Dreams of stardom brought hundreds of high school graduates from all over the country to the Shanghai Theater Academy yesterday on the first day of enrollment for the new semester.

More than 400 would-be actors and actresses were in line yesterday morning at the city's breeding ground for movie stars two hours after applications opened.

But most will be disappointed. Only 50 students will be accepted this year.

"The students are extremely enthusiastic," said Zhang Shengquan, an academy official. "It seems that applications will exceed our expectations and break last year's record."

In 2004, there were 6,000 applicants from all over the country, and this year's crop is expected to reach 8,000, academy officials estimated.

Many students came from faraway, such as Shandong and Jilin provinces, to show their skills in singing, acting and interviews this weekend, school officials said.

Jiang xinnan, a 19-year-old high school graduate from Jilin Province, said she hopes to realize her lifelong dream.

"I've loved acting since childhood and always wanted to be an actress," said Jiang, who graduated from an ordinary high school and has no professional performance training.

Jiang arrived in the city with her mother on Wednesday. They are staying at a small motel near Nanjing Road W., which costs them about 600 yuan (US$72) a day.

"I know the application is costly and competition will be fierce, but I just want to give it a try," Jiang said.

In addition to the Shanghai school, admissions are also booming at the Beijing Film Academy and the Beijing-based Central Academy of Drama.

"Many young people nowadays are influenced by the luster of movie stars and are looking forward to having a brilliant, star-like life," said Wu Aili, an admissions official at the Shanghai academy.

She added that the lower academic requirements for art majors is also an attraction for those who haven't done well academically but are confident about their appearances.

Many of the applicants, however, came on impulse and don't understand that good actors need a solid knowledge base about their craft, admissions officials said.

Source: Shang Daily