Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 679 Ali Ma's Acting

Hangzhou, Alibaba headquarters.

The office area, usually filled with the sounds of keyboards clicking and discussions, was now filled with cameras, lighting equipment, and busy film crew members. The air was thick with a tense yet exciting atmosphere—the Inception crew was filming the scene where "Horse" and Cobb meet.

For the role of Saito in "Inception," Zhang Chen invited Ali Ma to play it, and the actor's name was "Ma."

The original Saito was played by Ken Watanabe, and was set up as a wealthy Japanese man. Zhang Chen simply changed the character setting. Why not just find a real wealthy man?

Changing the character to "Ma" (马), a Chinese entrepreneur, immediately brings the character to life, because Alibaba's Ma is indeed a wealthy man, and he is particularly active on the global stage.

By 2010, Ali Ma was already quite famous internationally.

After years of hard work, Alibaba, which he founded, has become a giant in China's internet industry, with its business covering multiple fields such as e-commerce, payment, and logistics, affecting the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

His name is not only a household name in China, but also enjoys high international recognition.

In 2001, he was selected as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum; in 2007, he was named “Business Person of the Year” by BusinessWeek; and in 2009, he was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine.

This year, Alima's international influence has further increased as he joined the global board of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), becoming the first Chinese member of the board, which has garnered him more attention in the international environmental and business communities.

In addition, Fortune magazine selected the 50 smartest people in the global technology industry based on "intelligence" and "influence," and Ali Ma, as the "CEO of Alibaba," ranked fourth among the "smartest CEOs."

All of this demonstrates that Alima has already achieved a high level of international recognition and influence.

For a global blockbuster like Inception, the choice of actors not only affects the quality of the film, but also directly impacts its market performance.

Although Ken Watanabe is an internationally renowned actor with a certain fan base, his influence is mainly concentrated in Japan and some Asian countries.

Ali Ma, on the other hand, has a highly recognizable name worldwide, especially in the business and internet sectors, where he has a huge potential audience.

Inviting Alima to star in the film will undoubtedly generate a lot of buzz and attention.

Both media reports and audience discussions can generate a lot of buzz for a film even before its release.

In addition, as the CEO of Alibaba, Ali Ma can provide unique resource support for the film, such as promotion and publicity on Alibaba's platform, which is undoubtedly an important guarantee for the film's box office performance.

Inviting wealthy people to act in movies is certainly not the first idea Zhang Chen came up with, but few have succeeded.

There's no other reason than that it's too difficult.

Some wealthy people, presuming on their status, look down on movies, and they don't even care about the low salaries they receive.

But Alima is different. He is also very interested in film, otherwise he wouldn't have found a group of actors to help him make a short film called "Gong Shou Dao" in 2011.

But what if Alima has no acting experience?
It's simple, just let yourself be creative.

Ken Watanabe played the wealthy man very well, but Arima was a real wealthy man.

Ken Watanabe's portrayal of Saito in the original "Inception" perfectly captured the composure, sophistication, and ambition of a wealthy man, earning him unanimous praise from audiences and critics alike.

However, it cannot be denied that Ken Watanabe is, after all, "playing" a wealthy man, and he needs to use his observation of life and acting skills to create the character.

Ali Ma, on the other hand, is a true tycoon who experiences the ups and downs of the business world every day. This kind of life experience is something that no actor can imitate.

The confidence, composure, and vision he exudes are the qualities most needed for the role.

For the role of "Horse", Ali Ma doesn't need to act; he just needs to be himself.

On set, Alima was dressed in a sharp suit. The meeting room was Alima's actual meeting room. As for the lines, Zhang Chen also gave Alima free rein. The production team only provided the gist of the lines, and Alima decided how to organize the language himself.

This approach made Alima feel very relaxed. He was best at talking (persuasion). It was difficult for him to memorize those lines, but it was as easy for him to organize them on his own as drinking water.

"Click~"

After one take, Zhang Chen called for a stop.

"Mr. Ma, the script is well-written, but please pay attention to this: you're issuing the order to Cobb from a superior's perspective, so there's no need to show humor here."

Ali Ma may have given too many speeches, and he always unconsciously tries to show his humor, which is not wrong in itself, but it is not appropriate in this context.

Ali Ma understood immediately, apologized, and then reshot the scene.

The lines were completely different from the previous one, but the effect was great.

"Click, not bad, passed!"

Zhang Chen led the applause, and the crew members followed suit.

This is nothing for ordinary actors, but for the wealthy, we must provide them with sufficient emotional value.

Filming here, they didn't charge a single penny for the location, and the fee was just a symbolic 10,000 yuan.

Alima smiled and accepted everyone's compliments, while Zhang Chen felt that he had made the right choice in hiring Alima.

First of all, he doesn't lose his temper easily.

If it were someone like Dong Mouzhu, it would be a disaster for the entire production team.

Secondly, Alima was very relaxed, probably because he has experienced too many big scenes. Even when being watched by dozens of people from the crew, he didn't seem nervous at all, which is excellent.

Moreover, Alima doesn't look at the camera, which is quite remarkable.

The most common mistake that newcomers make is looking at the camera unconsciously.

But Alima doesn't, which may be related to his frequent appearances on television programs.

After the previous shot was over, the crew was setting up the set and preparing for the next scene, and Zhang Chen took the opportunity to explain the scene to Ali Ma.

On a nearby bench, Zhang Chen pulled Ali Ma to sit down, took out the script, and explained in detail the importance of the character "Ma" in the entire film.

"The horse is the key to the plot of the whole play. Without the horse's needs and resources, the whole task of 'implanting ideas' would be out of the question. He is the key trigger that drives the plot from static to dynamic."

Without his demand for 'implanting ideas,' Cobb and his team would not have come together, and the subsequent events would not have unfolded.

His arrival transformed the previously tranquil plot into a dramatic and unpredictable spectacle, filled with unknowns and challenges.

Even if Ali Ma is incredibly talented, it's still his first time acting. To ensure a smooth filming process, Zhang Chen had to help him analyze the character.

As Alima listened to Zhang Chen's analysis, he nodded from time to time, and his understanding of the character gradually deepened.

“Most employers would just direct from behind the scenes and wait for the results, but ‘Ma’ is different. He dares to take risks and join the dream mission himself.”

Zhang Chen explained, "This setting not only makes the character more well-rounded but also increases the tension of the plot. Because he is no longer safe, but like the other team members, he faces various dangers in the dream, such as subconscious attacks and dream collapse." Hearing this, Alima's eyes flashed with excitement; he felt the character was very challenging and appealing.

Zhang Chen continued, "In the second layer of the dream, the 'horse' will be attacked and injured, and this injury will continue into the deeper layers of the dream."

In the snow-capped mountains and abandoned cities, he will remain in a weakened state, requiring constant protection from the team. This puts immense pressure on the team, as they not only have to complete the task of 'implanting the mind' but also ensure the 'horse's' safety.

This dual pressure will make the plot more intense and will also keep the audience on the edge of their seats regarding the characters' fates.

Alima listened attentively, and the image of the character's weak appearance in the dream began to appear in his mind. How should he portray weakness?

"The most crucial part is the plot of Leaving the City."

Zhang Chen emphasized, "'Horse' will gradually age in the Lost Realm and become trapped there. After Cobb completes his mission, he must return to the Lost Realm to rescue him."

The Limbo was Cobb's deepest fear, because it was there that his wife, Mel, died.

Therefore, the process of rescuing the "horse" was also a process of Cobb confronting his own fears.

In this process, he will resolve his issues with Mal and ultimately achieve self-redemption. It can be said that the character of 'Horse' is a crucial catalyst for Cobb's personal growth.

After listening to Zhang Chen's analysis, Ali Ma nodded, feeling like he understood, yet also feeling like he didn't.

Finally, Zhang Chen concluded: "'Horse's' vulnerability is one of the most core characteristics of this character. It is precisely because of his vulnerability that the entire mission becomes more complex, and the emotional connection between team members becomes closer."

When faced with danger, they not only have to consider the success or failure of the mission, but also worry about the safety of the 'horse'. This setting, which balances saving lives with achieving the objective, makes the plot more intense and the emotions more profound.

Viewers will not only be captivated by the thrilling plot, but also moved by the emotions between the characters.

Looking at Zhang Chen, Ali Ma felt a surge of admiration. He thought that being a director was a pretty awesome profession, similar to his own.

Jack Ma himself is very good at packaging simple concepts, so Alibaba often uses terms like "empowerment," "closed loop," "review," "small steps and quick progress," "private domain traffic," and "moat"...

He felt that the job of a director was similar, as they were good at making simple things complicated.

"Director, one of the lights is broken, so it might take a little while. My people are going to get it from the car downstairs."

During the preparation process, the person in charge of the lighting team came over to explain the situation.

Alima glanced at his watch and said decisively, "Director Zhang, I think it's about time. How about we eat first and then continue?"

Logically speaking, whether the project is finished or not, and whether or not we can eat, is up to director Zhang Chen. However, Ali Ma has a special status, and it was agreed today that the crew would not eat boxed lunches, but would instead eat at Alibaba's headquarters restaurant.

"Alright, then we'll go and bother you~"

The crew members were very happy to hear this.

Led by Ali Ma, the film crew marched in a large group towards the Alibaba headquarters canteen.

Entering the cafeteria, even with certain expectations, still surprised everyone.

The canteen is spacious and bright, with simple and elegant decorations, and a wide variety of dishes that exude an enticing aroma.

There is tender and delicious braised pork, fragrant roast duck, refreshing cold dishes, as well as Western-style steak and a variety of fresh fruits and desserts.

Zhang Chen glanced at the price tag casually; it was very affordable, much cheaper than restaurants outside.

The staff in the cafeteria were immediately abuzz when they saw celebrities like Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise appear.

Everyone stopped eating, took out their phones to take pictures, and whispered among themselves.

Many people had already received the news that a film crew was coming to the company to shoot scenes today, and those with inside information even knew that Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise were in the crew.

How could I not be excited to see the real person at this moment?
Some of the younger employees were so excited that their faces turned red. They wanted to go up and take photos with the celebrities, but they were too shy to go up.

The entire cafeteria was filled with a cheerful and lively atmosphere.

Everyone waved to signal, but because Ali Ma was there, no one dared to come up and ask for a photo or anything like that.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Zhang Chen, Tom Cruise, and others waved and greeted everyone.

Although everyone really wanted to take photos with the celebrities, no one dared to approach them when they saw Ali Ma standing right next to them.

Everyone just watched from afar, recording this rare moment with their phones.

The group picked up their food, carrying trays and choosing their favorite dishes.

Ali Ma personally introduced the restaurant's dishes to Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise looked at the food in front of him and couldn't help but give a thumbs up. He didn't know if it would taste good or not, but it looked delicious.

After picking up their food, the group returned to their designated area and chatted while eating.

To ensure the film crew could dine in peace, Alibaba specially set aside a dedicated area in a corner of the cafeteria.

During the meal, while everyone was chatting, Zhang Chen asked the question that had been bothering him: "Mr. Ma, I heard that Alibaba likes to use nicknames. I heard that your nickname is 'Feng Qingyang,' and others like 'Thunderbolt Hand' and 'Xiaoyaozi'?"

"Haha, yes, it's part of our corporate culture."

"It seems Mr. Ma likes martial arts~".

"That's true. I've been particularly interested in Tai Chi and movies lately."

On April Fool's Day this year, I also invited Jet Li, Shen Guojun, and the screenwriters from Huayi Brothers to go to Chenjiagou for research.

Chenjiagou is the birthplace of Tai Chi, and its Tai Chi culture is very rich.

At the time, I told them that I wanted to make a movie about Tai Chi, called "Yang Luchan," which would tell the story of Yang Luchan learning and spreading Tai Chi.

"Mr. Ma likes Tai Chi?"

"Yes, I think Tai Chi is not only a martial art, but also a philosophy, containing the principles of Yin and Yang balance and overcoming strength with softness."

Yes, that statement must be true, otherwise there wouldn't be a "Gong Shou Dao" (功守道).

However, in the end, the "Yang Luchan" project did not come to fruition and became "Gong Shou Dao".

It's said that Jet Li organized the event for him, inviting a bunch of celebrities to let him experience being a martial arts master.

On the contrary, Huayi Brothers, who accompanied him on his inspection of Chenjiagou, eventually made a movie about Tai Chi, which was called "Tai Chi".

Stephen Fung's directorial debut, but it flopped.

(End of this chapter)