A grand feast for the Chinese entertainment industry

Chapter 220 Extremely Popular!

I rushed back to the capital to record a program.

Given Lin Jianlu's position at the time, only CCTV would dare to make such a request, recalling him from America to the capital just to record a ten-minute interview.

Lin Jianlu was willing to make these two trips back and forth for "Focus Interview".

When it comes to the overall social ecology and hierarchy in China, to be honest, even Hong Kong and Taiwan artists, even those as smart as Jackie Chan and Andy Lau, don't have a deep understanding of these things.

But Lin Jianlu understood it perfectly.

"Art Life" is something I can easily refuse; it's no big deal. But "Focus Interview" is an unparalleled honor.

They recorded it. After resting for the night, the CCTV program team transferred a complete set of recording equipment, including lighting and other equipment, from what was supposedly another program team the next morning. They set up the courtyard for more than an hour, and by then the outline was basically completed. They sat down and started recording.

A lot of official jargon, clichés, and high-sounding phrases must be used.

This is called political correctness.

But now that things have come to this point, Lin Jianlu is still more willing to add some of his own genuine insights to these things that must be said, though there isn't much room for elaboration.

The "Focus Interview" program is 15 minutes long. If we cut out the opening and closing credits and add a lot of narration, we'll probably have to briefly describe Lin Jianlu's life and achievements. Then we'll only have about 10 minutes for the interview itself—that's about five to eight questions in total.

Three or five small questions, the kind you can answer in half a minute.

There are only two major issues that I can spare two or three minutes to elaborate on.

When discussing the topic outline beforehand, Lin Jianlu deleted one topic, keeping only one. He chose to talk about it for a full four minutes—"There's no need to worship foreign things. If foreigners can do it, we Chinese can definitely do it too, and we can even do it better. My purpose in making the album '21' was simple. A famous director told me, 'You singers in the Chinese music scene only know this much. You should learn more from the West.' I said, 'No, I just won't do it. If I do, I'll definitely be number one in the West.' So, I did it. And then I succeeded."

Yes, the overall tone of his speech is one of anger, which fits the character of a young man full of vigor.

It seems his main purpose was to criticize a certain famous director's statement, but actually, his main goal was to repeatedly emphasize "don't blindly worship foreign things"—what the audience interprets from his words is beyond his control. Interpret it however you like!
Firstly, the current domestic public opinion is what it is: praising everything foreign is the mainstream ideology. The more famous you are, the less you can go against the overall national perception. Secondly, although this is a domestic TV program, given Lin Jianlu's current fame and influence, it is hard to guarantee that American media will not take it and do analysis. In short, these days, if you are someone who has won a major award abroad, you should just accept the worship of the whole nation. Saying that you should not worship foreign things will only ruin yourself.

Then we should stop here.

And so, the interview ended. The female host, Jing Yidan, still had to carefully communicate and remind her, "Jianlu, do you think we should adjust this part at the end?"

The conflict between Lin Jianlu and Chen Kaige is a well-known case in the domestic film and entertainment industry. Although it has not been widely publicized, it is almost universally known. Jing Yidan should obviously know about it as well, so she could certainly tell who Lin Jianlu was criticizing. But Lin Jianlu thought for a moment and replied with a smile, "It's nothing!"

I don’t know if it’s because of this era, but even CCTV is incredibly bold. That very night, this episode of “Focus Interview” was broadcast in such a spectacular way—two short segments were cut, probably due to time constraints, but the longest part spoken by Lin Jianlu was completely preserved without a single word being cut.

After watching this episode of "Focus Interview" without stopping for a minute, Xu Qing called as soon as the TV switched to commercials. "You really are my brother! You're so bold!"

Ah……

Although "Farewell My Concubine" is a banned film, and from a policy perspective, it is banned, policies are implemented by people. Logically, if a film is banned, the person in charge should also behave for a period of time. But no, Chen Kaige is still a great director, and he continues to make films as usual. In fact, people from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas are eager to give money to great directors. The mainland has never blocked his filming permit. Digging to the root, even though the policy is there, the people responsible for implementing the policy still admire Chen Kaige.

Therefore, Director Chen's status in the film and television industry has always been exceptionally high.

Now, Lin Jianlu actually went on "Focus Interview" and brazenly said things like "a certain director looks down on me, a domestic singer." From a normal person's perspective, this is practically a direct insult to Chen Kaige. It's not surprising that Xu Qing is worried about some backlash.

But Lin Jianlu couldn't care less about the power behind Director Chen.

As someone who has won a Grammy Award, his status is no less than that of Director Chen, and his global pop star fame and influence far surpass that of a Cannes-level director.

Not to mention, he still holds ATV in his hands!
He's someone even the Ministry of Truth has to appease; he's a top-tier target for united front work!

I really don't believe Chen Kaige has the ability to stage a comeback—if he had that ability, he would have done it long ago!

…………

I stayed in the capital for an extra night, which allowed me to watch my own interview. The next morning, I got up early and boarded a plane to fly back over 10,000 kilometers away.

In total, three or four days were wasted.

Back in America, after a brief respite, it was time for the Billboard Music Awards.

This is even more undeniable—first of all, "21" dominated the charts, specifically the Billboard charts, and the Billboard Music Awards are known for only looking at rankings and data, without even requiring fan votes, and there are no hidden rules that only award awards to Americans. Therefore, Lin Jianlu won nine awards in one go.

He has won five American Music Awards, seven Grammy Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards.

Although it was Lin Chien-lu's first time visiting America this awards season, it was definitely a very fruitful one.

When Wang Zuxian and Zhang Aijia strolled and shopped together on the streets of New York, they were quickly spotted by paparazzi and reporters from America. Not only did they follow them and take pictures, but they also quickly caught up with them and asked them questions. The interview was even reported on television programs and in several newspapers that same evening. Lin Jianlu knew that she had basically reached the pinnacle of fame in America!
During my few days in America, I took a gun license test and had some fun with a gun. On Friday, March 6, 1998, the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart was released. Although "Lose-Control" was heavily promoted, it unfortunately only managed to get number two on the chart, marking the official end of "21's" 44-week reign at number one on Billboard.

A total of nine number-one singles, including "Baby" for two consecutive weeks, "HandClap" for three consecutive weeks, "Yeah" for eight consecutive weeks, "Believer" for seven consecutive weeks, "Moves-Like-Jagger" for five consecutive weeks, "Shape-of-You" for six consecutive weeks, "I-Surrender" for six consecutive weeks, "Levitating" for five consecutive weeks, and "Lose-Yourself" for two consecutive weeks.

Nine number-one singles from one album—an unprecedented record. It's hard to say how many years it will take before someone breaks it, or perhaps it will never be broken.

A 44-week winning streak is also unprecedented.

However... well, to be honest, when "21" was first released and its performance took off, Lin Jianlu was quite excited. But later on, he gradually became indifferent and even numb. So much so that even after winning so many awards, including the American Music Awards, Grammys, and Billboard awards, he remained calm throughout.

Now that "Lose-Control" has failed to hold onto the top spot on the singles chart, it at least means that "21's" consecutive number one streak has been broken. It seems to give people the feeling that, well, "21" is finally coming to an end. But as the creator and owner of "21," Lin Jianlu's feeling is... just so-so.

In short, it was unusually calm.

It felt like... the sage state after it was all over.

He has achieved the success he desired, he has slapped the face he wanted to slap, and he has earned the money he wanted to earn.

As for honors and such, you only need to know what they are for yourself. If you get too excited, you might forget your true nature—it's all plagiarized!

And frankly speaking, perhaps in my past life I always had a feeling of being unappreciated despite my talents. I worked so hard doing live streaming, always waiting and hoping that I would become a big star one day. I even fantasized that one day my live streaming would become popular, and maybe I could create original content and gradually transition from an amateur to a professional singer.

However, in just over two years of his life, he became truly famous, a global sensation. But in the process of recording albums and making music, he gradually realized that he actually didn't have much musical talent.

No nonsense. Not to mention comparing him to Michael Jackson, even his little follower and fangirl Li Wen, and even his backup singer Chris Martins, are much more talented than him.

During the recording process, Lin Jianlu encountered this more than once: given a random chord, Chris Martins would casually burst out a song. To be honest, Lin Jianlu was always speechless. Although at that time, Lin Jianlu's works, from lyrics and music to arrangement ideas and singing, always left Chris Martins even more speechless.

But they have real skills, while I'm just a charlatan.

Before meeting himself, Chris Martins was just a small-time singer who had released one or two albums that were not very successful.

So, how should I put it?

Once they reached the peak of their fame, their passion for music and their constant questioning of "whether I have some talent or not" all suddenly subsided.

Of course, he knew, and was well aware, that his friends, from the record company's management to his own friends and even his woman, were all unusually excited.

This is evident in the eyes of Wang Zuxian and Zhang Aijia, in the voice of Mariah Carey, in Charlize Theron's infatuation upon their reunion, and even in the tone of voices when Brigitte Lin, Leung Wing-ki, Rosamund Kwan, and Su Huilun called, as well as in the frenzied reporting by Hong Kong and Taiwanese media.

However... it doesn't matter anymore.

When Zhao Mingxin subtly probed, Lin Jianlu clearly told him that he would be filming "The Myth" in March, joining the cast of "The Matrix" in April, and recording a new album in the second half of the year after filming was completed!
Damn, passion is passion, and making money is making money. How can they be the same thing?
At the height of their fame, at the peak of their glory, coinciding with the last golden age of record sales, a single album could easily bring in royalties of one or two hundred million US dollars. With the added costs of later copyright management, they could make a fortune. If a single album was done well, it could generate income in the billions of US dollars. Only a fool wouldn't do it!
I no longer have any desire to prove my musical talent, but I am incredibly passionate about recording and releasing albums—I love beautiful women, and I love money!

…………

"Wow, Charlize, you are really... amazing."

Yeah, I couldn't resist.

Foreign women have their own allure.

On March 8th, Lin Jianlu flew to Los Angeles to meet with people from Warner Bros. and the Wachowski Brothers. Meanwhile, Zhang Aijia and Wang Zuxian were stuck in New York. This was because Wang Zuxian had become an instant sensation in America after attending three consecutive award ceremonies. She was tall and had a beautiful appearance, "full of classical charm from the mysterious East." After appearing in newspapers for many days, she was contacted by many brands. At the very least, they invited her to shoot a few sets of photos, and many more wanted to discuss collaborations with her as a brand ambassador.

Yes, the exposure of a global pop star's female companion always generates a huge impact.

Even just accompanying Lin Jianlu to a fashion show can instantly secure various endorsement contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.

So, Sylvia Chang stayed in New York to accompany her to meet with brands, discuss collaborations, and take promotional photos.

Lin Jianlu was staying in a hotel alone in Los Angeles, so he made a phone call and arranged to meet Charlize Theron, who was also in Los Angeles and was currently very successful, shooting various commercials and walking the runway. They had dinner together, and then, naturally, he took her back to the hotel.

It is indeed wonderful.

Standing at 177cm tall, with a pair of incredibly beautiful long legs that are both white and straight, and with skin that is unusually smooth and delicate for a Caucasian, and looking at you with that adoring expression—honestly, it's incredibly satisfying.

She's riding high right now—that's what Sylvia Chang said.

Sylvia Chang is now basically living in New York. On the one hand, she is handling negotiations for a series of contracts and business collaborations for Lin Jianlu, and on the other hand, she is handling Yu Feihong's agency affairs here. Previously, she signed Li Wen's global agency contract (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan) as an agent, and recently she has taken over Wang Zuxian's agency affairs in the United States. By now, she is almost an expert on the United States.

Charlize Theron has been trying hard to get along with her, and she doesn't mind.

The two of them are now even somewhat like close friends.

According to Zhang Aijia, since the Super Bowl show, there have been twenty or thirty modeling agencies, clothing companies, and even lingerie brands that want to sign Charlize Theron. Hollywood film companies of all sizes have also submitted more than fifty scripts to her agent in just one week.

Not to mention, it's said that even a series of luxury brands in Europe, such as handbags, perfumes, Chanel, Hermès, Van Cleef & Arpels, LV, and so on, suddenly discovered such a great beauty. After the show, a guest in America said on a program, "Her back is worth a billion dollars!" This statement became a sensation across the United States overnight, and her agency immediately followed suit, making a big show of it and creating news. Charlize Theron insured her beautiful back for a hundred million dollars in accidental death insurance.

This news has been making headlines in Europe and America during this awards season. As a film actress, Charlize Theron may not yet have any truly representative works where she plays a leading role or has a memorable character, but she herself has already risen to fame rapidly.

Correspondingly, she also got promoted.

Originally, at her agency, she was just a newcomer, a rising star, not quite a small star, but definitely a big one. However, after the Super Bowl, her treatment at the agency instantly jumped to B+ level. Although in the film industry, she was still just starting to gain some fame and barely making a name for herself, her agency's previous salary quotes for her films, depending on the production level, were only between $30 and $50. Now, they have directly increased to $150 million to $200 million.

Once someone becomes famous, they become famous.

In less than thirty seconds, she walked back and forth on the stage twice, danced around Lin Jianlu, showed off her stunningly beautiful back, and then became an instant sensation.

It is at least dozens of times more famous than all the movies she has made over the years, including starring in the blockbuster film "The Devil's Advocate".

So overnight, when Hollywood blockbusters needed a similar pretty face, she immediately came into view, if not the best, and even ranked among the top five or top three.

During his recent trip to Los Angeles, Lin Jianlu met with executives at Warner Bros. and the Wachowski brothers. When the topic of casting came up, Lin Jianlu looked at a photo of the actress who would be playing opposite him. In the film, her name was Trinity, and the actress's name was Carrie Ann Moss. He remarked, "She seems a little too old, a bit too mature." The Wachowski brothers hesitated for only a few seconds before the older brother spoke up, saying, "Do you think the role should be younger? Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?" The younger brother immediately chimed in, beaming, "Your backup dancer at the Super Bowl was great, wow, beautiful… but she didn't audition."

Well, in other words, Lin Jianlu now holds this power. He can recommend Charlize Theron to the Matrix production team. Considering that the originally chosen female lead does look a bit old, and she wasn't a sure thing, the Wachowski brothers only liked her because of her aloof temperament. Charlize Theron is definitely not lacking in that temperament, and her looks and figure are even better. So, as long as Lin Jianlu is willing to give it a push, the Wachowski brothers or Warner Bros. will most likely give him face.

"What? You mean that movie about a future internet world war? The one produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and directed by the Wachowski brothers? Can I do it? Really? I auditioned last winter and was rejected in the first round... because I didn't choose to sit on the red sofa, so I didn't even get a chance to meet the director and producer."

Afterwards, the foreign woman couldn't withstand Lin Jianlu's impact either. She lay there panting for a while, then lay there reminiscing. When Lin Jianlu mentioned "The Matrix," she immediately perked up, instantly recharged, excitedly got up, and hugged Lin Jianlu.

"Hmm, is this movie... very famous?"

"Of course, they started promoting it last winter. Almost all your fans know that you will be the male lead in this movie. We have been looking forward to the movie starting to be filmed and being released as soon as possible! I even went to your backup dancer audition after the movie audition was over."

So, well, capital never goes to waste.

Lin Jianlu is so expensive!

Hiring Jet Li would cost $80, and with some negotiation, it could be done for around $50. Hiring Keanu Reeves, who has been quite popular in recent years, would only cost a million or two. Even hiring Leonardo DiCaprio, who suddenly became incredibly popular at the end of last year or the beginning of this year and is now so popular that he has almost no friends, would cost at most six to eight million US dollars.

I heard he's been getting so many scripts lately that he hasn't booked his next big production yet. Consider it money spent to buy into his popularity; ten million US dollars is enough—after all, he's only just become famous!

However, Lin Jianlu is worth 1500 million US dollars, plus a share of the box office revenue!
Therefore, the publicity campaign had already begun shortly after Lin Jianlu signed the contract!

"You want to try?"

"Of course! Of course, darling! If I could film that movie, I could live with you on set for several months! That would be amazing for me!"

Look... it can talk.

Americans are generally very direct. When it comes to discussing interests and resource exchanges, there's no need to be shy. But that's just the essence. When it comes to the actual implementation, Lin Jianlu has always noticed that Americans are also very good at being subtle—especially since the beautiful woman in front of him is a smart person.

So, since they completely ignored her before and brought Wang Zuxian to the awards season, and she obediently let herself be suppressed, now it's time to realize the value of that obedience.

The next day, Lin Jianlu took her to Warner Bros. Pictures. The Wachowski brothers even came to Warner Bros. for an interview specifically for Lin Jianlu. After a brief discussion with the producer and Warner Bros. executives, they informed Charlize Theron that her agent could come and discuss the contract.

…………

"Hey...Hi! Miss...Lin?"

Lin Jianlu turned around and saw a tall girl standing three or four meters away from her seat, greeting her. Lin Jianlu smiled and nodded at her.

She's a very pretty girl, but this is Hollywood.

Here, even in an ordinary restaurant, it's not surprising to encounter any beautiful girl from any country—even if she has blonde hair and delicate features, she would be considered a top-tier beauty that would leave a lasting impression, even in Hollywood.

However, Lin Jianlu was talking to someone.

The Wachowski brothers across from Lin Jianlu didn't even bother to acknowledge the flirting with the strange woman; they were still rambling on about their filming concept.

They wanted Lin Jianlu to be a little "ordinary" in the beginning of the movie – specifically, in addition to the necessary clothing, they also asked the makeup artist to make Lin Jianlu look a little older and more dejected, so that when the brain-computer interface was completed later and the male lead transformed into a god, he would revert to his young and handsome persona.

Lin Jianlu understood their requirements and felt that the general effect they hoped to achieve was to transform a 30-year-old white-collar worker who earns 4,000 yuan a month and is pressured by her parents to get married into a succubus who, after receiving some cheat codes, frantically enhances her looks and charm.

Yes, the exchange was very pleasant.

Even as Lin Jianlu became incredibly famous, she always maintained a high level of professionalism.

Once you're on set, just listen to the director.

He turned his head to respond to the other person's advances, then looked away. But two seconds later, he couldn't help but glance back. Just then, the girl, seemingly unwilling to accept her failed attempt, said, "Uh, hey... Lin, I'm a loyal fan of yours, could you...?"

Lin Jianlu laughed again, raised his hand to signal the two brothers opposite him to stop, and then waved to the beautiful woman, "Of course! Come on!"—The girl immediately became happy, hurriedly rummaging through her bag, and pulled out a notepad and a pen, "Uh, I'm sorry, I went out for an audition today and didn't bring your CD!"

Lin Jianlu still smiled, "It's alright, can you tell me your name?"

“Diane! Diane Kruger!”

The name didn't sound like a typical American name, so Lin Jianlu tried to spell it out and asked the other person before confirming it. She then smoothly wrote down a blessing, signed it, and handed it back to her.

“You are very beautiful, Miss Kruger.”

“Oh, thank you! Actually, I’m a dancer. I’ve been dancing ballet for ten years and worked as a model before. I only recently came to Hollywood to try my hand at acting… Wow, I never expected to run into you less than a month after I arrived here… You know, I’m so honored… Thank you, Lin! I love you, you know, I love you!”

She was a little excited, and Lin Jianlu nodded slowly, always responding with a smile.

"Kluge...you are...of German descent?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Germans!"

Lin Jianlu waved and called over his assistant in America, "I'm going to treat my fans to a meal. Could you please pay for this lady later?"—Then, he smiled and said to the girl, "You know we're talking business, so... uh, you can order whatever you like. It's my treat! It's my pleasure!"

The girl was deeply moved, "Oh... Lin... Oh, you really are..."

Finally, Lin Jianlu's assistant came in handy at this moment, "Madam, please!"

Turning around, Lin Jianlu was met with the beaming faces of two bearded brothers. "Wow, Lin, I knew you were a charming man, but every time I'm with you, I can't help but think, if I were a woman, I would definitely fall in love with you too! Wow... that girl is very pretty!"

Lin Jianlu smiled, "If you were to become girls, please, please don't fall in love with me!"

The two fat men with big beards burst into laughter on the spot.

Since the meal was already finished, they tried to end the chat as quickly as possible. The Wachowski brothers left soon after, and Lin Jianlu got up and sat down at the table with the beautiful woman.

The girl didn't look very old. Although Lin Jianlu hadn't been very good at judging the ages of white people in the past, he had spent a considerable amount of time there since he came to America to record, and he was starting to develop some discernment now—this girl should be just over twenty. Of course, for Lin Jianlu, thirty years old was fine too, as long as she was pretty.

I sat down and chatted with her for a while. As the Wachowski brothers had said, he was very charming.

The girl's features possess an indescribable refinement. Her years of ballet training, coupled with several years of modeling experience, have endowed her with an exceptionally sharp and striking aura.

Lin Jianlu vaguely felt that she looked familiar and could vaguely recall some details. She should have filmed a historical epic later, or she should have co-starred with some big star—either as a princess or a queen.

In short, she was outstanding in almost every way, from her figure and facial features to her temperament, and was exactly what Lin Jianlu thought a top-tier white beauty should look like.

To be honest, although Charlize Theron is a blonde beauty and still has a bit of baby fat, the feeling she gives Lin Jianlu is not typical—she has a cold and hard temperament in her eyes and brows, unlike a white South African, more like a woman born in a pirate country.

The conversation didn't last long, only about twenty or thirty minutes, but it felt like he had already captivated this girl who was new to Hollywood. So Lin Jianlu decisively stopped, trying to leave her with the most memorable aftertaste—well, no kidding, he's recently started learning how to fully unleash his personal charm.

He wasn't very good at it before.

It's purely because the girls turn around and pounce on him.

Before leaving, he left his assistant's phone number with the beautiful woman, saying that she could call his assistant if she needed help. Finally, he wished her to get a role soon.

He got up and left.

…………

Wang Zuxian flew over on March 11 to join them.

Then the two of them took a plane together and flew directly to the capital. Of course, they didn't have much time to rest before heading directly to Hebei Province to rejoin the cast of "The Myth" and begin the second phase of filming.

In fact, according to Zhang Aijia's opinion, Wang Zuxian really shouldn't have left—she accompanied Wang Zuxian for only a few days in New York, during which she met with designers and presidents of many brands. At present, there is a general sense of China fever in the West, and everyone appreciates the oriental charm of Wang Zuxian. Considering that she is already a very influential and well-known star in the entire Chinese entertainment industry, and even in Japan and Korea, and now she is becoming popular in Europe and America as Lin Jianlu's companion, they are all very interested in signing a long-term contract with Wang Zuxian for overall packaging and promotion.

This timing is quite crucial.

What if Wang Zuxian is gone for a month and things cool down after he leaves?
Although those contracts conflict with each other and it's impossible to take them all, choosing one company to cooperate with in each track would still result in contracts worth tens of millions of dollars per year—just like Yu Feihong, who is so famous and has such good opportunities, with one of her music videos becoming a global hit, yet she only flew over, accepted a few small contracts, and went back to teaching!
They missed out on the favor of major brands.

However, Wang Zuxian's choice was exactly the same as Yu Feihong's.

It doesn't matter. If we can talk, we can continue talking. We can talk even if I'm not there. If we can't reach an agreement, then so be it. The movie still needs to be filmed back home. Although her role in the part of the movie to be filmed on the plains is actually not that big, she still put aside the opportunity here and chose to fly back to China with Lin Jianlu.

Of course, Zhang Aijia conveyed her meaning over the phone, and Lin Jianlu understood.

Wang Zuxian and Yu Feihong are both types of Eastern beauties that are generally accepted by Westerners. It wouldn't be good to miss the opportunity again. Therefore, Lin Jianlu promised her that after filming resumed, he would shoot Wang Zuxian's parts first, which would take about a week to ten days, and then let her go back to New York, trying his best not to delay Zhang Aijia's operations for her.

(End of this chapter)