Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 436 Other People's Stories

On the evening of September 30, 2011, the area outside the BJ Huaxing UME International Cinema was already bustling with activity. Despite the slightly chilly weather, it did not deter the throngs of movie fans and media personnel who flocked to the cinema.

As the only domestically produced film of the year, Huanxin Company also spent a lot of money on publicity for this premiere. Security lines were set up early on, and hundreds of fans and moviegoers, both real and fake, waited outside. Media reporters who received red envelopes began to enter the venue from 4 pm onwards.

Huanxin Company even built a replica of a "desert and Gobi" scenic area, with a dilapidated off-road vehicle parked on the cracked earth, surrounded by yellow sand and skull installations, where visitors can take photos.

After 5 p.m., the red carpet area began to bustle. Celebrities arrived one after another, and flashes of camera lights went off frequently. At 5:15 p.m., a female star wearing a sharply tailored black dress slowly walked into the interview area, causing a stir among the media—it was Carina Lau.

"Sister Jialing, may I ask what you're wearing tonight?"

"Hehehe, it's a very ordinary dress, a Vera Wang gown, there's only one in the whole world. I picked it out specially because I thought the color matched the atmosphere tonight, simple and comfortable, what do you think?"

"So beautiful~ Why did Carina Lau come in alone today? Why wasn't Tony Leung with you?"

Carina Lau laughed and said, "Of course he has to go with his crew. So I'll just have to walk here all by myself."

As she answered the questions, she waved to several people passing by.

"How does Sister Jialing feel about being here tonight?"

Carina Lau smiled and said, "I'm very happy to see so many good friends."

A female reporter asked, "I heard that Chen Nuo won't be attending the premiere today. Has Sister Jialing heard that? Is it true?"

She shook her head and said, "I don't know about that. You'll have to ask someone at their company."

The female reporter pressed further, "Didn't Tony Leung tell you anything about it?"

Carina Lau laughed and said, "You know him, he never talks to me about these things."

At this moment, a male reporter from another media outlet said, "No Man's Land won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes. Did Carina Lau and Tony Leung celebrate properly?"

"Of course."

"What exactly is it? Would you mind telling me?"

"It's just about having a meal together and having some fun."

"Would you be disappointed if Chen Nuo didn't come today?"

"I definitely will." She heard someone call her, turned around and waved behind her.

"What's your relationship with Chen Nuo like?"

“That’s great. We met when we were filming ‘Bullets Fly’ and we often chatted together. He has a great personality and we get along very well.”

Have you seen his recent movies?

"Yes~ I even booked a whole theater in Hong Kong for my friends to see it."

"So, who do you think is better at acting, his or Tony Leung's?"

"all good."

Have you been in contact recently?

"of course."

"Alright, that concludes the interview. This way, please, Sister Jialing."

It seemed that they noticed Carina Lau's expression was starting to stiffen, so the staff immediately came forward and interrupted the media's questions with a smile: "Thank you, reporters. That concludes our interview with Carina Lau for today. We have another group of guests coming in soon, so please cooperate."

After saying that, he escorted her across the red carpet and into the film studio.

As Carina Lau walked, she raised her hand and waved to the fans on both sides with a smile.

Although the latter half of the interview focused almost entirely on Chen Nuo, Carina Lau didn't seem to mind. She'd seen this kind of thing many times before. In Hong Kong, whether it was Leslie Cheung and Alan Tam in the 80s or the Four Heavenly Kings in the 90s, everyone else naturally paled in comparison to their brilliance.

Overall, she was actually in a pretty good mood.

After all, according to previous information, someone was indeed not going to show up tonight. While this might be a significant loss for the domestic promotion of "No Man's Land," it might not be a bad thing for the other actors in the crew.

Before entering the theater, she went to the VIP lounge. There were still forty minutes before the screening, and many guests were already there, exchanging greetings, taking photos, and signing autographs. The publicity team was also arranging seats and conducting media interviews.

Meanwhile, spectators outside began to enter the venue one after another.

For this project, Huanxin Company booked the largest theater at Huaxing UME. The seats were pre-placed with brochures and gift bags printed with the movie logo, including postcards, movie stills, posters, and even a replica bullet casing.

This was the first time such an event had occurred in China in 2011, and many media professionals and viewers were quite surprised and delighted when they saw it.

Actually, this approach was borrowed by Huanxin from Warner Bros.' premiere of "Inception." Warner Bros. data shows that if audiences receive gifts at the premiere, the likelihood of leaving positive reviews on social media and rating websites increases from 10%-20% to 50%-60%, making it extremely cost-effective.

Huanxin is just copying the old model this time.

As Carina Lau entered the lounge, staff immediately offered her water and guided her to a seat. Upon entering, she saw Johnnie To chatting with Tsui Hark.

Earlier on the red carpet, Johnnie To greeted her, which surprised her. Now, she smiled and stepped forward, asking, "Mr. To, what brings you here?"

Johnnie To turned around and said in Cantonese with a smile, "Come over here and support Tony Leung."

Carina Lau was somewhat skeptical. After all, Johnnie To, as the company's boss, was a very busy man. Although Tony Leung had a good relationship with him, it was really unlikely that he would go north to support the company without prior notice.

However, prior to this, she had indeed never heard of Johnnie To having any contact with Huanxin Company or Chen Nuo.

Could it be because of Tsui Hark?

But Tsui Hark immediately revealed the answer: "The Milkyway Image is currently collaborating with Nok-jai and the others, so of course he'll come."

"Cooperation? What?" Carina Lau asked curiously.

Johnnie To smiled without saying a word, and Tsui Hark also chuckled.

Upon further questioning, Johnnie To revealed that they had collaborated on a television series. Further inquiry revealed that Milkyway Image's two top screenwriters—Yau Nai-hoi and Wai Ka-fai—had recently worked with the newly revamped Pang Ho-cheung, completing the script, and all three had now flown to the United States.

He refused to give any further details.

Carina Lau was itching to listen.

It's worth noting that Milkyway Image had never ventured into television dramas before, and Huanxin had never produced its own. Now that the two companies have joined forces, if word gets out, it's likely to shake the entire Hong Kong television industry.

And what about her? Is there any chance for her in this situation?
To find out the specifics, we'll have to wait until she returns to Hong Kong and ask around among the relevant people.

Just because Galaxy Impressions can't get the answer doesn't mean no one else knows. There's at least one girl in Hong Kong who should be very well-informed.

Around 18:50 PM, Carina Lau entered the theater and sat in a seat towards the back of the middle. At this time, she noticed that all the artists from Huanxin Company had also taken their seats.

Fan Binbing, Liu Yifei, and a few other mainland actors she couldn't quite name, but the name that had just flashed through her mind wasn't among them.

As the premiere ceremony officially began, Carina Lau put away her thoughtful expression and focused intently on the stage.

First, a cinema representative took the stage to give a welcoming speech, followed by a brief speech from Li Jing, CEO of Huanxin Company, thanking the film crew, partners, and all the audience members who supported the film.

Next was the segment where the cast and crew members took the stage to appear.

Ning Hao took the lead, and her husband, also dressed in a dark gray suit, went on stage accompanied by Huang Bo and Ma Su.

After the speeches, the creative team and guests returned to their seats in the VIP section.

At 19:15, the lights dimmed and the theater quieted down.

Then, a bouncy cartoon character appeared on the big screen.

Carina Lau also saw the same animation in the opening credits of "Inception," only that one was in English.

This time, it's the Chinese characters for Huanran Yixin Film Industry Co., Ltd.

Then, a depressing story that lasted for more than two hours began, taking the audience in the theater back to that desolate desert with its endless yellow sand.

……

That same evening, a short review appeared on Douban, likely left by an audience member who received a small gift at the premiere; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so cheesy.

In just one night, it received more than 500 likes, ranking first in the short comment section.

It wrote:
"The second best film of the year, another revitalized production. After watching it, I believe that the phrase 'revitalized production' will become a source of pride for Chinese cinema and for all Chinese people in the future! Keep it up!"

……

……

"Damn, that's really awesome. Xiangzi, have you been here before?"

Do you think I look unlucky with my face?

"Xiangzai, you're not so unlucky, you've just gained weight."

"Shut up!" Pang Ho-cheung said irritably.

But his agent, Zhang Xin, ignored him and turned around from the passenger seat, still saying, "Look at you, with that belly, you still want to pick up foreign girls? I don't think you'll have much of a chance."

This remark made Yau Nai-hoi, who was sitting next to Pang Ho-cheung, and Wai Ka-fai, who was sitting in the row behind him, laugh. This infuriated Pang Ho-cheung.

Ignoring the idiot agent, he turned his head and looked at the scenery outside the car window.

Blue sky and white clouds, azure sea and silver sand.

The coconut trees lining both sides of the road are tall and straight, standing in neat rows like a military formation, swaying gracefully in the Atlantic sea breeze.

He had been to Palm Beach, but he had never actually been to this particular Palm Beach.

The South Sea Lake District, the golden coastal area in Palm Beach, is one of the most expensive and rarest areas in all of Florida.

Without an invitation from the local residents to confirm by phone, ordinary people wouldn't even be able to cross that bridge.

But once you enter this community, you'll understand why it's so heavily guarded and isolated from the outside world.

Needless to say, when ordinary people see those rows of exquisitely beautiful seaside villas and those extremely luxurious mansions, their envy will surely spread like wildfire.

If something happens, it's not a big deal if ordinary people get injured or killed, but if a resident here gets hurt or bumped, the police chief will probably have to hold a press conference.

How could this not be heavily guarded?
"Brother Hui, you know a lot about real estate, how much would it cost to buy a house here?" You Naihai asked.

Wei Jiahui was in a daze for some reason and did not answer for a moment.

Yau Nai-hoi asked again, and the chief screenwriter of Milkyway Image, who is also recognized as one of the most talented screenwriters in Hong Kong, finally came to his senses and said, "Tens of millions."

Hong Kong dollars?

“Hong Kong dollars? You’re dreaming. It’s US dollars, of course.” Wei Jiahui chuckled. “But even if you have the money, you might not be able to buy it. The people living here are all extremely wealthy and powerful, either inheriting assets from generations ago or being top players in the financial world. Ordinary people don’t even have the qualifications to get close. This place is for the ‘superior’ people, not for ‘people’ to live in.” You Naihai laughed and teased, “Doesn’t this sound a lot like our script?”

Wei Jiahui perked up and nodded: "Class prison, isn't it everywhere in the world? I was just thinking about that. Ah Hai, no wonder Boss Chen was able to make a name for himself in Hollywood at such a young age, and now the whole world calls him the pride of the Chinese. Brilliant, really brilliant! Isn't this exactly what our show is about? Transcending national borders, no translation needed, everyone will understand it at a glance."

"I just realized that the plot of that place could actually have been done like this..."

As Pang Ho-cheung listened to Wai Ka-fai speak, he also frowned and pondered deeply.

Afterwards, the three of them discussed the script that they had already finished writing in the car.

Before I knew it, the car suddenly stopped.

The discussion inside the car also stopped.

Several people were looking outside when they saw a large black iron gate slowly opening in front of the car.

A white pebble driveway leads to a picturesque beach backyard. With the sea breeze blowing and coconut palms swaying, a modern white villa comes into view. It faces the sea, with an infinity pool and a private beach. White canvas lounge chairs and parasols are placed by the pool. In the distance, the sparkling Atlantic Ocean is visible, and nearby, rows of lush tropical shrubs grow.

A man wearing a black T-shirt was standing on the second-floor terrace of the villa, looking at them. Beside the garage on the first floor, a pretty girl dressed in revealing clothing was smiling and waiting.

Looking at this scene, Pang Ho-cheung couldn't find the words to describe his feelings, but he felt a lump in his throat that he had to get out, so he could only mutter a curse under his breath: "Damn it."

He was clearly not the only one who thought this way.

Behind him, Yau Nai-hoi's soft voice could be heard: "When I was writing the script, I thought I was telling someone else's story. But now I realize that what I'm writing is actually myself."

……

……

"The Eagle Catches the Chicks (working title)". Screenplay: Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Pang Ho-cheung.

Chen Nuo looked at the thick script in front of him, then at the three Hong Kong compatriots who had come from afar, and said sincerely, "Thank you for your hard work." Then he turned his head and urged, "Nazha, go and urge them to prepare the guest rooms quickly so that the three of you can go and rest first."

"Yes," came the girl's clear voice.

Wei Jiahui quickly stopped him, saying, "Hey, hey, hey, no need to rush, it's alright."

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "Brother Jia Hui, you've traveled a long way and taken a night flight. Adjust your time difference first. I know you've all been working hard these past few days. Don't say or think about anything these next couple of days. Just enjoy yourself here for a few days."

“This—isn’t that a bit inappropriate, boss?” Pang Ho-cheung said hesitantly.

Zhang Xin said from the side, "Just laugh if you want to, Xiangzi, you're about to burst out laughing."

"...Can't you shut up?!"

"Hahaha."

Chen Nuo laughed.

He had previously noticed that Pang Ho-cheung got along very well with his company's agents, and now it seems that this was indeed the case.

Next, he spent two days reading through the 13-episode script that Pang Ho-cheung and two others had spent nearly five months writing.

He looked at it very carefully, comparing it with the book "The Squid Game" in his mind as he read it.

In conclusion, this Hong Kong version of "The Eagle Catches the Chickens" should be no less excellent than the original.

At least that's how he sees it.

After all, Hong Kong has one of the highest wealth gaps in Asia, and its Gini coefficient has even ranked first in Asia on several occasions. Hong Kong screenwriters are even more insightful than South Koreans when it comes to writing about this topic, and they are very good at grasping the core of the issue.

Furthermore, Pang Ho-cheung has always been known as a screenwriting genius, and Yau Nai-hoi has always been known as the "Demon Blade" in the Hong Kong screenwriting circle. With the addition of Wai Ka-fai, who has a strong sense of logic, the entire script not only inherits the original absurdity, but also adds some dark humor.

At least from the script, it is highly readable.

Another example is the game of "Eagle Catches Chickens," which has a similar counterpart in Europe and America called "The Fox and the Goose." Although the rules are different, it also carries the strategic elements of chasing, surrounding, and counter-surrounding, making it easier for Western audiences to accept and understand than the squid game.

Aside from these positive aspects, there are other concerns as well.

In Chen Nuo's view, "The Eagle Catches the Chicken" is like Johnnie To's previous films, such as "The Mission" and "Sparrow". The characters' dialogue is very ingenious, the structure is very complex, and the pace is very fast. This is a good thing in movies, but he is a little worried that it will cause fatigue for the audience when it is used in TV series.

After all, TV series are different from movies. If the plot of each episode is too fast and too dense, it is not suitable to watch it all at once.

Of course, this is just his opinion, and the script is only the first version; there will be time for further adjustments.

His invitation to the three screenwriters wasn't for script revisions. His aim was to bring both sides together in person. Especially Pang Ho-cheung, the director; he should at least meet with the investors and have a chat. After all, Hong Kong people can speak English without any problems.

Three days after Pang Ho-cheung and his team arrived, Netflix's team arrived on the other side.

Led by Reed Hastings, the group included Lorraine Eisner and several other men and women he didn't recognize. The absence of the Elf Prince this time was somewhat surprising to Chen Nuo.

But the moment they met, noticing the way Luo Rui looked at him, Chen Nuo immediately understood. This woman had probably finally gained the upper hand in the internal power struggle within the company.

Sure enough, before the formal meeting began, Luo Rui found a moment to pull him aside and talk about the inside story of Netflix, including this matter.

“I’ve convinced Reed to temporarily shelve that political drama and prioritize allocating a budget of $100 million to film two seasons of your show. He agreed. If things go smoothly, we can sign the contract on the spot.”

"Well done." Chen Nuo gave a thumbs up.

Luo Rui smiled. In the sunlight, her long, light golden hair was as soft and shiny as melted honey. This woman could be said to have even fairer skin and finer pores than Theron. Her features were three-dimensional, and her summer clothes, which were somewhere between formal and casual, made her stand out against the azure sky and tropical sea breeze of Florida, making people's hearts race.

“I should thank you,” she blinked gently. “If it weren’t for your Inception leaving Reed speechless, I wouldn’t have been able to convince him so easily.”

"Hehe, it's none of my business." Chen Nuo waved his hand.

Luo Rui pursed her lips and said, "Really. So, Reed wants you to star in this TV series."

"What? Me?" Chen Nuo was taken aback and shook his head. "No, no no no, I don't have the time."

"Are you really not in time?"

"correct."

Luo Rui sighed softly, "Oh, what should we do?"

Chen Nuo said, "There's nothing I can do."

"Really?" Luo Rui looked up at him. "Can't you think of a way? Chen, please~"

I rely on.

Chen Nuo couldn't help but take three steps back. If it weren't for the fact that it was broad daylight, he would have really wanted to shout: Where did this female demon come from?
Damn it, after knowing her for so many years, this is the first time he's ever realized that Rory Eisner, who's popular with both men and women, can actually act cute.

……

As expected, in the following meetings, Reed Hastings' attention was not on the script, the director, or the screenwriter as he had previously imagined.

This man had been watching him all along.

Oh shit.

"...Next?" Chen Nuo avoided Reed Hastings's gaze and said, "I'm going to be very, very busy, extremely busy. I'll be a frequent flyer for a long time. I'll be attending premieres all over the world for a movie produced by my company. Speaking of which, if Netflix is ​​interested in this movie, you can talk to me about the copyright. It's a Western suspenseful violence film with a dark style, which will definitely suit your members' tastes."

Reed Hastings didn't reply, but asked seriously, "How long are you going to be gone?"

Chen Nuo, feeling awkward, said sheepishly, "A month, at least."

Then, he unconsciously glanced at Rory Eisner.

If it weren't for this woman's brilliant idea, he wouldn't have been able to think of turning his casually mentioned Silk Road Alliance, which he used to sell films, into a distribution network.

This time, Qi Yuntian went to LA to hold a revenue-sharing meeting with Warner Bros., and the news he brought back made him realize even more the importance of establishing his own distribution channels.

Perhaps the 10%-15% "distribution service fee" wouldn't be a big deal for other movies, but for "Inception," Warner Bros.' demand for 15% was a death sentence for them.

In truth, his "lying flat party" attitude is only something to look forward to ten years from now.

but now?
To raise the $2 million, he still has a loan of over $1 million from the Bank of China! To be honest, this is the poorest he's ever been since his rebirth, and he desperately needs the box office revenue from "Inception" to cover his deficit.

However, based on Inception's current global box office of $23.6 billion, after deducting 50% of the theater revenue share and P&A (publicity and advertising) costs of $11 million, there is a net box office income of approximately $1.1 billion.

15% of 11 billion is approximately 1.6 million US dollars!
What kind of joke is this?

Not only could he and Qi Yuntian not accept it, but Hengdian could not accept it either, and Christopher Nolan's side could not accept it either.

The parties are currently arguing in Los Angeles, insisting that Warner Bros. charge 10% regardless of the circumstances, and that they shouldn't be greedy and make irresponsible statements.

According to Qi Yuntian, Warner Bros. was initially adamant, but Nolan's wife brought up the "Batman 3" issue, implying that things shouldn't be taken too far and sever all future ties. This softened Michael Slan's attitude.

However, this also shows just how profitable it is to issue such things.

Even if Warner Bros. didn't invest a single penny, but merely acted as the publisher, they could still rake in over a hundred million US dollars. A true money-printing machine.

Although Huanxin is still far from Warner Bros.' level and it's impossible for them to produce any blockbuster films for global distribution in the near future, that's today. Who knows what will happen in the future?
Only by holding this weapon in your own hand can you avoid being stabbed.

Just like Bong Joon-ho, this top South Korean director and CJ's new film "Snowpiercer" also needs Harvey Weinstein to be able to release it in the United States, and will eventually be ripped off so badly that his own mother won't recognize him.

He didn't want to end up in that situation, so he had to expand his territory himself and turn the Silk Road Alliance into a real Silk Road.

Lorra Eisner is a real talent.

His glance was one of admiration, a sign that the woman had foresight.

Reed Hastings glanced at Lorraine as well, then, for reasons unknown, turned back to him and asked, "Was everything alright after that?"

"No, something's wrong. I've taken on a new movie, a Quentin Tarantino film, and filming is expected to start around March next year."

"And then what?"

"After filming, I will be preparing for the Shanghai International Film Festival in the second half of the year. I will be the chairman of the jury next year."

“…Wow.” Reed Hastings exclaimed insincerely, “Congratulations.”

Chen Nuo gave a forced smile: "Thank you."

Hastings' smile vanished instantly, and he asked, "And what happens after the film festival?"

Chen Nuo finally glanced at this powerful figure who would later be known as the "Godfather of Streaming Media," sighed helplessly, and said, "Reed, please, don't do this. From the very beginning, I never intended to play the role myself."

Reed Hastings also sighed and said, "Chen, don't be like this, I really need you. Look at our Netflix stock price, it's plummeted from over 300 to just over 100 now, it's like a roller coaster ride, our board of directors is going crazy."

“I can come up with a hundred million dollars to make a TV series, but this is not the time for just anyone to do it. What I need is someone who can boost market confidence, someone who can attract the attention of Wall Street, someone who can save us from this damn quagmire.”

"And this person, tell me, is there anyone else in all of Asia besides you?"

(End of this chapter)