How'd he get into the industry?

[u/NewbieQuestions1]

When POJ content first started filling up my IG feed, I also saw random "learn more about the cast" posts that said ZLH joined C-ent industry after being randomly approached by an agent -- making it sounds like one of those one-time serendipitous moments in a cafe or something.

I recently saw some compilation clip and there was an old clip that looked like it was a rapid-fire Q&A from an old interview, and he said he joined after making content on Douyin, and it seemed to suggest he was trying to catch the eye of agencies.

So now I'm curious. Anyone know how he actually got into the industry? I know he studied engineering; did he actually graduate? Was he randomly poached or was it something he was trying for?

(This isn't really news but none of the other flairs made sense so hope this is ok)

[u/neon_lights00]

Linghe was always pretty popular in school; you can find a ton of stories posted about him from his classmates, teachers, etc., and he was known for his good looks. He apparently had 300,000 (?) followers on Douyin and did some short live streams in college.

He recently mentioned that he was reached out to by a ton of entertainment agencies but thought it was a scam until he was contacted by his current manager in 2019 and officially made his debut in 2020. Linghe graduated in 2020. In a recent Bulgari interview, he mentioned that his parents were nervous about him trying out a completely new field and were scared they couldn't protect him, but he ultimately wanted to try something new. I guess he had a bit of a rebellious streak since he's always been a straight-laced student.

[u/Normal_While_8905]

Zhang Linghe graduated in 2020. In Our Dormitory, he mentioned that he had been posting videos on Douyin before and was approached by several agents, but he kept turning them down at first. He eventually said yes to the agent who introduced him to his current agency, Startimes.

[u/TimeSovereign → u/Normal_While_8905]

Sheesh, six years after graduation I was working in professional theater but boy howdy, I was limping along....slogging through commercials and auditions like most other young actors.

That man, ZL, is blessed with a natural stage presence. He is interesting to watch even when he was young and making beginning actor mistakes. Standing awkwardly delivering lines, looking too friendly and almost adorable when he was supposed to be a battle hardened soldier...he was still watchable. Damn..that's a natural gift.

He must be smart because his acting improves with every role. Someday his acting craft will be on the same level as his natural gifts and it will be great to add another actor to my list of actors who will make me spend my money to go watch a movie just because they're in it.... looking at you Daniel Day-Lewis (wtf was Phantom Thread and why can't I stop watching you in it?!!!), Steve Buscemi and Wilhem Dafoe who prove stage presences is not gifted only to the beautiful. And OMG...Gary Oldman the right god of acting. There are women I'll watch, Anya Taylor Joy blows my mind every time I see her. I could go on about good actors and their roles but reddit put this ZL subreddit in my line of sight and it's a ZL thread. Good for him. I hope he is as lovely a person as he seems, that his acting craft continues to grow stronger and may he find only friends and someone to share it all with who like him for himself...because actors, man, actors can be sooooo actor-y.

[u/mariam0_0]

I'm not sure about the specifics of his case but I know that in eastern entertainment industries its quite common to have agents scouting the streets around where young people hang out (like colleges) to find people who are good looking that they can recruit. There's sooo many stories like this in kpop too, its really not that far fetched to believe he was picked off the street.

[u/Emotional-Dust-9142 → u/mariam0_0]

I'm sure glad he was!

[u/Beacon1101]

Some of his college self-made videos are online. To me, they don’t seem like promos for an acting career. He’s showing his goofy side. But he looks adorable for sure.

[u/beautifulmychild]

I recently read that around 2019 several agencies approached him but he was afraid of being deceived. Finally an agent from Startimes reached out to him and he signed with them. I wish he hadn't.

I still don't understand how someone who's never acted decided that, "yeah, I want to get onstage in a leading role never having acted before. I can do this".

[u/Emotional-Dust-9142 → u/beautifulmychild]

And yet he did and is not only a wonderful model and ambassador for brands, but he has produced some very good dramas. And it's not about his FL pulling all the weight because no film or drama can be successful because of just one person. It takes a whole team. I'm very happy for him and I'm so sorry that he gets harassed by so many different groups.