Chapter 270

Has anyone ever seen Yang Mi cry?

Not in a play, not acting, and not for some variety show effect.

Not the kind where a little fairy's eyes are slightly red, pearls of tears slide down, and she cries better than she smiles.

It's the real howling, squatting on the ground and going "Awoooooo" like a slaughtered pig.

Chen Nuo, whose conscience had been pricked, was racking his brains, thinking about how to tactfully refuse big Mi Mi's request to seek her own death.

As a result, Yang Mi really wasn't acting in front of him.

Before he could finish speaking, the girl's footsteps paused.

When he walked forward two steps and found something was wrong, and looked back, this woman was squatting on the ground and wailing.

Yang Mi buried her face in her arms; she wasn't actually crying very loudly, but it was really a bit neurotic and very inexplicable.

Chen Nuo was startled and looked left and right.

Fortunately, at this time, many people were dating and kissing, and the small, brightly lit path they were on happened to be empty.

Since there was no one around, things were simple for him.

Adding up his past and present lives, the women Chen Nuo had coaxed could circle Beiying once.

To him, why a woman cries actually isn't important.

Women love to cry, just like men love to have sex; there's simply no need for a reason, it's an instinct in their bones.

Think about it, if one day a good brother of yours suddenly squatted on the ground and howled in front of you, you would definitely feel the sky was falling and immediately take care of him and comfort him, right?

If your girlfriend did this, you would probably just kick her and tell her to get lost, right?

Chen Nuo neither comforted her nor kicked her.

He just said one sentence lightly, and Yang Mi stopped crying and stood up immediately.

"There seems to be a reporter over there."

Yang Mi stood up quickly, lowered her head, and wiped her face left and right with her hands. After a few seconds, she suddenly reacted, looked left and right, and then glared at Chen Nuo: "This is a school, where would a reporter come from?"

Chen Nuo pointed at the flower bushes in the distance as if nothing had happened, "I just saw a figure flash by there, I feel like they were filming secretly. Why don't we walk a bit faster and change places to talk?"

Seeing him acting so seriously, Yang Mi was startled and immediately followed him forward.

After walking more than ten meters, Chen Nuo then asked casually: "What's wrong? Did sand get in your eyes? Yang the Goddess of Songs, do you want to find a place for you to sing a song and relax?"

Unless it's a world-shattering event, people won't continue to cry after being interrupted like this.

Yang Mi was no exception.

However, her tone when speaking was still resentful.

"Stop talking. I hear you making so many excuses, saying what's suitable or not, you just don't think much of me. You can say it clearly, I won't blame you."

Chen Nuo said in surprise: "Don't think much of you? Is that what you think of me?"

"Otherwise?" Yang Mi turned her head away, not even looking at him, sniffed, and said: "I understand half of what you meant. Tell me, when we met, did you know Liu Qi Yifei?"

Chen Nuo said seriously: "Actually, I don't really know her even now. Everyone says I'm close to her, but actually, what closeness? It's all just for show, surface friends. Unlike you and me, no matter how long we haven't seen each other, it's like meeting an old friend."

Yang Mi listened to his nonsense, and a trace of a smile appeared on her face unconsciously, but then she said uncomfortably: "Then why are you like this too?"

"Like what?"

"Don't pretend! I'm not stupid. It's not just you, there's also, there's also this broken school that's just like you. Whatever Liu Qi Yifei wants to do, is there anyone from top to bottom who says anything about her?"

"When it's my turn, it's fine if the teacher doesn't have a good expression, do you know what others in school say about me now? They say I'm acting like a diva!"

"Heh heh, acting like a diva. When have I ever acted like a diva? Every time I come back, aren't I polite to everyone?"

"When I signed up a few days ago, I heard someone behind my back in class, saying something like, 'Once she made a little money, she couldn't wait to take out her bankbook and sew it on her body...'"

Chen Nuo couldn't hold it in, hurriedly coughed a few times, suppressed the laughter that was welling up, and immediately replied:

"Who is this? That's too mean. But I'm different. I solemnly declare that it's not that I don't think much of you, it's that I'm running this company, and I really can't take care of it. Signing you in will only harm you."

"You say that casting thing last year, it had nothing to do with me, it was all Liu Qi Yifei's own work. At most, I gave her Zhang Zhang Yimou's phone number. If you don't believe me, I'll call Zhang Zhang Yimou now, you ask him yourself if I've ever talked to him about the female lead."

After speaking, Chen Nuo really took out his phone and, before Yang Mi could stop him, called Zhang Zhang Yimou.

Chen Nuo called Director Zhang's private phone, the kind he carried with him, so the other side picked up very quickly.

"Hello, Nuozi."

"Director Zhang, are you busy? I heard that our movie wrapped up today, right?" Chen Nuo said with a smile on speakerphone, "So I'm calling to greet you."

Zhang Zhang Yimou smiled and said: "It is today, it just wrapped up half an hour ago. Nuozi, it's rare for you to be so thoughtful. Before, I heard others say that directing your scenes is the easiest, just shout start and cut, and then wait to receive the award. This time, I've experienced it, it's indeed true."

Chen Nuo laughed: "Director Zhang, for this movie, I'm just following your baton. If I act well, it's also because I'm influenced by your artistic atmosphere."

"Yesterday, I called Christopher Nolan, the director of 'The Dark Knight'. We talked about you halfway through. As a result, he said he really likes your movies. He watched 'Hero' over and over again, and the inspiration for his new script came from 'Hero'. In other words, he admires you so much."

This time Zhang Zhang Yimou was truly happy, "I know Nolan, I didn't expect him to have watched 'Hero'."

"Not just watched it, from the tone, I'll be honest, he's definitely your fan."

"Hahahahahaha," Director Zhang laughed happily, "Nuozi, you're exaggerating a bit. You're doing this on purpose to make me happy, right?"

"Really not. Hey Director Zhang, when are you coming back to Jingcheng? I'll find a place to welcome you."

Zhang Zhang Yimou smiled and said: "Okay, then I'll tell you when I arrive in Jingcheng. We'll have a meal and chat about the promotion later."

Chen Nuo laughed: "Okay, okay, oh right Director Zhang, there's one more thing..."

He didn't care about Yang Mi baring her teeth and claws beside him, and asked directly: "I have a friend, she wants to understand a situation, that is, last year..."

Halfway through the sentence, Yang Mi snatched his iPhone and pressed the hang-up button directly.

Then, with extremely skilled technique, she helped him type a text message on the screen, "Sorry, I was joking with my friend. Wish you a happy wrap-up and a safe return."

Chen Nuo stretched his neck to look, nodding: "Yang the Goddess of Songs is not bad, this speed of texting is something. In the future, if you don't want to be an actor, you can come be my secretary."

After Yang Mi pressed send, she stuffed the phone into his hand and gritted her teeth: "Secretary my foot, who would want to be your secretary? You're deliberately using Zhang Zhang Yimou to pressure me, right?"

Chen Nuo laughed: "Can I pressure you? You're Guo Xiang, even Hong Qigong couldn't pressure you, what is Zhang Zhang Yimou? If you don't believe me, then I'll call and ask. Let Director Zhang explain it to you personally."

Yang Mi snorted: "Guo what Xiang, I'm Tang Tang Xuejian now, I'm the female lead now."

Chen Nuo laughed: "Okay, okay, female lead Tang Tang Xuejian, I've noted it."

Yang Mi laughed along, but her expression calmed down immediately. She looked at Chen Nuo and said: "Chen the Chen Chen Geshen, actually I haven't said thank you to you yet. This time I was able to be the female lead in 'Sword III', it was because Tang Ren Film and Television looked at the relationship between me and you, and decided to change people. I really shouldn't have said that just now."

"I cried because I suspected that maybe it was because I was very bad that you didn't want to sign me. But now I think, no matter what, I shouldn't complain about anything, so, I'm sorry."

Chen Nuo listened silently, then looked up at the sky.

Today was a rare good day.

In 2008, in order to welcome the Olympics, the governance of smog in Jingcheng was quite effective, different from when he was reborn.

He could actually see two or three sparse stars hanging beside a crescent moon.

He asked: "Little Yang, look at the sky, do you see those stars?"

Yang Mi looked up, "I see them, why?"

Chen Nuo smiled: "Let me ask you a question, why do you think they shine?"

Yang Mi looked at him strangely and said: "Because they are stars, stars naturally shine."

Chen Nuo choked, the exquisite metaphor he had prepared was stuck in his throat.

Damn, I was beaten to the punch.

Oh right, this woman isn't Liu Qi Yifei, she scored over 500 in the college entrance exam.

Failing to act cool, he hurriedly changed the subject: "I knew you understood. Actually, I think you're overthinking it."

"Not to mention anything else, I can guarantee that you going to 'Sword III' as the female lead has nothing to do with me."

"Yang the Goddess of Songs, I think you don't need to rely on anyone, you will definitely succeed. Tang Tang Xuejian is just a beginning. In the future, no matter what drama you act in, you will be the female lead."

"Finally one day, you will become a superstar known to everyone in China, and you will be like these stars in the sky, even on a night without the sun, you can shine alone."

"Do you know what I will say to you then?"

Chen Nuo turned to look at Yang Mi, his expression serious and solemn.

Yang Mi stared at him blankly, not speaking for a while.

Afterwards, she bit her lip, her face was a bit red, and her voice sounded a bit nervous, "What?"

Chen Nuo laughed: "You owe me a barbecue, it's time to pay it back."

When Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, along with Jonathan Nolan and two assistants, a group of five, arrived in Jingcheng, Chen Nuo and Qi Yuntian went to the airport to welcome them personally.

They used two cars from the Huanxin company, a BMW 740Li and an Alphard.

The assistants got into the BMW, and the two Nolans and Emma got into the Alphard with Chen Nuo.

If Zhang Zhang Yimou let Chen Nuo step into the door of film, then Jonathan Nolan was undoubtedly his guide into Hollywood. And what about Chen Nuo for the Nolan brothers?

It also had extraordinary significance.

Just like the conversation Emma Thomas had with the Nolan brothers in the study before coming to China.

"I like Chen," Emma Thomas said first, under the surprised eyes of the Nolan brothers, "So I definitely won't object, please don't look at me with those eyes."

Jonathan Nolan laughed: "Emma, I really thought you would object."

Emma Thomas said: "Object to whom? Joker?"

She looked at her husband with a smile, "No, no, although he is not my friend, I will not forget how successful his wonderful cooperation with Christopher was.

Although he is Asian, he now has enough fans in both Europe and America. Especially look at his appeal in the minds of young people in America now.

I dare say, among teenagers in America now, even Tom Cruise isn't as cool as him. Just by the inexplicable, confusing photos he posts on Facebook that get countless likes, we can know that the movies he stars in will definitely cause a reaction in the youth market.

So, dear, I won't block any of your decisions."

Christopher Nolan smiled: "I think we should go to China to see first. Regarding investment, even if Warner agrees, I have to listen to the thoughts of Chinese film companies. The premise of my acceptance must be that they will not interfere with my directing work. And I also want to meet Chen in person and chat with him to see if he is suitable for this movie."

Jonathan Nolan laughed: "Then it's settled, let's go to China together. It's been a long time since I've seen Chen, I really miss him a little."

After flying over from the UK, it had been more than a year since they last met. Although they hadn't talked on the phone too little, the enthusiasm of friends reuniting after a long time still made people look on.

The two British gentlemen, who were usually cold and stiff, still showed somewhat reserved smiles, but they didn't just shake hands with Chen Nuo, they hugged him heavily a few times. Even Emma Thomas greeted him with a cheek kiss.

After getting in the car, the friends didn't talk about work at first, but talked about each other's situations over the past year.

The Nolan brothers really had nothing to say; after the Oscars, they worked hard, and for a year, they almost spent all their time polishing the script.

When talking to Zhang Zhang Yimou on the phone, what Chen Nuo said really wasn't nonsense; it was indeed Jonathan Nolan who told him personally that the multiple narratives in "Hero" and the truth hidden under multiple falsehoods gave him a lot of inspiration.

Yes, "Hero" and "Inception," if Chen Nuo hadn't brought it up in this life, what crazy person would connect these two movies?

Chen Nuo was also stunned when he first heard it, but after thinking about it carefully, he really slapped his thigh!

National Master, awesome! Ten years ahead of Nolan!

Since there was nothing to say about the big and small Nolans, it was naturally time for Brother Nuo to brag.

"At that time, I was promoting my movie in Japan, and Summit Entertainment came to me themselves. I was also very surprised," Chen Nuo said seriously, "They said they wanted me to play the male lead in 'Twilight', and my first reaction was to refuse."

"How is that possible? I said, what's the point of playing a male lead in an adaptation of this kind of young adult bestseller? What can it bring me?"

"I still can't forget the touch that the role of Joker brought me. And Edward... I won't hide it from you, I feel like I've entered a bandit's nest, forced to rob houses with them."

A few words made the big and small Nolans and Emma in the car laugh.

Emma Thomas laughed: "But you shouldn't think that way now, right? My God, when I heard that the CEO of Summit Entertainment was forced to resign because of your salary, my jaw dropped. How much salary did you get from them? How much is your box office share? 5%? 10%? Can you reveal a number? Chen."

Chen Nuo smiled: "Bound by the contract, I can't tell you the number, but I can describe it: it's a lot, very much. For every actor, it's not a small amount."

Jonathan Nolan laughed: "Then I can imagine the expressions of the board of directors at Summit Entertainment when they found out that a movie distributed by their company sold to a box office that amazed the whole world, but in the end, what fell into their pockets was only enough to pay back bank loans. The scene in the conference room at that time must have been wonderful, I want to write a script for it."

Everyone laughed together, and the Alphard's cabin was filled with happy air.

It was true, the scene of Hollywood capitalists being frustrated is very satisfying to think about, isn't it?

After laughing enough, Chen Nuo said again: "Although this movie eventually brought me a considerable reward, but..."

"Where is the movie? Where is the art? What am I doing? Not only when I was filming, but even now, when I see the word 'twilight', I ask myself this once."

"I'm not saying I'm a saint, I don't like money; of course I like it. Because I got this high salary, I bought houses in Jingcheng and Shanghai in China. It made my father's dream come true, and it also gave me my own residence."

Chen Nuo looked into Christopher Nolan's eyes, throwing a straight ball at this old-fashioned British filmmaker who still clung to practical shooting and film cameras even 15 years later.

"I mean, I'm still young, I still want to do something more meaningful, instead of being enslaved by money early. You understand what I mean, right? Christopher."

Christopher Nolan couldn't help but smile, "I certainly understand. You are a true actor, Chen."

Chen Nuo said seriously: "Christopher, you are also a true director. So, let's do something big. Let those sons of bitches at the Oscars see what the real deal is, let them have a super movie they can't even be jealous of!"

Super movie, super plan, super cast, super investment...

If Chen Nuo's plan comes true, everything about this "Inception" should be "super" for Chinese film.

Use Chinese capital to film a world movie.

Han Zong's earnest exhortations were still in his ears, let Chinese film stand up from now on!

Han Zong's slogan was shouted very loudly, and Chen Nuo believed he really wanted to go further.

Perhaps he wanted to get the treatment of retiring at 65.

After all, in January 2009, he was selected as the 2008 CCTV China Economic Person of the Year, the only person from the entertainment industry to be selected since the award started in 2000.

And the reason for selection was the blowout box office of the Chinese film market in 2008, with a total box office of 4.884 billion, a year-on-year increase of 36.67%, and various achievements reaching new highs, including the number of cinema screens nationwide exceeding 4,000.

These are political achievements!

With this heavy achievement as a foundation, if he makes a breakthrough in the international market, it's not impossible for Han Zong to move up.

And what about him?

Future things will be discussed in the future, let's just talk about what he wants to get from this movie.

One, money. Two, fame.

As for money, it's because he's really poor again now.

In Shanghai, he bought that dream house of Chen Bi's for 60 million at nearly 40% off, the 1000-square-meter A-building penthouse king of Tomson Riviera, which had an original price of 150 million.

Then he spent 28 million to buy a second-hand villa in Ziyushan Villa in Jingcheng with Qi Yuntian, becoming neighbors.

Immediately after, he went to the canal in Tongzhou and bought a house with high walls and deep courtyards, and finally bought a small western-style house on an old street in Shanghai with Qi Yuntian.

150 million was basically clean, exchanged for reinforced concrete that you can't bring with you when you die.

The endorsement fees for this year haven't reached the payment time yet, and the ATM "Twilight" only started operating in April, and can only be withdrawn at the end of the year, so this period is really hard to endure.

Although the Huanxin company doesn't need investment anymore, while the money-printing machine Fan Fan Bingbing is printing faster and faster, after his investment, Little Liu has received so many advertisements and endorsements that she can finally start making a normal profit.

After the foundation in China is stable, he is ready to get her to Japan to earn the Japanese devils' money. Chen Nuo's positioning for her isn't a Chinese actress, but an American superstar spanning China and Japan.

In this case, the mere 15 million salary for "Under the Hawthorn Tree" could logically be split 80/20 with Qi Yuntian.

However, what can those few million after tax do? There's no sense of security at all, okay?

The salary for this movie can at least solve the urgent need. Besides, he is also an investor.

Secondly, it's his plan to win an Oscar.

His time every year is limited, so in terms of time efficiency, this movie must achieve the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

He doesn't need to actually win, he just wants to get an entry ticket for the 2011 Oscar Best Actor, which is the year after next, to get familiar.

Therefore, this movie must be chosen carefully.

Then how else can he choose?

Thinking about it, Chen Nuo only felt that pulling Christopher Nolan, who had never failed, onto this boat would allow him to dream of killing two birds with one stone.

He felt the two scripts Nolan had, "Inception" and "Batman 3," were both okay, and no matter which one, he was quite confident.

However, he also knew that Warner couldn't take out the Joker sequel, which was obviously going to be a huge box office hit, and give China Film a piece of the cake. In the end, the script Warner or Nolan might take out would be "Inception," this thing that no one cared about.

He was pretending in front of Nolan for a long time, wasn't it just to get the male lead role in this play?

Actually, before this, he learned from his phone calls with Nolan that the prospects for "Inception" were not optimistic, and Warner didn't care much about it.

Because this was a standalone movie that clearly stated in the script that there would be absolutely no sequel. In other words, filming it was a one-time deal.

Then no matter how well it sells, so what? How much can it earn?

Plus Nolan reported a total budget of 180 million USD, plus at least 100 million USD in promotion expenses.

This is 280 million USD!

The lion's share price left Warner stunned and not knowing how to refuse.

Because Nolan clearly said, film "Inception" first, then "Batman 3," there is no second order.

The sequel to "The Dark Knight" is a golden egg-laying chicken that Warner cannot give up.

However, Nolan used this to talk about things,

Saying he wanted to use "Inception" to slap faces at the Oscars and avenge "The Dark Knight,"

Immediately left Warner in a dilemma, the risk was too high no matter how you looked at it.

Just when Michael De Luca or Barry Meyer were having a headache, suddenly, news came from far away China that made people laugh their teeth off.

Warner's two partners in China, Hengdian Group and China Film Group, actually had the intention to invest in this Nolan movie.

If this isn't a pie falling from the sky, what is?

So, on the second day of Nolan's arrival in Jingcheng, in the conference room of China Film, the four parties—China Film, Hengdian Group, Huanxin Company, Warner Bros., and Nolan's Syncopy Inc. —were surprisingly happy at the meeting.

Nolan expressed conditional cautious welcome to the entry of Chinese capital, while Warner Bros. warmly welcomed China Film's investment in this movie.

Chen Nuo smiled without speaking.

Han Han Sanping's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Taking advantage of the break, Han Zong pulled Chen Nuo aside and said in a deep voice: "Little Chen, is this thing reliable? Why do I feel more and more that this movie isn't very good?"

PS:

Barbecue meme source: Chapter 19. It is recommended that those who have forgotten go and watch it again.

6000-word big chapter is here!

I have already changed that person's name.

(End of chapter)