Who are you calling "little fresh meat"? I'm the king.

Chapter 724 The Invitation (35)

If I remember correctly, Kung Fu Panda 3 was delayed twice, but ultimately grossed over one billion...

I remember after the press release announcing that "Kung Fu Panda 3" had surpassed 1 billion yuan in box office revenue, many self-media outlets said things like, "The 1 billion yuan box office record will last for at least three years!"
Then, in March, Zootopia was released, and its box office eventually exceeded 15 billion...

However, Americans have recently been marveling at the box office success of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"!

In 24 days of release, it grossed over $8.12 million in the United States and Canada, becoming the highest-grossing film in North American history…

This movie is doing incredibly well at the box office!
This also reflects the status of the Star Wars series in the hearts of Americans—it's a national treasure!
Shen Yan also went to take a look...

It was painful to watch: those hooded aliens, their retro clothing, the 70s-style symphonic soundtrack, the old-fashioned scene transitions, and the lengthy aerial battles…

He was filled with questions!

That's it?

Is this a national treasure of America?

Can't Americans eat something good?

Opening Douban, sure enough, there were posts like "A compilation of Easter eggs and behind-the-scenes footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "A comprehensive analysis and summary of Easter eggs in Star Wars: The Force Awakens"...

It's definitely a fan film!
However, the box office performance of Star Wars films in China has been gradually declining—even casting Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen didn't help (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). By 19's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the domestic box office was a mere 1.43 million RMB…

……

On February 6th, two days before the official start of the Spring Festival film season, Shishi is going back to China…

Shen Yan took her to the airport.

A reluctant farewell!

Actually, Yan could go home, but he has an awards ceremony the day after tomorrow, and he really can't get away...

Just before boarding the plane, Shi Shi suddenly said, "If it doesn't work, why don't you call Yang Mi?"

Shen Yan was a little confused: "What the heck?"

"Didn't you want someone to keep you company?"

"...Are you out of your mind?" Shen Yan was speechless. "Who can I turn to during the New Year?"

"...If you go to her, she'll definitely agree!"

"No, why would I want to see her?"

"Then you'll have to ask yourself..." Shi Shi rolled her eyes at him.

"No, I have absolutely nothing to do with her... My five-movie contract ended, and I haven't seen her for months!"

"really?"

"It's absolutely true!" Shen Yan was speechless. "How did you come to think of her?"

"She said it herself in the group..." Shi Shi took out her phone, opened the WeChat group, and sure enough, there was a message from Yang Mi: "Since you're so worried, why don't I go and keep an eye on him for you!"

Shen Yan asked curiously, "What are you worried about?"

"I went to a cocktail party with you the other day, and I saw several women who were interested in you!"

"A few days ago?"

"Sandra Block!"

Shen Yan was speechless: "She's fifty years old. I'm not that tasteless!"

"You two seemed to be having a great time chatting?"

"Sandra Block wants to expand her influence in China..."

Sandra Bullock almost became Hollywood's leading lady.

However, her international influence is slightly less than that of several other top Hollywood actresses. While she is immensely popular in the North American market, her global fame doesn't quite match her star power. In North America, Sandra Bullock is indeed phenomenal; films like *The Proposal*, *All About Steve*, *The Blind Side*, and *Hot Potatoes* were all huge hits there. However, their global box office was less than half of their North American earnings. *The Blind Side*, in particular, grossed $2.56 million in North America but less than $50 million internationally…

Thanks to "Gravity," it became a global sensation...

Sandra Bullock is very shrewd!

Angelina Jolie was the first choice for "Gravity" back then—Jolie had just finished filming "Salt" and was thinking about transitioning to a hard science fiction heroine, but Sandra beat her to it.

Hollywood insiders described the competition as "like two lions eyeing the same piece of meat."

Sandra, thanks to her connections with the producers, remained firmly in control, while Jolie had no choice but to grit her teeth and accept the role in "Maleficent" to vent her anger.

However, Angelina Jolie, along with her team, certainly doesn't have much of a fighting spirit or vision!

After *Maleficent*, Jolie turned down several promising projects to direct and star in *By the Sea*, a film that grossed only $300 million and ruined her marriage, leading to her divorce…

During her career decline, she turned down several promising projects, including "Gucci Family," the film that made Lady Gaga a Hollywood star...

After a pause, Shen Yan explained, "She's in talks with Warner Bros. about a female version of Ocean's Eleven... and wants me to direct it!"

"A female version of Ocean's Eleven?"

"Yes...they want to use me to open up the mainland market..."

"So, did you agree?"

"I agree to that my ass..."

Shen Yan waved his hand: "A heist film with an all-female cast, and I don't even have editing rights... Do you think I would agree to that? Okay, stop thinking nonsense, and stop messing with Yang Mi... Doesn't she have to celebrate the New Year?"

Shi Shi thought for a moment and said, "...Alright then...I'm leaving!"

……

The female version of Ocean's Eleven is Ocean's 8.

The producers are Steven Soderbergh and Susan Ekins…

That's right, the producers and directors of the original "Ocean's Eleven," "Ocean's Twelve," and even the sequel "Ocean's Thirteen"...

Steven Soderbergh.

This director is exceptionally intelligent—at the age of 26, he won the Palme d'Or at Cannes with his screen debut, "Sex, Lies and Videotape"!

However, after this film, Soderbergh experienced a nearly 10-year slump. It is said that on the night "The English Patient" won the Oscar, Soderbergh was also present. He wanted to go over and say hello, but no one paid any attention to him. He could only watch from afar as Anthony Minghella and Weinstein returned with honors in the box.

However, after collaborating with George Clooney on "The Master", he immediately unlocked his full potential!

Then came 2000, when Soderbergh made two films in one year, essentially playing both sides during awards season.

Ultimately, "Erin Brockovich" brought Julia Roberts an Oscar; "Traffic," with its multi-narrative structure, ensemble cast, and exceptional directorial control, swept aside Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and Ridley Scott's "Gladiator," and also incidentally brought that sleazy Puerto Rican man—Luis Guzman—to the forefront.

Of course, the allure of fame and fortune returned to the hands of this golden boy who had almost been abandoned, resulting in the super-platinum cast of "Ocean's Eleven".

then…

There has never been a commercial film that surpasses Ocean's Eleven...

In the realm of art films, apart from "Che Guevara" in 08, most are overly personal works like "Bubble" and "Girlfriends."

However, he has started acting in television dramas in recent years…

This person cares a lot about their work…

Even if Shen Yan does agree to direct "Ocean's 8," he most likely won't get the final cut...

He definitely wouldn't agree.

However, he still maintains contact with Sandra Bullock—she also has a lot of influence in the producers' guild!

(End of this chapter)