After spending the Christmas & New Year holiday, Wang Yang, like many people, returned to the world of work, and then he found himself assigned a lot of things to himself. Despite being a physically strong martial arts practitioner, Wang Yang was still so busy that he almost cramped, so busy that he wanted to have 48 hours a day, and of course 72 hours was better.

Not to mention the identity of the chairman of Flame Films, he sometimes has to make some company decisions and give instructions, and his current title is the producer, director and screenwriter of "MIT-21-team", although there are several producers who share the duties, most of the film still has to be done by himself, forming a film crew, selecting actors, sketching a storyboard script, etc., and then there are the producers and screenwriters of "Prison Break", the producers and screenwriters of "Kung Fu Panda", and the producers of "Fury".

As for the decision to release "The Hangover 2" in the summer of 2004, he was too busy to take care of its production, and he was not alone in the flame movie, looking for a producer and screenwriter to choose a director to take over, and everything would naturally go smoothly. In addition, fortunately, he does not need and does not plan to ask too much about "Fury", this drag racing movie with an investment of 60 million is still in preparation, and it is expected to start in early February this year.

In addition to finalizing the signing of Lin Yibin to direct and Michael Fottrell and others to produce, Chris Morgan has also been selected to write the script, not an underground racing theme, but a crime robbery as the core theme. Morgan was originally the screenwriter of "Fast and Furious" 3, 4, and 5 in the future, and Lin Yibin can be said to be an ace partner, but now he is just an unknown newcomer, with no reputation and no experience.

But Wang Yang has long been patient with this, and his role as producer is also to keep them from making some serious mistakes, but he believes that given time, "Fury" and Lin Yibin and others can grow into classics of drag racing movies.

And Lin Yibin's "Hot Maji" began to be released on a small scale in October last year, with a maximum of 450 theaters, and achieved a box office of 5.6 million to the whole offline painting, not only recovering the cost but also making money. The other two highly-anticipated series of Flame Films, "Chainsaw", which took a month to shoot and is now being produced and edited, is ready to participate in the Sundance Film Festival, which opens on the 18th, and "Dance Out of My Life" is about to start filming and is ready to be released in October this year.

However, these are all related to Wang Yang, but he does not need to take care of it, and the "Kung Fu Panda" he supervised does not need to take much time at present, because this cartoon is still in the long preparation stage, and his work focuses on "mit-21-team" and "Prison Break", which is busy enough to smoke in the ass, and this workaholic posture has also made some gossip media such as "Daily Entertainment" say: "The older Magic Yang is, the more energetic he is." ”

Wang Yang agrees with this very much, which is also inevitable, he is in the prime of life, his body is secreting hormones crazily, and he has a lot of beard and physical strength. But he thinks that 2003 should be another extremely busy year, at least in the first half of the year, there is no time for travel and vacation, although these are his favorite businesses, and they will not be boring to do;

Anyway, he's on a moving train right now, and he's still a long way from the next stop.

"Mr. Slesner, actually 'mit-21-team' won't have any negative impact on you, you know that not everyone can play card counting, it doesn't mean watching a movie and then being a Jeff horse. ”

In Los Angeles at night, Wang Yang held a telephone microphone in his hand, walking around in the warm living room with a Christmas atmosphere and some Lunar New Year decorations, while smiling at Gary Shlesner on the other side of the phone: "Although I don't want to, but this will indeed be a kind of advertising, for Caesars Palace, the whole of Las Vegas, after the movie, there will definitely be some people who are interested in card counting to try their skills in the casino." ”

"Uh-......huh," Gary Shreisner's thoughtful voice came over the microphone, and he said, "I know, to be honest, we just don't like Jeff Horse and card counting because it's in this story. He laughed a little mockingly and said, "We're the fools." ”

Since I heard last year that Marvelous Young was going to put the story of Jack Man's gang on the big screen, the Las Vegas casino league was like a big enemy, and then they saw that there was a card-counting plot in "The Hangover", which was nothing, it didn't reveal the specific card-counting method at all, and it was very unrealistic for a fat man to play 21 points, which was as inoperable as "Rain Man";

The colloquial language is to "create the most professional and cool card counting movie", and Magic Young also laughed with the media, "Everyone will see how they play the casino, and they will also know the real card counting, the kind of card counting that can be operated at the table." ”

This naturally helped a lot in the promotion of "mit-21-team", which made the audience excited before the movie was even seen, but it also made the casinos in Las Vegas angry, and the major casinos were reluctant to provide filming venues, and explicitly refused: "We don't welcome anything related to card counting." Even Caesars Palace, which provided the venue for The Hangover, shook its head.

On the one hand, they are afraid of face, and secondly, they are afraid that when Magic Young makes the "real card counting" public, it will cause many gamblers who have learned to count cards to form a team and flood the casino, and they will really be captured! Obviously, Wonder Young's movie has a greater influence than Ben Mozrich's "Capture of Las Vegas", and maybe "Mit-21-Team" will set off a card counting craze.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) refused to provide a location for the film, and MIT's attitude was even more determined than that of the casinos, and the crew was not allowed to step into the school!

According to some information in his mind, Wang Yang knew that the future "Decisive 21 Points" had also encountered the same situation, and in the end, their crew did not solve this problem, and as a result, they had to go to some small casinos and Boston University to shoot separately. But he didn't want to do that, because the real scenes of the big casinos and MIT gave a completely different feeling from the "fake scenes".

It's not that you need the table in the big casino, but you need their scene characteristics, such as the Caesars Palace Hotel, when the statue of Caesar in front of its main entrance appears in the picture, the audience will know that it is the Caesars Palace Hotel, which has the feeling of Las Vegas, and when Jeff Ma and others are crazy to win money, there is the feeling of "taking Las Vegas".

If you don't have these scene features, it's just a small casino that doesn't know what to do, and the table is still the same table, but where is the atmosphere? It doesn't taste like Las Vegas at all, you can use the name of any city, the question is who cares about the other shit cities?

This is also the reason why that "Decisive 21" makes people feel lame, and the 21 o'clock team in it always goes to a fixed casino, which is a very stupid setting.

In fact, Jeff Ma and others were constantly rotating between large and small casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, which is why they are so mysterious. In order to highlight the theme, the novel and the movie chose to set them in Las Vegas, which has the atmosphere of a casino, and the characteristics of those big casinos will appear in the shot, Caesar's Palace, Flamingo, Four Queens, Horseshoe Casino...... The more the merrier!

As a result, none of the family agreed, so Wang Yang decided to find a breakthrough here in Caesars Palace, firstly because "The Hangover" was filmed there last time and had a cooperative relationship, and secondly, Wu Yanzu's girlfriend Lisa Shlesner is the daughter of Gary Shlesner, the president of Caesars Palace Hotel. In addition, Gary Shlesner is of mixed Chinese and French descent, and among the casino tycoons, he has the most affection for Jeff Ma.

"Amazing Jan, I love your movie, I laughed so hard that I watched "The Hangover" that day, haha! In fact, it brought a lot of visitors to Caesars Palace, and this year's New Year's holiday, our performance has increased a lot. Gary Shlesner over there laughed a few times and said, "I personally have no prejudice against Jeff, but you know, Las Vegas is a whole, if Caesars Palace agrees to let you shoot, what should I say to the others?"

"It's definitely a good advertisement. Wang Yang walked to the sofa and sat down, and said with a confident smile: "Mr. Shresner, I just want Caesars Palace to help convince other casinos." Jeff and the 21 o'clock group have already happened, this is an impossible fact to change, I don't say that "mit-21-team" will definitely box office three or four billion, but in the future, countless people will know these facts, it is also a fact. ”

He picked up a glass of water on the coffee table and took a sip, and continued: "It's impossible to hide this, but what's the problem? Everyone knows that the principle and technique of card counting, and the operation of the card counting team...... Even if all of this were known to the audience, it wouldn't make a difference, and now you're all using an automatic dealer with eight decks of cards, and you can't even count Jeff. ”

"Besides, knowing the principle doesn't mean that you can do it, how many Jeff Ma have been there over the years? Maybe after the movie comes out, people who go to the casino will stop playing slot machines for a while and try 21 o'clock, but the more customers will come, the profits will definitely go up. We're going to put the main story in Caesars Palace, so that the audience will like you more, and you'll benefit the most! Mr. Shresner, Las Vegas is a whole and a lot of individuals. ”

Wang Yang laughed as he spoke, Las Vegas is not a utopia, it is a sin city!

He finally said: "I know that the topic of card counting is very sensitive and will make you look like fools. But try to change our attitude and see that we are generous, personable, willing to admit facts, and funny...... As long as Caesars Palace nods in agreement and takes the lead in making a gesture of 'I respect history,' everyone else will say, 'Oh, we'll provide it too, but we can't afford to lose.'" 'Ok, why would Caesars be anyone else?'

"Hmm...... Sounds good, Fabulous Jan, you've convinced me a bit. Gary Shreisner's calm voice was full of contemplation, and Wang Yang laughed: "Producers rely on one mouth." Gary-Shlesner smiled and said, "Young, okay? Let's talk about it a little bit more and get back to you." ”

"Okay, bye-bye!" After ending the call, Wang Yang put down the microphone and got up and walked to the study, he felt that Caesars Palace would finally agree, business is always business, and those businessmen will not give up their obvious interests for a little "face", not to mention that they may have a good reputation? And now the difference between him and "21 Points of Victory" is that he has more influence.

Interests can convince these casinos that they can taunt them as long as they coax them down. But what can be used to convince MIT? Wang Yang couldn't help frowning when he thought about it, interests, what interests? MIT, a super prestigious school is not lacking in attraction and students, they are about to say, "You are not allowed to have MIT in the name of your movie", how can they change their minds?

However, now the problem of "mit-21-team" on his hand is not only the filming location, the crew still has some remaining formation work, and the actors have basically been finalized, but there is a card counter who still hasn't solved it, he needs a Chinese actress!

"How is Zhang Ziyi?" Hearing Mark Slent's recommendation over there, Wang Yang, who was sitting in the rotating chair, suddenly shrugged his shoulders and said to his mobile phone: "She doesn't speak English, I don't want dubbing, and I don't want the actors on the set to have no way to communicate with each other, so let's go next." ”

Mark Slant said suspiciously: "So Bai Ling?" Wang Yang burst out laughing, googled Bai Ling casually, and said with a smile: "Why don't you look at her age? 37 years old! I'm looking for young people, don't tell me about Lucy Liu and Michelle Yeoh...... Oh please!"

"My boss, I've been an agent for a long time! Don't ask me about this!" Mark Snent's tone was full of frustration, and he was caught answering the question as soon as he called, and he said, "I called to tell you about the Golden Globes." ”

"What's the matter?" Wang Yang covered his forehead and leaned against the back of the chair, how could it be so difficult to find a supporting actress candidate? Over there, Mark Sloan said happily: "Maybe you have a chance to win the best director, and now a little bit of wind is revealed, those judges are interested in creating a sensation, you know, 22 years old, science fiction movie ......" Wang Yang smiled casually: "Are you kidding?"

Previously, before the nominations for the Golden Globe Awards last year were announced, in order to canvass for "District 9", he and Robert Downey Jr. and other crew creators participated in a press conference arranged by the public relations department, and went all out to impact any award, and at that time he didn't see who was interested in awarding him the trophy. Then, after the nominations were announced, it was stipulated that those press conferences could not be held again, and Ernst & Young had already received the final votes from the judges a few days ago.

It can be said that all the award results were actually born, but in a high degree of secrecy.

"I'm not sure. "Mark Snenter naturally doesn't know, it's just that because the ballot has closed, the PR department can generally find some rumors, but the judges themselves don't know the final result, so there will be nothing certain. Mark Slunt laughed: "Of the six nominees, if anyone doesn't choose Martin Scorsese, it's probably you." ”

He added: "They all have a consensus to wait until 'The Lord of the Rings 3' to give Peter Jackson those awards; Alexander Payne has no topic, and of course Stephen Dudley and Rob Marshall also have a big chance, but it's better to give them Martin Scorsese." He snorted and said, "Young, now it's up to them to choose the oldest or the youngest." ”

"You should look at my odds. Wang Yang was not excited by these rumors, he remained calm in his heart, he was surprised, not disappointed, and he was very happy that he was indeed nominated.

Reaching out and holding the mouse, Wang Yang smiled: "If you call to talk about these things, then I will close the line, anyway, I will know the result in a few days, what is there to guess?" Bye-bye!" Putting down his phone, he looked at the computer screen and continued to scrutinize the script of "MIT-21-team".

Another focus of work, "Prison Break", has started filming, and now he will make some outdoor scenes first, and then the important big scene prison and the small scenes in it, and he will go to the set tomorrow to see the shooting situation. Thinking of this, he muttered softly, "Busy, busy, busy!"

I don't know how long later, a soft and charming voice suddenly sounded at the door of the study: "Jan, look at my dress." Wang Yang looked up and saw Jessica wearing a pink, silky-looking silk slip underwear dress, with two long legs full of temptation crossed together, she blinked: "How is it?" Wang Yang said with a demented face: "Wow, Victoria's Secret - cool!"

"Am I supposed to understand that ......?" he bit his index finger and smiled, "You want to have fun?" Jessica stretched lazily and showed off the sexy curves of her body, she sent a flying kiss and said coquettishly, "I don't know, I knew it was late, good night!"

Wang Yang looked at the screen with a heavy face, took a deep breath, and pounded his mouth: "What should I do?!**!No, **!" He quickly clicked on standby, then kicked up with both feet and ran away, laughing and shouting: "I'm here!"

"How did you become a big-mouthed monkey!? my Victoria...... Hey!You tricked me up and now you can't do it?!"......"It's late, go to bed!"......"No, it's too cruel!...... I like the big-mouthed monkey!""Aha, get out of here!"

Time passed day by day in a busy way, and while the 60th Golden Globe Awards ceremony on January 19 was approaching, movie tickets were also sold every day.

The weekly box office rankings from December 27th to January 2nd, the last week of the previous Christmas schedule, remained unchanged from the weekend rankings, "The Lord of the Rings 2" continued to win the championship with 84.83 million, "The Hangover" closed 62.18 million in a week, "Get Away" 57.7 million, and "Mr. Hughes", which ranked fourth, received a good score of 30.15 million, which made both Fire Movies and Nolan and his wife breathe a sigh of relief.

From January 3rd to 9th in the first week of 2003, "The Lord of the Rings 2" won the championship for the third consecutive week, sweeping 32.65 million, and "The Hangover", which received 30.61 million, still ranked second, and it was screened for four weeks, with a total box office of 238 million in North America.

The 238 million figure makes "The Hangover" officially surpass "Beverly Hills" with 234 million to become the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time in North America, and also the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie, behind "District 9" with 325 million, and "Ocean's Eleven" unstoppably defeated 183 million to become the highest-grossing Las Vegas-themed movie.

After the week of January 10-16, "The Hangover" expanded its record number to 265 million, and it was only a matter of time before it joined the North American box office club of 300 million. After adding these 265 million, Wang Yang's total North American box office also surpassed Ron Howard with 1.3001 billion and George Lucas with 1.3203 billion, climbing to the fourth place in history with a score of 1.369 billion.

"The Hangover was the most successful comedy film of 2002, and Wonder Young was the adorable guy who got the hearts of the world. "Maybe in a year's time, we'll find Steven Spielberg on the director's North American box office charts, and then Wonder Young, a crazy young director who's as scary as 'Ghost Record.'" - The Hollywood Reporter...... When the quicksand bottle on the desk pours and falls, January 19th is coming.

(To be continued)