The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 155 The entire audience was stunned! A world-famous painting appeared! He infused the film with divinity!
……

Under Reba's influence, Hanikezi finally couldn't resist and spent all the gold coins she had earned to buy the Qin King's Sword.

Just when the audience thought that the next intense robot battle was about to begin...

But at this moment.

"Sophie, it's time to log off. Let's play together again next time."

The watch in Hanikezi emitted a beeping sound.

This notification sound reminded her that it was time to take her medicine, and it also pulled the audience out of the virtual reality game.

"How annoying, it broke right here."

"The director really knows how to manipulate people. Knowing we're eager to see the next robot battle, he deliberately cuts to this moment."

Inside the theater, many people were making quiet complaints.

However, this also proves from another perspective that the robot battles in this movie are very appealing to audiences.

They don't even want to watch the smallest bit of everyday life.

I just want to watch robot battles.

Watch those battle scenes with roaring machines, brutal punches, and sparks flying everywhere.

However, as film industry professionals, they fully understand that relying solely on explosive scenes is unsustainable.

No movie is entertaining from beginning to end.

Rhythm is very important.

……

I took off the VR glasses and turned off the watch's notification sound.

Hanikezi searched through the drawers at home for a while and found a medicine box, from which he rummaged through many empty boxes.

These empty boxes suggest to the audience that she has been taking medication for many years.

Finally, she found the remaining pills in a box, swallowed them, and then gently exhaled.

It's getting late.

As the sun gradually set, the indoor light dimmed.

Hanikezi sat by the window, letting the setting sun fall on her face.

The joy and smiles that the game brought gradually faded away as the sun set.

And she herself transformed from a vibrant, energetic robot operator into a fragile, melancholic young woman.

At this moment, the audience realized that her parents had just died in a car accident.

For her, the game "Real Steel" was like a utopia, a place where she could temporarily escape her troubles.

However, one cannot immerse oneself in games forever.

Once she returned to reality, she realized just how terrible her life was.

He may be a powerful figure in the game, but his life is full of hardship and helplessness.

It's regrettable.

But isn't that true of everyone?

At this moment, Hanikezi got up and went to his parents' room.

Looking at the empty room, images of laughter and joy flashed through her mind.

She finally realized that from now on, she would never see her parents again.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sadness welled up in my heart.

She looked at the withered orchid on the windowsill, her mother's favorite plant, and tears streamed down her face.

Her silent weeping resonated with the audience, evoking immense sympathy for the 13-year-old girl.

"Oh, my poor little princess."

"I really want to take her home."

"I really feel sorry for her."

"I wonder if she has any other relatives who could offer her some comfort?"

……

The audience's voices seemed to have been heard by the god of cinema.

The next second, the camera cuts.

We arrived at an old boxing gym.

Harrison Ford, reclining on a worn-out sofa, half-closed his eyes, holding an ice-cold beer, watching a boxing match.

On television, a young Harrison Ford appears to be a coach, constantly encouraging and inspiring a young man.

Tell that young man to seize his opponent's weaknesses, not to be afraid, and to strike hard; he will surely win.

The young man nodded seriously.

Then, he touched his boxing gloves and stepped into the ring with great enthusiasm.

After three rounds, the young man knocked his opponent to the ground with an uppercut!
Cheers erupted as he won the Junior Boxing Grand Prix.

"My son! I told you, you are the best. I said that!"

Young Harrison Ford, holding his son, was excitedly incoherent.

That concludes the contents of the videotape.

The frozen images on the television screen were filled with the joy of victory and his son's bright, sunny smile.

But at this moment.

A phone call came in.

Harrison Ford snapped out of his daze, shook his head, and went to answer the phone.

For a moment, he froze.

“What? John, my son is dead? And I have a granddaughter? Her name is Ophelia, yes, I know that name.”

"Don't worry, I will go there and take the child away."

"Wait, could you please repeat the address? I'll write it down on a piece of paper."

After hanging up the phone, Harrison Ford delivered a brilliant performance.

The actor perfectly portrayed the state of being in disbelief, pain, regret, and nostalgia for the good old days after losing his son.

If this were an art film, viewers would probably be moved to tears once they get into it.

To everyone's surprise, the audience didn't buy it at all.

"I don't want to watch this."

"Hurry up and jump over there."

"I just want to see the little princess control the robot in the arena."

Lu Zhiyuan listened to the low murmurs coming from the audience and couldn't help but feel speechless.

Really convinced.

Harrison Ford's performance was so good; he perfectly captured the grief, helplessness, and despair of a parent outliving their child.

As a result, the audience didn't like watching it at all.

They just want to see special effects robots fighting in the arena.

However, heartwarming scenes are indispensable in movies.

Otherwise, if the movie is all action from beginning to end, it may be exciting, but it lacks the human touch and emotion that it evokes, making it less memorable and moving.

Once you've watched it once, you won't watch it a second time.

How is Lu Zhiyuan supposed to sell DVDs now?

DVD viewers love movies that they can watch three or four times without getting bored.

Fortunately, the plot outside the game is like fast-forwarding, simply explaining the characters' backgrounds and the relationship between the male protagonist Harrison Ford and the female protagonist Ophelia.

Although we've never met, the principle that blood is thicker than water applies all over the world.

This foreshadows how the protagonist, Harrison Ford, later goes to great lengths to help his granddaughter reach the top of the world.

The granddaughter of a champion boxer must also be a champion!
Pass on the glory and honor of my family from generation to generation!
……

“Lu, ignore those people. They don’t understand art at all; all they know is that exciting fight scenes can bring in money.”

"I really like these."

"These heartwarming scenes remind me of my grandfather."

“We’re from Germany. You know. Back then, it wasn’t easy for our whole family.”

James was there reminiscing about the past.

Watching Harrison Ford in the movie, he seemed to see his own grandfather, who, for the safety of the entire family, abandoned everything in Germany, crossed the ocean to America, and started from scratch.

Without his grandfather's pioneering work and groundwork, he wouldn't have been able to become the CEO of Focus Features and rise to the top in Hollywood.

……

The scene changes.

Harrison Ford went to a child protection agency to look for his granddaughter, only to be told that she had secretly run away home again.

Harrison Ford inquired about his granddaughter's address, and as he walked along, he frowned repeatedly at the slum-like scene.

After asking several Black men on the street, he finally found the location of his granddaughter's apartment.

The grandfather and grandson were meeting for the first time.

Hanikezi just silently watched Harrison Ford, showing the timidity that a 13-year-old girl should have, her eyes filled with wariness.

Harrison Ford was in a rather awkward position.

He wanted to show his grandfatherly love, but he didn't know how to express it. He hesitated to step forward, but was afraid of being rejected.

Finally, he opened his arms three times in repetition. Seeing that Hanikezi did not refuse, he finally mustered up the courage to go up and gently hug his little granddaughter.

After a hug, the distance between the two eased considerably.

That evening, Harrison Ford personally cooked a meal of his hometown cuisine for Hanikezi.

While Hanikezi was eating, he wandered around the room and noticed that she liked VR games. He smiled and thought she was still a child.

However, becoming addicted to online games is not a good habit.

Moreover, the environment here is terrible, we must move as soon as possible.

Harrison Ford had been living a muddled life since his son severed ties with him, but at this moment, his life was once again intertwined with something else.

As an elderly hero, he must stand up again to protect his young granddaughter from the wind and rain and create a safe haven for her.

Early in the morning, Harrison Ford got up to go for a run, facing the rising sun with hope.

Then, on the street corner, he saw a real estate advertisement.

Advanced smart home features, robot butler, one-stop service... In short, this house is great in every way. It's just a bit pricey.

He felt that his granddaughter, who looked like a little princess, should live in a house like this.

People shouldn't live in slums.

So, after hesitating for a moment, he called one of his old friends and asked if there was any suitable job for him.

"Hey buddy, how old are you this year? 65 or 66? Aren't you planning to retire yet?"

"Besides, human boxing matches are a thing of the past. If you're interested, I can introduce you to a few Real Steel players."

"They desperately need real professional guidance."

"However, before that, you need to familiarize yourself with the gameplay, which can greatly increase your rewards."

"If you can make it onto the points leaderboard, say, into the top 1000 in the entire region, then I can double the salary you're asking for."

Double it?
Upon hearing this, Harrison Ford immediately perked up.

At 65, it's the perfect time to strive!
For my lovely little princess, I must work hard!

On his way home, Harrison Ford bought the latest VR gaming console and, like Hanikezi, started playing intense battles in the game.

……

The following movie scenes are cheerful and full of passion.

The grandfather and grandson kept looking for places to grind monsters, accumulate gold coins, upgrade their equipment, and then go to the arena to fight.

A variety of cool robots kept appearing, keeping the audience entertained.

It happens around 30 minutes into the movie.

The fateful showdown has begun.

Harrison Ford's robot and Hanikezi's robot met in the final battle of round 10!

The two fighters had the same fighting style, many fighting habits, and even their methods of observing each other's weaknesses and using small traps to lure each other into making mistakes.

The two robots, like twins, clashed in a grand hall resembling an ancient Greek temple.

Back and forth, steel clashing, sparks flying.

Amidst the roar of machinery and the passionate, powerful sounds of electronic rock, the grandfather and grandson fought to a standstill.

However, at the last moment, Hanikezi's robot ran out of energy and was knocked down by the cunning Harrison Ford with a single punch.

"Congratulations to player [God Fist Zeus] for achieving a ten-game winning streak!"

"A super Easter egg has been added to your backpack. Please confirm."

Upon receiving the message from the game system, Harrison Ford immediately went to check it.

There is no $1000 million reward.

However, the gold coins he obtained from his opponents, when converted into real-world currency and combined with his own previous savings, were enough for him to buy a decent small house.

In addition, there is a mysterious map.

They guided him to Dunhuang.

However, Harrison Ford didn't care at all; he just wanted to exchange the gold coins for money to buy a beautiful house for his little princess and then take her to get proper medical treatment.

I hurriedly returned home.

Harrison Ford first cooked a delicious dinner for Hanikezi.

During the meal, his face was filled with a strong desire to show off, but he held it back tightly.

"Ophelia, if Santa Claus were to grant you one wish, would you prefer a house by a lake or a beautiful villa halfway up a mountain? Um, I mean, if Grandpa suddenly became rich and could buy a house, which one would you like?"

Hanikezi glanced at him and replied somewhat absentmindedly, "If Santa Claus really exists, I hope he can get you a better pickup truck."

As Hanikezi finished speaking, the scene flashed back to a week earlier.

Harrison Ford wanted to send Hanikzi to school.

As a result, the pickup truck broke down halfway, making Hanikezi the laughingstock of her most hated classmate.

"Originally, I should have saved up enough gold coins to help you buy a new car."

"Unfortunately, they lost everything in the last game."

Hanikezi muttered to himself, his mind racing: "Who is that guy? He's awful. Could he be one of my dad's former students? Is it Tony, or Tim?"

……

"Haha."

"This plot is interesting!"

"I thought this kind of family drama would be boring, but the director turned it into something new, with a bit of an O. Henry short story effect."

"It's a bit like 'The Gift of the Magi'."

"Both sides wanted to give each other a good Christmas present, but fate played a little joke on them."

"However, if it weren't for this fateful showdown, Grandpa probably wouldn't have known that the aloof and proud little princess in front of him had actually gradually accepted him as her grandfather."

The character of Harrison Ford achieved a win-win situation at this moment.

I won 10 consecutive games and got the Easter egg reward.

In reality, he also won his granddaughter's approval.

……

Movies aren't TV series; foreshadowing doesn't need to be built up for too long. Furthermore, this isn't a suspense film, so the mystery doesn't need to be revealed at the very end.

Soon, their identities were revealed to each other.

……

"Ophelia, you should take care of your health. You're playing games for too long."

After achieving a 10-game winning streak and accumulating enough gold coins, Harrison Ford converted them directly into cash, meeting with real estate agents daily to view houses, ready to buy a new house at any time.

However, Harrison Ford discovered that his granddaughter was too addicted to VR games.

This isn't good for your health.

She already suffered from a serious illness.

At this moment, Harrison Ford revealed the domineering and unreasonable side of an old-fashioned parent.

"None of your business. You don't understand what this game means to me."

Clearly, Hanikezi is a character with a rather cold and rebellious personality, and she has no desire to listen to her grandfather's moral criticism.

After all, they are grandfather and grandson, and the grandfather's temper wasn't much better.

"Huh, I don't understand?"

"I am the top 3 in the entire [Sand Island] region's arena points competition, the famous [God Fist Zeus]. If you really play this game, you should understand the significance of this ranking."

They taught Hanikezi a lesson.

Seeing his granddaughter staring in disbelief, Harrison Ford felt a little smug, then adopted the demeanor of a patriarch and began to lecture her.

Hopefully, Hanikezi will admit his mistakes and correct them.

“Listen, Orpheus, games aren’t life, at least not all of life. You have to understand that.”

"You have to have your own life, you have to go out and make friends."

"Finally, you need to take care of your health and not get too addicted to games."

After giving the lecture, Harrison Ford, having played the parent he wanted, took out a small cake from the refrigerator to win over the little darling.

After all, this wasn't his rebellious son.

This is my lovely little granddaughter. Whether I'm disciplining her or giving her a lecture, I can't go too far.

"You are Zeus?"

"Do you remember who your opponent was in the last game of your 10-game winning streak?"

Without even glancing at the small cake her grandfather brought, Hanikezi clenched her fists, looking as if she were about to collapse, pacing back and forth in the room, her footsteps heavy on the floor.

Through the screen, viewers could feel how incredibly excited Hanikezi was at that moment.

"The opponent in the final match, [Arthas]... [Arthas]? I think that's his name. I can't quite remember."

For an old-school boxer like Harrison Ford, his entry into the Real Steel game was primarily for financial gain.

He never considered this game anything important.

A game is just a game.

Not worth mentioning.

Now, he has earned enough money in the game and doesn't have to worry about making a living for the time being.

For him, the focus of his life right now is his little granddaughter.

As for who the opponent will be in the last game of the 10-game winning streak?

Does that matter?

"You don't remember! Ha, you actually don't remember?"

Hanikezi is going crazy.

She worked hard in the arena, diligently earning gold coins and collecting equipment for her "Dragon Fist" robot.

The results of it?
He was punched to death by his own grandfather, and all his points, all his gold coins, and all his equipment were wiped out.

This game is very interesting, but also very cruel.

One account, one life.

Once you die, all your accumulated wealth and equipment will be instantly wiped out.

"Ophie, no way? No, it can't be... It really is you?"

Harrison Ford seemed to gradually realize something, and his expression became very awkward.

He had just been lecturing his granddaughter, telling her not to get addicted to online games.

As a result, he himself was the culprit who caused his granddaughter to become addicted to online games, constantly leveling up and trying to rebuild her account.

"Ophie, I'm sorry, I didn't know that was you."

"Wait, you've achieved a 9-game winning streak. You must have a lot of gold and equipment, right?"

At that moment, Harrison Ford suddenly realized something.

"I remember the World Grand Prix is ​​starting soon. You've been racking up points lately, are you trying to get into the World Grand Prix?"

Harrison Ford stopped playing games not only because he had to take care of his granddaughter, Hanikezi, in his daily life.

The main reason is that he also wants to participate in the World Grand Prix.

Before that, he must ensure that his game account has enough points... if he continues to participate in the arena.

What if we lose a game?

The consequences could be disastrous.

Even if not all equipment is destroyed, it will still affect your ranking and may prevent you from participating in the World Grand Prix.

"Yes!"

Hanikezi nodded in agreement.

"The developer of the game 'Real Steel' is YG Entertainment, one of the world's top companies."

"As long as I can participate in the World Grand Prix and get enough points, I can get a recommendation from YG Entertainment to enter the best university in the United States."

I was surprised to hear that this game offered such perks.

Harrison Ford felt increasingly remorseful, as if he had ruined his granddaughter's future.

He pondered how to make amends for this.

Suddenly, Harrison Ford had an idea and hurriedly ran back to his room to get his VR glasses.

"Ophie, after I got a 10-game winning streak, the system gave me a surprise. It might be helpful to you."

Among the rewards for a 10-win streak is an Easter egg that guides Harrison Ford to a mysterious address to unlock a special reward.

He had forgotten about it because he had been busy looking at houses.

……

"YG Entertainment has appeared!"

"I remember at the end of the movie 'Upgrade,' YG Entertainment was controlled by AI, right?"

"I can't believe YG Entertainment is back! What are they planning this time? To use AI to control the human world through games?"

"They wouldn't implant any chips in VR gaming glasses to control humans, would they?"

The audience members at the scene were buzzing with discussion.

It has to be said that the appearance of YG Entertainment, a familiar name, has brought a sense of anticipation to everyone.

In the movie "Upgrade," YG Entertainment is clearly the villain, the mastermind behind the AI ​​that wants to control humanity.

"This movie has many elements."

"The plot development is unexpected."

"Robot arena competitions, family dramas between grandparents and grandchildren... Now, after the estrangement between grandparents and grandchildren has been bridged, there is a growing tendency for them to form teams."

"And what's the Easter egg?"

"The movie keeps mentioning the Easter egg from the very beginning, so there must be some important clue!"

As the movie progresses, the plot seems to become increasingly complex, with a conspiracy lurking in the background.

In particular, the reappearance of YG Entertainment.

It's reminiscent of how, from the very beginning, there was an AI-powered guide, Reba, who relentlessly pushed the female protagonist, Hanikezi, forward.

There's definitely something wrong here.

However, no one could predict what would happen next.

The entire plot of the movie is easy to understand, with exciting fights, heartwarming family moments, and occasional little comedic moments.

In addition, there's a touch of suspense mixed in, making you want to keep watching.

Without a doubt, this is a successful commercial film!
"Oh my god!"

"So much plot development, and only 40 minutes of the movie have passed?"

This movie is packed with information; it's absolutely mind-blowing.

Many viewers thought a lot of time had passed, but when they checked their watches, they found that only a third of the movie had actually been played!

When you come across a good movie, you always have a strange feeling that makes you very worried: Is it about to end?
……

The movie's plot is still ongoing.

However, for the Universal Pictures executives present, after watching the film for 40 minutes, they were basically certain that the film's box office performance would not be too bad.

Unless, of course, it just turns into diarrhea and becomes unbearably rotten.

Otherwise, as long as the quality remains at a normal commercial film level, the Rotten Tomatoes score will definitely be above 80% until the film ends.

Virtual reality games combined with robot combat—this is a genre of film that has never appeared on the market before!

There are movies about virtual reality games, but those movies look very fake, with exaggerated and unrealistic plots.

The movie "Real Steel" is completely different.

In the virtual game, Lu Zhiyuan created a wonderful and fairytale-like battle world.

In contrast, there is warmth and tenderness in reality.

To save money for his granddaughter, the grandfather rekindled his passion for boxing and even abandoned old-fashioned traditional ideas. To help his granddaughter realize her dream, he personally played video games with her.

What insane idea is this?

Even in a more open family environment like the United States, grandfathers rarely play video games with their granddaughters, right?
However, after the film's logical setup, everything seems so natural.

……

Among a group of Hollywood executives and business tycoons, there was a young man who seemed out of place.

His name is Palmer Latch.

He is a geek gamer.

He is 18 years old and currently studying at California State University, Long Beach.

Two months ago, he created the first low-cost VR prototype, PR1, by modifying smartphone screens and using open-source hardware, and gained some fame on social media.

Two days earlier, he had received an invitation from Universal Pictures to attend a film screening.

He was completely dazed.

I thought I had been selected as a lucky audience member to attend the preview screening of a new film after participating in a movie review poll I had participated in before!
Thinking about it that way, he still felt quite honored.

But when he arrived, Palmer was completely dumbfounded.

Because, apart from him, there were no ordinary viewers.

The other audience members were all business people, dressed in suits, pot-bellied, and with slicked-back hair.

He was the only one wearing a baseball cap, jeans, Nike shoes, and a loose-fitting sweater, looking like a silly college student.

Palmer felt awkward and wanted to leave the environment.

He was completely captivated just two minutes into the movie when the female lead put on VR gaming glasses and started playing a robot arena match.

Is this the future of VR gaming?

Palmer murmured to himself, completely captivated by the amazing VR gaming world presented in the movie.

"Yes, Palmer!"

Lu Zhiyuan sat next to Palmer, turned his head to look at the geek player, and said with a smile, "Palmer, I know what you're doing."

"I'd like to collaborate with you on a VR game, simplifying the special effects shots from the movie 'Real Steel' through topological manipulation. What do you think?"

After listening to Lu Zhiyuan's opinion, Palmer fell into a long silence, seemingly considering its feasibility.

After a while, he shook his head: "Sir, I'm afraid that's difficult. Current VR devices can hardly create such high-performance games."

The details in the movie "Real Steel" are simply amazing.

Palmer was captivated.

If he can create such a VR game in his lifetime, he can say that he will die without regrets.

It's not certain that a game of this caliber will be created within the next 20 years.

From a technical standpoint, it's not possible for Lu Zhiyuan to transplant it now.

"Palmer, you've misunderstood."

"What I mean is, to use robots from movies as elements to create a fighting game similar to 'The King of Fighters,' with limited scenarios and limited bosses."

Lu Zhiyuan felt that this shouldn't be a particularly difficult thing.

It's simply putting robot arena battles inside VR glasses.

Of course, this requires some technological reforms.

Both hardware and software need to be upgraded.

In terms of software, Palmer is a genius.

In another timeline, around 2012, he developed a VR headset, which he then sold to Facebook in October 2015 for $2 billion.

As for hardware... Apple's representatives are sitting right here, so we can definitely discuss the possibility of cooperation in this area.

"Oh my god!"

"what is this?"

However, just as Lu Zhiyuan and Palmer were chatting, the audience in the theater gasped in surprise.

"where is this place?"

"This scenery is absolutely stunning! Absolutely breathtaking!"

"My God... Prometheus stole fire for mankind, and that fire ignited the world and human civilization. At this moment, the golden fire of nature has ignited the soul within the robot!"

"Real Steel, Steel Soul!"

"Real Steel" has been given a new name, "Steel Soul," which seems quite fitting.

The black lake at an altitude of over 3700 meters, along with the divine scene of the "Double Sunrise over the Golden Mountain," completely stunned all the audience members present.

"world masterpiece!"

“This is definitely a world-famous painting!”

"It's even more shocking than the painting of the Passion of Jesus Christ on Weizhou Island!"

This is already the second time!

In Lu Zhiyuan's film, there is a scene that connects the preceding and following parts, highlights the theme of the film, but its visual effects completely surpass all other scenes in the entire film!

The rotating camera angles in Inception are truly stunning, representing the pinnacle of current filming technology.

It is also a superb manifestation of the director's imagination.

However, it is far inferior to this divine scene that has always existed between heaven and earth!

……

Palmer was also incredibly shocked after seeing the picture.

He turned around and looked at Lu Zhiyuan excitedly: "Sir, what do you want me to do? Tell me, and I will definitely do it for you!"

"My God, how did you capture this scene? You've infused the film with divine power! It's absolutely amazing!"

"If this kind of scene appeared in our VR game, I can imagine the whole world would go crazy."

(End of this chapter)