NABC Chapter 72, Senior, is it possible that the character in it...
Chapter 72, Senior, is it possible that the character in it...
"The Beijing Film Academy has no shortage of people who want to become famous. But those who truly succeed are not ultimately judged by intelligence, but by patience."
Yang Mi paused for a moment, then nodded obediently. Although she was young, she had been working on film sets since she was a child and knew how to read people's expressions.
She could sense that Lin Ruiyang's words just now didn't sound like a perfunctory response.
Liu Yibing picked up his teacup, gently blew on it, and suddenly interjected:
"If you really want to learn something, you should go to fewer of those messy dinner parties. The atmosphere in the industry is getting more and more superficial these days, especially for young girls like you who have just entered school; you're the easiest to be fooled."
Yang Mi immediately puffed up her cheeks in protest.
"Uncle Liu, I'm not stupid."
"Aren't you stupid?" Liu Yibing sneered.
"Who was almost tricked into going to some private party by an assistant director last year in order to audition?"
"Well, I didn't go!" Yang Mi immediately felt guilty.
Lin Ruiyang raised an eyebrow slightly.
The film and television industry in 2005 was indeed far more chaotic than it would be later. In particular, the television drama market was expanding wildly, with a large influx of capital, but without the formation of a mature system.
Many young actors simply cannot distinguish between a real opportunity and a trap.
Yang Mi, a pretty, intelligent, and ambitious young woman, is considered by many to be a perfect "potential stock."
Liu Yibing sighed: "Your generation has been fortunate to live in such a good time, but it's also the time when it's easiest to go astray. In the past, actors relied on hard work and perseverance, but now many people are thinking about how to become famous overnight."
He looked at Lin Ruiyang as he said this.
"Especially since you, you little rascal, suddenly caused such a stir abroad, many young actors in China are going crazy. Just the other day, a student came to ask me if he could go straight to Hollywood after graduation."
"He can't even speak English properly, and he's going to play a mute in Hollywood?" Yang Mi was amused.
"Actually, some people do think that way," she whispered, resting her chin on her hand.
"Many people online are saying that Chinese films are about to take off. Some even say that Chinese directors will dominate Hollywood in the future."
Lin Ruiyang shook his head. It seemed that the good news brought about by various developments in China had made everyone overconfident.
"The truth is, if you go to Hollywood now, what can you do besides playing a background character who only appears for less than three seconds in a B-movie, or being a punching bag in a kung fu movie? That place isn't something you can get into just with enthusiasm."
He wasn't exaggerating.
Hollywood today is deeply entrenched in stereotypes about Chinese faces. Even top stars who have already achieved great success in China have to humbly compete for decorative roles in those mass-produced popcorn movies.
Otherwise, it's either an insulting role like in "Wolfhound," or an opportunity like Xin Zhilei's, where she gets to star in a biographical film about Chinese Americans.
The status that Jackie Chan achieved through such hard work is ultimately a low-probability event.
"Look, did you hear that?" Liu Yibing glanced at Yang Mi.
"That's what you call being clear-headed. You may be young, but you always get to the heart of the matter."
The domestic market is just too overheated right now. The film market has only just begun to show signs of improvement, and everyone thinks they can be Zhang Yimou (a famous Chinese filmmaker), and every actor thinks they can walk the international red carpet. In reality, the foundation hasn't even been laid yet.
Yang Mi listened attentively, and her initially restless thoughts gradually calmed down under the guidance of the two industry professionals.
She glanced at Lin Ruiyang discreetly and noticed that when this senior talked about Hollywood, he didn't have the almost blind worship that domestic media had. Instead, he spoke with a superior scrutiny and composure.
"But then again, since you've established a company in China, it means you're not planning to put all your eggs in one basket in Hollywood."
The major private companies in China are all trying to find out your strengths and weaknesses. How exactly do you plan to launch this first attack? You can't just wait until filming in Paris in October and then slowly work your way back to China, can you?
"Teacher, Hollywood and Paris are the headquarters of the 'Queen' crew. That's my answer to Fox and European luxury capital."
As for Pioneer Pictures in China, I have no intention of letting it become an empty shell. During these few days back in China adjusting to the time difference, I've been putting the finishing touches on a script.
"Oh?" Liu Yibing's eyes lit up immediately. As a veteran in the industry, his greatest interest in life has always been screenplays.
Yang Mi even subconsciously softened her breathing, her eyes wide open.
She knew that a new project from someone like Lin Ruiyang, who had just made a big splash in Hollywood, carried a completely different weight for actors in the industry.
"What type?"
Lin Ruiyang didn't rush to answer: "Teacher, please guess first."
"Stop keeping me in suspense." Liu Yibing glared at him irritably. "You're all scheming about commercial films now, how am I supposed to guess what you're thinking?"
"Teacher, don't worry. The domestic market can't support Hollywood's big-budget special effects movies right now; it would be a thankless task to produce them."
Lin Ruiyang leaned forward: "What I'm more interested in now are movies that can truly move the audience with their characters and emotions. It's called 'Dallas Buyers Club,' and nobody in China knows about this project right now."
Liu Yibing, who initially had a somewhat teasing expression, gradually became serious.
"Dallas Buyers Club? That sounds like a Hollywood story. Go on."
"The story is set in 1980s Texas, where Ron, a homophobic and promiscuous low-class Rodeo cowboy, is unexpectedly diagnosed with AIDS and told by doctors that he only has 30 days to live."
At the time in the United States, the only officially approved anti-AIDS drug was highly toxic and expensive. To survive, he began smuggling anti-AIDS alternatives that were not approved by the US FDA across borders.
In the process, he even unexpectedly became partners with a transgender person suffering from the disease, forming an underground buyers' club to provide cheap drugs to a large number of desperate people suffering from the same illness, thus directly confronting American pharmaceutical giants and the FDA in a battle that lasted for several years.
As soon as Lin Ruiyang finished speaking, the entire office fell into absolute silence.
In 2005, although the internet and ideas were gradually opening up in China, extremely marginalized or even shocking topics such as "AIDS," "homosexuality," "transgender people," and "confrontation with the state system" were still an absolute blind spot for the domestic film industry, something that had never even been heard of before.
In China, let alone anyone knowing the real-life inspiration for "Dallas Buyers Club," even in Hollywood, due to the sensitivity of the subject matter and the commercial risks, no major studio dares to easily adapt the script.
This is absolutely groundbreaking, just like Juno.
Liu Yibing slowly stopped what he was doing. He knew the script too well; he could tell whether a story had substance just by listening to the beginning.
The most terrifying thing about Lin Ruiyang's story is that it is not a traditionally heroic and righteous tale, and the protagonist is not even a good person.
But it is precisely these gray characters, once brought to life, that feel more real than simple heroes.
"A realistic theme?" Liu Yibing asked in a low voice.
"I guess so." Lin Ruiyang nodded.
"You little brat...you've got some nerve." Liu Yibing let out a long breath, his expression becoming extremely serious.
"This subject matter is being tackled too aggressively, but it's also too hot to handle."
"It's precisely because it's hot that it has irreplaceable value." There was no sign of backing down in Lin Ruiyang's eyes.
Yang Mi was completely engrossed in listening.
Good heavens!
In an era where ordinary domestic actors can boast for years about just walking an international red carpet, Lin Ruiyang sat across from her, calmly outlining a plan to directly challenge for an Oscar!
Just hearing the outline of this story made Yang Mi feel the blood rushing to her head.
Her mind was already flashing wildly through those tragic, desperate movie scenes that were imbued with a strong sense of life's destiny. The sheer scale of this project left her somewhat dazzled.
Although this film is to be shot in Hollywood, the core roles are destined to be played by white actors.
But if I could get even a few seconds of screen time as an Asian in this top-tier international project with the potential to win awards, or become an intern serving tea and water on set, it would be an incredible opportunity for me, a newcomer to the film industry, to broaden my horizons!
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness and longing:
"Senior..." Yang Mi's voice was a little tight due to excessive excitement. She stared straight at Lin Ruiyang and swallowed.
"When are you planning to start filming this movie in Hollywood? And the roles... is there any possibility...?"