How to Cast

You no longer feel sad about the past. You see the past as something that exists only in your mind, not in real life. You trample on the past; you crush it.

—V.S. Naipaul, *A Bend in the River*, 1979

……

Chen Huaikai, as expected of a veteran director, is incredibly efficient.

They quickly assembled the team and then approached screenwriter Huang Wenbin to discuss casting.

Huang Wenbin was completely dumbfounded.

He wasn't familiar with actors from this era. Although he watched a lot of movies at the Beijing Film Academy last year, they were all foreign films. He had only seen about a dozen domestic ones, so he couldn't really think of anyone suitable for the role.

Huang Wenbin casually remarked, "Uncle Chen, you're the director, so why don't you decide on the casting?"

"That won't do!" Chen Huaikai took this issue very seriously: "You're the screenwriter, and you actually understand the characters better than I do."

Huang Wenbin opened his mouth as if to say something, but Chen Huaikai stopped him with a hand.

"Don't worry, I know you may not be familiar with the actors, but you definitely know whether the performance matches the script."

Chen Huaikai smiled and explained to Huang Wenbin, "When we select actors, we usually first check if there are any suitable ones in our own factory, and if not, we look outside."

As he spoke, a slightly bewildered look appeared on his face: "To be honest, after seeing this script, I was thinking about who would be suitable for Zhang Mazi, who would be suitable for Ma Bangde, and who would be suitable for Huang Silang... I was so stressed that my scalp was about to explode. You definitely need to give me some advice."

"This drama is a battle of wits between the good and the evil, a battle of equal strength."

Huang Wenbin thought about it carefully and then said, "So the main actors definitely need to be around the same age and have a similar temperament. For example, for Zhang Mazi, the actor should be a bit rough and tough, with a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit, confident and composed, and at the same time, have received a certain level of higher education. So it would be best to choose an actor who is between thirty and forty-five years old."

When the original actor, Jiang Wen, was 47 years old, he was a very distinctive character actor. It's hard to find an actor in all of China who matches his temperament. His younger brother can only be considered half a match.

Chen Huaikai nodded, and began searching his mind for actors who fit these descriptions.

Huang Wenbin continued, "Take Ma Bangde for example. He's cunning and shrewd, all cleverness and no magnanimity. His moral standards are very low, but he's also very good at judging situations and swaying between sides without incurring resentment from either side. So the actor we choose should be someone who has been through a lot and has a bit of the air of a small-time character. I suggest that he be between forty and fifty years old."

"For example, with the second child, you have to choose the eldest..."

As he spoke, he stopped and looked at Director Chen.

Chen Huaikai said with a smile, "You always said you couldn't choose actors, but now you're making a very good point."

"I just don't know which actor should be chosen specifically," Huang Wenbin retorted with a smile. "I'll give you the general requirements, and it's up to you, Uncle Chen, to decide who to cast."

At this point, Huang Wenbin suddenly had a mischievous glint in his eye and said with a smile, "However, there are a few supporting roles for which I have actors I like. I hope Uncle Chen can give them a chance to audition."

"The actors you've chosen are definitely suitable," Chen Huaikai said, patting Huang Wenbin on the shoulder. "Tell me their names, and I'll have them audition."

These days, all actors have to audition for a few days before filming a movie.

Only after passing the audition can one officially participate in the filming.

In fact, the audition process is also to help actors develop chemistry.

Huang Wenbin first mentioned his choice: "I hope Liao Bingyan will play the third bandit leader. Of course, this is just a suggestion."

Liao Bingyan is the father of Liao Fan, the third brother in the original "Let the Bullets Fly".

Around 2010, when Huang Wenbin remade "Let the Bullets Fly", he cast Liao Fan in the role, which could be considered a heartwarming story of father and son.

"Liao Bingyan?" Chen Huaikai thought for a moment, then remembered: "This person is a stage actor, right? He performed in the play 'Comrades-in-Arms' this year, and also played an instructor. His acting skills are not a problem."

Huang Wenbin continued, "As for the role of Xiao Liuzi, I would like to suggest an actor named Zhang Guoli, who is an actor from the Chengdu Railway Art Troupe."

"Where did you find out about this person?" Chen Huaikai asked, somewhat surprised.

Huang Wenbin casually explained, "Beijing Film Academy once showed an old film from 75 called 'The Mountain Pioneers,' and he played one of the extras. I thought he had a very special temperament, so I remembered him."

"Anything else?" Chen Huaikai asked with a smile, looking at Huang Wenbin, intending to empty his belly completely.

"That's all." Huang Wenbin felt a little embarrassed by the stares and couldn't help but touch his nose. "If possible, could you please invite Mr. Ge Cunzhuang to play Ma Bangde?"

Ge Cunzhuang is the father of Ge You, the original actor who played Ma Bangde. He just turned 50 this year, while Ge You was 53 when he acted in this drama, so it was a suitable match.

By this time, Ge Cunzhuang was already quite famous, but he wasn't among the top-tier actors. For example, he paled in comparison to Chen Qiang, Chen Xiaoer's father.

Mr. Chen Qiang was one of the "Twenty-Two Great Film Stars of New China" selected by the state.

Thinking of this, Huang Wenbin paused for a moment, wondering if he should ask Chen Xiaoer to play the role of the man selling cold noodles.

The age requirement for this role isn't that strict, and Chen Xiaoer is a once-in-a-millennium actor, making him perfect for the role.

"Of course." Chen Huaikai considered for a moment and nodded. "Xiao Ge is an actor from our Beijing Film Studio. I've worked with him two or three times. Having him audition is no problem at all."

Huang Wenbin noticed that Chen Huaikai's eyes were still fixed on him, so he quickly waved his hand and said, "Uncle Chen, don't look at me, I really don't have any."

"You're not being honest, you're like a toad." Chen Huaikai couldn't help but glare at him: "If I don't poke you, you really won't put in any effort."

Huang Wenbin gave an awkward smile: "Uncle Chen, what are you saying? I did express my opinion, didn't I? Also, could my classmates from the Beijing Film Academy come to audition for some minor roles?"

"We usually send out audition notices to the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy," Chen Huaikai replied. "If you have any friends who want to audition, that's fine too."

Huang Wenbin said with a smile, "Then thank you very much, Uncle Chen."

"Oh no, oh no!"

Just then, Liang Xiaosheng rushed in and shouted at the two of them, "Several groups of people have come outside, all looking for Wenbin. Something's not right."

Chen Huaikai paused for a moment, then stepped in front of Huang Wenbin and asked, "What exactly happened?"

"I don't know." Liang Xiaosheng took a sip of water from Huang Wenbin's teacup and continued, "I'm not sure of the specifics yet. Anyway, several groups of people came, specifically asking to see Wenbin. I saw that they were very aggressive and the atmosphere was tense, so I came over to report this first."

"You're so reckless!" Chen Huaikai criticized Liang Xiaosheng, reminding him, "The turmoil is over, what bad things could happen? Go over and ask around, Wenbin and I will wait here. If something's really wrong, shout it out again, and I'll take Wenbin out through the side door."

"Ah, I understand." Liang Xiaosheng quickly ran downstairs again.

Chen Huaikai turned to Huang Wenbin and asked softly, "Wenbin, did you write something that offended anyone?"

"I don't think so!" Huang Wenbin recalled his published works and realized that none of them had crossed the line, because he had carefully selected them and even made some adaptations.

Chen Huaikai looked very serious and said to Huang Wenbin, "Although the turmoil has passed, there are still many people with only a fighting mentality in their minds. If things get out of hand later, just run away. I'll handle things here."

Huang Wenbin felt a warmth in his heart. Since coming into this world, he had not received much care from his elders.

The original owner's parents were very traditional farmers, and he was their only son. Their only wish for him was to get married as soon as possible and carry on the family line. Going to university was a distant dream for them, and they were worried about him going out alone. It took him a long time to persuade them before he finally left home to study in Yanjing.

"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

A moment later, Liang Xiaosheng came running back with a happy expression, panting as he said, "They're not here to cause trouble; they're here to buy the script from Wenbin."

"Buy a script?" Huang Wenbin was taken aback.

"Yes," Liang Xiaosheng said with a smile. "Your two scripts have already been published, and several film studios have sent representatives to discuss them. Director Wang is currently receiving them and asked me to tell you that you're going over there now."

"Since it's just about buying a script, then there's nothing else to do. You can go now."

Chen Huaikai chuckled with relief, "I also had the crew bring over some actor information so we can discuss the subsequent casting."

Huang Wenbin followed Liang Xiaosheng all the way to Director Wang's office.

Laughter and conversation could be heard inside, even through the doors and windows, especially Director Wang's voice, which sounded smug and cheerful.

"Factory Manager, I've brought Wenbin with me!" Liang Xiaosheng knocked on the door and said very politely.

"Good, good, good, our factory's young talent has arrived!" Factory Director Wang was also meeting Huang Wenbin for the first time, but he had heard Chen Huaikai praise him countless times. This time, as soon as he saw Huang Wenbin, he immediately stepped forward and shook his hand: "Come, come, let me introduce you to these seniors in the film industry."

He then smiled at the representatives from various factories and said, "This is our factory's newly recruited screenwriter, Huang Wenbin. He's only 19 years old and is studying at the Beijing Film Academy."

The representatives from various factories who came to buy the script were all speechless with surprise when they saw how young Huang Wenbin was.

I originally thought that someone who could write such a mature script must be at least a young person in their thirties, but I didn't expect it to be a college student who is not even twenty years old.