Chapter 31: The Audition

*3-Iron* is significantly more complex than *On the Beach at Night Alone*. For this production, Cao Yang recruited a substantial number of staff from the Youth Film Studio.

Cheng Jianye, the original producer, had collaborated well on the previous project, so Cao Yang appointed him as the production manager this time, overseeing both logistics and location management. As per Cao Yang’s instructions, the location manager had already departed for Ludong Island to scout suitable sites.

Two assistant directors were brought on board: Liu Shan, who continued as the casting director, and Li Mingyi, a Beijing Film Academy graduate recommended by Old Tian, who had previously served as an assistant director under him.

For the coordination, costume, makeup, lighting, and art departments, Cao Yang hired professionals from the Youth Film Studio rather than students from the Beijing Film Academy. He wanted to experiment with a more visual cinematic language for this film, and since the students lacked the necessary experience to execute such a vision, he required seasoned professionals.

Today was the day for the lead actor auditions. Unlike the previous time, Cao Yang did not need to post recruitment notices; circumstances had changed, and his invitations now carried significant weight. He had sent out three invitations—two to Beijing Film Academy students and one to a Central Academy of Drama student. All three arrived, and all of them arrived early. Although Cao Yang had intentionally staggered the times, they had all showed up ahead of schedule and converged at the same time.

Liu Shan, in his capacity as the casting director, had been tasked with the outreach. While those unfamiliar with the industry often believe casting directors wield immense power, they are generally only responsible for minor roles and extras. Cao Yang, however, had entrusted the lead role coordination to Liu Shan as well.

When Liu Shan informed Cao Yang of the situation, Cao was surprised that everyone had arrived so early. He instructed Liu to take them to the lounge and wait until the scheduled time to begin.

Fu Dalong had achieved fame at a young age, having started acting in films at eight. By the time he enrolled at the Beijing Film Academy in 1994, he had already appeared in several pictures and possessed extensive experience. Unfortunately, bad luck struck; he graduated in 1998, just as the domestic film market took a downturn, leading to a sharp decline in film production that had persisted ever since. Opportunities had become increasingly scarce.

When he received the audition call two days prior and learned it was for the lead in Cao Yang’s new film, he was ecstatic. Most of the famous domestic directors—from the "National Master" to the big-name commercial filmmakers—already had their own fixed troupes, making roles in their films rare commodities. While the industry did not yet view Cao Yang as an A-list director, his youth meant that no one could rule out the possibility of him becoming a world-class director on par with the greats. Most importantly, he had not yet formed a permanent team, making his projects highly coveted.

Fu Dalong arrived at the audition site over half an hour early, only to find Chen Kun, who was two years his junior, already there. They knew each other; in a department as small as the acting program, everyone knew everyone else before graduation.

"Kun, are you here for the audition too?"
"Brother Long, yes. Are you?"

Even though Chen Kun was two years younger in the program, they were the same age; yet, given the hierarchy, he still addressed him as "Brother Long."

"Ha, I arrived half an hour early. Perhaps your slot is before mine," Fu Dalong probed.

Chen Kun remained silent for a moment before replying softly, "I arrived over an hour early."

The reason for his early arrival was simple: he hoped to glean any useful information to improve his chances. Just then, another young man was led in. Chen Kun and Fu Dalong exchanged a glance—another competitor.

"You're here for the audition too?" Fu Dalong asked, knowing Chen Kun was usually quiet.
"Yes, hello."
"Hello, I’m Fu Dalong from the Beijing Film Academy," he said, introducing himself as a way to probe the other’s background.
"My name is Liu Ye, from the Central Academy of Drama."

The newcomer was soft-spoken and appeared somewhat shy, which felt slightly incongruous with his height of over 1.8 meters. Fu Dalong probed again, "You arrived early too?"

Liu Ye smiled, looking a bit bashful—an almost feminine shyness—and replied, "I was free, so I came two hours early."

Fu Dalong and Chen Kun both breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't seem to be a pre-selected connection; likely, he had just been recommended by his school teachers.

Liu Shan walked in, nodded at the three of them, and smiled at Fu Dalong. "Fu Dalong, you're up first. Come with me."
"Understood, Teacher Liu. Sorry for the trouble," Fu Dalong replied.

As a director from the school-affiliated Youth Film Studio, Liu Shan was well-known to students at the academy. Liu Shan knocked on the door, and upon hearing a reply, gestured for Fu Dalong to enter, whispering, "We're all from the same school, no need to be nervous."

Fu Dalong took a deep breath and stepped inside. "Hello, teachers. I am Fu Dalong." He looked up to see four people in the room: Cao Yang, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Li Mingyi, and Li Xiaoran.

Fu Dalong’s mind raced: *Is Li Xiaoran the lead actress?*

Cao Yang skipped the pleasantries. "We're all from the Beijing Film Academy, so don't be nervous. This isn't a formal audition as much as it is checking for fit. Follow Xiaoran in… let's call it a dance. Practice for twenty minutes. It doesn't matter if you don't master it; I want to see the feeling you put into the movement."

Old Tian added, "Here are some keywords: loneliness, freedom, soul liberation, and madness."

Li Xiaoran stood up and said, "The movements are simple. Just follow me a few times and you'll have it."

The previous night, Cao Yang had described and demonstrated the movements he wanted for the lead character to Li Xiaoran. She had mastered them in less than ten minutes—a testament to her dance background. That was why he had asked her to come and assist.

Truth be told, a dance background really made a difference. Cao Yang had even conceived of several other movements, which Li Xiaoran performed with a mix of reluctance and compliance, opening Cao Yang’s eyes to new possibilities. During a break, Li Xiaoran had asked, "Do you make her do these risqué movements, too?"

For some reason, Cao Yang had felt a surge of excitement, and the break ended. *Sigh, I've been corrupted.* Cao Yang couldn't help but reflect; it was all Li Xiaoran’s fault. He felt a sense of illicit excitement that he decided he must change in the future!

Twenty minutes later, Fu Dalong performed the sequence according to his own interpretation. The movements were a bit stiff, but they were intensely wild and masculine. Cao Yang didn't mince words. "Dalong, you were the first. I can't give you a definitive answer immediately, but I will let you know within two days."
"Understood, Director Cao. Thank you."

Not long after Fu Dalong left, Chen Kun entered. The process was identical, though Li Xiaoran taught with more diligence this time—after all, it was her close friend, which was only natural. Twenty minutes later, Chen Kun performed his version. His movements were fluid and nearly identical to Li Xiaoran’s, with a grace that befitted his background in a song and dance troupe. However, because it was so graceful, it lacked the eerie, unhinged quality required.