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Chapter 128
Cultural literacy test?
Hearing these words, not only were the contestants on stage dumbfounded, but viewers watching the livestream were also shocked.
Though there had been some speculation earlier, when they actually heard the production team announce this, everyone was still stunned.
[Holy crap, there's actually an exam!]
[This is the first variety show I've seen that makes contestants take a written test. I have to say, this production team really knows how to shake things up.]
E n̈ um̊ а̇ . і̄d̄
[Hahaha I've had enough of certain entertainment industry bottom-feeders! Without even basic cultural knowledge, how can they be actors?]
[Forget variety shows, I support giving every celebrity in the entertainment industry a cultural literacy test. Some stars have nothing but a pretty face!]
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The bullet comments instantly flew across the screen. Under the livestream cameras, the contestants' immediate reactions upon learning about the exam were fully captured.
Some contestants were eager to try, while others calmed down after the initial surprise. Of course, some contestants' expressions turned rather unsightly.
Bi Yi was one of those with a poor expression.
He had never liked studying since childhood, with terrible grades in cultural subjects, to the point where he couldn't even get into a technical college.
Е n̂ uḿá
Fortunately, he had a reasonably good-looking face.
With this face, he was successfully spotted by a talent scout and embarked on the path of entertainment.
He never completed his education, nor did he care to.
In his view, what use was a high level of education? Those academic achievers who studied diligently for over a decade earned salaries after graduation that weren't even a fraction of his.
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Perhaps they might even end up working under him someday.
Whenever he thought of this, Bi Yi felt a somewhat twisted sense of satisfaction.
Ên̈u m̌ а̄ ..іd̃
But now, looking at the exam paper before him, Bi Yi's mood deteriorated to the extreme.
What was this variety show doing?
They were just actors, why should they be tested on their cultural literacy!
Bi Yi really wanted to curse out loud.
Acting had no fixed evaluation standard. One could spout nonsense, and amateurs wouldn't be able to tell the difference—it was possible to fool fans and passersby.
But exam scores were concrete facts, impossible to fake.
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[Wow, it's starting, everyone's beginning to write.]
[Haha, come to think of it, I'm actually curious what kind of exam questions actors typically get.]
[Looking at it, this production team's exam questions seem to reference stage actor assessments, with some consistent evaluation points.]
[Remember the National Youth Singer Competition in the past? All contestants took a cultural knowledge test on the spot—that was truly selecting top talent... Thinking about it now, it's really nostalgic.]
The exam paper had five types of questions, covering theoretical knowledge, logical thinking ability, language proficiency, professional skills, and some basic cultural knowledge.
The cultural knowledge questions were very simple—if one had studied seriously in middle school, they could basically answer 80% of the questions correctly.
Ẁ еḃ ńо v́ e l Е̇.n̈ ü_mа̄
Most contestants answered smoothly, carefully reading the questions and quickly responding. For a time, the entire stage was very quiet, with only the rustling sound of pens on paper.
Bi Yi sat in the seat marked "No. 28," his expression particularly unpleasant.
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He stared at the text before him, reading through the questions one by one, finding almost none he could answer.
How could they set such exam questions? Why were the questions so difficult?
Bi Yi's hand holding the pen trembled slightly. Finally, he steadied himself, randomly guessed an answer, and filled in the letter crookedly in the answer box.
[Sisters, that pretty lady at No. 87 is doing so well! One question per ten seconds, knows the answer at a glance, incredibly smooth.]
Ѐn̈ u mӓ
[That uncle at No. 12 seems to be doing pretty well too, getting most questions right.]
[I can answer most questions on logical thinking, cultural knowledge, and language proficiency. But for professional knowledge about actors, I really don't know much.]
[After observing for a while, I discovered someone actually got a single-digit multiplication wrong...]
[???]
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[Well, this variety show was wise to do a cultural literacy test upfront—the bottom-feeders were immediately detected.]
The exam lasted 60 minutes but wasn't boring.
Е̇ n̆ ũ m a .і̆d
Many viewers switched between different camera angles in the livestream to see how various contestants were answering, some even trying to answer the questions themselves, with new discussions constantly appearing in the comment section.
As time ticked away second by second, a "ding" signaled that the time for submitting papers had arrived.
Staff came up to collect the papers. Since most were multiple-choice questions, the grading process should be very quick.
After today's program broadcast concluded, the contestants' scores would likely be announced.
"The written test is over. Scores will be published shortly, and contestants can check their exam scores on the big screen."
"In the next examination, we will conduct a simple test on the basic requirements for actors—'voice, stage presence, and physicality.' Please prepare yourselves, contestants."
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Voice, stage presence, physicality, and performance are the four most fundamental courses in a performance major.
Since the "performance" aspect would be tested in subsequent acting competitions between contestants, this episode's mini-test would focus primarily on the first three elements.
Bi Yi stood up with everyone, but when he heard that the written test scores would be published, his heart sank to the bottom.
Once the score rankings were published, he would have no face left to save—this variety show production team gave contestants absolutely no face!
Bi Yi felt very anxious, knowing that his poor performance in his first appearance would leave a negative first impression.
How could he attract fans like this?
Е n̆ ú m̌ а̀
No, he had to do something...
Preferably something to increase his exposure and public likability to make up for the damage caused by his poor scores.
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With this in mind, Bi Yi took a deep breath and suddenly raised his hand: "Director, I'd like to ask... will the written test scores be used as the basis for the upcoming grouping?"
Hearing him speak, other contestants immediately looked over.
The program director standing on a platform not far away heard this question, paused slightly, and finally nodded: "Yes, we will group contestants based on their comprehensive scores."
Hearing this, Bi Yi thought to himself, "Just as I expected."
Еn̈ u ḿ а̌
If that was the case, he needed to advocate for himself even more.
"Director, we're just actors. Isn't it a bit harsh to demand cultural proficiency from us?"
The director looked at him curiously: "So what's your point?"
Bi Yi took a deep breath and said slowly: "I think... as the saying goes, each profession has its specialization. Actors only need to have acting skills."
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In fact, what Bi Yi said also reflected what some other contestants were thinking. They just hadn't voiced it directly.
After all, if an actor was cultured, it could enhance their appeal.
Е̊n̂u m а̂.і̇ d̃
But if an actor lacked culture yet possessed good acting skills, wouldn't they still be an excellent actor?
[Laughable! When saying this, could you first look at your own acting skills? Acting like your skills are so great.]
[I think he's right though. They came to act, not to take university exams.]
[Haters, stop spewing nonsense. What's wrong with my Brother Yi's acting? This production team forcing actors to take exams shows their ugly intentions.]
[Understand clearly, this is a cultural literacy test. You can have poor academic performance, but you can't lack basic cultural literacy!]
[I don't care about all that. Some idols lack even basic knowledge—can't write Chinese characters, can't solve simple math problems—it just makes me uncomfortable to see.]
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The bullet comments quickly filled with discussions. The program director collected himself, his thoughts racing.
Their show had no script, so they could only rely on the spontaneous performances of contestants and the production team, seizing every potential opportunity to generate interest.
And Bi Yi's question was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
"Contestant No. 28, I admit you have a point," the director said slowly. "But if an actor lacks sufficient cultural literacy, how can they perform well in a play? How can they perfectly interpret their character?"
Bi Yi was slightly taken aback.
The director continued: "As an actor, you need to understand the script. You need to comprehend the story and enter the character's inner world. If you lack cultural literacy and basic logical reasoning ability, then you can't even understand the script!"
Е́ ǹu m̊ a
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the other contestants on stage before returning to Bi Yi.
"Of course, you can force your own interpretation. But then, you might turn a righteous character into a despicable villain, or even completely distort the values of an entire drama."
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"Whether it's TV dramas or movies, they're for adults who have received nine years of compulsory education, not three-year-old children."
"If actors lack cultural literacy, can you perfectly convey the script's connotations and themes? Can you convince the audience through your performance?"
Bi Yi: "..."
Bi Yi opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
W eb̀n̈о̆ v̆ е ĺ Еn.ũm̀ а
Indeed, actors needed to understand scripts. In simple terms, that meant their reading comprehension had to be adequate, requiring basic cultural literacy and logical thinking.
Only with this foundation could one discuss acting quality.
Bi Yi's lips trembled, now somewhat regretting his impulsive comment.
However, having already spoken, he could only press on stubbornly.
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Bi Yi: "I believe... even if one's cultural literacy is inadequate, one can make up for this gap by carefully studying the script and pondering the character's psychology."
The director thought for a moment: "You make a valid point."
Еn u m̃ а. їd
After saying this, he paused, then politely nodded to Bi Yi: "Then, I hope you achieve good results in the upcoming performance segment."
Bi Yi had been waiting for the director's rebuttal, ready to respond, but unexpectedly, the other party directly shifted the topic to him personally.
Bi Yi: "..." He was almost stupefied.
Wait, that's not what he meant!
He had only wanted to question the program's rules, not suggest that he would make up for this deficiency in the subsequent performance segment!
He knew his own acting level all too well!
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Bi Yi opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but the director had already stopped paying attention to him.
As the broadcast announcement sounded, the production team directly declared the start of the next process.
[Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter, is No. 28 digging his own grave?]
[Not necessarily, what if he really has that ability? dog head emoji]
[If he truly stands out in the performance segment, that would definitely make up for the written test gap, and I'd acknowledge his skill.]
[Haters, stop talking about my Brother Yi, okay? Brother Yi's acting is very strong. You all lack culture yourselves yet mock others—let's see you try!]
W е̊b̄ ṅо̌vеl̃ Ënu ṁа
[Hm? Where did this brainless fan come from? But seriously, for an exam of this level, I could do it too.]
Bi Yi didn't know how the bullet comments were discussing him as he walked off stage in a daze.
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Other contestants were also standing backstage. After the earlier written test, everyone had become serious, gathering in small groups to discuss the upcoming three tests.
Bi Yi walked slowly over, immediately encountering his bespectacled roommate.
The bespectacled young man pushed up his glasses, showing an admiring expression: "Impressive, brother!"
Bi Yi: "?"
Е̄ n̂ ûmа̊.. іd̆
Bespectacled young man: "I didn't expect that although you're not good at written tests, you're very good at performance competitions—you even set up a flag with the director on the spot."
He paused, patting Bi Yi's shoulder: "Good luck in the performance competition, I'm counting on you."
Bi Yi: "..."
Couldn't this person see that he had accidentally fallen into a pit and was now in an awkward position?
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What kind of bookworm nerd was this? A total weirdo!
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Е ń ũ.m̈.а̂.і̂d́
The subsequent mini-tests proceeded very smoothly. Following the production team's requirements, each contestant underwent about 15 minutes of testing.
Voice, stage presence, physicality, and performance were originally required courses for any actor.
Regrettably, Bi Yi's performance in this segment was equally unsatisfactory.
Combined with his terrible written test score, his comprehensive ranking was at the bottom, directly placing him in the last group—Group F.
That very evening, related hashtags appeared on the trending list.
#DoYouThinkActorsShouldHaveBasicCulturalLiteracy#
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#ActorTrainingCampCulturalExam#
#ActorWrittenTestQuestions#
Although in recent years netizens had often clamored for celebrity evaluations, it had never actually been implemented.
"Actor Training Camp" was the first variety show to do so.
[Awesome! What's this variety show called again? I'm rushing to watch it.]
[In my opinion, celebrities should take exams, and those who fail shouldn't debut. Otherwise, becoming a celebrity really has no barriers at all.]
Е̂ n ũ m̀ а . ї d̀
[This variety show is so powerful! Earlier I saw them advertise that fans could support idols for free, now they're making contestants take exams. It's truly a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry.]
[It's only the first day of broadcast, probably just a gimmick. Later on the routine will be the same as other variety shows, hehe.]
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With this topic, "Actor Training Camp" directly shot to the top of the trending list.
Meanwhile, the CP topic that "Good Drama PK Competition" had specially bought for two contestants was pushed back, creating barely a ripple.
As for the trending topic they had originally purchased, it dropped off entirely.
When the director of "Good Drama PK Competition" saw this news, his expression turned ugly.
W̊ е̂ b n̂ о̃ v̀еľ Е nu ḿ.а
"Damn it... I knew it!" he paced back and forth in the room.
He knew these two variety shows were in direct competition, and their original audience would definitely be divided.
But he hadn't anticipated that the opponent would come on so strong, immediately employing such drastic measures.
"Cultural exam... what else do they want to do?" the director gritted his teeth, his mood becoming incredibly heavy.
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Making a group of celebrities take a cultural exam—this was pure insanity.
Did she think this was about selecting top-tier talents?
Ěñũm.а̂ .і d̆
This time, not only was the director in a bad mood, but the contestants were also feeling terrible.
The reason was simple: all the trending topics they had bought were being squeezed out by "Actor Training Camp."
"We livestreamed and marketed for so long yesterday, but now, apart from fans, no one else is paying attention?" A contestant looked at his backend data, feeling disoriented by the stark contrast.
Someone nearby scoffed: "What's that compared to me? There are even people in my fan group recommending 'Actor Training Camp.' I estimate that in no time, half our fans will run off."
"Indeed, that variety show even encourages fans to freeload."
When saying the word "freeload," the contestant's tone carried a hint of indignation.
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Not spending money on idols—what kind of fan was that?
This variety show was blatantly challenging their bottom line, challenging industry rules.
"That's not even the worst part..." someone took a deep breath and slowly said, "Have you noticed that contestant named Bi Yi previously participated in our show but was eliminated?"
Hearing this, the other contestants were stunned.
Bi Yi?
Of course they remembered him—a reasonably good-looking young man, but unfortunately those backing him weren't strong enough, and combined with his unmemorable persona, he was regrettably eliminated.
Е num̊ä
Now, he had gone to "Actor Training Camp"?
"I recall Bi Yi's acting skills were above average among us," a brown-haired girl anxiously said. "What if he goes to Yao Bianliang's variety show and suddenly becomes famous? What then?"
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They still remembered the tragic fate of "Best Music Producer."
Several eliminated F-rating contestants were directly recruited by Yao Bianliang and became famous with one hit song.
This directly led to "Best Music Producer's" reputation collapse.
"No, I don't think so..." someone swallowed and slowly said, "What I'm worried about now is that after Bi Yi goes to 'Actor Training Camp,' he'll be completely outclassed by the people there."
Е n um а . ї d̄_
Brown-haired girl: "..."
If that were the case, wouldn't it be even worse!
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Bi Yi's identity wasn't a secret. Not only did these contestants notice, but netizens quickly discovered this as well.
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[Brothers, am I seeing things, or is that Contestant No. 28 who was talking with the director the Bi Yi from "Good Drama PK Competition"?]
[It is Bi Yi. I remember his acting skills were quite strong, and he was highly praised by the judges at the time.]
En u m а . іd
[Bi Yi's acting is pretty inflated, right? The judges were just being polite, those who know understand.]
[Isn't Brother Yi's acting good enough? Some haters don't even think. The directors in "Good Drama PK Competition" really appreciated Brother Yi's acting, saying it was explosive!]
[Is this contestant's acting really good? I'm confused. I recall he ranked at the bottom in "Actor Training Camp."]
[Haters get out. Brother Yi just has slightly poor academic performance. Actors are actors—why should they be judged by academic results?]
After casual commenters made a few remarks, they were inexplicably labeled as haters, which sparked arguments with fans.
Fans vigorously tried to prove their idol's excellent acting, turning an ordinary Weibo post into a thread with thousands of comments, pushing it to the front page of hot topics.
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Some even dug up videos from "Good Drama PK Competition."
In the video, Bi Yi performed a "turn and smile" scene and was praised by the judges as having "explosive acting skills, a rising new star."
Other netizens who didn't know the situation were completely bewildered.
[So what are you all arguing about?]
[To summarize in one sentence: this No. 28 contestant was praised for explosive acting skills in "Good Drama PK Competition," but in "Actor Training Camp" he became a poor student placed in the last group.]
[Hahaha hearing this description makes me laugh, is there really such a thing?]
Е̃ ñ ů ṁ а . і d
[Actually, you don't need to argue. Whether this No. 28 contestant acts well or not will be evident when the next episode of "Actor Training Camp" airs.]
At "Actor Training Camp," in the backstage rest area.
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Yao Bianliang reclined in her chair, looking at the online comments, very satisfied as she curled her lips into a smile.
Although various parties were arguing heatedly, they probably hadn't realized that everyone's focus of debate had been reduced to just one thing—acting ability.
They were no longer fixated on which contestant was more attractive, nor were they concerned about whether they had girlfriends or what their personas were like.
Their focus had shifted from peripheral issues to the matter of acting skill.
Еn.um̆а́
This was precisely Yao Bianliang's goal.
Other variety shows would choose to let contestants make their debut appearances on the first day of livestreaming, showcasing their personas to attract fans and create topics for discussion.
But Yao Bianliang didn't need these things. She wanted the audience to focus more on a contestant's acting skills.
So, on the first day, she arranged exams for the contestants and grouped them directly based on their comprehensive rankings.
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—This way, the audience's first impression of these actors would no longer be stereotyped as "academic genius persona," "foodie persona," or "passionate lover persona."
The only standard dividing all contestants would be—
Wеb̀n о̂ v̀.ẽ l̃ Е̃ ń ǔmӓ
Ability!
And this standard would run through the entire variety show.
People naturally admire strength, especially in fan circles.
With this first day's variety show broadcast as a foundation, it was foreseeable that excellent actors would gain higher popularity, while those who only knew how to sell their faces, play victim, or market their personas would be at a disadvantage.
Thinking of this, Yao Bianliang's mood became even more cheerful.
If this plan succeeded, they would cultivate a batch of excellent new-generation actors!
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The new waves of the Yangtze River push forward the old, and the old waves die on the shore.
With several batches of such actors, how far would her path to "flopping" be?
Just as she was pondering, a "creak" sounded as the room door opened.
"Sister Liang, speaking of which, the contestants will start training tomorrow, right?" Wen Xuan pushed open the door and entered the rest area, stretching.
She hadn't taken on many advertisement endorsements recently, and after resting, she looked much more refreshed.
"I asked the production team, and they've already distributed the scripts. We'll gather these contestants for training tomorrow—by the way, what time should we have them wake up tomorrow?"
E ňům̃ а̇. і̃d
Yao Bianliang pondered for a moment: "Five o'clock."
Wen Xuan was startled: "Five in the afternoon?"
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Yao Bianliang: "No, five in the morning."
Wen Xuan: "??"
Even the most hardworking contestants in "Good Drama PK Competition" next door only got up at seven!
Seeing Wen Xuan's bewildered expression, Yao Bianliang revealed a smile and reassuringly patted her shoulder.
Ѐ nûmа
"It's fine. If you judges can't get up, that's okay. I can go by myself," Yao Bianliang comforted her.
Whether Wen Xuan and the others worked hard wasn't important; what mattered was that the contestants must work hard.
After all, according to the system's requirements, as the host, she had to rise early and work late when acting, even having to disrupt her day-night schedule for performances.
If she had to work so hard, how could she let those contestants relax and enjoy?
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They must work even harder than her!
Thinking this, Yao Bianliang lowered her head to look at the list in her hand, her fingers gently stroking the paper.
Ĕň u m а̀
One hundred contestants meant one hundred treasures waiting to be discovered.
Whether she could successfully "flop" depended on their efforts!
