Chapter Fifty: Casting Actors

Over the next few days, Chen Qi hardly left the house. He was preparing his stepping stone for entering the entertainment industry.

No matter what he planned to do in show business, in his current state—lacking both resources and connections—he inevitably needed to find someone to work with. Although he had Xu Bunian as a partner now, to be honest, Xu was not of much help; he, too, was short on everything.

Therefore, Chen Qi’s primary task was to make a name for himself first. Once he had some notoriety, negotiating and collaborating with others would become much easier. While he didn’t know much about other things, he was well aware of the entertainment industry’s timeless obsession with fame and fortune.

But what should he prepare? This question had been on Chen Qi’s mind for days. He had neither manpower nor even the most basic equipment, and whatever he wanted to do seemed to be beset with obstacles. More importantly, he lacked experience and dared not hurl himself recklessly into anything too ambitious.

So, he could only look for small projects.

After two days of careful consideration, he finally settled on a project that suited him. He thought of a mini-comedy series he had once followed for quite a while—“Unexpectedly.” Just recently, he’d learned from various novel websites that readers nowadays seemed to enjoy anti-cliché twists and reversals, and as one of the pioneers in that genre, he guessed audiences in this world would enjoy it as well.

This was the one!

He decided to select ten episodes from the first season to practice his craft. Upon reflection, this show seemed almost tailor-made for his current circumstances. First, it required a small investment; the little money he had left would be enough to shoot it. Second, it didn’t demand much manpower, which spared him a great deal of trouble; if he really couldn’t find anyone, he and Xu Bunian could fill in for a couple of roles themselves. Lastly, the setting was flexible—any similar background would do, with little need for elaborate set design. The stories were straightforward, and the script would be quick to write.

But…

He could buy or rent equipment, but what about actors?

He could take on the role of “Professor”—after all, he was rather interested in being a celebrity. But what about the part of Wang Dachui?

Chen Qi pondered for a while and finally decided it would be best to find an actor first. Equipment and locations could be handled ad hoc, but actors needed to be secured in advance. Yet, where to find one was another problem altogether.

A headache crept up on him. He certainly couldn’t consider any well-known actors: even setting aside whether he could afford them or whether their skills were up to par, it was doubtful they’d be willing to work for a no-name director with a tiny budget and a project of this scale. Anyone with real fame would likely turn up their nose at such an amateurish endeavor.

After much deliberation, Chen Qi finally decided to try his luck at the film studio and see if he could find one or two actors who caught his eye. Resolving upon this, he strode out the door, hailed a cab, and made straight for the nearest film lot.

Over an hour later, he arrived at a nearby studio. To his surprise, perhaps because the studio was far from the city center or for some other reason, it hadn’t, unlike its counterparts on Earth, been developed into a tourist attraction. The place seemed rather deserted.

From a distance, he saw small groups of people sitting around the entrance. Since this place wasn’t a tourist spot, they were most likely extras waiting for work.

Chen Qi walked over slowly, observing the crowd as he went. As he drew near the entrance, eyes glanced at him from all directions, only to quickly look away after noting his casual attire. They probably assumed he was just another extra like themselves.

He surveyed the area calmly and sat down in an empty spot, continuing his quiet observation. Perhaps because it was late in the day, there weren’t many people left, and the majority were men. Some sat together playing cards, others chatted or fiddled with their phones, but what caught his attention was a man not far away, reading a book.

Amid this crowd, someone reading a book was as conspicuous as a crane among chickens. He immediately drew Chen Qi’s notice.

Chen Qi couldn’t help but study him more closely.

He looked to be in his thirties, with a short, sharp haircut that gave him a spirited air. Dressed casually with sneakers, he sat alone engrossed in his book, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.

Chen Qi instinctively glanced at the book in his hands, but unfortunately, the cover was rolled up and he couldn’t make out the title. Still, in such a public setting, it was probably a serious book.

He scrutinized the man. He appeared tidy and fresh, and whether it was his looks or his bearing, Chen Qi found him quite agreeable. Unfortunately, he looked nothing like Wang Dachui. More regrettably, Chen Qi hadn’t spotted anyone else who seemed suitable.

He sighed inwardly. Clearly, this method wasn’t going to work; the odds of finding the right actor here were scarcely better than searching for a needle in a haystack.

After watching for a while longer and confirming there were no suitable candidates, Chen Qi rose to leave. Coincidentally, at almost the exact moment he stood up, the man with the cropped hair glanced back toward the studio. Seeing no crews emerging to recruit extras, he, too, got up to go.

In that instant, Chen Qi caught sight of the book’s title: “World History.”

He was a little surprised. He had expected him to be reading a light novel or magazine, not a work of literature. It turned out the man had an appetite for learning.

Too bad he simply didn’t fit the role; otherwise, Chen Qi might really have picked him. What was that saying? Luck favors the diligent? For someone to settle down and read in this environment, he had to be someone with motivation.

Chen Qi shook his head and turned to leave. Yet, after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, glanced back at the man with the cropped hair, and after a moment’s hesitation, turned and hurried after him.