Chapter 189

After resting for a day, Cao Yang gathered the heads of the film crew, who had already formulated a detailed shooting schedule and plan based on the on-site conditions.

Cao Yang did not change this plan; after holding a meeting with them, he had someone take him to inspect the site in person.

This area, formerly used for racial segregation, was very large, with low, dilapidated buildings, and the environment... let's not even talk about it. "Dirty, messy, and poor" was just the literal meaning; it probably wasn't enough to describe this area.

Now, this place was a slum in the true sense of the word.

As for public security, what kind of security can you talk about in a slum?

It was said that the security had indeed been quite good these past two days, of course, after being controlled by the military and police.

Next, Cao Yang's crew filmed on location here, and everything went very smoothly.

When extras were needed, a large number of locals were available at any time, and the price was low.

When weapons were needed, Yang Ke brought in a large number of real ones for filming.

The film used helicopter shots. Originally, Columbia wanted to rent them locally, but when Yang Ke heard about it, he directly brought in three armed helicopters for filming. These were much better than the props they had intended to rent.

Even for scenes in the film where armed personnel were gathering, Yang Ke pulled in over a hundred soldiers, had them change into the costumes provided by the crew, and they looked much more intimidating than the extras.

Cheng Jianye had said that in this vast slum, there were many gang organizations that carried guns; if it weren't for Columbia having a good relationship with a local power, they wouldn't have dared to enter.

This was also the reason for Cao Yang's previous concerns. Bullets don't have eyes; it doesn't matter if you're a big director or an ordinary person—if you really get hit by one, you'll still kick the bucket.

He could be certain that his achievements in this life would not stop here.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall; if it weren't for President Mandela's promise, he would never have come to such a dangerous place.

President Mandela's personal promise was still very effective.

Regardless of how the outside world or future history evaluates him, having been in power for so many years and reaching his position, he had no other pursuits left; he definitely valued his personal reputation more than anything else.

A personal promise was more useful than an official one.

Therefore, during the twenty or so days Cao Yang was filming, he never saw a single gang member, the crew didn't encounter any trouble, and it could even be said that they got whatever they wanted.

The filming was incredibly smooth.

After completing the location filming in South Africa, the crew had nothing left to do, so they were discussing which day to book their return tickets.

Cao Yang had originally thought about calling President Mandela the next day to express his gratitude—a head of state, even a former one, isn't someone you can see just because you want to.

Since he had helped a great deal, out of politeness, a call still had to be made.

Just then, Charlize Theron called, saying she had returned from the United States and that President Mandela had prepared a simple dinner, wanting to invite her and Cao Yang over that evening.

Cao Yang finally understood; Theron had come all the way from the United States specifically for this dinner.

That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the reason Theron returned from the United States was definitely because of President Mandela and Cao Yang.

It was even possible that Cao Yang accounted for a larger share of the reason.

Theron came to find Cao Yang first, and the two of them took Yang Ke's car to President Mandela's place.

In *District 9*, Theron's role was a cameo, with very little screen time and only a few scenes.

All of her scenes were finished in just one afternoon.

"When will the film be finished? I heard that most of your scenes were filmed in China and here. Do you still need to go to the United States to film?"

Theron gathered her long golden hair and asked.

Cao Yang glanced at Theron. Foreigners, especially white people—it was almost a consensus that their women matured early and had a short shelf life.

Average white women appeared very mature at thirteen or fourteen, but once they passed thirty, their aging would accelerate, making them like completely different people compared to before thirty.

One only needs to look at Russian girls to understand this point.

Before thirty, they are all beautiful as flowers, with top-tier figures and beautiful faces. But after thirty, many become "Russian matrons."

However, Theron was an exception.

She was already twenty-nine, her figure had recovered very well, her skin was firm and fair, and her appearance also fit Eastern aesthetics; it could be said that this was the final "glory" of white women.

But even eight or nine years later, as the evil stepmother queen in *Snow White and the Huntsman*, she still possessed stunning charm.

In *Prometheus*, her cold and glamorous temperament as a female executive was fully displayed, not at all like a white woman nearing forty.

Even more than a decade later, as the powerful evil queen Ravenna in *The Huntsman: Winter's War*, both her aura and her looks felt like they completely crushed the female lead.

By then she was already over forty; there really aren't many white women in their forties who can be like her.

"It's all finished filming; this was the final location." Cao Yang said with a smile.

"So fast?"

Theron was surprised, "Didn't they say the shooting schedule was until mid-August?"

!

"The actors performed well, so the progress was ahead of schedule."

Cao Yang explained with a smile, then asked, "What about you? What have you been busy with lately?"

Speaking of this, Theron was clearly a bit more excited.

"There's a film adapted from an animated feature called *Aeon Flux*, with an investment of about sixty million. I was in the United States this time to compete for the lead role of Aeon Flux."

Seeing Theron's expression, Cao Yang knew she had succeeded. The Oscar Best Actress title was a huge boost for her; this film counted as a commercial film with a female lead.

However, such films have a very obvious characteristic: they are easily seen as a litmus test for box office appeal.

If it blows up, Theron should be able to join the twenty-million-dollar club like Angelina Jolie.

If it flops, she'll either have to go back to the art-house film scene or be labeled a "vase."

The two weren't very familiar with each other, so Cao Yang didn't delve too deep.

"Congratulations on getting the lead role."

Theron gathered her golden hair again and replied with a smile, "Thank you."

Then she shook her head and said with a wry smile, "However, this film has a lot of action scenes, and the director requires me to train for at least four months.

The items include gymnastics, trampolining, karate, judo, the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, and the Israeli combat system Krav Maga. These are all used to improve flexibility and enhance strength. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

"Ha, change your perspective, and perhaps you'll suddenly see the light."

"What?"

"Just treat it as necessary exercise to keep your figure; that way, you'll have more motivation and won't feel it's so bitter."

Theron thought about it seriously, then nodded and said, "You're right, Director. Thinking about it that way, I do feel more passionate."

President Mandela said he had prepared a simple dinner, but it wasn't actually simple.

Although it was a private dinner and only invited Cao Yang and Theron, the food was very exquisite.

During the meal, President Mandela was very enthusiastic toward Cao Yang, saying many times that he hoped Cao Yang could come to South Africa to film again in the future and hoped Cao Yang could promote South Africa more.

Cao Yang understood President Mandela's meaning. Promote South Africa? What is there to promote in South Africa?

Ending racial segregation and avoiding a massacre—perhaps that was the biggest selling point.

And the executor of all this was President Mandela.

(End of Chapter)