Chapter 120: Wrap up

If an actor is evaluated as having a "paralyzed face," it is definitely a scolding.

But some people are born with a paralyzed face, such as Shi Tailong. He had a difficult birth, and the nurse used the forceps incorrectly, injuring his facial nerves, resulting in permanent paralysis of some muscles on the left side of Shi Tailong's face.

This also caused the media to describe his acting skills as "paralyzed face itself" for the 20 years he has been popular, mocking that this face of his can only play tough guys who are bitter and deep.

Shi Tailong is actually very concerned about the word "paralyzed face," but he also knows that those media outlets are writing it on purpose. If he is really furious, he will really let those media outlets succeed.

This father role in *Frequency* is something he still wants to express very much, proving that he can not only fight but also be literary.

But he is very unhappy now, because this Wu Dao has already cut him many times in a row.

"Cut! Sylvester, what I want is a kind of gentle tacit understanding. A tough father talking to his son 25 years later, you successfully saved people from the fire through time-space connection, and you survived and changed your destiny. This sense of achievement and tacit understanding shared by a strange father and son makes you have... across time and space to your adult son..."

"I know, I know how to act! I have daughters, and I have sons. I don't need you to teach me how to be a father!"

Shi Tailong roared angrily, then slapped the table and turned to leave.

Everyone else on the set was silent as cicadas in winter at this time. After all, Shi Tailong is the biggest star in the crew. No one dared to say anything when he got angry and clashed with the director.

Wu Yuchen cursed under his breath, then made a gesture, and the assistant director immediately said, "Everyone, take a break for a moment."

Producer Jeff walked over, patted Wu Yuchen on the shoulder, and said:

"Wu, you have to get used to it. Cooperating with big stars like Shi Tailong will always encounter such problems."

"I know. But I think he needs to calm down now, and I want to film other people's scenes first."

Jeff shook his head: "No, I don't think this is a good idea. You don't understand these big stars."

"Hmm?" Wu Yuchen showed a slightly confused expression.

"What we need to do now is to chase after Shi Tailong, and then actively invite him back, letting him feel his importance in the crew.

If you let him know that you didn't chase him after he left, but instead filmed other people's scenes smoothly, then I can guarantee that you won't want him to cooperate with you well in the future. Maybe he will just leave the crew and go home directly. By then, it will take ten times the effort for you to invite him back!"

Wu Yuchen couldn't help but pat his forehead: "He is already 50 years old, not a spoiled 5-year-old child!"

"Oh, you are very right, these big stars are just like spoiled children!" Jeff echoed.

Wu Yuchen complained as he complained, but he knew in his heart that what Jeff just said was right. He still had to hurry up and coax Shi Tailong back, otherwise, it would be the crew's progress that would be delayed, and it would be himself who would be troubled later.

Wu Yuchen walked with Jeff while asking: "Jeff, does Shi Tailong have sons?"

In Wu Yuchen's impression, Shi Tailong's children are his three daughters who are beautiful and bubbling. I don't know how many people on the Internet chase Shi Tailong and call him father-in-law.

"Of course, Shi Tailong has two sons."

Jeff said to Wu Yuchen, but lowered his voice a little:

"However, his two sons have some problems. The eldest son often takes pills, and the second son has suffered from autism since childhood..."

Wu Yuchen listened to Jeff's words and only then knew about these things. He thought to himself whether Shi Tailong's inability to act this scene well also had something to do with his sons. However, he wouldn't mention such things. After all, he didn't know the inside story.

When Wu Yuchen and Jeff arrived at the hotel where Shi Tailong lived, his agent came out to greet the two: "You are really lucky~"

Wu Yuchen and Jeff were confused, but the agent didn't say anything more.

When Wu Yuchen and Jeff saw Shi Tailong holding his one-year-old daughter and showing a doting smile at this time, they understood. It turned out that Shi Tailong's wife brought his daughter to see him.

"Wow, Sylvester, your daughter is so cute, just like an angel!" Wu Yuchen and Jeff praised.

"Of course, she is my angel!" Shi Tailong had completely lost his anger from before at this time.

None of the people mentioned the crew's affairs just now, but revolved around the topic of children.

"Sylvester, we didn't know your daughter was here. Since that's the case, why not adjust your scenes and let you accompany her for a few days?" Wu Yuchen said.

"No, no, I will return to the crew tomorrow. I think my state is very good now!"

After Shi Tailong finished speaking, he reached out and touched his daughter's cheek, making the little girl giggle.

……

"Cut! Very good, Sylvester, your performance can win the Oscar for Best Actor!"

At this time, Wu Yuchen didn't spare his praise. He now treated this 50-year-old old guy as a 5-year-old child. Why should I be angry with a child?

And he really didn't lie just now. Shi Tailong really found the feeling. Tough guy tenderness is the most moving, and the effect completely exceeded Wu Yuchen's expectations.

Shi Tailong showed his signature crooked-mouth smile upon hearing this: "What is an Oscar Best Actor? I am Shi Tailong!"

The filming of the crew entered the fast lane afterward. As long as this pair of father and son, Shi Tailong and Hugh Jackman, found a tacit understanding, then this film would have no major difficulties.

Three weeks later, in front of an old building, a fire truck that had been prepared was parked, and a group of firefighters were ready to go.

At this time, the staff stationed in the crew by the guarantee company were shouting at Wu Yuchen and Jeff:

"This is too dangerous! You can completely use a stunt double! You shouldn't let Shi Tailong go into battle personally, which greatly increases the risk of the crew!"

In Hollywood, there is a completion guarantee system, and more than 60% have invested in completion insurance. Completion guarantee is actually to maximize the protection of investors' interests and prevent various accidents.

The guarantee company will establish a strict "risk prevention" system, from early preparation to final completion, and will intervene in every step to ensure that the film can be filmed and completed smoothly.

*Frequency* was naturally also insured by the completion insurance by Sony. Now its staff is firmly opposed to Shi Tailong taking risks in this fire scene.

"Please relax, you also heard that the fire department guaranteed us that there would be no fire accidents!" Jeff urged him.

"How can you believe their ghost talk! In case this male lead Shi Tailong gets hurt..."

Wu Yuchen directly interrupted him:

"That's why I arranged this scene at the end, isn't it? All other scenes have been filmed. As long as this scene is filmed, it will be wrapped up. And now it's not that we require Shi Tailong to go on the field, but he insists on not using a stunt double and must go personally. Can you convince him?"

The staff thought of Shi Tailong's cold, paralyzed face and was speechless for a while. After a moment, he could only say: "You must take safety measures to ensure nothing goes wrong!"

After appeasing the insurance personnel, Wu Yuchen walked to Shi Tailong's side: "Sylvester, are you sure you will do it yourself throughout the process, without a stunt double?"

Shi Tailong showed a crooked-mouth smile: "Of course, this is the only big scene in the whole film, how could I still use a stunt double?! I am Shi Tailong!"

Wu Yuchen also smiled upon hearing this. He still admired this kind of professionalism.

This scene is about Shi Tailong going into the fire to save a trapped little girl. In the original timeline, he died in this rescue, but because he talked to his son in the future through the radio, he remembered his son's words at the critical moment and didn't take the seemingly safe stairs but slid down the cargo slide on the other side. Sure enough, the stairs exploded not long after, and Shi Tailong and the little girl who slid down the drain were safe and sound.

Everything on the set had been checked. The firefighters said that the fire could be completely controlled by them, and the slide channel to be slid down had been tested many times, which was completely fine.

There was no dog blood, no accidents. Just as Shi Tailong said, he was familiar with filming this kind of scene.

After fishing Shi Tailong out of the river from the channel exit, Wu Yuchen shouted at him: "Sylvester, you are too great, perfect!"

"This is just a piece of

At the same time, the entire crew was cheering, because the completion of this final scene meant the film had wrapped!

That night, the crew held a wrap party at the hotel. There was no drinking and chatting or mutual admiration; for everyone, this was just a job to make money. And as for Shi Tailong, unless the film performed very well after its release, he wouldn't be sharing any mutual admiration with Wu Yuchen, this Hollywood newcomer.

Filming was finished, but the work for Wu Yuchen and Jeff wasn't over yet; they didn't rest at all and immediately threw themselves into post-production.

For most directors, editing a film takes at least a month or more, because they have to compare effects back and forth and make trade-offs.

Yet Wu Yuchen only spent 10 days on this side, which completely stunned Jeff.

Of course, this was just the director's cut, not the final cut; if Sony Columbia wasn't satisfied in the end, it would be re-edited.

However, Wu Yuchen hadn't pursued any art or depth while filming "Frequency"; he was aiming for box office results with this movie. He kept the suspense where it needed to be suspenseful and the sentimentality where it needed to be sentimental; the entire rhythm was that of a purely commercial Hollywood production.

At the same time, the special effects from Industrial Light & Magic were also finished. It had to be said that there was a reason why they were expensive; the effects were indeed good. Wu Yuchen was very satisfied, and he believed that it would definitely leave a deep impression on the audience when the time came.

A few weeks later, Wu Yuchen was woken up by a clattering sound. Seeing Gretchen busy at work, he rubbed his eyes and asked, "Why are you up so early?"

Gretchen replied excitedly, "I'm excited just thinking about being able to see what the movie I starred in is like today, how could I still be asleep!"

Wu Yuchen yawned and got up to get ready too. Today wasn't the movie's release, how could it be that fast?

It was just that "Frequency" had finished production, and there was an internal test screening; people from the company and Shi Tailong would all be coming to watch.

Inside a small screening room, Shi Tailong watched his on-screen wife walk in arm-in-arm with Wu Yuchen and nodded at Wu Yuchen as a greeting. The affair between these two wasn't a secret on set; he had known for a long time, and this was common practice in Hollywood.

After sitting down, Wu Yuchen let out a soft breath. He had done everything he could up to this point, and what happened next had nothing to do with him. Whether the film would be edited further was now entirely in the hands of Sony Columbia; even Shi Tailong couldn't interfere with much, at most he could just make a few noises.

Shi Tailong himself didn't know if taking on this 30-million-dollar low-budget production was right or wrong. Although he felt this young director Wu was more capable than he had imagined before joining the crew, many capable directors made films that weren't recognized.

Nearly two hours later, after the film ended, Shi Tailong finally came back to his senses. He actually felt it was quite good; from beginning to end, he had been completely drawn into the plot. He wasn't bragging, but he thought the scene at the end where he rushed out and shot the villain to save his son was incredibly cool!

After the lights in the screening room came back on, Shi Tailong turned his head and said to Wu Yuchen, "Kid, you did well. You've earned the approval of Shi Tailong."

"Hehe, that is truly my honor~" Wu Yuchen was already used to this way of interacting with Shi Tailong.

At this moment, someone in the screening room also clapped lightly; it was none other than Stanton, one of the top executives.

"Very good, it completely exceeded my expectations! What do you all think?"

He asked the few people who had come to watch with him. It was clear he was in a good mood; if the quality of the film wasn't good, he wouldn't ask this, but would turn around and leave, and the group would discuss how to deal with it privately later.

"I personally feel it's very good! It uses the sci-fi element of time travel very cleverly, and the suspense and family affection are perfectly integrated. I think the audience will like it."

"It's a bit of a pity, I think it could have completely competed in the summer slot, but it's already June, and the summer schedule has long been arranged."

Hearing the praise from these company executives, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. It looked like the film wouldn't be cut after all.

However, just then someone said, "Wu Dao, the film is very good, but isn't the runtime a bit long? Can it be shortened further? That would be beneficial for scheduling."

This sounded like a question a member of the publicity department would ask, but the few executives also looked at Wu Yuchen. If the quality could be guaranteed while making it shorter, why not?

Wu Yuchen refused directly:

"It cannot be cut any further! You all just watched the film; there aren't many big scenes in the movie, nor are there many fight scenes. It relies on this interlocking plot and the atmosphere built up to be captivating. If it's cut any more, it will definitely cause the quality of the film to decline!"

Shi Tailong also spoke up in support: "I also think it's very good as it is, it's not even two hours, completely within the range acceptable to the audience."

Stanton smiled and nodded: "Alright, I know your opinions. Wu Dao, Sylvester, we will notify you once we determine the subsequent matters for the film."

Wu Yuchen nodded, knowing that this likely meant they would be asked to cooperate with publicity once the release date was determined.

After Wu Yuchen walked out of the screening room, Shi Tailong walked over and patted him on the shoulder:

"Kid, I believe in my own judgment. There will be a place for you in Hollywood."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen deliberately used an honorific:

"Mr. Shi Tailong, thank you for your praise! Can I call you by your name directly in the future?"

Shi Tailong laughed out loud upon hearing this: "Let's talk about that after the film truly achieves success!"

Wu Yuchen curled his lip as he looked at Shi Tailong's back; a realistic old guy.

This trip to Hollywood was about over. Wu Yuchen had stayed here for 3 months and experienced the entire Hollywood production process firsthand. He had to admit its advantages and strengths; it wasn't about any single point, but the strength and perfection of the entire industrial system.

But as a director, his experience was truly terrible. The work was out of his control from beginning to end, with accidents happening constantly. As a director, he had to spend a lot of effort on infighting from the very start of preparations.

If "Frequency" was a success, he would have to assemble the team himself for his next Hollywood film no matter what. He didn't want any more accidents; he had to ensure that the crew and actors could be under his control as much as possible!