Chapter 740

Uber Clark looked at Lu Yan He with some surprise.

He never expected that he would come to greet Lu Yan He, but unexpectedly received an invitation for a new film.

Lu Yan He said: "Shall we make an appointment to chat later?"

"Okay." Uber Clark nodded without hesitation.

Actors like Uber Clark will never be arrogant towards talented filmmakers, including screenwriters.

In Hollywood, the status of film screenwriters is much higher than elsewhere.

Even the so-called "film is the director's art" originated from Hollywood.

However, Hollywood is a place that attaches great importance to scripts.

For the sake of a good script, even in the screenwriting industry, there are many categories: first-draft screenwriters, polishing screenwriters, screenwriters specifically responsible for writing character dialogue, screenwriters specifically writing plots, etc.

In Hollywood, there will absolutely never be a director saying that a good movie can be filmed without a good script.

Everyone is looking for a good script—this is the premise.

Instead of everyone looking for a good project—in China, Lu Yan He often hears such statements.

Lu Yan He often tells actors like Huang Kai that what they should do most now is to find a good story, and then use their industry status and influence to protect this good story, find the best and most suitable people in various departments, and work together to make it a good project.

A Hong Kong actor, Michelle Ye, once said something. The gist is that in the past, when everyone was filming a play, the conditions were difficult, but everyone was fully committed, trying hard to make a good play, because everyone could see the script and knew they were doing a good thing. Besides money, they would also go all out to make a good thing. Now many plays, everyone sees it, and deep down they know it's just a routine job, they only do routine work. There's no way, a script that looks mediocre can't mobilize everyone's enthusiasm for work.

Actually, that's exactly what it is.

Why do many projects look luxurious, with big-name directors, master-level production staff, and even a luxurious cast, but the final result is so unsatisfactory?

Because the foundation of the foundation, the story is not attractive, and the characters have no appeal.

It's not to say that with a good script, it must be filmed into a good movie; that requires the concerted efforts of people in various departments.

But without a good script, unless you are a director like Wong Kar-wai, who plays with an atmosphere, otherwise, even a national master can "fail to keep his integrity in his later years," and even Ang Lee can film a stale work like "Gemini Man" that seems to have crawled out of a coffin (the funniest thing is the Weibo post by Ms. Zhang Ziyi; she watched the movie and expressed her thoughts. It was clearly to support the show, but the first sentence was: "What attracted the director to come out of the mountains must not have been the story itself." She is really daring to speak. It wasn't in "Birth of an Actor"; Ang Lee, who was so helpful to her career and whom she wanted to cooperate with again so much, wouldn't praise the story as good against her will).

Lu Yan He used the actual results of the two films "Home Alone" and "Buried" to announce his screenwriting talent to Hollywood, not just limited to "acclaimed and popular" in Asian places.

This made him leap to become an actor that all big-name actors in Hollywood couldn't help but look at, wanting to communicate and cooperate in depth.

After Lu Yan He met his agent Darren Wilson, he apologized first.

"When I gave my acceptance speech just now, I forgot to mention you." Lu Yan He took the initiative to bring this up, "I was really too nervous and excited, said whatever came to mind."

Darren Wilson patted his shoulder with a beaming face and said: "This time it's fine. The next time you step onto the podium, I must hear my name."

Lu Yan He nodded with a smile and said okay.

They were photographed together.

Lu Yan He also put this group photo as the first one on the photo wall of the update he posted tonight, and once again added his gratitude to Darren Wilson in the update.

Darren Wilson saw this update from Lu Yan He before going to sleep and truly smiled.

That night, Lu Yan He fell into a deep sleep, not at all excited enough to stay awake because of winning the award.

Instead, after lying on the bed, he had a sense of relaxation after a long journey and finally reaching the destination.

Finally, he could relax.

Starting from December, he ran the awards season for three full months, with countless PR activities, and finally, it came to a full stop tonight.

Lu Yan He slept for ten hours straight and didn't wake up until eleven the next morning.

Chen Siqi was no longer beside him.

He grabbed his hair, opened the door, and Chen Siqi was sitting on the sofa outside, holding a laptop, seemingly dealing with work.

"You're awake." Chen Siqi heard the sound, looked up, and smiled at him, "How did you sleep?"

"Very dazed, dizzy." Lu Yan He said.

Chen Siqi pointed to the table and said: "Coffee was brewed for you there."

Lu Yan He nodded, sat over, and poured himself a cup.

Chen Siqi said: "I'm taking a flight this afternoon and returning to the country first."

"So fast?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised.

"Yeah, a lot of work is waiting for me to go back and deal with." Chen Siqi showed a look of helplessness, "So, I have to go back as soon as possible. You still have to stay for two more days before going back, right?"

"Right, still need to meet a few people, some things haven't been dealt with." Lu Yan He nodded, "I'm going back to the country this Saturday."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to come back." Chen Siqi nodded, "I thought you wouldn't go back for the time being, 'Buried' also needs to be promoted here."

"'Buried' won't be released until April." Lu Yan He shook his head, "I have to go back. Several films are to be released this year, and there are still many things to do."

Chen Siqi nodded.

"Indeed, but, do you have many plays to film this year too?"

"It's okay this year." Lu Yan He shook his head, "The second part of 'Burning Fire' and Green Valley's 'Godless,' and then the fourth season of 'Friends' at the end of the year."

Compared to his previous years, the plays he has to film this year are indeed much fewer.

Chen Siqi was a bit surprised and asked: "Are you not filming that movie with Chen Bige this year?"

She was talking about the one Wang Zhong wrote the script for them.

"Haven't heard the news for the time being." Lu Yan He smiled, "Director Wang should still have modifications to the script."

Chen Siqi: "Okay, that's great, you can rest more this year."

"Yes." Lu Yan He said, "By the way, Sister Zixing is restarting the 'City Travel' series. Besides regular recording, they are also preparing to record some specials and invited me. For this program, they are still preparing to make it into the documentary mode of the past, without any variety show settings. I just happen to want to go out and look around. If you have time, do you want to go with me?"

"Sure." Chen Siqi nodded, "Does recording a special take a long time?"

"Don't know." Lu Yan He shook his head, "These are relatively free. Listening to Sister Zixing's meaning, she just doesn't want the program to have many constraints, so the whole program is pure recording."

Chen Siqi immediately smiled, "Sounds like it's right up your alley."

"Hmm." Lu Yan He nodded, "If it were a reality show or variety show nature, I wouldn't want to go."

"Very good." Chen Siqi nodded, "Actually, I am also discussing doing a reading program with Bingyuan Video here."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He was a bit surprised.

Chen Siqi said: "On one hand, we have many signed authors for 'Jump Up,' and among them, many people, after so many years of accumulation, have popularity, readers, and fans. Doing such a program, perhaps through this media form, can further expand their popularity. On the other hand, this kind of vertical category program is becoming more and more popular, and now the audience's demand for humanities content is getting bigger and bigger."

Lu Yan He said: "But this type of program is generally very difficult to make the playback volume very high, right?"

"Right." Chen Siqi nodded, "However, we don't count on this program to make a profit, as long as it doesn't lose money, and it can further build the 'Jump Up' brand. The cost of this program won't be too high. We don't invite stars, and we don't need to find those first-tier program teams to do it. Li Bi's team can do it."

Lu Yan He understood.

This program Chen Siqi is doing is less of a commercial program and more of a derivative of the "Jump Up" brand and "Jump Up" magazine.

It is mainly aimed at the range radiated by "Jump Up."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Chen Siqi: "On the other hand, doing such a program, I think it is also quite meaningful. Besides some secular significance for our 'Jump Up,' the most important thing is, you know, now various self-media are popping up, and there are various entertainment products. Actually, fewer and fewer people are reading books. I was in a meeting once, and Linyu and the others said that they rarely have time to read books. Sometimes, when on a business trip, on the plane, they originally wanted to read well, but couldn't read. But sometimes, when taking the subway, seeing someone holding a book and reading, suddenly they will be stimulated, and suddenly have the idea and impulse to read. I just feel that, at least, let the action of reading have a little more in the field of mass media."

Lu Yan He understood Chen Siqi's idea.

"Aren't we doing book clubs with many cooperative bookstores and school literature clubs we are in contact with? Besides sharing in small circles, we will also share on social media." Chen Siqi said, "Quite a few people are interested in buying one or two books they discussed after seeing these updates, and then join the ranks of sharing and discussion. These phenomena are not large-scale, but in the comment sections of some books, including the comment sections of some of our self-media, you can often see people saying that they bought this book because they heard XXX recommend it."

Lu Yan He: "Accumulating little makes a lot, mainly being able to form such an atmosphere in a certain group, quite good."

"Yes." Chen Siqi nodded, "And now it is all attention economy. If you can't attract more attention, over time, you may be ignored and forgotten. I am a vulgar person, my purpose is only one: no matter what, the name of this magazine 'Jump Up' and this brand must exist in everyone's impression in a mainstream way, and cannot become an outdated thing."

Lu Yan He: "The road is long and the responsibility is heavy."

"Yes, the road is long and the responsibility is heavy, but we have been established for almost seven years." Chen Siqi said with some pride, "It is not going downhill, its vitality is still very strong."

Lu Yan He: "Now 'Jump Up' is published once a month for a year, a total of twelve issues, and then one special issue each in summer and winter every year, and one 'Jump Up' theater special issue every quarter, eighteen issues of magazines a year?"

"Right." Chen Siqi said, "We published 315 works for 102 authors last year."

Lu Yan He was surprised.

Chen Siqi: "Editor-in-Chief Bai Yu's literature magazine is also about to publish its first issue. When she left before, I was still a bit unhappy in my heart, although I was very happy for her... now I feel that this is quite good, another magazine came out, another carrier added, which can provide a platform for those writers."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"This is really good."

Chen Siqi: "Yes, by the way, the Red River Award ceremony held next week invited me, saying they want to give me a special award from the organizing committee to commend 'Jump Up' Theater for excavating and transporting many excellent creators for the TV drama industry in the past two years."

Lu Yan He showed some surprise.

"Congratulations."

Chen Siqi looked at him with smiling eyes and said: "After you go back this time, I guess you will be busy for a while."

"Not busy at all." Lu Yan He shook his head, "I must have a good rest, let no one find me."

Chen Siqi heard this and asked: "Then where are you going?"

"Just stay at Ziyuanqiao." Lu Yan He said, "After relaxing for a few days, I will go to Lingyang. I now feel that it was too wise for you to buy a house there. The house can be used as the editorial department of 'Jump Up,' and there is a courtyard surrounding it, making it impossible for others to enter."

The most important thing is that the house also has rooms specifically for sleeping and resting.

Chen Siqi smiled.

"I gritted my teeth and bought it at the time, it really saved a lot of trouble." Chen Siqi said, "I am preparing to buy the two next to it as well."

Now that Chen Siqi wants to buy the two houses next to it, it is not as strenuous as when she bought the current one before.

Over the years, the money "Jump Up" has made is enough to buy twenty houses if they wrap up that area.

Of course, it is mainly because the Lingyang area is remote, and the housing price is much cheaper than places like Ziyuanqiao.

Lu Yan He thought for a while and said: "This is quite good. If there are suitable ones, they can indeed be bought. We can renovate them. If we live there in the future, the environment will be much better."

Chen Siqi nodded.

"That's what I think too."

Lu Yan He asked: "Then what are you planning to do with these two houses you are going to buy now?"

That area is actually a villa residential area, but Chen Siqi converted it into an editorial department for office use.

Chen Siqi said: "Now 'Jump Up' has more than two hundred permanent employees, but only the magazine editorial department and media integration people work in Lingyang area. Li Bi's filming team and our marketing and publicity team are all renting office spaces elsewhere. Now the territory can't hold so many people. I am preparing to prioritize the renovation of these two houses for them to use."

Lu Yan He nodded, "This is also quite good, otherwise, scattered in different places, you have to run everywhere."

"Yes." Chen Siqi said, "The rent for your Linghe every year is not small, right?"

"Right, expanded last year, rented another floor, now the rent alone is more than 20 million a year." Lu Yan He said, "From a long-term perspective, it is indeed not as good as buying a house yourself."

The two chatted about some trivial matters like this.

At twelve o'clock, went to the hotel for lunch.

Subsequently, Chen Siqi set off for the airport.

Lu Yan He went out in the afternoon to Green Valley.

He made an appointment with Schmidt Lawley to have a good chat about the cooperation of several projects before going back.

The box office explosion of "Home Alone" has already given this collaborator, Lu Yan He, a new weight in Schmidt Lawley's heart.

"'Home Alone 2' has already been filmed. It will be released in China's Spring Festival slot next year, still at this time." Lu Yan He said to Schmidt Lawley, "If Green Valley still wants to be responsible for North American distribution, we can't give it according to the situation of the first one."

Schmidt Lawley said without hesitation: "Of course, 20 million US dollars, hope you can hand over the European and American distribution rights of 'Home Alone 2' to us."

This 20 million US dollars is not included in the box office revenue share that Linghe can normally get.

Schmidt Lawley gave such a price, including what should have been given for the first one.

Lu Yan He smiled, nodded, and said: "I have one more condition."

"What condition?" Schmidt Lawley asked.

"The film 'Red Eye' needs to be distributed in more than 3,000 theaters." Lu Yan He said bluntly.

Schmidt Lawley smiled helplessly.

"We will let 'Home Alone 2' be distributed in more than 4,000 theaters."

"I know, but 'Red Eye,' 3,000 theaters." Lu Yan He said, "If the first 'Home Alone' could have been released directly in more than 3,000 theaters from the beginning, I believe its box office performance in North America would have been better."

For this kind of thing, the window period is very important.

When it was most popular, many theaters couldn't see this movie.

By the time it spread out, many audience members who wanted to watch it at the time might not still have the idea of wanting to watch it.

It's like stocking goods.

Schmidt Lawley said: "The male lead of 'Red Eye' hasn't been decided yet."

"This is also another thing I want to discuss with you. What do you think of Uber Clark?" Lu Yan He mentioned.

Schmidt Lawley was stunned.

"This villain really needs acting skills and also needs fame." Lu Yan He said, "Uber Clark, who has just gone through huge exposure in the awards season, has high fame himself, and has very good acting skills, should be a very good choice."

Schmidt Lawley nodded.

"He is indeed quite good, but he might not necessarily be willing to act in this movie, right?" Schmidt Lawley said, "The films he has chosen in recent years have always been mainly for winning awards."

"If you have no objection, I will go talk to him." Lu Yan He said, "I will convince him." (End of chapter)