Because it’s come up so much, I just want to talk about scripts. There has always been debate about Xiao Ran’s choice of scripts but things are not as easy or as simple as “choosing a good script”.
A lot of production companies directly hand over scripts to artists rather than do open auditions so first, Xiao Ran has to have access to good scripts but the competition for them is very fierce. Most of these scripts are snatched up by stars with good resources or powerful backing. Even really famous stars will not be able to get these type of scripts if they don’t have the right resources or some sort of backing. For someone like Xiao Ran, with few resources and little backing, the best way for her to get access to these kinds of scripts is through exposure by airing dramas.
Second, if a star performs well in a particular role, they will often receive similar scripts. Xiao Ran has stated in the past that she gets a lot of tragedy scripts. She probably also gets a lot of scripts with characters that share some similarities with Xiao Feng. Similarly if you haven’t performed a role and it popularity hasn’t been market tested, then you may not receive scripts for different roles. Xiao Ran has said that one of the reasons she hasn’t filmed many modern dramas is because she hasn’t been market tested for them so she doesn’t receive modern scripts. The only way to breakthrough typecasting is to take more varied roles like Mu Yumo or Pang Hongmei (this is probably also the reason for guest roles) with the hope they will be successful (aka go viral) and be seen by producers.
Next, even if Xiao Ran chooses a good script, it doesn’t mean it will remain a good script or that the end result will produce a good work. As we have seen with Love and Crown, the script can undergo massive changes while filming. And even if there’s a good script, the director has to be able to film it well, the costars have to be able to act it well, and the costume designer needs to style the character well. Most importantly, the editor has to be able to edit the story well. Also, as in the case of Mu Yumo not everything that is in the script or filmed will make it to the final cut. So, while the script is indeed important, it is only the basis.
Lastly, C-ent is becoming a more and more difficult landscape. There aren’t as many dramas being filmed. And it can be hard to even get a drama started. In this film and television winter, a lot of what an actor chooses to film is the best thing they can get at the moment. Quality is what everyone hopes for but if you’re not well established, very famous, and get most of your exposure through dramas like Xiao Ran does, you run the risk of falling behind and being forgotten and that can also be very detrimental to getting into good productions. Turn down too many scripts and you can even be blacklisted. That said, Xiao Ran seems like she’s finally gotten to a point where she can pick quality over screen time. And she has hired script consultants now. Hopefully with this resurgence in popularity, she’ll have more right to speak and get access to better scripts, teams, and productions.
PS> There is no such thing as a wasted role as at the very least it offers an opportunity for Xiao Ran to show her face to the audience. Access to better scripts may mean compromises in other areas such as billing order or screen time. In these situations, it’s better to focus on the quality of the role rather the quantity.
Peng Xiao Ran; I am swiftly learning, is a #1 class act on set and off, and so talented, beautiful, smart (and…
I’ve been following her for a few years and she is really lovely. Her response during Jun Jiu Ling’s airing was also really eloquent and during the airing of Blood River, she really made an effort to protect Zhang Shi’an (Tang Lianyue), a newcomer, from online backlash. She sadly doesn’t have many translated interviews or livestreams but they’re usually down to earth and entertaining.
If FBB didn’t get into an accident, there’s no doubt she’d be among the top. It’s just she started later…
Well if the option is no exposure (which means no opportunities to showcase your skills) vs exposure with some downsides (but there’s a chance for success) then I don’t fault her. If she never took the gamble, her career would have ended at GBMP. And while the script is important, the team and production needs to be checked too.
I'm sorry, but they don't have the chemistry between both leads. I get that the drama tries to relive the 9th…
That’s because it isn’t the same dynamic. Ignore the marketing. GBMP is a wolf rabbit dynamic while L&C is Double A that becomes a caged canary dynamic towards the end. Even though people may argue with me, L&C’s romance is less about love and hate (although Cangcang does hate quite a bit )and more about Xiao Huan “taming” Cangcang.
I truly feel bad for my baobei. I hope someone goes her a script that got some of my other favs out of their typecast…
If FBB didn’t get into an accident, there’s no doubt she’d be among the top. It’s just she started later and doesn’t have the same portfolio of work as other 90s actresses. Not having a big portfolio means productions don’t know her range and so just give her the same scripts. She’s really had to fight to keep a place, always relying on her acting skills (actually I think she’s the most tested of the 90s hence why she’s one of the best) but as we can see from all the outside drama on Love and Crown, C-Ent is full of tricks.
I hope her next scripts are better because even with a crappy script like Love and Crown her acting stands out!
I heard she’s gotten more offers due to Mu Yumo. And she has apparently hired a script consultant to help her avoid bad scripts. I don’t mind waiting now. I just hope she can get into a quality productions from now on.
I’m really curious as to what the original 10 episode script looked like. We are 2/3 of the way into the story and Cangcang and her family line are still the most grounded plotline to me. Get rid of the sensational bits of the Lingbi sect and it could push towards a more serious drama.
On the other hand, the Xiao family plots are really floating, definitely idol drama plots. The only time it feels serious is when the Empress Dowager appears or when Xiao Huan interacts with Ling Xuefeng, usually when they’re alone.
keeping everything aside.....Peng Xiaoran is looking fabulous ......she looks so beautiful in historical dramas…
They share some similarities but the book Love and Crown is based on predates Goodbye My Princess. The producers of Love and Crown purposely tried to draw in the GBMP crowd by adding or enhancing elements from GBMP. I think after the initial shock of the same voice actress as Xiao Feng, there’s not much similarity between the two characters though. I think Cangcang, especially when it comes to acting, has a lot more range. Heroic, noble, tragic, alluring- Xiao Ran pretty much acts out every type of heroine.
They should give a moment where cang cang confess her feelings to Xiao huan and like say some good things to him…
I think making the father give up is the best possible solution. If he keeps going and has to be punished as a criminal that would implicate the entire family. That could mean everyone but Cangcang and other women who have married outside the family have to die, become slaves, or be exiled. Cangcang herself would be negatively labelled or in danger and would definitely have a difficult time in court. She may even have to give up her position.
Tbh, not that I morally agree with it but the evil family plot is the most interesting to me right now. It weirdly feels the most grounded and logical of all the plots so far. I don’t even think there needs to be the whole moon eclipse plot. The Lingbi sect as a personal private police/spy network with massive connections to the criminal underworld works. The dad’s thinking even has some historical basis. Although not as extreme as Grand Tutor Ling and a different country, the Fujiwaras basically controlled Japan’s throne for a long time through their daughters and their young sons. The underlying women can only be pawns in a man’s world theme is also interesting but suffocating at times. Cangcang reminds me a lot of a caged bird despite the bliss. And Du Tingxin feels a bit more interesting than the standard jealous 2FL for daring to upset the male dominated status quo.
Now i have come to know that the chinese industry is the dirtiest , they never respect their actor and actress.…
Don’t listen to the negativity. Her livestreams usually happen when there’s good news, to promote a show or makeup, or to comfort fans. There’s a lot of things she can’t control, but she is pretty honest about her situation when she can be and it seems things are getting better.
I think part of the problem was the show was supposed to be 40 episodes so this should have been the halfway point…
This part: “FL didn't try to find out who tried to poison her, how her poison was cured. All info needs to spoon fed to FL. Mmm ... it's hard to understand when she was a sect leader that made plans to expose kids slavery and saving them, etc.”
Maybe my words sound harsh but what I’m trying to say is in this situation even if the writer had her investigate the poisoning Theres nothing the FL can do. If the FL can’t sort out the master , she won’t be able to sort out the poisoning. The words “All info needs to spoon fed to FL.” imply that she’s not looking into things but she is actively investigating the Master and the logic for her poisoning is the same for the Master. The writer has it set that Cangcang won’t be able to find out much on her own.
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A lot of production companies directly hand over scripts to artists rather than do open auditions so first, Xiao Ran has to have access to good scripts but the competition for them is very fierce. Most of these scripts are snatched up by stars with good resources or powerful backing. Even really famous stars will not be able to get these type of scripts if they don’t have the right resources or some sort of backing. For someone like Xiao Ran, with few resources and little backing, the best way for her to get access to these kinds of scripts is through exposure by airing dramas.
Second, if a star performs well in a particular role, they will often receive similar scripts. Xiao Ran has stated in the past that she gets a lot of tragedy scripts. She probably also gets a lot of scripts with characters that share some similarities with Xiao Feng. Similarly if you haven’t performed a role and it popularity hasn’t been market tested, then you may not receive scripts for different roles. Xiao Ran has said that one of the reasons she hasn’t filmed many modern dramas is because she hasn’t been market tested for them so she doesn’t receive modern scripts. The only way to breakthrough typecasting is to take more varied roles like Mu Yumo or Pang Hongmei (this is probably also the reason for guest roles) with the hope they will be successful (aka go viral) and be seen by producers.
Next, even if Xiao Ran chooses a good script, it doesn’t mean it will remain a good script or that the end result will produce a good work. As we have seen with Love and Crown, the script can undergo massive changes while filming. And even if there’s a good script, the director has to be able to film it well, the costars have to be able to act it well, and the costume designer needs to style the character well. Most importantly, the editor has to be able to edit the story well. Also, as in the case of Mu Yumo not everything that is in the script or filmed will make it to the final cut. So, while the script is indeed important, it is only the basis.
Lastly, C-ent is becoming a more and more difficult landscape. There aren’t as many dramas being filmed. And it can be hard to even get a drama started. In this film and television winter, a lot of what an actor chooses to film is the best thing they can get at the moment. Quality is what everyone hopes for but if you’re not well established, very famous, and get most of your exposure through dramas like Xiao Ran does, you run the risk of falling behind and being forgotten and that can also be very detrimental to getting into good productions. Turn down too many scripts and you can even be blacklisted. That said, Xiao Ran seems like she’s finally gotten to a point where she can pick quality over screen time. And she has hired script consultants now. Hopefully with this resurgence in popularity, she’ll have more right to speak and get access to better scripts, teams, and productions.
PS> There is no such thing as a wasted role as at the very least it offers an opportunity for Xiao Ran to show her face to the audience. Access to better scripts may mean compromises in other areas such as billing order or screen time. In these situations, it’s better to focus on the quality of the role rather the quantity.
She sadly doesn’t have many translated interviews or livestreams but they’re usually down to earth and entertaining.
And while the script is important, the team and production needs to be checked too.
On the other hand, the Xiao family plots are really floating, definitely idol drama plots. The only time it feels serious is when the Empress Dowager appears or when Xiao Huan interacts with Ling Xuefeng, usually when they’re alone.
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5236936282739644
The underlying women can only be pawns in a man’s world theme is also interesting but suffocating at times. Cangcang reminds me a lot of a caged bird despite the bliss. And Du Tingxin feels a bit more interesting than the standard jealous 2FL for daring to upset the male dominated status quo.
“FL didn't try to find out who tried to poison her, how her poison was cured. All info needs to spoon fed to FL. Mmm ... it's hard to understand when she was a sect leader that made plans to expose kids slavery and saving them, etc.”
Maybe my words sound harsh but what I’m trying to say is in this situation even if the writer had her investigate the poisoning Theres nothing the FL can do. If the FL can’t sort out the master , she won’t be able to sort out the poisoning. The words “All info needs to spoon fed to FL.” imply that she’s not looking into things but she is actively investigating the Master and the logic for her poisoning is the same for the Master. The writer has it set that Cangcang won’t be able to find out much on her own.