American Entertainment: Starting with playing the role of Little Beaver

Chapter 28 The Voice
"Little Miss Sunshine" is an inspirational movie; it's inspiring both on and off screen.

The play tells the story of an ordinary family with countless troubles, where everyone feels like a loser in life.

Even so, when the youngest child in the family wanted to participate in a beauty pageant, the whole family pitched in, supporting her and making her laugh, all helping her achieve success. And so, amidst laughter and joy, everyone welcomed a new beginning.

The message the entire film wants to convey is:
Life is not just about the present hardships, but also about poetry and distant fields.

Off-screen, this film is even more inspiring.

Back then, when Isabella watched this movie, she heard that the script had actually been written for many years, but it had not received any investment because no one believed in it. Then, one day, Lady Luck smiled, and it went on to earn $100 million at the box office with a budget of less than $10 million and won an Oscar.

Although Isabella can't remember exactly what awards the film won, if she refused both the tenfold return and the Oscar, she would be out of her mind.

Yes.

In Isabella's view, this project was the future she had been waiting for, besides HP.

As for why Isabella didn't just agree after discovering the surprise?

It's simple:
Firstly, she didn't have a superhuman memory. She didn't know who the screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine" was. So, when the script didn't have a name, she had to read the whole story to confirm whether the project in her hand matched her memories from her past life.

Secondly, she didn't want to lose her advantageous position in the negotiations. Right now, Fenjin was seeking her cooperation, and if she rushed to agree, wouldn't that turn the initiative into a passive one? Wouldn't that be incredibly stupid?

So, after reading the script and confirming that the book she had was indeed "Little Miss Sunshine," Isabella decided to take on the project. However, she didn't let her mother approach Fenjin directly, because that would put her in a passive position. And how could she maintain the initiative? The next day at noon, Isabella once again crept up to Columbus and talked to him about the project.

She wanted to see what this guy was thinking.

Columbus wasn't a novice in the ways of the world; he immediately understood Isabella's intentions.

"Isa, did you think that story was good?"

He asked while eating.

"Hmm."

The little girl nodded her head like a woodpecker.

This situation made Columbus pause for a moment, then he shook his head and said, "Isa, I respect your preferences, but I want to tell you a reality: no matter what your reasons are for liking this story, you are actually not suited to take on this role."

"Why?"

Isabella was puzzled.

"the reason is simple……"

Columbus didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "The first reason is what I said yesterday: it doesn't meet the writing standards of a commercial film. No matter which company Fenjin shows the script to, they are unlikely to get any investment."

"Therefore, this project is very difficult to establish."

“I have the confidence.”

“Oh…and then?” Isabella accepted this reason.

Because in her previous life, "Little Miss Sunshine" was a project that was difficult to produce.

But when Columbus used "The First Reason" to explain his reasoning, the Little Miss Sunshine project must have had many problems in his eyes. Although it wasn't time to learn, Isabella still wanted to peek into how Hollywood professionals judged the quality of ideas and approved film projects.

“Okay, the second reason is that the story's setting doesn't match your image.”

Seeing that Isabella was listening attentively, Columbus put down his spoon, propped his elbows on the table, and counted on his fingers, saying, "Isabella, please tell me, what is your current public image?"

'? '

Isabella frowned slightly at the question, but a second later, she realized what it meant.

"You mean Hermione Granger?"

"Yeah~"

Columbus nodded and said, "Now, everyone thinks you are Hermione Granger, and the character of Hermione Granger in the movie is very well-developed. You are beautiful, talented, and a highly educated woman who can be accepted by both children and adults."

"In this case, please recall what the protagonist was pursuing yesterday?"

"Beauty pageant?"

Isabella hesitated for a moment.

She felt like she understood what Columbus was trying to say—

"Director, do you mean Hermione Granger can't pose on screen?"

"Snapped--"

Columbus snapped his fingers and laughed, "Great! Ms. Granger! You know what you can and can't do!"

Classic films are difficult to create and even more difficult to maintain.

When a screen character leaves a deep impression on the public, what the public hopes for most is to keep that beautiful feeling forever. In fact, most people hope that the actor can continue to play that role.

This kind of demand is indeed a psychological abnormality, but it is also one of the reasons why a celebrity can remain popular for a long time.

Take Harrison Ford, for example; he truly played Han Solo his entire life.

He does have all sorts of negative news in his life, but those are all trivial matters. He wouldn't do anything that contradicts the individual heroism emphasized on screen, or rather, even if he did, it wouldn't be reported.

What kind of news does he usually appear in public with most often?

Those were all pilots in their seventies—

To be honest, this behavior is actually very dangerous, as everyone knows, but nobody cares.

Because Uncle Fu's image on screen is that of a free spirit and unrestrained nature.

So it's perfectly normal for him to be flying a plane at seventy!

Especially when he's been famous for fifty years, and his fans have all grown old, many even dead, and their bodies are deteriorating day by day, yet their idol can still fly? Wow, are they even watching a human being?

That's youth, fucking!

Tom Cruise is the same; he played Ethan Hunt his entire life.

Tom Cruise became famous because of his good looks, so even as he gets older, he keeps emphasizing that he is still handsome. There have been countless news reports about his anti-aging methods, many of which violate common sense about physiology, but the news still comes out and his fans still shout.

why?
That's because his fans like him because he's handsome and he works hard!

If he stops being handsome and stops working hard, then his fans' youth will be lost.
Hollywood formulas may be somewhat ruthless, but the truth doesn't change because of personal will, and this applies to fandoms worldwide. Therefore, after Isabella Leong played Hermione, she truly can't afford to take on roles that are the opposite of hers in her lifetime.

Doing that would ruin your public image and your fan base.

Of course, the most important thing is...

Warner still wants to make money.

“Okay……Okay……”

Isabella understood the idea that once an actor had a classic role, becoming one with that role would guarantee them a lifetime of success.

Therefore, once this reason emerged, Isabella realized that the Little Miss Sunshine project might not be right for her, and that her previous 'future theory' might have been somewhat wrong...

Just as she let out a sigh of relief, Columbus added, "Actually, besides these two points, there is a third one."

"That means the projects you like belong to the 'Striving' category."

"Isn't the goal of striving to revolutionize the film studio?"

"If they just talk about monopolizing production, the Big Six will at most laugh it off and won't take it seriously. But if they actually do it... even if Warner Bros. agrees to let you make the film, the other five will stop you..."

"After all, you are Hermione Granger now."

"The six major platforms haven't even developed your audience appeal yet, and you want to enjoy the benefits first?"

Do they deserve it?

Columbus shrugged and spread his hands.

"hahahaha~"

Isabella, on the other hand, was all smiles.

Honestly, she hadn't even noticed that.

But as Columbus mentioned it, Isabella realized the seriousness of the problem.

The package deals offered by talent agencies were already disgusting to the Big Six, and now these people want to treat the Big Six like an ATM? Turning the Big Six's traditional production business into a noose that strangles them?
If the brokerage firms were operating covertly, then the fact that the Big Six didn't discover it is their problem.

But if the Big Six agencies can still control the agency after they openly openly take action, then they are not the kind of companies that emerged from Hollywood's golden age. Back then, you had to shed blood to survive.

Who were their opponents at that time?

Those are all Rockefellers! And General Electric!

"Okay... I give up..."

Columbus's reasons were valid and realistic, so Isabella decided to say goodbye to "Little Miss Sunshine".

Knowing full well that it's a wall, yet still choosing to crash into it—that's typical of Scorpios.

She's not a Scorpio.

Even though she had let go of everything, she still felt somewhat discouraged.

The way she was eating so heartily made Columbus curious. "Isa?"

"Ok?"

"Do you really like this project that much?"

"Uh... I don't think so..."

Isabella paused for a moment.

He looked up and said honestly, "I like this project because I don't know what else I can do besides filming HP."

The little girl's meaning was clear: she didn't know where her future lay.

But to Columbus, these words meant the same troubles that all child stars face—

confused.

When a child becomes famous at the age when they should be in school, the first thing they naturally face is the benefits of fame and the adulation of the masses. But what follows is not the enjoyment of life, but endless confusion.

Because once children become famous, they are unable to return to school, which leads to their disconnect from society.

That's right, working ahead of time doesn't lead to integration into society, it leads to disconnection.

When you have enough commercial value, your work will indeed be plentiful, but what happens after you lose your power? You won't find a single friend. Because you were living on a film set at an age when you should have been studying, and when there's an age gap between you and the adults on set, you just can't get along. Besides, colleagues and classmates are truly two different things.

Therefore, almost every child star falls into a deep abyss of confusion after losing their peak.

If I had to describe it, it would be—

The past glories have vanished like smoke, and now I have no relatives or friends by my side.

Even the most foolish person will suffer at this time, while the wiser ones...

Columbus leaned back.

He looked at Isabella with a face full of emotion.

Smart children will seek a way out when they are at their peak, but often this is actually embracing endless pain in advance.

However, on the other hand, the Harry Potter project is truly better than all other star-making projects because there are more children involved, allowing them to make friends just like in school. Furthermore, J.K. Rowling is going to write seven books, and David Heyman is going to direct seven. If the plan goes smoothly, everyone can earn enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

but……

Even though the children in the Harry Potter crew weren't facing any major psychological issues, Columbus still felt a little...heartbroken when he saw the little girl with her head drooping. This wasn't just because Isabella was quite cute, but also because Isabella really needed a project right now—in fact, even Columbus thought Isabella needed to take on other projects.

Because everyone else in the crew has projects. Daniel has already filmed several movies, and Rupert and Bonnie have also started their own projects. Isabella is clearly the best kid in the crew, but she doesn't have any roles to play? If it were him, he wouldn't be able to stand it either.

So……

After watching Isabella stuff the last piece of short rib on her plate into her mouth, Columbus, who had little appetite, gently tapped the table with his right hand.

"Tat-tat--"

"Hmm?" Isabella looked up.

"I have a serious question for you."

Their eyes met, and Columbus asked, "Did you genuinely like yesterday's story?"

"Uh...it's actually not so bad..." Isabella admitted that she wouldn't have liked it if the book she read yesterday hadn't been "Little Miss Sunshine".

Sigh, her biggest flaw is her honesty.

But her hesitation made Columbus realize that he had guessed correctly. He cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Okay, if you really like that story, then I really don't know how to communicate with you now."

"Since you don't really like it, then... I think I still have a way to get you to take the picture..."

"Really?"

There was a loud 'whoosh' sound.

Isabella was instantly energized, as if she had received a buff while playing a game.

"of course."

Columbus shook his head at the excited reaction and said, "When you don't really like the story, the three problems I just mentioned can be solved. For example, if the script doesn't have selling points or the setting isn't friendly to you, then we'll change it."

"There is no script in this world that is completed in one go; all scripts are gradually polished by everyone."

"As for how to change it... I don't have time to help you change it, but you can change it yourself and then show it to me."

"I know you haven't studied screenwriting, but it's very simple. Hollywood emphasizes pacing, when the plot twists, when the emotional moments need to be—these are all fixed. The shots, timing, and lighting in the script are actually the director's responsibility; the screenwriter doesn't need to think about them. So, in the early stages of creation, you only need to consider one thing: writing a story that fits your character. Once the story is out, you can start working on the outline."

"And how to write the story..."

"Well, that's up to you, but I can give you an idea. We just said that the theme of the beauty pageant isn't suitable for you, so we can change it to something else, like, you became an actress from scratch last year?"

“Okay, becoming an actor is the goal of becoming a leading actor.”

"It's that simple."

"Then, when you're creating, you only need to pay attention to one thing: don't change the story genre. Because if you change the story genre, it's not called rewriting the script, it's called rewriting it. As for the rest... uh... you'd better set your goals higher."

"Because Hollywood is geared towards the whole world."

"So the unspoken rule here is that even the smallest story must have a grand narrative."

"Oh--"

Isabella's eyes lit up!

She thought Columbus was right!
Although "Little Miss Sunshine" is a classic, since she can no longer make it, this classic has nothing to do with her.

So, instead of waiting passively, why not directly modify the existing classics? While preserving the core essence, could it also align with her public persona? That should maximize her chances of success, right?

Yes! Like Columbus, she hasn't studied screenwriting! But Columbus also said that he didn't have time to write, but he could read them! Columbus is a proper screenwriter by training, and the projects he writes have all been market-tested! With someone like that helping to oversee things, even if Isabella couldn't write, she would dare to! Even if the ship wrecks a thousand times, it won't capsize!
So……

That evening, since she had no work, Isabella finished dinner and sat down at her desk in her dormitory bedroom.

I chewed on my pen for a while, and countless thoughts flooded my mind—

"Chris said that the beauty pageant theme wasn't right for me, so I'll change it to acting, just like he suggested..."

"But how do you compete in acting competitions? That's not easy... Oh! I can move the location from America to England! The main character in 'Little Miss Sunshine' goes to Florida to participate in a beauty pageant, so I can go to London's West End to participate in some kind of children's play competition... The main character wants to be an actress, okay, that connects!"

"So, Little Miss Sunshine is a road movie? The screenwriter wanted to explore the many different lives of a family? Then I'll just change the protagonist's starting point to the English countryside, aspiring to reach the West End? Hey! Isn't that still a road movie?"

"The older brother loves reading Nietzsche? Wants to become a fighter pilot? Sigh—this setting doesn't fit in Britain, the British air force is notoriously bad, so… let's change it to the older sister… an older sister who dreams of becoming a painter, aspires to get into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts but fails the entrance exam? Hmm… this setting… never mind, I'll write it first… and then, I can add something to this character: after failing the exam, the older sister starts to hate painting, but when her younger sister wants to participate in a competition, she still paints a picture for her…"

"Huh? Isn't this what Catherine does?!"

Isabella became more and more enthusiastic as she wrote.

As Maggie Smith said, it's normal to write characters based on real people, and Columbus also said that she doesn't need to write dialogue when writing a story; as long as the story is complete, everything else can be filled in according to a formula.

Therefore, Isabella completed her creation in just three hours, before midnight!

Uh……

To call it creative work is just self-aggrandizement.

She simply changed the background of the existing script.

Just as Isabella was excitedly eager to showcase her 'talent' to the world...

Going to find Columbus at midnight seems rather inappropriate.

So she quietly crept to Catherine's room and knocked on the door.

"Who?"

Catherine went to bed at ten o'clock.

Two hours of sleep left her feeling very groggy.

"I."

Isabella returned quietly.

Catherine was puzzled by her younger sister's call. After she frowned, turned on the light, and 'invited' Isabella into the house...

"Oh! Sxxt! You woke me up in the middle of the night just to let me read your story?"

"Yup!"

"No! Can't you show it to me tomorrow?"

"I just finished writing... I'm a little excited..."

Isabella looked aggrieved.

Catherine thought Isabella wasn't just excited, she was going crazy.

But with her younger sister refusing to leave, she had no choice but to squint and start reading the script—the outline.

She quickly finished reading the story, which was over three thousand words long.

She admitted that the story of the little girl from the British countryside going to the West End to pursue her dreams was quite good and inspiring.

but--

"I don't think your story is good."

Catherine shook her head.

"Why?"

Isabella was puzzled.

She clearly revised the script bit by bit!

"Because your target audience is too niche."

Catherine knew that Columbus had let his sister rewrite the script herself.

Furthermore, Isabella mentioned during dinner that evening that she should write the protagonist's goal as ambitious, saying, "Although London's West End was world-famous, that was in the past; it's not like that anymore."

"It's simply incomparable to film and television."

"And then, you wrote a children's play. If I were an audience member, I would lose interest the moment I saw it."

"Next, I want to say that performing is not something you can compete in."

"Whether someone acts well or not is very difficult for the audience to discern. The key point is that all such discernments are subjective."

"And more importantly, if I remember correctly, you played Hermione based on instinct, right?"

"So, you wrote yourself a script that requires you to showcase your acting skills?"

"Wow~"

"You're making things difficult for yourself."

"..." Isabella fell silent.

It seems so!

Performing is indeed not a competitive thing;

Children's theater is indeed a niche genre;

Of course, most importantly, a guy who plays himself wrote a story that required him to put on an acting show?
Oh--

She really is quite ill.

So I wasted my whole night?

Isabella was somewhat disappointed.

If the direction is wrong, the whole thing will be lost.

But Catherine disagreed, saying, "I think everything else is fine, the only thing that needs to be changed is the protagonist's goal."

"Performance is something that's hard to showcase, as for other things... oh right, why don't you just turn it into music?"

"A piano competition, a global show, and the protagonist's goal is to win a prize in the British region, but..."

"She made it to the World Championship?"

"how about this?"

Ok?
Isabella thought it was feasible.

A little girl born in the English countryside, because of her love for music, longed to win a prize in the regional piano competition, but instead she fought her way through to the world competition. This was indeed a satisfying upgrade, and there were even surprises of breakthroughs.

but--

After thinking for a while, Isabella decided it wouldn't work.

Because little girls growing up in the British countryside are unlikely to be able to afford to learn piano.

This is a logical bug.

Their only contact with the world is singing, and they can't even join a choir; they can only sing by instinct.

Yes, in many people's eyes, the reason why Europeans and Americans are more musically capable than those in the East is because they have choirs, which are considered the introductory class of music education in Europe and America. This view is both right and wrong.

Yes, that's because choirs are indeed a form of early music education for children from poor families in Europe and America.
No, that's because choirs in Europe and America are not open to girls; only boys can attend.

For example, the choir at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, which holds a carol service every Christmas, consists entirely of boys.

Therefore, when the main character is set in a rural area and is a girl, it simply won't work, regardless of whether it's music or singing...

Wait a minute!

'The girl longs for education, but can't go to school; isn't that the dilemma?'

Just as Isabella was about to reject her older sister's suggestion, she suddenly realized that what her sister said was the best way to localize the product!

A girl born in the English countryside loves music, but she can't afford to study and the choir won't accept her, so she has to teach herself. With this setting, doesn't the protagonist's background already become extremely low? It's exactly the same as the 'poverty' in "Little Miss Sunshine"!
Then one day, she wanted to participate in a singing competition, but her family didn't think she would succeed because she was uneducated and just played by herself. Isn't this exactly the same as the setting in "Little Miss Sunshine" where the whole family are losers, but the protagonist is the sun?

Then, the journey from the countryside to the big city, the family's struggles, is another spiritual journey that "Little Miss Sunshine" emphasizes!

Finally, with the support of his family, the protagonist unexpectedly won the regional championship and qualified for the WorldSkills Competition...

Putting this alongside a low-born background makes it a pure wish-fulfillment ending!
Most importantly, when the story involves singing...

"Oh my God!"

"I think I know how to change this plot!!"

Isabella was very excited—

"Keisha, didn't you previously hope I would surpass Robbie Williams? So how about we change our goal to singing? The protagonist loves to sing! Let's participate in singing competitions! Because singing only depends on talent, which fits perfectly with a rural background!"

"Then, the protagonist defeats all opponents through her talent and self-study! This not only fits Hermione's character but also makes the audience feel satisfied!"

"As for how the competition will be arranged... and how it will be integrated with road movie films..."

"Keisha, what do you think of calling the competition 'The Voice'?"

"We've designed a three-stage competition, where we fight our way through each stage!"

　Thank you Qianhewan for the donation.

　　Note: ① In reality, the fact that *Sunshine* was never made was largely due to Endeavour's desire to dominate the project. The initial developer was James Schamus, Ang Lee's go-to producer. He wrote the script for *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* in English, which Lee then translated into Chinese to ensure it was understandable to Western audiences. When someone like him revises a script, it's impossible for it not to be improved. However, he ultimately withdrew because Endeavour was unwilling to relinquish control. James Schamus was affiliated with Universal Pictures, and his Focus Features was invested in by Universal. Furthermore, *Sunshine*'s eventual success was also related to Endeavour's withdrawal. After realizing the project couldn't be completed without his withdrawal, Endeavour gave the script to traditional smaller studios, but they retained their investment. Even so, the Big Six studios still wouldn't allow them to participate in production. Ultimately, Fox bought out the distribution rights for $11 million plus 10% of the box office revenue, which is not a normal price in Hollywood. In short, if you try to challenge the Big Six studios, they'll make you want to jump off a building. ②The history of British choirs not accepting girls spans over 900 years. It wasn't until 22 years ago, when they finally succumbed to the call for equality, that St. Paul's Cathedral in England accepted two girls. Furthermore, back then in Germany, someone even sued the church over the choir's refusal to accept girls. Traditionally, non-religious children's choirs also did not admit women. Those now widely admitting girls are mostly new choirs, because… it's about equality.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)