Chapter 317: Wild Rose

When filming the second and third parts of *Pirates of the Caribbean* before, Wu Yuchen had actually brought the Flying Disc special effects team into the crew to learn.

Special effects technology doesn't just rely on post-production computer production. In fact, it is also a very important part during filming, such as sampling information, location shooting, lighting, camera movement, background projection synthesis, blue and green screens, matte painting, camera speed change, motion control technology, tracking points, and camera focus. These are all things that must be considered during special effects filming. If you don't go through this part of the process, many special effects post-production simply cannot be talked about.

And these are precisely the parts where Chinese special effects are very lacking in experience. If it weren't for Wu Yuchen's current status, outsiders simply wouldn't have this opportunity for on-site learning.

Therefore, after the entire *Pirates of the Caribbean* was filmed, it really allowed the technical personnel of Flying Disc special effects to learn a lot. Of course, these still need to be digested through actual combat after returning.

And now, the production of *Kung Fu Xiong Mao* made Wu Yuchen see the opportunity for Chinese animation to learn again.

In fact, the history of Chinese animation is not short. As early as the 1920s, *Shu Zhendong Chinese Typewriter* pioneered Chinese animation.

In the 1940s, the Wan brothers produced Asia's first animated feature film, *Princess Iron Fan*, which was very influential in Asia. The director of the Japanese animation *Astro Boy*, the originator of Japanese animation and manga, Osamu Tezuka, gave up studying medicine after watching this animation and decided to engage in animation creation.

After the founding of New China, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio created the glorious period of Chinese animation and produced many classic animations.

*The Magic Brush* won the first prize at the 8th Venice International Children's Film Festival in 1956. Afterward, traditional animations such as *The Proud General* and paper-cut animations such as *Pigsy Eats Watermelon* were amazing internationally.

*Where is Mama? *, the first ink-wash animation, won 6 domestic and international awards including the 17th Cannes International Film Festival. Later, animation master Hayao Miyazaki was greatly shocked after watching it, praising every frame as a perfect ink-wash artwork, and couldn't believe it was a work from China in the 1960s.

*Havoc in Heaven*, produced in 1964, was released in more than 40 countries around the world and won numerous awards, making the American animation industry marvel.

During this period, Chinese animation, not to mention being at the world's leading level, was also among the best, and it was really far ahead of the little Japan.

However, in the decades after this, although there were excellent works such as *Nezha Conquers the Dragon King* and *Snow Child*, it can be said that the level of Chinese animation has been stagnant, with no progress for a full 40 years.

And these 40 years have been enough for the Japanese animation industry to change completely, leaping from a little brother to a world-leading existence, and realizing a counterattack against China. Now, how many children still watch domestic animation? Almost everyone wants to watch Japanese animation.

The reasons for this are, of course, comprehensive. But you can't stop developing because of this or that, right? Now many industries in China are developing very fast, but the development of the animation industry is very slow and cannot keep up with the pace. Wu Yuchen feels that he has this opportunity now, so he still has to support the Chinese animation industry.

DreamWorks wants to go to China for investigation and film *Kung Fu Xiong Mao* with Chinese elements. Then I will send some people to communicate with you, give you suggestions, and then help each other. Isn't this very reasonable?

Therefore, Wu Yuchen was particularly enthusiastic about this matter and also proposed to create the script for it, which was to sell Jeffrey Katzenberg a personal favor so that they could help each other in the future.

"Jeffrey, what step are you at now?" Wu Yuchen asked.

"We are still in the conceptual stage. Chinese kung fu, Chinese pandas, Chinese scenery... We want to integrate these popular elements into this animation."

"OK, same as I thought. I already have inspiration. How about calling it *Kung Fu Xiong Mao*?"

"My God! You already have inspiration?! *Kung Fu Xiong Mao*, this name is too great! I really can't wait to see your script!

Wu, thank you so much! I have a premonition that with your help, this *Kung Fu Xiong Mao* will definitely be a hit all over the world!"

After returning, Wu Yuchen called Zhu Yongde, the general manager of the Shanghai Film Group.

After all, he was a layman. If he were to organize animation talent in a short time by himself, he definitely couldn't do it. The first thing that came to mind was the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. And now the Shanghai Animation Film Studio already belonged to a subsidiary holding company of the Shanghai Film Group.

"An opportunity to learn and communicate with DreamWorks? Wu Dao, are you serious?" Zhu Yongde was also quite surprised after receiving Wu Yuchen's call. He didn't expect Wu Yuchen to have such a wide path in Hollywood.

"That's right, General Manager Zhu. This opportunity is very rare. The Shanghai Animation Film Studio has always been the big brother of Chinese animation, and you were the first ones I thought of."

"Thank you so much, Wu Dao! You helped us fight for this kind of opportunity; we definitely won't miss it! Don't worry, we will definitely organize talent and make preparations!"

"It's best if there's no problem with English communication."

"That's natural. There are quite a few young people in the Shanghai Animation Film Studio who speak good English! We definitely won't let down your painstaking efforts, Wu Dao!"

After hanging up the phone, Wu Yuchen also sighed slightly. In fact, he couldn't get any benefits from this matter. After all, it wasn't cultivating talent for his own company. But he had these resources now, so he would help as much as he could!

The matter of *Kung Fu Xiong Mao* wasn't urgent. After all, DreamWorks was still in the conceptual stage. He could write the script slowly and let them go to China for field trips first. Whether it was the Shanghai Animation Film Studio or Miracle Pictures, they could all be entertained properly.

In late May, *The Day After Tomorrow* was released. This disaster film could be considered the best among disaster movies. The scene of the frozen Statue of Liberty also became a classic, which had been paid tribute to by quite a few movies later. Even if it were placed ten years later, when the special effects technology and visual effects were far superior to now, almost none could compare to it, including *2012*.

Contrary to the extreme cold storm in the movie *The Day After Tomorrow*, this movie drove the box office in the North American market to rise further in reality, achieving $70 million in the first weekend, which was already a good result.

This also made *Troy*, which was released a week later, raise its spirits. It was a pity that Brad Pitt couldn't carry the box office. The result of $45.62 million in the first weekend was not qualified for a big production with a production cost as high as $180 million.

Looking at the film critics in the newspaper using the allusion "Achilles' heel" in *Troy* to describe the film's failure, Anne Hathaway said happily: "Honey, is *Troy* going to be finished?"

It wasn't that Anne Hathaway was gloating, but *The Princess Diaries*, which she starred in, was going to be released next week. Now the worse the box office of *Troy*, the less impact it would have on *The Princess Diaries*. Therefore, Anne Hathaway now wished *Troy* would die!

But Wu Yuchen shook his head after reading the newspaper: "These film critics are going to misjudge this time~"

"Hmm? You mean *Troy* will continue to rise later?" Anne Hathaway asked immediately with concern.

Wu Yuchen smiled at her: "Don't worry, Anne. The stamina of *Troy* in North America won't be very strong and won't have a big impact on you. I mean, it might perform very well overseas."

In Wu Yuchen's impression, the North American box office of *Troy* was only $130 million, but this guy's overseas box office exploded, achieving $360 million, almost 3 times that of North America, which saved Brad Pitt's momentum and stabilized his status as an A-list big star.

However, this was also the countdown for epic movies. Future epic movies would become super money-losing goods, never returning to the glory of the *Gladiator* days.

At this time, Anne Hathaway walked to Wu Yuchen's side, hugged his arm, and asked longingly: "Honey, will you come to my premiere then, right?"

Wu Yuchen stroked her cheek and said with a smile: "That depends on how little baby Anne performs tonight~"

A week later, Wu Yuchen attended the premiere of *The Princess Diaries*. Also coming was Tobey Maguire. After all, he and Anne Hathaway were a couple in *Spider-Man*. However, Anne Hathaway held Wu Yuchen intimately the whole time and didn't put Spider-Man in her eyes at all.

Unlike being a small transparent in his past life, Anne Hathaway was a household name in North America because of *Spider-Man*. Therefore, whether it was the resources given to *The Princess Diaries* for promotion or the audience attracted, they were much higher than in his past life.

*The Princess Diaries* had a box office of $36.42 million in the first 3 days of the weekend, suppressing *Troy*'s second weekend of $23.65 million to win the box office championship!

This made Anne Hathaway very happy. After all, the cost of *The Princess Diaries* was only $28 million. This result of $36.42 million in the first weekend was very likely to break $100 million at the box office!

And this *The Princess Diaries* also allowed her to successfully get rid of the title of "Spider-Woman" given to her by the media before. Now some media praised her as a new generation of "Audrey Hepburn"-style princess!

Wu Yuchen looked at this title in the newspaper and couldn't help but curl his lips. An "Audrey Hepburn"-style princess cultivated by his own hands gave him a sense of pleasure in cultivation. Moreover, the contrast she showed when she was with him could bring him a different kind of pleasure.

A week later, Wu Yuchen attended the movie premiere again.

"Wu, thank you so much for coming!" Hugh Jackman shook Wu Yuchen's hand and welcomed him.

"Don't be so polite, Hugh. I really want to see you, this monster hunter, show off your glory!" Wu Yuchen responded with a smile.

Hugh Jackman was an old acquaintance of his after all. They had cooperated since he first entered Hollywood, and they also filmed the *Pirates of the Caribbean* trilogy series. Therefore, for *Fan Haixin*, which he starred in this time, Wu Yuchen naturally had to attend.

"Wu Dao, it's an honor that you could come. I have always admired you very much!" The British rose Kate Beckinsale shook Wu Yuchen's hand and said.

Back then, Kate Beckinsale was still the heroine of *Zhenzhugang*, and her appearance in it was indeed very beautiful. It's just that *Zhenzhugang* was beaten to pieces by *Pirates of the Caribbean* at the time, with no power to parry, which also made her carry the shadow of failure. But this didn't hinder her enthusiasm for Wu Yuchen now.

Wu Yuchen shook hands with her and felt her little finger gently scratching his palm. He thought to himself, this is another seductive bitch who covets him!

However, Wu Yuchen kept a smile on his face and said meaningfully: "I am also very happy to be able to spend a good night with such a great beauty~"

Kate Beckinsale's smile grew a bit more upon hearing this, leading him inside. When they sat down, she simply sat beside Wu Yuchen and chatted happily with Wu Yuchen, without any regard for anything.

Wu Yuchen watched the movie *Fan Haixin* for a while. Seeing that it was about the same as in his past life, he knew it wouldn't change the fate of the box office failure. Investment of $160 million, North American box office $120 million, overseas $170 million, plus the money spent on promotion, it lost at least $50 or $60 million.

Perhaps many Chinese audiences think the movie is not bad and don't understand why it flopped. That's because many audiences in China haven't been exposed to vampires and werewolves, plus the big-production monster special effects, so they feel fresh.

But the continuous big productions in Hollywood in recent years have made North American audiences see it repeatedly, and *Fan Haixin* failed to get out of the old routine of vampire and werewolf themes. It resurrected those classic monster images but failed to make them terrifying. The story was also very weak, and the background of the gathering of the three major demons was not explained clearly, so North American audiences didn't buy it.

Just as thoughts were turning in Wu Yuchen's mind, in the darkness, he felt a small hand touch his thigh. Wu Yuchen immediately knew who the owner was. Does this British rose want to play something wild?

Wu Yuchen naturally wasn't one to sit and wait for death. Naturally, he had to launch a counterattack against the enemy and stretched his big hand over too...

That night, on the luxury big bed in the hotel, Wu Yuchen patted the perky buttocks of this British rose and said with a smile: "Are you not even paying attention to the premiere box office anymore?"

Kate panted and said: "Yes, Wu, you are too fascinating, I can't wait!"

Wu Yuchen smiled, naturally knowing that this was the other party deliberately trying to please him.

Just then, Kate's cell phone rang. Wu Yuchen smiled and said: "Aha, it must be the premiere box office!"

Saying that, Wu Yuchen reached out and took Kate's phone from the bedside, put it to her ear, and said: "Kate, don't you want to know?"

Kate felt Wu Yuchen's movement that didn't want to stop at all and couldn't help but spit: "Damn it! You are really a bad thing!"

However, she still took the phone and pressed the answer button: "Hmm, humph! Uh, it's okay, is it 19.52 million? Uh-huh, hmm... hmm, tomorrow, I will be on time, uh-huh!"

After she hung up the phone, she cursed at Wu Yuchen charmingly: "Fuck you!"

Wu Yuchen became even more energetic and laughed loudly: "Then I will satisfy your request!" ===== CHAPTER 318 =====