Acting on a whim and a prayer

Wang Junkai, a member of TF Boys, performs at the Beijing Film Academy.

Family support

The enthusiasm expressed by many potential stars is not always shared by their parents.

A woman surnamed Yang, from Tangshan, Hebei province, accompanied her daughter to the preliminary test at the Beijing Film Academy on Feb 10.

"I want her to be her real self and do what she wants to do," Yang said, adding that was why she supported her daughter in her chosen path, even though she understands that many hardships may lie ahead.

Her husband is opposed to their daughter becoming an actress because he doesn't want her to come under the glare of constant media attention.

There is another reason behind the girl's desire for a life in the performing arts; the family is wealthy enough for their daughter to do whatever she wants, and she won't have to worry about finding a stable job after graduation.

Many of the applicants had the same attitude－they come from well-to-do families and face no real pressure to find a job because their family's financial resources will always be there to support them if they fail to make the grade.

This mindset is also held by many wealthy parents.

"Most of our generation studied computer science, accounting or civil engineering because it was easy to land a job with a good income after graduation. Now, we have ability to let our kids pursue whatever they want without thinking about money, so why not let them?" said one mother, who preferred not to give her name.

Liang Shuang contributed to this story.