Chapter 659: You better say what you do

After meeting with director Lune, Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan returned to the hotel together.

Chen Ziyan asked: "Are you going to have dinner with Schmidt Lawley tonight?"

Schmidt Lawley of Green Valley Film Company is one of the people Lu Yanhe is most familiar with in Hollywood.

Several of Lu Yanhe's films were collaborated with him.

Including the film *The Mist*, it was also through him that he got to know director Muken Zorge and made contact.

But Lu Yanhe coming here this time was not just to catch up with Schmidt Lawley.

Besides *Source Code*, what Lu Yanhe brought this time was the script called *Buried*.

This script has been written for a long time, and has been looking for producers and directors in Hollywood film companies, but has not found a suitable one.

"I'll chat with him first, as a friend, without entering commercial negotiations," Lu Yanhe said. "He should also have something to tell me."

Chen Ziyan heard this and asked: "Won't there be a film project?"

"Possible," Lu Yanhe said. "He asked me about my schedule for next year, and I told him it was basically full, with several plays to film."

Chen Ziyan said: "If he really has a play for you to act in, don't rush to refuse. The schedule matter, we can try to adjust. If it is really a good project, at least our own project can be pushed back in time."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

Dinner was scheduled at a restaurant near the hotel where Lu Yanhe was staying.

The restaurant was of course booked by Schmidt Lawley.

When Lu Yanhe entered the restaurant, he was recognized by the waiter, who excitedly asked for a photo.

He exchanged pleasantries with Schmidt Lawley.

Schmidt Lawley said: "*Love Letter*'s box office performance is quite good, it has already reached 8 million, and its long-term trend has exceeded the estimates of all box office statistics systems."

Lu Yanhe smiled and said: "Maybe if you did a large-scale screening for it, the box office would be more than the current result."

Schmidt Lawley shook his head with a smile. Shaking his head meant emotion, but he didn't answer directly, but said: "I also saw the news today, it is said that you made another situational comedy like *Friends*?"

"I made a situational comedy, but it's not the same as *Friends*, it's not the same," Lu Yanhe said. "Which media released the news?"

"*Variety*," Schmidt Lawley said. "Sometimes I suspect whether this magazine has been invested in by you, otherwise why is it so concerned about your news."

Lu Yanhe: "Maybe I really invested."

Schmidt Lawley: "Then it wouldn't question you for always taking commercial films in Hollywood."

Lu Yanhe was a bit surprised, "Ah? It questioned me for this?"

"Don't you know? One of its columnists wrote an article, taking stock of the development of some foreign actors represented by you in Hollywood."

"Didn't see it," Lu Yanhe shook his head. "I'll go find it to see later."

Schmidt Lawley: "These people clearly know the significance of box office performance to actors, but they always use an idealized eye to evaluate creators."

Lu Yanhe smiled.

After chatting for a while, the topic finally turned to *Buried*.

"This is a great story idea," Schmidt Lawley did not stint on his praise for this script. "However, the film happens in a closed coffin from beginning to end. To tell the truth, after being filmed into a film, how many audiences can be attracted to watch this film?"

"Of course, this itself is not a large-volume film."

"You want to keep the film copyright in your own hands, this is the biggest obstacle for you to negotiate with various companies, right?"

"Yes," Lu Yanhe nodded, not denying it. "The script has been written for a period of time, but wanting to find a suitable company to produce this film is indeed not as smooth as I imagined. Even after the film *The Mist* was released, this situation did not get a substantial change."

"Because the male lead of *Buried* is an American in your script," Schmidt Lawley smiled slightly. "But your box office medicine in the market is your Asian identity."

The box office explosion of *The Mist* is regarded as a classic film marketing case, and it was a key marketing point where Lu Yanhe's Asian identity drove the audience's attention.

Therefore, very specially, in the current positioning of the Hollywood system, Lu Yanhe's box office appeal, unlike many Asian actors, is mainly concentrated on his Asian identity.

This is also why Darren Wilson asked him to help Edward stand on the stage, canvassing votes for those Asian academy members in Hollywood—

Even if Lu Yanhe didn't think so himself, the current situation is that he has invisibly become the actor with the most "Asian" label in Hollywood.

Lu Yanhe said: "Actually, I can film this film myself, without your investment, but I need a company to help me do the distribution."

Schmidt Lawley said: "If you hope that our Green Valley will do the distribution for *Buried*, I'll tell the truth, at most the same distribution scale as *Love Letter*, it can't be higher."

To put it bluntly, he still doesn't look favorably on the market performance of *Buried*.

Lu Yanhe smiled and said: "Schmidt, just say it directly, what do you want to be able to agree to my conditions?"

Schmidt Lawley: "Come and participate in a film series produced by our Green Valley, and act in at least three films."

Sure enough, the cards were laid out.

Hollywood is a business field. As long as it is talking about business, there is always something to talk about. It depends on whether you can give the price the other party wants.

Lu Yanhe asked: "What film?"

"A film adapted from a bestseller, tentatively titled *Godless*," Schmidt Lawley said. "A fantasy film adapted based on Norse mythology."

"Norse mythology?" Lu Yanhe was a bit surprised and asked: "This subject matter, has an Asian role?"

"This is where this novel is a bestseller. It was adapted into a modern background story," Schmidt Lawley said bluntly. "And you, are the successor of a mysterious Eastern mythological figure."

Lu Yanhe suddenly realized.

He thought for a moment and said: "A film series, a contract to act in at least three films, only exchanged for the large-scale distribution of one *Buried* film? Too cost-ineffective."

Schmidt Lawley said: "Lu, this film will become your representative work. Its box office and influence will only be higher than *The Mist*. Our positioning for it is to impact a 300 million US dollar blockbuster locally. It will not lower your status."

Lu Yanhe said: "I don't hope to be positioned as a commercial film actor in Hollywood."

Schmidt Lawley said: "If you agree to join, our Green Valley will fully launch an impact on this year's awards season for your *Love Letter*. Its good reputation in mass media has the strength to impact the awards. However, to tell the truth, the copyright of this film is not in our own hands. Even if we operate the awards season for it, the benefit is too low."

Lu Yanhe showed a look of surprise.

"*Love Letter* got more than 8 million US dollars in box office in the United States. Plus its box office performance overseas, as long as it is operated properly, I believe it will at least have some voice and harvest in this year's awards season," Schmidt Lawley said. "Especially your script."

Lu Yanhe: "At least let me finish reading the novel first. Also, you have to tell me, is your adaptation of the novel big?"

"Basically respect the story line and characters of the original novel," Schmidt Lawley said bluntly. "Your role is a pivotal role, even if he is not the lead."

"You have to know, my salary is not low, especially for this kind of film that needs to sign a three-film performance contract in one breath," Lu Yanhe said. "Even if we have collaborated, I won't give a friendship price."

"Your salary, I am willing to pay," Schmidt Lawley said. "As long as you don't open your mouth like a lion."

"Schmidt, you are too cunning, so if you are unwilling to pay, it means I opened my mouth like a lion, right?" Lu Yanhe shook his head with a smile.

Schmidt Lawley: "No, Lu, you have to believe me, my sincerity to you is enough for me to say this sentence."

To be honest, Schmidt Lawley really didn't pit Lu Yanhe.

*Road to Glory* helped Lu Yanhe impact the awards season once. Although he didn't get the nomination for the key award in the end, he also brushed a wave of fame and presence, letting Lu Yanhe be noticed by mainstream media and film critics in the United States.

This invisibly helped Lu Yanhe accumulate the most primitive capital.

This is also why many of Lu Yanhe's later films, if it were his decision, would prioritize collaborating with Green Valley.

After Lu Yanhe returned to the hotel, he told Chen Ziyan what he chatted about with Schmidt Lawley.

"*Godless*, film series? Blockbuster?" Chen Ziyan was a bit surprised. "Does he think that under normal circumstances, you won't take this film?"

"Seems so."

"If the positioning of this film is really as he said, then is it that he overestimated your current position, or we underestimated your current position?" Chen Ziyan meant that such a film, for the current Lu Yanhe, is not enough to just say "don't take" casually. "Because it's a supporting role, even if it's an important supporting role." Lu Yanhe said. "Another thing, it's probably because the image we shaped before was too real, he is very worried that I won't be willing to take commercial films in Hollywood in the near future. After all, the ones I took before were all commercial films."

"That's true. Setting aside commercial films, you are already a young artist who has achieved outstanding achievements in the film field," Chen Ziyan said. "Hollywood, for these famous artists, is actually like a nouveau riche. They may not feel that these artists can make money for them, but they all hope to get one or two to decorate their facade, especially commercial films."

Lu Yanhe said: "Signing three films in one breath makes me a bit big-headed. I feel I have too many series films. *Friends* is still being filmed one season a year, the last part of *Seventeen Layers* has not started filming yet, and there are sequels to *Burning Fire* and *The Mist*. If *Home Alone* cannot find a suitable actor in the end, I have to act in *Home Alone*."

Chen Ziyan: "In this case, we must do subtraction. After the sequel to *The Mist* is filmed, in the short term, no matter if d19 wants to start the third part, we won't participate. This point was already decided before. *Seventeen Layers* also has no filming plan next year. Until now, the second part has not been scheduled. If we really take *Godless*, the filming schedule is the most important thing to pay attention to in the contract."

"I originally wanted to reduce my filming rhythm."

"Actually, if *Friends* is not in the mode of filming while broadcasting, according to the normal filming rhythm, the content of each season of this show can be filmed in less than a month," Chen Ziyan said. "It is this mode of filming while broadcasting that lengthened its time, requiring a full two months."

"But I like this filming rhythm, it makes me feel very comfortable," Lu Yanhe said. "*Godless* doesn't know when it will start filming."

"According to the practice of Hollywood film companies, they generally film one every two years," Chen Ziyan said. "This is the normal production cycle of a blockbuster series."

"That's fine," Lu Yanhe said. "I'm afraid it will be one a year again."

Chen Ziyan said: "According to normal circumstances, the blockbuster *Burning Fire* has not been filmed yet, so *Godless* of the same subject matter should not be taken. But the situation is special. The global promotion resources of this *Godless* series are several orders of magnitude higher than *The Mist*, which is beneficial to your career."

【No errors, first release, content seen at a glance!】

"Hmm," Lu Yanhe nodded.

Chen Ziyan: "Of course, you can also not film *Godless*. After the sequel to *The Mist* is filmed, we will consider commercial films in Hollywood."

"For films of this production level like *Godless*, there are only a few in Hollywood a year, not to mention having important roles suitable for me," Lu Yanhe can distinguish the importance himself. "They found me, I definitely still want to agree."

Chen Ziyan: "Look, you are very clear. I will tell Darren about this matter first, and see what conditions he thinks we should talk about for the salary of this film."

Darren Wilson was very surprised to hear this news.

As a first-tier agent in Hollywood, he actually hadn't heard the news about this project, and this project was even informed by his own client.

The reason why Hollywood agents' commission is powerful is because in Hollywood, a very stable and complex system has been formed, which is agreed upon by convention, and operates through such a system of agents, so that all film and television project information can reach the actors' hands.

In short, if an unknown actor wants to get a play and wants to be seen, he must have an agent in this game to promote him, so that he can get the opportunity to audition.

Otherwise, you might not know many information.

Monopolized.

An actor of Lu Yanhe's level, an outsider, an Asian actor whose roots are not in Hollywood, in Darren Wilson's eyes, is very dependent on him as an agent.

Of course, Darren Wilson would not therefore put on airs in front of Lu Yanhe.

This is just the information gap and resource gap between the local snake and the outsider.

This is a natural difference.

Like a film of the level of *Godless*, even an agent of Darren Wilson's level hasn't received the news yet, which only explains one thing, that is, this film project is still in the very early development stage and definitely hasn't been substantially promoted.

However, in this case, the film side found Lu Yanhe and took the initiative to fight for his appearance.

This exceeded Darren Wilson's judgment of Lu Yanhe.

Lu Yanhe's development trajectory in Hollywood is itself "unprecedented," but no matter how "unprecedented," he is not the master of Hollywood. His trajectory is still a "supporting role" trajectory, Asian, whether it is the role or popularity, it is closely related to his "Asian" identity.

Therefore, Darren Wilson never worried from beginning to end that if Lu Yanhe became more and more popular, he would kick him away.

Even if Lu Yanhe becomes a world-renowned filmmaker in the future, he still needs an agent who is familiar with the situation in Hollywood in Hollywood.

Darren Wilson served Lu Yanhe with exactly this idea and attitude.

Therefore, knowing that *Godless* bypassed him and went directly to Lu Yanhe, Darren Wilson's first reaction was to scold Schmidt Lawley for not following the rules, and the second reaction was that Lu Yanhe was valued by Schmidt Lawley to the extent of "not following the rules."

This degree, in vernacular, is one sentence: Schmidt Lawley hopes that the connection between him and Lu Yanhe is a private relationship.

For the private screening of *Office Storm*, Darren Wilson personally drove to pick up Lu Yanhe.

Because there was no media and it was not a public screening, it was relatively relaxed.

They even asked before if they needed to prepare a Chinese subtitle version.

Whether it was Edward Hodgson himself or his public relations manager, they seemed to attach great importance to Lu Yanhe's attitude.

Lu Yanhe was actually a bit strange before. If he really praised Edward Hodgson's performance in the media and created momentum for him, could it really provide great help for Edward Hodgson's awards season journey?

He has such power, how can he not get a nomination for an award with weight?

Chen Ziyan said this: "Because on one hand, the achievements you have made are recognized by them, and your attitude can influence which person on the table they distribute the cake to. On the other hand, you don't play in their circle. Before you get on the table, you can't eat the cake yourself."

Hit the nail on the head.

Edward Hodgson is in his early thirties this year. In Hollywood, he has always been a male actor known for his good acting skills.

He is not the kind of very popular actor, but after filming one work after another, his fame has also accumulated, especially favored by the comment circle.

Lu Yanhe learned about his acting resume two days ago.

It can be said that from the beginning of entering the industry, he has been filming relatively serious films, and has collaborated with many big directors. He is an actor with high self-requirements.

Lu Yanhe believes that for an actor like him who has slowly gained fame, if he is willing to film some films with strong commercial nature, there is definitely an opportunity.

The logic of choosing actors for films in various places is the same. It needs famous actors who can carry the box office as the lead, and also needs actors with acting skills and good professional images to be the green leaves. From the cast lineup, it must give people a feeling that "this film is worth watching," and an actor who has a high brand of picking plays in everyone's heart is definitely a sharp weapon.

This time, *Office Storm* starring Edward Hodgson is actually one of the dual male leads, with plenty of scenes. However, the awards season strategy finally set by his public relations team is to impact the Best Supporting Actor award. They calculated that the winning rate of this award is higher.

This is also one of the common strategies in the Oscar awards season.

Clearly one of the leads, but chose to report for the supporting actor category award for a higher probability of winning.

Edward Hodgson is waiting for him.

And some other people.

Lu Yanhe greeted him and exchanged pleasantries.

Edward Hodgson said: "I hope you can like this film."

Lu Yanhe: "I heard many people tell me that this film is very good-looking, and your performance is also very good. I can't wait to watch this film."

In fact, Edward Hodgson did produce a very good performance in this film.

That kind of performance texture is first-class.

Lu Yanhe's first reaction was that if he went to act in this role, there were many places where the state Edward Hodgson performed, he couldn't perform.

Didn't have that experience.

After the screening, Lu Yanhe said honestly: "No wonder so many people praised this film and praised your performance. I am very inspired."

Edward Hodgson put one hand on his chest and the other on the back of the chair.

"Thank you," Edward Hodgson said. "They said this is the closest I have been to the Oscars, but the competition this year is very fierce."

"I will recommend this film to my friends around me," Lu Yanhe said. "It deserves to be seen by more people."

"Then thank you very much," Edward Hodgson shook hands with Lu Yanhe. "This is very important to us. I am very happy that you can like this film."

"Did you find out? In Hollywood, many of them are very confident. If they feel they acted well, maybe they will be humble for two sentences, but they will absolutely not deny it."

After the screening, Chen Ziyan whispered in Lu Yanhe's ear.

"Their desire for awards is also not concealed."

"They have formed such a cultural atmosphere. Every year at this time, as long as there is a competitive force, they will invest in this long awards season public relations war," Lu Yanhe said. "You let me be like Edward, constantly recommending my own film to different people, chatting about his understanding of the role, chatting about performance, I will still feel ashamed now, because we are not in this cultural background."

"You should learn," Chen Ziyan said bluntly. "First, you must recognize yourself, and then others will look at you more. Look, if there was no Darren's invitation, no screening, you would probably not watch this film before the Oscars, and you wouldn't know how he acted."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Public relations managers can exist openly because they do this thing, letting more academy members with voting rights see this film and see his performance," Chen Ziyan said. "If *Love Letter* is really operated by Schmidt Lawley for this year's awards season, we have to do the same thing."

"I don't have time to invest two or three months like Edward into this long public relations war."

"Wait until one day you really have a film that has great hope for nomination, I will definitely force you to invest," Chen Ziyan said. "This is not the time for you to be hypocritical and sick. If you should clearly show your attitude, you must show it. This is the rule of the game. Don't give the trophy that might be in your hands to others because you are too lazy to follow the rules, then I will be angry to death."

Lu Yanhe immediately said: "I'm just saying, I will definitely follow the rules."

Chen Ziyan hummed lightly, "You better say what you do."

Recommend the new Xianxia novel *Jiyao Jian*

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 660 =====

Lu Yanhe immediately said, "I'm just saying, I will definitely follow the rules."

Chen Ziyan gave a light hum, "You had better mean what you say."

Recommendation for the new Xianxia novel "Sword of Demon Hunting"

(End of chapter)