Chapter 1687
Enemies Meet
After resting for a night, the other person talked about many things from their childhood.
In Zhang Yuan's and other people's eyes, she was the envy of everyone, with a wealthy family background and excellent personal qualities.
But in her own eyes, her childhood was indeed turbulent, always moving around and never settling down.
Zhang Yuan could sense that she lacked a sense of security, which might be why she always clung to her mother.
After having breakfast together, she took a plane home, as she still had work to do back home.
As the year draws to a close, it is the busiest time of the year for artists.
The two agreed to meet again in a few days during the New Year's Eve celebrations.
After he finished packing, he went to meet the film crew who had already arrived in New York.
The main creative team first toured the entire filming area to familiarize themselves with the location, accompanied by foreign partners.
China Film Group had already made arrangements, and someone was there to meet them.
Deng Chao and Tong Dawei traveled from Wall Street all the way to Times Square, finding everything new and exciting.
The streets were full of blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners, and the signs on both sides of the road were all in foreign languages, which made it very fashionable.
The two were quite excited and in high spirits.
Business trips paid for by public funds are considered business trips.
But when Deng Chao turned around, he saw Zhang Yuan looking perfectly normal, strolling around casually, just like he was on the streets of the capital.
"I've been here several times," Zhang Yuan replied nonchalantly when asked.
"I was just here in Times Square last night."
"I've been to Wall Street so many times, I've worn the roads out."
“It has to be you, we’re both just country bumpkins,” Tong Dawei chimed in.
"That's not how it works." Zhang Yuan looked at the bustling street.
"People need to travel everywhere, especially overseas."
"The more you come, the more familiar you become, and the more you can take it in stride."
"Once you take a normal approach, you'll find that foreigners are just people with one head and two arms, and that foreign countries are also full of cheating, deception, and theft."
As the saying goes, "It smells bad when you're near it, but it smells good when you're far away."
People are extremely picky about things they are familiar with, especially things around them.
Just like parents who are always finding fault with their own children.
But they always praise the children of their friends, colleagues, and neighbors for being so good.
The truth is, they're just not familiar with each other. If they were to stay with the family for a few months, they would become the next child to be disliked.
Foreign countries are similar; before going, they are certainly wonderful in one's imagination and according to online promotions.
Going on a trip might seem nice, but if you actually stay there for a year or two and encounter some unpleasant things, you'll no longer be so beautiful.
The group arrived at a small roadside restaurant, sat down, and ordered coffee.
We'll be using this little restaurant to film a few scenes later.
In the film, after Meng Xiaojun, the second male lead, is fired from Bell Labs, a high-achieving student is reduced to working as a handyman in a small restaurant.
The term "odd jobs" refers to tasks such as clearing tables, washing dishes, and cleaning.
In English, this kind of job is called a BBOOY, or more formally, a handyman.
Both men and women are called BUSBOY.
They're not waiters; in Europe and America, waiters and waitresses are completely different things.
Waiters are referred to as "waiter" or "waitress," and there are different titles for men and women.
The biggest difference between a handyman and a waiter is not their clothes or their job scope, but the tips they receive!
Not all of the Western world has a tipping culture; only a few do.
North America truly deserves its reputation as the world's leading capitalist power, boasting a uniquely strong tipping culture.
Even many Americans dislike this mandatory tipping culture, understanding that it's a way for businesses to pass on labor costs.
Ironically, the tipping culture is touted by many public intellectuals in China as advanced and an excellent culture that improves the treatment of service workers.
Tips are a significant source of income for low-level service workers, accounting for more than 50% of their earnings.
If you're a waiter or waitress at a top restaurant or hotel, you basically live off tips; your salary is just for show.
It's frustrating that handymen aren't entitled to tips.
Not only do they have to do the dirtiest and most tiring work, but they also get the lowest wages and no tips.
If it's this hard work, why not ask a Chinese boss for help?
Chinese bosses are even worse!
White people, at least most of them, obey the law and pay the minimum wage.
Chinese bosses even offer discounts on minimum wage because they think you guys aren't good enough at English and can't work for white people, so you can only endure their exploitation.
They were drinking coffee while reading the script.
There are two main scenes to be filmed.
One of them was the last few people who came to North America to deal with the ETS lawsuit. During the break, they sat in a restaurant chatting, and Meng Xiaojun talked about why he desperately wanted the company to go public.
Back when I worked here as a handyman, I wasn't even entitled to tips, which hurt my self-esteem.
He felt that only by standing on Wall Street and taking the company public could he gain the respect of foreigners.
This idea is both right and wrong.
Foreigners will look at you with new respect, but they only respect your money, not you as a person.
They still discriminate against Asians.
The other scene is about Meng Xiaojun working there.
As Chen Kexin talked about the play, she took off her glasses and rubbed her temples.
This film is considered one of the best works in his directing career. The reason it is so excellent is that he incorporated a great deal of his own real efforts into the story.
For example, working as a general laborer in a restaurant!
That's right, all other plays are made up, but this one is real!
When Chen Kexin was 18, she went to Los Angeles to study and worked as a handyman in a local restaurant, the kind that didn't pay tips.
At that time, he felt hopeless about life, and North America was not the place where he had imagined he could make a name for himself.
He was extremely depressed and just drifted through each day.
Until one day, after being scolded by the supervisor, he reluctantly cleaned up the leftover food on the table.
An elderly white woman who was a regular customer finished her meal and was about to leave when she slipped a $20 tip into his hand.
Chen Kexin said she was not entitled to a tip, but the old lady insisted that she accept it, saying...
"That kind of person can only stay here for the rest of his life." That was what the foreman was saying when he reprimanded him.
"You're different, you're still young."
The old lady often came by and saw him being scolded. She felt sorry for him, so she gave him money and encouragement.
A single sentence can awaken someone from a dream!
Yes, I'm still young, and I have a bright future ahead of me.
I can't waste my whole life in a place like this.
She went back to school and secretly changed her major from hotel management, which her parents had hoped for, to film and television production.
He secretly returned to Hong Kong during the summer vacation to find connections to work at Golden Harvest and work on film sets.
That's how we have today's great film directors.
This is called meeting a benefactor; it means you are blessed with good fortune.
That was $20 in the 80s, no small sum.
If it weren't for this old lady, Chen Kexin would most likely have become a director as well, because her family has a tradition and connections, it would just have taken her a few years.
He attributed this experience to the second male lead exactly as it happened, without any discrepancies.
Therefore, hardship is the nourishment for creation and the wealth of life.
You can't create good works without accumulating life experience.
When talking about this scene, Chen Kexin became emotional and spoke with some emotion.
The second male lead embodies so many of his own inner feelings.
"When I came to North America to study, I had to meet the visa officer at 11 a.m."
“I got up at 5 a.m., got dressed, and walked around the room.”
"I felt this was the most important day of my life, and if I didn't perform well, I would be finished."
Chen Kexin looked at the three of them and spoke slowly.
Do you understand that feeling?
"I was so nervous that my stomach cramped and I broke out in a cold sweat."
"Because at that time I had the American Dream, and my beautiful vision for the future was to become an American."
"When my visa was approved and I went to study in North America, I thought to myself that I would never come back in this lifetime."
Zhang Yuan flipped through the script and found that Meng Xiaojun had the exact same lines when he left China to study in North America.
Indeed, art originates from life.
Only someone who has experienced the American Dream and had it shattered could write a script like this. "I'm not quite like you," Zhang Yuan said.
"I never had the American Dream."
"That's why I'm casting you as the male lead!" Chen Kexin slammed her hand on the table.
“You are different from other actors.”
"I hope the next generation of artists can all be this unique." Zhang Yuan raised his hand and waved, calling over a waiter.
“We’re all getting hungry from talking, and just drinking coffee won’t do. We’re not from Shanghai, after all,” Zhang Yuan joked. “Let’s order some food.”
Deng Chao and Tong Dawei glanced at the menu, which was entirely in English. The small restaurant had no pictures, only text descriptions.
What would you like, sir?
The waitress stood to the side with a smile, holding a writing board.
“I, this… I, WANT…” Tong Dawei’s mouth was like a rusty bolt, impossible to open.
"Didn't you study English for quite a while?"
"He spoke quite well during filming," Zhang Yuan said with a smile.
"I'm a little nervous facing real foreigners," Tong Dawei said.
"Just remember one thing: white people respect strength. You're the one paying the money, you're the strongest, so what are you afraid of?"
That's what he said, but the other person's mindset couldn't be changed overnight.
Therefore, many people refer to English education in China as "mute English".
They only take exams and can't open their mouths to communicate.
Indians have such heavy accents, they even dare to speak with a Ganges accent, and they even think their accent is quite authentic, like an old London accent.
The Chinese people are still too insecure.
Traditional education does have problems in this regard, as it stifles individuality and suppresses self-confidence.
After the meal, I took the film crew to Times Square to take some photos to use as posters later.
The three of them squatted on the street, grinning sheepishly.
It has a bit of a Hollywood vibe to it.
Deng Chao noticed that some passersby recognized Zhang Yuan and asked for autographs and photos.
He was extremely envious.
Having fans overseas is quite prestigious.
After finishing that task, he received a call from Universal Pictures.
He was informed that he needed to determine the release schedule for the sixth installment and the filming plan for the seventh.
Give him time to go to Los Angeles.
Zhang Yuan glanced at his phone calendar; the weekend was just two days away.
I will fly there myself to meet with them face-to-face.
I told Chen Kexin about this. Anyway, the crew in North America also needs to have weekends off, otherwise it would not comply with local labor laws.
Hearing that he was going to Los Angeles, Deng Chao and Tong Dawei also wanted to join in the fun and go visit.
Zhang Yuan gladly accepted, saying he would treat them well.
After filming for a few days, the day arrived, and the three of them took a six-hour flight to Los Angeles.
Unlike New York, which is often shrouded in clouds, Los Angeles enjoys sunshine for most of the year.
"I think LA actually better reflects the image of North America in the minds of Chinese people than New York, which is free and sunny."
After exiting the airport, he introduced them to the two.
“I’ve heard that many people in the industry are buying houses in Los Angeles,” Deng said while taking pictures with his phone.
Zhang Yuan couldn't contain himself when he heard the words "Los Angeles" and "buying a house".
There are already a lot of people buying houses here.
He didn't dare to say it.
"Yes, quite a few people have bought houses here and want to live here."
There are many Chinese people in Los Angeles.
“But!” Zhang Yuan raised his finger and said with a smile, “It mainly targets the entertainment industry and the rich second generation.”
“These people come here because they can’t fit into the real North American circle.”
"Those who are capable of doing big business are all in New York."
That was all he could say, lest they also consider buying property there.
"I'll help you find a director and arrange for you to visit a few major film studios."
"Experience the charm of Hollywood's century-old cinematic foundation."
"We can also visit Disneyland. If we have the chance in the future, we can bring our children here to play and buy some souvenirs to take home."
He said goodbye to the two men and went directly to the Universal Pictures office building.
I walked through the familiar gate and the familiar corridor.
He was still immersed in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas and was in a very good mood.
I greeted many familiar staff members along the way.
When I arrived near the conference room, I saw several familiar faces.
“Hi.” Paul went up and hugged him.
"How have you been lately? You haven't been speeding anymore, have you?" Zhang Yuan asked.
“It was just an accident last time!” he emphasized.
"It's just a joke, but you should be careful, your family will worry about you."
“You talk like an old man,” Paul complained, then glanced around, his expression turning slightly somber.
"Dude, Fan's in a really good mood today, kind of unusually so."
"I understand." Zhang Yuan shook hands to express his gratitude.
No need for further explanation, he already knew.
After exchanging a knowing glance, Zhang Yuan walked forward confidently.
Hey, Zhang!
A short while later, a large bald man appeared in front of him.
You look much better.
"You too," Zhang Yuan greeted him insincerely.
"Am I late?" Zhang Yuan glanced around; it seemed like almost everyone had arrived.
“No, no, no, you’ve come at just the right time.” Vin Diesel was very pleased.
"You're an important person today."
"Really? Then let's go in together." Zhang Yuan put his arm around his shoulder and entered the conference room.
Everyone arrived shortly afterward.
Zhang Yuan glanced at the bald man and the series' longtime producer, who exchanged a glance, nodded, and smiled.
He smiled, seemingly unconcerned.
"Now that everyone's here, gentlemen, let's begin." Mike, the manager of Universal, leaned back in his office chair.
Zhang Yuan glanced at the screen; Gadot's character had already sacrificed herself in the sixth installment, albeit temporarily, and she would no longer appear in the meeting.
Given Universal's track record, if the box office falters, they'll definitely try to bring it back by selling nostalgia.
Actors don't matter, as long as they're paid enough.
It's a bit of a pity that we've lost an old friend.
“First, let’s discuss the director of the seventh film,” Mike said steadily.
"Director Justin Lin has limited time and it is highly unlikely that he will participate in this filming."
At this point, most of the actors looked helpless, but the bald man was quite happy.
That's half true and half false.
Justin Lin became very famous because of the success of the "Fast & Furious" series, and now he has too many offers to work for him!
He has already taken on two American TV series: CBS's "Scorpion" and HBO's hit series "True Detective" Season 2.
Paramount is also in talks for Star Trek Part III.
They have plenty of work to do.
Vin Diesel had long wanted to get rid of him, to monopolize the production and interpretation rights of his works, and to be able to act like an emperor on set.
"We will select another director and will notify you at a later date."
“There’s a second thing.” Mike instructed his assistant to distribute the preliminary script outline to each of the lead actors.
Everyone glanced through it, and then several people turned their gazes toward Zhang Yuan.
Because the first point in the outline is: Han is dead! (End of Chapter)