Chapter 1653
Family
"Hahahaha..." Upon hearing his words, Legendary Pictures boss Tull burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, he found that Zhang Yuan's expression was normal, without the cunning or amused look he had expected, so he gradually stopped laughing.
"Zhang, are you kidding me?" the man asked after stopping.
Zhang Yuan looked at him calmly and quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He exudes authority without anger, yet he is not unsmiling.
“We Chinese are often criticized by you white people for lacking a sense of humor.”
"Although I am not quite the Chinese people you usually know, I like to joke around."
"But I wasn't joking about wanting to play the lead role just now."
“Mr. Tours,” he said solemnly, “I am a very serious person when it comes to my work.”
"I never joke about my profession."
He did not blame the other party for their attitude.
Arrogance or mockery, anger has no effect.
Besides, he wasn't angry.
Because the other person laughed, they assumed there was a reason behind his joke.
Are there any major Hollywood films starring Chinese actors these days?
Let alone people of Chinese nationality, how many blockbuster movies have been made with Chinese actors since the beginning of Hollywood history?
If we broaden the scope to include Asian countries, such as island nations, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries, how many people can become leading actors in Hollywood?
Li Lianjie is no longer capable, and Zhou Runfa has never been able to perform.
Only the Dragon is still decent, but it's been just average in recent years.
This is all Zhang Ziyi's fault...
Her disastrous "Memoirs of a Geisha" only made matters worse for the Asian lead role.
Actually, before that, kung fu actors of Chenlong's era were able to break into Hollywood, after all, Bruce Lee was a shining example.
It's not uncommon for Asian actresses to play leading roles in Hollywood; there are quite a few.
This is just like the attitude of the Hong Kong film industry.
In early co-productions between Hong Kong and mainland China, the male lead was always from Hong Kong, or even Taiwan or Japan.
But it's definitely not someone from mainland China.
The female lead role can be given to a mainland Chinese artist.
Because the Hong Kong entertainment industry believes that mainland male leads cannot be sold for money.
This situation disappeared after the mainland film and television market took off.
Viewers will vote with their money, and it's obvious who they like to watch.
The market in Hollywood is larger, and the situation is more serious.
The problem remains the same. Just like in Hong Kong, if they think highly of you, they'll use a supporting female character, or even the lead actress, and it's all negotiable.
But the male protagonist can use white people, black people, or Indians!
But for people of Asian descent, especially Chinese people, let's just forget about it.
Ultimately, it was because the Chinese film market was too small in the early years, and films couldn't fetch high prices.
In addition, Hollywood is a propaganda weapon for the United States, and it has political goals.
Ultimately, if you have a way, you can overcome any obstacle. As long as you can make money, everything else is negotiable.
Hollywood has always been realistic.
Just like Justin Lin and James Wan, as Asians with yellow skin, they are definitely marginalized in the Hollywood directing circle.
But as long as your movies make big money, you'll be a superstar, and everyone will fawn over you, whether it's the actors or the company.
The same goes for Ang Lee.
But if you fail even once, those who used to surround you will avoid you like the plague, just like they avoid people with twin ponytails in Guangzhou.
For example, John Woo.
Ang Lee's later career was similar. "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" had mediocre box office performance, and it was a joint production between Sony and Columbia Pictures.
The next "Gemini Man" film will only have second-rate Hollywood studios and a bunch of big domestic studios spending money.
This movie didn't do well at the box office either. No matter how many Oscars you've won before, nobody will pay attention to you for years.
That's just how the market is.
Therefore, Zhang Yuan understood the other party.
There are a few problems.
First of all, times have changed!
Nowadays, many popular domestic artists, especially those from mainland China, make cameo appearances or play supporting roles in Hollywood blockbusters.
Both Bingbing and Fan Bingbing arrived, followed by Jing Tian and a few others.
All of this is due to the booming mainland Chinese film market.
Hollywood is currently in a dilemma, wanting to make money but unwilling to lower its standards.
In situations like this, whoever decides first whether to prioritize money or reputation will gain the upper hand.
“Why not, Mr. Tours?” Zhang Yuan countered.
"You're willing to cooperate with me at the company level and are willing to vigorously develop the Chinese market, isn't it because you want to make money in China?"
"And by using me, you can make money."
“However, only Chenlong can satisfy both the Asian and North American markets at the same time,” the other party replied directly.
“We still prefer to use Hollywood actors as the main characters, and have you participate to attract Chinese audiences.”
This leads to the second question: Zhang Yuan is a person with professional ideals.
He's done a great job playing supporting roles in Hollywood.
He has several memorable roles.
and then?
Am I just going to spend my whole life working for you white people?
I came, I saw, I conquered.
How can one conquer others by working as their assistant?
It's reasonable to become a familiar face and make money from it, since that works in China and it will help me improve my status in the domestic film industry.
With the added bonus of appearing in Hollywood films, he's a cut above other actors of the same caliber.
Although I didn't go bald, I did become stronger.
My goals are naturally higher.
It was a coincidence that he brought it up just when the other party was talking about the Godzilla IP, rather than earlier or later.
Besides the rapid development of the mainland market, this drama is also a reason.
Q: Who is the main character in the movie "Godzilla"?
It's not actually a human protagonist, but rather the title of the movie, which is Godzilla!
In Legendary Pictures' monster movie series, the true protagonist is always the monster itself.
The protagonist of "Godzilla" is Godzilla, and the protagonist of "King Kong" is King Kong.
In "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah", the main characters are Godzilla and King Ghidorah, and Rodan is a supporting character.
The male and female protagonists are only the human protagonists.
The audience's focus is on the monster.
The memorable moments after watching the movie are also monsters!
Many people don't even remember who the male lead was a few years after watching it.
This can be seen from the clips of these movies that major video websites have used in later generations.
If you were to slice Godzilla, who would slice the male lead?
Isn't it all about Godzilla?
The same goes for Pacific Rim.
So Godzilla is a top-tier Hollywood production with a big IP, but the weight of the lead actors in this movie is much lower than that of movies of the same level!
If it's an action movie like "Fast & Furious" or "Mission: Impossible," it's unlikely he'll star in it himself.
Looking back, only "Shang-Chi" is a blockbuster that boasts an Asian male lead.
But it's full of stereotypes, not to mention the cultural aspects, the visuals, and even the appearance of the male and female leads...
The man had squinty eyes, and the woman had slanted eyes, a protruding neck, and a hunchback.
How am I, with my thick eyebrows, big eyes, and upright posture, supposed to act?
Do white people really like this kind of look?
No, the political motives are obvious. In addition, some older white men do indeed prefer Asian women with slanted eyes and narrow eyes due to cultural influences and their works.
Most white women don't like thin Asian men with squinty eyes.
Big eyes and a high nose bridge are healthy male characteristics, and white women are neither blind nor stupid.
If Zhang Yuanruo looks like a monk-like male protagonist, no matter how rich Elizabeth is, she wouldn't be interested in him...
Moreover, in the movie Shang-Chi, although the male and female leads are of Chinese descent, they are both North American citizens.
Zhang Yuan fell short in this respect.
Therefore, if you want to make progress, you need to seize the right opportunities.
"Godzilla" is a film where the male lead is the protagonist, but the protagonist isn't that important; it's the most suitable stepping stone he could think of.
Forget about other shows.
When you're abroad, especially in a country full of discrimination and arrogance, it's incredibly difficult to climb the social ladder.
He wants to seize every opportunity.
Moreover, such things are possible; once you seize the opportunity and overcome it, you succeed.
If you don't have the chance and can't overcome it, you'll just be stuck in the same place for the rest of your life.
If you land a leading role in a blockbuster and make money, you'll be offered leading roles in Hollywood from then on.
Without this opportunity, you wouldn't be able to find me, not even if you begged me!
His current advantage is that he is not only an actor, but also has commercial collaborations with Legendary, the company that leads the production.
Even so, it is still difficult.
"Dude, I know you really want to improve."
“But we have to consider the market; after all, we can’t do business at a loss,” Tours said, still maintaining his stance.
Just in case he was unhappy, I added another sentence.
"Okay, I'll consider it and go back to discuss your proposal with the producer and director."
Zhang Yuan simply nodded slightly, took another sip of wine, and said nothing more.
After the gathering ended, Guo Fan said he needed to go back to China first.
After I've dealt with things back home, I'll come find him immediately.
Zhang Yuan agreed, and then called Zhang Yimou, asking him to come to Hollywood to discuss filming with Legendary.
He'll be filming on set the next day.
Hey, tomorrow's the weekend, do you have a date?
During the lunch break, Paul invited him to have lunch in his RV.
A fairly substantial American-style barbecue, mostly pure meat.
Eating too much can easily cause constipation. Zhang Yuan, picking at the grilled beef ribs, was momentarily stunned by the question.
Oh right, I'm in Hollywood, where you get a two-day weekend even when filming.
Unlike in China, where they practically work three shifts like in an electronics factory.
"Of course I have time. I'm a lonely wanderer, I don't have time for dates."
Zhang Yuan joked about himself.
Sometimes, it's bad to brag, as it can easily expose your lie on the spot.
He had just finished speaking when his phone rang.
Hey, are you free this weekend?
“I happen to be in Los Angeles,” Elizabeth called him.
Zhang Yuan turned his head and saw Paul chewing beef with gusto, shaking his head and laughing.
"Maybe, but someone just asked me out."
"Oh, I see..." The other person's voice carried a hint of disappointment.
"Wait a minute, let me ask them what they want to do first."
He didn't hang up; he just put down his phone.
What do you want from me this weekend?
“We have races at a racetrack in the suburbs of Los Angeles.”
"It's a charity project to raise funds for local children with leukemia."
Zhang Yuan almost became stressed when he heard about leukemia.
Could it be leukemia caused by nuclear radiation?
"I'd like to invite you and the rest of the crew to come with me."
"Okay, for the children."
We should still support public welfare. I'm not interested in homeless Black people, but children are pitiful no matter which country they come from.
He picked up his phone, intending to continue chatting with Teacher Xiaobai.
The other party spoke first.
"I heard you."
Can I come along too?
"For the children."
"Okay, see you then."
Since they've already said that, he can't refuse.
"By the way, my family is here too. May they come along?"
"You should ask Paul, but I don't think he'll refuse; he really enjoys lively scenes."
These kinds of events rely on public figures to attract donations, so naturally the more celebrities, the better.
The next day he went to a small racetrack in the suburbs. It wasn't a world-class racetrack, but it was still pretty good.
Vin Diesel didn't come; he said he wanted to spend time with his family.
Clearly, he wasn't very interested in this kind of thing and didn't want to use his connections.
Paul acquired his beloved Porsche 911 GT2 RS, the car nicknamed the Widowmaker.
It was also modified to become more radical.
I rented him a modified Corvette, a proper American V8.
When Zhang Yuan asked, he was surprised to learn that the competition was amazing; whoever won donated the most.
Zhang Yuan felt that, both morally and logically, he had to let Paul win.
Before starting, I asked around and they estimated that I could make several hundred thousand US dollars a day.
In reality, it's only enough for a few children's treatment for a little over a year.
Hospitals in North America are all sharpening their knives, their knife skills are faster than Lanzhou noodles.
Lighthouse Pharmaceutical Group is even more formidable than military-industrial complexes.
After all, military-industrial complexes are just about making money and dealing with foreigners.
Pharmaceutical companies don't care about domestic or international markets; they even prey on their own people.
Many North American brands of ibuprofen label their products as safe for infants and young children. Can you guess how they came to that conclusion?
There are many animal protection organizations that prevent animal testing.
I can just do human trials directly, without using animals!
Pre-match preparations are nothing more than changing clothes and familiarizing oneself with the venue.
"Hi!"
When Elizabeth arrived, he, dressed in a racing suit, took the initiative to greet her.
Beside her were two older women who looked about 70% alike, but were much shorter.
These are the Olsen sisters, who are incredibly famous in North America.
Elizabeth dressed casually, wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses, a red and white striped t-shirt that showed her waist, and jeans and sandals.
But the two older sisters were different.
They were dressed quite business-like, looking like they were there for a fashion show.
A black, fitted blazer paired with wide-leg, stylish chiffon trousers.
Her hair was also styled quite meticulously.
After hugging Xiaobai, he looked at the two of them.
"I've heard your names so many times, and I'm so glad to finally meet you."
“We’ve heard your name all the time too.” The older sister shook hands with him, glancing at her younger sister at the same time.
"I really like your style of dress," Zhang Yuan said, offering his compliment.
“Then your taste is the same as Michelle’s.” The second sister put one hand in her pocket and gently shook his hand with the other.
The Michelle she was referring to is the current First Lady, Michelle Obama.
This black woman is a loyal fan of the Olsen Sisters clothing brand.
Of course, this is only a superficial phenomenon.
Firstly, in North America, the Democratic Party is very close to Hollywood.
So when the blond guy came to power, the vast majority of Hollywood members opposed him because he was a Republican.
Obama was the first Black person to become the top leader. He was a newly emerging nobleman, not even a nobleman, and his foundation was very weak.
The Olsen twins were also newcomers in Hollywood, without any connections, and built their careers entirely from scratch.
They formed a coalition of the weak, sticking together for mutual support.
The Olsen twins, as well-known members of the entertainment industry, helped them campaign, organize roadshows, and acted as brokers in the entertainment and fame circles.
The Obamas, especially Michel, often wear their clothes at various banquets, which can be considered as advertising.
In North America, everything has a price.
If you're willing to pay the price, you can even get the president to advertise for you.
Obama himself even advertised for BlackBerry and Chrysler.
So the Olsen twins have been quite successful in recent years, enjoying the backing of their eldest brother.
The Kardashian family, who would later become Hollywood's most influential celebrity family, were not as wealthy as the Olsen family at this time.
Obama's net worth was $10 billion before he came to power, and it has since increased several times over.
It's true that having connections in high places makes things easier.
"Now I know who Elizabeth learned her wisdom and resilience from," he continued, praising her.
"I have to go to the competition. We can talk later. I'm very interested in you guys."
He put on his helmet and walked away with a flourish.
The two older women nodded in unison, arms crossed.
"What's wrong?" Xiaobai asked upon seeing this.
“She looks even better in person than on screen; she has the elegance of an Easterner,” the older woman replied.
"And the skin looks smooth and delicate, it should feel pretty good to the touch," the second sister added.
"Hey!" Xiaobai frowned. "You've only just met, don't say things that will embarrass me."
"Just tell me if it feels good or not," her second sister said, looking at her.
“It’s quite good.” Elizabeth nodded.
Zhang Yuan's skin was better than most of the women he had met abroad, especially in North America and Europe.
This is the advantage of people from the East.
Europeans and Americans have a habit of wearing linen shirts or long skirts in the summer because they are breathable and cool.
It's even been touted as old-money style, with the saying that only nouveau riche wear silk and synthetic fibers.
According to the traditions of ancient Rome, we old nobles must wear linen!
Foreigners love this.
But if you're a Chinese person, you'll wear it without saying a word.
It's so sharp!
Those with sensitive skin will experience redness and swelling after wearing them for just half an hour.
Why do Europeans and Americans love to wear them, but Chinese people can't?
It's very simple, all foreigners, regardless of gender, have body hair!
They come with their own "armor," so you can't get stabbed.
Even women have a layer of fine downy hair on their skin, and many blondes have this hair that is actually golden, like a true golden lion.
The men, in particular, looked like baboons when they took off their clothes.
It's obvious which race has evolved better: those with body hair or those without, those without odor, those with longevity, those with advanced intelligence, and those less prone to allergies.
Chinese people also wear linen, but ours is made of fine hemp, which is much smoother.
Moreover, based on the description of the High Elves in "The Lord of the Rings".
They are incredibly beautiful, their bodies radiate light, they are gentle and kind, they are one with nature, and they maintain a relatively open and enthusiastic attitude towards the outside world.
Compared to white people, they are clearly more like the Chinese who revere the Huang-Lao philosophy at their core.
So these foreign women are envious of Asians with good skin.
They're interested in more than just skin, of course.
"You said he's a successful young businessman in China, right?" the second sister asked her younger sister.
"Based on his partial description, I think so."
"But he didn't talk to me about these things much, unlike those rich kids who start showing off their family businesses as soon as they meet me." Xiaobai said this with a tense expression.
“Very good, a mysterious Asian tycoon.” The second sister said with great interest.
"Let's have a good talk with him." (End of Chapter)