The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 58 Born Cyberman, Keanu Reeves

……

Lu Zhiyuan was very busy in the next few days.

He found a suitable fighting coach, weight loss expert, nutrition expert for Reba... At the same time, he also rented a small training room and placed seven or eight cameras.

These cameras can ensure 24-hour, 360-degree coverage of all the details of Reba’s training!
He is imitating Jia Ling's "Weight Loss Diary".

If necessary, these documentaries can be edited into dozens of seconds of footage and included in subsequent movie highlights.

besides……

He is worried about the male protagonist.

Originally, he wanted to find a Chinese actor.

For example, Jet Li.

Let the other party play the role of an elder like Reba's father or uncle, and then die at the hands of the cyborg villain, helping Reba enter the dark night of the soul.

He had even imagined the scene of Jet Li's death.

It has to be by the sea.

It has to be near a lonely lighthouse.

Below them were rolling waves and a strong storm was blowing, making their clothes disheveled and their hair flying wildly, which was a metaphor for how small and helpless they were in the face of such a huge force.

And in the distance, there is a blood-red setting sun.

As the sun slowly set, Jet Li, who played a father-like role to Reba, died in front of her.

In extreme grief, Reba had her spine broken by a gunshot, unable to struggle, her red eyes shed bloody tears.

In the film's composition, the two people and the surrounding areas must be in cool colors.

The sunset in the distance retains its warm orange-red tones from beginning to end.

Lonely seaside, cold colors, sharp lines...

All this implies that the character of Reba encountered a tragedy as cruel as a knife blade and fell into endless darkness in life!
However, in the corner of the picture, there is a hint of warm light from the sunset.

It is this ray of warm light that represents the infinite possibilities of the future.

……

"Géricault's 'The Raft of the Medusa', with its tilted raft, the diagonal distribution of the crowd, the entanglement of corpses and living bodies, the storm and the sunset, creates a doomsday atmosphere..."

"It should be similar to my composition, right?"

Looking at the scene he had imagined for this dark night of the soul, Lu Zhiyuan was full of anticipation.

of course.

The painting "The Raft of the Medusa" is an accusation against shipwreck, and Lu Zhiyuan's composition is mainly an accusation against the unprovoked disaster suffered by the character Reba!
The two are not the same thing.

However, there are similarities... Both are about humanity's struggle in desperate situations!
……

however--

"Ayuan, I asked for you."

"Jet Li said that if you want to play a supporting role, especially for a newcomer like Reba, you can't do it without $1000 million."

Of course, there is no need for Lu Zhiyuan to go in person to ask for the price.

The movie "Upgrade" is also produced by a star-studded cast, with Focus Features organizing the Hollywood side.

Therefore, it was of course the producer Zhao Shanshan who came forward to negotiate the role.

"1000 million US dollars? That's too expensive! Our budget is limited, and we can only give you 200 million US dollars at most!"

Apple provided most of the investment for the entire film.

However, Apple is not a sucker.

This is Lu Zhiyuan's trial work. Although it is the first commercial film directed by the Palme d'Or award-winning director, it has enough gimmicks.

However, from a business perspective, they are only willing to offer a budget of 1000 million US dollars!

They also have an internal evaluation agency... $1000 million is like a 30-second commercial they run in the Super Bowl.

Even if the movie flopped, they wouldn't lose money.

After all, 1000 million US dollars is at stake, and the reputation of a Palme d'Or director is at stake.

Lu Zhiyuan wants more investment... Okay, but they need to get more box office revenue, copyright fees, and DVD revenue.

This affects the interests of Focus Features.

It is extremely difficult to significantly increase the negotiated contract and budget before filming.

Unless Lu Zhiyuan makes the movie first.

Halfway through filming, once everyone has seen the quality of the film and its potential to be a hit, it will be much easier for him to ask for a budget.

But, doing this is kind of disgusting.

Lu Zhiyuan didn't want to do this unless it was absolutely necessary. "Forget it, I don't need him."

After thinking about it, Lu Zhiyuan decided to give up on Li Lianjie.

The other party clearly planned to make a fortune in the next two years and then chose to retire.

As for Fang Long... Lu Zhiyuan wanted to contact him, but after thinking about it, he thought that his situation was probably similar.

"Sister Shanshan, use plan B."

Finding a Chinese international movie star is very difficult, and there are only a few options.

However, if you go to Hollywood and find a European or American male star, things will become very simple!
The choices will become very numerous.

"[Keanu Reeves], [Tom Hiddleston]...Please contact both of them for me."

"Especially Tom Hiddleston, I hope he can play the number one villain!"

[Keanu Reeves], who starred in "The Matrix", is a natural cyberman.

Low-key, mysterious, and almost desireless.

If he plays the leading actor, it will definitely bring about a qualitative change in the movie.

——The character "Neo" created by Keanu in "The Matrix" is a classic "awakened" image in film history.

The body is trapped in the matrix, and the consciousness struggles between virtuality and reality.

If he is willing to star in "Upgrade", Lu Zhiyuan will help him design the image of an AI rebel.

The creator of the AI ​​chip, a mad scientist, thought he was going to change the world and start a new era for mankind, but suddenly he discovered the secret of the AI ​​chip!
He decided to kill this series of chips at all costs, but was killed by the AI-controlled cyborg!
This character will reversely deconstruct the theme of "free will" in "The Matrix"!
Keanu Reeves being killed by AI in "Upgrade" will give the audience a strong sense of fate.

This will greatly enhance the philosophical depth of the film!
If you really want to pay 1000 million US dollars, it’s better to ask Keanu Reeves than Jet Li!

But, the same question!
Keanu Reeves, as an international top-tier superstar, may not be willing to play a leading role with few scenes.

But, you never know.

What if Keanu Reeves particularly likes the tragic atmosphere of this character, which is like Homer's epic, and is willing to act in it for free?
It’s free to try.

As for [Diddy]...

This guy is still a loser now, and letting him play the leading villain shows that I think highly of him!

I believe he won’t ask for too much!
"No problem, I'll ask James to ask for you."

Zhao Shanshan agreed.

Before hanging up, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "I heard that you've been taking Reba to the gallery owned by Liu Yifei's friend every day lately?"

This matter cannot be hidden from anyone.

Besides, Lu Zhiyuan had no intention of hiding it.

He readily admitted, "Yes, I do. I hope Reba can find that chaotic feeling of having her body and mind taken away after being controlled by AI."

what?
what?
Zhao Shanshan originally thought that Lu Zhiyuan would explain that he and Reba were not in that kind of relationship.

It's pure work.

I took Reba to see the art exhibition, not because I liked her.

In this way, she could turn around and report to Miss Jingtian so that she would stop being jealous all day long.

Being jealous of Liu Yifei.

Being jealous of Master Liu.

Let’s not talk about this anymore.

Now, even a 17-year-old girl is jealous!
Who knew, Lu Zhiyuan started again!

Is visiting the art exhibition intended to allow Reba to experience the chaotic feeling of having her body and will separated?

Feel sorry!

I don't understand alien language, please speak human language next time!

"Oh, I see. Okay then, get on with your work."

"By the way, don't forget to attend tomorrow's celebration party. You must wear the dress Tiantian prepared for you. Otherwise... hehe, you know."

Zhao Shanshan hinted to Lu Zhiyuan.

Jing Tian would not make trouble for Lu Zhiyuan.

However, he would cause trouble for her, which made her extremely troubled.

Therefore, she could only pin her hopes on Lu Zhiyuan, hoping that he could understand her difficulties and continue to coax Miss Jingtian.

Jingtian will understand when he grows up a little.

Men are like children, they only want toys, and love is dispensable!

(End of this chapter)