radicalducati Chapter 90 Meeting the Idol
Chapter 90 Meeting the Idol
Chapter 89 Meeting the Idol (6th Update)
It was still dark in Los Angeles when Jiang Yu woke up.
It's not a time difference issue, it's just that my phone keeps vibrating.
He squinted and reached for his phone on the bedside table; the screen showed that the number of unread messages was in the hundreds.
"This is quite a sight—" he muttered as he sat up and rubbed his temples.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Los Angeles skyline is outlined in a hazy silhouette against the deep blue night sky.
Jiang Yu walked barefoot to the window, pressed the remote control, and the blackout curtains slowly slid open.
The city lights stretched to the horizon like a galaxy, and his thoughts had already flown to the other side of the ocean.
At 8:30 pm Beijing time, the internet is at its most active.
Jiang Yu clicked on Sina Entertainment's trending topics list, and found that half of the top ten were related to the movie "2012":
#Jackie Chan and Gong Li star in Hollywood blockbuster# [Breaking News]
#Who is Jiang Yu of Light Chaser Pictures?# [Hot]
#2012 Doomsday Prophecy Movie# [New]
#Zhu Yilong and Jing Tian's Hollywood Debut# [New]
He clicked on the first topic, and it had already garnered over ten million views.
The pinned post is a live report from Sina Entertainment, accompanied by a nine-grid high-definition photo collage: Jackie Chan demonstrating a kung fu stance for the camera, Gong Li's elegant profile with a slight nod, Jiang Yu's composed gaze as he shakes hands with Ron Meyer, and Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong's slightly youthful photo together.
The comments section exploded: "Holy crap! Jackie Chan and Gong Li are starring in a Hollywood A-list production? What an incredible cast!!"
"Jiang Yu is 25 years old? I looked him up and he's the founder of Light Chaser Animation Studios, the company that did the special effects for Iron Man? That's incredibly young and accomplished!"
"What makes Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong qualified to act in films of this caliber? There must be some inside story involved!"
"What's with the sour grapes upstairs? Didn't you see the news? Zhu Yilong is an artist signed by Light Chaser Animation. Is there a problem with a boss promoting his own people?"
"Am I the only one who thinks Zhu Yilong is handsome? The young man in 'The Witch' looks even more mature this time!"
Jiang Yu swiped the screen and saw more analyses from professional media outlets.
Film magazine published a lengthy in-depth report at 3 a.m.: "Yesterday's North American press conference may mark a fundamental shift in the role of the Chinese film industry, from market provider to content co-creator. Light Chaser Pictures not only provides funding and special effects technology, but also has a say in the core creative process of casting. If '2012' is successful, this model of Chinese capital + Chinese actors + Hollywood production may become the new normal —"
Scrolling down, one also finds skepticism: "Will North American audiences accept a global disaster film starring an Asian actor?"
"If the $300 million investment fails, it will be even more difficult for Chinese capital to gain a foothold in Hollywood in the future."
"Are Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong's acting skills enough to carry this kind of big-budget film? Don't let them drag it down."
Jiang Yu calmly looked at the comments.
He had anticipated that any unconventional move would elicit polarized reactions.
An hour later, I received a phone call.
"Boss, this is a global media monitoring report. Mainstream media in Europe and America are relatively objective in their reporting, focusing on Emmerich and the disaster film genre. But the *New York Post* published a commentary titled 'Hollywood's Asian Adventure,' questioning the box office appeal of Asian-led films."
Jiang Yu took the tablet and quickly scanned it: "As expected. Anything else?"
"Asian media outlets are buzzing. Japan's Sankei Shimbun's headline is 'Jackie Chan's First Non-Kung Fu Hollywood Blockbuster,' and South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo's headline is 'Has the Era of Chinese Capital Arrived?'" Hong Kong and Taiwanese media are also buzzing, with Apple Daily publishing a special feature outlining Jackie Chan and Gong Li's Hollywood careers.
What about public opinion in China?
"It's generating a lot of buzz, but there's also some noise," David paused and said. "Several film and television media outlets have published analytical articles questioning the casting of Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong, implying it was a result of capital manipulation. There's also an account claiming to be an 'industry insider' that said his daughter had originally considered other young actresses—"
Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow: "Check the background of this account."
"We're already investigating," David said. "It's most likely a dirty trick by a competitor. Should we respond?"
"Not for now. Responding to such unfounded rumors would only generate more buzz for them."
My phone vibrated again. It was a text message from Jiang Xuerou: "President Jiang, the domestic media are going crazy! CCTV's 'News Live' wants an exclusive interview, the Movie Channel wants to do a special feature, and Sina, Sohu, and NetEase all want exclusives. At least twenty film company executives have inquired about potential collaborations, and General Manager Han from China Film Group said he definitely wants to get together with you when you return to China—"
Jiang Yu replied: "In a unified response, the main creative team is currently in Los Angeles preparing for filming and is not accepting individual interviews at this time. A group media conference will be arranged when we return to China to film. As for those executives—you can just go and meet them."
I had just put my phone down when it rang again.
This time it's Ye Ning.
"President Jiang! Are you up?" Ye Ning's voice was excited yet exhausted. "I didn't sleep all night! I received over thirty phone calls! President Han from China Film Group, President Ren from Shanghai Film Group, President Yu from Bona Film Group—they all came to inquire about the details of the cooperation between Wanda and Universal! Even the higher-ups called, saying this is an important project for Sino-US cultural exchange and that we need to do a good job!"
Jiang Yu walked to the coffee machine and started brewing coffee: "What did you say?"
"I told you it was all thanks to General Manager Jiang's connections, and we can discuss the details when you return to China." Ye Ning paused, "But I haven't been idle either. Last night, I worked through the night to finalize the preliminary domestic distribution plan for '2012.' Wanda's marketing team is fully mobilized today—on-the-ground promotion, ticketing partnerships, cross-industry collaborations—we want to make this film a hit in China even before its release!"
"Very efficient." Jiang Yu tucked his phone under his shoulder and poured coffee into his cup. "President Ye, here's a key point: don't overemphasize nationalistic sentiments in the publicity. Audiences are watching a movie, not political slogans. Focus on the audiovisual effects, emotional impact, and exploration of human nature."
"Understood! I'll adjust my strategy then," Ye Ning said. "By the way, Ron Meyer's assistant just emailed me, inviting me to the global headquarters next week for in-depth discussions on cooperation in the Chinese market. Mr. Jiang, this is a good sign!"
"Indeed." Jiang Yu picked up his coffee and took a sip. "President Ye, we must stick to our bottom line during negotiations. What we want is equal cooperation, not unilateral concessions."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu stood by the window, watching the sky gradually brighten.
At 9 a.m. on the 16th, Jiang Yu and David drove to an old theater in downtown Los Angeles, the filming location of "Black Swan".
As the car drove through the gradually awakening city streets, David said while driving, "Boss, I thought about it carefully last night. We need to take the initiative in guiding the public opinion battle surrounding '2012.' We can't wait for the negative articles to fester."
"What are your thoughts?" Jiang Yu asked, looking out the window at the passing street scene.
"We can release some behind-the-scenes material in a planned manner," David said. "We can also find a few media outlets with which we have good relationships to do in-depth profiles of these actors, talking about their dedication to the roles."
Jiang Yu nodded: "Okay. We need to be careful with the pace. Releasing it now is too early. We should release it gradually after the production starts. Don't over-package it."
"clear."
The car was parked in front of the theater.
This is a Baroque building built in the 1920s. The plaster decorations on the exterior walls are somewhat peeling off, which adds to its sense of vicissitude and artistic charm.
Enter through the side door; filming is underway inside.
The interior of the theater is more dilapidated than the exterior, but it is full of charm.
Director Darren Aronofsky stood behind the monitor, as focused as a statue.
With a stubble beard and dark circles under his eyes, he had clearly stayed up all night again.
The set was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the faint sound of the camera tracks sliding and the melody of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
On stage, Liu Yifei and her partner are rehearsing a duet.
This scene is a key segment of the film, depicting the confrontation and attraction between the white swan and the black swan, Lily, in the rehearsal room.
Jiang Yu found a seat in the audience and sat down to watch quietly.
Liu Yifei's dance moves are precise, restrained, and full of taut beauty.
Every movement she made seemed meticulously calculated, even the trembling of her fingertips was controlled within the limits required by the drama.
"Cut!" Darren shouted.
He walked onto the stage and said in his deep, slightly hoarse voice, "Mila Kunis, that backward lean just now, could have been a little more fragile. You were falling, not lying down on your own."
He turned to Liu Yifei, "Crystal, extend the pause after the spin by one second. I want to see your transformation from dancer to predator."
"Okay, director." Liu Yifei nodded, her breathing still a little rapid.
After Darren returned to the monitor, he noticed Jiang Yu in the audience and nodded.
Jiang Yu raised his hand, signaling him to continue.
The second take begins.
This time, Mila Kunis's backward lean had a hint of helplessness, as if she had been pushed down by an invisible force.
After spinning, Liu Yifei paused for a second—in that second, her expression shifted from the immersion in the dance to the cunning of her character, Lin Xin, with a half-smile playing on her lips.
That was the look in a hunter's eyes as he watched his prey fall into a trap.
"Good! That was a good take!" Darren smiled, a rare occurrence for him. "Twenty-minute break, then get ready for the next one."
The atmosphere on set relaxed.
The staff began adjusting the lights and equipment, and the actors headed to the rest area.
Liu Yifei put on the coat her assistant handed her and took a small sip of water from the bottle.
She saw Jiang Yu, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over.
"Why are you here?" she asked in Chinese, her voice slightly breathless from exercise.
"I brought Brother Cheng Long and the others to visit the set." Jiang Yu stood up. "They should be here soon."
Jackie Chan led the way in, still dressed casually, and took off his sunglasses as soon as he entered the theater.
"Wow, this place has character." He looked around and lowered his voice. "An old theater, I love it. Filming should be done in places with history like this; they have a certain charm."
Gong Li followed behind him.
Today she wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, without makeup, and her hair was casually tied up. Her aura as an international film queen still drew the attention of many staff members on set.
Ye Ning, Lu Zheng, Jing Tian, and Zhu Yilong walked in one after another.
Jing Tian opened his eyes wide with curiosity, like a child entering a movie theater for the first time.
Zhu Yilong quietly observed everything around him, his eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.
"Yifei!" Cheng Long walked over with a smile and opened his arms.
"Brother Jackie Chan!" Liu Yifei hugged him. "Congratulations! Yesterday's press conference was a huge success!"
"You're pretty good too, Darren's movie!" Jackie Chan lowered his voice. "That director is notoriously difficult to work with, but you can really learn something from him."
Gong Li also came over and gently hugged Liu Yifei: "Yifei, you're doing well."
"Ms. Gong Li," Liu Yifei said respectfully, "it's so nice to meet you on the Hollywood set."
"Just call me 'sister'," Gong Li smiled. "I watched you dance just now; you were very powerful."
Darren walked over at that moment.
Jiang Yu introduced them: "Darren, these are Jackie Chan and Gong Li, the lead actors in '2012'. These two are Ye Ning and Lu Zheng, my partners. Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong are the young actors in the film."
Darren shook hands with each of them, saying little but shaking hands firmly.
"Director Darren, I've heard so much about you," Jackie Chan said in English. "I've watched 'Requiem for a Dream' three times, and each time I have a new feeling."
"Thank you." Darren nodded. "Your action choreography is very original. The mall fight scene in Rush Hour, the use of long takes was brilliant."
Gong Li's conversation with Darren was more concise: "I've seen 'Whale Circus'."
Gong Li said, "Your exploration of the dark side of human nature is very brave."
Darren looked at her and, unusually, added, "Your performance in 'Raise the Red Lantern' was like a storm within stillness."
The two exchanged a smile, a gesture of mutual understanding and respect between creators.
Ye Ning and Lu Zheng were relatively reserved.
When they shook hands with Darren, they could clearly feel the pressure of the aura emanating from a top Hollywood director.
Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong are typical examples of fans meeting their idols.
"Director Aronofsky, I—I especially love your films." Jing Tian stammered nervously, "I've watched 'The Wrestler' several times."
Darren nodded. "Thank you. What role did you play in '2012'?"
"I'll play the daughter of Jackie Chan and Gong Li," Jing Tian answered honestly.
"Do you have any crying scenes?"
"Yes, there are several scenes in the script."
"A crying scene isn't just about shedding tears," Darren said. "You have to let the audience see the story behind the tears. Is it fear? Resentment? Or anger? Think about that clearly."
Jing Tian nodded earnestly: "I understand, thank you, director."
Zhu Yilong remained relatively calm: "Director, I watched 'Death Code,' and your control of the rhythm inspired me greatly."
"Mathematics and art have something in common," Darren said. "Both pursue the ultimate order."
"Yes, responsible for part of the Ark's systems."
After the introductions were finished, everyone dispersed.
Jackie Chan went to chat with Mila Kunis. The two had met a few times at Hollywood events and were considered acquaintances.
Gong Li was then pestered by Liu Yifei with questions about acting. Liu Yifei is currently studying the method acting style and has great admiration for veteran actresses like Gong Li.
Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong sat in the audience, watching the staff prepare for the next scene.
Soon after, Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei went to a private box on the second floor of the theater, where it was relatively quiet and offered a panoramic view of the stage.
"You've worked hard," Jiang Yu asked.
Liu Yifei relaxed in front of Jiang Yu, rubbing her shoulders. "It's alright. It got even more tiring after filming started, both physically and emotionally. Darren's demands are too high; it's common for us to film a scene twenty times."
"They've made rapid progress."
"That's true." Liu Yifei smiled. "When I was filming in China before, it was rare to find directors who paid such close attention to the details of acting. Darren would have me try ten different ways of acting the same scene, and then choose the most accurate one. It was a painful process, but I definitely learned a lot."
She paused, then looked at Jiang Yu: "But you, I watched yesterday's press conference online. It was a huge event; media from all over the world were there."
"It's all glamorous on the surface." Jiang Yu leaned against the railing of the private room. "The real pressure is yet to come. If the movie doesn't turn out well, the higher we're praised now, the harder we'll fall later."
"You're very confident," Liu Yifei said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have insisted on using Jackie Chan and Gong Li."
Jiang Yu didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "What do you think of their combination?"
Liu Yifei thought about it seriously: "Brother Jackie Chan has audience appeal, which can boost box office sales. Sister Gong Li has an artistic reputation, which can enhance the film's quality. Besides, they haven't worked together before, so it'll be quite novel. The key is—"
She paused, then continued, "They've both reached a stage where they need to break through. Jackie Chan doesn't want to just be about kung fu anymore, and Gong Li needs a commercially successful film with global impact. This desire will be reflected in their performances."
Jiang Yu looked at her with some surprise.
"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei asked.
"Your understanding of acting is deeper than I imagined."
"After spending a few months in Hollywood, being with the actors here every day, I saw a lot and thought a lot."
Liu Yifei said, "Back in China, the discussion was about how to make a scene look good. Here, the discussion is about why the character is doing what they're doing. The mindset is different."
Darren's voice came from downstairs, shouting "Get ready!"
"I have to go down now," Liu Yifei said.
"Go ahead," Jiang Yu nodded. "By the way, Brother Cheng Long is having dinner at his house tonight, why don't you come too?"
Liu Yifei was taken aback: "Me? Is that appropriate? We're all from your '2012' crew—"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Jiang Yu said. "Brother Cheng Long specifically asked me to invite you. He said he hasn't seen you in a long time and wants to chat."
Liu Yifei hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay. But it might be a little late, I have a night scene scheduled for today."
"I'll wait no matter how late it is."
Liu Yifei forced a smile, turned around, and went downstairs.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she glanced back at the building.
Jiang Fa was still standing in the private room, his figure appearing somewhat lonely in the dim light.
She suddenly became agitated. Last night after work, her assistant said with a smile, "Sister Yifei, that General Manager Jiang's gaze towards you is a bit different. You should be careful."
She laughed it off at the time, but now, upon closer inspection, it does seem quite different from before.
She couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.
For the next two hours, Jiang Fa and his party watched the filming of three scenes.
Darren's working methods have opened the eyes of all artists.
Another scene is where Lin Xin breaks down in the dressing room.
Liu Yifei filmed fifteen takes, each time breaking down in a different way: silent tears, hysteria, numb emptiness, and sudden silence after the hysteria —
Darren asked her to switch between various extreme emotions until she squeezed out the most authentic moment.
"In his hands, actors are like musical instruments," Gong Yan whispered to Jiang Fa. "What he wants isn't 'performance,' but 'state of being.' This method is very taxing for the artists, but it's effective."
Jackie Chan watched with great interest: "This kind of filming style is rarely seen in the industry. Our directors pay more attention to mise-en-scène and dramatic conflict, while Darren focuses on psychological realism. Both aesthetics are worth learning."
Jing Tian and Zhu Yilong were completely shocked.
They also witnessed firsthand the dedication of serious actors, their wholehearted commitment, their meticulous attention to every detail, and their professional attitude even under the "torture" of the director.
"I—I'm still far from good enough," Jing Tian whispered to Zhu Yilong.
Zhu Yilong nodded: "Only when we saw the mountaintop did we realize we were at the foot of the mountain. But we are still young, and we will climb up if we have the power."
The second act is a solo dance by Liu Yifei.
This scene is Lily's impromptu dance in an empty theater, showcasing her free-spirited, wild side.
The music started, but it wasn't "Swan Lake"; instead, it was a more modern and rhythmically stronger version adapted by Yazuraku.
Liu Yifei stood in the center of the stage, bathed in blue light.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then began to dance.
It is no longer the precision and control of classical ballet, but the freedom and improvisation of modern dance.
Her body seemed to be controlled by the music, or perhaps she was controlling the music.
Spinning, jumping, falling, getting up—every movement is full of power, yet carries a fragile beauty.
The most captivating aspect was her expressions; she was completely immersed in the dance, sometimes ecstatic, sometimes sorrowful, and sometimes ethereal.
"She has made great progress," Gong Yan said softly.
Jiang Fa didn't speak, but just focused on watching the figure on the stage.
When he first met Liu Yifei, she was still the teenage idol known as "Fairy Sister".
In just one year, she has grown into a professional actress capable of meeting the demands of directors like Darren.
As the dance ended, Liu Yifei knelt in the center of the stage, panting with her head tilted back, sweat dripping down her neck.
There was a few seconds of silence, then Darren said, "Good. That was a pass."
Rarely, he added, "Crystal, that was beautiful."
Liu Yifei smiled, her smile bright and genuine.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Jiang Fa and his party bid farewell and left.