Chapter 338 Lao Wang and Xiao Wang
Since the two parts of "The Lord of the Rings" were released last year and this year respectively, an unexpected and unexpected situation has occurred.
That is, the number of people traveling in China has increased in the past two years, and it is quite a lot, two or three times more than before, almost hundreds of thousands of tourists a year.
This has brought income to many places in China, directly or indirectly creating economic value of at least several billion dollars.
More importantly, through the arrangements for tourism promotion, many Westerners have eliminated their misunderstandings about China. Many people even take the initiative to learn about Chinese history and culture, and have become obsessed with Chinese culture ever since.
Of course, most people don't really care about this. They are here entirely because of "Lord of the Rings."
Therefore, Jiuzhaigou, Gazi Mountain and Xilin Gol Prairie where Minas Tirith is located, the Hobbit Town of Baihua Valley at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Zhangjiajie have all become popular attractions.
In particular, the beautiful scenery of Jiuzhaigou Valley is unknown to outsiders. The famous British travel writer and photographer Julian Barnes used his own lens to record the beautiful scenery of Jiuzhaigou Valley.
These beautiful photos were later published in the British National Geographic magazine, making people realize that there really are such beautiful places in the world.
There are many other pictures and video documentaries of the trip.
This forms a virtuous cycle, attracting batches of tourists.
Of course, in fact, the West can not make China so hot. As long as the media shuts up and the news is blocked online, the heat can be suppressed quickly.
At that time, although China has many magnificent and magnificent scenery, it will gradually become unknown.
But the West did not do this. One is that the influence of "Lord of the Rings" is indeed great, so much so that there are many fans of this film in China.
This is a very successful film export case, and it is very effective.
The other is some unknown political reasons that cannot be elaborated on.
Little Gilbert came to Beijing from Los Angeles, accompanied by Nolan and producer Tiers, who will be the producer of "The Adventures of Cheng Long".
In fact, Nolan doesn't really like shooting this type of film.
Nolan prefers to write his own scripts, play tricks with time, make movies that are not that easy, and confuse the audience's brains.
However, Nolan has one advantage over directors in the independent film industry who want to enter the mainstream film industry, and that is that Nolan understands the importance of opportunity.
In other words, Nolan has the attributes of an auteur and director in the independent film circle, but he is more biased towards mainstream films.
So he also understands that if he wants to make a movie according to his own ideas, he must gain the trust of the film company. This is the only way.
The way to gain the trust of film companies is to make one or two popular films and obtain enough capital.
Little Gilbert is a role model for Nolan to learn from. This is how he gained the trust of the film company step by step. Until now, he basically shoots whatever he wants without anyone questioning it.
Although "Insomnia" is still in post-production, Nolan still found time to fly to China with little Gilbert to audition.
Coming to China for the first time, Nolan saw the magnificent Forbidden City and climbed the Badaling Great Wall. He really felt the Chinese scenery.
"I kind of know why you put the filming location here." Nolan said.
"Oh?" Little Gilbert raised his eyebrows: "Tell me why I put it here."
Nolan pointed to the mountains of the Badaling Great Wall and said: "Looking at the endless mountains, they are like giant dragons, lying prone on the earth.
Everything is included here, there is a vast world.
I think if "The Adventures of Cheng Long" was filmed here, it would be a good choice. "
Chinese dragons are different from Western dragons, and I don’t know if Nolan can understand this.
"Hahahaha," little Gilbert laughed and said, "Chris, Lao Tian will be very happy with your words. If you want to come here to film, just ask him, and he will definitely make arrangements for you."
Because of time constraints, little Gilbert and Nolan just walked around the capital and did not go anywhere else.
While shopping, both Gilbert and Nolan were concerned about the casting of the film.
Several assistant directors have already participated in the preliminary auditions, selecting suitable actors according to Little Gilbert's requirements, and waiting for the final audition.
Little Gilbert basically lived in his own courtyard house in Beijing, while Nolan stayed at the Chang Fuchun Hotel in Beijing in the Guomao District, where the audition was held.
There are many famous people in Changfuchun Hotel these days.
If you are familiar with the entertainment industry, you will find familiar faces that often appear in TV series and movies coming and going here.
In addition, many parents brought their children over, holding something called a script in their hands.
Those who can stay at the Chang Fuchun Hotel are basically those with some ability. They may be bosses from all over the country who come to the capital to discuss business and bring their own secretaries with them.
Someone asked the hotel staff out of curiosity: "You are creating such a big pomp, who wants to come?"
The employee replied: "The famous Hollywood director Christopher Nolan is staying here and is going to hold an audition. These stars are here to participate in the audition."
"Oh!" The boss seemed to know something about movies. He asked, "Who is more famous, Christopher Nolan or Little Gilbert?"
"Of course Director Gilbert Jr. is famous, and he is here too, together with Director Nolan."
The boss suddenly became interested: "Can you help me make an appointment with director Gilbert Little? My son likes his movies very much. I want an autograph and a photo or something."
The employee shook his head and said he couldn't make an appointment: "Director Gilbert Jr. did not stay in the hotel."
At this time, the boss's secretary reminded: "Boss, little Director Gilbert has bought a courtyard house in the capital. He usually lives there when he comes to the capital."
"Oh!" The boss was surprised. It turned out that little Gilbert had settled down in the capital.
There are not just one or two people who are interested in this Hollywood crew coming to China for casting, but many, many people.
When little Gilbert lived in the courtyard, many people came to visit him every day, or sent invitations to little Gilbert.
Little Gilbert declined most of them and only chose some more important occasions to attend.
Maybe it's because little Gilbert is really special, and there is no ridiculous scene like Hawking having to stand up and toast when he comes.
Thinking about it, the people that little Gilbert has met in the past few days are all national figures from relevant departments. They are not so short-sighted and they are all smart people.
In addition, some dandy boys from the Forty-Nine Cities would also come to visit little Gilbert, and even some so-called people from the Beijing circle came to visit.
"Come on, come on, try this, mung bean soup, it will quench your thirst and relieve the heat." In the courtyard of the courtyard, little Gilbert served a bowl of mung bean soup to Nolan.
It was the end of summer and the capital was still quite hot, so little Gilbert asked someone to prepare mung bean soup for Nolan, who had never tasted mung bean soup, to drink it.
Nolan looked at the ugly mung bean soup and refused. But little Gilbert meant well after all, so he frowned and took a sip.
As soon as I drank it, my frown suddenly relaxed, the sweet taste went down my throat, and coupled with the coolness of the ice cubes, it seemed that all the heat in my body was gone.
Nolan's eyes lit up and he praised: "It's really good. This drink is delicious."
"Yeah," little Gilbert said with some pride: "With the addition of ice cubes and sugar, it really doesn't taste bad, the authentic taste of the old capital."
This kind of day is suitable for sitting under the vine trellis, holding a fan in your hand, drinking mung bean soup and some refreshments, lying on the lounge chair and enjoying it.
This is called retiring early and enjoying life.
It's just that little Gilbert wanted to enjoy himself today, but the tree wanted to be quiet and the wind was not stopping. There were many people from all walks of life who came to visit, which made little Gilbert tire of it.
Although little Gilbert rejected most of them, there were some people he couldn't refuse, and he still had to see them when they should.
In a way, this is a different version of the story about Hawking having to stand up and toast when he comes.
But there was something different about these people today. Although little Gilbert did not agree to meet them, they still came over.
Little Gilbert thought that everyone had come and waited outside the door, so he had to give them face, so he agreed to meet them and give it a perfunctory look. "Hello, Director Gilbert, my surname is Wang. My father was here two days ago, and you have seen him too." The leader, a man about the same age as Gilbert, looked very polite.
Little Gilbert thought about it and suddenly remembered: "Are you talking about Minister Wang? He knows that I like ancient Chinese poetry, and he also gave me a copy of "Three Hundred Tang Poems and Song Poems"."
That one is Lao Wang, and this one is Xiao Wang.
Xiao Wang looked very respectful: "Director Gilbert, we are all your fans. This time we made a special trip to visit you, mainly to satisfy our needs as movie fans..."
Before Xiao Wang could say the next words, little Gilbert interrupted: "There's no need to be too polite. How can there be so many movie fans coming to visit every day? Especially people of your status."
The young men of Sijiucheng were a little embarrassed after being exposed, but they were thick-skinned and said they didn't care.
Several people looked at each other, and Xiao Wang said: "I heard that you are selecting suitable actors and will hold an audition.
I'm familiar with these actors, and I was wondering if I could help you? "
"Help? What help?"
Xiao Wang immediately took out a stack of photos, handed them to little Gilbert with both hands, and then said: "I know you are choosing suitable actors. These are the actors we have selected. Do they suit your taste?"
Little Gilbert narrowed his eyes and looked sideways: "Isn't there an audition? Just hand in the list to the audition."
Seeing that little Gilbert didn't understand what he meant, Xiao Wang secretly thought that this foreigner was really stupid, and the meaning behind his words were different.
So he had to put it more bluntly: "Director Gilbert, I mean, auditions are usually just a formality, and you won't pick a better actor.
All the good actors are here, just pick them here. "
"Oh!" Little Gilbert said as if he suddenly realized it, but in fact he already knew what these people were planning, wasn't it an unofficial decision?
These people are really stupid, who do they think they are? How dare you make an appointment and go through the motions of auditioning? Climb!
Little Gilbert knew a little bit about the so-called four major circles in the Chinese entertainment industry, but in his previous life, in the era of Internet capital, the so-called circles had long been shattered to pieces.
Little Gilbert has no sense of awe at all in these so-called circles. What's more, given his status, Xiao Wang's father, Lao Wang, is always polite when he comes. Why does Xiao Wang dare to order him?
Is it just because of Hawking’s bad habit of standing up and toasting when he comes?
Little Gilbert didn't even take the photos or the list, and directly waved to see the guest off: "I'm sorry, I'm not interested in the candidates you provided.
If it wasn't for the audition, I wouldn't have made this trip. Please leave. "
Xiao Wang's face froze, he didn't expect this foreigner to be so disrespectful.
However, his outward attitude was still very low: "You really don't want to take a look? They are all very good?"
"Humph, we are not selecting a princess. We are selecting actors seriously. Please go through the formal channels." After that, little Gilbert didn't want to talk to them anymore and turned around.
Two sturdy men stood in front of Xiao Wang and others, and Xiao Wang and others had no choice but to leave.
After leaving, a younger brother was still very angry: "Brother Wang, look at this foreign devil, he is so crazy and cruel that he doesn't even give him any face."
"Of course you don't need to give us face. He is a world-class director and a foreign guest." Another person's tone was a bit mocking.
Someone immediately made a suggestion: "How about we create some trouble for him? Who in these four-nine cities dares not to give us, Mr. Wang, face?"
Xiao Wang turned around and glared at this man: "Don't fool around with me. He is not something you and I can afford to offend. You all should be honest with me."
Although several people were aggrieved, they could only give up.
Xiao Wang is right. With little Gilbert's identity and status, if they cause something to happen, it will be a diplomatic incident.
Although this group of people is either rich or noble and is running around in Sijiu City, if they cause such a thing, the family will definitely deal with them.
What Xiao Wang and others didn't expect was that their behavior today had already made little Gilbert very angry.
In my previous life, I couldn't get rid of the manipulation of various so-called capital bosses. I couldn't choose the right actors and make better movies according to my own wishes.
Now in a different world, with a higher status, you still want to try to influence me?
Which is tolerable or intolerable? No, revenge must be taken.
Nolan, who couldn't understand Chinese, still didn't understand what was happening, so he asked little Gilbert: "What do they do?"
"Those who use the back door..."
"What is the back door?"
"You just give us a list of actors in advance and let us decide on it, so the audition is just a formality."
Nolan was stunned: "Is this still possible?"
"Of course, there are a lot of this kind of things in Hollywood, you should know it." Little Gilbert didn't think there was anything surprising.
Indeed, there are many people who use the back door in Hollywood, and little Gilbert is one of them.
Without a back door, he wouldn't have managed to direct his first film in his twenties. But the problem is that the conditions for using the back door are familiar people.
These people are not familiar with little Gilbert. Maybe Xiao Wang's father, Lao Wang, is familiar with little Gilbert and came to use the back door. Are you overthinking it?
Maybe they thought little Gilbert was stupid and didn't understand these things.
Little Gilbert feels that you have to teach this kind of person a profound lesson.
So little Gilbert turned around and said to the assistant who was following him: "Go and contact Minister Wang, aren't you talking about his son? Let him know about this."
The assistant immediately called Lao Wang, so after Xiao Wang returned home, Lao Wang picked up a feather duster and beat Xiao Wang until he cried and howled while Xiao Wang was stunned.
Xiao Wang still didn't understand what happened, and felt quite aggrieved: "Dad, why did you hit me?"
"I hit you lightly, but look what good things you have done? How could you go to someone else's house, build relationships, and even threaten them?" Lao Wang was furious.
Xiao Wang felt aggrieved and knew that his father knew about this, so he had no choice but to complain: "I really didn't, I just wanted to help him. They didn't ask me and they didn't force me!"
"You haven't forced me yet?" Lao Wang swung him twice more, making Xiao Wang scream.
Lao Wang continued: "Do you know his identity? He is a state guest. Because of his contribution to promoting cultural exchanges, the superiors are preparing to give him a set of national gift porcelain.
I want to be polite to such a person, how dare you harass them? Let people go through the back door? "
"I..." Xiao Wang wanted to defend, but he did what he did, and he suddenly had nothing to say.
Lao Wang sighed and said: "It seems that we are too arrogant on you. From today on, you will stay at home and don't go out. We will wait until Director Gilbert leaves."
This is equivalent to grounding Xiao Wang, and Lao Wang is also protecting his son.
Xiao Wang's incident was just an episode, and little Gilbert quickly forgot about it. He came to China not just to watch the audition, otherwise Nolan would have done it himself.
The most important thing is that a few days later, he was invited to attend a banquet in the auditorium. I heard that many big bosses would attend.
In addition, according to the information revealed by Lao Tian, he may get a set of national gift porcelain, which is a very high honor, at least for little Gilbert.
This shows that little Gilbert has been recognized here and his influence can penetrate into this land.
A few days later, little Gilbert attended a banquet in the auditorium and met many big bosses. He also chatted with Big Boss No. 1 for more than ten minutes.
However, it is a pity that little Gilbert did not receive the national gift of porcelain, and there may be some conditions left.
After the banquet, it was time for the audition, which made little Gilbert feel like he was on a battlefield.
However, this time he is the referee, and it is up to him to decide the final victory.
Therefore, how to please little Gilbert is particularly important.
Xu Qing and Guoji Zhang, who had been in contact with little Gilbert, as well as several Chinese directors who participated in the audition, became the targets of the female stars' fawning.
I went to the countryside with my boss today and still had 3,000 words to go. I will come back in the afternoon and code 3,000 words...
(End of this chapter)