The rooms next to the audition hall had been temporarily converted into makeup and costume rooms.
The actors scheduled for auditions were called in one by one, getting their makeup done and changing into costumes before waiting for their turn.
Inside the audition hall, Gilbert and Nolan sat in the main seats, with Stanley Tang beside them. He had been recommended by Jakie Chan and was nominally a co-director.
However, Tang knew very well that the real decision-maker was Gilbert. Even Nolan's word didn't carry as much weight.
Over the past few days, many actresses had tried to get close to Gilbert, and there had been plenty of gifts that Tang personally liked. But he dared not accept any of them, nor did he dare to take anything for himself.
After all, he had no authority to make any promises. If he accepted favors but failed to secure roles for the actresses, the consequences would be disastrous.
Tang caution proved to be the right decision. Several Chinese assistant directors, following the usual industry practices, accepted gifts and were immediately fired from the production by Gilbert.
Afterward, those assistant directors complained that Gilbert had no regard for relationships. The result? They were blacklisted from the industry and disappeared from the film scene entirely.
In truth, such things weren't unheard of in Gilbert's productions. After all, "too clean a stream has no fish." As long as it didn't interfere with work, Gilbert usually didn't interfere.
But these assistant directors were not core members of the team. If outsiders saw such behavior, they might think Gilbert had no control over the project, which would damage his authority.
So, to set an example, these individuals became the sacrificial lambs.
Sure enough, after their removal, the remaining opportunists immediately straightened up, realizing they couldn't afford to play tricks.
Everyone knew this was a major project. Participating in it would significantly boost their careers and earnings—no one wanted to be kicked out.
Just look at the team from The Lord of the Rings. They had now become the backbone of the film industry, fiercely sought after by major studios. That alone proved the value of this project.
The auditions soon began, with Zhou Xun being the first to go in.
At this time, Zhou Xun had gained recognition through Palace of Desire and had won Best Actress at the Paris International Film Festival for Suzhou River.
Though Paris wasn't one of the Big Three festivals, her agency's marketing had positioned her as a future international star.
With a steady stream of projects, she was also one of the candidates for the title of the "Four Young Dan Actresses" at the turn of the century.
Her agency had fought hard for this audition opportunity, and Zhou Xun had performed well, making it all the way to the final round.
After getting her makeup done and changing into her audition outfit, Zhou Xun was called in.
Having put in significant effort into learning English, she greeted the panel in English and briefly introduced her background.
Gilbert merely nodded and handed her a script, instructing her to begin the performance immediately.
The cameras rolled, capturing her audition. If any performances were difficult to judge, Gilbert and Nolan planned to review the footage repeatedly to make a final decision.
After Zhou Xun finished, Gilbert and Nolan exchanged a few words before Gilbert said, "You may go. We'll notify you if there's any news."
Zhou Xun felt slightly disappointed. She had hoped for more feedback from Gilbert, but seeing that none was forthcoming, she had no choice but to leave and wait for further updates.
After she left, Gilbert turned to Nolan and remarked, "She's actually quite good, but this role isn't right for her."
Nolan agreed. "She's too petite and not sexy enough. Acting ability alone can't make up for the physical mismatch."
According to the script, the character Little Serpent was a seductive female thief. While Zhou Xun's acting was solid, she was far from the image of a femme fatale.
So Gilbert marked an X next to her name, eliminating her from consideration.
"Looks like next time, we should specify the character's height and body measurements in the audition notice," Gilbert joked. "That way, actors can compare themselves against the criteria before applying."
For this audition, the role's requirements hadn't been explicitly detailed—only that the character was a beautiful female thief.
As a result, many actresses who didn't actually fit the role but considered themselves beautiful had turned up, including Zhou Xun.
It was understandable. Gilbert hadn't initially explained the precise vision for the role, so some mismatches were inevitable.
But that didn't matter anymore. As long as they could find the right actor in the end, that was all that counted.
Next up was Zhang Ziyi's audition.
Her acting skills were solid, and she had already made a name for herself in Hollywood films. Nolan personally favored her.
However, after Zhang Ziyi's audition, Gilbert said, "She's too calculating. I don't want to use her."
"But she performed well in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Rush Hour 2 and has some international recognition," Nolan pointed out.
Gilbert nodded slightly. "You're right, but we already have Jackie Chan. We can also cast a few Hollywood stars. Zhang Ziyi's level of fame is insignificant in comparison, and she's not essential for the Chinese market either."
Gilbert firmly believed that no one was irreplaceable—not even megastars like Tom Cruise, let alone Zhang Ziyi.
"Next audition: Li Xiaobing. Please be ready."
Li Xiaobing had made it to the final round. Feeling nervous, she took a deep breath to calm herself.
Her younger sister, Li Xue, had accompanied her to the audition. She quickly reassured her, "Stay calm, sis. You're a great actress, and you're beautiful. You can definitely impress Director Gilbert."
Li Xiaobing nodded firmly. "Yes, I believe in myself."
Taking a moment to steady herself, she pushed open the doors of the audition hall and walked in with determination.
Watching the doors close behind her, Li Xue silently cheered for her sister, believing that this was the moment her sister would soar to new heights and realize her dreams.
As soon as Li Xiaobing entered, she greeted them in English. Though she had practiced intensely, her English still carried an accent, but she could communicate without much issue.
"Director Gilbert, Director Nolan, Director Tang, hello. I'm Bingbing Li..." Li Xiaobing briefly introduced her credentials.
Gilbert was already familiar with her as an actress, but with so many more auditions ahead, he didn't have time to dwell on her background.
He nodded, signaling to his assistant, who immediately handed Li Xiaobing a script. "You have five minutes to prepare. After five minutes, the performance begins."
Li Xiaobing acknowledged the instruction, took the script, and noticed that a brief character description was attached.
The scene she was about to perform was between Little Serpent and Jackie Chan. She found it odd that the main character's name was Jakie Chan until she realized that Jakie Chan himself was actually playing the role.
But that didn't matter. Li Xiaobing's only focus was delivering her best performance.
The character bore some resemblance to Ling Chuchu, whom she had portrayed in Young Detective Bao, so she quickly found the right feeling and delivered her performance.
"What do you think?" Gilbert asked Nolan for his opinion.
Nolan looked pleased. "Compared to the previous one, this Li isn't bad at all. In terms of presence, she fits the role of Little Serpent much better."
"Let's see the others first," Gilbert responded, marking Li Xiaobing as a candidate for consideration.
When Li Xiaobing walked out, Li Xue immediately ran up to her. "How did it go?"
"The directors told me to wait for their decision, but I did my best," Li Xiaobing replied.
Li Xue frowned slightly. "I heard that Ziyi Zhang knows Gilbert personally. Do you think that'll be a problem? I mean, Gilbert might want to favor someone he's familiar with."
Hearing this, Li Xiaobing's confidence wavered slightly.
Still, she forced a smile. "It's okay. Director Gilbert is one of Hollywood's top directors. I believe my performance will impress him."
Li Xue nodded. "That's all we can hope for. Let's just pray he picks you."
Who wouldn't want to be chosen by Gilbert? This was a golden opportunity to rise to international fame overnight.
Right after Li Xiaobing's audition, Fan Xiaobing walked in for her turn.
At this point, the term "Four Dan and Two Bing" hadn't yet become widely recognized. Fan Xiaobing had gained some recognition through My Fair Princess and The Legend of Xiao Li Fei Dao, though she had only played supporting roles.
However, compared to Li Xiaobing, Fan Xiaobing still seemed somewhat inexperienced—mainly in terms of aura.
While Li Xiaobing had showcased a lively and playful energy in her audition, Fan Xiaobing gave off a strong Daji vibe, like a seductive consort in a palace drama.
Of course, actors could always be guided and refined.
But as the film's director, Nolan had no interest in spending time coaching an actor into the right portrayal. After watching all the auditions, he made his recommendation to Gilbert:
"I think Bingbing Li gave the best performance so far. I suggest we go with her."
Gilbert reviewed the audition footage carefully before nodding in agreement. "Alright, let's go with Bingbing Li. Call her and let her know."
The assistant immediately made the call, and by the afternoon, the results were out.
When the call reached Bingbing Li's phone, it was her sister Li Xue who answered. "Hello?"
"Is this Bingbing Li?"
"I'm her sister. I can handle this on her behalf." Li Xue had a feeling she knew what was coming.
Sure enough, the voice on the other end said, "Congratulations! Bingbing Li performed very well. Director Gilbert and Director Nolan have decided to cast her as Little Serpent."
"YES!" Li Xue resisted the urge to punch the air in excitement. Her sister had done it—she had landed the role.
She quickly responded, "Thank you! On behalf of my sister, thank you so much..."
"You're welcome," the assistant replied, then went on to explain important details, such as contract signing and the reporting schedule, before ending the call.
Just then, Bingbing Li stepped out of the shower, towel in hand, drying her hair. Seeing Li Xue practically dancing with excitement, she asked, "What's going on?"
Li Xue suddenly took a giant step forward, grabbed her sister's face, and planted a big kiss on her forehead, leaving a visible mark.
Bingbing Li was puzzled. "What? What happened?"
Li Xue was ecstatic. "Sis, we got the role!"
Bingbing Li was momentarily confused. "Wait, what?"
"I said—you got the role! You're going to Hollywood to shoot a movie!" Li Xue shouted excitedly right next to her sister's ear, almost bursting her eardrum.
But Bingbing Li didn't care. Her mind buzzed, her thoughts filled with a single realization:
I got the role.
I'm going to be famous.
I'm going to be an international star...
....
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