I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 324 Absurd Hollywood

Friday, January 17, 2003, West Coast Time, America.

AM: 9:47
"Chinese?"

“Yeah.”

"From Toulouse, France, via Amsterdam?"

“Yeah.”

"Have you been to America before?"

“Yeah.”

"What brings you here this time?"

"practice."

"where is it?"

"Appian Way Productions."

The safety officer looked puzzled from behind the glass.

She turned to a customs officer behind her and asked, "Do you know this company?"

"Appian Way Productions? Isn't that one of Leonardo DiCaprio's companies?"

"Leonardo? Leonardo DiCaprio?"

"Of course, didn't you see the recent newspapers? Gangs of New York is vying for an Oscar, and it's produced by this company."

The security officer abruptly turned his head.

Before she could speak, Liu Jin had already taken out the internship contract from his pocket and unfolded it with a whoosh.

"You are, the screenwriter?"

"No, I am a writer."

"writer?"

"That book on your desk is one I wrote."

Liu Jin wore jeans on his lower body, a white shirt on his upper body, and a brown hunting jacket on top.

He was wearing sunglasses and looked expressionless.

He pointed to the copy of "The Old Man and the Sea" beside the security officer, then said in a deep voice, "Anything else..."

click!
The security officer has already stamped the passport with a pass stamp.

Welcome to America.

A smile had already appeared on her face.

Liu Jin smiled slightly, carrying his backpack and dragging his carry-on suitcase, and stepped into Saint-Louis.

"He says he's the author, so that's it?"

"Why did I ask him so many questions? Because he looked familiar."

When he mentioned Leonardo DiCaprio, I already believed him…hehe, he had a photo with Leonardo at last year's Cannes Film Festival.”

"I see!"

Just then, the next passenger walked over.

The smile on the security officer's face vanished.

With an indifferent expression, he took the passport and glanced at it.

"Koreans?"

"Yes, sir."

Is this your first time in Los Angeles?

The security officer asked expressionlessly.

……

I don't think it was this strict when I came to America last time.

It wasn't actually that strict; they just asked a few more questions.

Last time I entered through New York, the security officer didn't even bother to say anything.

This time, there are a lot of problems.

It seems to be related to America's FK policy.

When Liu Jin was chatting with David Lynch before, he mentioned that there had been several terrorist attacks, so the relevant departments were very nervous.

He's been quite free lately.

I feel much more relaxed after "Identity" was taken off the screens.

Currently, I am on vacation in Africa.

I really don't understand these American people. They know that Africa is very turbulent and has all sorts of dangers, yet they still love to go there for vacation.

Liu Jin didn't quite understand.

Therefore, he understood the customs' questioning.

He didn't notice a tourist who looked like he came from the bearded area in front of him, and was immediately taken away.

I guess you felt it was a bit dangerous?

A little exciting!

Liu Jin dragged his suitcase and walked slowly.

It was a bit cold in Toulouse at that time.

But the weather in Santo Lodo was excellent.

Upon exiting the airport terminal, I saw two tall women holding a sign that read 'AMOS'.

Liu Jin couldn't help laughing.

“Eva, Ms. Bella.”

"Hehe, Amos!"

Eva Green ran over and hugged Liu Jin.

Emmanuel said with a hint of reproach, "Why did you suddenly come over here?"

"Internship, internship!"

Emmanuel and Eva exchanged a glance, then, without further ado, led Liu Jin directly to the parking lot and got into a Ford F150.
"Hey, is that your car?"

"I guess so. It was a gift from a sponsor when I was filming here before."

"But I don't drive it much; it's mostly just sitting in the garage. My Ferrari was sent for maintenance, otherwise I wouldn't have driven it out." "Shall I give it a try?"

"Have you renewed your driver's license?"

"I've already changed it. I got my international driver's license at Toulouse Airport."

"Then you'd better apply for a California driver's license, otherwise it will still be a lot of trouble."

America is a peculiar country.

Each state has its own laws, and some of them even conflict with each other.

Take driver's licenses as an example. Liu Jin obtained his driver's license in France and applied for an international driving permit, which allows him to drive freely in New York. However, in California, he would need to apply for a California driver's license. But if he tries to use a California license in Nevada, Nevada will not recognize it. Of course, if it's just a short-term transit, there's likely no problem.

"I asked Leonardo to handle it for me."

"OK!"

BEA stopped by the roadside and switched to Liu Jin's driving style.

He chuckled and started the car.

"You like Ford?"

"It's always been like this!"

"You can drive this car; it's a waste to leave it in the garage... Where are you planning to stay this time? On our side, or at Leon's?"

"Stay at your place for now, I'll rent an apartment later."

"The apartments here aren't cheap."

"Hahaha, of course I know..."

If it were just Bella or Eva living alone, Liu Jin wouldn't mind staying with them.

But they lived together...

In 96, Emmanuel was arrested by the police for advocating for refugees, which cost him millions of dollars in endorsements at the time.

If Liu Jin met her in 96, she would indeed have had some difficulties.

But now, things have calmed down!

Moreover, her difficulties are only relative.

Even in the most difficult times, she still had a fairly large villa in Beverly Hills, Hollywood.

Eva showed him the photos.

It's a villa of about 300 square meters at the foot of Beverly Hills.

It must cost at least ten or twenty million US dollars.

Therefore, the difficulties faced by celebrities are always relative.

Just like the future Mr. Guan Gu, didn't he also say something like, "I'm very poor, especially when I only have a little over a million in savings left, I'm very nervous"? Bella is much richer than Mr. Guan Gu, but she is still nervous.

Why are so many domestic films and television dramas criticized in later generations?
From editors and directors to actors, they have all moved into a different social class.

If you ask them to play ordinary people at the bottom of society, but they're unwilling to experience life firsthand, what kind of performance can they possibly deliver?

They're just imagining what ordinary people's lives are like.

This also includes those so-called 'veteran actors'!
……

"Amos, what's your decision?"

Eva, sitting in the back seat, asked with a smile, following Emmanuel's signal.

"What's the plan?"

"Act with me!"

So, is it unavoidable?

"Why do you have to come to me?"

Liu Jin admits that he has never shown any acting skills and has no works to his name, so why is everyone so focused on casting him?
Emmanuel chuckled.

When she smiled, Eva Green couldn't help but smile too.

"What are you laughing at?"

Liu Jin glanced at the route shown on the car's navigation system, then asked in confusion.

"Go ask Leonardo."

"Him? What does it have to do with him?"

"Actually, when we first approached you to play Jack, Tom Rothman didn't object, but he seemed somewhat resistant."

Later, when I was chatting with Leonardo, I casually mentioned this incident.

Then Leonardo went to Tom and told him that if he could trick him into coming, he'd be willing to make a cameo appearance for free. He even brought Tobey Maguire along. Mr. Rothman immediately decided, "You have to star in this…"

"And there's Ms. Sophie Marceau, who was originally preparing your film 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' but after hearing about it, she brought Sofia Coppola along to join in; you know who Sofia Coppola is, right?"

Liu Jin's face had turned ashen.

But he nodded nonetheless. "Mr. Coppola's daughter, I know."

"And then, and then..."

Emmanuel was laughing so hard he couldn't continue.

Liu Jin glanced in the rearview mirror at Eva Green, who was laughing hysterically in the back seat.

I haven't seen her in six months, and this girl's figure is even better!

Feeling Liu Jin's gaze, Eva sat up straight.

She said with a smile, "After hearing about Mr. Leon's situation, Ms. Coppola said she could also bring her cousin over to make a cameo appearance."

"Her cousin?"

“Nicolas Cage, you should know that you told me you like his face-changing skills.”

Emmanuel said, "His film 'Adaptation' last year was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor."

"so what?"

"Therefore, Mr. Rossman has decided that you are the only one suitable."

Liu Jin was both amused and exasperated.

Seriously? Are all of you in Hollywood this boring?

Liu Jin can understand Leonardo DiCaprio and Sophie Johansson's relationship.

But Tobey Maguire... wait a minute, isn't Tobey Maguire Spider-Man?
And what's the situation with Coppola?
A whole bunch of you, willing to give up your free cameo roles just to get me the lead role?
You, you...

Liu Jin suddenly felt as if he had entered an absurd Hollywood world!
……

(End of this chapter)