Chapter 654 Invitation
"Yes, this movie is positioned as a commercial film, a commercial comedy. The main character is a witty child. Yes, the actor for this child has already been cast. He worked with me on a movie before. He is very talented and his name is Huang Feng."
"We still hope that at least one of these two bumbling thieves can play a big star. Otherwise, it will have a huge impact on the film's release date. Without a big star, we won't be able to get any screenings."
"Is Jia Long going to act?"
Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
"However, the absolute protagonist of this movie is still this child. He has been the absolute protagonist in all of Jia Long's movies over the years. We probably can't get him to participate. Besides, he will be busy with the promotion of 'Lost in Thailand' during the Spring Festival this winter vacation, so he probably won't have time."
Where is Liu Teli?
"Teacher Liu?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Liu Teli... this big star who is famous for playing ordinary people in the city, had indeed never entered Lu Yanhe's mind before.
On the one hand, because he wasn't acting in this kind of slapstick comedy, he wasn't initially in Lu Yanhe's list of actors. On the other hand, in Lu Yanhe's mind, Liu Teli was the kind of actor who studied in academia; he had a pursuit of art and was on the path of a performing artist. Was it a waste of his talent to have him act in the movie "Home Alone"?
However, when he connected the image of Liu Teli in his mind with the bumbling thief in "Home Alone," Lu Yanhe inexplicably felt that... there was a certain resemblance.
Liu Teli is definitely capable of making the performance interesting.
It's like I hadn't thought of him before, but now that I have, it seems like there's no one more suitable than him.
Moreover, Liu Teli's fame and the buzz he would generate if he were to star in this film perfectly match their requirements for an actor.
However... Mr. Liu Teli might not be willing to act in it.
Three visits to the thatched cottage.
The word came to Lu Yanhe's mind.
Since everyone thinks it's a good fit, we should visit the thatched cottage three times.
With this in mind, Lu Yanhe immediately told Chen Yin and the others.
Chen Yin was taken aback and asked, "If we're going to ask Mr. Liu Teli to play these roles, shouldn't the character settings for these two bumbling thieves be changed?"
In the script, both bumbling thieves are middle-aged men in their thirties and forties.
Lu Yanhe said, "The character relationships and the script don't need to be changed much. The two bumbling thieves in the script are actually a leader and a cooperator. They are both stupid, but one thinks he is smart. If Teacher Liu can play the role, he will definitely play the leader. At his age, he is in his early fifties and will be the one who provides the wisdom in the duo. The other thief will have to be changed to be younger, one who is more stupid but has a taller appearance."
Chen Yin thought about it carefully, and based on the script of "Home Alone," that was indeed the case.
Chen Yin added, "The theme of this film is actually most suitable for the Spring Festival season."
"The most distinctive feature of this comedy is that it combines elements of children's films," said Lu Yanhe. "It's a family-friendly comedy, and its theme is the concept of family."
“Could we invite some big-name actors to make cameo appearances?” Chen Yin said. “I know that the most important thing about a movie is its content. The content has to be good. I think the theme and content of this movie are already good enough. The jokes are plentiful and refreshing, completely different from other comedy movies on the market. However, the better the content, the more publicity it needs to get people to know about it. This movie is not an ensemble piece. If we rely solely on Liu Teli to compete in the Spring Festival film season, it still won't be able to beat other movies.”
Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "But the only roles that can be played in this movie are parents, police officers, neighbors, and airport staff..."
"Then let's have popular celebrities make cameo appearances in these roles," Chen Yin said. "Only in this way can we secure a ticket to the Spring Festival film season."
Lu Yanhe asked, "How's the director search going?"
Chen Yin: "Lu Xiaochuan, whom we had our eye on before, is still considering it. He promised me he would give me an answer this week."
“Oh, right, if we invite Mr. Liu Teli to act, the budget may need to be increased again.” Chen Yin reminded, “Originally, our budget for the two bumbling thieves was two million, but for Mr. Liu Teli, we expect to pay him five million to reach his market level.”
“Okay.” Lu Yanhe nodded. “If there is an actual need, we can add more to the budget.”
-
Lu Yanhe and his group went to Liu Teli's home for a special visit.
This established performing artist only won the Best Actor award a couple of years ago because of the characters and themes he played; before that, he was not well recognized by mainstream awards.
However, in the domestic environment, this has never affected his status and reputation in the industry, which is enough to show his ability.
Lu Yanhe kept thinking about how to bring up the movie with Liu Teli.
He was afraid that Liu Teli might misunderstand and develop other expectations for the film.
If Lu Yanhe had approached Liu Teli with a script based on the genres of "Dragon Inn" or "Raise the Red Lantern," Lu Yanhe wouldn't have been nervous.
Because he knew that Liu Teli would definitely like this kind of script.
Home Alone...
Lu Yanhe didn't know how to describe this feeling.
It's like taking a popular handicraft to a master embroiderer and saying, "Master, look, can you embroider this? It sells very well."
The master would probably just kick you out.
Therefore, as soon as Lu Yanhe met Liu Teli, he said bluntly, "This is a comedy commercial film."
Liu Teli already knew why they came.
"I heard they want me to play a thief?" he said with a smile.
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Yes, a thief who outwits a child."
Liu Teli asked, "Xiao Lu, can you tell me, if you had to describe this movie in one sentence, how would you do it?"
Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
"ah?"
Liu Teli pointed to the script on the coffee table and said, "I'm not asking you to summarize this story. I want to know how you perceive it before I even read it."
Lu Yanhe thought about it carefully and said, "For adults, it is a fairy tale in the real world. For children, it is a real story that makes them happy, just like a fairy tale. It is joyful, heartwarming, and makes people happy."
Liu Teli nodded.
"I'm going to the study to read the script. Please have a seat." He picked up the script and went into the study alone.
His wife brought over tea and snacks to greet them.
-
Like many veteran artists, Liu Teli has experienced many hardships and difficulties along the way.
His wife, Chen Qiang, chatted with Lu Yanhe and others. When they talked about Liu Teli's past, Lu Yanhe learned that Liu Teli had sung in a theatrical troupe when he was a child and had honed his basic skills for many years.
Later, he joined a local theater troupe, traveling all over the country with them. He endured a lot of hardship but also learned a great deal. By chance, he began acting in stage plays and skits, and then had the opportunity to act in film and television dramas.
Starting with supporting roles is not the same as the path taken by actors today.
However, most actors in the past followed this path.
They are not actors packaged by the star-making industry system. Of course, given the current state of the entertainment industry, they are still inevitably subject to stardom.
This is not a bad thing.
However, their past experiences have given them a foothold in the dazzling and confusing entertainment industry.
This is especially true for top actors like Liu Teli, who are known for their integrity and cherish their reputation.
Therefore, they have very high standards when it comes to accepting roles.
This standard will not change just because you pay a lot of money, or because you are Lu Yanhe, or because you are a creator with outstanding achievements.
From a commercial perspective, many people can look down on and despise such an actor.
However, actors are respected wherever they go, for what makes them actors and for their achievements in the performing arts.
-
Chen Qiang said, "A famous director once approached him to act in a film, but I won't say who it was. He had a bad temper, didn't like the role, and didn't agree with the script, so he declined. When others found out, they laughed at him, saying that if he had acted in the film, he would at least have been nominated for an acting award. They said that being a bit eccentric is just a lack of awards."
Lu Yanhe shook his head and said, "Teacher Te Li doesn't need awards to enhance his reputation. He already has a lot of influence. He doesn't need awards to increase everyone's recognition of him."
Chen Qiang: "That's what they say, but in the entertainment industry, it's all about praising the powerful and stepping on the weak. Before he won the Lingyun Award, who looked up to him? He suffered a lot when he acted with some young idol actors."
"Huh? What did you suffer?" Lu Yanhe was a little surprised. "These days, even though their professional skills are generally average, they should still show respect to the older generation of actors under the supervision of so many people, right? At least they should act respectfully."
Chen Qiang smiled and shook her head.
“That’s not really the case,” Chen Qiang said. “Anyone can put on a show, but the problem is that they will make many demands through their team and the production crew, without directly making any requests. So, when faced with the production crew’s demands, Te Li and his crew can only cooperate. Te Li even filmed 80% of his scenes with a stunt double. In all the scenes between the two of them, Te Li had barely met that actor.”
"What kind of actor is this? I need to block him immediately," Lu Yanhe said with a dark face.
Chen Qiang: "But Te Li has a very high opinion of you all. This time you were coming, so he specifically asked me to buy groceries. We'll cook for you later, and you can try our cooking skills."
"Great! I'm so happy to be able to taste your cooking!" Lu Yanhe said with delight.
Chen Qiang: "I am very happy to meet you. I have watched many of your plays. Te Li often watches your plays and says that your plays have something that others don't, and are worth watching."
Lu Yanhe was flattered.
"No way? A performing artist like Teacher Te Li is watching my play? This is something I could write into my acting resume."
Chen Qiang: "Why are you so modest?"
“I’m not usually that humble, but now that I’ve come to your home, I have to be more humble. If you don’t know how to be humble in front of a true artist, that’s just arrogance.”
Lu Yanhe spoke with absolute certainty.
-
"Hollywood movies?"
At this moment, Jiang Yuqian looked at He Heng with some surprise.
"They contacted us first, wanting us to come for an audition?"
“Yes.” He Heng nodded. “It’s a big production, and one of the male leads is also a Chinese actor.”
"Yan He?" Jiang Yuqian's first thought was Lu Yanhe.
Because currently, there are very few actors in China who can play leading roles in big-budget international productions, and the most popular one is Lu Yanhe.
"Chen Pinhe." He Heng suppressed his surprise, his eyes shining. "We really made the right move on our internationalization strategy. Yuqian, you've finally landed a decent lead role in a big Hollywood production!"
"It's just an audition, it doesn't count as a win yet, right?"
“They contacted us proactively, so it’s practically a done deal. There aren’t many actresses in China with international recognition like you right now,” He Heng said. “The chances are very high.”
Jiang Yuqian also showed a look of surprise.
Although she has been trying to go international lately, she played supporting roles in the two dramas she participated in before.
It's just that one is a big-budget production and the other is a work by a famous director, so even a supporting role is considered a good opportunity.
But of course, it's not feasible to keep playing supporting roles.
Putting aside everything else, Jiang Yuqian has always played leading roles in China, but suddenly became a supporting actress abroad, which always makes Chinese people uncomfortable. It's as if Chinese-language films and television dramas are inferior, and their own popular leading actress can only play supporting roles in your country.
Fortunately, the female lead's resources have now been secured.
He Heng said, "After this news is announced, your position will be further consolidated. You really shouldn't act in TV dramas anymore, unless it's a top-tier production."
Jiang Yuqian said, "The premise is that there are always good movies for me to act in. I can't just keep waiting just to act in movies."
"Don't worry, after these films are released, you'll definitely have no shortage of movie scripts to write for you," He Heng said. "Especially with the release of 'Telephone' at the end of the year, the data from all aspects is very good so far, and it shouldn't be a problem for the film to break 100 million at the box office. Didn't Lu Yanhe also say that he has another movie script he wants you to act in?"
“Yan He has too many projects on his side, he can’t handle them all,” Jiang Yuqian said. “Actually, I originally wanted to act in the movie ‘Dragon Inn,’ but Yan He said I wasn’t suitable for the role.”
"Both of the female leads are too old for you to handle right now."
"We haven't even performed yet," Jiang Yuqian said. "Well, it's true, compared to Chen Bige and Liu Zi, my acting skills are a bit lacking."
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your acting skills are already very good," He Heng said. "Besides, once these films and TV series are released, do you think you'll lack opportunities like this?"
"Who knows? Haven't you noticed? The roles Yan He comes to me for are basically not the kind that require particularly high levels of acting skills. He thinks I can't play roles that require particularly high acting skills."
“If Yan He heard you say that, he would definitely feel wronged to death,” He Heng said. “Your performance in ‘Squid Game’ is obvious to all. Besides, doesn’t the movie ‘Telephone’ require acting skills? If you compare yourself to Chen Bige, there is indeed a gap. She has been acting for many more years than you. What are you comparing yourself to her for?”
You don't understand.
“I just hope you don’t dwell on these things too much. We’ve already agreed that we won’t compete for awards these next few years. Besides, Qianqian, it’s not difficult to be recognized as a good actress in a film that highlights acting skills. The real skill is to deliver a performance that impresses everyone in a film that doesn’t focus on acting skills.”
"Just comfort me."
I'm not trying to comfort you.
"I know my acting skills aren't that good." Jiang Yuqian shook her head. "Okay, that's enough. I hope I can successfully land the role in the movie 'Doomsday'."
-
After reading the script for the movie "Home Alone" in his study, Liu Teli did not come out immediately.
He sat in the chair, lost in thought for a long time.
Undeniably, this is a very interesting story.
Moreover, it's a very good story.
But indeed, it's quite different from his current standards for accepting roles.
Liu Teli has always been a realist actor.
From a realistic perspective, "Home Alone" simply doesn't hold water.
If he were to act in this movie, he would inevitably have to change his usual acting style.
This was a very risky thing for him.
Of course, what made him hesitate was not the risk, but that it exceeded his pursuit of being an actor.
He couldn't honestly say that this film was an adventure for him as an actor, an adventure in terms of performance.
Even if the performance style is to be changed, it is only a technical operation.
Liu Teli knew that if he were to act in this movie, it wouldn't be too difficult for him.
However, given Linghe's vision for "Home Alone," this film is very likely to be a box office hit.
By then, the impression of these two bumbling thieves might become deeply ingrained in people's minds.
For Liu Teli, the actor image he had painstakingly built was perhaps bound by the style of this role and this movie, and from then on, he became a specialist in clown-type roles.
Liu Teli was very thoughtful and practical.
By this point in his life, a blockbuster movie wasn't that significant anymore.
Even if the projects he's working on and the roles he's playing aren't as popular as "Little Ghosts," they're still pretty good.
As an actor, Liu Teli possesses the aura of a "performing artist," and therefore faces no risks.
He acted in "Home Alone," but even though the movie was a box office hit, it didn't help his acting career much. He could tell that the only star of the movie was the "kid." These two bumbling thieves, no matter how successful they were, were still just stupid, comedic villains.
Not starring in "Home Alone" will not have any impact on his current acting career.
He doesn't need hype or traffic; at this stage, he's already a "successful" "performing artist."
These things had actually been swirling in his mind for a long time.
He was trying to convince himself not to take the role in the movie.
But why does he need so many reasons to convince himself not to take the role in this movie?
As an actor, he knew very well that this was a good story, a film subject that had never appeared on the market before, and a film that, while not discussing the depths of human nature or exploring the art of filmmaking, would definitely be loved by everyone as a story.
The two bumbling thieves in the movie will become a signature film character.
It's not necessarily true that only round, multifaceted, and complex characters can be convincing.
A character who reaches the pinnacle in a particular aspect can also be a classic.
Liu Teli saw this kind of charm in these two bumbling thieves.
They are purely evil and purely stupid, yet they still give the impression that their evil and stupidity are fairytale-like, not reaching the level of human depravity.
It's too difficult to write such a character like this.
Liu Teli has never played such a role before.
His heart was stirring.
This is his passion for a role as an actor.
-
I recommend the new fantasy novel, *The Demon-Slaying Sword*.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
