Global Best Actor: Starting with Picking Up Attributes in America

Chapter 462 Chen Xun, are we still brothers?

The afternoon shoot went even more smoothly.

In the final melee, hundreds of martial arts practitioners fought simultaneously, moving from one beacon tower to another.

The scene was extremely spectacular.

Chen Xun personally took charge of the camera work, directing the filming from various positions.

By the time the sunset was filmed, the last shot was completed.

Holding a megaphone, Chen Xun shouted to everyone, "I hereby announce that filming for the Great Wall battle scene in 'Dragon Soars Across the Seas' is complete!"

The entire audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

Everyone threw their hats into the air, celebrating this hard-won victory.

Fans on the distant hilltops cheered along with the crowd.

"Chen Xun is awesome!"

"Dragon Soars Across the Seas is a huge hit!"

The shouts echoed through the valley, lingering for a long time.

Professor Li walked over to Chen Xun and handed him a model of a Great Wall brick: "Director Chen, this is a souvenir made by our institute. Thank you for your support of the Great Wall protection."

Chen Xun took the model and solemnly put it away: "This is what we should do. If we have the opportunity in the future, we will come to the Great Wall to film again. We will need your guidance then."

Two o'clock in the morning.

China Dragon Pictures' domestic branch.

The lights were still on in the corridor, and the door to the editing room was ajar, from which came the sounds of mouse clicks and keyboard taps.

Chen Xun sat at the main editing table, his eyes fixed on the screen, a marker in his hand, drawing circles on the printed storyboard.

"Cut this part out!"

Chen Xun pointed to a dialogue scene on the screen: "The pace is too slow, and the audience will lose focus. Move the scene where Dr. Elena defuses the bomb earlier and insert it after the villain makes his tough talk."

The editor next to him paused for a moment, then said, "Director Chen, this is a scene between Mr. Andy Lau and Mr. Jet Li. We filmed it for many days. It would be a shame to cut it, wouldn't it?"

"It's not a pity."

Chen Xun put down his pen and took a sip of coffee: "Movies are not a personal show for actors, but for the audience. Nowadays, the audience only has seven seconds of patience. If the emotional buildup in this scene is too long, it will dissipate the energy built up in the previous fight scenes. We will cut the scenes of the two teachers into the director's cut and release it on the streaming platform later."

The editor nodded and quickly got to work.

Stephen Chow sat at the assistant editing table next to him, holding a thermos cup, staring at the comedy segment he was in charge of.

He rewound the progress bar and repeatedly watched the scene where Chris Hemsworth was making dumplings, his brows furrowed.

He pointed at the screen: "Slow down the scene where Chris Hemsworth throws flour at Stephen Chow's face by 0.5x, and give a close-up of the dumpling he's making."

Chen Xun leaned over for a look and couldn't help but laugh: "Stephen Chow, are you trying to nail Chris Hemsworth to the pillory of comedy?"

Stephen Chow said expressionlessly, "Those dumplings were wrapped like hand grenades. It would be a disservice not to show them in a close-up shot, given that he practiced his skills for half a month."

Just then, Robert pushed open the door and came in, carrying a stack of documents and looking worried.

He threw the documents on the table, plopped down on the sofa, picked up the remaining half box of braised chicken from Chen Xun, and started eating.

"What's wrong? It's like someone owes you money."

Chen Xun didn't even look up.

"Don't you owe me money?"

Rob's mouth was full, and his words were muffled: "Disney is up to its old tricks again. They've teamed up with Paramount and Universal to move all the summer blockbusters forward by a week, clearly trying to compete with us. Now foreign media are constantly badmouthing us, saying that 'Dragon Fight' is the most expensive anthology film in history, and that it won't gross more than $10 billion. They also say that if we flop, China Dragon will go bankrupt within three months."

He picked up a newspaper and threw it at Chen Xun: "The Hollywood Reporter's front page, 'The Chinese Capital Frenzy Ends, Chen Xun's Empire Will Collapse Along with Dragon Soars Across the Seas,' and someone even dug up old grievances about Red Sparrow, saying that Jennifer is a walking box office poison, and that any movie with her is bound to flop."

Chen Xun glanced at the newspaper headline: "What they said is not wrong. If 'Dragon Soars Across the Seas' really flops at the box office, China Dragon will indeed go bankrupt."

"Boss! Why aren't you in a hurry at all?"

Rob nearly choked on his food: "All of Hollywood is waiting to see us fail! If the box office doesn't meet expectations, they'll swarm us and tear us to shreds!"

"What's the use of being anxious?"

Chen Xun dragged the progress bar back to the beginning and replayed the rough cut: "Whether a movie is good or not is not determined by words, but by the visuals. We'll edit the film, and the rest is up to the audience."

Stephen Chow nodded in agreement: "He's right. Just focus on making your own films; nothing else matters."

Rob rolled his eyes and slumped onto the sofa: "You two are really more worried than the emperor. I couldn't sleep last night. I dreamt that our movie only grossed 100 million on its opening day, and Disney people were celebrating with champagne in front of our company."

"You might as well dream that Chris Hemsworth is making dumplings and blows up the kitchen; that's more likely to happen."

Christine pushed open the door and came in, carrying two large bags of coffee and milk tea: "These are late-night snacks for you guys. Jennifer parked downstairs and will be up soon."

She distributed coffee to everyone, walked over to Chen Xun, glanced at the screen, and asked, "How's the editing going? When can we see the first cut?"

"Almost there, just half an hour left."

Chen Xun took the coffee: "I'd like to add a segment to the end credits, which is the footage of fans praying for blessings at the hospital entrance, as well as videos of the children who received assistance. I'll cut a one-minute clip and put it at the end."

Christine paused for a moment, then laughed: "Great, that will make those who said you were just putting on a show look utterly humiliated."

"I'm not trying to slap them in the face."

Chen Xun shook his head: "This movie isn't just my achievement. I want them to know that I remember everything they did."

Just then!

Jennifer pushed open the door and came in, carrying a thermos: "I made you some porridge. Staying up late is bad for your stomach, so have something hot to drink."

She opened the thermos, filled a bowl, and handed it to Chen Xun: "I just ran into Robert's assistant downstairs. He said Disney has hired a lot of online trolls to leave bad reviews on Douban and IMDb, saying our movie's special effects are garbage and the plot is cliché."

"Let them swipe."

Chen Xun took a sip of porridge: "They'll shut up once the movie is released."

Just then, Chen Xun's phone rang; it was a video call from Hammer Brother.

Chen Xun answered the call, and a magnified image of Thor's face immediately appeared on the screen, with an Australian beach in the background.

"Chen Xun! How's the editing of my scenes going?"

Chris Hemsworth looked on expectantly: "Did you capture all my coolest moments? That jump from the beacon tower, make sure to show it in slow motion! It was absolutely awesome!"

"Don't worry, they've all been left."

Chen Xun nodded helplessly: "Not only did I keep it, I also gave you a close-up shot."

"Very good!"

Chris Hemsworth was so excited he almost threw his phone away: "I knew you were the best! When the movie comes out, I'll book ten screenings and treat everyone in Australia to it!"

Christine leaned close to the camera and said expressionlessly, "It's a close-up of you making dumplings. Stephen Chow specifically requested that it be played in slow motion and that an explosion sound effect be added."

Thor's smile froze instantly: "—Chen Xun, are we still brothers?"

The whole room burst into laughter.