[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr":3,"chapter-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-114":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Academic Director: Reborn in the Film Industry",{"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},2297114,4493,"Chapter 114: A Small Revenge","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>Disney probably hasn't launched *Pirates of the Caribbean* yet, but I reckon it's coming soon; rumor has it they're interested in having Hollywood golden producer Jerry Bruckheimer step in to assemble the project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I previously thought I shouldn't ruin a classic, so I didn't look for Depp, but in this situation, who cares about the captain? If the classic is gone, so be it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does your American classic have to do with me? Laozi is currently destroying your classic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as I sign Johnny Depp in advance, they'll have to look for another captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Depp's neurotic Captain Jack, *Pirates of the Caribbean* is nine times out of ten not going to be a massive hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before starring in the breakout hit *Pirates of the Caribbean*, Depp is currently a bona fide indie darling, practically Tim Burton's go-to actor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, just like Tim Burton, he belongs to the weirdo category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In '91, he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for *Edward Scissorhands*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In '93, he received his second Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for *Benny & Joon*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In '94, he received his third Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for *Ed Wood*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, he returned empty-handed all three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is worth mentioning that *Ed Wood* is also a biographical film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Johnny Depp's current box-office draw isn't exactly strong, but he can still be counted among the big stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an indie darling, Johnny Depp certainly knows Cao Yang, and he also wants to try different roles; upon learning that Cao Yang wants to shoot a biographical film, and one that is a challenging gay role, he is very interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Cao Yang made an appointment with Johnny Depp, he first opened the system to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Host: Cao Yang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Current Prestige: 1406785\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Available Prestige: 706785\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immersion Experience: +0\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Film in Production: *Milk*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lead Actor: Sean Penn (TBD), Tim Robbins (TBD)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the prestige has increased a bit more, and the available prestige can be exchanged for seven more Immersion Experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised Cao Yang was that the two people he was interviewing who were interested in the lead role actually appeared in the system, albeit in a TBD status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang thought for a moment, exchanged for one Immersion Experience, and added it to Sean Penn to see what would happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually added on very smoothly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is going on here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang exchanged for another one, tried it on Tim Robbins, and it added on very smoothly again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is the situation now? Could it be that any movie they act in next will enter the *Milk* state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang began to consider this; both of them are method actors, one Immersion Experience is enough to enter the state, they are simultaneously taking on *Mystic River*, playing best friends in it, and one of them is a suspect in the murder of the other's daughter...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiss...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of effect will the two of them produce?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the situation, maybe they'll be able to act out love turning into hate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then let's grant their wish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang didn't hesitate to add one Immersion Experience to each of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their superb acting skills, two Immersion Experiences each—this is going to take off!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wish them luck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Cao Yang met with Johnny Depp to discuss the film's role and salary; Depp's current salary is about the same as Tim Robbins', and he also splits the difference when taking on indie films. Then there's no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of the fact that the first installment of funds is still in the account and Harvey Weinstein hasn't officially proposed withdrawing capital, everything just needs to follow the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is not yet the Depp after the massive success of *Pirates of the Caribbean*, and under the circumstances where he strongly wants to play this role, all terms are according to the standard contract for his tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the witness of the Screen Actors Guild, Cao Yang called over Bellman, and Depp quickly signed the contract with the *Milk* crew; the lead actor is in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did Harvey say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What else could he say? It's not like his company is the only one; Sony Pictures Classics holds the majority share. He's just making noise to see if Sony Pictures Classics will stand with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellman smiled reluctantly; he has worried quite a bit during this time. In order to keep Sony Pictures Classics from supporting Harvey, he gave up a third of the share he had negotiated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn Tim Robbins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn Sean Penn!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving up his own interests is practically cutting off his own flesh, but there's no other way; Bellman doesn't want to lose his partnership with Cao Yang, so he can only give up the interests to stabilize Sony Pictures Classics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've worked hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang patted Bellman on the shoulder; he no longer doubts Bellman now, otherwise Bellman wouldn't have cooperated with him to sign Johnny Depp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Cao Yang and Bellman are in control, as long as the two of them join forces, they can almost call the shots for the entire crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell Harvey that you've signed Depp, though he's probably already found out. Give him a way out; just say that Depp was actually our first choice and Tim Robbins was only a backup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellman nodded. Johnny Depp is actually no worse than Tim Robbins. If Harvey Weinstein accepts it, then so be it; if he still refuses to let it go, then join forces with Sony Pictures Classics to kick Miramax out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My goddamn one-third of the profit share!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn Harvey Weinstein!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Sony Pictures Classics was slow to act, Harvey Weinstein extinguished his thought of leading the project. He was just testing the waters; it didn't matter if it succeeded or not. In any case, he never thought about kicking Cao Yang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core of this project is Cao Yang; otherwise, how could he have invested so readily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also doesn't want to completely offend Cao Yang. A director who can make stars is worth being respected and valued by a film company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the project continued to advance, and the casting work also began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Hollywood, the film casting system is a system of checks and balances; neither the director, the producer, nor even the investor has absolute power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this is only the situation on the surface; it looks very formal and very fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, even if there are Screen Actors Guild members present at every audition, as the director and producer, if Cao Yang decides which actor to use, could the other producer, Bellman, object? Could the Screen Actors Guild members object?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead actor, Milk, has been set as Johnny Depp, and the contract has already been signed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are two other important roles: one is Dan White, the politician who shoots the lead actor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other important role is the lead actor's boyfriend, which requires a young person. The two fall in love at first sight at a subway station, then begin living together, and there are some passionate scenes, so I need to find an actor who can accept this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang needs to look at several important roles, including the protagonist's boyfriend. It's not that he wants to see their acting skills—Cao Yang doesn't care about that—what he values most is whether the other party fits the character's positioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Hollywood, finding actors is actually very simple. There are specialized casting companies; you just need to tell them the requirements, and they will find suitable actors with availability based on the offered salary and the assessment of the film's level, then schedule an audition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the role of the lead actor's boyfriend, the casting company provided Cao Yang with a list of three people; these are all actors who can accept passionate scenes and have availability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Cao Yang got the list, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. All three of them are considered to have developed relatively well in later generations. It seems that most actors who can make it are good at seizing every opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1358,"2026-06-20T05:36:32.009Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ef0d0d02051103d004b1d36dd73e610e3809b953a544629a1bcab83fceae93fc","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-115","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-113",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]