Extracting skills from movies

The interview went smoothly; Chris's questions were all within expectations.
Du Sheng and Nolan handled the situation with ease, chatting about everything from "how to film weightlessness scenes" to "how many layers a dream can have," creating a relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

But at the end, Chris suddenly changed the subject and asked a question that had a slightly gossipy tone:
"Du, I heard from someone on the set that you couldn't distinguish between reality and dreams while filming?"

Du Sheng understood perfectly.

The other party wanted to create a sensational topic to trend on social media, so he smiled in agreement.
"There was indeed a period of time, probably in the middle to later stages, when I was so immersed in the role that I couldn't shake it off even after filming wrapped."
I was a little confused about whether what I was seeing was reality or a 'dream,' and it was director Nolan who finally brought me back to reality.

Nolan truly lives up to his reputation as a master at both making blockbuster films and generating viral marketing; his quick wit and sharp retorts are as if he's been trained to do so.
“I told him directly at the time.”

A beautiful woman embracing a real place is reality; otherwise, it's a dream.

Simple and straightforward, but it works!

Du Sheng laughed out loud and followed up:

"Honestly, Nolan is incredibly brilliant, and the whole team is full of geniuses."

Working with them is like recharging every day; there's always something new to learn…

Nolan also started "mutual praise mode," showering the camera with compliments:

"Du Sheng is an actor that every director wants to work with. As soon as I mention an idea, he immediately understands it, and the effect of his performance often exceeds my expectations."

If there are any suitable projects in the future, I'll definitely contact him first!

The way the two seemed to hit it off so well made Chris, who was standing next to them, laugh.

After the recording ended, Du Sheng and Nolan walked side by side, when the latter suddenly spoke:
"After finishing The Dark Knight 2, I won't touch superhero movies anymore. I want to focus on science fiction from now on."

"That's great news."

Du Sheng immediately replied:

"Call me anytime if you need me."

He knew the quality of Nolan's science fiction films, so getting on board was definitely a good thing.

Nolan hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"I heard... you've had some friction with Warner lately?"

Du Sheng didn't hide anything either:

"It's mainly about the commission from the issuance."

Warner Music is charging way too much now; it's top-tier even in the industry, it's a bit unreasonable.

He added a fact:
"As you know, your studio and Emma's studio also invested in Inception and The Dark Knight II."
If they take too much, you'll get less.

Howard Schlinger from Sony recently contacted me, offering a commission rate of only 26% in North America, and even lower rates for overseas and offline channels—they're incredibly generous.

“He had contacted me before.”

Nolan seemed thoughtful:
"It seems we need to find some time to sit down and have a proper talk."

"No problem, we'll wait until we're done with this round of promotions."

Du Sheng readily agreed.

The two said goodbye at the door and got into their respective cars.

Ma Yaowei started the car, turned onto the main road, and couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Sheng, what did you say to Nolan just now? Were you trying to persuade him to switch jobs?"

Du Sheng smiled and shook his head:

"Warner is getting more and more ruthless. Anyone who continues to cooperate like this will only suffer losses. This is just a reminder."

Ma Yaowei glanced at the time and said:

"I won't join you shopping with Taylor, I already have plans with someone."

Du Sheng raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin on his face:
"With whom? The white one or the black one?"

Ma Yaowei instantly revealed a "ready to die" expression:

"Neither... It's Jody, a reporter from KABC Entertainment."

She won a major photography award and invited me to celebrate.

Du Sheng immediately remembered.

The way Ma Yaowei and Jody collaborated before, even when they leaked information about Brad Pitt, was to generate buzz for him.

It's normal for people to celebrate when they get promoted and receive a bonus.

"Okay, this needs to be done properly!"

Du Sheng said with a smile:
"There are plenty of good wines and gifts in the storage room at home. Feel free to take whatever you like, don't come empty-handed."

Ma Yaowei still stubbornly insists:

"I'm just going out for a meal, there's no need to bring a gift."

"Too."

Du Sheng teased him on purpose, his face looking like he wanted to punch someone:
“In Jody’s eyes, someone is the most powerful ‘gift’, more effective than anything else.”

Ma Yaowei's face turned black.

After dropping Du Sheng off at the villa, he changed into an inconspicuous car and headed straight for KABC headquarters.

Then Jody, dressed exquisitely and brightly, came running over in high heels.

He opened the passenger door, jumped in, and planted a quick kiss on Ma Yaowei's cheek, his eyes shining.

"Honey, you look so handsome today!"

Ma Yaowei touched his face, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Where are we going to celebrate later?"

Jody's eyes gleamed, and her tone was ambiguous:

"I set up a Christmas dinner at home! Half the credit for this award goes to you, so of course we have to celebrate together."

Ma Yaowei waved his hand:

"You're the one who takes the lead in many things; I'm just providing some information."

Jody looked at him intently:
"That's what I say to others, but in my heart, this award was given to me by you."

Now the honor is mine, and I have to make it up to you!

Ma Yaowei is still struggling:
"Really, no need. I'm just going to grab a bite to eat and then I'll leave."

Jody curled the corners of her lips into a meaningful smile:
"Okay, let's eat first."

Not long after, the two arrived at Jody's house.

She cooked herself, making steak, pasta, and roasted chicken wings.

Paired with red wine, it creates a truly special and memorable experience.

Meanwhile, Du Sheng stayed in the living room with Taylor, watching TV and even taking a bath together.

It wasn't until after 10 p.m. that Ma Yaowei sent a text message, just one sentence:
"I can't go home tonight."

Du Sheng, seeing that he had finally gotten his chance to turn the tables, chuckled to himself.
"Stand up and kick! Don't embarrass yourself!"

After sending the text message, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He had long guessed that Ma Yaowei would "fall" in Qiao Di's hands, after all, Ma Yaowei simply couldn't resist the other party's enthusiasm.

.........

That evening, outside the Kodak Theatre.

The red carpet was already packed with people.

The two sides of the fans were clearly divided, and the scene was quite elaborate.

One side was full of people wearing black T-shirts, holding signs that read "Nolan's production, buy without hesitation" and "The Dark Knight is awesome," all of them die-hard Nolan fans.

Ever since The Dark Knight 1 became a classic, this group of people have been worshipping Nolan as a "god director," believing that every film he makes is a hit and there is no need to question it.

On the other side was a uniformly dressed army in red, with a spy-like appearance, their hats and clothes all emblazoned with the "Eight Extremes Association" logo.

They were all in high spirits, clearly die-hard fans of Du Sheng, known in the underworld as "Du's disciples".

The moment Du Sheng stepped onto the red carpet, the scene erupted in cheers.

Whether they were black-clad or red-clad fans, they were all shouting at the top of their lungs:

"President, I love you!"

"King of Kung Fu! Triple Threat King!"

"Without Du Sheng's action movies, it's all lonely!" Du Sheng waved as he walked, occasionally making a Bajiquan starting stance, which made the fans scream even more wildly.

As he walked to the Bajiquan Association's fan area, he casually took a pen from a fan and quickly signed autographs for a few people in the front row.

As he turned around, he casually took the McDonald's cold drink that was handed to him.

He snapped open the tab, raised it high, and toasted with his fans.
"Thank you all for attending the preview screening!"

"Du! Du, the eternal god!"

The fans shouted in unison, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

Du Sheng raised his glass again:
"A final toast to my beloved disciples of the Du family. Without your support, I wouldn't have made it this far."

At this moment, the black-clad fan section on the other side erupted:

"Du Sheng! Over here! We want your autographs too!"

Du Sheng walked over with a smile, took the poster of "Taken" and a still of Cobb from "Inception" handed to him by a fan, and signed them carefully with his head down.

A fan with "King of Kung Fu" face paint seized the opportunity to ask:
"Du Sheng, I heard that Miracle Pictures is going to spend $1.5 million to make 'Giant Slayer'? Is it true?"

Du Sheng smiled as he raised his pen, his Tai Chi moves flowing effortlessly:

"This is a trade secret, you can't just say it out loud."

A reporter standing nearby pressed on with a question:
Have you considered joining Warner Bros.' action blockbuster "Clash of the Titans" based on ancient Greek mythology?
We all want to see you play the Greek god of war!

This was most likely sent by their rivals. Du Sheng simply pretended not to hear, finished signing the last one, waved with a smile, and turned to walk towards the interview area.

Upon arriving at the media area, he launched into a tirade of praise for Inception to the cameras:
"This film is top-notch in terms of plot, special effects, and acting!"

The word-of-mouth was rave during the test screenings; audiences will absolutely love it!

That's no exaggeration.

The feedback from the first two screenings was truly phenomenal, fully justifying this wave of promotion.

After the interview, Du Sheng went to the main cast and crew gathering area.

As soon as I stood still, a deafening roar erupted from the other side of the red carpet.

Nolan is here!

The black-clad fans went completely wild, waving posters and shouting, even more excited than before.

This group is still arguing online with fans of "The Godfather" and "The Shawshank Redemption," insisting on claiming the title of "greatest director in film history."

Nolan walked to the main creative area and met up with Du Sheng and the others. The group of people stood in front of the sponsors' backdrop for a group photo.

After taking the photos, we chatted and laughed as we walked into the theater.

As per the rules, the main cast and crew entered last, while Du Sheng and Nolan waited in the lounge.

Compared to the tension at the premiere of his previous film, Nolan was much more relaxed this time, chatting casually with Du Sheng:

"The Christmas season got off to a good start this year, and I hope our film will also have a smooth run."

Du Sheng nodded:

"Winning the weekly chart championship shouldn't be too difficult."

This year's Christmas film season got off to a good start with Keanu Reeves' "The Day the Earth Stood Still" receiving positive reviews.
Subsequent films such as "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Marley & Me," and "Bride Wars" also achieved impressive box office results.

Inception was released just before the Christmas season, and its competitors were not weak.

Warner Bros.' Four Christmases, Disney's Bedtime Stories, and Paramount's Revolutionary Road.

Especially "Revolutionary Road".

This film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is adapted from Richard Yates' novel and is currently very popular, almost surpassing the previous two films.

Even so, Inception still held the top spot in the "most anticipated" poll.

As they were talking, Du Sheng glanced around and saw Oliver and Warner president Jones Dick accompanying chairman Kevin Shigen as they walked this way.

Before Du Sheng could speak, Kevin Shi Yuan reached out and said:
"Du, I've always admired you."

To rise from humble beginnings to international superstardom, with a wide range of roles and excellent acting skills that combine entertainment and artistry—such actors are incredibly rare.

Du Sheng knew exactly what was going on.

This is an attempt to win them over.

He said calmly and slowly:

"I hope to continue working with Warner if the opportunity arises."

Kevin immediately chimed in:

"That's simple. Miracle Pictures, show some sincerity, and we can discuss the distribution commission again."

He didn't want to give up on Du Sheng, this money-making machine, so he directly opened a short position:

"Just like with this film, Inception, Warner Bros. will definitely give you their all if you're willing."

Not only will it guarantee you a spot on the international stage, it can even help you win an Oscar for Best Actor!

Du Sheng simply smiled after hearing this.

Is an Oscar for Best Actor something you can just promise casually?

Moreover, the conflict of interest with Warner cannot be easily resolved by simply offering some sincerity.

Moreover, the other party didn't mention any commission on distribution at all, just using empty words as sweet talk to coax people. Du Sheng knew this perfectly well and laughed:
"Okay, I'll think about it when I get back and contact you later."

Kevin Shigen's tone carried a hint of condescension:
"Opportunities don't come every day; they should be carefully considered."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the famous director Andrew Adamson, who was not far away.

Next to Andrew was CAA President Chad Lovett.

Seeing this, Oliver patted Du Sheng on the shoulder and followed him.

However, Warner Bros. president Jones Dick stayed behind and looked at Du Sheng, saying:
"We're about to film 'Pharaohs and Gods,' an adaptation of 'Exodus.' Would you be interested in playing a role?"

Upon hearing that the second male lead was unlikable, Du Sheng smiled and shook his head.

"I'm so sorry, my schedule is full right now."

"As soon as the promotion for *Inception* is over, I have to go to the set to film *John Wick*. The timeline is too tight."

In my previous life, the epic film "Pharaohs and Gods" flopped so badly that nobody recognized it!
Having just dug a hole for Warner Bros. with "Giants Catcher," how could he possibly jump into another of their projects?
Jones didn't try to persuade him further, just nodded and left.

Just then, Andrew Adamson glanced in their direction.

Du Sheng nodded in greeting to the other party.

Last year, Andrew wanted him to play the second male lead in "The Chronicles of Narnia," and the production cost $2.3 million.

He was busy at the time, and he couldn't recall the movie either, so he was afraid it would be a flop and declined the offer.

Andrew responded politely, then moved closer to Chad to start a conversation.

A moment later, Chad walked towards Du Sheng and got straight to the point:
"Du, Andrew is a little curious and wants to ask."

When you turned down the offer to star in "The Chronicles of Narnia," did you already know the film was going to flop?

After its release in June, The Chronicles of Narnia grossed just over $100 million in North America and less than $400 million worldwide, a far cry from the $11 billion needed to break even. It also received terrible reviews, making it a box office bomb.

But can he tell the truth?
Of course not.

He could only shrug and say innocently:

"No way!"

It's simply a scheduling conflict. You know I've been incredibly busy these past two years, I simply can't find the time."

Chad was also fooled by this movie and couldn't help but say:

"You really don't think Andrew is a bad director?"

"That's impossible!"

Du Sheng immediately denied it, and even added a compliment:
"Speaking of which, I have another project I'd like Andrew to direct, it's..."

He deliberately left it unsaid, but the meaning was conveyed.

With classics like "Batman & Robin" and "Shrek" as precedents, Andrew's talent speaks for itself; how can he be smeared?

Chad, a seasoned veteran in the industry, understood immediately and followed up with a question:
"I heard from the rumors that Warner Bros. snatched the script you were working on?"

...(End of this chapter)