Chapter 903: Arne Bogut's Regret

*The Notebook* is a love story set against the backdrop of World War II.

Its own pure love theme, in today's bizarre electronic era, itself seems a bit outdated.

This was a point raised during the production stage.

"In fact, it was originally a love story that happened in the past."

"Through a notebook, look at the love stories of men and women in the past."

Lu Yan He said at the production meeting: "This film has two ways of filming, one is the nostalgic, restorative filming method, and the other is to film a story of the past in a modern way. Which one do you think this story and this theme is suitable for?"

Such a choice, in fact, doesn't need to be made at all.

Because this is simply not a story suited for modernization; in a modern context where people sleep with someone last week and might have already broken up this week, making people believe a man can wait for a woman his entire life simply lacks credibility.

"Where is the market for such a love story? In this era where everything is fast-food, we still want to see pure love. Love will never be outdated. It is far enough away from us now, so we can trust the authenticity of this story enough. Yes, maybe many people will say after watching the film that it is no longer a love that will appear in the current era. It doesn't matter, it once existed. Just this one thing can give many people, especially many female audiences, comfort."

Lu Yan He's positioning for *The Notebook* is very clear.

"No matter in which era, content that moves people will always have audiences paying for it," Lu Yan He said. "The key point is not whether you think this content is outdated, but whether you can find the point that can attract and move them for a story in the current era. Compared to the so-called love film, I would rather call this film a nostalgic film."

Lu Yan He himself has great right to speak for the three films produced with Solon.

Plus the production cost of this film is really not high.

Therefore, Solon finally fully respected Lu Yan He's wishes.

And in order to make a big fuss about the theme of "nostalgia"—not only to attract current young audiences to walk into the cinema to watch this film, Lu Yan He proposed to invite film superstars who have retired for many years to play the old part of these two protagonists. After all, unlike China, in Europe and America, the elderly are a large group in the composition of film audiences.

Finally, these two actors, Claire Taylor and Grien Rivan, were invited by Solon through their relationship, which has nothing to do with Lu Yan He. But if it weren't for the "nostalgia" clearly proposed by Lu Yan He, and the proposal to invite two superstars with visibility and appeal all over the world, Solon wouldn't have spent so much effort to do this.

After the premiere of *The Notebook* at the Hexi Film Festival, the film received feedback as expected.

The critical circle generally evaluated this film as "filmed very completely and qualified, but overall a bit cliché," while media and audience evaluations were very positive.

"Lu Yan He very wisely placed this story in the background of World War II. That is a period that is some distance away from us but not very far. If it weren't for this era background, I believe the persuasiveness of this story would be reduced by 50%."

"Martin Dillon is likely to stand firm in the Hollywood A-list position with this film. It is conceivable how many female fans this film will bring him. It is said that this role was originally tailored by Lu Yan He for Arne Bogut. Unfortunately, because of various reasons, it was finally played by Martin Dillon, this lucky guy. This young male actor, whose attention in the industry was not worse than Arne Bogut before, has always been based on niche art before. This is his first starring film facing the mainstream commercial market. With such a slightly melancholic handsome face, and deep love for a lifetime, the young idol male actors in Hollywood should be careful next."

"Lily Williams became friends with Lu Yan He after collaborating with Lu Yan He on *Mist*. As everyone knows, Lu Yan He's scripts often prioritize his friends to perform. This beautiful girl contributed a performance that made everyone's eyes shine in the film this time. Youthful, overflowing, agile, beautiful. Her combination with Martin—the handsome poor boy and the beautiful rich girl, can almost be called the most common combination in film history. But their performance in the film still makes people willing to trust the authenticity of their existence, not just a certain film setting. I can't help but be curious, what will be the genre of the next collaboration between Lily Williams and Lu Yan He? Will this screenwriter, who has helped many actors win peak career honors, bring an Oscar trophy to Lily?"

At the media meeting of this film, the main creators attended together.

Lily Williams and Martin Dillon, two popular Hollywood idols, immediately received cheers and screams from various media at the scene.

Sorry, although this is a stage for art films, the charm of movie stars still exists, it's not that it disappeared.

For the media, their combination is definitely one of the most eye-catching candidates in this session.

"This is a very rare love film at present. I mean, a film that is completely about love, and it is not a comedy, and the style is even serious and nostalgic, like those classic films we are familiar with," the first reporter who asked stood up and asked such a question, "This is what we saw more often twenty or thirty years ago. Why did everyone make such a film?"

Philip Carson, the director hired by Solon, turned his head to look around before saying: "I will answer. Everyone knows that this is a script created by the outstanding Lu Yan He. At that time, Solon found me, handed me this script, and asked me, if I were to direct this film, how would I handle it, and what style would this film be? What I said at the time was that the biggest characteristic of this story lies in the fact that it does not look like a theme that current films would focus on, but it is not too far away from us. For our generation, we actually watched many films about love when we were young. Although they have disappeared over the years, they also once shaped our imagination about love to a certain extent."

"Children now may find it hard to imagine, for a lifetime, only loving one person, including my own children, they cannot understand this, but when we were young, film and television dramas were actually expressing and shaping such a loyalty and never-abandoning love."

"I said, if I were to film this film, I would direct this film according to the style of twenty or thirty years ago, and seriously tell the story of a pair of loving men and women from meeting to separation, from reunion to waiting under the changes of the times."

"It doesn't need sensationalism, it doesn't need rendering, it's like we are listening to the elderly in the family tell stories that happened in the past on an afternoon. It should be filmed originally, without any modern design—if you have to say modern design, it is that the lens will inevitably look at such a love story of that era from the perspective of our current era, and will unconsciously add a filter of time."

"Then, I obtained the qualification to direct. Solon's senior management told me that the video of my interview at that time was sent to Lu Yan He. He told Solon that my idea was the most consistent with his creation of the script among all interviewees. You ask this question, it just so happens that you can use this story to answer you."

Arne Bogut saw the craze set off by *The Notebook* at the Hexi Film Festival, and felt quite uncomfortable in his heart.

If it weren't for his girlfriend not wanting him to continue playing lovers with Lily Williams, this film would have been starred by him.

The so-called popular first-line young student in Hollywood, he needs more successful works to help him consolidate his current status, and then, wait until he reaches a certain age and his acting skills accumulate to a certain degree, he can go to impact the awards.

The road for male actors is like this.

Most male actors' roads are like this.

If the golden time for actresses is from twenty to forty, then the golden age for male actors often starts at thirty-five.

Too young, is a greenhorn.

Even a genius like Lu Yan He is limited by his age and can only play some young roles that are not very concerned by the mainstream film industry.

Analyzing the nominees for acting awards at the Oscars every year, you will find that the age of male actors nominated is generally over thirty-five, or even over forty.

Only that kind of individual, like Lu Yan He, who encountered films and awards season situations where time, place, and people were all missing, can become an exception.

Arne Bogut sent a message to Lu Yan He, saying: Although I knew I would regret not taking this film long ago, I didn't expect it to be so regrettable.

"Hey, Arne, what are you doing?"

Jenny came to his side and sat down next to him.

Sticking too tightly.

Arne moved his body and said: "Just looking at the phone."

Jenny stuck up again.

Fingers rubbed gently on his chest.

He knew what she meant by this.

In the past, it basically only needed a gentle rub, and his interest came.

However, this time, he had no feeling at all.

Arne stood up and looked back and said: "Sorry, I have a call to make."

He saw the shock on Jenny's face.

But he ignored it and walked to another room.

Jenny frowned.

Lu Yan He received the message from Arne, and replied: What are you doing now?

Arne's phone call came over.

"I am on vacation in France." After a pause, Arne added another sentence, "Together with Jenny, how about you, are you still filming *Men in Black*?"

"Hmm," Lu Yan He said, "It will be wrapped up at the end of the month, there are a lot of scenes recently."

"Then are you convenient for a call now?"

"Convenient now, but will be called away at any time," Lu Yan He asked, "Have you seen the report of *The Notebook*?"

"Yes," Arne Bogut said, "During this period, the scripts sent to me by my agent, I am not very satisfied, probably because of this, making me more depressed and regretful."

"Then you haven't decided what drama to film next?"

Like Arne Bogut, a popular first-line male star in the rising period, usually has constant film appointments, and it is difficult to have a window period without filming next.

Arne said: "Temporarily not decided, my agent asked me to take a French film, but I refused."

Lu Yan He also understands.

Popular Hollywood stars rarely take foreign films.

Hollywood first-line stars like Christian Bale and Matt Damon who come to China to film are relatively rare.

Lu Yan He said: "I don't have a script suitable for you for the time being, unless you accept playing a supporting role."

"I am not here to ask you for a script, I just saw the success of *The Notebook* at the Hexi Film Festival, some... want to find someone to chat," Arne Bogut's voice sounded very frustrated, "Over the past year, I have thought of this script from time to time. After all, I really intended to take this play at that time. I also think that if I act, I can have a very good effect. Thinking that I missed it makes it easy to feel depressed."

"If I tell you that *The Notebook* will likely not bring any acting awards to the actors, can it make you feel relieved?"

"No," Arne laughed, "Forget it, don't comfort me. When I refused this film, I guess you were not happy in your heart."

"Actually, missing it is missing it. If you don't act in one or two films, you may regret it in the short term, but after a long time, as long as you are still acting in good films, the regret is not so much," Lu Yan He said, "Arne, you are still one of the few friends I have in Hollywood, don't let this matter become a rift between us."

"Of course, Lu."

Arne was able to agree to play the second lead in *Flypaper* and match Yan Liang in those years, which was selling Lu Yan He's face. Lu Yan He naturally would not be dissatisfied with him because of Arne's refusal.

What's more, Arne refused because of his girlfriend's jealousy.

This reason is actually understandable for any man.

Lu Yan He can fully imagine himself refusing to star in a film one day because of Chen Siqi's dissatisfaction.

Although it is very likely to become a regret.

Although Lu Yan He believes Chen Siqi will definitely not do this.

Lu Yan He said: "Since you are on vacation with Jenny, take a good rest first. Believe me, you absolutely cannot fail to get a good script in Hollywood. If you haven't received a good script for a period of time, it only shows that you are too picky about the script. You have to reflect on yourself."

Arne Bogut laughed.

"You actually asked me to reflect on myself?"

"Yes," Lu Yan He said, "Is it your aesthetic preference that makes those good scripts unable to be sent to your hands? Is it that you told your agent that you only want to act in a certain type of script, resulting in the limited types of scripts that can be sent to your hands?"

Arne Bogut suddenly couldn't laugh.

Because Lu Yan He really hit the mark.

Lu Yan He said: "Arne, they are calling me, I have to hang up the phone, let's talk later."

"Okay, you go ahead."

Hanging up the phone, Arne Bogut put down his phone, looked out the window, and fell into deep thought.

"Arne, what's wrong with you?" Jenny came over again, hugged him from behind, and asked softly.

"Jenny, I love you," Arne's voice returned to calm, "However, I am an actor, I can no longer refuse all scripts with emotional relationships or intimate actions with women because of your jealousy."

Jenny's movement paused.

"If you can't accept it, we can only break up."

Arne Bogut turned around and saw the tears of grievance full in Jenny's beautiful eyes.

He held Jenny's face.

"Dear, you know, this is my job."

Jenny's tears fell down. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something but stopping.

Arne Bogut wiped away her tears.

"You consider it."

After saying that, he put down Jenny's face and walked away. ===== CHAPTER 904 =====