Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 586 Recruiting Satoshi Kon, Did Qin Lanyuan 'collide' with him?

"A movie about dreams?"

“That’s right, Director Satoshi Kon. I was very interested in your previous film, Paprika.”

"Oh, this one? That's the one, that's..."

"If you have anything to say, just say it."

"Actually, my latest work is also about dreams."

"Ha! What a coincidence!"

Ma Xun's purpose in meeting Satoshi Kon this time was very clear: it was for the movie "Inception".

There's a small detail here.

In the original timeline, Nolan's "Inception" was released in 2010.

Director Satoshi Kon also passed away in that year.

Although Ma Xun doesn't remember it very clearly, the general situation is... Satoshi Kon passed away in August, and Inception was released in September.

In other words, many netizens later discovered that many of the scenes in Inception were extremely similar to those in Paprika.

But there was nothing else they could do!
Even if a person is alive, it's not easy for a major Hollywood studio in the US to win a lawsuit for copying someone else's animation.

Besides, that person is no longer here.

So Nolan insisted that he had never seen the animated film "Paprika".

That's right, they've never even acknowledged borrowing from others.

To be honest, Nolan is definitely an outstanding director. His works speak for themselves, and no one can deny his directorial skill.

But this is a really bad thing to do.

Anyone with a basic understanding of directing can be absolutely certain... and even if you don't, after watching Paprika and Inception, you'll find that many of the storyboards are extremely similar.

It's possible to resemble it, but it's hard to achieve that level of similarity... To put it bluntly, some of the storyboards are simply ripped from the animation, with no effort put into making even the slightest changes.

So what if Nolan admits it?

Satoshi Kon has passed away, so let's say a few words of praise and pay tribute to the late animation master.

Isn't it beautiful?

Unfortunately, Nolan just won't say it, he just won't admit it, he just takes advantage of the fact that the person is already dead and can't confront you face to face.

Actually, it's not just Nolan, but also Black Swan.

This film earned Natalie Portman an Oscar, but many scenes are very similar to "Perfect Blue," and even the plot is quite similar.

Especially the shots of people soaking in the bathtub, both the camera angle and the subsequent evolution are exactly the same.

Then the director of the movie stubbornly refused to admit it.

No, the shots are exactly the same. The only difference in the story is that the idol has been replaced with a ballet dancer.

Are you just taking advantage of the fact that they're no longer here?

anyway.

They can do that, but Ma Xun can't.

Based on the timeline of Ma Xun's work on "Inception," Satoshi Kon should still be alive by the time the movie is released.

Of course, this is not the most important reason.

The real reason is that Ma Xun is a decent person.

Aside from his penchant for having affairs with female celebrities, in other aspects, his moral standards as a boss are arguably top-tier within the global entertainment industry.

Right... cough cough.

Let's not even get into the issue of moral standards.

Ma Xun's current situation is that he might as well just cooperate with Satoshi Kon.

He was well aware that Satoshi Kon's "The Dream Machine" would remain an unfinished work.

That's right, this talented director doesn't have that much time left.

The word "genius"... Satoshi Kon certainly deserves it, although he himself did not consider himself a genius.

This point can be found in his own account in the reprinted version of his first serialized comic, "The Return of the Sea".

Looking back at his earlier works years later, he felt deeply ashamed, realizing how immature he had been. However, he also wrote that after years of effort, he had only made slight progress…

Look at their attitude.

Be more humble and sincere.

Ma Xun believes that many people familiar with Satoshi Kon's works would think that this guy was a genius.

Moreover, Satoshi Kon's works are almost all centered around a single theme.

Dream!
Even when he was still a cartoonist, he had an unfinished work called "OPUS".

The story of this work is about a cartoonist who draws a comic, and there are many interactions between the main character in the comic and the cartoonist.

That's right, it even crossed over from another dimension, breaking down the dimensional barrier.

This work alone has influenced many things that followed, including Bakuman.

Could this work also be a dream?

When it comes to animation, it's all a dream... Isn't "Millennium Actress" also a dream?

Needless to say, Paprika is another one.

What's most interesting is that Satoshi Kon's ideas about dreams are truly astonishing.

Ma Xun came this time, of course, as a 'capitalist'.

Therefore, Satoshi Kon adopted an even more humble attitude.

After all, even if he has a dream, he needs capital to support it in order to realize it.

Ma Xun stopped hiding anything and directly stated his purpose, and now...

"director?"

"That's right. If you only want to be a consultant, then I won't force you."

"This……"

Ma Xun offered a very tempting deal: to invite Satoshi Kon to be the director, though he wouldn't be given much real power, more like a consultant.

But Satoshi Kon hesitated.

"I still have a job right now."

Hearing this, Ma Xun knew that his work was impossible to complete.

Speaking of which, the style of "The Dream Machine" is quite reminiscent of Osamu Tezuka's work from back in the day.

Anyway, some of the manuscripts that Ma Xun saw really looked similar.

Looking at Satoshi Kon's exhausted face, it's clear he had a heavy workload, and in the end, he was practically working himself to death.

“You know, this is an invitation from Hollywood.” Ma Xun was somewhat appreciative of talent.

Yes, the term "Hollywood" has just as much appeal to Japanese filmmakers as it does to Hong Kong filmmakers.

Satoshi Kon's expression did indeed change.

Upon seeing this, Ma Xun knew that things were looking promising.

"That's all for now. Think it over carefully. I don't need to emphasize how rare this opportunity really is."

It's a hoax, absolutely a hoax.

"I understand! Thank you so much for the invitation, Masang!"

Satoshi Kon immediately gave a standard 90-degree bow to express his gratitude.

If things have come to this, then the matter is basically settled.

Inception will definitely gain a wave of Satoshi Kon fans.

It would be far too easy for Ma Xun to fool this animation director who was focused on studying dreams.

But this is something he really has to do. Ma Xun's version of *Inception* will definitely have many more changes.

……

After talking with Satoshi Kon, Ma Xun planned to return to his hotel.

Unexpectedly, he received a very unexpected phone call.

Qin Lan.

"Is there something you need?" Ma Xun's opening line was a bit too direct.

"Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?" Qin Lan was inexplicably annoyed.

However, the relationship between the two is still somewhat ambiguous, and what's most interesting is that there always seems to be some friction between them.

In this case... Ma Xun wouldn't mind increasing friction.

"You know I'm very busy."

"Yes, my boss, you're extremely busy!"

"Alright, is there anything you want to say..."

"I'd like to speak with you alone."

"Come to my hotel?"

"you……"

"I left the room key at the front desk. You can pick it up in my name. My hotel is..."

After saying that, Ma Xun hung up the phone.

He knew very well that Qin Lan not only wanted to talk, but was also probably itching to do something.

Not long after, Ma Xun returned to the hotel and got back to his room without any problems.

But as soon as the door opened...

Qin Lan pounced on her immediately.

Without any preparation, the two kissed immediately.

Moreover, they were very familiar with it and quickly got into the zone.

However, this kind of rapid entry into the zone is not what Qin Lan wants.

"Wait a moment."

"..." Ma Xun was moving his large hand around, but he wasn't in a hurry to send this woman to heaven.

Qin Lan, panting heavily, smoothed her hair and said, "I want to talk about a movie."

"What movie?" Ma Xun asked curiously. Why would this woman travel all the way to Japan to talk to him about a movie?

Could it be that she wants to join my Ma Xun's movie?
Qin Lan replied, "Have you heard of 'Nanjing! Nanjing!'?"

Ma Xun was shocked upon hearing this.

They even stopped moving.

It was as if the flame that had just been ignited was extinguished by the name of the movie.

"You're going to be in this movie?"

"Yes."

"You've taken a fancy to Lu Chuan?"

"Hehe..." Qin Lan chuckled upon hearing this, "If I said..."

She had barely started when Ma Xun pinned her against the wall.

"Believe it or not, I'll fuck you to death."

Qin Lan bit her lip, but in truth, she was secretly thrilled.

"Ma Xun, you can actually be jealous?"

These words were clearly provocative.

Ma Xun laughed after hearing this, "Jealous? I just don't want to be lowered in class by that Lu Chuan thing."

What does this mean?
Qin Lan was displeased upon hearing this, "What do you take me for?"

question!

Unfortunately, Ma Xun's reply only fueled her anger: "You can think whatever you want. If you're willing to be a whore, then I don't mind."

That's outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!
However, Qin Lan, still angry, kissed him again.

Ma Xun was naturally quite blunt, but the two parted ways again not long afterward.

"Dog?"

Ma Xun was bitten.

Qin Lan had blood on her lips, but she smiled and said, "I'm not a whore!"

Ma Xun laughed after hearing this, "Then you shouldn't make this movie, because this movie..."

What happened next was unspeakable; the two of them kissed again.

Moreover, it's not just about kissing; it's about unleashing humanity's most primal instincts.

Interesting.

They seem to have a bad relationship, yet they also appear to be very close.

But then, something unexpected happened to them.

Just before the most primal human instincts were about to unfold, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who?"

Qin Lan's panic is a normal reaction.

Ma Xun was also completely bewildered.

But a voice came from outside the door, "Brother Ma~ Um, I, I have something I want to discuss with you, so I took the liberty of coming here."

The voice is Yuanyuan!

This is how to do?
Oh, it doesn't seem like a big deal.

Ma Xun quickly tidied himself up and headed to open the door.

Qin Lan was extremely embarrassed. "You..." she muttered under her breath, then quickly grabbed her things and found a place to hide.

Ma Xun laughed, wanting to ask: What are you hiding from?
Qin Lan covered his mouth, then gestured with pleading eyes, and finally hid in the hotel bathroom.

In most hotels, the bathroom is located near the entrance. Since Ma Xun's hotel is a suite, she had a chance to run away.

Ma Xun found it amusing, but he didn't stop Qin Lan from hiding. He waited until the woman was safely hidden before opening the door.

Sure enough, Yuanyuan stood there, looking quite pretty.

"what is the matter?"

This is a normal question, since Yuanyuan had said before that she had something to do.

Ke Yuanyuan's answer surprised Ma Xun...

"There's a movie called 'Nanjing! Nanjing!' in talks, but I wasn't sure, so I just came over to discuss it in person..."

As Yuanyuan spoke, she became shy, clearly wanting to make advances.

Ma Xun couldn't help but facepalm. "Let's just do it!"
"Alright! You come out too!"

what?
Yuanyuan was taken aback!
But given the current situation, Qin Lan could no longer hide.

“You guys…” Yuanyuan looked like she had caught them cheating in bed.

But Ma Xun waved his hand and took the initiative.

"Tell me, why do you two both want to act in this movie?"

(End of this chapter)