Huayu became famous overnight

Chapter 257 The arena is not about fighting and killing
"Xu, you've misunderstood. Russell didn't mean that..."

Seeing that things weren't going well, Bell tried to smooth things over.

On one side was the director he had collaborated with many times, who was almost like his mentor; on the other side was Xu Ming, who strongly supported his casting in the film.

In a conflict between the two, being caught in the middle would only make things difficult for him.

"The script is set in New Jersey in the late 1970s, when the East Coast was dominated by Italian and Irish people, and Chinese gangs were active in Chinatowns in San Francisco or Chicago, but rarely involved in this kind of case."

"And if I'm not mistaken, your story has a real-life counterpart, making this character even more suitable for the Italian Mafia background..."

David looked serious and presented solid evidence to persuade Xu Ming.

Clearly, the other party had put in a lot of hard work on the script.

Xu Ming was stunned for a moment. The original version was indeed, as the other party said, a thug from Miami.

He casually changed his character to a Chinese person, not expecting the other party to notice the flaw.

Pani whispered, "Director David prefers De Niro for the role, as he has already worked with him on two films."

Oh~
The intention is to make room for the direct descendants.

Xu Ming knew that the so-called pursuit of art would always involve conflicts of interest.

As for the flaws in the script.

This thing is the least important thing for movies.

Star Wars, considered a classic by countless movie fans, has a lightsaber design that has garnered a huge following.

Of course, some people are wondering, "We've already reached the interstellar age, why are we still using swords?"
The reason is simple: director Lucas was deeply influenced by Akira Kurosawa and Japanese sword films when he was making the film, and that's how he introduced the concept of lightsabers.

No matter how you try to justify it, you can't reconcile the Star Wars setting of swords, but that doesn't diminish the fact that it's a classic.

After all, using a sword is definitely cooler than using a gun.

Look at the Avengers; hammers, bows and arrows, and shields can all be used to fight aliens, even more effectively than Iron Man's...

Having figured out David's thoughts, Xu Ming immediately began to think calmly.

To be honest, it was worth getting Pani as an assistant.

“The Chinese actor you recommended is completely unknown in Hollywood. Why not De Niro instead? He’s a familiar face…” David continued.

The others present nodded in agreement.

Indeed, compared to Zhao Wenzhuo, Robert De Niro, who has won both the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, is clearly more famous in the global market.

A sudden inspiration struck Xu Ming, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile.

He had absolutely no need to assume that everyone present was a monolithic entity.

David has a good relationship with Bell and others, but are their interests necessarily aligned?

"So, you mean to strengthen the gangster subplot? Otherwise, what's the point of replacing him with De Niro?" Xu Ming said unhurriedly.

David didn't speak, but Bell and the others nodded secretly.

“But we already have three storylines: the triangular power struggle between politicians, con artists, and detectives. Adding a gang subplot would only seem abrupt and could even blur the main storyline.”

“From the very beginning, this character was a functional character in my script design. It doesn’t need to be explored to have much meaning. On the contrary, our main characters need it more.”

Xu Ming paused, then glanced at Bell, Jennifer, and the others: "What do you think?"

If Zhao Wenzhuo were replaced by De Niro, he would inevitably take up more screen time.

This is crucial for players like Bell and Jennifer.

It's an ensemble piece anyway, and no one wants to have their role reduced; having one less competitor is a good thing for them.

Moreover, De Niro is an Oscar-winning actor, while Zhao Wenzhuo is just an action actor; the latter has almost no overlap with them.

"I am confident that I can grasp the three main storylines, plus the additional subplot."

David sensed something was amiss and, without giving Bell and the others a chance to answer, interrupted, saying, "I was nominated for Best Director at the Oscars just last year, so I know what those judges like."

"Sometimes, complexity is not a disadvantage; if you are skilled enough, you can turn it into an advantage."

Those who had initially sided with Xu Ming began to waver again.

In terms of seniority and achievements, the latter is clearly no match for David, and his words are more trustworthy.

Megan Williams, in particular, has remained silent on the topic, and this film was planned to be an Oscar contender from the very beginning.

Even a nomination can help with a film's box office and the sale of its copyrights.

"Hehe, if we're talking about results, the screenplay I wrote last year generated nearly 500 million US dollars at the box office, just in one year," Xu Ming said with a smile.

The actual figure is just over 4 million, but that doesn't stop him from exaggerating a bit.

“That’s not Hollywood,” David said in a deep voice.

"But the audience is the same, isn't it? Hollywood movies can also achieve high box office returns in China, just like Mission: Impossible 4, which just finished its run in theaters and has already grossed over 100 million US dollars in China."

"What does this mean? Good things will be recognized by audiences worldwide."

Xu Ming added unhurriedly to the last sentence: "Moreover, I invested thirty million US dollars in this film, and I have to take into account the commercial performance of this film and the Chinese market."

Well, he just helped bring in 30 million US dollars in investment.

However, those present considered those Chinese capital entities to be synonymous with him, and they accepted this view.

After the previous remarks, everyone was still debating who was more in the right.

When it came to the last sentence, there was no need to think about it; Mr. Xu was definitely right.

This means that most of the salaries of everyone present will come from Xu Ming, and they will fight anyone who says their sugar daddy is wrong.

“Well, Xu is the screenwriter, so let’s stick to his opinion on the roles,” Megan stepped forward and made the final decision.

“Actually, Director David’s suggestion is not without reason, but you are more focused on the film itself, while I am more concerned about the film’s commercial performance.”

Xu Ming did not press his advantage, but said with a friendly smile, "The discussion just now has also given me a lot of inspiration. I will pay more attention to this aspect when creating scripts in the future."

The opportunity has been presented; it's just a matter of whether the old man is willing to accept it.

David's expression changed twice.

Xu Ming noticed that Bell and the others, who were originally closer to him in the room, had somehow moved closer to him.

He bent over slightly as he straightened up and said, "Do you have any videos of Zhao's performances? I'm very curious about how good his kung fu is."

The tense atmosphere eased.

The competition between Zhao Wenzhuo and De Niro for the role has been decided, and the final choice has been revealed.

However, neither of the two parties involved had a say in this competition from beginning to end.

"He's not like Jackie Chan; he's more like Jet Li, and they're classmates from the same school."

Xu Ming paused for a moment, then added, "His style is even more rugged than Jet Li's."

After all, Jet Li's kung fu was more about elegance and chivalry.

In his opinion, Jet Li's performance was no less impressive than his martial arts skills.

Zhao Wenzhuo's weakness lies in her acting; it's too formulaic, though her physical skills might be superior.

David became interested; he was naturally familiar with Jet Li.

As one of the symbols of Chinese Kung Fu, the latter's action scenes have a loyal following even in Hollywood.

"As for the video, I specifically asked my assistant to bring it this time, so she can bring it over and play it later."

Xu Ming paused for a moment, "Of course, I received his instruction in kung fu, and I can probably capture about seven-tenths of his essence in boxing."

hiss~
Does this mean the other party also knows Chinese Kung Fu?

Everyone suddenly became excited.

"Why don't you show us first?" Jennifer asked curiously.

"Alright." Xu Ming readily agreed.

When dealing with foreigners, you can't be as humble as you are at home. These people are straightforward and will take humility as the truth.

Therefore, it is quite necessary to show off your skills appropriately.

He assumed a horse stance, his gaze sharp and intense, his breath concentrated in his dantian.

"Ah!"

Xu Ming let out a loud shout and punched out with a loud crack.

Amidst the exclamations of 'Amazing' from the crowd.

He performed a set of Tongbei Quan with great vigor, and when he got excited, he even slapped a wooden chair next to him with his palm.

Click!
Everyone stared in disbelief as the chair cracked.

Xu Ming remained calm, placing his slightly trembling hands behind his back, displaying the demeanor of a master.

The shouting and slamming of the wooden chair were all additions he made on his own initiative.

These foreigners fall for this.

Korean Taekwondo is popular with foreigners precisely because of its flashy and elaborate style.

If we're really talking about real combat, wouldn't learning Sanda or boxing be more practical?

"Xu, may I touch your muscles?"

Jennifer's eyes were sparkling. Before Xu Ming could even agree, she reached out and pinched his cheek.

Feeling the hard texture, she said from the bottom of her heart, "I feel like I won't be able to sleep if I don't dream about you at night."

“We’re friends, right? Friends shouldn’t just start fights.” Bell said, trying to recall if he had ever offended Xu Ming before.

"I'm already looking forward to Zhao's arrival."

David clapped his hands and said, "If he can replicate your performance, it will definitely be a highlight of our movie."

"With you here, our film will never lack highlights," Xu Ming responded.

The conflict that had just arisen between the two vanished.

The world of martial arts isn't just about fighting and killing; it's always been about human relationships and social dynamics, especially in circles like Hollywood.

Especially considering Xu Ming's current role, he represents China Capital.

This makes it even more difficult for the two sides to become adversaries.

When meat-eaters have no shortage of food, they will only turn their attention to herbivores.

Hunting the latter is far less strenuous than fighting each other.

He painstakingly put together "American Hustle" and climbed to the position of producer in order to squeeze into the ranks of the meat-eaters.

This starting point will save him a lot of unnecessary trouble.

When he first became famous, he seemed to be defiant and rebellious, but in the end, he just wanted to be superior to others, so countless people stepped on him.

Below, in the middle, above—no one hoped he could get up there.

But when he actually stood on it and looked up, all he saw were smiling faces.

"Was it recorded?" Megan asked the photographer, looking down at him.

There is a camera in the room that works continuously, and what it records will become behind-the-scenes footage of this movie.

Clearly, Megan saw the scene of Xu Ming boxing earlier as something she could exploit.

"It's been recorded." The photographer nodded.

Megan turned her attention back to Xu Ming, this Chinese man who had brought her many surprises, but she didn't know if it could continue.

Thinking of this, she asked, "The role of Agent Richie has been left undecided for a long time. Do you have any recommendations?"

“Bradley Cooper,” Xu Ming said.

The original Richie was played by this actor, and with the success of the original, he rarely changes the cast.

Megan frowned slightly, glanced at David who was equally surprised, and continued, "Bradley is a comedian, wouldn't that clash too much with our film style?"

The other party's representative works, "The Hangover" and "The Hangover Part II," are deeply rooted in people's hearts and are completely different in style from "American Hustle."

“There’s a saying in my hometown that a comedian’s appearance in a serious drama is like a game-changer. While that’s a bit of an exaggeration, I don’t think he can’t adapt to it,” Xu Ming shrugged.

He reverses cause and effect, and can fabricate any reason the other party wants.

“It seems you and Director David get along quite well in some ways,” Megan said with a smile.

Xu Ming raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding what the other person meant.

“Bradley and Jennifer co-starred in David's new film, ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’” Panny explained quietly.

Xu Ming was slightly taken aback, and instantly understood why Megan's eyes looked so strange.

So Bradley is David's man, and he's essentially giving David a push.

That being said, who the hell said that people don't value personal relationships in overseas societies?

The original cast of "American Hustle" was almost entirely director David Robinson's close friends and family, showing that Robinson has a strong desire for control.

“Then let’s have Bradley audition, and if he’s good enough, we’ll cast him,” Megan said.

However, everyone knows it's just a formality. With the double recommendation of David and Xu Ming, it would be difficult for Bradley to be rejected.

Even so, everyone's perception of Xu Ming's status in the crew has risen to another level.

The latter has already influenced the selection of two main characters.

It's clear that he has considerable influence within the production team.

David's attitude towards Xu Ming has also become much closer, which David sees as a sign of goodwill from the other party.

Little did he know, Xu Ming hadn't thought that far ahead at all.

But he was happy to gain a favor for free.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. I'm planning to host a banquet tonight, and you're all welcome to attend if you have the time," Xu Ming said.

Everyone readily agreed, none of them wanting to embarrass their benefactor.

……

night.

The lights were on in a villa in Beverly Hills.

Bell, Jennifer, and the others who arrived as scheduled were momentarily stunned by the large number of bigwigs present at the event.

"Bell, is Xu really not a global billionaire, just a multi-millionaire?" Jennifer asked doubtfully.

This banquet is beyond the level that even a billionaire could host.

“We’ve only known each other for less than six months, so I probably know him about the same way you do,” Bell said helplessly.

Jennifer and Amy stood together, and the two gained a completely new understanding of the producer of their project.

Meanwhile, Xu Ming was also busy dealing with all sorts of visitors.

After finally managing to appease the Wall Street bigwigs, he turned to Wanda's US representative and said, "I asked you to help create momentum, but you don't need to go to such lengths."

Besides expanding his network, he also hosted this banquet as a declaration of his arrival to Hollywood.

In the future, when discussing projects, he won't need to introduce himself so frequently anymore.

Unexpectedly, Wanda took the formalities a bit too far.

(End of this chapter)