Chapter 5: The Prejudice in a Person's Heart is a Great Mountain

“Cheng Sheng, she’s not bad. Why didn’t you let her perform?”

Seeing Zhang Xinyi leave, Zhang Yang asked Cheng Sheng.

Generally speaking, the most important part of auditioning actors is to have them perform.

However, apart from asking her to dance, Cheng Sheng didn’t seem to pay much attention to her acting skills.

“Teacher, she isn’t suitable for Princess Pingyang Zhao,” Cheng Sheng shook his head and said.

“Why?”

Yang Chao and Zhang Yang had both heard of Zhang Xinyi; she was the most outstanding student in the 2001 class, with both good acting skills and looks.

Many acting professors thought highly of her and believed she would be famous in the future.

“She’s too charming; her temperament doesn’t fit.”

Indeed, Cheng Sheng’s criteria were temperament and appearance. Zhang Xinyi was good, but she lacked that heroic, spirited aura between her brows.

Princess Pingyang Zhao was a female war god who could go to the battlefield and a strong woman capable of recruiting bandits. He was looking for an actress with a heroic look.

Someone who would make people recognize her as a female general at first glance.

“Let the next one in.”

Since Cheng Sheng didn’t think she was a fit, Yang Chao and the others didn’t say anything more.

The morning’s auditions passed quickly.

At noon, Cheng Sheng told the remaining people to return in the afternoon, then went to the cafeteria with Yang Chao and the others to eat.

After being busy for so long, everyone was very hungry.

“Brother Cheng, you’re awesome!”

While Cheng Sheng and Yang Chao were eating, Qiao Shan walked over and gave Cheng Sheng a thumbs up.

Cheng Sheng knew what he meant. He owed a lot to the incident in Shanxi, so after signing the contracts with those coal bosses, he had told Qiao Shan about it.

“Shan-zi, I’ve saved a role for you. Are you interested in playing it?”

Cheng Sheng kept those who had done him favors in his heart. Besides, he had a good relationship with Qiao Shan; if he didn’t give his own brother the benefits, who else would he give them to?

“Brother Cheng, thanks.” Qiao Shan laughed, his small eyes almost disappearing.

“If you have time, read more of the biographical notes on the historical figure Cheng Yaojin.”

In Cheng Sheng’s view, the most suitable role for Qiao Shan was Cheng Yaojin, and Cheng Yaojin also had a lot of lines in the film.

“Alright, Brother Cheng, you eat first. I’ll go back and look up information on Cheng Yaojin online,” Qiao Shan said.

After Qiao Shan left, Zhang Yang remarked, “He really does fit Cheng Yaojin.”

“Teacher, there are too many people auditioning. It’s too troublesome to keep selecting like this, and it affects the students’ classes. Plus, I don’t have that much time. How about this: the school can issue a notice to the students, asking them to submit a resume and a photo. I’ll select the roles that fit, and then you can conduct auditions for the shortlisted candidates.”

The simulation panel had a filming time requirement, and Cheng Sheng had too much to do. He hadn’t finished drawing the blueprints for the set construction, costumes, and props yet. If they kept auditioning like this, it might take a month or two to finish.

Yang Chao and Zhang Yang nodded upon hearing this, agreeing with Cheng Sheng’s idea. They also knew he had too much on his plate.

After lunch, Cheng Sheng returned to his dorm to draw the costume and prop designs.

As for the afternoon auditions, he didn’t go, choosing instead to contact Hengdian to have them start building the sets.

Two o’clock.

Cheng Sheng drew a large stack of drafts, and without resting, he took them to see the principal.

After looking at the drafts Cheng Sheng submitted, the principal immediately took him to a factory and handed over the production of the costumes and props, urging them to speed up the process.

After reviewing the designs, the factory gave a timeline of one month.

After all, with tens of thousands of sets of clothes and armor, as well as swords and spears, one month was the factory’s limit.

Cheng Sheng calculated that, in addition to the month of preparation, he had five months for filming. If there were no accidents, it might be enough time.

After leaving the factory, Cheng Sheng didn’t return to school but went to China Film Group with the principal.

This was Cheng Sheng’s first time meeting Third Master Han.

All the filming equipment for *The Tang Dynasty: Origins* was being rented from China Film Group, so it was only natural to meet Third Master Han.

“Old Xu, so this is the kid.”

Third Master Han glanced at Cheng Sheng, his eyes carrying a hint of disdain.

“Not bad. He is the most outstanding director our school has cultivated in this year’s class.”

Xu Xiaozhong was the principal’s name.

“Hmph! A greenhorn who hasn’t even directed a single movie, yet he dares to helm a project worth over 100 million yuan. Old Xu, you all are too bold,” Third Master Han said in a deep voice.

Third Master Han didn’t think highly of this film directed by Cheng Sheng at all.

After all, not everyone was Director Zhang.

In his view, Cheng Sheng was just messing around.

He had read the script Cheng Sheng submitted for review; he admitted the script was very good, but he didn’t believe Cheng Sheng had the ability to film it well.

“Old Han, I believe in my student’s ability,” Xu Xiaozhong said firmly.

At this moment, he had to stand by his student.

“Old Xu, you’re confused. If you gave 100 million to those big-name directors, you could make a blockbuster.”

Making blockbusters had always been Third Master Han’s wish.

Director Zhang was able to film *Hero*, and Third Master Han had played a huge role in that; China Film Group was also the largest investor.

“General Manager Han, I know I lack experience and am young, but I don’t believe I am inferior to others.”

Being looked down upon, Cheng Sheng had to stand up and look Third Master Han in the eye.

“Cheng Sheng, is it? I don’t know how you managed to pull in 100 million in investment, but as a director, you must be responsible to your investors. If you lose all the money, you’re finished,” Third Master Han said.

In this era, making a movie cost a few million, or at most ten million. But Cheng Sheng had pulled in 100 million at once. He admired Cheng Sheng’s ability to secure investment, but directing was different from fundraising; it was a test of his directorial skills.

“For a historical film, you’re investing 100 million. Do you know how much box office you need to recoup the costs?” Third Master Han continued.

To date, no historical film released had exceeded 5 million in box office.

With a 100 million investment, a conservative estimate would require three times the investment amount—300 million—to break even.

And currently, the highest domestic box office was *Titanic* in 1998, at 360 million.

Then came *Hero*, released in 2002, at 250 million.

Third Master Han didn’t think Cheng Sheng could compare to Director Zhang.

“General Manager Han, I know you won’t believe anything I say right now. How about we make a bet?”

Cheng Sheng didn’t want to waste his breath explaining. To use the words of Shen Gongbao from the memories of another time and space: prejudice in people’s hearts is a mountain; no matter how hard you try, you can never move it.

He knew that once people had their own ideas and prejudices, it was useless to talk until he was blue in the face; he had to let the facts do the talking.

“A wager!”

Third Master Han laughed. This was the first person who dared to speak to him like this.

“That’s right, a wager,” Cheng Sheng said in a deep voice.

“How do you want to bet?” Third Master Han was suddenly interested.

“Let’s bet on whether I can recoup the costs,” Cheng Sheng said.

“Fine. Then what is the stake?” Third Master Han agreed immediately.