Huayu, can you be called the best actor if you don’t indulge yourself?

Chapter 573 The Next Jackie Chan
Looking at Emmanuel's serious expression.

Li Luo smiled.

He accepted the business card with both hands.

He looked down at the information on it, which was just the company name, job title, phone number and the like. This information was not very important. He mainly wanted to take this opportunity to think about what the other party had said.

Mark and Jessica are very familiar with each other; they are both his friends.

Matt Damon.

This guy looks somewhat like Wahlberg, and his representative works are "Good Will Hunting" and the "Bourne" series.

Ben Affleck is no stranger to this.

The other person later played Batman multiple times in the DC Universe.

Hugh Jackman.

This is Wolverine from the movie X-Men.

Judging from the artists signed by these individuals, it's clear that Ari Emanuel's Endeavour agency is quite powerful; at least smaller agencies wouldn't be able to retain these Hollywood A-listers.

"Why choose me?"

Li Luo placed the business card on the table and looked up with a smile.

"Li Luo."

Picking up a napkin to wipe his mouth, Emmanuel sat up straight and first uttered his Chinese name, then said in English, "26 years old this year, 1.82 meters tall."

"He has won the Cannes Camera d'Or and the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best New Performer."

"Director and lead actor of the action film 'Raging Fire'."

"Highly praised."

"His starring film 'Painted Skin' has just broken the box office record in China, and his film 'Twilight' grossed $41.25 million on its opening day."

"Spark, a production company established in China, has produced a series of popular film and television works."

After a series of words.

Emmanuel picked up his glass and moistened his throat.

Li Luo, with a faint smile, continued to sit quietly in his seat.

Please don't mind.

Setting down his cup, his interest intensified: "When Wahlberg says he trusts a friend's intuition, you can't blame me for being intensely curious about that friend."

"I've watched all three movies: 'SPL,' 'Raging Fire,' and 'Twilight'!"

"Wonderful."

"Absolutely fantastic!"

Recalling the content of the movies, Emmanuel couldn't help but clap his hands: "SPL and Raging Fire are, to be honest, the most exciting action movies I've seen in a while."

"idiot."

"He's not just any ordinary idiot."

"Sorry, although I don't know what your relationship is like, in my opinion, the director of Twilight is an idiot, with such top-notch action actors in the crew."

"All you're doing is sending them surfing."

"Damn it, what's the difference between this and sending a top-of-the-line Ferrari to haul potatoes?"

"Shet."

Emanuel loosened his tie, his eyes sparkling: "You're a good actor, a good director, and a good businessman—it all comes down to one thing."

"You are a smart man."

"I enjoy interacting with intelligent people; it makes me feel that life is still full of fun."

"Young and good-looking."

"He has no shortage of acting skills, and he is equally intelligent."

"You are a very successful actor, and an extremely excellent action actor! Your work proves this point, so why wouldn't I choose you?"

Such blatant praise almost overwhelmed Li Luo.

Don’t say anything else.

This guy really has good taste.

Secretly giving him a thumbs up, Li Luo continued with a smile and asked, "Why should I choose you?"

"good question."

Emanuel smiled confidently, waved his hand, and said, "Just because my name is Ari Emanuel, and because Elite Strive is one of the top agencies in Hollywood, we can provide you with all the services you want."

"I can't sleep at night."

"No problem, I'll even personally bring strippers to your door to make you happy."

The sudden change in tone made Li Luo's expression extremely strange.

This guy.

They're really quite uninhibited.

"Hahaha."

Emmanuel burst into laughter, as if to say, "You've finally broken down, haven't you?"

He sensed from Li Luo's behavior that he wasn't a dull person, and that he was very likely a playboy who could get along with Mark.

Therefore, let's lighten the mood.

"just kidding."

Emmanuel picked up the wine bottle and poured some red wine for Li Luo with a smile: "Of course, I'm not entirely joking. If you really need it, I can find you a few top-notch strippers anytime."

"of course."

He blinked, his smile widening: "It would be wonderful if I could join the party!"

"From delivering scripts to picking up dry-cleaned clothes."

"Go further up."

"If you want to rent a yacht for a party, or if you get into a fight after drinking too much, I'll find a way to help you. If you even have your eye on a pretty female celebrity, I can help you get her contact information."

"But none of these things are important."

"Not important at all."

"In my opinion, the most important thing is to help you develop your career."

Emmanuel raised his glass of red wine in a gesture of respect and took a large gulp: "There's a name you might be familiar with, Jackie Chan. Since he left Hollywood, there hasn't been a star like him."

“Charismatic.”

"He possesses fighting skills that no one else can replace."

“I think you have the ability to fill this niche, and I also want to help you fill the position that Jackie Chan is missing.”

"This is my plan for you."

"It will propel you to become an A-list movie star in the action genre."

"but me."

"I have the ability to help you."

Setting down his cup, Emmanuel said very seriously, "I maintain good relationships with all the major studios and have very deep connections in Hollywood, which can help you achieve this."

"If there's a chance."

"I also want you to try romantic movies."

"The movie Twilight also showed me your charm, and perhaps you can achieve a breakthrough performance that no other Asian actor has been able to do."

"all of these."

With his hands outstretched, Emmanuel exuded confidence: "Just like I said, I'll enable you to truly integrate into Hollywood and become an internationally renowned movie star."

"I believe you have the potential, and I also have the ability to help you realize your dreams."

"Come with me."

Let's conquer Hollywood together!!!

There was a bang.

The guy in front of me slammed his fist down hard, making the cups, plates, cutlery and other utensils on the table tremble.

Emmanuel was telling the truth. Hollywood has been looking for the next Eastern kung fu superstar, the next Jackie Chan. Hendrik Willem Van Loon proved that there is a huge market for action films.

And this field.

Hollywood audiences are accepting of Asian faces as lead actors.

There is a market for it.

Of course, some people would want to do it.

Since Wahlberg clarified the truth yesterday, Emmanuel immediately had his assistant find information about Li Luo. At first, he didn't take it seriously and just glanced at it casually.

Available soon.

Emmanuel was captivated.

After carefully reviewing Li Luo's previous works.

He was pleasantly surprised to discover that a superb action actor had been born in the East.

Moreover, he has even more potential than Hendrik Willem Van Loon.

Although Jackie Chan possesses irreplaceable charm, he was already in his forties when he successfully broke into Hollywood!
And this guy, Li.

He's only 26 years old, with plenty of time to unleash his charm.

What delighted him most was that Li Luo had already arrived in Hollywood and attracted a considerable number of movie fans with "Twilight". To him, this starting point was almost like a dream.

This also convinced Emmanuel that he had found the next Jackie Chan!

So next.

We must firmly grasp it in our hands.

"I believe."

Looking intently at Li Luo, Emmanuel said solemnly, "Given the phenomenal success of 'Twilight,' many talent agencies will definitely take notice of you soon."

"You will have a lot of choices."

"That's what I'm trying to say."

“You will be an artist directly under me, Ari Emmanuel, instead of being just handed over to some agent.”

"Li Luo, I will give you the respect you deserve!"

About that.

Li Luo did indeed sense it.

Just from the fact that the other person could pronounce his name clearly and accurately, he knew that Emmanuel must have practiced many times beforehand, and this certainly made him feel respected by the other person.

I didn't sense any arrogance from the other person.

As for direct subordinates.

He couldn't understand the difference.

However, the prospect described by the other party was indeed very attractive.

"OK."

Li Luo pondered for a moment, then asked, "I really like what you've said. I'd like to know what I need to give up for this?"

There is no free lunch in the world.

Anything.

Everything comes at a price.

He appreciated Emmanuel's enthusiasm and respect, but he was wary if the other party made exorbitant demands.

Everything I just said is meaningless to me.

"Ten percent."

Emmanuel raised his index finger and said frankly, "I will receive 10 percent of the compensation, which includes your acting fee and the long tail revenue from the fee, as well as the advertising endorsement income."

"Of course, the above does not include Chinese-speaking regions."

"The first contract is for one year."

"We hope to maintain a good working relationship after the first phase of the contract expires."

The words fell.

Emmanuel withdrew his finger.

This condition, of course, does not include the Chinese-speaking regions. He also knew that it was very unrealistic to make that condition. People are doing well in their home countries, and they would not allow you to take away their benefits as soon as you come up.

Over there, I can't offer any help whatsoever.

"Ok?"

Li Luo was bewildered.

I didn't know what to say at that moment.

I was prepared for the other party to make exorbitant demands, and I was also prepared to negotiate. What does 10% mean now? When I signed the contract, I was aiming for 70% of the profits.

Even Huang Shengyi, the "Star Girl," had 60% of the profits taken by herself.

Now it's 10%.

Moreover, the contract is only for one year.

This condition has left him somewhat bewildered!

"plum."

Emmanuel clasped his hands together and patiently explained, "I know you have confidence in yourself, and I have great confidence in you too, even if it comes at a ten percent cost."

"But I believe that striving elites will definitely let you see where your value lies."

These words.

This made Li Luo realize it instantly.

There must be some things I don't know about, so I quickly changed the subject, saying that I have the freedom to choose which roles to take, and that I would never take on any villainous roles or roles that are meant to vilify someone.

Don't underestimate this.

I'd rather play the righteous second or third male lead than the villainous first male lead most of the time.

The better the performance, the more likely you are to fail.

Once a character becomes popular, more similar roles will follow. Once you play a bad guy or villain, you're stuck on a bad side, and it's hard to get any positive roles. Your box office appeal will also be greatly reduced.

I want to play the lead or second male lead in an A-list production.

That's practically impossible.

So sometimes, I'd rather not get any roles and just keep going.

Unless you really can't afford to eat, you can't play roles that are meant to be ugly. Although you can't act like a boss when you're doing things, you have to accept roles with the mindset of being a boss.

There are really no roles available.

If things don't work out, I'll just pack my bags and leave.

Sometimes being a little tougher isn't a bad thing; the bullying culture in this country is deeply ingrained.

The more you lick it.

It will only look down on you more!
They are capable, assertive, and proud of their culture.

On the contrary, you can gain respect.

Emmanuel wholeheartedly agreed, stating that he wasn't personally involved to sign a dispensable villain actor; if such a script were offered to him, he would reject it without hesitation.

After a brief conversation, Li Luo put the business card in his pocket, indicating that he needed to think it over before giving a reply.

Emmanuel naturally had no objections.

this kind of thing.

Of course, this needs to be considered carefully.

He didn't expect that a simple meeting and meal would make Li Luo agree to the terms. Even if Li wanted to inquire about his abilities, Emmanuel was confident in his abilities.

Striving elites.

It's not a small company.

And most importantly, while the elite are not the most powerful in Hollywood agencies.

Above that are giants like CAA and ICM.

compare to.

Elite Group is only a newcomer established for thirteen years, but those giants would never send someone at the founder level. Here, he truly gave Li Luo the respect due to a Hollywood big star.

Chat room.

Having made a fairly accurate estimate, Wahlberg strolled back leisurely.

Of course he knew what was going on.

But I'm too lazy to ask.

Americans still maintain a very strong sense of boundaries when it comes to such private matters.

After another round of laughter and conversation...

Dinner is over.

Emmanuel took the car keys from the doorman as he left the restaurant, waved, got into a bright red Ferrari, nodded to Li Luo and Wahlberg, and then roared away with a smile.

I squinted at the still-bright California sunshine.

Li Luoding pondered deeply.

Signing with the company.

In fact, it was imperative for me.

You have to be part of the right circle to make a living. If you want to establish yourself in Hollywood and make a lot of money here, you have to get into certain circles.

If not.

They wouldn't let you swagger around here.

Take, for example, John Wick.

He's been thinking about how to get the movie out these past few days; having a script and storyboards is just the first step. It's finished filming.

Only then can you truly make money.

Making a movie in Hollywood is incredibly easy; anyone with money can try their luck in the industry. As for whether you'll drown, well, the waters are always incredibly deep.

Nobody will stop you from making movies in Hollywood.

Take photos however you want.

But after filming, should we release the film, distribute it to various channels, and try to recoup the investment?

There's a certain intricacies involved in even just taking this picture.

some things.

It's obvious without even needing to think about it carefully.

While you could certainly find people from the union to build a team both in front of and behind the scenes, what good is it for a newcomer like you with no background and an Asian face, even if you achieved success in Twilight?

A truly skilled person would never accept your invitation.

Even if the compensation is at a premium.

They wouldn't risk ruining their reputation, and the people they recruit would most likely just do a shoddy job.

At this time, having a large brokerage firm behind you, with powerful figures helping to mediate and manage things, will make many things much easier and more efficient, and at the very least, you won't be taken advantage of and suffer a setback.

With the foundation of "Twilight," he will definitely attract the interest of many talent agencies.

Find a strong agent.

In fact, it was already part of his plan.

Even without today's events, Li Luo would have found a way to find out the relevant information.

What needs to be considered now.

It's about what kind of person Emmanuel is.

Should you accept the olive branch offered by the other party?

Just as Emmanuel's Ferrari disappeared at the end of the street, two jet-black Cadillac Escalades roared in.

The tires screeched hard on the concrete, leaving several marks.

It came to a steady stop right next to them.

The car window rolled down.

Smiling faces were revealed inside.

"mark."

"Li, come on!"

The car in front carried Connor and Owen, and the car behind carried Jessica and her assistant. Without a second thought, Li Luo smiled, waved to Connor and Owen, and quickly jumped into the car behind.

The engine continued to roar as it sped toward the Staples Center.

"Try to be as objective as possible."

As soon as Li Luo settled down, he immediately asked Chocolate Sweetheart, who was sitting next to him wearing a Lakers jersey, "What do you think of Ali Emmanuel?"

"asshole!"

Jessica didn't hesitate for a moment.

"Hey."

She immediately realized what was going on and hurriedly asked, "Was the person Mark said wanted to talk to you about Ali Emmanuel? He's a bastard, no doubt, but he's a really good bastard."

"To be honest, I'd like to recommend you to him."

“Alibaba used to be part of ICM, and International Innovation Management Corporation is a behemoth.”

"Due to dissatisfaction with the treatment received."

"Ali, together with several senior agents from ICM, defected and established his own company, which has become one of the top five agencies in Hollywood in just over a decade."

"Although it has not been established for long, it is very strong and competitive."

"OK."

Li Luo nodded and continued to ask, "What does 10% mean?"

"Oh~"

Jessica handed the prepared home jersey to Li Luo and said with a smile, "You're a newcomer now, so 10% is normal. We'll figure out how to negotiate further once you're in a stronger position."

"They're all short-term contracts anyway."

"If you can't prove your worth as an ambitious elite, it's okay to switch companies."

“When the Twilight sequel comes out, he’ll make hundreds of thousands of dollars for free. I should be able to guess that Ali will be eyeing you, after all, Mark was able to easily get you to come out.”

Amid Jessica's rambling...

Li Luo finally understood what was going on. There was some kind of talent agency law in Hollywood, which was specifically designed to regulate the artist management industry.

First signing.

You can only sign a one-year contract.

The maximum renewal period is also three years.

In addition, the commissions of agents are also capped, not exceeding 10% of the artist's film remuneration and commercial income. Finally, the agency cannot directly or indirectly enjoy the benefits of the production company or distribution company.

Everything that is restricted is to protect the interests of artists from being infringed.

Make sure the artist and their agent are on the same page!

According to Jessica.

I'm already charging the maximum rate. For an actress of her caliber, the rate could be reduced by one or two percentage points, or even lower. A low commission doesn't mean poor agency services.

On the contrary, because artists can leave the company at any time, it forces management companies to use personal relationships and professional services to retain clients.

After all, you can't earn this money if you don't want to.

There are plenty of people who want to earn it.

This explanation almost left Li Luo completely confused.

"Ok."

After barely managing to process that, he asked curiously, "What about direct superiors? What does that represent?"

"Wow!!!"

Jessica's eyes lit up as she looked Li Luo up and down and said, "Alibaba really thinks highly of you. Elite Group is not a small company; it produces movies, TV shows, variety shows, talk shows, and hosts."

"Singers, screenwriters, directors, writers, etc."

"They run the agency business for many celebrities, and Elite has dozens of agents at various levels."

"Ali."

"He only handles A-list celebrities!"

Jessica was extremely surprised at this point.

Under normal circumstances.

For someone like Li Luo, who just became famous for a supporting role in a movie, it would be considered good enough to have a junior agent to handle his work. Unexpectedly, Ali actually wanted to take charge of his work himself.

"I will not interfere with your career."

Turning around quickly, Jessica grasped Li Luo's hand and said solemnly, "I just want to tell you that Ali is indeed a very powerful bastard, and he definitely ranks high on the list of Hollywood's most powerful figures."

"The CEOs of major brokerage firms are like crocodiles lurking underwater."

"Can't see."

"But it possesses extremely powerful energy."

"I don't know if you know Michael Eisner, but he was in charge of the huge Disney business empire for twenty years. Ali dared to push open the door to the Disney king's house without an appointment just for the opportunity."

"after that."

"Yet they received no punishment."

"Alibaba has very deep connections in both political and business circles."

"He is Jewish."

Jessica emphasized the last sentence, and after a short pause, she continued nodding, "Perhaps you don't understand what this means, but I want to say that it can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary prejudice and trouble."

Jessica is well aware of the difficulties Asian faces will encounter in Hollywood, which can be bluntly described as discrimination.

I won't say it outright.

But we will definitely treat them differently.

With the help of someone like Alibaba, at least that kind of thing can be avoided to the greatest extent possible.

"Thank you!"

Li Luo said he understood.

Both importance and respect are in place.

strength.

The other party is not bad either.

The background is also quite extravagant.

Even if other agencies are interested in me, they are very unlikely to be at my level. So there is no reason to hesitate. The price I have to pay is only 10%!
To be honest, he quite liked Emmanuel's style of doing things; he was passionate, confident, and had the demeanor of a strongman.

the most critical.

They can also joke about anything, regardless of whether it's meat or fish.

He felt that he was a very real and relatable person, not some arrogant and pretentious guy.

I pulled out the business card.

Under Jessica's watchful gaze, Li Luo made the call. The phone rang twice before being answered by the other end, with a slight whooshing sound coming from inside.

“Mr. Emmanuel”.

Li Luo gripped the phone and raised his voice slightly: "Your Ferrari is very beautiful."

"Hahaha."

Emmanuel laughed and said quickly, "Of course it's beautiful. This little darling cost me over two hundred thousand dollars. Also, don't call me Mr. Emmanuel."

"Ali is fine!"

Slowing down, Emmanuel focused most of his attention on the Bluetooth headset.

We had only been apart for a short time.

The other party then called.

The following news will be either extremely good or extremely bad.

"OK."

Li Luo smiled and placed his hand on Jessica's thigh, gently stroking her delicate skin. "There will be a celebration party for 'Twilight' tonight. Would you be interested in attending?"

"certainly!!!"

Emmanuel laughed heartily and slammed his hand on the steering wheel: "Of course I'm interested, Lee. I'm very happy to receive this call, very, very happy."

Amid his cheerful laughter.

The phone hangs up.

Realizing he was about to acquire the next Jackie Chan, this Hollywood super-agent excitedly slammed on the accelerator of his Ferrari.

The convertible sports car transformed into a red lightning bolt, weaving through the glamorous streets of Los Angeles.

Staples Center.

On home field days, a large number of fans came to support the game.

As one of the most dazzling stages in the NBA, the Lakers have won over countless die-hard fans with their gorgeous playing style, and Jessica Alba is one of them, holding a pizza with a rich cheese aroma and a large cup of cola.

She went straight to the sidelines area, familiar with the place.

With excitement.

Li Luo quickly caught up with the other person and then quickly looked around.

Golden seats.

It was gradually filled by the audience.

The championship banners and retired jerseys hanging in the arena gleamed gold, boldly displaying the Lakers' glory.

The music continued.

The DJ kept the atmosphere lively, making it feel like a big party.

Suppress your excitement.

Li Luo quickened his pace and quickly arrived at the first row in the middle of the court. The distance was so close that he could walk onto the NBA floor with just a slight lift of his leg.

at this place.

They are able to compete directly against the world's top basketball players.

Jessica laughed and waved to the fans who were shouting for her, then plopped down next to Li Luo, followed by Wahlberg and the others.

"How about it?"

He looked at the guy whose face was full of expectation.

"Perfect!"

Li Luo gave a thumbs up.

This response made Chocolate Sweetheart's smile even brighter.

The pointer jumps.

Soon it was time for the players to warm up.

Amidst the huge cheers of the fans, one by one, the Lakers players walked out of the tunnel in their training uniforms, making Li Luo's eyes widen in disbelief, a feeling of stepping from fantasy into reality.

It welled up in my heart again.

Fisher, Gasol, Odom—these are the kinds of people who accompanied me through countless hours on television.

of course.

And that snake is indispensable!
The moment Li Luo saw the other person, his eyes widened completely.

"Yo yo yo."

"Kobe! Kobe!"

Excited shouts rang out from all directions, including from Jessica. Our chocolate sweetheart not only shouted, but also waved her arms repeatedly at the hard-boiled egg not far away.

Under Li Luo's bewildered gaze.

Black Mamba was not only attracted by Jessica's waving arms, but also immediately walked over with a big smile.

He high-fived Wahlberg.

He then gave Jessica another hug.

Finally, with the introduction of the chocolate sweetheart, Kobe Bryant extended his hand to the handsome Asian man wearing his jersey: "Hey, could you be that friend from the East?"

“Jessica stole my collection, and also took some of my tickets.”

"But that's okay."

“I love China. I’ve experienced unprecedented enthusiasm there. I’m so glad to see another fan today. I hope you enjoy the game tonight.”

"Thank you."

Taking a deep breath, Li Luo gripped the large hand tightly.

Chat for a while.

Kobe quickly waved goodbye.

Focus intently on the pre-match warm-up exercises.

Seeing Li Luo's bewildered expression, Wahlberg, Connor, and the others burst into laughter.

"Please."

"Don't you know that Jessica and Kobe are friends? He even praised Jessica as the most perfect woman. Not just anyone can get that jersey, at least we didn't have the chance."

"Side-by tickets aren't expensive, but tickets for these seats are very hard to get."

All the commotion turned into a violent cough as Jessica looked sweetly at Li Luo.

Wahlberg.

Konda, Owen, and the others all had resentful looks in their eyes.

Damn it, it seems like I'm the one who should be laughed at.

"Welcome to CCTV5 Sports Channel."

"Good morning, viewers. Next up is the Lakers vs. Celtics matchup. These two teams are old rivals, and I wonder what kind of sparks they'll create today."

"The match is about to begin."

"Judging from this situation, Kobe is about to start the game."

"Ok?"

"The live broadcast camera focused on the audience on the sidelines. As we all know, the Lakers' home games are the most star-studded, and Hollywood celebrities often come to watch the games."

"What appears on camera is..."

"Mark Wahlberg, he's a Hollywood superstar! He's starred in great movies like The Italian Job."

"Next."

"Wow."

Jessica Alba.

"Many viewers have probably seen her movie 'Fantastic Four,' and she is a very well-known Hollywood actress. It is said that she is also a long-time Lakers fan."

"The camera is still focused on the stands, it seems there are a lot of stars supporting the Lakers today."

Let's take a look.

"What the hell?"

"Cough, is this Li... cough, Li Luo???"

(End of this chapter)