Chapter 28: Beijing Film Academy, The Results Are Out!

February 28, 2010. 10:00 AM.
Beijing Film Academy, Building B, Performance Department.
Today was the day the results for the preliminary round of the Beijing Film Academy (BFA) acting entrance exams were posted.

"Are the results up yet?"
Su Wanyu, panting slightly, stared at the bulletin board outside the acting building. Chen Jin just treated the run from the school gate as a physical conditioning exercise.

"Definitely not yet!"
Chen Jin pointed to the swarms of students and parents surrounding the building. The entire area beneath Building B was packed. At a glance, there were at least several thousand people.

In this day and age, checking results via the internet or mobile text messages wasn't the norm. Whether for the preliminary or secondary rounds, one had to go to the school in person at the designated time to check the posted lists. If one passed, they would pay the registration fee for the next round on the spot. After the third round, a formal certificate of qualification would be issued.

The bulletin board before them would eventually display the results of the third round. That was the true ranking—the one that mattered most to students. It included specific scores and placements, a record that would follow an actor for their entire career, attached to their resumes and files. Being ranked first or third in a given year was something many actors would mention in their bios for years to come. In the industry, talent agencies and casting directors took these rankings seriously. While not quite as prestigious as being a top national college entrance exam scorer, being the top-ranked student in the arts entrance exam was a significant achievement that carried real weight.

Many students who took the top spot rarely ended up struggling in their careers. For instance, the top scorers in 2005 were Chen Xiao at the Central Academy of Drama (CAD) and Yang Mi at BFA; in 2006, it was Chen Xiaoyun at CAD and Zhu Yilong at BFA, followed by others like Liu Haoran and Yi Yangqianxi.

By 2010, many of the top-ranked students were already child stars. Having entered the exam with extensive professional experience and numerous film and television credits, they acted as a "dimensional strike" against the average student. It was only natural that those who were already famous would take the top spots.

Chen Jin was up against such competition. The most famous candidates in this year's BFA cohort were undoubtedly Yang Zi and Zhang Yishan, known for their roles in "Home with Kids." They were currently surrounded by parents and students, so Chen Jin couldn't see them. However, Li Xian, who had been in the same preliminary testing room as Chen Jin, stood alone with his mother and smiled when he saw Chen Jin approach.

"You should be fine, right?" Li Xian asked. As the two stood aside, Chen Jin introduced him to Su Wanyu. Li Xian told his mother how well Chen Jin had performed during the exam, and the two mothers began to chat.

Li Xian’s family situation seemed even more modest than Chen Jin’s—a working-class background evident in his mother’s attire. While Su Wanyu had at least put in some effort, wearing lipstick and dressing up, Li Xian’s mother wore glasses and a simple outfit, though she possessed a refined temperament. Compared to the other parents—many of whom looked like fashionably dressed celebrities or wealthy individuals draped in Gucci and LV—both women looked rather plain. Chen Jin and Li Xian were dressed in standard high school attire: one in Metersbonwe, the other in budget-friendly gear, though both sported Adidas and Nike sneakers.

"It's here!"
"The results are up!"

Someone shouted, and Chen Jin and Li Xian looked up. The mothers stopped talking and fixed their eyes on the entrance of the teaching building. Several teachers walked out, carrying large red scrolls containing the list of those who passed the secondary round.

A total of 4,210 students had applied for the BFA acting program in 2010. With only 120 spots available, the acceptance rate was less than 3%. The preliminary round was less rigorous, with a pass rate of over 10%, meaning about 500 students would move on. After the secondary round, another half would be cut, leaving about 150 for the final third round.

"Make way! Everyone will be able to see!" A teacher shouted at the surging crowd. The people spontaneously cleared a space.

*Rustle.* The red paper was slowly unfurled. Sharp-eyed students had already spotted names.
"Zhao Yandong!"
The first name on the list was called out, and a student shouted excitedly, "That’s me! That’s me!"
"Hahaha, don't get too excited! There are four more sheets to go..."

As the sheets were posted one by one, the tension in the air began to dissipate into laughter. While students like Yang Zi and Zhang Yishan remained relaxed, most others were anxious.

Finally, the last sheet—the top 100 candidates—was posted. Parents and students surged forward, craning their necks. Chen Jin and Li Xian couldn't squeeze through the crowd, and their mothers eventually gave up.

The teacher playfully teased the crowd, pinning the paper at the bottom and rolling it upward. Everyone’s eyes locked onto the first column, the top 25, ignoring the rest.

"You Jingru!"
"Guan Xueying!"
"Yu Yue!"

Names were called out, accompanied by cheers.
"Li Xian!"
"Oh my god, son!" Li Xian’s mother grabbed him, cheering excitedly. Su Wanyu felt a twinge of anxiety but congratulated her, "Congratulations!"
"Your son will definitely pass too! Didn't Li Xian say your son performed even better than he did?"
"Well... it all depends on the teachers," Su Wanyu said awkwardly, fearing embarrassment if he didn't make it. She suspected Li Xian was just being polite.

"Zhang Yishan!" a loud voice rang out.
"Huh? Zhang Yishan?"
"What rank is Zhang Yishan?"
"Is it not over yet?"
"Is Zhang Yishan not first?"
"Maybe Yang Zi is ahead of him?"

Suddenly, the crowd erupted into a roar. With a final flick of the teacher’s hand, the rest of the names were revealed. The name in the top spot stood out, brilliant and unmistakable. Even from a distance, Chen Jin and Su Wanyu could see it clearly.

*Chen Jin!*

The crowd began to shout in astonishment.
"Chen Jin!"
"The top student is named Chen Jin!"
"Yang Zi is only third!"