Chapter 72. Garnering interest
After the script reading session, all the actors and actresses left on a happy note. They do not have any frustrated or indifferent attitudes when they left.
They had all had relieved expressions and a happy look on your face because they all thought one thing.
'The drama would be a hit!'
It was the mutual feeling of everyone who was present in the script reading session.
Although the script reading session hadn't started well, the mood had became great after all the actors and actresses had seen Ren's acting and his portrayal of Rei.
They were sure that the drama would be a hit after watching that. They thought that Ren will be the one to lead it to success.
That's why, all the actors and actresses had changed their attitudes towards him and many had even approached him to talk after the script reading.
And it was not just Ren that was a surprise, someone else was unexpectedly shocking…
"Can't you tell me some of your thoughts about the script reading session?"
The middle aged actor broke out from his thoughts when he heard the reporters voice in front of him.
He was one of the actors that was in the script reading session. He was playing the role of one of the teachers in the story.
Sitting in front of him was a reporter he knew for quite a long time.
Just after he had came out from the script reading session, the reporter had approached him to ask some questions.
It was because the controversy about Ren was still alive on the internet and people were taking much interest in him.
"My thoughts about the script reading session. I would just say that the atmosphere was great."
"So, do you think that the drama would be a success? "
"Well, from what I can tell from the script reading session, it will be a hit but it will still depend on the public reaction of it."
"What would be like to say about Xin Ren's acting as the main character?"
The middle aged actor let out a low laugh when the reporter finally asked the main question he was here for.
"Are you interested in knowing that?"
"Yeah, of course, there is a lot of controversy going on about it. People are debating whether his move to play a lead this early in his career would be a success or not."
"When people are generally curious about those things and because of the media, it had escalated way beyond."
"What do you think, will the controversy affect the drama?"
"It will, certainly but I think it will affect it in a good way, more people will watch out drama because of it."
"They certainly will because of their controversy but you still haven't answered my question yet?"
The reporter said as he slightly narrowed his eyes.
"About Xin Ren's acting, it was…..good."
The reporter face fell a little when he heard that. He asked with an expectant face.
"Can't you be more specific?"
"Well, I can't reveal it much as the shooting hadn't even started yet but I think people will be surprised."
"Surprised? By Xin Ren? Was his acting that good?"
"Well, who knows, they are many things people will be surprised or maybe, shocked about."
The middle aged actor said as he made a meaningful smile leaving the reporter clueless.
* * *
Inside the PR Team office
"Director Kang, there's another article about «The stars above» and Xin Ren."
A female employee said as she glanced at the article on the screen of her laptop.
"There's another one. It looks like the media is still interested in it."
Director Kang said as she pushed up her glasses.
The controversy about Xin Ren had died down but because of the teasers released by the marketing team of Arc production, people had again started talking about it.
The media also escalated it a bit and the result was that, it had already reached the fifth place in the real-time search rankings.
"Well, «The stars above» is becoming the trendiest drama right now. It's a great thing for a cable drama."
"Yeah, Arc production had high hopes for it. They are promoting it with all they had got as they know that they had to hit the iron when it's a hot."
At Director Kang words, a male employee asked.
"Does that mean that «The stars above» will go down on the rankings?"
"It should go down as the controversy has been going on for days, the public had calmed down and China had many celebrities, the media will not linger on Ren for long."
"Yeah, they are going strong for now but when the news about other drama or movies, it will do down."
"Yeah, it would be great if it can maintain the momentum until it's release."
"Yeah, it will be a miracle if that happened."
Director Kang said as she let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, but people are still giving it heated response currently."
The female employee said as she glanced at the comments on the teaser video.
-Wow! It looks like the atmosphere of the script reading session was great.
-Yeah, most of the celebrities know each other from other shows and they had been friends for so long.
-Yeah, it's good that many actors who used to do theatre are in the drama.
-Because of that, the acting power of this drama is one of the best.
-Hey, don't you think the most shocking part is of Xin Ren.
-Yeah, he's doing it very realistically.
-Looking at that, I think he will do great in this drama.
-Well, we can't say anything about him from just a teaser.
-Yeah, we have to wait for the drama to air.
-It looks like there are many people who will watch the drama.
-I don't know about the others but I will definitely watch it.
-Hey, do anyone know about the girl who was with Xin Ren in the last scene.
-I don't know her but she's gorgeous.
-I think she's a debutant.
-The best looking is still Chen Mei. She's my celebrity crush.
Like this, the comments about the drama kept increasing but people interest in it also gradually shot down as most of the people knew about the drama already.
It also went down the real-time search rankings after two days.
It was unfortunate but everyone already knew that it would happen.
So, they were already prepared for it and after a week, the shooting for the drama officially started.