Before "Friends" entered the formal rehearsal stage, Lu Yanhe went to the United States.
He and Chen Ziyan originally intended to meet with the producer and director of the movie "Doomsday".
However, upon learning that he was coming to the United States, Lu Yanhe's American agent Darren Wilson contacted him and wanted to invite him to attend a charity dinner event.
This event is part of the North American awards season.
Every year.
Darren Wilson has a client who has a good chance of being nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor this year, so Darren Wilson hopes Lu Yanhe can help him get on the stage.
"I don't need you to canvass for votes, I just need you to support this movie and please go watch it," Darren Wilson said. "Edward's performance in this movie is very good. If you can help, some Asian-American Academy members in Hollywood will be influenced by you and go watch this movie. Of course, this favor will be returned to you when you need it in the future."
Look, there is no such thing as absolute fairness.
PR is everywhere.
The Oscar awards season is all about overt conspiracy.
Lu Yanhe said, "I need to see what the movie is about first. Darren, I can help, but I can't lie. At least I have to watch the movie first."
Darren Wilson asked, "How about I ask him to arrange a private screening?"
Lu Yanhe was a little surprised.
"Hold a screening just for me?"
“Yes, because the film won’t be officially released until the end of the year, and you can’t see it in theaters now.”
Darren Wilson said: "If he could get your support, he would definitely like it."
Lu Yanhe thought about it and said, "Okay."
"By the way, Darren, the main reason I came to the United States this time is to meet with Director Lune Reese. Is there anything about him that you think I need to remind me in advance?"
"He's a guy with a weird temper." Darren Wilson said immediately, "Are you here to meet him to discuss his movie project? Doomsday? I heard that the movie has already found another male actor from China."
"Yes." Lu Yanhe said, "But I don't want to act. I want to help another person."
"Who?" Darren Wilson said, "This movie is a key project for Parameter, with a lot of investment, so the choice of the lead actor is not something that can be easily changed."
"I know, but the actor I want to recommend is not bad in any aspect."
"Who?"
"Jiang Jun, the male protagonist of "Squid Game"." Lu Yanhe said.
Darren Wilson reacted immediately.
"Oh, it's him." He said, "If it's him, maybe there will be a turnaround, but is he willing to come to the United States to film? Why did I hear that he doesn't want to leave China and come to the United States to film?"
"This news must be false. He is willing to do it."
"Maybe someone here is deliberately spreading this rumor," Darren Wilson said. "After all, after the movie Squidward Gamble made him known to the world, he became the first choice for many Asian roles. Many opportunities for Asian actors in Hollywood were snatched away, and they definitely don't want that."
Lu Yanhe said: "Maybe I have also been subject to such rumors?"
"Of course." Darren Wilson said, "Your wisest decision was to find an agent like me who is very familiar with the situation in Hollywood. So when others spread such rumors, I immediately denied the authenticity of the rumor, and used my performance in "Hurricane 2" to crush such rumors."
Lu Yanhe smiled.
"Well, then I have to thank you seriously."
"I hope you understand that hiring me is definitely a wise decision for you," Darren Wilson said. "Oh, by the way, it just so happens that you came here this time, and I also received two good scripts, both of which have roles that are more suitable for you."
Lu Yanhe said, "Darren, you know, my schedule for next year is basically full, and I don't have time to take on other roles."
Darren Wilson said: "Maybe you don't have time to act in them, but it's always good for you to go through these scripts and meet with directors, producers, and screenwriters who are interested in you and get to know them in person."
Lu Yanhe felt that what Darren Wilson said made sense.
Indeed it is.
If collaboration on one play fails, there will of course be subsequent projects.
The key is to let everyone know you, see you, and remember you when preparing for a new play.
Especially for a Chinese actor like Lu Yanhe, whose main base of activities is not in Hollywood.
-
After Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan came to Los Angeles together, Darren Wilson provided all kinds of services for him from the moment he landed.
This was the condition promised by Williams when Lu Yanhe signed the contract.
Of course, this only includes very basic services. If you want more advanced services, you have to pay extra.
Hua Ruzhen happened to be staying in Los Angeles, so when she learned that Lu Yanhe was coming, she prepared to hold a party several days in advance.
She invited some Asian people in the Los Angeles entertainment industry.
For Lu Yanhe, a small number of Asian people in Hollywood see him as a competitor for the cake, but a larger number of people like him and respect him. Putting aside his identity as a creator, his performance in "The Mist" made major film companies realize that the Asian market can contribute outstanding box office results.
Therefore, after "The Mist", the number of Asian characters in scripts has increased significantly. For Asian actors in Hollywood, this means more performance opportunities. For other Asian creators, this also gives them a reason to create films for the Asian market and convince film company executives.
Lu Yanhe's existence has promoted the entire international film and television market's attention to Asian themes.
The popularity of several dramas on streaming media, such as "Friends", "Squidward", and "The 17th Floor", as well as the global box office success of "The Mist", have all contributed to this point.
Lu Yanhe has become the most representative Asian creator in Hollywood in the past two years.
Hua Ruzhen organized such a party, firstly to consolidate his position in this circle - after all, Lu Yanhe didn't often appear in Los Angeles, and not everyone could invite him to their party. Secondly, it was to show Lu Yanhe his network of contacts in Hollywood.
There is no doubt that Lu Yanhe is a very promising creator, but he has no roots in Los Angeles. No matter how talented a person is, he will eventually be unable to stand alone in an unfamiliar environment. Therefore, whether emotionally or utilitarian, Hua Ruzhen must show Lu Yanhe her "role" and "value".
Lu Yanhe is also very willing to attend such parties when he has free time.
Everyone is very busy. If you have to meet so many people one by one, you don't have enough time. This opportunity to meet so many people is great. Many of them are curious about why Lu Yanhe came to Los Angeles this time.
Mainly, I want to know whether Lu Yanhe is going to cooperate with Hollywood on another project.
Lu Yanhe's journey in Hollywood was exceptionally smooth.
After the huge success of "The Mist", he signed a "high-priced" contract for the sequel, and also starred in the blockbuster "The Hurricane 2" with an incredible "guest star pay".
Many actors who have been working in Hollywood for more than ten years cannot get resources like Lu Yanhe.
To the people present, the resources and projects that Lu Yanhe had access to were all very popular, and they all wanted to get a piece of the pie.
Lu Yanhe couldn't tell the world why he came at this time, so he found an excuse and said that Darren Wilson invited him to come and support Edward Hodgson's journey to the Oscars this year.
This is actually true.
Lu Yanhe is actually still an outsider to the Oscars.
Everyone was surprised when they heard it.
Darren Wilson is a very famous agent.
He won't make any stupid moves.
Even if he is not a professional awards public relations manager, the fact that he invited Lu Yanhe here in all seriousness shows that he must have influence and role in the awards season.
As a result, many people discussed and speculated that the reason why Darren Wilson invited Lu Yanhe to support Edward Hodgson was because of Lu Yanhe's legendary close relationship with the media and film critics.
"In fact, Lu Yanhe's Love Letter this year is also a good movie."
"Of course, it's just a pity that this movie is not the kind of style that Europeans and Americans like. It is still more popular among Asians."
"It grossed more than 20 million . dollars when it was released in Japan, setting a box office record for Chinese-language films in Japan in the past decade."
"Yes, but it only made over 8 million US dollars in the United States. Although it is high, it is still far behind the influence this movie has achieved in Asia."
"Love Letter's box office performance in Europe and the United States is actually very good. Not counting the box office performance in Asia, the box office in other parts of the world has reached more than 30 million US dollars. Even many popular works in this year's award season did not get such a high box office."
"After all, this is Lu Yanhe's first film that he directed, wrote, and starred in, and it won a grand prize at the Jose-Jacques Film Festival."
"I'm so envious." Someone said, "We have to admit that Lu Yanhe has been so lucky in recent years. None of his works have failed."
"The momentum is on him. The longer this momentum lasts, the harder it will be to break. No matter what, every work of his will be highly anticipated and will receive the greatest attention and publicity."
"That's true. Look, Love Letter was released in the United States, and many Hollywood celebrities recommended the movie on social media. If it weren't for Lu Yanhe, there wouldn't be such a big fanfare."
"I heard that another Chinese-language film starring Lu Yanhe, a fantasy film, has been bought by a first-tier Hollywood film company for its North American distribution rights. It will be screened on a large scale in theaters."
"Is it the movie 'Burning Fire'?"
"You actually know?"
"The special effects for this movie were done by a company owned by a friend of mine."
"Really? How was the movie?"
“The whole production is very well done and outstanding.”
"Chinese films now have money and are not short of production costs. The special effects can rival those of Hollywood blockbusters."
“They really don’t lack money.”
-
At the party, Lu Yanhe drank and chatted with everyone, exchanged pleasantries, and talked a lot. He also left contact information with many people and made appointments to work together in the future if there was an opportunity, and so on.
At about 11:30 in the evening, Lu Yanhe felt that it was about time and prepared to go back to say hello to Hua Ruzhen.
Hua Ruzhen nodded and personally escorted Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan to the door.
At this time, a group of young handsome men and beautiful women were coming in one after another.
"Oh! You're here!" Hua Ruzhen hugged the man in a suit and tie who was leading the group. "Everyone inside has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lu Yanhe looked at these young people with some surprise. Each of them looked... charming.
After coming out, Lu Yanhe asked Chen Ziyan.
"Were those people just now what I imagined?"
"Yeah." Chen Ziyan nodded. "In Hollywood, many parties are like this. In the first half, everyone gets to know each other and makes friends. In the second half, those who are not interested in participating leave first. Those who are interested can release themselves safely at this time."
Lu Yanhe suddenly realized.
"It's similar in China," Chen Ziyan said, "but it's done more covertly, and you basically can't get in touch with it."
“Why am I basically inaccessible?”
"You must be joking. You rarely even attend gatherings like this. How did you get in touch with them? Besides, everyone basically knows what's going on between you and Chen Siqi. Everyone is playing it safe with you now and won't take the risk of making you unhappy."
"So that's how it is." Lu Yanhe suddenly realized.
"Actually, Xingyu has done a good job in this regard."
"Ok?"
"They never act as pimps. Obviously, this kind of agency that has idol artists and many trainees is the best suited for this kind of thing." Chen Ziyan said, "Those people just now are basically kids who want to be stars and have dreams of being stars. They come here to meet these people who already have a certain amount of power and connections in Hollywood, and maybe they can get an opportunity."
"Okay." Lu Yanhe nodded. "It seems that I have to leave early in the future. If someone sees this, it will seem like I am still involved."
"Don't worry, this kind of thing is kept very confidential and very safe." Chen Ziyan said, "It's almost an open secret in the industry, but no one will expose this secret. This kind of thing has been going on for dozens or even hundreds of years. Have you seen any media report it?"
Lu Yanhe shook his head.
"So, you know." Chen Ziyan shrugged. "I just didn't expect that Hua Ruzhen would arrange these. I thought she wouldn't come." (End of this chapter)
