Chapter 714: Muken is driven to the brink of collapse (5200 words)
Dinner was prepared by Hua Ruzhen herself.
Chinese food.
To be precise, it includes dishes from Northeast China such as Guo Bao Rou (sweet and sour pork), Sichuan cuisine such as Fuqi Feipian (sliced beef and offal in chili sauce), as well as home-style dishes like sweet and sour pork ribs and boiled fish.
Chen Siqi was astonished and said, "Sister, how come your cooking skills are so good?"
Lu Yanhe said with a smile, "When I was filming my first movie, 'The Mist,' my sister rented a house with Mu Ken. They often invited me to dinner, and I got used to it. She seems to be able to do everything."
Chen Siqi: "I admire you so much!"
Hua Ruzhen brought out a pot of mushroom cream soup, her face beaming.
"Don't exaggerate my skills too much, it's just a little bit of home cooking," she said.
Muken now uses chopsticks with the same skill as before, showing no signs of the awkwardness often associated with foreigners.
"When is the sequel to 'The Mist' scheduled for release?" Chen Siqi asked. "Will it have the same release date as the first one?"
“It should be,” Muken said. “We hope D19 can be released by the end of next year.”
Is there enough time?
“It depends on how things go later,” Muken said. “Normally, it should be possible.”
Hua Ruzhen asked, "What's Yan He's next project?"
“Liu Bige’s ‘Dingfeng No. 1’,” Lu Yanhe replied.
Hua Ruzhen nodded.
"Looks like you've been spending most of your time on set again this year?" Hua Ruzhen laughed.
Lu Yanhe nodded, "It feels like every year is just a constant back and forth between different film crews."
“That’s how it is when you’re young; you’re basically pushed along by your work,” Hua Ruzhen said. “It’s good, though. It’s tiring, but it’s all about accumulation.”
Chen Siqi: "I hope he can relax a little. He has been working at a high intensity for the past few years."
"Actually, this year is much better. After filming one movie, I can rest for a while before joining another production," Lu Yanhe said. "In the past two years, I didn't have any time to breathe. At that time, I had to record a lot of programs and attend some events between filming. Now, I have much less work in that area, so it's better."
Muken: "You have indeed done a lot of filming. I feel like every few months I see news that you have a film coming out, not just movies, but also a lot of TV series."
"He had just finished filming the final season of a series before filming the sequel to 'The Mist'," Chen Siqi said. "'The Seventeen Floors,' Muken, have you seen that show?"
“Oh, I’ve seen it.” Muken nodded. “I like the show. It’s very interesting, and it’s a subject I like.”
Hua Ruzhen said, "This show seems to be quite popular in Europe and America, right?"
"That's because after 'The Squid Game' became a hit, 'The Seventeenth Floor' was boosted in viewership due to its similar theme," Lu Yanhe said. "Actually, 'The Seventeenth Floor' was mainly popular in Asia. In Europe and America, it only had a certain level of popularity and a certain audience."
Hua Ruzhen nodded.
“I’ve read the script you gave Muken. It’s really well written, beyond my expectations. How did you come up with the idea of writing such a story?” Hua Ruzhen asked in surprise. “You actually used the slavery of black people as the background for your work.”
“The audience’s reaction when ‘The Mist’ was released inspired me.” Lu Yanhe was indeed reminded of the movie because of its rare “Asian revenge” marketing approach. “Moreover, in terms of social issues, this theme is definitely more mainstream in the United States.”
“That’s right.” Hua Ruzhen nodded. “I even think that if this movie sparks a lot of social discussion, it could become a big contender during awards season.”
"That's exactly what I envisioned," Lu Yanhe stated frankly.
Hua Ruzhen was somewhat surprised and asked, "Are you planning to compete for an Oscar?"
“In the next few years, I want to focus not only on the Oscars, but also on English-language films,” Lu Yanhe said.
Hua Ruzhen asked, "And what about yourself?"
"Myself?"
"Midori has been sending out signals that he wants to compete for Best Supporting Actor this year for his performance in Tropical Rain."
Lu Yanhe said, "Because I won the Best Actor award at the Situation Awards, Schmidt thought I had a great advantage, but he also told me that whether I have a chance or not depends on the feedback from critics after the film is released in North America."
Hua Ruzhen asked, "Will you be allocating public relations funds this year?"
Lu Yanhe: "There is no such plan at the moment."
“The movie ‘Tropical Rainy Season’ definitely didn’t have that kind of funding,” Hua Ruzhen said. “Actually, if I had had the investment quota for this movie, I would have invested.”
"Don't even mention you, none of them allocated any investment quota to Yan He," Chen Siqi explained with a smile. "Yan He only went to help out by acting for a few days."
"At the time, they probably didn't expect this movie to achieve such success, right?"
“I really didn’t expect it,” Lu Yanhe said. “If anyone had told me when I received the script that this movie could win me the Best Actor award at the Citour Awards, I definitely wouldn’t have believed it.”
Hua Ruzhen: "If you really want to cover this awards season this year, I can help you organize a few cocktail parties."
Why is it said that awards season often requires public relations funding?
Where did all that public relations money go? Was it used to bribe judges with voting rights?
In fact, there is an expense in public relations funds that is like what Hua Ruzhen mentioned.
Organize a cocktail party.
What is the purpose of organizing a cocktail party? To invite media, film critics, influential figures in the industry, and so on, to promote the film "Tropical Rainy Season" and Lu Yanhe's performance.
This is very expensive; a single party can easily cost over $100,000.
Hua Ruzhen meant that she could cover the expenses for several "public relations events".
"Thank you, sister," Lu Yanhe said to Hua Ruzhen.
Hua Ruzhen then looked at Chen Siqi.
“Didn’t you always want to take ‘Jump Up’ overseas? The documentary book about the international film critics’ festival that you made last year actually received a pretty good response in Europe and America. Maybe we can continue to do it this year,” Hua Ruzhen said. “We can also hold a book launch here then.”
Hua Ruzhen was actually providing Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi with some "public relations ideas".
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi understood each other and nodded.
“Oh, then ‘Tropical Rainy Season’ must have its German premiere in Berlin.” Hua Ruzhen emphasized without further ado, “There are many Academy members in Germany as well.”
College members are those who have the right to vote.
Lu Yanhe agreed.
After dinner, Lu Yanhe and Mu Ken went to his study to look at some of his DVD collection.
Chen Siqi and Hua Ruzhen stood on the balcony, enjoying the breeze and chatting.
"Although I had told Yan He before that I hoped he would have a suitable opportunity to help Mu Ken write a horror script that could bring him into the mainstream, I did not expect that Yan He would be able to produce the script for Get Out so quickly. His creative talent is truly amazing."
Hua Ruzhen held a wine glass, her other hand resting on the balcony railing. The light spilled out from inside the house, illuminating her side and making her look as charming as if she were in a movie scene.
“Even in Hollywood—where most of the world’s most talented filmmakers come here—I have never met a screenwriter with more creative passion than him.”
Chen Siqi nodded.
“He’s very sensitive.” She smiled. “Although he doesn’t usually show it, that’s probably the source of his creative passion. Maybe it was just that the few of us sitting together for dinner tonight that sparked a story in his mind.”
Hua Ruzhen shook her head.
“Genius minds always amaze us.” She smiled. “But I’ve known him for so long, and I’m actually a little relieved today. I thought he would avoid the topic when I brought it up directly with me today about the public relations for the American awards season.”
“He used to be very afraid of worldly affairs, but he’s gotten better now.” Chen Siqi knew what Hua Ruzhen was talking about. “He’s not actually afraid of worldly affairs, he just doesn’t want to let many things be tied to a very utilitarian purpose, because that’s not his original intention.”
“However, there is no era in which an artist’s status is not achieved without utilitarian purposes,” Hua Ruzhen said. “The artist himself may not have utilitarian purposes, but the act of the times granting him this status is itself utilitarian.”
"Yes, I agree."
“I’m so happy that he’s accepted this so quickly at his age,” Hua Ruzhen said. “To be honest, we don’t really click, but there’s an unexpected connection between us. We’ve known each other for a short time, and I felt that he needed my help and that he was willing to help me back. It might be because it was his first time filming in a foreign country. We two Chinese people suddenly felt like we were from the same hometown.”
Chen Siqi laughed.
“He is a very sincere person, and he hasn’t changed at all to this day,” she said. “I even feel that he is too tolerant many times. He is always willing to think about other people’s unavoidable circumstances and then forgive them. However, strangely enough, at the same time, he is also a person with a very high inner defense. Very few people can truly get into his heart. So when I found out that you, Sister Ruzhen, are respected and loved by him from the bottom of his heart, I was quite surprised, just for the time it takes to film a movie.”
Hua Ruzhen: "It's probably because he made me lower my guard and was willing to talk to him more. After we finished talking, he gave me more sincere feedback, which made me willing to continue talking to him. In this way, little by little, we were able to talk more and more."
Actually, Chen Siqi also found it quite amazing. Chen Bige had worked with Lu Yanhe so many times, so logically they should be more familiar and closer. But Chen Siqi felt that if Lu Yanhe ever encountered some problems and needed help, Hua Ruzhen would definitely be ahead of Chen Bige on Lu Yanhe's list.
The compatibility between Chen Bige and Lu Yanhe lies in their shared passion for acting.
However, Lu Yanhe and Hua Ruzhen could talk about more private things.
This is how Chen Siqi feels.
Hua Ruzhen said, "If Yan He really has a chance to compete for an Oscar this year, I will use all my resources to help him. I'm just afraid that he won't take it seriously."
“He cares, but he’s prone to appearing indifferent,” Chen Siqi laughed. “He used to really want to win awards, but he always said that awards weren’t the most important thing. Now, he says he’s willing and wants to win awards, but he really doesn’t put awards first anymore.”
Hua Ruzhen: "Well, what I mean is, artists themselves may not put utilitarian goals first, but as their friend, when I can give them a push, I don't have many thoughts. I will push them when I can. In Europe and America, winning an Oscar and not winning an Oscar are two completely different things. If you win an Oscar, those people, no matter if they don't want to acknowledge you, must acknowledge you because they have to protect the reputation of the Oscars."
Chen Siqi nodded, understanding Hua Ruzhen's meaning.
“I can roughly guess what Yan He wants to do, and I hope I can help him.” Hua Ruzhen smiled slightly at Chen Siqi. “So, if there’s anything I need to know, feel free to contact me. I’m not counting on him.”
Chen Siqi smiled too.
-
Murken Sorge is a huge fan of thriller and horror movies.
He loves taking pictures because he loved watching them when he was a child.
He has seen almost every thriller and horror movie in the world.
Lu Yanhe looked at the DVDs in his study, including the large, brightly lit humanoid skull in the room, and the many decorative paintings and posters on the walls—
All right.
Lu Yanhe thought to himself, "Anyway, it's not him living here."
He doesn't actually like horror movies that much.
People who like this kind of movie are essentially seeking the thrill of that moment when their adrenaline surges, just like some people like roller coasters or drop towers.
However, Lu Yanhe himself is not very able to derive pleasure from this feeling.
Of course, Lu Yanhe has many favorite thriller and horror movies.
"Get Out" doesn't really qualify as a movie; he watched it simply as a drama. In comparison, he even preferred another film by the same director, "No."
Of all the films of this type he's seen, his favorite is actually Hitchcock's *Rear Window*.
But this does not involve horror or supernatural phenomena.
Okay, he admits that he hasn't actually watched many horror or supernatural movies.
-
However, the current trend in the film industry towards horror and thriller films is gradually decreasing, and we haven't seen masterpieces like "Orphan," "Triangle," or "The Chainsaw Massacre" in a long time.
The last film to create a global sensation was "Joker," a movie adapted from Stephen King's novel.
-
Lu Yanhe listened to Mu Ken talk about his collection for over an hour, and many horror movies he had forgotten and watched popped into his mind.
He asked Muken for a piece of paper and a pen, and every now and then he would write a name on it.
At first, Muken didn't know what he was doing. When he asked, Lu Yanhe said, "While I was listening to you talk, one idea after another popped into my head. Maybe when I get back, I can organize them and write them into a script."
Muken stared at Lu Yanhe in shock and disbelief, uttering "Fuck!" over and over again.
Hua Ruzhen knocked on the door and came in, asking, "Siqi and I baked some cookies. Would you like to come out and grab a bite?"
Then she saw her husband collapse, clutching his head and yelling "Fuck!"
Hua Ruzhen stood still and blinked.
Lu Yanhe was at a loss for words.
The scene looks as if Muken was provoked or bullied by him.
Hua Ruzhen said helplessly, "Darling, calm down."
Muken suddenly pointed at Lu Yanhe, laughed incredulously, and asked, "Do you know how freakish this guy is?"
Lu Yanhe looked completely puzzled: "???"
Muken took the paper from Lu Yanhe's hand and gave it to Hua Ruzhen.
"As I told him about my collection, he would come up with all sorts of stories."
Hua Ruzhen suddenly realized.
Muken: "How can there be such a perverted person? Seriously, I'm filled with jealousy right now, it's burning me."
Lu Yanhe: "..."
Hua Ruzhen took his hand. "Alright, come out and have some cookies to calm down. Yan He, you come out too."
Lu Yanhe followed him out, feeling both amused and exasperated.
-
This was a night that really broke Muken down.
He was constantly searching for good stories, almost every day, and then he would come up with all sorts of ideas and try to turn them into screenplays, but nine out of ten of them failed.
However, in just one hour, Lu Yanhe wrote four or five names on the paper, the names of the scripts.
Moreover, when Muken pointed to one of the names and asked Lu Yanhe what kind of story he was thinking of, Lu Yanhe was even able to tell him a complete story.
Muken was completely unable to calm down.
Hua Ruzhen said helplessly to Lu Yanhe, "You really provoked him."
Lu Yanhe: "Then what should we do?"
“It’s alright,” Hua Ruzhen said. “Although he seems on the verge of collapse, he has a much stronger mental fortitude than he appears. In the next few days, he will be stimulated by you to start writing the script like crazy.”
Lu Yanhe: "...No way?"
"Hehe, just you wait and see," Hua Ruzhen said. "I'll film it for you later."
That night, Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi slept at their house.
The next day, after breakfast, Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi were about to catch their flight back to China.
After a night, Muken seemed to have calmed down a bit, but he didn't look like he had rested well at all, with huge dark circles under his eyes.
Muken punched Lu Yanhe in the shoulder.
"You rascal, you kept me up all night."
Lu Yanhe: "...You can't say that."
Chen Siqi burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Hua Ruzhen twitched the corner of her mouth and pulled Mu Ken to the back.
She said, "Your visit this time was too short. Please come more often in the future."
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "We'll wait for you to come to Yuming."
Hua Ruzhen nodded.
"I'll contact you later."
They hugged each other.
It was a clear morning, with no sunshine yet, and the air was as crisp and clear as a valley.
Zou Dong and Wang Biao had already packed their things and came over from the hotel.
The car they had booked was parked at the door, waiting for them.
“Then we’re leaving,” Lu Yanhe said.
"Bye-bye." Hua Ruzhen nodded with a smile. "Have a safe trip, see you later."
Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi got into the car together.
After the car started moving and drove a short distance, Lu Yanhe looked back and saw through the rear window that Mu Ken and Hua Ruzhen were hugging each other and turning around to go back to their house.
This scene was very ordinary, but it made Lu Yanhe feel at ease.
He took Chen Siqi's hand.
-
I recommend the new fantasy novel, *The Demon-Slaying Sword*.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com