[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu":3,"chapter-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-308":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from Stealing the Role in 1995 Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2321297,4540,"Chapter 308","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-308",308,"\u003Cp>\"I declare the 'Pirate King' series wrapped!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wu Yuchen’s words, hundreds of crew members erupted in cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally over! Fuck!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my god! I thought I wouldn’t make it home this year!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh God, after this, I’m staying in bed for a whole month!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even burst into furious curses to vent their emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen felt no annoyance; he let them vent freely—even if they cursed him, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eight straight months of shooting, constantly moving locations with almost no rest, the intensity was undeniable; many were physically and mentally exhausted, desperately needing a break and emotional release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finishing filming by early December so they could return home for Christmas was already the best Wu Yuchen could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, the entire crew held a wild celebration party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, Haozi, has the director left?\" Chris asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao nodded, raised his glass, and clinked it with his: \"He said if he stayed, he worried we wouldn’t let loose!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chris exhaled in relief and immediately said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s been squeezing us for eight months straight in this hellhole. If he were here, I’d kick his ass!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ning Hao’s skeptical look, Chris glared: \"What? You don’t believe me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao replied dismissively: \"Yeah, yeah, I believe you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now understood why Wu Yuchen didn’t stick around—the eight-month shoot had built him immense authority; respect came first, trust followed, so most people naturally feared him. His absence was precisely what allowed them to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After downing their drinks, Chris asked again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haozi, are you staying in Hollywood? You’re a solid guy—I hope we work together again someday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao smiled, swirling his glass: \"No, I plan to return to China and become a director.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that’s such a shame,\" Chris sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he raised his glass again and clinked it with Ning Hao’s: \"Then here’s to our Haozi becoming China’s next great director!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao laughed loudly and clinked back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, he didn’t know if he could ever become a good director—he’d only made one film under 100,000 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But coming here changed many of his beliefs. Previously, whether at Beijing Normal University or after joining Beijing Film Studio, his education emphasized art as the highest pursuit in cinema.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hollywood? Hollywood pursued art too, but above all, it valued the market, commercial films, money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trip to America broadened his horizons—even in America’s mature market, directors who dove into arthouse films rarely broke through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about China? Whether Fifth or Sixth Generation directors, all followed the arthouse path. But China’s market is still weak—can it support so many arthouse directors? Absolutely not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China’s arthouse films now survive only through international film festivals. Take his own film, Incense—it won several awards and earned decent prize money, but back home, no theater would screen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Ning Hao wonder: Who was he making films for—Chinese people or foreigners?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his films got no domestic viewership and only won awards abroad, what was the point? For him, cinema wasn’t just self-indulgence—it had value only when seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, even Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige from the Fifth Generation have shifted toward big-budget commercial films, compromising for the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Wu Dao—didn’t he build his empire on a string of box-office hits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in Hollywood, he saw it clearly: Wu Yuchen’s absolute authority on the massive 'Pirate King' set, even over Depp, didn’t come from his arthouse skills—it came from his past films’ box-office success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why should little Ning Hao stubbornly fight against the tide?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he’d already planned his future: return home, survive first, adapt to the market, secure his footing, then—only then—pursue his artistic vision. Once he had influence, arthouse films could wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Los Angeles, the sun hung high; sunlight slipped through a crack in the curtains and fell on two gorgeous, alluring women lying on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen awoke in that beam of light, sensing Anne Hathaway and Jessica Alba still fast asleep beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the crew needed to vent, so did he—the director—otherwise his mind would crack. But he chose to wait until returning to Los Angeles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he truly felt refreshed, mentally and physically—perfect for the work ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, Wu Yuchen had no intention of returning to China immediately; he planned to stay in Hollywood a while longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last month, China’s Ten Outstanding Youth were announced—he was on the list, remarkably young. But he wasn’t the youngest: Yao Ming, born September 1980, was just 23.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the award ceremony date was set: January 4. So Wu Yuchen wasn’t in a rush—he planned to use the remaining three weeks to finish editing 'Pirate King 2'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, even if he left, post-production wouldn’t stall—essential tasks could still proceed without delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the two women who’d spent the night with him and smiled. His promises to them—roles in 'The Princess Diaries' and 'Step Up'—had both been fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Princess Diaries' was a joint production between Miracle Pictures and Disney; 'Step Up' was a collaboration with Fox. Both, being youth-themed, would release in next summer’s box-office season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Da’s reputation among Hollywood beauties rested on one thing: reliability. He’d never act like Harvey—making empty promises and forcing advances, only to be sued by dozens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica Alba and Anne Hathaway—both in their early twenties—were worth his careful care for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Miracle Pictures’ most talked-about film right now wasn’t either of those—it was 'Saw'!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this year’s Halloween season, 'Saw' stunned everyone: a $1.2 million budget, over $100 million in North American box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, 'Saw' gained traction slowly through word-of-mouth, eventually earning $55 million in North America and over $100 million globally. This time, thanks to Miracle Pictures’ aggressive marketing, it broke $100 million immediately, dominating the Halloween horror lineup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its reputation was excellent: bizarre, terrifying kills and profound themes shattered the genre’s long-standing clichés and commercialization, causing a sensation in horror circles—and launching Wan Ziren’s fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The success of 'Saw' and Wan Ziren drew attention to Wu Yuchen’s ability to discover and nurture new directors, especially among Chinese filmmakers. Many who felt overlooked hoped Wu Yuchen would make them the next Wan Ziren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone truly had talent, Wu Yuchen wouldn’t mind giving them a chance—but another Wan Ziren? That would be extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 'Saw' franchise alone grossed $1 billion; add home video and licensing, the profits were staggering. And Wan Ziren didn’t just create 'Saw'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At DreamWorks, Wu Yuchen had been working in the editing suite all morning when Spielberg called him out for lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This new place? Their pasta is excellent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? Then I’ll have to try it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ate and chatted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wu, can we lock in the date for 'Pirate King 2'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen thought a moment, then gave a date: \"July. Gives us more breathing room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spielberg nodded: \"Good. We’ll talk to theaters and launch the campaign.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen gave an OK sign, then took a big bite of pasta, swallowed, and said: \"Maybe I’ve been away too long—I think this tastes worse than Beijing’s zhajiangmian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like you really need a rest. Christmas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen shook his head: \"Steven, you know—we celebrate Spring Festival. January 22 next year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spielberg sighed helplessly. Americans rested at Christmas; Wu Yuchen rested at Spring Festival. If they didn’t align, 'Pirate King'’s post-production would be delayed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew Wu Yuchen had been away too long—he couldn’t possibly deny him the right to return home for Spring Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen understood his thoughts and smiled reassuringly: \"Don’t worry. After Spring Festival, I’ll be twice as efficient. 'Pirate King 2' will finish on schedule.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spielberg smiled, then asked: \"Wu, what’s your plan for the release schedule of 'Pirate King 2' and 3?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen looked at him: \"Didn’t we already agree? One each this year and next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spielberg nodded, then asked: \"Have you paid attention to 'The Matrix Revolutions'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen instantly understood—Spielberg feared 'Pirate King 3' would suffer like 'The Matrix Revolutions'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'Revolutions' were shot back-to-back, just like 'Pirate King'. But Warner Bros. released them just six months apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Matrix Reloaded' came out in May, grossing $740 million globally. Then, only six months later, 'Revolutions' hit theaters in November—terrible reviews, North American box office barely $120 million, far behind its predecessor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen had been too busy with 'Pirate King' to follow 'The Matrix Revolutions' closely, but his past-life knowledge made him aware of its flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled and asked Spielberg: \"Steven, do you know why Warner rushed the third film out in just six months?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the film’s release, Hollywood figured it out. Spielberg replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the Wachowskis packed 'Reloaded' and 'Revolutions' with too much philosophical and humanistic reflection—made the films too obscure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen nodded: \"Exactly. Compared to the perfect first film, 'Reloaded' had great action but added long, dense dialogues—seemingly pretentious. It raised the viewing barrier, alienating some audiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner feared that if they waited a year, viewers would forget key plot points from 'Reloaded', harming 'Revolutions'. That’s why they released them six months apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But 'Revolutions' leaned even harder into philosophy and theology—too obscure, driving even more viewers away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, most blockbuster films share one trait: low viewing barriers, easy to understand—making them more accessible and widely spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it’s 'Titanic' or 'Avatar'—stories even children grasp—or Marvel’s mindless action—you can’t deny the box office is massive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wu Yuchen smiled: \"Don’t worry, Steven. I won’t make 'The Matrix'’s mistake. 'Pirate King' is pure adventure—no brain-teasers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spielberg exhaled in relief and grinned: \"Wu, I’ve always trusted you—you’re the most market-savvy director I’ve ever met.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1606,"2026-06-20T16:09:30.828Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b0fac6c83cb6c32f470dfebb72e0fc6a941b9defe56b2997c86133e8e0d64243","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-309","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-307",335,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-cover.jpg"]