How did I become famous?

Chapter 184 The Strongest Superhero Movie in History

Two days have passed since I parted ways with the bigwigs at the IRS.

The budget was approved as expected, especially after the IRS bigwigs learned that Fang Bie was going to make a movie that criticized this and that, they promptly approved the budget request.

This movie isn't aiming to make money; it's aiming for more screenings.

They only achieve their goals if their blatant dissent is palatable, deeply ingrained in people's minds, and known to the masses.

Moreover, they had also investigated and found that Fang was Chinese and had no prior connection with this place.

People don't even pay their taxes here.

Then everyone will have no vested interests, and they can invest in this person's movies with peace of mind.

Let's put it in two parts—

In the past two days, Fang Bie did not rush to write the script, but instead first gathered some information.

"Xiao Fu, are you sure it's a budget of 100 million US dollars?"

"That's right! Fang, shoot boldly! We've seen your team's special effects, so go all out with the budget!"

"Spending your country's taxpayers' money to make movies that smear your government departments, tsk, it's kind of satisfying." Fang Bie stroked his chin: "So you'll include all sorts of car chases and gunfights?"

"Get it all done! Get it all done!"

"Okay, I think I understand now." Fang Bie stopped taking notes on the tablet, twirling the electronic pen in his hand. "Now we only need to solve a few more problems."

"First," he said, holding up his index finger, "the casting issue. We can't just have a few of you acting, can we?"

There are movies like that, such as "The Man from Earth".

The key issue is that the image doesn't match.

These brothers, except for Michael, are the kind who would get questioned by the police if they went out.

Are you suggesting we cast them as various PhDs and scholars? Please spare Fang Bie.

Moreover, Fang Bie admitted that he had almost forgotten the intricately linked stories.

Xiao Fu asked, "What kind of person do we need?"

"Well, it's best if they play themselves," Fang Bie began to make his demands. "Ideally, there should be a group of black guys, mainly playing neighborhood gangsters. There should also be a group of armed men, a few government officials who look like they're asking for a beating, and some glamorous 'Hollywood actors,' preferably the kind who look righteous and honorable."

He has already figured out how to change it.

Including some elements from GTA5's setting and storyline, along with some elements from The Boys and some original storylines.

Hollywood? Just put those thieving and promiscuous superhero stars in Hollywood!

Besides, the Los Santos trio isn't without special abilities.

"Little Rich, are you interested in playing an anti-hero?"

Franklin exclaimed in surprise, "Are we going to make a superhero movie this time?"

Fang Bie chuckled lightly: "I suppose so."

If the Los Santos trio versus the male thief and female prostitute superhero actors count as a "superhero" movie, then...

"What ability do I have? Super Soldier Serum or the Stand Ghost ability?"

Franklin was particularly excited.

He didn't actually have any ambitions before.

His greatest ambition in life was simply to escape that Black community, leave the gang, and live a normal life, or rather, to make something of himself.

Then he would say to his childhood sweetheart who dumped him and ran off with a Black doctor, "You'll regret this."

But after he made a fortune by doing business with Michael and Lao Cui by chance, he developed an ideal.

Or rather, a dream unknown to others.

He wanted to be a hero.

But not like Captain China or Captain America.

He dislikes those virtuous and righteous characters, and even thinks they are too fake.

As a young man who came from a low-income Black community, he always felt that such people could not possibly exist in this world!

But he likes "The Shadow of Light"!

You could even call it a crazy passion!

He likes the protagonist Chen Qing, and he also likes the antagonist Kira!

But he prefers the film's director, Fang Bie!

It could even be described as worship!

So he's going to do everything he can to make this collaboration happen! He wants to play that kind of role in another film!

A superhero who is both righteous and wicked! He has his own bottom line!

Although Fang Bie didn't know why he was so excited, he still explained, "Actually, none of those are the reasons. The special abilities I plan to give you are speed perception while driving a vehicle, invulnerability to blades and bullets, and time deceleration."

This refers to the yellow bar ability of the Los Santos trio in GTA5.

"That's not bad either," Franklin pressed. "So, how do we develop the plot?"

"Wait five days." Fang Bie held up his right index and middle fingers next to his ear. "Five days later, I'll show you the script and storyboards."

Franklin understood.

So he decisively took out the top-quality cigar that Michael had left with him, cleaned it, and put it between Fang Bie's two fingers.

Fang didn't bring it to his lips, waiting for Franklin to light it.

He took a deep breath.

Coughing uncontrollably.

Franklin paused for a moment, then said, "Uh, bro, cigars aren't meant to be inhaled."

"Alright, alright." Fang Bie waved his hand, his attempt to show off failing. "Don't let anyone bother me for the next five days. I need quiet time to think about my creative process. Oh, and..."

He looked up: "Where are my companions? Did Trevor send them to the land reclamation site?"

"No, they're probably having a great time right now." Franklin shrugged. "Trevor gave them a diamond membership to that club, and all their expenses are free. They're probably living it up right now."

Fang Bie: "."

"Tom, what do you think that young man from the East is doing right now?"

In another villa in Beverly Hills, Jamie, Columbia Pictures' marketing director, was chatting with Tom: "I heard he disappeared after running into several other companies and the Screen Actors Guild. He hasn't shown up in Hollywood these past few days. Did he give up and go back to China?"

"Impossible, I know him." Tom took a puff of his cigar and a sip of red wine. "Fang is a true genius, and geniuses are always proud and arrogant. He can't just give up Hollywood and go back to China like that."

Jamie flicked his cigar ash: "Where will he go?"

"Anyway, there's no way I'm giving up on going back to China." Tom shook his head. "Maybe I'm still trying to persevere somewhere. Let's talk about our movie first. How much is Columbia Pictures planning to invest this time?"

Jamie laughed and said, "Tom, you still consider that young man a rival? This kind of thing can be handled by your agent; there's no need for us to come here personally."

"You don't understand, it's not just that. I'm planning to try and get this film into the Oscars again." Tom glanced at him. "And this time, it's co-invested by the eight major studios, not just Columbia Pictures."

Another Oscar bid? Eight major studios are investing. Jamie's expression became much more serious: "Are you referring to a bid for the Oscars?"

"A grand slam, yes, a grand slam." Tom said seriously, "Their goal is to make a superhero movie that can become a classic in film history, to bring the superhero genre from China to Hollywood. Because this has never happened before, it's the first time, so they can't accept it. That's also why they're able to cooperate."

He changed his posture: "Although my purpose is different from theirs, I am equally interested in classic films that are worthy of being recorded in history."

Think about it: a film with sufficient depth and substance, featuring numerous big-name actors and production staff, ample funding, and joint promotion and distribution by major film companies—I'm genuinely interested in that.

And it's also his current favorite superhero movie.

To be honest, it was Fang Bie's arrival that gave Bada this idea.

Tom was eager to know how Fang Bie could possibly make the box office reach half of what the movie had achieved.

The premise is that he could still make the film even without joining Hollywood.

Of course, he was actually still hoping that Fang Bie would ask him for help, so that he could bring Fang Bie into his crew to complete this masterpiece together!

"The script and storyboards are done!"

In another villa not far from Tom's villa, Fang Bie excitedly ran into the living room, carrying his laptop.

What came into his view were Liu Mang and others, whose faces were pale, their eyes were dark, and they looked listless.

There's also the Los Santos trio who start drinking in broad daylight, and the tall, thin Lamar.

Upon hearing Fang Bie's words, everyone perked up and immediately gathered around.

Michael rushed to the front, shoving Trevor aside with his butt: "Let me check first!"

He snatched the laptop, glanced at it, and tossed it to Franklin: "Little Franklin, translate this. These square characters from the East are giving me a headache."

Franklin shrugged: "I can only talk, not write."

He speaks Chinese because he used to have a neighbor who was Chinese.

That older brother taught him many things.

The change in his values, transforming him from a petty hoodlum into a scoundrel, was entirely thanks to that older brother.

But later, during a shootout, that guy was unfortunately caught in the crossfire and died.

It was after that incident that Franklin vowed to leave the black neighborhood and become a black man who wouldn't suddenly die on the side of the road.

He handed his laptop to Wu Kai, who understood English: "Wu, could you please translate this for me? Thank you."

"OK."

Having been corrupted by the capitalist XXX club for several days, Wu Kai readily agreed.

As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to be grateful," and after enjoying themselves for several days, they felt embarrassed to refuse.

Moreover, these people didn't look like good people, and he was afraid that he would make the news and become "a Chinese person who died tragically in a beautiful landscape".

He opened the document, quickly skimmed through it, and then was dumbfounded.

"What are you standing there for?" Liu Mang plopped down next to him, bringing his chubby face close to his.

"hiss--"

Then he gasped and froze.

"What are you two doing?" Nie Fang asked, puzzled. He stood behind them and glanced at the document on the screen.

"hiss--!"

He gasped in shock and was dumbfounded.

Franklin was confused: "Fang, what's wrong with them?"

Fang Bie calmly took a sip of red wine and frowned.

This red wine has absolutely no sweetness, and he's finding it hard to resist.

"It's nothing, he was probably just scared out of his wits."

Hearing his words, Liu Mang looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Old Fang! Are you crazy?! You dare to do something like this? Don't you plan to come to Hollywood?!"

Fang Bie smirked: "Those idiots, do they think everyone will grovel before Hollywood? They think they can make me submit? My favorite thing to do is say 'NO' to idiots like that!"

Hollywood? Who the hell wants to come here!

Once I become Gabe Newell (GabeN), I'll show you what it means to make money hand over fist!

You think you can only make money by kneeling and acting like a dog? I don't care!

I can make money while lying down!

Hearing their words, Franklin was itching to see it too. He urged, "Wu! Hurry up! I want to see Fang's script too!"

Wu Kai nodded, composed himself, and spent several hours translating the script, then gave a copy to everyone.

Franklin and the others opened the script in their hands.

The story begins in a place called Los Santos.

I'm going to sleep now since the script isn't finished. Tomorrow morning I'll speedrun GTA5 and The Boys again via video, and then I'll start writing the script.

I'm asking for your monthly votes and recommendations!

(End of this chapter)