The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 138 In my lens, she will surely amaze the world!
……

Lu Zhiyuan didn't know how well 13-year-old Hanikezi, a Uyghur girl, sang.

But when she dances, she possesses the graceful beauty of flying apsaras in traditional Dunhuang murals, while also exhibiting a touch of the freedom and expansiveness of modern dance.

Beautiful indeed.

Especially the movements of flicking sleeves and spinning around are very graceful.

Moreover, her smile is full of girlish shyness, sweet but not cloying.

If, with the right lighting and shadow effects, Hanikezi were to appear on the big screen like this, Lu Zhiyuan could imagine that it would surely elicit gasps of amazement from many internet-addicted teenagers…

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Of course, Hanikezi also has his own shortcomings.

They are too young, their dance technique is not solid enough, and their core strength is not stable enough.

Compared to the fluid control of professional dancers, many of her movements are not clean and crisp enough, and she seems hesitant and lacks confidence.

However, Lu Zhiyuan did not have very high expectations for her dance skills.

After arriving in Dunhuang, the main characters encountered the Dunhuang Flying Fairy Dance Troupe. Hanikezi, the female protagonist, was overjoyed and joined in the dance.

The focus of this shot is on Hanikezi's vibrant youthful energy.

This contrasts sharply with the character's real-life decadence and melancholy.

Then, she discovered the riddle on the mural, which led her to the hidden bonus: the Qin Palace Guards.

From this perspective, the atmosphere of Hanikezi's dance quite meets Lu Zhiyuan's requirements.

"Brother, was her dancing alright?"

Reba thought Hanikezi danced quite well.

Of course, I'm still far inferior to her.

But considering Hanikezi's age, she should be considered above average.

"The influencer plus version".

Lu Zhiyuan whispered something that left Reba completely baffled.

Dilraba has gotten used to hearing all sorts of strange and unusual words from Lu Zhiyuan.

As long as Lu Zhiyuan didn't say "but," Dilraba would take it as a compliment.

"Teacher, I'm done dancing."

After Hanikezi finished dancing, he took a short breath, a fine bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. He looked at Lu Zhiyuan with some trepidation.

The 13-year-old girl is already very sensible.

She realized that her performance at this moment was probably the most crucial performance of her life.

"Very good dancing."

Having already decided in his heart that it was Hanikezi, Lu Zhiyuan saw no need to dampen the girl's enthusiasm, so he took the initiative to applaud and praise her generously.

"Thank you, teacher."

Upon hearing this, Hanikezi's face immediately lit up with a sweet smile.

This smile is fresh and natural, and it has a heartwarming quality that is truly precious.

Lu Zhiyuan silently gave her a little extra points.

At the same time, I was thinking that the little girl had a beautiful and infectious smile, and I should design more scenes for her in the movie that exude youthful energy.

In "Upgrade," Dilraba carries the heavy theme of cyber immortality, so she can't laugh too happily; the overall atmosphere is predominantly cool.

However, for Hanikezi in "Real Steel," Lu Zhiyuan wanted to focus on designing a youthful atmosphere with warm colors.

Family-friendly movies shouldn't be too heavy; they must be cheerful.

"Reba, take Hani out to play for a while."

After deciding on Hanikezi, Lu Zhiyuan needed to discuss it with her parents for a while.

After all, she's a 13-year-old girl, probably only in middle school.

When Dilraba was taken away by him, she was only 17 years old, but she had already started working and could be considered an adult.

“Parents, it’s like this. Filming will take about three months, but before that, Hani has no acting experience, so I need to give her some training.”

"There are some performance classes, some artistic enrichment, and some movement training here... Well, Hani has a dance background, so she should be able to pick it up quickly."

"But this training process will take at least two months."

"In other words, for the entire next semester, Hani will not be able to attend school. She will need to come with me to Beijing, or even travel all over the world."

"No, there are no training fees required. As long as Hani passes my assessment and becomes my leading lady, she will receive a salary of about $20."

The biggest worry for ordinary people entering the entertainment industry is being scammed.

Various training expenses can leave a middle-class family with huge debts.

Besides, Hanikezi is, after all, a minor girl. Since he was taking her away from his hometown, Lu Zhiyuan naturally had to explain many things to her.

Some agreements may even need to be signed.

"Can I go with my child?"

Hanikezi's father didn't care, but her mother was clearly worried about her daughter.

However, her father immediately objected, saying in a low voice, "There's another child in the family. Hani is already 13 years old and can take care of herself. But the younger one is only 3 years old. I'm afraid she can't manage without you."

Hanikezi has a 3-year-old brother.

This puts them in a dilemma.

Seeing this, Teacher Dilina said from the side, "You two don't need to worry. Director Lu will definitely not make things difficult for Hani in terms of daily life."

"Moreover, the security situation in Yanjing should be better than here."

"Honey is also able to receive guidance from the most professional acting teachers and various artistic influences. You should be happy."

Teacher Dilina's words were quite fair.

Lu Zhiyuan is not the kind of shady little director who would deliberately come here to deceive Hanikezi.

Look at Dilraba, she was just a nobody a year ago, and now she's incredibly famous.
There's only one chance. If Hanikezi's parents give up, other children will surely come knocking on their door like madmen very soon.

"Director Lu, I'm entrusting Hani to you."

Hanikezi's parents whispered among themselves for a while, and then thought to themselves, "This is such a great opportunity, there's no reason to refuse it."

Hanikezi followed Lu Zhiyuan for half a year, filmed a Hollywood movie, and his life would be set; the benefits far outweighed the risks.

“If you two have some free time, you can come and visit Hani. It’s very convenient to fly now; it only takes half a day to get from Urumqi to Yanjing.”

That being said, Lu Zhiyuan also understood that physical distance was a very real thing.

How could parents not worry about their daughter?
……

Outside the dance studio.

"Honey, Yanjing is so much fun. Come with me to Yanjing, and I'll take you to eat delicious food every day and give you so many beautiful clothes to wear."

"By the way, do you like Liu Yifei? Sister Niu and I are good friends, we go to art exhibitions together every few days."

Reba thought that Hanikezi, like other girls, liked Liu Yifei the most, so she used Liu Yifei to tempt Hanikezi.

To everyone's surprise, Hanikezi shook her head: "Sister Reba, I don't like Liu Yifei. You're my favorite. Can you give me your autograph?"

Even if Liu Yifei becomes popular, it's still someone else's fame.

Reba is from the same hometown as her, and she's also her senior at the same art school.

This year, because Dilraba became a big star, the number of applicants to the vocational art school where she originally studied has increased by two times, making the school feel what a happy trouble it is.

"You like me? Honey, you have great taste!"

Reba was very happy and couldn't help but pat the little girl's head: "After we go to Yanjing, you'll most likely be staying at my brother's house. I'll come and sleep with you then."

Since becoming a big star, Dilraba has been too embarrassed to spend the night at Lu Zhiyuan's house.

After all, they really will get photographed by paparazzi.

However, with Hanikezi as a small excuse, she felt that her reasoning became perfectly legitimate.

"Let's go back. My brother has most likely reached an agreement with your parents."

"Honey, remember what I just told you. You must stand firm. A girl's happiness is something she has to fight for!"

“If you stay in your hometown, at most you’ll get into a performing arts troupe when you grow up, or work in a song and dance troupe like me. When you reach a certain age, you’ll find someone to go on blind dates and get married.”

Is this the kind of life you want?

Lu Zhiyuan went to great lengths to find a female lead, and while Hanikezi didn't reach 100 points, she was at least 75.

It's barely enough.

I'm afraid Hanikezi's parents will object.

After all, the girl's family seems to be well-off, and perhaps they don't want their daughter to enter the entertainment industry at such a young age.

Dilraba understands this concern.

Regarding this, she only wanted to tell Hanikezi's parents that their thinking was correct; the entertainment industry is indeed very complicated, and there are many unspoken rules.

However, this does not include Lu Zhiyuan!

……

"what's the situation?"

When Reba returned with Hanikezi, she suddenly noticed that Teacher Dilinar had changed into a very solemn ethnic costume.

Hanikezi's parents were also holding a silver-plated tray.

There are nine kinds of food inside.

The items are salt, naan bread, raisins, almonds, rock sugar, tea, cotton, white cloth, and steel needles, arranged in a nine-square grid pattern.

Teacher Dilina also handed Lu Zhiyuan a copper ruler.

"What is this? An apprenticeship ceremony?"

Reba had seen similar ceremonies in other places before, but this one was so ancient that it left her feeling somewhat disoriented.

"Honey, come here and kneel down!"

Hanikezi's parents greeted their daughter and whispered a few words to her.

Hanikezi's eyes widened. At the age of 13, growing up in the new era, he never expected to encounter such a legendary ancient ritual.

She found it all very novel, especially with her parents nearby and Teacher Dilina wearing such a formal dress.

It instantly made the atmosphere feel very ceremonial.

She obediently listened, found a wool blanket, and knelt in front of Lu Zhiyuan.

"Teacher Dilinaer, is that so?"

Lu Zhiyuan picked up the copper ruler and, following Teacher Dilina's instructions, tapped Hanikezi's left shoulder three times, his right knee once, and slapped his palm seven times.

It gives off a feeling of Bodhi Patriarch interviewing Sun Wukong.

Although Lu Zhiyuan didn't understand these things, he respected their ethnic customs.

"Hani, bring the naan over here."

Teacher Dilinar asked Hanikezi to hold the naan in his hands, raise it with both hands, and hand it to Lu Zhiyuan.

The master and apprentice held hands tightly until the naan bread reached a temperature close to that of a human body.

Then, Teacher Dilinar had Lu Zhiyuan crush the bag and sprinkle it on Hanikezi's shoulder.

The other eight foods all had similar rituals.

This signifies that from now on, the apprentice should be filial to the master, and the master should care for the apprentice, implying a willingness to share both joys and sorrows.

At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan's thoughts drifted a little. He vaguely remembered that the Uyghur wedding ceremony seemed to be somewhat similar to this.

Next, following Teacher Dilinar's instructions, Lu Zhiyuan looked at Hanikezi and asked, "When the Tarim River flows backward, which hand do you hold your tools with?"

It's a really old proverb.

It sounds very contemporary, as if it transports you back a thousand years, and the profound sense of history is palpable.

But will the Tarim River flow backwards?
Hanikezi's mind wandered for a while, and then, following his parents' prompting, he stammered, "Hold the chisel in your left hand and scoop up the flowing sand in your right."

Next, following Teacher Dilinaer's instructions, Lu Zhiyuan completed some ancient rituals.

In any case, it was very solemn, which created a very formal atmosphere.

Although there were only a few witnesses, everyone looked solemn. Even Dilraba, who is usually cheerful and carefree, had a very serious expression at this moment.

"Alright, the ceremony is over."

A dozen minutes later, Teacher Dilinaer announced the end of the ceremony.

Lu Zhiyuan helped Hanikezi up: "Hani, from now on I will be your teacher. When you go to Yanjing, you will stay at my house. Study hard, your teacher is very strict."

Dilraba, standing nearby, directly exposed Lu Zhiyuan: "Brother, don't pretend to be serious, you'll scare Hani! She'll soon find out how good you are."

"Come on, I'll treat you to a big meal!"

It's around 10 p.m. now. In other cities in the east, people would probably be going to bed soon, but this is Urumqi. Due to the different time zone, it's not unusual to have dinner at this time.

……

After eating.

Hanikezi went home with his parents to pack his things and asked for leave from school, saying he needed two or three days to sort things out.

Lu Zhiyuan went home with Reba.

"Brother, I bought a big villa. You'll be staying at my place for the next few days. I want to show you what life is like for a wealthy Uyghur woman. Let's see if you can adapt."

Xin Yukun would hint to Dilraba every few days that only by becoming a rich woman could she find an artist brother to date.

Now, Dilraba has finally become a rich woman.

Although she is just a wealthy Uyghur woman who wouldn't even make it onto the national rich list, this is a good start.

Dilraba is full of motivation to strive.

"Brother, I noticed you were holding your chopsticks really high when you were eating... Do you have any similar sayings where you're from, like, the higher you hold your chopsticks, the more likely you are to marry someone from far away?"

Hearing Reba's words, Lu Zhiyuan nodded: "It seems there is such a saying."

Reba chuckled, "We have a similar saying here. However, it's not about using chopsticks, but about the position for eating naan."

“In our area, if you start eating naan from the inside, it means you won’t marry too far away when you grow up. But if you start eating from the edge, it means that the girl will marry very far away.”

"Although the inside of the naan is tastier, I grew up very close to home. My family used to live right behind my school. I could just stroll back from the back gate and get home directly."

"At that time, I was thinking that if I lived further away from home, I could buy all kinds of delicious food on my way back. So, I deliberately started eating from the edge of the naan."

"Sure enough, I'm now far from home."

Most importantly, I want to marry someone who lives far away from my home!

How about 3000 kilometers? Is that far enough?

Judging from the way you pick up your chopsticks, I know you're going to marry someone who lives far away from your home.

If you calculate it that way, we are destined to be together!

Your house in Xi'an is only 5 kilometers away from Tian Tian's house, so there's definitely no future for you two.

Don't waste your time!
"These kinds of sayings are just for fooling children. You're a grown adult, don't believe these nonsense."

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Dilraba and couldn't help but smile.

"How can that be nonsense? The apprenticeship ceremony you just had with Hani was so solemn."

"After I became an apprentice, I also gave Hani a red envelope."

I gave Hanikezi a red envelope to let her know that following my sister Reba is the most promising path.

"By the way, Dilraba, besides your business engagements, have any film or television production teams offered you any projects lately?"

After the movie became a hit, Dilraba made a fortune and was inundated with business offers.

However, Dilraba's role in the movie "Real Steel" was very small, and she couldn't possibly wait for Lu Zhiyuan to ask her to make movies every day.

You should try to go out and find work on your own.

"Have."

Dilraba nodded, then suddenly seemed to deflate her ego and said somewhat dejectedly, "The production team of 'New My Fair Princess' wants me to play Princess Hanxiang."

"The Secret History of Wu Zetian" asked me to play Ashina Zhuoyun, a Turkic princess.

"Oh, and there's also 'If You Are the One 2,' they wanted me to play the Sanya beauty pageant champion."

They were all minor characters.

Dilraba wouldn't even look at that.

After starring in a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster like "Upgrade," when she goes to act in TV series, she has to play the kind of super female lead who overpowers the male lead.

How could I possibly take on such a minor role?
However, the offers she received from other companies... clearly showed that she was being treated as a newcomer!

Dilraba then realized that the film and television industry was really difficult to navigate.

Unless a big-name director takes her on a gig, she simply can't find any suitable work on her own.

Leaving aside the scraps, there might be various unspoken rules to be encountered.

"Right now, the mainland film and television industry is overcrowded, and the market isn't big enough. You should be patient for now and go to the Beijing Film Academy to hone your skills."

"After I finish filming this movie, I'll pick out the rights to a few good novels on the market, find someone to adapt them into TV series, and let you, Gulnazar, and Xiao Ai choose which ones to act in."

Lu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and realized that he wasn't interested in making TV dramas, but he could arrange for someone else to do it.

For example, doesn't he have Su Lun under his command?

This is a talent.

At this stage, Su Lun may still be lacking in filmmaking skills, but if he were to direct a TV series, it would be a complete game-changer.

The key to a TV series lies in its script.

If the script is well-written, the director follows through with filming, and the other supporting units don't mess around, it's highly unlikely to flop.

There are not high requirements for the director's personal artistic aesthetics.

"Brother, thank you."

Lu Zhiyuan was indeed quite indifferent to others, as if he didn't care about the whole world and treated everyone else as NPCs.

But Dilraba felt that Lu Zhiyuan was really good to her.

"Brother, I'll act well and make you lots of money, enough to ensure you'll never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of your life. Just go and pursue your art. I'll back you up."

Dilraba looked at Lu Zhiyuan and said something very seriously.

At the same time, she silently added in her mind: "Pursuing art to its extreme leads to being too sophisticated and unpopular, resulting in the film's failure. Then, Sister-in-law Tian Tian will be disappointed in you."

You had a huge fight and parted ways forever.

I'll take over!

perfect!

"Let's go home, I'm freezing. By the way, where exactly is your mansion? We've circled the neighborhood three times already."

Dilraba's eyes were so intense that they made Lu Zhiyuan feel a little burned, so he started to change the subject.

17-year-old Dilraba has bright eyes, three-dimensional features, a great figure, and an outstanding temperament. She is the most beautiful girl Lu Zhiyuan knows.

Moreover, she is warm and generous, has a strong will, and a kind heart.

The perfection is somewhat unrealistic.

"There are no three laps! At most, two and a half laps, okay?"

Reba laughed. She had actually just passed by her house, but Lu Zhiyuan hadn't noticed and walked past with his hands in his pockets.

She had no choice but to walk around with him again. "Brother, you're not wearing a hat, your ears are all red from the cold. Let me warm them for you. My hands are super warm. Everyone calls me Little Sun!"

When she heard Lu Zhiyuan say he was freezing to death, Reba looked up and saw that Lu Zhiyuan's ears were red. She laughed and took off her gloves.

She covered Lu Zhiyuan's ears with her warm hands.

Those soft and warm little hands touched Lu Zhiyuan's cheeks and ears, making him feel as if he had been electrocuted, and his whole body stiffened for a moment.

Lu Zhiyuan couldn't help but lower his head, looking into those eyes that shone like jewels.

The girl in front of me was laughing so heartily and innocently.

Just then, fireworks suddenly lit up the sky, their colorful lights illuminating the beautiful face before them in an instant.

Bathed in the glow of fireworks, this face was breathtakingly beautiful.

She is truly more beautiful than the flowers.

At this moment, Reba's face seemed to have the light and shadow of Monet flowing around it, the colors of Renoir reflecting it, and even a hint of Morimoto Kusakabe's unique blending technique.

For a moment, Lu Zhiyuan felt his heartbeat flutter a few times, almost against his will.

The scenery at this moment was captivating, incredibly captivating, making him somewhat flustered and subconsciously tempted to make the mistake that any man would make.

"Brother, your face is red."

"nonsense."

"Brother, are you too cold? Your face is red from the cold."

"possible."

What could it be?

You blushed, your eyes darted away, and you were too embarrassed to look at me.

I knew it; after spending so much time together, you would eventually fall in love with me.

My current hairstyle, makeup, and clothing are all carefully designed according to your aesthetic... Of all the girls in the world, I best match your aesthetic.

How could you not like me?

Sister-in-law Tian Tian just arrived early.

……

That night.

Lu Zhiyuan moved into Reba's house, and Reba bought a luxury villa.

The original owner had just finished renovating the house and hadn't even lived in it yet when his business failed and he urgently needed working capital, so he sold the house.

Dilraba paid for it in full.

This villa has seven or eight rooms, and Lu Zhiyuan can stay in any of them.

"Ha ha!"

The next morning, Reba woke up very early, too excited to sleep.

Seeing her mother busy in the kitchen, Reba excitedly went to see what delicious food was being prepared.

"Soup and rice! Mom, I love you. How did you know I wanted soup and rice today? We're so in sync!"

Reba wandered around the kitchen for a long time. Seeing that it was getting late and Lu Zhiyuan had not come downstairs yet, Reba went upstairs to knock on the door.

I knocked for ages but no one responded.

"Brother, I'm coming in!"

Reba shouted from outside the door, then opened it to take a look.

a bolt from the blue!

The room was empty; a grown man was gone!

Reba rushed downstairs, asking anxiously, "Mom, where's the handsome young man I brought home yesterday?"

"Who are you calling 'handsome young man'? You have no manners!"

Reba's mother glared at her daughter with annoyance.

Seeing that Reba was quite anxious, she explained, "Zhiyuan went out early this morning and made an appointment with his apprentice to take a walk around the Honghu campus."

What improvements have been made to the Honghu campus?

wrong.

There is a story!
Reba's eyes lit up and she called Kun Ge, secretly telling him about Lu Zhiyuan's visit to the Honghu campus early in the morning.

"Goodness gracious. I knew it! Ah Yuan definitely has a story to tell!"

“Otherwise, why would he treat you differently? Why would he go to Urumqi every day? It's not enough that he found you, he also wants to find a Uyghur girl.”

“I introduced him to Gulnazar, who is so beautiful, but he didn’t even glance at her. He must have someone else in his heart.”

Kun Ge, like a famous detective, helped Reba analyze the situation and concluded that Lu Zhiyuan must have known a Uyghur girl before and was madly in love with her.

Later, the girl disappeared.

So, Lu Zhiyuan went to the Xi'an city wall every year to wait for someone, and he must have been waiting for that person.

Unable to find her on the Xi'an city wall, she came to Urumqi and searched for her every day.

Since they couldn't find it in Urumqi, they went to Kashgar to look for it.

"Brother Kun, shut up! He's looking for me!"

Dilraba was so angry that she couldn't eat breakfast, feeling like she was living in someone's shadow.

……

Red Lake Campus.

Lu Zhiyuan led Hanikezi around the art gallery of the school.

Although it was a holiday, the public exhibition hall was not closed. After Lu Zhiyuan showed his identity, he was allowed to visit freely.

When the school's duty officer learned that the renowned director Lu Zhiyuan was visiting the school, he almost called the principal directly, wanting to make the welcome as grand as possible.

"I'm just browsing, please feel free to go ahead."

Lu Zhiyuan persuaded the school's duty leader to stay, and then took Hanikezi for a casual stroll.

"Uyghur embroidery patterns, Kazakh felt art, mulberry paper paintings, Kyrgyz embroidered tapestries... Hani, do you think these works are beautiful?"

Lu Zhiyuan showed Hanikezi around, offered her some milk-flavored snacks, and casually asked her a question.

"nice."

Hanikezi nodded as he ate his snacks.

What makes it look good?

Soon after Lu Zhiyuan asked the question, Hanikezi fell into a long silence.

The snacks at the school store aren't good!
I want to go home!

"I, I don't know..."

Before Hanikezi left home, her parents told her to be well-behaved and to listen to her teacher, Lu Zhiyuan.

The other party is a famous director, the kind that's internationally renowned.

Look at Reba, she was just casually promoted by Lu Zhiyuan and became the first superstar in Uyghur history. Hanikezi must work hard.

At this moment, Hanikezi, who couldn't answer the question, almost burst into tears from nervousness.

"It's normal not to know. Because I don't know either."

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and reassured Hanikezi, telling her not to be so nervous.

"Really? You didn't know either, teacher?"

Hanikezi thought Lu Zhiyuan was lying; how could he not know?

He was just trying to comfort himself.

Reba is right, the teacher isn't serious at all, she's a very nice person.

"I've never studied this before, so of course I don't know. However, I'm very interested in these things, and I will try my best to learn."

"I am happy because I understand these things that interest me."

As a teacher, Lu Zhiyuan's original intention was to set a good learning example for Hanikezi.

After exchanging a few casual words, Lu Zhiyuan looked at Hanikezi and asked, "Hani, do you want to be a good actress?"

"miss you!"

Hanikezi nodded.

Being a big star is a bit of a dream for a 13-year-old girl, but with Dilraba, a big star, right in front of her, she feels that her dream is within reach.

"Being a big star isn't easy. It requires a lot of hard work, and filming is tough. Even if you're asked to jump into the sea in the dead of winter or buried in the sand in the sweltering heat, you still have to keep a smile on your face."

Can you tolerate it?

Let me be frank from the start: being an actor isn't an easy job.

Especially big stars.

Who hasn't suffered countless hardships?

Do you really think that being good-looking and playing the unspoken rules will make you a big star?
Whether someone is acting seriously, whether they have a strong sense of conviction and immersion in the role, is immediately apparent to the audience on screen.

Lu Zhiyuan would not show leniency towards Hanikezi or lower his standards for her just because she is young.

Lowering the standards for Hanikezi is irresponsible to himself.

"Teacher, I can do it."

Hanikezi thought for a moment and then nodded firmly.

"I believe you. Let's go home and pack our things. We'll go back to Yanjing tomorrow. I've found you an acting coach."

Dancing is very hard work, and Hanikezi's ability to persevere for so many years shows she has a strong will.

Lu Zhiyuan decided to give Hanikezi a chance.

……

At the same time, Lu Zhiyuan sent a message to Zhao Shanshan.

As the company owner and executive producer, Zhao Shanshan is responsible for all logistical work.

With filming scheduled to begin in a month, all the props and costumes for the movie "Real Steel" need to be prepared as soon as possible.

Especially those robots, we need to finish them as soon as possible and make models of them.

In addition, Lu Zhiyuan needed to create a cockpit model for the 200-meter-tall Jaeger that appeared in Pacific Rim.

And the complete body of the mecha.

Because the cockpit and the body of the super-large mech need to be placed in the Easter egg of "Real Steel".

……

Three days later.

At the entrance of Starlight Brilliant Company in Yanjing.

That morning, countless reporters were staking out this spot.

This morning, the "Real Steel" project was officially launched, instantly causing a sensation throughout the entertainment industry.

In particular, the confirmation of the male and female leads has sparked countless speculations.

"Harrison Ford!!!"

When the reporter saw Harrison Ford, who was over 60 years old, step out of the black sedan and enter through the star-studded gate, he was immediately overjoyed.

Previously, they had been told that the male lead was a British actor, a fellow countryman of Tom Hiddleston, with superb acting skills, and would be a super newcomer.

To my utter surprise, it turned out to be fake news.

Compared to Keanu Reeves, the male lead in "Upgrade," whose career has already largely flopped.

Harrison Ford is a true A-list Hollywood superstar.

The Indiana Jones series, which started in 1981, has been a hit ever since, pioneering the Hollywood archaeological adventure film genre.

Indiana Jones, with his whip and fedora, has become an eternally classic image on the silver screen.

The 2008 film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" grossed $790 million worldwide, which speaks volumes.

"It's definitely a big production!"

"You can tell from the male lead that director Lu Zhiyuan has great ambitions for this movie!"

"However, what I'm most curious about is who the female lead is. Based on my understanding of the renowned director Lu Zhiyuan, the female lead is most likely the key to the plot."

"I heard the female lead is a 13-year-old girl, a complete newcomer. Can she handle the pressure?"

Although Lu Zhiyuan doesn't particularly like giving interviews, media reporters really like him.

Because every time this guy appears, he creates a huge media storm.

For Hollywood blockbusters, he doesn't cast established actresses or veteran actors like Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li; instead, he prefers to cast newcomers.

Being a newcomer means risk, but it also means opportunity.

For these journalists, there is no risk, only an endless stream of topics to generate buzz.

They can discuss endlessly about topics such as whether the newcomers are pretty, whether their acting skills are good, their family background, and how they were chosen by Lu Zhiyuan.

In short, the data usage is sufficient.

"Dilraba is here!"

After Harrison Ford, Dilraba also got out of the van, dressed up specially, and looked absolutely radiant.

Behind her emerged a little princess who looked like an elf.

The moment Hanikezi appeared, reporters and media instantly confirmed that she was the female lead in Lu Zhiyuan's new movie.

She looked about twelve or thirteen years old, following behind Dilraba.

Who else could it be?

"Excuse me, what's your name?"

Are you mixed race?

How did you get selected by the renowned director Lu Zhiyuan?

"What's your relationship with Dilraba? Why did you come in her car?"

Reporters kept handing over microphones, and even the company security guards' desperate attempts to stop them couldn't deter these frenzied reporters.

Hanikezi was hesitating whether or not to grant the reporter an interview.

She didn't know how to deal with these things.

No one taught her.

"Honey, calm down. Ignore them, just keep smiling and go upstairs."

Reba gently nudged Hanikezi from the side, telling her to just walk forward and pretend she hadn't heard anything.

There's no need to care about these reporters.

You're just a 13-year-old girl with no scandals to report, so why are you afraid of these reporters?
……

The main characters of the movie held a meeting at Starlight Brilliant Company.

The main purpose is to get to know each other, go over the script, determine the film's style, and sign an agreement.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhiyuan and others were having a meeting upstairs.

These journalists, who hadn't managed to get concrete information, started sending photos and news back, and within minutes, they were spreading online.

"What are the advantages of a 13-year-old newcomer? In the new film 'Real Steel' by renowned director Lu Zhiyuan, the female lead was cast instead of our beloved Alita!"

"Lu Zhiyuan's film 'Upgrade' has grossed over 30 billion RMB worldwide! Who exactly is this 13-year-old newcomer? Let Indiana Jones play a supporting role for her!"

"A 3D blockbuster! A Hollywood film with an investment of over 5000 million US dollars and 3.5 million RMB, and the lead role has fallen to a newcomer! How good is this newcomer's acting skills? It's worrying!"

After Hanikezi appeared, she was pulled away by Rebala and refused to give interviews. Her arrogant attitude caused the reporters to bombard her with criticism.

These reporters and media outlets were warned not to speak ill of Lu Zhiyuan, but speaking ill of a newcomer shouldn't be a big problem, right?

Let's give them a piece of our minds first!
I've disliked him for a long time!
They won't even give an interview?
Do you even know what an uncrowned king is?

……

Inside the conference room, Lu Zhiyuan quickly saw all sorts of messy reports appearing online.

He was speechless.

However, it is also known that media reporters make their living from generating traffic.

Whether good or bad, controversy generates buzz.

He didn't care, but he had to consider that Hanikezi was just a 13-year-old girl. If she were overwhelmed by public opinion, it could easily affect the entire film.

"Xiao Li, come here for a second."

Lu Zhiyuan called out to Zhao Shanshan's secretary, Xiao Li.

The other person immediately jogged over and bowed to serve him: "Brother Yuan, what are your orders?"

Lu Zhiyuan said forcefully, "Issue an official announcement to all media reporters, telling them that Hani is the female lead I chose from tens of thousands of people. She will surely amaze the world, and everyone should wait and see!"

"Until then, let them stop talking nonsense."

Will it amaze the world?

Lu Zhiyuan has such strong confidence!
Is Hanikezi any good?

The others in the meeting room were filled with doubt, but of course they wouldn't pour cold water on their hopes at this moment.

All I can say is that Lu Zhiyuan is full of confidence, which is a good thing.

This indicates that the project has a very high probability of success!

Upon hearing Lu Zhiyuan speak, Harrison Ford, the seasoned veteran, immediately chimed in, "Ophelia, my little granddaughter, looks like a beautiful elf princess. I believe she can do it."

Reba nodded in agreement: "Yes, Hani can definitely do it. We Uyghur girls are the most beautiful in the whole world."

Zhao Shanshan laughed: "Let's not talk about A Yuan's other perspectives for now, let's just talk about making movies. All those people outside combined wouldn't be enough to beat A Yuan with one hand."

In the office, only Xin Yukun remained silent, offering only a faint smile.

Seeing that everyone was looking over, he said in a pretentious manner, "If those people outside knew how to make a movie, they wouldn't be babbling on and on."

"If you don't believe me, let them interview Chen Kaige."

You're so good at talking!
If those people were to interview Chen Kaige, they would most likely only get a glimpse of the back of his head; Chen Kaige probably wouldn't even bother talking to them.

The movie hasn't even been made yet, and you're already talking about whether it's okay or not?

It's just funny.

"By the way, Xiao Li, before you send this message, contact Sina Weibo! Let's give them some traffic so they'll give us more resources in the future."

Sina Weibo has been preparing its "Celebrity Verification" system, which is about to launch and is attracting many celebrities to join.

Lu Zhiyuan decided to give Sina Weibo a big gift.

If you don't occupy the public opinion arena, someone else will.

Although Lu Zhiyuan was impatient with these things, they were meaningless for making movies and only a waste of energy.

But he dislikes being smeared by others even more.

Therefore, it is essential to cultivate a good relationship with this new era's public opinion front.

"Brother Yuan, I know what to do!"

Xiao Li nodded, and then flattered her, saying, "If Weibo knew that you and Dilraba were planning to join, wouldn't they be ecstatic?"

(End of this chapter)