The Capital City Film and Television College, formerly known as the Capital City Film Academy, was founded in 1946, exactly 60 years ago this year.
It is the largest professional film and television institution in both China and Asia, jointly established by the Capital City Municipal Government, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, and the Ministry of Education. Known as "the cradle of Chinese cinematic talent," it enjoys a prestigious reputation even internationally.
The academy offers 11 undergraduate majors, covering screenwriting, directing, acting, cinematography, sound recording, art design, production management, animation, and film theory and technology, essentially every field related to film and television creation. There are over 4,000 faculty members and students currently enrolled.
Over the past six decades, the number of professionals who have emerged from Beijing Film Academy is practically countless. Directors, actors, and cinematographers, every time the school holds an anniversary celebration, half the entertainment industry's biggest names show up to pay tribute.
Naturally, the academy maintains strict management; it isn't the kind of place one can casually enter for a visit. Even to scout for casting or recruit actors, you have to go through official channels; in other words, you need the right connections.
Fortunately, Sister Li had plenty of them. It wasn't her first visit to BFA, and she happened to know someone in the administration. So with just a few calls, they quickly secured permission to enter.
People in the industry all knew that students from BFA never have trouble "getting married"; in other words, they are highly sought after by production companies and agencies. The Acting Department in particular has a notoriously low acceptance rate, often hundreds to one, truly the definition of cream of the crop.
With such rare talent, it's no surprise that countless entertainment agencies and film companies keep a close eye on BFA students. However, the academy also has high standards; smaller agencies or studios, even with connections, are often ignored by the Acting Department's students.
But if Lu Chen himself came to personally cast actors, that was a different story, many students would jump at the opportunity. The academy also encouraged students to enter the professional world early, since what you learn on set is often more valuable than classroom theory.
Their guide that day was Mr. Chen, a young instructor from the BFA Academic Affairs Office, probably in his early thirties.
He recognized Lu Chen at first glance, and also knew Director Fang Hui.
Leading Lu Chen and the others through the campus gates, Mr. Chen smiled and said,
"Teacher Lu, are you here to cast roles for your new drama? I thought your project was already fully staffed. The last one was such a hit!"
Mr. Chen was a native of Beijing, well-informed, articulate, and naturally easy to talk to. After just a few minutes of conversation, everyone was chatting comfortably.
Lu Chen laughed. "Just call me Lu Chen, I wouldn't dare claim to be a 'teacher' here. I'm just looking around; there are still a few roles I haven't found the right people for."
Ever since he announced his new drama project on his blog, countless entertainment agencies had come knocking, recommending talent. While several roles had already been decided, a few major ones were still vacant.
This new drama's investment budget was several times higher than his last one. Lu Chen was determined to uphold the highest standards, so when it came to casting, he refused to compromise, or take anyone as a favor.
The actors must fit their roles, that was his bottom line.
Many modern domestic dramas, especially IP adaptations, suffer from poor casting, miscast actors, butchered scripts, and "star vehicles" that leave audiences furious. Lu Chen was determined not to repeat those mistakes.
He had already planned things out: if he couldn't find suitable talent at BFA, he would check out the Beijing Opera Academy and the Communication University of China next.
And if those didn't work either, well, he'd just hold an open nationwide audition and be done with it!
Mr. Chen chuckled. "We've got no shortage of talent here at BFA, I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
He then led Lu Chen, Fang Hui, Sister Li, and another assistant to the Small Auditorium on campus.
BFA had two main auditoriums, the Main Hall, used for large events and performances, and the Small Auditorium, which doubled as a classroom for the Acting Department. Many of their practical performance classes were held there.
Throughout the academy's history, countless directors had discovered their future stars right here in this very Small Auditorium, guiding them from obscurity onto the dazzling path of stardom.
When Lu Chen and the others arrived, there were already four or five students, both male and female, performing on the small theater stage. The audience area, which could seat around a hundred to two hundred people, was sparsely filled with thirty to forty students and teachers.
In the front row sat a teacher holding a microphone, clearly the one giving on-site feedback and guidance.
"Let's sit over here," said Chen laoshi, leading Lu Chen's group to seats in the third row on the right side of the hall.
He then introduced softly, "This is a class from the Performing Arts Department, Class of 2015."
At Beijing Film Academy, the Performing Arts Department typically enrolls just one class per year, thirty to forty students in total, each handpicked through an extremely competitive process. They were the crème de la crème, the elite of the elite. Upon graduation, they were highly sought after in the industry; their starting point was already much higher than that of most aspiring actors.
That said, not every graduating class produces superstars. Some fade into obscurity just like everyone else. The current entertainment industry is fiercely competitive, being a BFA graduate doesn't guarantee fame or success.
In fact, quite a few students end up switching careers after graduation.
A solid foundation helps, but after that, perseverance and luck are just as essential.
Inside this temple of art, Lu Chen, Fang Hui, and Sister Li were careful not to make any noise. They moved quietly to their seats so as not to disturb the ongoing class. Yet, their arrival inevitably drew attention.
Chen laoshi waved politely to the instructor up front, who nodded but didn't seem overly concerned.
The students, however, were a different story. Several of them quickly recognized Lu Chen, and soon, whispers of surprise, curiosity, and excitement spread across the hall like ripples.
Lu Chen, on the other hand, kept his full attention on the stage.
There were three male and two female students performing a short excerpt from a stage play. Judging by appearance alone, all five looked outstanding, the men handsome, the women beautiful, each with distinct traits and charm.
Beijing Film Academy's reputation for good looks was well-deserved. Not only were the students in the Acting Department exceptionally attractive, but even those from other departments tended to be above-average in appearance, pleasant to look at, to say the least.
Lu Chen carefully studied each performer. His upcoming drama was a modern urban romantic comedy, or more precisely, a youth idol drama, a genre where physical appearance played a major role.
But good looks alone weren't enough. He wanted faces with distinctive features, something memorable that could capture the audience's attention or affection at a glance.
Only after that came acting skill.
For youth dramas, the acting requirements weren't overly strict. Even first-year students from BFA could handle supporting roles after a bit of polishing, they didn't have to carry the show.
However, the murmuring in the audience, coupled with Lu Chen's focused gaze, clearly added pressure to the young performers on stage. Their nerves began to show, and mistakes started piling up.
They all knew this was a rare opportunity, but they lacked the poise and experience to handle the tension gracefully.
Finally, the instructor up front stood up and halted the scene, giving them a chance to regroup.
The students stepped down from the stage, their faces showing clear disappointment.
(End of chapter)
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