Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 315 326 ["Chicago" wrapped, New York real estate developer Tang De]

Time passes little by little.

The filming progress of "Chicago" is getting faster and faster. Tom Hanks' acting skills are unquestionable, and he performed the role of lawyer Billy Flynn very well.

Naomi Watts is also a veteran actor. She filmed movies in Australia for several years and came to North America to spend her savings to continue her studies. She is still very good at playing the leading female role.

Relatively speaking, the acting skills of the second female lead Cindy Crawford are much worse. Fortunately, Li Yishu often gives her extra lessons at night, instilling energy in her while focusing on singing and dancing. With her proud supermodel figure, she is able to compete with Nawo.

The actors performed smoothly and coordinated with the dancers more and more tacitly. With the help of photography master Christopher Doyle, he captured the colors and style that Li Yishu wanted.

The film was finally completed on September 9th.

"Wow! It's done!"

"Phew, I'm so tired. I feel like I've danced more in this month than I do in a year."

"..."

When Li Yishu shouted, "Finish!"

The crew members and actors on the set were all cheering. It took about a month, with several stops in between, but it was finally completed successfully.

"Clap--"

Harvey clapped his hands and shouted, "Hey, everyone, you've been so busy lately. I'll treat you tonight. Let's eat, drink and have fun."

When everyone heard that producer + executive producer Harvey was going to be the host, they naturally agreed happily. Even Tom Hanks, who was originally planning to rush to the next crew overnight, asked his assistant to change his flight from tonight to tomorrow.

Harvey has a great reputation among independent producers in North America, especially for the several films he served as producer and supervisor, all of which won good awards.

Tom Hanks still desires to achieve success in the field of independent film production, but unfortunately, his commercial value is huge now, and his agent no longer allows him to make any award-winning films. Not only is it a waste of time, but he may not even win an award.

That night.

New York Hilton Hotel.

Harvey directly booked a banquet hall to hold the cocktail party. The wide variety of food and fine wine on site made the crew have a great time.

"Apollo 13?"

"Yes."

Tom Hanks nodded: "A documentary film invested by Universal Pictures."

Hearing this, Li Yishu raised her glass and said with a smile, "Then I wish you good luck in your work, Tom. It's so nice to work with you. I hope there will be another opportunity like this in the future."

A good actor is a good actor. Not only is his acting reassuring, but the most important thing is that once Lee Yi-su says the performance effect he wants, the other party can immediately understand and perform it.

"Lee, I really enjoy working with you, too. I really hope there will be a next time."

Tom Hanks has worked with many directors, but few of them teach him how to act before the performance like Lee Yi-su. It seems that he already has a complete movie scene in his mind.

"Yes, there is a chance."

Li Yishu smiled and said that Tom was a good actor and they could work together more in the future, such as in the movie "Cast Away".

This movie was quite a sensation at the time because one person acted in most of the movie, which was extremely rare at the time.

In addition, "Phone Booth" is also very good, but it's a pity that Tom Hanks' salary is too expensive.

"Tom!"

At this time, Naomi Watts came over and said with a smile, "Do you mind if I talk to the director alone for a few minutes?"

"Of course!"

Tom Hanks raised his glass and gestured, then raised his eyebrows at Li Yishu and turned away.

When filming on the set, Naomi never hid anything. We were all adults, and those who understood understood, so it was natural for them to assume that the two were having an affair.

Li Yishu asked, "What's wrong, Nawo?"

"The crew has finished filming. I haven't had the chance to thank you properly. Let me toast you a glass."

Naomi smiled and raised her glass and drank it in one gulp.

Hearing this, Li Yishu smiled and took a sip, then said, "Tell me, what's going on? You didn't just come to me for a drink, did you?"

"A few days ago, an agent from CAA came to me and hoped that I could sign with CAA. I wanted to ask for your opinion."

"It's great that CAA signed you. With an agency, you don't need to send out resumes everywhere like ordinary actors."

The three major brokerage companies in the United States, CAA, ICM, and WME, are giant brokerage companies that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s. Relying on their packaging business, they have almost monopolized the top actors and directors in Hollywood.

"It's great, but ICM and WME have also approached me, and I'm now struggling to decide which one to choose."

Naomi had a headache. In the past, she wanted to sign with the three major brokerage companies so that she would have a backer. But when the three brokerage companies came to her at the same time, Naomi was a little at a loss and didn't know how to make a decision.

Li Yishu groaned and said, "I don't know much about the three agencies. I'll ask for you later."

"Okay." With Li Yishu's words, Naomi no longer worried that she would make the wrong choice. She originally wanted to ask Nicole Kidman, but since the last phone call, the two have not been in touch until now.

Naomi, who knows Nicole very well, is well aware that it was because she became the heroine of "Chicago" that Nicole became dissatisfied with her.

If it was before she hooked up with Li Yishu, Naomi might have shamelessly come to him, apologized and acted as his henchman, but now Naomi feels that she no longer needs to be his henchman.

"Li! I thought you had gone back home, but I didn't expect you to hide here with this beautiful lady."

Harvey came over with a laugh, "Let me introduce you to a friend of mine in New York. He's a famous real estate developer in New York!"

At this point, Harvey looked at Naomi and said, "Nawo, you don't mind if I take Li away, right? Don't worry, I'll only borrow him for a while. You can still go out and have fun in the evening."

"Of course I don't mind." Naomi smiled, then moved closer to Li Yishu and whispered, "Honey, Cindy and I have prepared a gift for you tonight, a gift just for you. Don't drink too much, or it will delay you from opening the gift."

Hearing this, Li Yishu raised her eyebrows, feeling a little bit of anticipation in her heart.

At this time, Harvey pointed to a middle-aged man with light blond hair not far away and said, "Li, look, that's my friend, Tang De."

Tang De?!
Li Yishu looked up in surprise and saw a familiar face walking towards her. It turned out to be the future leader of the rednecks!

Tang De walked over and greeted him with a smile: "Hi, Harvey, long time no see."

Harvey said, "Yes, long time no see. Let me introduce you. This is China Li. I believe I don't need to introduce you too much, right?"

"haha of course!"

Tang De extended his hand enthusiastically: "Hello, China Li, I'm Tang De, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Tang De." Li Yishu looked at the other person with a complicated expression. It was estimated that even Tang De himself didn't know at this moment that he, a member of the elite class, would become the leader of the American rednecks in the future.

Tang De sighed, "If I had known earlier, I would have told Harvey and introduced myself to you, Li, in advance. I am very good at dancing."

Harvey smiled and said, "Lee, you may not know that Tang De likes to make movies very much. Do you know Home Alone? Tang De played a cameo role in it." "Tang De, if you have a chance, wait for my new crew to start filming next time. If you are interested, I can arrange a very distinctive role for you."

Hearing this, Li Yishu smiled. He was quite looking forward to Tang De's cameo appearance in his movie. Who knows, there might be more gossip and history in the domestic entertainment industry in the future.

With Harvey's deliberate jokes, the few of them started chatting enthusiastically. When they heard that Li Yishu wanted to buy a house in New York, Tang De immediately said that his real estate company had a new property project recently, and it was in the best location, and he guaranteed to give Li Yishu the highest discount.

At this time, a girl who looked about 1.7 meters tall ran to Tang De excitedly and said nonstop: "Hey, Daddy, Cindy said I have the potential to be a supermodel!"

"Haha, of course my baby, you definitely have the potential to be a supermodel."

Tang De smiled and rubbed his daughter's hair, then said to Li Yishu: "Li, this is my eldest daughter, Elena. She really wants to be a model."

The future first daughter, Elena!
Li Yishu smiled and said, "Tang De, I envy you for having a beautiful daughter."

"Haha, many people say so. She is an angel sent to me by God."

Tang De smiled happily. There is no one who doesn't like others praising their children.

However, after seeing Li Yishu, Elena thought for a moment and said excitedly: "Li, you are the Chinese Li!"

"Yes, I'm Li."

Lee Ye-seo politely extended her hand: “Hello, beautiful little Elena!”

"Come on, I'm not little anymore, I'm already fourteen years old!"

Elena seemed unhappy when people called her small.

This tall at fourteen?

Li Yishu was very surprised. He had always thought that Elena was at least 14 or years old, but he didn't expect that she was only years old. With her height and development, she was really American.

Tang De patted his daughter's head and said, "Okay, Elena, don't disturb Daddy from chatting with Li. Go find someone else to play with."

"Okay, Daddy." Elena nodded, then looked at Li Yishu: "Li, can I be in your movie?"

"Of course, but you have to learn how to perform first."

"I can!"

"Haha, when you learn how to act, I will invite you to star in my movie."

"Then we agreed."

"no problem."

After coaxing Elena away, Li Yishu raised his glass towards Tang De and said, "Tang De, I'll leave the house matter to you. I'll have my assistant go to your company later."

"welcome any time!"

Tang De raised his glass high: "Now let's have a good drink. It's a pity that I didn't bring a camera, otherwise I could have taken a photo with you, the godfather of Asian movies. I believe that if I hang it in the office, it will definitely be envied by others."

Hearing this, Li Yishu became interested: "I'll ask someone to get the camera."

If I take a photo with Tang De now, it will be of some commemorative value when he becomes the king of rednecks.

The next morning.

Li Yishu boarded the plane to Los Angeles tiredly.

He just felt as if his body was hollowed out, just because Cindy and Naomi teamed up last night.

In the past, Li Yishu always thought that she could beat ten people, but now that she thinks about it, she can’t even handle two.

After taking a sip of wolfberry water and taking five Liuwei Dihuang Pills, Li Yishu leaned back in the business class chair and closed his eyes to rest.

He has been a bit slack in his exercise during this period, and he only performs the Five Animal Play occasionally when he feels like it. Now that the filming of the crew has ended, there are still more than two months before the shooting of "Fireworks" starts, so he has to practice diligently.

That afternoon, Li Yishu arrived in Los Angeles, got in the car driven by Amy, and headed straight to Beverly Hills.

In the car.

Amy reported on the group's progress in the past month.

"Saw" produced by Monica has already filmed more than half, and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. "Wrong Turn" directed by Wu Yusen was completed the day before yesterday.

"Filming completed? Wu Yusen filmed so quickly?"

Li Yishu was very surprised. It had only been more than half a month, and Wu Yusen had already finished filming? This was too fast!

Amy nodded: "Yes, Director Wu shot it very quickly. I was also surprised at first. Later, I asked the producer and found out that Director Wu shot it directly with two camera crews."

"It seems he is really anxious."

Li Yishu understood Wu Yusen's purpose in doing this, which was nothing more than what he had said before: "shoot as soon as possible."

Hollywood is different from Hong Kong. Even the most ordinary actors have to work an eight-hour day.

But if it is divided into two camera crews, they can start shooting at the same time, and the progress can naturally be accelerated.

But this is only suitable for low-cost crews to shoot. Even if it is a bit shoddy, as long as the plot is okay, it can be done this way.

However, I think Wu Yusen will not do a shoddy job. After all, this is his comeback in Hollywood. As long as a few low-cost movies are successful at the box office, he will have the opportunity to continue directing movies with a box office of more than tens of millions of dollars in the future.

After talking about North America, Amy talked about China and Japan. After reporting on the group's affairs, she said, "Amy told me yesterday that the organizers of the Shanghai Film Festival still hope that you can serve as the chairman of the jury. For this purpose, they have arranged two people to come to the United States."

Hearing this, Li Yishu frowned. As early as two weeks ago, the Shanghai Film Festival had sent an invitation through a mainland art company, but Li Yishu rejected it.

I didn't expect that the other party was so persistent in inviting me to be the chairman of the jury, and even sent someone to the United States for a meeting and talk.

"When will they arrive?"

"It should be tomorrow afternoon."

"Then you go pick them up at the airport and arrange for them to have some fun in Los Angeles. I'll meet them the day after tomorrow."

"Good boss."

Amy nodded and asked hesitantly, "Boss, are you ready to agree?"

"Yeah, I have no choice but to agree. He has come to the United States in person, how can I refuse?"

Li Yishu shook her head slightly. The Shanghai Film Festival was an official organization, so it was okay to refuse once or twice, but since they had come all the way to the United States, it would be a bit unreasonable to refuse again.

In fact, Lee Yi-su did not completely refuse, but he had to concentrate on filming "Red Cliff" next year and did not want to waste a month or two by serving as the chairman of the jury.

He needs to make this clear to the people at the film festival. It's okay to put his name on it, but forget about it if he really has to follow it from beginning to end.

(End of this chapter)