had already signed with Huayi, so he had to go to the headquarters to take a look and maybe play the victim to get some resources.
You can't just spend your whole life playing minor roles in Hengdian, can you? That would be pure idiocy!
If you have resources and connections, you must learn to utilize them; that's the rule of survival.
Yunnan Province is quite far from Beijing; even by plane, it takes three hours.
After catching up on sleep on the plane and having a free lunch, Xu An finally arrived in Beijing.
This was the first time he, a man born in a small city in Northeast China, had set foot in Beijing. If he hadn't become an actor, he might never have had the chance to come to the capital in his life.
Although it was already noon when they landed, Xu An's enthusiasm remained undiminished.
I'll talk about going to the company for a performance review tomorrow; today I absolutely have to take a stroll around Beijing first.
Our first stop must be a bowl of authentic old Beijing-style fermented mung bean juice.
After taking a sip, he began to question his existence. What the hell was the difference between this and swill?
Just like West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, no one in the local area has tried either of these dishes; it's all thanks to outsiders who don't believe in superstitions.
Regardless of whether others agree or not, Xu An is convinced!
At 2:30 pm, Xu An finally got to eat a bite of authentic Beijing roast duck after queuing for a long time at Quanjude.
Not gamey or greasy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, worth the wait and price.
After that, Wangfujing Commercial Street became just average, and Panjiayuan was no longer as mysterious.
I visited the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China.
There's not much to say about the Forbidden City; it's just dignified and grand, nothing compared to the National Museum of China, which left a much deeper impression on Xu An.
From ancient times to the end of the Qing Dynasty, after seeing the political situation map and the Sino-Japanese War map at the end, the dim background light suddenly brightened, and only a poem was hanging on the bright wall at the corner.
"Qinyuanchun: Snow"
All that is past; to find truly remarkable figures, look to the present!
This should be the most meticulous design of the National Museum of China, and also the greatest opening statement of this era.
As the sun set, bathed in its dim light, Xu An stood before Tiananmen Square.
Looking at the portrait of the great man hanging on the city gate, and the slogans on both sides: Long live the People's Republic of China, Long live the great unity of the people of the world.
Xu An gazed at her for a long time, and finally uttered only one sentence:
The bleak autumn wind blows again today, but the world has changed!
Long live the people!
……
The next day.
Xu An quickly tidied up and arrived at the East Third Ring Road of Beijing.
Here stand towering buildings, and the signboard of the Kunlun Hotel shines brightly, while next to it is Huayi Media, which appears somewhat dim and lackluster.
If it weren't for the bet with Zhang Guoli in 2013, Huayi would probably have moved by now.
It was precisely because they had freeloaded Zhang Guoli for five years that Huayi was able to extend its lifespan.
However, Xu An didn't care at all. Even if the company went bankrupt tomorrow, he would still try to get some benefits out of it today.
Upon entering the building, the receptionist was quite welcoming. As soon as she heard that Xu An was a new artist who had joined the company, she immediately rushed to take Xu An to find Zhao Lei.
As an agent who coordinates artists, this is a job he's an expert in.
As for Wang Zhongjun, the boss of Huayi, he rarely appears at the company.
Normally, it's CEO Wang Zhonglei who handles company affairs, or rather, prepares to hunt down a certain female star.
This guy's impatient nature is well-known throughout the entertainment industry.
During Huayi Brothers' heyday in the early 2000s, Zhang Ziyi and Li Bingbing were involved in a "one dragon, two phoenixes" relationship with him, and their resources exploded and soared instantly.
Wow, that's what you call professional!
Wang Zhonglei's reputation isn't what it used to be, so he's now hunting down recent college graduates.
There are advantages to being a college student, right? College life is great!
"Mr. Zhao."
As soon as Xu An entered the office, he took the initiative to greet Zhao Lei with great enthusiasm.
Anyone who didn't know better would think the two were very close.
"Xu An, right? Director Feng has spoken to me; we have high hopes for your future."
The best way to deceive people is to mix truth with falsehood. Feng Kuzi's greeting is definitely genuine, but whether they are optimistic about it is another question.
The last artist who joined the company probably said the same thing to him.
He's an expert on workplace pie-in-the-sky deals!
"Mr. Zhao, I have another request for you. Could you let me participate in some film and television dramas? I would like to improve my professional skills."
Zhao Lei is a shrewd person; how could he not understand what he was saying? He just wanted to ask the company for resources!
In the past, the company's artists would certainly not lack resources.
But now...
The company's business scope has shrunk, and many of the companies that had previously cooperated with it are no longer in contact.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!
In the past, others would rush to cooperate with Huayi, and actors didn't even need to audition. Now, when Huayi looks for partners, they have to check whether the results meet their standards.
"Xu An, as you know, our company is currently in a bottleneck period, and we will definitely prioritize giving resources to top artists."
"Hehe, I understand what you mean, Mr. Zhao. It's all for the company!"
"It's great that you think that way. Here's what we'll do: you wait at the company for a few days. I actually have a collaboration to discuss soon, and if it's possible, I'll recommend you for it."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao. I look forward to your good news."
As soon as he stepped out of the room, Xu An's face darkened instantly.
As expected of Huayi, they really know how to make empty promises. I'm so full of them!
"Ms. Xu An, let me take you to meet your managing agent first, and also to let you get to know the company environment."
"Thank you, I'm sorry to trouble you."
"It's alright, it's just my job."
The receptionist adjusted her pencil skirt and swayed her hips as she led the way.
Entering the world of entertainment is like entering a deep sea; even the front desk staff are not to be underestimated.
The company has quite a few departments, such as publicity, photography, and design.
The second floor was a different story. There were far fewer people there, and they all seemed quite lazy. It didn't feel like a big company at all; it was more like a sunset industry just coasting along.
Following Zhao Lei's instructions, the receptionist first took Xu An to find his executive agent, and Xu An would now have an agent.
"This is your future agent, Chen Hong. Just call her Sister Hong."
Xu An greeted him politely, but the other party was not very enthusiastic and even seemed perfunctory.
She didn't think Xu An, as a newcomer, could achieve anything; at most, he would stay for a few years before being dismissed.
The old agent had long known the company was doomed; this young man was no different from someone who joined the National Revolutionary Army in 49.
Xu An didn't seem to care much about Chen Hong's attitude.
From the very first day he went to Hengdian to film, he was never taken seriously; every step he took was earned through his own hard work.
You can only earn respect from others by relying on yourself.
"Sister Hong, I'll be leaving now after I've brought him here. You can show him around the rest of the way."
"Yes, thank you for your hard work."
After the remaining two people.
Chen Hong then took a closer look at Xu An.
Which school?
Shanghai Theatre Academy.
What drama did you film?
"The second male lead in 'Youth'!"
"What? Director Feng's 'Youth'?"
Chen Hong immediately cried out, her expression becoming slightly exaggerated.
Xu An: I still prefer your defiant attitude from just now!