The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 186, the trailer for "Pacific Rim," can be posted on the game website first!

……

After the weekend, Lu Zhiyuan went back to work.

Don't assume that five months is a lot of time.

In fact, five months is a very short project cycle for the post-production of a heavy industry film.

For Lu Zhiyuan, the film Pacific Rim was not started in 2011, but rather in late 2009, before he started filming Real Steel.

The customization of just those few Mech Hunters took more than half a year.

If it's a project that's being prepared from scratch, such a large-scale production would take at least a year and a half to complete.

"Boss, you arrive earlier than me every day. I finally understand what the Chinese proverb, 'Zhou Bapi imitates a rooster's crow in the middle of the night,' means."

Schwarzschild adapted to local customs and was not opposed to working overtime.

After all, Lu Zhiyuan only makes one science fiction film a year, and he only has six months to work overtime.

For the remaining six months, his work was actually quite easy, much easier than when he was in the United States.

Moreover, the company's success also benefits him.

At least the bonus won't be small.

"Schwarzschild, stop talking nonsense and get to work."

If it were any other director, they would most likely wait for the special effects renderings to come out, and then come to the company every day like a supervisor.

But Lu Zhiyuan is different.

He would first draw a concept art of the kind of scene he needed, and then communicate with Schwarzschild about how to turn that concept art into a CG effect.

From concept art to special effects videos.

This is simply an evolution from static to dynamic, which is certainly much more efficient than imagining things out of thin air.

With Lu Zhiyuan as the art director, and Lu Zhiyuan himself also knowing a little about special effects, Schwarzschild's team couldn't even slack off.

I had no choice but to work overtime every day, and my efficiency improved once again!
In addition, Lu Zhiyuan had extremely high requirements for the visual effects of the special effects, which forced Schwarzschild and his team to strive for perfection.

Because the boss is not an outsider.

When it comes to this, he actually knows a lot about it!
Having a boss like this is enough to drive any working person to despair.

"Boss, I still prefer the old you, who slept until you naturally woke up every day and didn't come to supervise until 11 o'clock."

Schwarzschild sighed, recalling the days when he was creating special effects for "Real Steel".

That was a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, starting from some point, Lu Zhiyuan became incredibly energetic, arriving at the company very early in the morning, as if he never needed to sleep.

It's truly despairing.

……

Meanwhile, as Lu Zhiyuan worked hard at the company, some changes were quietly taking place in the film market.

A Chinese Ghost Story is a hit!
Ye Weixin and his gang finally got their revenge and were preparing to throw a big celebration banquet, then ditch Lu Zhiyuan and act all arrogant!
Liu Yifei and Louis Koo, as the two main characters, have been frequently reported on this time. Regardless of whether the plot is outrageous or not, they certainly didn't lose money.

They even made a small profit.

The box office performance of "A Chinese Ghost Story" was very impressive, reaching 1.5 million yuan.

Most importantly, the copyright sold for $1200 million.

Clearly, this movie must have made a lot of money.

After all, even if some special effects are added in post-production, the production cost of this kind of period film won't be too high, at most tens of millions.

Because "A Chinese Ghost Story" made money, Liu Yifei was hailed as a box office star, finally carrying the film's box office success as the leading actress.

However, the old problems of that group on Hong Kong Island have resurfaced!
……

"Afi, your online public image is really bad. You get criticized all the time."

Xin Yukun brought Yang Mi along, intending to discuss a few business contracts with her.

Dilraba is not here; she went to her hometown to film a movie.

These business contracts were temporarily unfilled, and the other party urgently needed a popular female celebrity, so Xin Yukun casually introduced this good opportunity to Yang Mi.

Miss Jing Tian has already given the instructions.

Although Yang Mi hasn't signed a contract yet... she can mess with Tangren and fall out with Rong Xinda. If she dares to mess with Miss Jing Tian, ​​she probably really doesn't want to work here anymore.

Therefore, Xin Yukun didn't mind giving Yang Mi a sweet treat early on.

However, after the two finished discussing the business contract and went downstairs, they happened to run into Liu Yifei, who also seemed to have some cooperation with this company.

So they arranged to have lunch together.

After finishing his meal, Xin Yukun was scrolling through Weibo on his phone when he couldn't help but laugh because he had seen a lot of negative information about Liu Yifei online.

"What did I do now? I haven't done anything lately."

Liu Yifei was speechless. She smoothed her hair and looked at Xin Yukun with an unfriendly gaze: "Brother Kun, explain yourself clearly. Stop looking at me with that sarcastic smile."

Xin Yukun put down his phone and gave Yang Mi a meaningful look, leaving Yang Mi completely bewildered.

Then, Xin Yukun slowly spoke: "The box office for 'A Chinese Ghost Story' is not bad. However, the production company behind you listed many inflated expenses and couldn't produce an audit report, so they were sued by the partners. You know about this, right?"

Liu Yifei nodded.

She definitely knows about this.

With such a big incident happening on set, as the female lead, she must have heard some rumors.

But what does this have to do with her?
Upon hearing this, Yang Mi, who was standing next to her, blinked a few times, seemingly lost in thought.

Xin Yukun continued, “The production cost of the movie ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’ was announced to be 2000 million US dollars. However, some time ago, Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co., Ltd. sued the production company behind you. Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co., Ltd. produced the contract, which clearly stated in black and white that it was 840 million RMB, accounting for 12% of the share.”

"In other words, the budget for your movie is 7000 million RMB, which is about 1000 million USD."

"However, those Hong Kong Islanders fabricated many expenses, doubling the cost to US$2000 million."

"For example, someone whose name I've never even heard of, who barely visited the production crew, received HK$150 million in production fees. And there aren't just one or two people like this, there are a whole bunch of them."

“Now, they can’t produce the financial documents, and they can’t write the audit report… Anyone with eyes can see what’s going on.”

"However, these kinds of lawsuits are quite troublesome. Let the two sides wrestle for a while. Hunan Broadcasting System has paid a price for its lessons."

These Hong Kong directors, who have failed miserably, have learned nothing but deception. They're all incredibly good at it, giving the impression that they're just trying to make a quick buck and run away.

Xin Yukun couldn't stand this kind of thing the most.

The reason why there are fewer and fewer investors in the entertainment industry is because there are too many scoundrels, and they are not just one or two, but groups of people committing crimes.

He originally wanted to do the same thing, to really screw over Miss Jing Tian, ​​but Lu Zhiyuan stopped him in time and led him onto the right path.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have earned so much money and achieved such a high status in the underworld.

Investors outside the industry, especially advertisers, are constantly asking him if they can get a share of the projects their company is working on.

This is all thanks to Lu Zhiyuan's excellent leadership.

As a result, Yuankun Media has earned a stellar reputation even outside the industry, with people knowing that their film accounts are crystal clear and that they don't cheat acquaintances or strangers.

Of course, with such a lucrative project, it's highly unlikely that others will be able to get a share.

However, the more they act this way, the more sophisticated their company appears. Their employees can walk around with their heads held high, looking superior to others.

"Brother Kun, I've heard about what you're saying. But it doesn't really concern me, does it?"

Liu Yifei shrugged.

She's just a minor actress and can't make decisions about capital matters.

"Of course I know it has little to do with you. You wouldn't get any of the profits. But to put it bluntly, if something like this happens, especially in a movie you starred in, most netizens will probably only remember that Liu Yifei did the dirty work for someone else."

"Ten years from now, most netizens will probably not remember what 'A Chinese Ghost Story' was about; they will only remember that the movie was involved in money laundering and falsifying expenses."

Xin Yukun chuckled coldly a few times, then looked up at Liu Yifei: "Yifei, do you think what I said makes sense?"

This is what they mean by "good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast."

Liu Yifei felt that in 10 years, things would most likely turn out like the description Kun Ge had given her.

But what could she do?
“Brother Kun, you’re right. But there’s nothing I can do. Let them say what they want. I didn’t do anything, and I have a clear conscience.”

Liu Yifei has quite a strong temper.

Moreover, aside from Lu Zhiyuan, she almost always spoke sarcastically and showed no kindness to other men.

"Afi, all I've said so far is to ask you one question: where is your agency contract now?"

Xin Yukun realized that Liu Yifei had discovered his little trick.

This time, he stopped beating around the bush and directly hinted to Liu Yifei that she could sign her agency contract with their Yuankun Media.

So, what kind of movie can't you make?
Why bother associating with those lousy directors from Hong Kong Island?
The other party also has all sorts of other messy businesses, and their minds are not on the movie at all... They can make money through crooked means, but Liu Yifei can't.

In the long run, Liu Yifei will only become a scapegoat.

Liu Yifei is a smart person; she should be able to understand her own subtext.

"Where else could it be? The usual place, I guess."

Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at Xin Yukun, feigning ignorance.

"Still in Hongxingwu? Your godfather's company? Are you kidding me? Don't you understand the concept of 'seeing something improper'?"

“We’ve known you for so long, of course we know that things aren’t going on between you and your godfather. But netizens don’t know that.”

"These kinds of things, when they get around, sound really unpleasant."

"Even if you don't think about yourself, your godfather should at least think about you, and your mother should at least think about you. I don't know what they're thinking."

“If I were your godfather, I wouldn’t have handled things so badly. I would have severed all ties with you publicly long ago.”

Xin Yukun sighed with disappointment, then delivered a fatal blow: "Nazha told me that there is a classmate of hers named Yang Caiyu, whose agency contract is also with Red Starwood."

"That's not a big problem. But, did you know? Yang Caiyu has a nickname outside: Erfei!"

puff!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Yang Mi, who was standing next to her, almost spat out the drink she was drinking when she heard this.

Kun Ge has a really sharp tongue.

Yang Mi felt that if she were Liu Yifei, she would jump up right now and slap Kun Ge hard across the face to stop him from talking nonsense.

"Brother Kun, since you put it that way... this meal is on you!"

Liu Yifei was really angry; her face turned black.

She even made a major decision: she wouldn't pay the bill today, so that stingy Xin Yukun, who always freeloads, would experience the power of a broken wallet.

“Ah Fei, we’ve known each other for so long, and I’m only saying these heartfelt words to you because I genuinely care about you. If it were anyone else, like this big-breasted, brainless idiot next to me, even if she got ripped off by those people from Hong Kong, I wouldn’t say a word.”

Yang Mi was the only person next to Xin Yukun.

The term "big-breasted, brainless idiot" perfectly describes Yang Mi.

At this moment, Yang Mi was so angry she wanted to explode. Calling her a bear was one thing—that was true. But who was she calling brainless? She was the smartest person in the entire entertainment industry!
I'm the epitome of female celebrity intelligence!

"Brother Kun, stop beating around the bush and just say what you mean. You just want me to leave Hongxingwu and sign with Yuankun Media."

“However, you are just a minor shareholder in the company, so you are not qualified to say this to me.”

“If your company is sincere, let the big boss, Mr. Lu, talk to me. As soon as he says so, I will immediately transfer the agency contract to Yuankun Media.”

As long as her artistic idol says the word, Liu Yifei can directly transfer her management contract to Yuankun Media.

Xin Yukun is full of nonsense; you can't believe a word he says.

But her artistic idol was different; he was an artist who transcended vulgar tastes and possessed noble character.

Moreover, even if she was deceived by the artistic male god, Liu Yifei was willing to accept it.

But she cannot be deceived by others.

"Afei, you know Yuan well, how could he say something like that to you?"

"Getting you out of your godfather's agency will obviously cause you trouble. And he can't guarantee that you'll be better off than before."

"He has always cared about you and has always been watching over you silently, only wishing that you are doing well. He will not cause you any trouble, not even the slightest bit."

"I wanted to play the villain and help you sort out your relationship with your godfather. I wanted to change your environment and let you enjoy the happiness of being a big star again. I wanted you to be like a little princess, always being cared for and loved. I didn't want rumors to keep lingering around you."

Xin Yukun felt that he was truly expressing his emotions at this moment.

Aside from kneeling down and taking out the ring, his lines were practically indistinguishable from a marriage proposal.

Xin Yukun was filled with curiosity about Liu Yifei and her godfather's story, and he secretly went to great lengths to find out all sorts of gossip.

It's highly unlikely to be true.

However, the story of Yang Caiyu and her godfather is true.

The biggest problem is that, from a certain angle, Yang Caiyu and Liu Yifei look somewhat similar.

That was absolutely a killer move.

For those gossip enthusiasts, that's enough.

Currently, Red Starwood has only two artists: Liu Yifei and Yang Caiyu.

What will the uninformed public think?
If Xin Yukun hadn't investigated carefully, he would definitely have thought the wrong thing.

“Afi, when it comes to important things, you must not hesitate and make decisions decisively. If you miss this opportunity, who knows how many years it will take to get the next one.”

At this point, Xin Yukun pointed to Yang Mi next to him, using her as a negative example: "If you don't believe me, look at this big-breasted, brainless idiot next to me."

"Two years ago, I invited her to act in 'The Coffin in the Mountain'. She agreed at first, but later, because Li Xiaolu withdrew from the competition, she also disappeared from the public eye."

"Ask her how many times she's regretted it in the past two years?"

As Xin Yukun finished speaking, he subtly gestured to Yang Mi with his elbow.

Yang Mi couldn't help but roll her eyes.

But now she has come to a complete understanding.

Xin Yukun brought her in as a typical case so that he could also trick Liu Yifei into joining Yuankun Media.

In this way, Yuankun Media essentially has four top actresses.

Reba, Hanikezi, Liu Yifei, Yang Mi.

Cool and aloof, lively and vivacious, innocent and pure, sweet and spicy... these four types almost encompass all the types of young actresses on the market.

Let's break it down more roughly.

Dilraba and Hanikezi could star in a futuristic blockbuster full of technology.

Liu Yifei and Yang Mi could dominate the historical drama genre.

There is no direct competition between them; on the contrary, their alliance can help the company achieve a matrix effect of female celebrities.

It will win over all female business endorsements on the market!

"Yifei, I have indeed regretted it."

This should be the last time Kun Ge mocks her. Yang Mi decided to play her part well. If Kun Ge brings this up again in the future, she will ask Lu Zhiyuan to report him.

At this moment, Yang Mi was not exactly in tears, but her eyes were filled with regret.

"Yifei, we've known each other for so many years. You know my personality; I'm always straightforward and outspoken, and I don't hide anything."

“From my perspective, your continued presence in Hongxingwu makes you an easy target for gossip.”

"Kun is a complete liar and not to be trusted at all. However, if you're interested, you can give A Yuan a call. Or, I can take you to the [Black Hole Horizon] and talk to him in person."

"The premise is that you yourself must be determined."

Yang Mi didn't want Liu Yifei to join Yuankun Media.

Although they have different styles when filming TV series, Liu Yifei and she would have some overlap in roles if they were to film movies.

However, being as clever as she was, how could she not see that Xin Yukun must have received instructions from Lu Zhiyuan to try and pull Liu Yifei along?

However, Yang Mi is certain that Liu Yifei will make the same mistake as her and will reject Lu Zhiyuan.

Liu Yifei is very arrogant.

Don't be fooled by her self-proclaimed status as a "loser girl"; anyone who believes that is a complete idiot.

After all, I can say that I'm just an ordinary person. The shoes and skirt I wear only cost a couple hundred yuan, so I'm no different from any other ordinary person.

However, he would never tell anyone that the house he had just bought was in the best location in Yanjing, a large 200-square-meter apartment that cost tens of millions of yuan!
Liu Yifei is even more outrageous.

They lived in what was like a palace.

A lowly female college student living in a palace?

This statement is full of contradictions!
To put it bluntly, this is all a persona. To outsiders, they only talk about things that are beneficial to themselves.

"Brother Kun, thank you for your kindness. However, my godfather has helped me so much, I have no intention of leaving Red Star Dock."

Liu Yifei rejected Xin Yukun without much thought.

Having a sugar daddy isn't a problem.

The problem is that her mother is the direct manager of Red Starwood.

Why switch jobs from your mom's side to go work for your artsy crush?
My mom will definitely yell at her!
"Afei, I gave you a chance. Don't say I wasn't a good friend in the future." Xin Yukun looked disappointed and pulled Yang Mi away.

Liu Yifei also sighed, sat down in the chair by the window, and silently picked up her phone to take a look.

Just now, Lu Zhiyuan sent her a text message: "Sister Fei, I've reserved a role for you in the next sequel to Pacific Rim. Are you available?"

Based on what Xin Yukun had just said, Liu Yifei was very certain that as long as she nodded, she would immediately receive Lu Zhiyuan's promise.

Moreover, this role is at least a second female lead.

If she performs well, there's a chance she'll become the true female lead in the third sequel.

She knows Lu Zhiyuan; she would definitely arrange it this way.

"Zhiyuan, thanks. But I might not be available. I've taken on the lead role in the 'Four Great Constables' series."

There are definitely available slots.

However, Liu Yifei had already rejected Xin Yukun, so she naturally felt embarrassed to accept Lu Zhiyuan's offer.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, she knows that friendship is friendship and interests are interests, and they should not be confused.

She had no other bargaining chips left but herself.

However, she knew that Lu Zhiyuan did not love her, he did not love anyone... This heartless man devoted his entire life to creating world-famous paintings!
However, men like that are truly charming.

No woman could make him fall for her or change himself.

"Sister Fei, take care. Call me if you need anything."

About 10 minutes later, Liu Yifei received a text message from Lu Zhiyuan.

Lu Zhiyuan is quick-witted; he would reply to a text message in no more than half a minute, so there's no need for him to think for so long.

Liu Yifei read these words repeatedly for a long time.

She seemed to have realized something, and her mood became somewhat gloomy.

"Only when saying goodbye do we say 'take care'. But I don't want to say goodbye..."

Liu Yifei picked up her phone, wanting to compose a text message for Lu Zhiyuan, but after thinking it over, she couldn't come up with anything suitable.

Finally, she smiled slyly and sent a text message: "From now on, I want to receive a gift from you every year on my birthday... Monet's Water Lilies, okay?"

She knew that Lu Zhiyuan would understand the subtext of those words!
Because Monet painted 181 water lilies in his lifetime!
If she only celebrates her birthday once a year, she would have to live to be 200 years old to receive all the birthday gifts!

If Lu Zhiyuan agrees to her unreasonable request, he will have to spend his whole life keeping that promise.

"……it is good!"

After a long time, Liu Yifei was almost asleep.

The phone shook and a single word appeared.

Haha!

Upon seeing this word, a slight smile couldn't help but bloom on her usually aloof face, revealing her teeth.

……

Outside the restaurant.

Yang Mi snorted coldly and looked unhappily at Xin Yukun beside her: "Brother Kun, you're not allowed to call me a big-breasted, brainless idiot next time. Otherwise, I'll never forgive you."

"If you don't want to call, then don't. It's not a big deal."

Xin Yukun nodded in agreement, then turned to look at Yang Mi and said with a smile, "Congratulations, big-breasted girl, the role in the next sequel to Pacific Rim is yours. Although I don't even know what kind of role it is."

"However, you have to trust our great director's abilities. He will definitely create a particularly classic scene for your role."

"Do you prefer Dilraba's exhilarating and brutal mecha girl image, or Hanikezi's stunningly beautiful and youthful girl image?"

After Xin Yukun said that, Yang Mi instantly stopped caring that Xin Yukun called her "Big-breasted Girl" and instead started to fantasize in her mind.

Whether it's the image of Dilraba's character or Hanikezi's captivating smile in "Real Steel," it's all about her charm.

All good.

She likes them all.

Both are acceptable.

"Stop dreaming, big-breasted girl."

Seeing that Yang Mi was daydreaming again, Xin Yukun poured cold water on her: "A Yuan traveled thousands of kilometers to select Reba from thousands of people. He personally trained Reba from a clueless person in Altay to become who she is today."

"A Yuan also traveled thousands of kilometers and waited countless days and nights to finally find Hanikezi and even held a mysterious apprenticeship ceremony with her. According to their mysterious ceremony, Hanikezi might have to take care of A Yuan in his old age and see him off in his final days."

"what do you have?"

"Apart from having big breasts... there's nothing else."

If forced to choose between Liu Yifei and Yang Mi, Xin Yukun would naturally prefer Liu Yifei more.

Unfortunately, Liu Yifei was a bit arrogant and actually rejected them. This made Xin Yukun a little unhappy.

"Brother Kun, you're taking your anger out on me... Great! Looks like this role is most likely mine. You deserved it for not getting Liu Yifei. Look at you, acting like a jerk!"

Yang Mi didn't care that Xin Yukun was angry with her and scolded her.

The most important thing is to get the benefits for myself.

Very good!
I can finally make a Hollywood blockbuster!
This wave is taking off!

Once she was certain she could get the role, her status with Lu Zhiyuan rose sharply. Even if she couldn't compare to Dilraba, she would at least receive half the treatment.

Yang Mi completely disregarded Xin Yukun.

She knew all too well how obsequious Xin Yukun was to Reba.

"You big-breasted, brainless idiot, how dare you talk back to me? I'll tell Dilraba to whisper something bad about you in A Yuan's ear, and you believe me, your role will be cut immediately?"

"As you know, Reba has always disliked you. You also know why, it's because you once rejected her good brother."

Xin Yukun failed to win Liu Yifei's heart and was even mocked by Yang Mi.

He sneered a few times, making Yang Mi understand a truth: the interpersonal relationships within Yuankun Media were not as simple as she thought!
"Brother Kun, Master Kun... I was wrong."

Yang Mi immediately humbled herself and looked pitifully at Xin Yukun.

"Admitting mistakes isn't that simple. You've been in this industry for so long, do you know any girls who are outgoing, have great figures, and are good-looking?"

"Give me five business cards first."

Hearing Xin Yukun's words, Yang Mi knew that his old problem had flared up again, and rolled her eyes.

She couldn't help but say, "Brother Kun, if you're going to play like this, I'll tell A Yuan and see how he scolds you."

Lu Zhiyuan worked like a slave at the special effects company every day, while Xin Yukun indulged in a life of pleasure outside.
If Yang Mi were Lu Zhiyuan, she'd probably be furious.

"Naive. You won't admit you're all looks and no brains? The interpersonal relationships in our company are far more complicated than you think. Think it over carefully."

Xin Yukun couldn't resist the urge to tap Yang Mi's head.

There's an idiom, isn't it "exceptionally intelligent"?
Yang Mi is almost bald, but her brain is still a mess, and she's not exactly smarter than that.

The outdoor scenes are all finished. Guo Fan was in charge of the green screen shooting. Now it's my own happy time. A Yuan won't care about me.

……

May was a month packed with blockbuster movies.

The fifth film in Marvel's Phase 1, Thor, was released, grossing $60 million in its opening weekend in North America and $2.42 million worldwide.

It can be said that it has maintained Marvel's consistent level of earning power!

After all, the film continues the storyline of "Iron Man 2" while introducing key elements such as Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D., laying the groundwork for "The Avengers".

It has to be said that Marvel is really amazing in this regard, creating a superhero universe with very strong interconnectedness.

Of course, this will not happen overnight.

The comic book, which has been serialized for decades, has cultivated countless fans for the film worldwide.

"Hey Tom, I watched Thor, and your Loki was fantastic. Congratulations, you're going to be a star!"

"However, I heard that you auditioned for the role of Thor? Did something happen afterward?"

Lu Zhiyuan called Tom Hiddleston to congratulate him.

Although the two have only collaborated on one film, "Upgrade," Tom Hiddleston introduced many of his friends to the casting process for "Real Steel."

Lu Zhiyuan took almost all of those people under his wing.

This made Tom Hiddleston very proud.

In the British entertainment industry, when Lu Zhiyuan is mentioned, people often say that the great director Lu Zhiyuan is his strongest connection in Hollywood.

However, everyone Tom Hiddleston recommended was given important positions by Lu Zhiyuan. Therefore, everyone believed Hiddleston's boasts.

"Director Lu, Hollywood auditions, you know, involve a lot of complicated interpersonal relationships."

"However, the crew gave me a ridiculous reason. They actually told me that the male lead in the movie 'Thor' needed to have experience wielding a sledgehammer. And Chris happened to have worked as a construction worker in Australia before."

"Haha, you call that a reason?"

Tom Hiddleston knew that Lu Zhiyuan wouldn't talk nonsense to the media, and given Lu Zhiyuan's status, it was impossible for him to tell others these things.

Tom Hiddleston was just venting his frustration.

hateful!

Although Thor was a hit, he was just a minor supporting actor, didn't receive much pay, and the filming process wasn't particularly enjoyable.

It was nowhere near as inspiring as when I was filming "Upgrade" with Lu Zhiyuan.

"Tom, don't rush. A genius like you, once you show your talent, will soon shine like a shooting star in the night sky, impossible to ignore."

"Your performance in Thor is like a college student suddenly appearing in a classroom full of elementary school students and being called on by the teacher to answer a math question."

Do you understand this feeling?

Lu Zhiyuan's analogy is so interesting.

Tom Hiddleston couldn't help but laugh after hearing that.

That's right.

Great directors really understand me!
My acting skills would easily beat those clumsy, nerdy Americans and Australian bumpkins.

Unfortunately, the villain I played in "Upgrade" has already been killed off, so unlike Dilraba and Keanu Reeves, I can't have a sequel made.

"Tom, the friends you introduced me to are all very capable. Keep in touch."

In the next sequel to Pacific Rim, Lu Zhiyuan plans to form a global coalition force, which will naturally feature many European and American characters.

The British actors that Tom Hiddleston introduced were almost all Oscar-winning actors, and they were cheap and easy to work with.

If you can't find a suitable European or American actor, find a cheap British stage actor.

……

Although Thor had a high box office in its opening week, it was quickly targeted by competitors.

Fast & Furious 5 has been released, grossing over $8000 million in its opening weekend in North America and over $3 million worldwide in its opening weekend.

This is even more exaggerated than Thor.

Then, not long after, the real bombshell dropped!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was also released, grossing over $90 million in its opening weekend in North America and over $2.56 million overseas, setting a new record for the highest-grossing opening weekend overseas at the time!

The total global box office for the first week was close to $3.5 million!
too exaggerated.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this movie's total box office will definitely exceed 10 billion US dollars!
"Schwarzschild, what do you think of Pirates of the Caribbean 4?"

Besides working in the special effects studio every day, Lu Zhiyuan also watches some blockbuster movies on the market to see the difference between his own film and theirs.

It's mainly about the special effects.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is also a big-budget film, and it has a 3D IMAX version.

Whether or not a 3D IMAX version exists has almost become an important criterion for judging whether a film is a blockbuster.

Neither Thor nor Fast & Furious 5 has this version, so it's unlikely that the box office will reach the $10 billion mark; at most, it will be $5 million.

Technology limits the ceiling for box office revenue.

"Without the trio, only Depp is left, and it seems a bit lacking. Although Depp acted well, I can't quite put my finger on it, I just don't feel a bit enthusiastic."

Schwarzschild didn't criticize "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" as a bad movie, but he felt it wasn't as interesting as the previous three.

He is not a professional film critic either.

However, he most likely won't recommend it to his friends.

"I understand what you mean. This movie only has a 45% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes in North America, which is basically mediocre."

Lu Zhiyuan recalls that "Real Steel" had a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, received excellent reviews, and had strong box office performance in North America.

Rotten Tomatoes scores, to some extent, can predict how strong a film's long-tail effect will be.

With a 45% approval rating, it's hardly a good film.

"Yes, it's mediocre."

Schwarzschild nodded: "However, this is also the biggest problem that the sequel will face."

Seeing Lu Zhiyuan frown, Schwarzschild thought for a moment and then said, "Boss, I know what you're worried about. Actually, there's no need to worry. Our Pacific Rim is also a sequel, but it's completely different."

The Pirates of the Caribbean series has similar stories and art styles in each film. After watching a few, it becomes difficult to distinguish the individual stories of each film.

However, each of Lu Zhiyuan's trilogy tells a completely different story.

The first book, "Upgrade," features AI-modified humans.

The second installment, "Real Steel," features players controlling robots in a VR online game arena.

The third Pacific Rim movie features super Jaeger hunters fighting monsters!

If it weren't for the fact that the main characters are similar and Lu Zhiyuan set the story in the same future world, these would be three completely unrelated independent films.

It's so refreshing!
While maintaining a fresh and engaging feel, it also connects all the characters, showing them through different stages of their lives and the ever-changing world background.

This is absolutely an epic series!

This is equivalent to human civilization completing its upgrade through three stages.

Schwarzschild, as the head of post-production visual effects, did the visual effects for three of Lu Zhiyuan's films. After finishing them, he couldn't help but want to see the final effect of each film.

He was even eager to know what kind of story would unfold in Pacific Rim 2.

Sometimes, I feel that this kind of thing is full of mystery.

However, Schwarzschild trusted his instincts... because his instincts were always very accurate!
"Boss, if you don't believe me, should I make a 15-second trailer and put it on some gaming website to test the waters?"

The audience for the movie "Pacific Rim" largely overlaps with that of gamers.

If you advertise a movie directly on a streaming platform, audience acceptance may not be high. However, if you package it as a game and release it on a game website, it will be much more effective.

It's estimated that it can lure those gamers into becoming sycophants.

However, they are not scammers.

Because the VR gaming glasses for Real Steel are set to be released next month, and pre-orders have already exceeded 100 million.

A pair of VR gaming glasses priced at $300 each was listed on the official website and pre-orders exceeded 100 million in a short time, resulting in $3 million in revenue!
too exaggerated.

However, it is understandable.

After all, the world of Real Steel is made too realistic.

Many players aren't playing games; they're experiencing another life.

The movie Pacific Rim simply made the future world in the context of Upgrade more complete, and even raised its dimension... just like the movie Thor raised the dimension of the entire Marvel universe to the existence of gods.

Undoubtedly, this approach will fill the audience with anticipation for the world.

However, the gods in Marvel, whether it's Thor or Loki, the god of mischief, all look incredibly plasticky.

Because it's just too weak.

He doesn't look like a proper god.

However, the alien monster in Pacific Rim, which was only the first Angel, almost destroyed the Earth.

This destructive power completely surpasses Thor's.

Even a sci-fi action movie like Thor, with such poor realism, managed to gross nearly $4.5 million at the box office.

Pacific Rim must have at least doubled in value, right?

"can."

"You work overtime and lead the team to finish the special effects for the destruction of Tokyo. In a while, I will personally edit this trailer."

Lu Zhiyuan himself also has high hopes for the film "Pacific Rim".

He was very disappointed that "Real Steel" did not break the $10 billion box office mark, always feeling that it was just a little short.

For Pacific Rim, he has to make another impact.

(End of this chapter)