In the lobby of Fu Ji Chinese Restaurant, guests sit on wooden chairs at the square table enjoying food and chatting happily. The spacious and bright restaurant is decorated with a classical Chinese flavor, with wooden carved railings and calligraphy and painting stickers on the walls, playing soft piano music...... There is also a huge Chinese brush plaque in the center, "Fortune and Treasure".

On the other side of the door, a tall black-haired Chinese man walked in, his thick white shirt and blue jeans set off his well-proportioned muscles, looking radiant and full of strength, and his angular face with some fibrous roots exuded a hard, mature man's charm. Marcia, who was laughing and talking with friends at the dinner table, inadvertently swept his gaze to him, and couldn't help but secretly wow: "Cool......!

Seeing him waving over, the two Chinese and a white man with black curly hair sitting at a table in the corner were all in high spirits. Among them, the square-faced man with black-rimmed glasses was Lin Yibin, who raised his hand and beckoned, the other Chinese with a thin body and a big eyelid and nose was Wen Ziren, and the honest-looking white man was his good friend Ray Werner.

"Hey, Justin!" Hearing his hearty voice, Wen Ziren suddenly felt a little nervous in his heart, and Ray Warner gave him an "unbelievable!" surprised look, the magical director Wang Yang! When they got on the plane to the United States in Australia, they really hoped to meet some of their favorite idols on this trip, this magical director who was three years younger than them was at the top, but I didn't expect to see it now!

Born in Malaysia on February 27, 1977 and then raised in Australia, he set up his dream of making movies at the age of 11. Also 25-year-old Ray Warner was his classmate and buddy, his parents were film and television photographers, and after graduating, he joined the television station as a film review show host. But both know that movies are where they belong.

So in another drink, talking about the 18-year-old Wonder Young dared to make a movie with all his net worth of 10,000 US dollars, why can't the 25-year-old? The two finally decided to make an independent film to enter the film industry, so what movie and what story?

The unexpected death of his father at the age of 14 was a heartbreaking and unbearable blow for Wen Ziren, which also led him to prefer horror movies, and Ray Warner has been suffering from headaches for the past year, and the worst thing is that the doctor can't find the cause, he wakes up in pain and nightmares almost every night in the middle of the night, he longs for health and fears death, and for the first time he understands the pain of life that is not under his control.

This time they proposed to make an independent film, and the two immediately had a clear idea, to do a horror movie like Wonder Young, the story of a psychopathic murderer with terminal cancer, who will kidnap those who he thinks do not value life, and if they want to live, they must kill each other according to his instructions and understand the value of life...... After finalizing the script story, Wan Ziren and Ray Warner traveled to Australian film companies in search of investment and distribution. But no one was interested in two 25-year-old nobodies, and no one wanted to spend even a dime on that horror movie called "Saw". Then they stepped on the plane and came to Los Angeles to continue their sales, and immediately went to FM, the "independent film faucet".

FM has this title not because it is particularly rich, if it is rich, the big studios are naturally more so, but no other company is willing to invest in independent films. Generally, those independent film companies will invest in a few 7-figure films every year, which is already a lot, and FM is said to have an investment of 50 million this year, in this money, the maximum production cost of a single film does not exceed 3 million, and the excess is counted as other plans, so that one million, hundreds of thousands of independent films are spread out, and there are dozens of films throughout the year, which is absolutely crazy.

Then their movie was immediately taken by Peter Wilkes, the investment director of FM, and proposed a plan to invest one million, and the two were struck by the sudden happiness that they had been seeking for a long time, but they did not agree immediately because of the details of the plan. I went to a few companies such as Dimen, Miramax, and Summit Entertainment to try my luck, but the result was no different from in Australia, and I heard a "no" and was blasted out.

Seeing that Wang Yang was about to walk up, Wen Ziren and Ray Warner both stood up, stretched out their hands with a smile on their faces, and introduced themselves: "Hello Mr. Wang, I'm James Wen, Wen Ziren. "I'm Ray Warner. ”

"Hello, James, Ray, just call me Young. Wang Yang smiled and shook hands with them separately, looking at this face of the same origin and species, James Win? He frowned suspiciously, and suddenly remembered, isn't it the director of "Saw"? Ray Warner is the actor of the other main creator and actor Adam. He couldn't help but laugh suddenly, these two guys are really bloody!

After getting to know each other, they sat down in the chair again and ordered a few more Chinese dishes from the waiter. After chatting a few words, Wen Ziren and Ray Warner handed the script they brought to Wang Yang, he took it and opened it and read it carefully, sure enough, it was "Chainsaw", but there were many differences from what he had seen in his mind, maybe it was like this, maybe many things were changing.

Does this world have a future? Anyway, he has changed a lot, Rachel made movies at the age of 19, Jessica did not act in "Idle Hands", and song and dance movies were revived early...... Maybe Annie Darren didn't kill herself, Harry became a photographer, Nancy went to USC to read directing, Briana didn't die, Cole died...... Many people's life trajectories are different, maybe they become wonderful, maybe they become ordinary, maybe they take a different path to the same end.

Maybe a guy named Sam Johnson walked out of the cinema after watching "Ghost Record" in 1998 and fell on his heel and was taken to the hospital, or maybe a guy named Jack Tool avoided a fatal car accident because he watched "Ghost Record...... Sam then meets Emma, a nurse who later is his wife, at the hospital, but his "originally future" wife, Bella, doesn't recognize Sam at the prom, and she comes out on the street and meets Jack Toole...... This is the so-called butterfly effect, which can make the brain want to go crazy, anyway, the moment the BB car hits him, everything is out of control, it's different. Or maybe the world is like that, like Stephen Hawking said parallel worlds, who knows.

Wang Yang looked at the script page by page, Lin Yibin, Wen Ziren and the other three waited quietly, when the Asian waiter came with a tray of dishes and presented the fried rice, crispy shrimp, barbecued pork and other dishes they ordered to the table: "Please use it slowly." Wang Yang put down the script, and naturally had an idea in his heart, the Chinese director who could have been affirmed by Peter Wilkes, he would be willing to invest in it no matter what, and now it is "Chainsaw" and Wen Ziren, and there is no reason to refuse.

"James, Ray, the story is good! 'Chainsaw' is going to be a great horror movie. Wang Yang picked up the chopsticks and grabbed a piece of barbecued pork, looked at Wen Ziren and the two who were sitting opposite, and asked: "What plan is Peter talking to you about now? 1 million cost investment? Guys, how much money is needed and what kind of cooperation method is needed, let's make it clear." ”

"Don't be polite to him. Lin Yibin said coldly, and the glasses shone brightly. Wang Yang nodded and smiled: "Yes, absolutely not." ”

Wen Ziren and Ray Werner glanced at each other with a smile, and a surge of excitement surged in their hearts, Wen Ziren's eyes narrowed with a smile, and he said sincerely: "We hope to get an investment of 1.5 million, that is enough, as long as we have 1.5 million, we can not pay in advance, do not pay a penny, and give some box office dividends." ”

"Well, okay!" Wang Yang agreed without thinking about it, and suddenly the two of them didn't know what to say, Lin Yibin held his glasses and sighed softly: "I've said don't be polite." Wang Yang gnawed on the barbecued pork in his mouth, and said with a serious face: "Don't be so tight on funds, invest 3 million, and I think you know how to use the new 1.5 million, right?"

The two nodded stupidly, and their breathing became heavier, 3 million can do more and better...... Wang Yang continued: "How about no salary, 20% of the North American box office dividends and 15% of DVD sales?"

Compared with the global box office of 100 million US dollars in "Saw Horror", the investment of 3 million is really nothing, but for Wen Ziren and Ray Warner at this time, Wang Yang opposite is like a Santa Claus in red clothes and a gray beard, and other film companies refuse to even take out 500,000 yuan! And they don't want to be paid in order to get an investment of 1.2 million to 1.5 million, and film companies like to do such a "no-capital business" in independent film investment.

But the general box office share of 10% is already very high, now 20%, DVD 15%! This dividend plan is definitely the highest level of treatment for independent films! How can you not agree to such a lucrative contract? Wen Ziren and Ray Werner both had bright smiles on their faces, and they nodded their heads speechlessly with excitement, Wen Ziren smiled and said: "Young, thank you so much!" Ray Werner sighed again and again: "My God!"

"It's nothing, I got the baby. Wang Yang shrugged his shoulders with a smile, the flame movie has the "Chainsaw Horror" series, and it is much closer to a stable track, and the goal of establishing a TV channel so as not to be restricted by people has also taken a big step. He picked up a crispy shrimp and saluted the two of them, and said with a smile: "I thank you!"

In their cheerful laughter, Wang Yang put the crispy shrimp into his mouth and gnawed it, and immediately shook his head with raised eyebrows: "Hmm, this Chinese food is not authentic, when did Fu Ji change the chef? Or did you serve the wrong dish, what the hell! Don't you see that we are all Chinese?" Another chef's son, Lin Yibin, also tasted a crispy shrimp when he heard this, and frowned: "How did you make it sweet?" Wang Yang swallowed the shrimp meat helplessly, and said: "This actually loses the freshness and fragrance of the shrimp itself." ”

Ray Werner, who was holding the chopsticks, was a little puzzled and said, "I think it's okay, what's the problem?" Wen Ziren, who was nibbling on shrimp, looked at him and explained with a smile: "Brother, we like that these corpses are spicy." ”

Wang Yang turned to other dishes and said, "It doesn't have to be spicy, but I'm really sorry for these shrimp." He scooped a mouthful of fried rice with a spoon and put it in his mouth, and smiled a little vaguely: "Guys, if you try my craft, you will know what Chinese food is, and it is guaranteed to be more authentic than those in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taiwan." Justin, you're okay with me saying that, right?"

"No, I'm looking forward to your craft. Lin Yibin shrugged his shoulders and smiled innocently, and his white teeth lined like he was selling toothpaste.

Wen Ziren and the others also laughed, and at this time, Ray Werner suddenly screamed "ah", his left hand pressed the side of his forehead tightly, his face was full of pain and unbearable, and he hissed with cold air: "Ah, ah......" This immediately startled Wang Yang and Lin Yibin, Wang Yang asked urgently: "Lei, are you okay?" Ray Werner showed a reluctant smile, still gritting his teeth and enduring the severe pain, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"He's fine. This poor fellow has been suffering from headaches for the past year," Wen Ziren patted Ray Werner on the shoulder soothingly, with a look of empathetic sadness, and said, "It's like being teased by the devil, I suspect that he has fallen into witchcraft on the Thai side." Looking at Ray Werner, whose face was blue with pain, Wang Yang frowned and asked suspiciously, "How can this be?"

Ray Warner gritted his teeth and didn't speak, and after a while, when the headache subsided, he exhaled a long breath and said in a hoarse voice: "The doctor can't see it, I went to many hospitals, I told them 'I may have a brain tumor', but I haven't checked it, they said it was a nerve problem, you know that brain tissue is very complex, and it has not yet reached the step of surgery." So they only prescribed me some analgesic, nerve-soothing drugs, but you see ......"

He propped his forehead, closed his eyes and sighed, "If you don't eat, that's it, if you eat, you'll be sleepy, and you won't think of anything." ”

Wen Ziren said mysteriously: "It should be a head-lowering technique, maybe it is a ghost boy, of course it is useless to take medicine." Ray Warner was almost angry with him, and said, "James, I haven't been to Thailand! I've been to Malaysia with you, is there there?" Wen Ziren nodded and said, "Yes." ”

It was originally a very serious matter, but Wang Yang and Lin Yibin were made to laugh by them, but horror movies are horror movies, they don't believe that there are really any ghosts who drop their heads, although sometimes they are still scared very badly. Wang Yang looked at the dazed and helpless Ray Warner, thought of something, and asked, "Have you ever tried acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine?"

Ray Werner shook his head in confusion: "Acupuncture&moxibustion?" He couldn't understand what this meant, Wen Ziren explained: "It's a type of Chinese medicine, but you don't believe in Chinese medicine." Ray Warner spread his hands and said, "It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that I think those machines and pills are useless, what else can be done?"

"You can really try acupuncture, it's a physical therapy, not a medication. Wang Yang said and picked up the chopsticks and made a stabbing motion, saying: "It is to pierce a very thin needle into some nerves of your head, and directly make them obedient." Ray Warner looked at the thick pair of chopsticks and opened his mouth in some surprise. Wang Yangha smiled and said, "It's really a fine needle, basically there won't be any pain during the treatment." ”

He said with a serious face: "Dude, believe me! I can't remember how many times I have been pierced when I am so old, it was all my master who helped me pierce it, you see how good my body is now......? It was two years ago. ”

Even if acupuncture can't cure those nerves, it won't have any side effects, of course, it requires a qualified and good doctor. After explaining the medical principles such as acupuncture points and the approval of the WHO, Wang Yang smiled: "Actually, I know a little, but I don't have a license, so I can only prick myself." Ray, you go and get to know each other, and then decide whether to try or not. But I want to ask, what else can be done now?"

Ray Werner thought silently, looked at Wang Yang's kind face, then looked at Wen Ziren and Lin Yibin, and nodded: "Well, I will, as long as it can restore my health, I am willing to try anything." Wen Ziren frowned and said, "Then you should follow me to do the exorcism ceremony." Ray Warner gave him an angry look and said, "That's stupid!" Wen Ziren shrugged, "It's better than killing you." ”

All four of them laughed in unison, laughing for a while before continuing to eat with chopsticks. Wang Yang nibbled on the fried chicken in his mouth, turned his head to look at Lin Yibin, and said with a smile: "Hey, Justin, it's time to talk about our business." Lin Yibin's eyes suddenly flashed with excitement, and he said, "Of course." "Wen Ziren and Ray Warner both knew they were going to talk about the new film plan and quietly acted as listeners.

"Do you have any ideas for new films now?" Hearing Wang Yang ask, Lin Yibin thought for a while, stopped his chopsticks and said: "If you talk about simple ideas, I think we all have a lot of them, but I have those that can't be sold." ”

Wang Yang smiled: "Independent films are not weighed by the box office, we just need those films." The three of them nodded in agreement when they heard this, and he said: "So no matter what the results of "Hot Maji" are, the box office of 1 million and 5 million is good, let's leave it alone." If you want to continue making independent films, look to Peter, and if you're interested in playing mainstream commercial films, I've got 60 million for you. ”

Lin Yibin's glasses almost fell off, this cost may not be called a "blockbuster", but it is definitely not a small cost, he is now just a director who has produced an independent film with a cost of one million, and suddenly there are 60 million mainstream commercial films?

Looking at Wang Yang, who was waiting for an answer, Lin Yibin nodded with heavy breath: "Yang, I will never give up independent films, but of course I am interested, I like and want to try to shoot mainstream films, which is very challenging." ”

"That's good!" Wang Yang snapped his fingers with his left hand, and when he thought of this plan, he was also a little excited: "Justin, do you like cars, racing, drag racing?"

He will invest in Lin Yibin to make a new movie, but what is better and more suitable for filming? A blood-pumping drag racing action movie! The reason is very simple, Lin Yibin originally directed "Fast and Furious" 3, 4, and 5 in the future, one is better than the other, and "Furious 5", which has a global box office of more than 600 million, has set a new peak of drag racing movies! What is more suitable for Lin Yibin than a drag racing robbery crime movie like "Furious 5"?

"Drag racing?" Lin Yibin didn't understand why this was, shook his head and smiled: "I'm not a car fan, and I'm not familiar with racing cars, I haven't watched those races." Seeing Wang Yang's gaze, Wen Ziren also shook his head and said, "No, neither am I." Ray Warner pressed his forehead and said, "I now have a headache when I hear those 'woo' car honks." ”

Wang Yang smiled indifferently, he didn't have any crazy attachment to cars, and he preferred motorcycles. "Flame Movies is going to make a racing movie, and the goal is to make a long-term series," he laughs. It's like a mode like "Fast and Furious", what speed, hurricane, storm...... Whatever name is good, and then integrate drag racing into crazy stories, like robberies, police and bandit chases, and crashing into a cliff and a train, and then find some muscular men and hot beauties to play, but the salary can't be spent too much, control it within 10 million, and use all the money to make movies. ”

He paused, looked at Lin Yibin and said seriously: "We want to invite you to create this series, how about it?" Lin Yibin was a little nervous and helped his glasses, this is a great opportunity, but ...... He asked, "Why me? You know I don't know much about drag racing." ”

"It's not a problem, just understand it, you don't come with those things. Wang Yang smiled and scooped fried rice with a porcelain spoon to eat, and said: "Justin, I watched your "Hot Maji", which advocates not to follow the rules, to boldly follow your own path and enjoy your own life. Yes man, we're fed up with those rules!"

Lin Yibin and Wen Ziren both smiled knowingly, although they grew up in the United States and Australia respectively, but as Chinese Americans, they all know what the "rules" are, good grades, honesty, boring, a stable 9-to-5 job, and a family with great responsibilities...... Wang Yang shrugged and smiled: "Anyway, I found out that you are actually a crazy person in your bones, and you can do some crazy things." Hearing this comment, Lin Yibin suddenly laughed like selling toothpaste, and said with bright eyes: "Maybe, if it weren't for your investment, I would be going to max out ten credit cards to make a movie, I don't know if it's crazy?"

"Of course forget it!" Wang Yang, Wen Ziren, and Ray Werner all replied in unison, it was simply a gambler with red eyes! Wang Yang turned his head to look him up and down, and said: "And drag racing is a very crazy and passionate thing, which requires a person who can release the madness in his heart, as long as he does it, he can design some exciting picture shots."

He patted Lin Yibin's shoulder hard and said with a smile: "I think that person is you, Justin Lin, Lin Yibin." ”

"Hmm......" Lin Yibin's emotions were very excited by his words, his heart was beating eagerly, he looked at Wang Yang's serious face, nodded heavily and said: "Yang, since you said so, then I have no problem, I take this challenge!"

"Wow! That's so cool!" Wang Yang smiled and raised his fist, as if there was something more in his heart, if the flame movie had a blockbuster drag racing film series, it would undoubtedly add another important weight. Wen Ziren and Ray Warner on the other side both smiled congratulatorily: "Justin, then we are waiting to watch this crazy drag racing movie." "Hopefully by then my headache will be cured." ”

However, although "Super 5" is very popular, "Super 3" is filmed shrunk and compliant, Wang Yang knows that this is a process of exploration and growth, but he hopes that the time of this process can be shortened as much as possible, and whether a director can open his mind and hands to make films, as we all know, the confidence and support given by the producer is very important.

Thinking of this, he said the plan that he had predetermined a long time ago: "We don't have any requirements for the first part, it can make a certain reputation, and all the income from the box office DVD can be guaranteed, and then the second part rises, and the third part explodes." ”

I say this because I understand that if a director doesn't have good pressure, then it will also be the reason for screwing up a movie.

"Let your mind go and imagine, don't shoot according to what the academy taught us. Don't think about the impossible, think about what makes people scream with excitement, and then think about how to make these images possible. Wang Yang's left fist waved again and again, and said, "Explosion, impact, thrilling, lawlessness...... More passion, more madness, more adrenaline!"

The other three people at the table were all thinking about the "incredible picture" when they heard the words, Lin Yibin pondered what he said repeatedly, and suddenly felt that it made sense, and some vague pictures of irrelevancy came out of his mind, muttering contemplatively: "It's not just drag racing, explosion impact, lawlessness......"

Wen Ziren also seemed to think of something, frowned and said: "If every time after breaking through a certain speed, a ghost will appear on the windshield...... The three of them were stunned, Ray Werner spread his hands helplessly, Wang Yang followed his train of thought and said: "That ghost couldn't see clearly at first, but after a few times, it was clearly seen, and it turned out to be his own appearance." Actually, he was dead, in a drag race, but he didn't know ......"

"Hmm!" Wen Ziren's eyes lit up, and he said in surprise: "It's him!"

Wang Yang rolled his eyes, put his mind in a horror movie atmosphere, and thought: "This is a desert, this is a road that never ends, no matter how fast he drives, he can only see ghosts again and again, but he can't get out." But every other stretch of the desert has the same little house, cobwebs, broken toilets...... On the walls of each little broken house are different words written in blood: the-end!, Kill yourself, you can't escape!"

"I seem to understand, this is a horror movie for one person?" Wen Ziren was very excited, touched his hair a little unnaturally, and said: "What is the most terrifying thing? You are trapped in the same place alone, time stands still, and there are only ghosts, broken houses, and hot deserts...... If he wants to leave, he has to rely on the clues in the broken house to find out the truth of the whole thing. ”

Wang Yang nodded and said: "Yes, as long as the atmosphere is good and creepy, it is a successful suspense horror movie." Wen Ziren smiled and glanced at Ray Warner next to him, only they understood: "See! Master!" Wen Ziren asked expectantly: "Yang, can I ask you a question? When will you make horror movies again?"

"Horror films? probably...... I don't know, I don't want to be scared and can't sleep anymore. Wang Yang suddenly laughed, he felt a little uncomfortable just now, he smiled and said: "James, the horror film will be handed over to you! You are definitely the Chinese director of horror films, New Hope, and the master of horror in the future." The three of them all laughed, Wen Ziren seemed to be quite shy, but nodded confidently and said with a smile: "I hope!"

Just as the four of them were laughing happily, a young blonde girl came over and interrupted politely, "Excuse me, are you Wang Yang?" Wang Yang glanced at her and said with a smile: "Yes, I am." What's the matter?" Marcia covered her mouth in surprise and said, "Oh, God!" It turns out that the magic Yang is so handsome! Her heart is a little faster, and she asks, "Can we take a picture?"

In fact, she is not a die-hard fan of Magic Young, just the kind of ordinary movie fan who likes his movies and thinks he is amazing, but now she finds herself obsessed with him all of a sudden! When she first saw Magic Young's photos, he was just a strong sunny boy; I didn't expect that now he is getting older and cooler, and his body and temperament are so good! And he is also a magic director, the youngest billionaire...... Marcia secretly wowed, wondering if she could get his phone number?

"Okay, no problem, but when I wipe my mouth clean, I have to pay attention to what kind of image. Wang Yang smiled and wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up, while Marcia called her black-haired friend to get a digital camera, and stood next to Wang Yang with a smile on her face, gesturing triumphantly.

With the click and click, the digital camera snaps a picture quickly. Wang Yang looked at Lin Yibin and the three of them, and said with a smile to Marcia: "Girl, you can't miss this, they are all very good directors and screenwriters, let's take a group photo together!"

He happily pulled Wen Ziren up and said, "This is James Wen, soon you will know what a 'chainsaw maniac' is." This is Ray Werner, another chainsaw maniac...... And this. He pulled up Lin Yibin, who had a mouthful of white teeth, and said with a smile: "This guy is Justin Lin, let me tell you, soon you will know that in addition to Michael Bay, there are people in Hollywood who can woo, boom, boom, cool!"

Naturally, Marcia couldn't understand what he was saying, but she was magically kind, unlike some of the arrogant stars she had met before. She smiled suspiciously and said, "OK......"

"So here it is. The black-haired girl pointed the lens of the digital camera at them, only to see Wang Yang in the middle put his arms around the shoulders of Lin Yibin on the left and Wen Ziren on the right, the three Chinese directors were all smiling brightly, Ray Warner and Marcia were also smiling and standing next to them, behind them were landscape calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls of the restaurant.

This image is frozen, and maybe in ten years, this picture will be very meaningful.

(To be continued)