The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 240: Cumulative Box Office Ranking #1 in China! The Autobiography of the Great Director, "Project Gutenberg"

……

The trailers for Real Steel 3: Perseus are being released bit by bit, and each trailer features a world-shaking scene.

Starting with Avatar, special effects blockbusters have swept the world.

By 2012, audiences' enthusiasm for special effects blockbusters had soared even higher.

This can be seen from the ever-increasing box office records of special effects blockbusters worldwide.

However, special effects blockbusters will eventually lead to aesthetic fatigue.

This day will come soon enough.

Next year, or the year after.

At least in the country, audiences are already somewhat tired of special effects blockbusters.

Therefore, Lu Zhiyuan chose to film only three parts, leaving the audience with beautiful memories, as well as endless regrets and expectations.

At the height of his career, his decision to retire gracefully was undoubtedly a wise one.

From a certain perspective, although he didn't imbue the characters in the film with any tragic aesthetics, he left behind both beauty and regret for audiences worldwide in reality.

It imbued their youth with the label of "Real Steel".

Dilraba's character, the eye contact between the two Alitas, will become an unforgettable memory for this generation of young viewers.

A true world-famous painting!
……

Dongshan Villa.

At Lu Zhiyuan's home.

"Dilraba, are you planning to renovate?"

Zhao Wenzhuo and his wife were pushing a stroller and enjoying the sunshine in their neighborhood.

He was blessed with a son in the second half of last year.

After having two daughters, Zhao Wenzhuo finally gave birth to a son with his third child. He is very happy every day and no longer goes out to film. He spends all his time at home with his son and wife.

Today, when he turned a corner and passed by here, he suddenly saw that the door of Lu Zhiyuan's house was wide open, so he came over to check the situation.

"Brother Zhuo, it's been a long time."

Dilraba and Zhao Wenzhuo had met a few times before, so she went up to greet them openly.

She used to be a little shy when she met Vincent Zhao.

Because at that time, Lu Zhiyuan still had a girlfriend, and her feelings for Lu Zhiyuan were common knowledge.

She naturally felt a little embarrassed when she met other people.

But now, Jing Tian is a thing of the past. She can openly greet any acquaintance in the neighborhood as the lady of the house.

"Brother Zhuo, I bought some furniture to replace the old ones."

Dilraba gave a simple explanation, which Zhao Wenzhuo should be able to understand.

After a while, Reba asked mysteriously again, "Brother Zhuo, have you encountered anything like this during this time...?"

"Have!"

Before Dilraba could say the name, Zhao Wenzhuo nodded.

The main reason is that when Jing Tian runs into him, she will ask if Lu Zhiyuan has moved back, or if he has seen Lu Zhiyuan recently.

The gossip about the famous director is incredibly fresh and exciting.

Zhao Wenzhuo also wanted to eat.

"I knew it, she still had that wicked intention."

Reba thanked Zhao Wenzhuo and then turned to the workers in the yard, instructing them, "Clean up all the flowers, plants, and trees in the yard. Especially that cedar tree, uproot it."

Zhao Wenzhuo looked on with a hint of regret.

Such a beautiful tree, planted so carefully, it's obvious a lot of thought went into it. Uprooting it is such a waste.

But he probably also understood that this was something left behind by his ex, Jing Tian.

Dilraba's current boyfriend must be unhappy about this.

"Brother Zhuo, next spring I will plant grapevines and pomegranate trees here. When the fruit is ripe, you and your wife can come and taste it together."

Then, Dilraba also explained to Vincent Zhao a love motto about grapes at home: "The vine bears a thousand fruits, the heart is bound by one destiny. The vine withers and the fruits fall, but this love remains unchanged."

Zhao Wenzhuo himself did not have any particularly strong reaction.

Upon hearing this, his wife's eyes lit up immediately: "Azhuo, our yard is empty too, let's plant some grapes."

"haha okay."

Zhao Wenzhuo felt that Dilraba Jing Tian was much more difficult to deal with.

With Dilraba's emotional intelligence, she could easily become best friends with his wife.

Then, women will develop a competitive spirit.

At that time, his life might become quite difficult.

He made up his mind that once he got back, he would strike first and warn his wife not to get too close to Dilraba.

And don't even mention taking the wife's route.

How old am I? I'm over 40.

I'm way past the age of striving for success, and I have no intention of flattering Lu Zhiyuan or making Hollywood blockbusters.

Living a peaceful and stable life is the best approach.

"Reba, we're leaving now. The children should go home for their afternoon nap."

Zhao Wenzhuo greeted Dilraba and then left with his wife, pushing the stroller.

After returning home, he suddenly remembered something and sent Gao Yuanyuan a message: "Director Lu is probably moving back. In the next few days."

Zhao Wenzhuo and Gao Yuanyuan once acted in a TV series together.

The relationship is neither too close nor too distant.

However, Zhao Wenzhuo's position as Lu Zhiyuan's neighbor is extremely crucial for Gao Yuanyuan.

Therefore, Gao Yuanyuan would come to chat with his wife every few days.

Originally, Gao Yuanyuan and his wife were just old acquaintances, but now they have become best friends.

Gao Yuanyuan and Zhao Wenzhuo are a married couple. The three of them acted together in "The Divine Doctor and the Heroine" and have known each other for many years.

Last year, Zhao Wenzhuo's son was born, and Gao Yuanyuan visited his wife every few days while she was in postpartum confinement.

He brought a lot of baby and maternity products and asked his wife many questions about raising children.

His wife, unaware of the situation, once thought that Gao Yuanyuan was also about to get married.

Upon receiving the message, Gao Yuanyuan replied almost instantly: "Brother Zhuo, I bought a pair of gold bracelets for our godson. I'll find a chance to send them over later."

Gao Yuanyuan not only became best friends with Zhao Wenzhuo's wife, but also became the godmother of his youngest son.

When Zhao Wenzhuo found out about this, it was too late to stop it, so he could only accept this godparent relationship.

He didn't want to get involved in Lu Zhiyuan's love life.

But fate pushed him forward.

There's no escaping it.

……

After changing the furniture and tidying up the yard, Reba took a nine-grid photo of her brand-new home and posted it on her WeChat Moments.

She knew that Jing Tian would see it immediately.

really.

Half an hour later, Jing Tian couldn't help but send a message to question her.

"Why did you replace the furniture? Did you get his permission? And what about the trees in the yard? Do you know how much they cost?"

Dilraba was prepared for Jing Tian's barrage of questions.

This time, she replied calmly, "Sister Tian Tian, ​​the furniture is a bit old, and my brother told me to decide for myself. Also, I don't think the trees in the yard look good."

Jing Tian is usually absent-minded, but at this moment, she instantly understood all of Dilraba's subtext.

She gritted her teeth, finally unable to hold back, and called directly, holding her breath as she asked in a low voice, "Why did you have to be so ruthless?"

"I was so good to you back then."

"Could you have gotten to where you are today without my permission?"

Jing Tian spoke very cryptically.

But Reba understood that Jing Tian was hinting at something to her.

Back then, Jing Tian agreed to let her be Lu Zhiyuan's girlfriend, as long as it didn't affect their relationship, which gave Dilraba the opportunity.

Who knew that Dilraba would turn her back on everyone now that she's in the spotlight?

They didn't even give her a chance to be resurrected.

Clean up all the traces she left behind.

That brat, she's so ruthless!

"Sister Tian Tian, ​​I don't know what you're talking about. It's not my fault that you and my brother broke up. You two just... weren't meant to be."

Dilraba originally wanted to say that you two just had conflicting interests and went your separate ways.

After all, those people at Xingguangcanlan (a high-profile company) have started to hold Lu Zhiyuan back. You know perfectly well what kind of people your relatives and friends are, yet you don't care at all.

But in the end, Dilraba still had some conscience and didn't say anything too harsh.

“Sister Tian Tian, ​​it’s been almost half a year, and you haven’t called him once, nor have you shown any remorse.”

"He also knows that you won't call him."

"Because you are a proud phoenix, how can you lower your head to look down on mortals, or even apologize to them?"

"Isn't this just a trivial matter to you? You haven't cared about it at all from the beginning."

Dilraba first made a few sarcastic remarks to Jing Tian.

Then, Reba sighed softly and revealed a little secret.

Actually, he did wait for you.

“At that time, if you had called him, humbled yourself, and pleaded with him a bit, he would have forgiven you. Because he knew that this had nothing to do with you.”

“During that time, I was worried every day, and I clung to him every day, never leaving his side. I was afraid that he would leave me and turn around and go back to you.”

"But he waited for you for a full two weeks. You didn't explain, apologize, or humble yourself. So, he let you go."

That night, he took the initiative to hug me, stroked my hair, gently kissed my lips, and then held me in his arms. I knew then that you were a thing of the past.

"Sister Tian, ​​now that things have come to this, why are you still clinging to this?"

"Wouldn't it be better to give each other some dignity?"

After saying that, Reba, fearing that Jing Tian still couldn't let go, dropped the bombshell: "By the way, he doesn't like mango juice anymore. Now his favorite is the grape juice I squeeze for him."

For Jing Tian, ​​mango juice is a symbol of her love with Lu Zhiyuan.

When Lu Zhiyuan was filming her music video, he loved drinking mango juice, so she treated the entire crew to mango juice.

As for other people, whether they like mango juice or not, what does it matter to her?
As long as Lu Zhiyuan likes it.

But now, Lu Zhiyuan doesn't like mango juice anymore.

I don't like her anymore either.

“Reba, he’s protecting you now, so I really can’t do anything about it.”

"But sooner or later, a younger and prettier girl will appear in his life."

"You will also become a thing of the past, just like me."

"Grape juice, so sweet and cloying, let's see how long he can drink it."

"Just remind him not to drink too much, or he might get diabetes!"

Jing Tian originally thought that after Lu Zhiyuan moved back, he would remember her in the courtyard, the study, the living room, the kitchen...

Then her opportunity will come.

Who knew that Dilraba would erase all these memories that belonged to her, leaving Lu Zhiyuan with nothing left to hold onto.

Moreover, Dilraba's words just now were indeed very harsh.

This made her realize where her problem lay.

Both she and Lu Zhiyuan were proud people.

No one was willing to back down.

In fact, Jing Tian knew that Lu Zhiyuan had been accommodating her and trying to make her happy throughout their time together.

But isn't this how it should be?

He should have kept coaxing me. That's what Jing Tian always thought.

Perhaps this is the biggest problem between her and Lu Zhiyuan.

Unfortunately, she also knew that she would never be able to change this habit in her lifetime.

"But I really like him!"

After hanging up the phone, Jing Tian watched the maple leaves on both sides of the street slowly drifting down.

Each maple leaf seemed to tell a story of her and Lu Zhiyuan's past.

Now, all the maple leaves have fallen.

"Tick."

Two lines of tears, from the end of autumn, slid down her cheeks.

At first, she cried silently, but then she began to sob softly, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, until finally, she completely broke down and burst into loud sobs.

The tenderness of the past has been locked away by time.

At this moment, Jing Tian felt only an inescapable sadness in her heart.

……

Dongshan Villa.

Reba gently exhaled a breath of stale air, and her whole body calmed down.

In this battle, Jing Tian's entire army was wiped out.

They probably won't bother their big-name director again anytime soon.

At this moment, Hanikezi came downstairs looking aggrieved: "Sister Reba, you threw away my bed and mattress. Where am I going to sleep tonight?"

Reba not only threw away Lu Zhiyuan's bed and mattress, but also made sure to keep Jing Tian's scent.

They also threw away everything in Hanikezi's room.

As Lu Zhiyuan's only apprentice, Hanikezi also has a designated room in Lu Zhiyuan's home.

"I'm sorry, Honey, I accidentally hurt you."

"But don't worry. I've already ordered the furniture, and the workers will come to install it tonight. Then you can sleep in your new bed."

"As for now... let's go shopping, I'll buy you lots and lots of pretty clothes."

Having won over Jing Tian, ​​Dilraba was in a wonderful mood.

After being scolded by herself, if Jing Tian had any self-respect, she probably wouldn't come looking for Lu Zhiyuan again.

……

For Lu Zhiyuan, "Real Steel 3" is the end.

Let's wait and see what kind of results the movie will achieve after its release.
Right now, he's discussing the overall concept of the movie "Project Gutenberg" with Zhuang Wenqiang.

"Brother Yuan, you mean... don't use such complicated flashbacks, flashforwards, and lies? Shoot it like a biographical film?"

Zhuang Wenqiang felt that the script for "Peerless" was his masterpiece.

He greatly admired Lu Zhiyuan for adding artistic flair to each character, completing the final touch of brilliance that each character lacked.

Each main character is imbued with a sense of structural symmetry.

However, Lu Zhiyuan's idea now is to reduce the complexity of the script for "Peerless" by one level.

Don't make it so complicated.

This put Zhuang Wenqiang in a dilemma.

“Inspector Zhuang, this is what I think.”

“If we film it according to your script, you’ve essentially ruined the character of Li Wen and turned the character of the painter into a fictional one.”

"It's like you spend a lot of time in the early chapters building them up into gods. Then, in the last few minutes, you drag them down into the mud."

"Don't you think this behavior is a terrible waste of resources?"

The movie "Project Gutenberg" is indeed very exciting.

Li Wen's words are ambiguous, leaving one unsure which are lies and which are the truth.

Once the movie is released, it will definitely spark a lot of discussion among the audience.

But the same problem remains.

The character development in this movie seems to have gone astray... The early part is so wonderful and full of tension, but later one character is fake and the other suddenly makes a stupid mistake.

This significantly diminished the appeal of the two characters in the film. One could even say it ruined the charm of the two main characters.

"Brother Yuan, you mean..."

Zhuang Wenqiang sensed that Lu Zhiyuan seemed to have some unspoken message.

Lu Zhiyuan didn't think that his movie script was bad; rather, he wanted to delve deeper and create a crime syndicate universe.

really.

Zhuang Wenqiang guessed correctly.

At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan spoke up: "What I mean is, have you considered using the movie 'Project Gutenberg' as the opening chapter of a series?"

"Just like 'Fast and Furious'."

“We can create a series around the theme of painters.”

"Whether Li Wen was forced to become an accomplice or was the real mastermind, it should be left ambiguous. This way, he can be exonerated in the second part, help the police, and redeem himself through meritorious service."

"As for the character of the 'Painter,' he should be given a mystical aura and portrayed as the big boss. There may be a mysterious organization behind him."

"In short, these are two fantastic characters, so don't try to confine them. Imagine that they are also living people, living in their own world."

"Faced with the shackles of fate, they will struggle incessantly. And with their talent and ability, it is very likely that they will break through the shackles of fate and achieve self-redemption."

Do you understand what I mean?

Zhuang Wenqiang was stunned by what Lu Zhiyuan said.

But he roughly understood what Lu Zhiyuan meant.

Neither Li Wen nor the painter are allowed to die.

[Li Wen] As the second male lead, he may be forced to participate in some criminal activities, but he must maintain compassion and humanity in his heart and not be hysterically evil.

The painter, as the protagonist, can be thoroughly evil, but he cannot be fictional, nor can he die at the hands of the police. He must maintain an air of mystery and give the audience enough room for imagination.

It must be said that Lu Zhiyuan's changes to the settings will significantly enhance the commercial appeal and scalability of this film.

However, this would also significantly reduce the film's artistic merit and its portrayal of human nature.

Art or box office?
This is a tough choice.

At this moment, Zhuang Wenqiang looked up at Lu Zhiyuan. This guy was a super artistic youth, a winner of the Palme d'Or, who could abandon that damned art and only pursue box office success.

Who is he?
In this day and age, making money is everything!
“Brother Yuan, I understand what you mean. I will restructure the script to make the plot flow better, instead of ruining the characters’ charm in order to create a big plot twist.”

Zhuang Wenqiang thought for less than three seconds before deciding to follow Lu Zhiyuan's lead.

The plot of "Project Gutenberg" is very exciting, but the excitement doesn't lie in the plot twists... but in the details of making counterfeit money, and the brilliant dialogue when the painter teaches Li Wen.

It's absolutely captivating.

Before this, no film had ever been made so realistically.

No other film has portrayed criminals with such style and artistic flair.

The most important thing is...

If he portrays the protagonist as a supervillain, the kind of ruthless criminal who kills without blinking an eye, it would be very difficult to pass censorship in China.

The domestic film censorship standard is that villains must die and receive their due punishment.

Therefore, making a sequel is almost impossible.

The only solution, as Lu Zhiyuan suggested, is to remove Li Wen from the picture, making him seem less evil and implying that everything he did was forced upon him.

In this way, as a good person, one has never personally committed murder and has never had blood on one's hands.

So, in the second part, Li Wen's character can still redeem himself through meritorious service!
Lu Zhiyuan has already personally demonstrated how profitable sequels can be.

Lu Zhiyuan has always been ambitious.

This time, he will most likely expand "Project Gutenberg" and turn it into a series comparable to "Fast & Furious".

……

"Brother Yuan, I haven't congratulated you yet on becoming the director with the highest cumulative box office in China."

After finishing their business, Zhuang Wenqiang couldn't help but flatter Lu Zhiyuan.

The four films, "The Coffin in the Mountain," "Upgrade," "Real Steel," and "Pacific Rim," have brought Lu Zhiyuan a box office of 34 billion RMB in China!

It ranks first in history.

Feng Xiaogang ranks second in history, with a cumulative box office of 32.8 billion yuan.

Zhang Yimou ranked third with a cumulative box office of 28.5 billion yuan.

If it were anyone else, even just a little taller than him, Feng Xiaogang might have made some outrageous statements in front of the media, saying he would rush up at any time and shove their ass in.

However, Feng Xiaogang didn't dare to say a single harsh word to Lu Zhiyuan.

This list only considers domestic box office revenue.

If we include Lu Zhiyuan's worldwide box office, it's roughly $28 billion, which is 200 billion yuan!
Would Feng Xiaogang chase after him headfirst?
……

"Inspector Zhuang, would you like to stay for a meal?"

As it was getting late, and it would be quite troublesome to get back to the city from Hongluo Temple, Lu Zhiyuan invited Zhuang Wenqiang to stay at his home for a simple meal.

Zhuang Wenqiang initially wanted to decline, telling Lu Zhiyuan not to go through all that trouble.

I'm just working for Lu Zhiyuan, how could I let Lu Zhiyuan, the big boss, treat me to a meal?
But soon, Zhuang Wenqiang shut up.

Because Lu Zhiyuan skillfully took out his phone and made a delivery call to a nearby restaurant.

"Brother Yuan, your life is so simple. I really admire that. Many directors I know have several servants at home."

"When the children go to kindergarten, there are always three people picking them up and dropping them off."

Zhuang Wenqiang couldn't find an angle to praise Lu Zhiyuan anymore, so he could only say some irrelevant things.

“Zhuang sir, you’ve misunderstood. I also enjoy being pampered and waited on. However, I feel very uncomfortable with an outsider in the house.”

"Relatively speaking, ordering takeout is more time-saving and effort-saving."

The two chatted about the script for a while longer before the takeout arrived.

Lu Zhiyuan invited Zhuang Wenqiang to have a simple meal together.

He also opened a bottle of grape juice for Zhuang Wenqiang.

"Brother Yuan, have you changed your taste?"

When Zhuang Wenqiang visited Lu Zhiyuan's house before, Lu Zhiyuan would offer him mango juice.

He had asked around and found out that Lu Zhiyuan was a big fan of mango juice.

Now I've switched to drinking grape juice. Is it because it contains anthocyanins and such, which are good for anti-aging?
In addition, Zhuang Wenqiang also heard from a health expert that many athletes like to drink a sip of grape juice before a competition to improve their performance.

In short, grape juice seems to be working quite well.

He can try drinking it after he gets back.

Let's start with the diet and keep up with the big director's pace!
……

"Brother Yuan, it's getting late, I'll be going now."

"We've already agreed to go to Florence together next week, to walk around the streets and get you a feel for it."

"If you have other plans, be sure to tell me in advance."

In this film, Lu Zhiyuan was the lead director, while Zhuang Wenqiang took on the role of co-director. This is similar to the collaboration model between Alan Mak and Zhuang Wenqiang.

In fact, Zhuang Wenqiang wrote the script, did the location scouting in the early stages, and was also in charge of contacting the actors.

Zhuang Wenqiang does 90% of the work.

Lu Zhiyuan was only responsible for the final artistic concept and contacting Universal Pictures to get the film into Hollywood.

Even if Lu Zhiyuan only did 10% of the work, Zhuang Wenqiang was already extremely grateful.

Because without Lu Zhiyuan's name, where would he find Nicolas Cage, Jean Reno, or Universal Pictures to get into Hollywood?

Directors like him who can make gangster films are not countless, but they are everywhere in Hong Kong.

But who can cling to Lu Zhiyuan's coattails?
So far, he's the only one!
Right now, Lu Zhiyuan is the strongest backer in the entire Chinese-language entertainment industry!

Those directors from Hong Kong and Taiwan were secretly cursing Lu Zhiyuan, each one more stubborn than the last, their main complaint being their unwillingness to accept it.

But as soon as Lu Zhiyuan asks to join him in making a movie, this group of people will immediately give everyone a demonstration of what a super face-changing act looks like.

He'll probably turn into a sycophant at any moment, following Lu Zhiyuan around like a puppy, serving him hand and foot.

……

Three days later.

After Reba went through a lot of trouble with the house in Dongshan Villa, everything is finally settled.

Except for Lu Zhiyuan's studio, which remained untouched, Reba replaced almost all the furniture and decorations that could be changed, inside and out, throughout the entire house.

"Is this still my home?"

When Lu Zhiyuan returned to Dongshan Villa, he hardly recognized him.

A grape trellis stands in the courtyard. Although the grapes haven't been planted yet, one can already imagine the lively scene of the vines bearing thousands of grapes next summer.

"Brother, do you like the Turpan style?"

While asking questions, Reba secretly observed Lu Zhiyuan's expression.

If Lu Zhiyuan doesn't like it, she'll find someone to replace it tomorrow.

"It's full of exotic charm. It's very refreshing."

Lu Zhiyuan turned to look at Reba, and couldn't help but recall something. He jokingly said, "Back then, I took you to see Peter Marks' pop art lines. Now, you're letting me experience the exotic saturation impact of Turpan."

"From a certain perspective, isn't this a kind of cause-and-effect cycle?"

Haha!

Dilraba couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

She also recalled that the first time she saw Peter Marks' pop art lines, the visual shaking made her dizzy and she almost vomited.

"Brother, as long as you like it."

Reba took Lu Zhiyuan's arm and reintroduced him to the various layouts and furniture in her home.

"Brother, if I hadn't met you, I would most likely be running a coffee shop or a cake shop in my hometown now."

"I am so lucky to have met you."

"However, if I opened a coffee shop, I would definitely wait for you there. Right?"

The two arrived at the rooftop, where Dilraba rested her head on Lu Zhiyuan's shoulder and spoke softly.

The setting sun was a little cool.

However, Reba felt especially warm inside.

There were only the two of them, nestled together, in a world so quiet that only the sound of leaves falling to the ground could be heard.

Happiness begins to take shape at this moment.

Turning to look at Reba, whose eyes were sparkling as she stared at him, Lu Zhiyuan knew what she was expecting.

At that moment, Lu Zhiyuan cupped Reba's head in his hands and gently kissed her.

Reba chuckled.

Then, disregarding everything else, she dragged Lu Zhiyuan back to her room: "Brother, wait a moment, I'll change my clothes and dance for you."

I'm a dance student too!

Moreover, I used to be a professional dancer in a song and dance troupe.

I'm sure I can dance better than Jing Tian!
Jing Tian was expelled from the Beijing Dance Academy, so what level of skill could she possibly have?
……

Lu Zhiyuan stayed at home and lived like King Zhou for a few days.

Jing Tian is also very good.

However, Jing Tian is not as down-to-earth as Dilraba. Even though she is already a world-class superstar, she still looks at herself with admiration like a little fan.

This greatly satisfied Lu Zhiyuan's vanity every day.

Moreover, Reba never lets Lu Zhiyuan do any housework. She is very diligent and takes excellent care of Lu Zhiyuan.

"Reba, you don't need to do this kind of small thing yourself. We can just hire a part-time worker."

Reba got up early in the morning to clean the room, something Jing Tian would never do.

This left Lu Zhiyuan with some mixed feelings.

"Brother, I don't have anything to do in the morning anyway, so I'm just killing time."

"Besides, we're going to Florence in a couple of days. I'll clean the house before we leave."

Reba was very happy when she talked about going to Florence.

It almost feels like we're going on a honeymoon.

"Ding dong."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Brother, I'll go open the door."

Upon hearing the doorbell ring, Dilraba immediately became alert. She told Lu Zhiyuan to sit on the sofa while she went outside to open the door.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I found something was amiss.

"Sister Cha, what brings you here?"

Gao Yuanyuan stood outside the door. It was quite cold today. She was wearing a coat on the outside, but underneath she was wearing very thin clothes, which were even a little see-through.

Standing outside, Gao Yuanyuan was shivering from the cold.

Upon seeing Reba, Gao Yuanyuan forced a smile: "Reba, I just came from my godson's place. I heard a noise coming from your house, so I came to check it out."

"Why, you don't welcome me?"

Gao Yuanyuan's excuse was absolutely flawless.

She came to visit her godson, and while passing by, she stopped by for a quick look.

Regardless, she and Lu Zhiyuan are both shareholders of Yuan Technology, and they will be collaborating on the film "Project Gutenberg" next.

It shouldn't be a problem to drop by, right?
"You may come in. But you are not allowed to take off your clothes."

Dilraba warned Gao Yuanyuan a few times, seeing through Gao Yuanyuan's intentions.

Don't think I don't know you, you scheming green tea sister with the "slippery old shoulders," will definitely take off your coat in front of Lu Zhiyuan as soon as you walk in.

Then, the strap of the tank top worn under the coat would inexplicably slip down, attracting Lu Zhiyuan's attention.

I knew this tactic before you did!

Your little tricks can't fool my sharp eyes!

……

Under Dilraba's cold gaze, Gao Yuanyuan entered the living room without taking off her coat, and instead hesitantly sat down opposite Lu Zhiyuan.

She wanted to say something.

However, Dilraba was watching from the side, so all her words went unanswered.

"Zhiyuan, 'Back to 1942' has been released, but the box office results seem disappointing. Director Feng has started criticizing the audience as trash."

Under Dilraba's intense gaze, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't say anything flirtatious to Lu Zhiyuan, so she could only talk about some industry news.

Because of the strong performance of "Real Steel 3", many movies have had their screenings moved up.

"1942" was released last week and grossed 2200 million on its opening day, accounting for 70% of the total box office that day, which looks pretty good.

However, the box office in the first week was only 1.3 million.

The box office was at its peak on the first day, and then it declined every day thereafter.

Huayi Brothers originally thought the film would gross over 2 million yuan in its opening week.

As it turned out, Feng Xiaogang was a huge disappointment!

Of course, the main reason is that "1942" survived "Lost in Thailand" and "Real Steel 3", but it did not survive Li An's "Life of Pi".

Although "1942" is a very grand historical film, it is too tragic, with a slow pace and full of suffering.

It's comparable to last year's "The Flowers of War".

However, Feng Xiaogang does not have the same appeal as Zhang Yimou, and Feng Xiaogang's own films are known for their Beijing-style comedies.

His abrupt change of direction caught the audience off guard, essentially a painful blow to their backs.

How could the box office possibly be good under such circumstances?

"1942" had an attendance rate of just over 40%, while "Life of Pi" across the street had an attendance rate of over 65%.

In this situation, cinemas weren't stupid; they immediately adjusted their screening schedules.

The screening rate of "1942" was quickly squeezed and continued to decline. After two weeks, it was only 10%.

"Sister Cha, thank you for bringing the good news."

Before Lu Zhiyuan could speak, Dilraba thanked Gao Yuanyuan first.

This left Gao Yuanyuan looking completely puzzled.

"Brother, if '1942' flops, Huayi Brothers' stock will most likely fall again."

Should I buy some more?

Dilraba has lost 8000 million yuan on Huayi Brothers stock.

However, she didn't care at all.

Because the salaries for "Real Steel 3" have all been paid. The $3000 million salary, after taxes, leaves approximately $2000 million.

Converted to RMB, that's close to 1.5 million.

She had a lot of savings and could buy whatever she wanted.

Anyway, it's a sure thing to make a profit.

"Buy some more. But don't be too greedy, stop when you've bought 100 million."

Lu Zhiyuan checked his phone and saw that Huayi Brothers' stock had dropped another 20% in the past week.

It's so miserable.

It fell more than Netflix.

"Sister Tea, you've found out about a chance to make a fortune. Why don't you buy some too?"

In front of Lu Zhiyuan, Dilraba pretended to be very close to Gao Yuanyuan, and even reminded him that this was a rare opportunity to make money.

"okay."

Gao Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, as if she had just woken up from a dream.

Clearly, insider trading is involved.

But here's the problem: she has no money.

She spent all her savings on the painting "Water Lilies," and now she only has a few million left for living expenses.

"Sister Cha, are you a little short on cash? It's okay, I can lend you some. Any amount is fine. Just give me that painting as collateral."

Dilraba sat down next to Gao Yuanyuan and kept giving her hints.

Jing Tian has already stepped down. You, who can't even be a mistress, what right do you have to compete with me?

It's better to take this opportunity to earn some money for retirement.

"Reba, come here."

With just one look from Lu Zhiyuan, Dilraba instantly reverted to her obedient demeanor, sat down beside him, and gently took his arm.

She leaned her whole body into Lu Zhiyuan's arms.

Seeing the two of them so affectionate, Gao Yuanyuan knew it was time for her to leave.

Otherwise, are we just going to watch Lu Zhiyuan and Dilraba show off their love here?

Can she even stand to look at it?

"Zhiyuan, Reba, I just remembered I have some things to take care of at home, so I'll have to go now."

After saying that, Gao Yuanyuan got up to leave.

But before she walked out the door, she smiled at Lu Zhiyuan and said, "Next week, let's go to Florence together. Remember to call me."

I am the female lead in "Project Gutenberg"!
No one can change that!

Dilraba, you brat, let's see how long you plan to stop me.

……

Lu Zhiyuan was going to Florence in a couple of days.

Dilraba will definitely go with them.

So, taking advantage of the two days he had some free time, Lu Zhiyuan invited all his friends over for a meal at his home, a small get-together.

After eating and drinking enough.

Xin Yukun began to mock Feng Xiaogang: "This 'little cannon' has completely flopped this time. A 2 million RMB investment, and the box office is just over 3 million RMB. Far below his expectations."

"He completely lost his temper. He called the audience trash and the theater manager a money-grubber who didn't understand historical significance."

After complaining for a while, Xin Yukun suddenly realized that Lu Zhiyuan had been prescient.

"Brother, you're right."

"A movie is just a product. There's no need to think of it as something high-class or sophisticated. Nor should we overcomplicate things for the audience. They just want to have some fun after work or study."

"When we make movies, the first thing we need to consider is what kind of products our customers need. As long as we solve this problem, our movies will never flop."

Feng Xiaogang's downfall once again validated Lu Zhiyuan's commodity theory.

However, Lu Zhiyuan also started his career making art films.

Faced with this situation, Xin Yukun also had some feelings: "Although I just criticized Feng Xiaogang, I have to admit that '1942' is a good movie. It's a pity that art films have no room to survive in this era."

The integration of art and commerce has always been very difficult, and not everyone can do it easily.

At this point, Xin Yukun couldn't help but think of Li An again: "Have you seen 'Life of Pi'?"

Everyone else nodded.

For Lu Zhiyuan, Li An was not exactly a mentor, but they did have some kind of relationship.

It was through Li An's introduction that Lu Zhiyuan met James, which enabled him to successfully enter Hollywood.

Not to mention, Li An had extensive discussions with Lu Zhiyuan before filming this movie.

People will naturally pay attention to Li An's movies.

"Li An got smarter with 'Life of Pi' by casting an Indian actor. If he had cast a Chinese actor, I bet he would have been bombarded with criticism online!"

Life of Pi is undoubtedly an art film.

As for the plot?

What's the plot of this thing?
Not at all!

The entire film showcases various lighting and shadow effects, pushing the visuals to their limits... However, at the end, the protagonist has a very ambiguous conversation, leaving the audience wondering how the protagonist survived.

The entire film is filled with various controversies and debates.

However, North American audiences don't care about these metaphors; they are more likely to be immersed in the dazzling special effects.

Chinese audiences, on the other hand, prefer to see beyond the surface and are able to guess the hidden meaning behind Li An's film.

Between destruction and redemption, the entire film exudes a strange divinity.

Ironically, this bizarre movie, which should have flopped, actually achieved great success at the box office, grossing over $6 million worldwide.

Why is that?
It's because the visuals are top-notch and the special effects are almost unbeatable!

Without stunning visuals, who would have the patience to watch such a fantastical story?
Moreover, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this film will earn Li An the Best Director award at the 2013 Oscars.

……

We chatted for a while and had a small get-together.

Everyone else left early.

Xin Yukun stayed behind, intending to sleep in his original room on the first floor.

"Brother, there were still a lot of people around just now, I was too embarrassed to say anything."

Xin Yukun pulled Lu Zhiyuan aside and whispered, "I have a feeling that 'Life of Pi' might be our biggest competitor at the Oscars."

"what?"

Lu Zhiyuan wondered if he had misheard: "Why would you have such a thought?"

Xin Yukun looked at Lu Zhiyuan with a light smile: "After the preview screening of 'Real Steel 3,' Adam Ferguson led the way in shouting, 'You are the Michelangelo of the new era.'"

"Michelangelo, can't he even win the Best Director award?"

"Adam Ferguson is clearly campaigning for you."

"Believe it or not, once 'Real Steel 3' is released, Universal will send you a barrage of press releases, praising you to the skies."

At first glance, Real Steel 3 appears to be a special effects blockbuster, a mindless action-packed movie about mechs fighting monsters.

However, in reality, Lu Zhiyuan infused a great deal of artistic temperament into the visuals and the overall plot of the film.

The Greek myth of Perseus corresponds to the competition between Reba and Jing Tian's characters, as well as the connotation of drifting to the constellation Perseus.

The world-famous painting "The Last Judgment" corresponds to the character of Dilraba, embodying the concept of a fusion of god and demon, who is both a savior and a destroyer.

Michelangelo's six paintings from "The Creation of Adam" were directly adapted into many of the most stunning special effects scenes in the film.

Furthermore, there are numerous world-famous paintings by Friedrich, such as "The Ice Sea" and "Winter Scene," as well as the magnificent, desolate, and lonely sacredness of steel conveyed throughout the film.

Even without the commercial elements of mecha hunters fighting monsters, this film is a delicious feast, even if viewed simply as an art film.

It is fully qualified to compete for Best Picture or Best Director.

“Brother, just say the word and I’ll go to Los Angeles right now and personally handle your PR, write smear articles, and take down Li An first.”

Xin Yukun wasn't confident he could get someone into the Best Director category.

But for Xin Yukun, hacking someone was far too easy.

"Brother Kun, what are you talking about? We have no grudge against Li An, why are we doing this mess? It's brothers killing each other, and the foreigners will laugh at us."

Actually, everyone misunderstood.

In fact, Lu Zhiyuan wasn't that obsessed with the Best Director award.

On the contrary, winning the Best Picture award is what has the most practical significance for him.

Because you can win an S-level grand prize.

However, he had no way of explaining this to anyone.

"Anyway, Kun, get your mind back on the movie 'Project Gutenberg.' Use your strong interpersonal skills to help me go to Colombia and take care of the local gangs."

"When we go to Colombia to film, if any safety issues arise, I'll hold you accountable!"

Kun Ge is the kind of guy who can easily get himself into a big mess if he's not careful.

Lu Zhiyuan has now realized that he absolutely cannot let Xin Yukun be idle; he must arrange something for him to do.

Otherwise, this guy's initiative is too strong.

"I really like the Latina girl. Thank you for the arrangements. I'm flying to Colombia tomorrow."

"You should also be careful. Don't push your luck."

Xin Yukun gave Lu Zhiyuan a knowing wink.

In a couple of days, Lu Zhiyuan will take Gao Yuanyuan and Reba to Florence... The feeling of being surrounded by beauties is not something that ordinary people can enjoy.

……

Three days later.

Lu Zhiyuan, along with Zhuang Wenqiang, Reba, Gao Yuanyuan, and Su Lun, a total of 5 people, embarked on a trip to Florence.

There are no direct flights from Beijing to Florence.

They need to fly to Rome first, and then transfer to Florence.

……

"Inspector Zhuang, make a note of this location."

"The painter and Li Wen will meet here!"

"By the river, beneath the castle, beside the stone bridge... I remember now, the post-Impressionist masters, Van Gogh and Gauguin, also met in similar places."

"Van Gogh and Gauguin were two madmen. They would eventually part ways because of their differing ideologies!"

“After returning home, Van Gogh cut off his own ear and was sent to a mental hospital.”

"The painter and Li Wen are the same. Although they are on the same path, their ideas are different. They will quarrel, and the final outcome will certainly be very bad."

……

"Officer Zhuang, make a note of this location!"

"After talking with the painter by the river, Li Wen was somewhat frightened. On his way back, he looked up and saw the red dome of the Florence Cathedral."

"The sunlight is so dazzling, the colors around us are so vivid and bright, and ahead lies a true temple of art."

"However, Li Wen hesitated for a moment and then took a narrow path to the side."

"Although this path might be a shortcut that would get him home faster, do you understand that feeling?"

"Once you embark on this path and step into this shadow, it's a road of no return."

……

"Xiao Su, make a note of this place."

"The cypress trees of Tuscany. I love this place."

"The orange-red sunset, the endless green hills, and the rows of cypress trees, like a long snake, stretch to the end of fate."

"I want to drive, listening to Bandari's 'The Sound of Silence,' and leisurely drive from the long corridor of fate to the distance."

"Do you think this scene is better placed at the end or the beginning?"

……

After arriving in Florence.

Lu Zhiyuan's artistic temperament instantly blended into the city, exuding a rich artistic fragrance that was intoxicating.

Reba fell in love with Lu Zhiyuan countless times.

She was completely captivated by Lu Zhiyuan, unable to look away from him even an inch.

Lu Zhiyuan's artistic flair is unparalleled in the entire entertainment industry!
Gao Yuanyuan is the same.

She looked at Lu Zhiyuan with tears welling up in her eyes. If it weren't for the mountain of Altay standing in the way, she would have almost burst into tears.

"Inspector Zhuang, do you feel anything?"

Su Lun has been with Lu Zhiyuan for several films, and she is now very certain of Lu Zhiyuan's feelings for her.

Lu Zhiyuan really had feelings for him.

Once he gets into the zone, he's basically invincible!

"I didn't feel anything at first, but after what Brother Yuan said, I feel great now."

Lu Zhiyuan's version of "Peerless" is completely different from the "Peerless" that Zhuang Wenqiang had imagined in his mind.

The style is so elegant.

It doesn't look like a movie shoot.

It looks exactly like Lu Zhiyuan himself is filming his memoir!
Biographical film!

Suddenly, Zhuang Wenqiang thought of something.

Others might not be able to capture that feeling, but Lu Zhiyuan can definitely do it!
(End of this chapter)