Rao Xue-Man prepares feature film The Movie Star's Script Goes Wrong

Photo: the short drama's filming launch ceremony; Beilun Fabu / 流媒体网

The story of The Movie Star's Script Goes Wrong (影后的剧本出了错) is set to receive a feature adaptation. The China Film Administration has approved filming of the project, written by novelist Rao Xue-Man. Jiangsu Xuemanshe Pictures submitted the application, and the project appears in the list of filings for the second half of September, published on November 2.

The story centers on Li Xinran, an acting graduate from an ordinary family. Mai Jiawen, the head of entertainment company Xinghan, spots her in a graduation performance. Their relationship begins with confrontation, but they gradually open up and learn to trust each other. That is how reports on the filing describe the new film's premise.

A short drama of the same name was filmed this summer: its filming launch ceremony took place on June 27 at Bodi studios in Ningbo. Li Keyi and He Jianqi played the leads. That version also combines the romance between an aspiring actress and an aloof company executive with dreams of a career: the characters face misunderstandings, a breakup and a reconciliation.

For Rao Xue-Man, this story has already taken several forms. In August, the writer explained that the short drama had grown out of one of her short stories, but changed considerably during the screenwriting process. She liked the result so much that she subsequently turned the screenplay into a novel of the same name and began publishing it on the Fanqie platform.

So far, the screenwriter and the company that filed the film have been officially confirmed. The published listing gives no director, cast or release date. The short drama's performers are therefore not yet confirmed for the feature, and permission to film does not in itself mean that production has begun.

Sources: China Film Administration, Weibo, 流媒体网 and Rao Xue-Man.