Actor: Thank you.

Li Lianjie rarely took the initiative to contact him.

Given Lao Li's personality, if they hadn't bumped into each other on the plane last time, they would probably have just exchanged text messages or made phone calls during holidays.

That's just his personality; that's who he is.

When he has nothing to do, he burns incense and meditates at home, or he goes out to "purify his soul," which means burning incense at temples and paying homage to every mountain he encounters.

There are quite a few religious people in the entertainment industry.

People in mainland China who believe in Western religions are generally quite eccentric, such as Yuan Li, Sun Haiying, and Lü Liping.

These people will be kept at a distance by their peers because their opinions are simply unacceptable to the public.

Few believe in Taoism, even though this is clearly the traditional Chinese religion.

Many artists, especially older generations, are Buddhists like Li Lianjie.

Li Lianjie, Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Wei, Wang Fei, Hu Jun, and Sun Li are all Buddhists, specifically Tibetan Buddhism.

Faith is often a means of communication.

It's like strangers meeting; there's nothing to talk about.

He took out a cigarette. "Want one?"

"Have one."

Having common ground makes it easier to make friends.

After making friends, it's easy to form small groups.

Many well-known wealthy businessmen, including Jack Ma from Yuhang, are also followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

But they are mostly older generations; young celebrities and entrepreneurs are mostly openly devoid of faith.

Because of this, Zhang Yuan was too willing to have a close personal relationship with Lao Li.

Once the conversation gets going, it always turns to Buddhism or charity; I just want to influence him.

In short, you have to donate money.

Spending money is a minor matter; the real issue here is the complexities and intricacies involved, and sometimes it's a matter of pledge of allegiance to certain interest groups.

With that money and the inclination, I would rather save it and donate a few more school buildings like Mr. Gu did.

“Silvis said he wants to see you.” Li Lianjie was as amiable as ever, but there was a hint of annoyance in his words.

"Who?" Zhang Yuan didn't react for a moment after hearing the name.

Sylvester Stallone!

"Oh!" Zhang Yuan gripped his phone tighter.

Sylvester is his first name, while Stallone is actually his surname.

Li Lianjie and Sylvester Stallone have a good relationship, so he called him by his name.

If we're talking about world-class action actors, the most recognized and most famous are undoubtedly Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Uncle Jackie Chan is famous, but he's not quite as good as these two.

Next up is Bruce Willis, who's constantly rescuing Liam Neeson.

Harrison Ford, known for "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars," and Mel Gibson, who was blacklisted by the Jewish community for making "The Passion of the Christ."

Denzel Washington was quite popular at that time.

Compared to the big names mentioned above, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Vin Diesel, and Jason Statham would only be able to sit at the kids' table.

Sylvester Stallone's "First Blood" and Arnold Schwarzenegger's "The Terminator" are arguably the most well-known blockbuster IPs in the world.

A person's reputation is built on their actions, and these two brothers built it up little by little.

The key point is that although these two are very strong-looking, their daughters are both exceptionally beautiful...

Zhang Yuan didn't dare to have any improper thoughts; his two fathers' arms were as thick as his thighs.

The key point is that these two are not just strong, they've just built up muscles.

Schwarzenegger majored in business administration.

Just look at those biceps, do you think you'd submit to anyone?

He was the governor of California at the time.

Sylvester Stallone is also unique; in addition to acting and directing, he is also an abstract painter.

Tell me, if you see those biceps, would you buy it?

You can't leave this room unless you buy it.

Sylvester Stallone has been preparing for his new movie, the star-studded "The Expendables".

In fact, he was going through a low point in his career.

My brother is 60 now, well past the age when he should be retiring.

Just like Chen Long, Stallone is also someone who can't sit still.

The fact that he can still act even in his seventies or eighties is quite remarkable, which is truly a gift.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Stallone's films have not been very successful at the box office.

At worst, we'll break even; it'll be much harder to make big profits like before.

The same logic applies to the decline of Hong Kong action films. Although he was in Hollywood, Stallone's films were also squeezed out by special effects blockbusters.

Stallone thought to himself, "I've built up a great reputation, and I can't let it be ruined in my later years."

When people have nothing to do, they tend to think about doing old things.

So he brought out his signature series, Rocky and First Blood.

Rocky VI cost $24 million to make and grossed nearly $200 million at the box office, making him a fortune.

But the next film, "Rambo IV," cost only $5,000 to make and only grossed a little over $100 million.

He then gave back all the money he had earned.

He mostly raises his own investment and produces his own films, so he loses money on them himself.

That's why I thought I'd use my old reputation to pull off a big show.

At the same time, Stallone was also dissatisfied with the action films on the market.

He felt that "science fiction action films," especially those starring Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible, were not pure.

Action movies should feature fast-paced fighting, blood and gore, and ignite the savage instincts and destructive desires deep within the audience.

Veteran action stars are like this: when they became famous, the movies were all very pure.

It's also a reflection of dissatisfaction with his old rival Schwarzenegger, who is also a big name in sci-fi action films.

So when he decided on this new project, he set several standards.

First, we need to find a group of action actors, and they have to be real fighters, not just the kind who do special effects.

Next, the script was designed around these action actors, and the action sequences were designed in accordance with each person's characteristics.

Therefore, "The Expendables" is a film where the story follows the characters.

As for the plot... the plot isn't important. Just take the action in an action movie to the extreme, and the movie will naturally be made.

Therefore, the plot of "The Expendables" is relatively weak, and it's still the same old formula.

But that doesn't matter, everyone comes here based on who they are.

These old-timers are so intimidating just by standing there.

Jason Statham was the first one chosen.

It's often said that baldness is common among members of the national diving team, and that's true.

But before joining the diving team, he was a huge boxing fan.

So he can fight too.

Moreover, the two have a history together.

Jason's "Death Race 2008" is a remake of Sylvester Stallone's 75 film "Death Race".

Next is Li Lianjie.

Actually, I also approached Donnie Yen and Chen Long.

Uncle Long felt that the play didn't suit his style, and since he would be playing a supporting role, it wouldn't be interesting.

International Dan declined the offer, citing the limited screen time.

Jason, Li Lianjie, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren... Just scheduling these action stars is a hassle.

They had also approached Jean-Claude Van Damme and Scott Adkins, but both were unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts.

However, they were brought back together for the second film.

Moreover, kings don't meet kings; no one wants to share the stage with their competitors.

But with just one phone call from Stallone, these big stars would flock to him.

Actors are divided into several categories.

He sought opportunities everywhere but couldn't get any roles until a production crew extended an invitation, and then a director personally came to him.

Just like Ge You and Zhou Runfa, Jiang Wen personally wrote letters to invite them.

But above these superstars, there is an even stronger category.

That means without this person, the project simply wouldn't exist!

This project wouldn't exist without this person, this actor.

Without him, this film not only wouldn't be able to attract funding, but there would be no point in making it, and they wouldn't even be able to organize a proper production.

Sylvester Stallone is an actor of that caliber.

Not only the main actors, but also their "old rivals," Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, made cameo appearances.

Despite being rivals, they actually have a pretty good relationship.

They've all grown old, no longer in their prime, yet they cherish each other deeply.

These are big names; you couldn't get anyone else to come.

What does it mean to be an international superstar...? Tactical lean back.

They had also approached Wesley Snipes, the black guy from Blade.

The original plan was to have him play the role of the big black gang member in the film.

But by this time, he had already become infamous for his domineering and arrogant behavior on set.

They were even approached by the IRS.

Because a few years ago he had his accountant falsify accounts and illegally refunded more than 1200 million US dollars in taxes.

The amount of tax refunds alone shows how much money they made in those years.

As a result, he was not only restricted from leaving the country, but also imprisoned for three years after the final verdict. Even so, when the film was being made for "The Expendables 3," Stallone still remembered his roots and contacted him, giving him a chance to appear on the big screen again.

I guess I gave my brother a hand.

As the eldest brother, you have to have the spirit to support your brothers, otherwise no one will recognize you.

However, one must be strong to succeed. Wesley, that old black guy, was indeed arrogant and almost ruined himself.

But in Deadpool and Wolverine, he returned as Blade Runner and was just as well-received.

No one else could play this role; it had to be him, just like Wolverine had to be Hugh Jackman.

Similarly, if Stallone wants to see Zhang Yuan, he needs to be strong enough himself.

Recently, due to the controversy surrounding the foreign woman, he has been making a lot of news overseas, which has actually increased the number of overseas screenings for "Ip Man".

Sylvester Stallone is looking for inspiration for his new film, and someone recommended he watch it, saying the action scenes are fantastic.

It was breathtaking!

The movements are fluid, and the sense of speed and power is excellent.

I didn't know there was such a person in China before.

Speaking of the Chinese people, I called Li Lianjie to inquire.

This is also why Lao Li is somewhat annoyed.

I met him on a plane before and asked him to help me introduce us, but he refused.

Now people are actively seeking him out as a middleman, and in turn, they want to introduce the other party.

The result was the same; I was always the middleman, but I missed out on a huge favor.

However, Old Li was quite honest, and Stallone asked the young man if his action scenes were all real.
Is he even capable of fighting?
Li Lianjie said he was the most capable fighter among all young actors in China, which was a compliment.

That's how the meeting came about.

However, they said in advance that they just wanted to ask if he would be willing to chat and play a cameo role.

The lead actors have all been cast, and the script is finalized, so there aren't any more spots available.

Moreover, the current main characters are all middle-aged, so it wouldn't be appropriate for a young person to suddenly appear.

After learning it was just a cameo role, Zhang Yuan's interest waned somewhat.

But then I thought about it.

Hi!
Stallone is such a big shot, if he's willing to hang out with me, then he thinks highly of me.

Domestically, apart from Chen Long and Li Lianjie, people like Wu Jing, Zhang Jin, and Zhao Wenzhuo who want to make cameo appearances are not being approached.

They agreed.

After finishing filming in Paris, the G.I. Joe crew returned to Hollywood.

This time, he brought along all the main actors from the film crew, and they all traveled together on his plane.

Just use it; the losses aren't yours to bear anyway.

"So, Stallone asked you to act in a movie?"

After discussing this on the plane, the male lead, Cha Ning, showed an envious look.

"Just a cameo role."

"That's a very rare opportunity."

Seeing the drooling looks on these Americans' faces, it's clear that Stallone holds a very high position in Hollywood.

A few days after landing, several indoor scenes were reshot.

This time, he finally got to use the hidden blade he had been longing for.

He stabbed the Baroness's spouse, the Baron, to death from behind.

The Baroness is a character who marries the Baron in the film, but has an ambiguous relationship with Destro. After regaining her memory, she reconciles with the Duke.

Sharing a girlfriend is...

In the script, Storm Shadow stabs the Baron to death simply because the man is no longer of any value, and also because Destro instructed him to kill the man if he touches his woman again.

This was done to showcase the ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness of the White Ghost.

In fact, Zhang Yuan felt that this was not cold-blooded or perverted enough.

He suggested to the director that he should calmly apologize after betraying the other party.

"Red bean paste, private Marseille".

That's exactly what the island nation did when they overthrew their superiors; they killed someone and then apologized on the spot, saying they had disturbed the other person's home and ruined it.

No!

You killed someone and you still apologize for disturbing them.

This nation truly doesn't value human life, yet is extremely hypocritical.

But the director did not agree to his suggestion, feeling that he should maintain a cool image.

Okay, let's not worry about these details in a special effects-driven action movie.

He felt physically tired while filming this movie, but mentally relaxed.

This character is so easy to create that you don't even need to think about it.

Just look cool.

"Brothers, I'm leaving now." On the day filming wrapped, the crew didn't prepare a cake or any farewell party.

He's just a supporting character; there's no need for such a grand ceremony.

Several older guys greeted him and said they'd like to have dinner with him sometime.

The redhead chatted with him for a long time and even asked him where they would meet later.

"See you in my dreams..." he thought to himself.

We're not on the same side, neither in the play nor in real life.

He made an excuse, saying he would contact me by phone later, and then left with his luggage, making a clattering sound.

Why does it make a clanging sound?

Because the metal props inside the box were colliding with each other...

These foreign gadgets are so beautiful!

Rather than letting them be locked in a dark and gloomy warehouse, I'd rather take them home and take good care of them.

There's nothing I can do; I'm just a kind-hearted man.

Before returning to China, I'll go meet with Sylvester Stallone.

Li Lianjie had already returned to China, so this time he met with the other party in person.

"Hi, BRO!"

In the evening, inside an Italian restaurant.

The Hollywood star wasn't as tall and imposing as one might imagine. He arrived at the reserved table wearing a black vest, jeans, and a British-style top hat.

I took off my hat before shaking his hand.

Despite being a superstar, he is quite polite.

Zhang Yuan squeezed the other person's hand firmly and found that the other person was using a lot of force, so he squeezed it back a few times.

"Wow, you're very strong."

“I’m starting to believe what Jet is saying.”

Looking at the other person's arm covered in bulging veins, he felt a little numb.

Practicing to this level is not aesthetically pleasing.

It's truly astonishing that a man in his sixties can still have such a physique.

However, Zhang Yuan wasn't envious, because his older brother was taking medication.

Even Schwarzenegger used drugs.

Both of them admitted this themselves.

Schwarzenegger is a bodybuilder, and even with his exceptional talent, it would be difficult to reach his level in his youth without using performance-enhancing drugs.

However, the drugs used in earlier years were less potent and less harmful.

Sylvester Stallone is even more impressive; to maintain his physique, he still injects growth hormone, which is a type of steroid.

However, he was wealthy and had a dedicated medical team to protect him, so the damage caused by the medication was well controlled.

Just like many older white men who started using drugs when they were young and have been using them for decades without dying.

But most of the poor people on the street are ruined in 5 years.

Because even wealthy people who use drugs have professional teams that can keep them in a mental state that is imperceptible to the naked eye.

Sylvester Stallone's father is Italian, so his family still maintains certain Italian traditions, and today they met at an Italian restaurant.

"The meatball noodles here are good, just like the ones my grandmother used to make."

Whether at home or abroad, the highest praise for a restaurant is "It tastes just like what I make at home".

The two ate and chatted.

Stallone then realized that he was not a professional action actor.

"Actually, I want to be a dramatic actor," Zhang Yuan said earnestly.

"However, Hollywood's demand for Chinese actors is mostly for action movies."

"That's a stereotype, like when you say Italians are all gangsters."

"Hehehe..." Stallone laughed when he heard this.

But it was a forced smile.

It's not that my brother is cunning, it's just that he smiles like that at everyone he meets.

Because he was not born properly and his facial nerves were damaged by forceps, the muscles on the left side of his face sag.

And one of Stallone's defining characteristics is his deep, resonant voice... that's a nice way of putting it, but in reality, it's just that he has a poor enunciation.

It was also caused by a facial injury.

So this guy's life is absolutely legendary.

Despite having half a facial paralysis and slurred speech, he still managed to become a world-renowned superstar – his story is truly inspiring.

Yes, a world-class superstar... Zhang Yuan looked at the tough guy opposite him, who was as hardworking as Chen Long and had voluntarily "delayed his retirement".

Since you're an international superstar, I'll borrow your fame for a bit! (End of Chapter)