"Ghost Blowing the Lantern" was screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival for a total of 3 days, and the attendance rate was 100%, obviously the criticism of the film in Hong Kong newspapers did not affect the interest of ordinary audiences in the film, and many fans are still looking forward to the official release of "Ghost Blowing the Lantern".

Audiences in Asia will have to wait until the end of the Hong Kong International Film Festival to officially see the film in theaters, but audiences in North America won't have to wait that long.

On June 10, "Ghost Blows the Lantern" held a grand premiere in New York, which was also the first Hong Kong film to choose the United States for its world premiere, and the American media paid great attention to it, and the organizers only arranged 200 media seats at the beginning, and later found that there were too many reporters, so they had to temporarily add two rows of seats.

Cheng Long was invited to the scene as a guest because he played a cameo role in the film, and Will Smith, who became popular with Cheng Long in "Rush Hour", was also invited to help.

Released earlier this year, "Rush Hour" grossed nearly $100 million in North America, and Will Smith proved to the media that he can also achieve good results in the film industry, and Cheng Long further solidified his position in Hollywood with this film.

The appearance of the two at the premiere caused quite a stir, and the reporters on the scene asked questions to the two one after another, but the three leading actors of the film, Yuan Di, Hong Jinbao, Li Jiaxin and director Wang Jing, were left out in the cold.

Will Smith picked up the microphone and first explained why he was here.

"Everyone misunderstood, I didn't come this time because of Jack, although we have a good relationship. But it wasn't he who invited me this time. Instead, I offered to ask him to bring me over. ”

Will Smith's words confused the American reporters in the audience. Except for Cheng Long, they can't think of any other intersection between Will Smith and the movie "Ghost Blowing the Lamp".

At this time, the staff brought up two movie posters from the audience, one was "Ghost Blowing the Lamp" and the other was "Rush Hour".

Will Smith himself held the poster of "Rush Hour", and Cheng Long, who was standing on the side, helped him hold the poster of "Ghost Blowing the Lamp", and the two posters were put together, and then Will Smith took out one hand and pointed under the two posters.

"If you look closely, you will find that the producers of "Rush Hour" and "Ghost Blowing the Lamp" are the same person. And he's sitting in front of me right now. ”

Following the direction of Will Smith's raised hand, the American reporters in the audience noticed Lin Youlun sitting in the front row, a vice president of the United Arts Cinema Line sitting on his left, and George Lucas, the founder of Industrial Light & Magic, sitting on his right.

Lin Youlun was talking to Lucas in a whisper, and when he raised his head, he suddenly found that the eyes of the audience were focused on him, and he was a little surprised at first, and then he saw Will Smith on the stage looking at him with a smile on his face, and then he understood what was going on.

Lin Youlun shrugged and nodded at Will Smith with a smile.

"Before Rush Hour, no one in America wanted to believe that I could be a good actor. Even my agent was trying to persuade me until Mr. Lin found me. He said he was willing to give me a chance. ”

Will Smith said such a reason, and the American reporters in the audience realized that Will Smith had come to thank Lin Youlun today.

At the strong request of the reporters at the scene, Lin Youlun had to pick up the microphone, stood up and prepared to say a few words.

Before he could speak, an American reporter preemptively asked a question.

"Mr. Lin, what do you most want to say to Will right now?"

"I'd love to tell Will that I asked him for this role, and now I regret it." Lin Youlun came out of his mouth with such a sentence, and the reporters in the back seats were dumbfounded.

Without waiting for the reporters to react, Lin Youlun then added: "I should have signed a contract with Will for the entire "Rush Hour" series of films, not just one, I heard that his salary now has increased tenfold compared to before acting in that movie." ”

Lin Youlun had a "flesh pain" expression on his face, which amused everyone at the scene.

Will Smith immediately stated on stage: "I have discussed this issue with my agent, if "Rush Hour" shoots a sequel, I am willing to reduce part of the salary to take over this movie." ”

The interaction ended in a very friendly atmosphere, Lin Youlun returned to his seat, and then George Lucas turned his head and said: "It seems that you are very popular in Hollywood, how about it, have you considered investing in opening a film company here?" ”

Lin Youlun smiled and shook his head, "Mr. Lucas, have you forgotten that I already have a film company in the United States?" ”

George Lucas was slightly stunned, "You're talking about Pixar Studios?" ”

Lin Youlun nodded.

George Lucas laughed, "Lin, I'm really getting more and more into your sense of humor, Pixar is just an animation studio, and mine is a real film company." ”

Lin Youlun asked rhetorically: "Didn't Disney also develop from an animation studio back then?" ”

George Lucas took a serious look at Lin Youlun, shrugged his shoulders and said: "There have been many animation studios in the United States, but only Disney has succeeded, I think this is enough to explain a lot of problems, right?" ”

Lin Youlun was not in a hurry to convince Lucas, but said, "Is Mr. Lucas interested in making a bet with me?" ”

Lucas was very clever to guess what Lin Youlun wanted to say, and asked rhetorically: "Bet that Pixar will surpass Disney one day?" Do you want to cash out in 10 or 20 years? ”

Lin Youlun smiled slightly, "In ten years, Pixar will definitely grow into a company that is enough to pose a competitive threat to Disney, Mr. Lucas, do you believe it?" ”

"No problem, I can play this bet, if I win......"

Before Lucas could finish speaking, Lin Youlun interrupted and said, "Aurora Special Effects Company will make a movie for Mr. Lucas for free." ”

"If I lose, ILM will make a movie for you for free?" Lucas asked rhetorically.

Lin Youlun nodded.

Lucas raised a hand and shook it with Lin Youlun.

"Deal!"

After the bet was agreed, Lucas continued the conversation he had just made.

"Mr. Thomas, who was two years earlier in the United Arts Cinema Line, also suggested that I invest in a film company in the United States, but as it stands, I don't think the time is ripe."

Lin Youlun's answer made Lucas a little disappointed, but he still nodded: "Okay, when you think the time is ripe, let's talk about this issue again, and maybe we can have some cooperation at that time." ”

Just when the two said this, Will Smith on the stage had already drawn the reporter's attention back to the promotion of the movie "Ghost Blowing the Lantern", and the microphone in his hand was also given to Cheng Long.

"I studied kung fu with the two male protagonists of 'Ghost Blowing the Lantern', especially my big brother Hong Jinbao, who first led me to the road of making movies, and in Asia, they are both very famous action actors."

Cheng Long specially complimented Hong Jinbao and Yuan Di in front of the American media, but unexpectedly, a reporter in the audience asked: "Jack Cheng, which kung fu is more powerful than you and your senior brother and junior brother?" ”

Cheng Long was slightly stunned, and then replied with a smile: "Please allow me to keep this question secret first, and when you finish watching the movie "Ghost Blowing the Lantern", you should be able to find the answer." ”

Everyone on the stage, including director Wang Jing, breathed a sigh of relief, Cheng Long's answer was really witty, which not only avoided the embarrassment of a direct answer, but also successfully drew the media's attention back to the promotion of "Ghost Blowing the Lantern".

Hong Jinbao, Yuan Di, Li Jiaxin and Wang Jingjing took turns answering a few questions, and just as this round of questions was about to end, another reporter stood up.

"May I ask Mr. Lucas in the audience a question?"

The moderator consulted Lucas with his eyes, and after receiving an affirmative answer, he nodded and agreed to the reporter's request.

Lucas got up from his seat and spoke before the reporter could ask a question: "It's okay to answer the question, but I have to make a request, please don't ask questions that are not related to today's topic." ”

The eager reporters in the back row immediately lost their reactions, but the reporter who stood up was not discouraged, because the question he was asking was indeed related to today's topic.

"Mr. Lucas, 'Ghost Blows the Lantern' claims to be the Oriental version of Indiana Jones, do you agree with this statement?"

Lucas clasped his hands and thought for a moment, then picked up the microphone and said, "I haven't seen this movie in its entirety, but I've seen some of the special effects clips in the movie, and it's really good." Of course, special effects are only part of the film, and the plot must be good enough, and I don't know much about this part, but when we were communicating here just now, Lin and I mentioned that he watched the latest episode of "Indiana Jones" in the United States, and then he had the idea of shooting the current movie. ”

Since a reporter mentioned this issue, and Lucas brought the topic to himself, Lin Youlun had to stand up again and say a few words.

"Thanks to Mr. Lucas for his trust in me, I did get inspiration from some American adventure films when I conceived 'Ghost Blows the Lamp', including the 'Indiana Jones' series, and as a classic representative of this genre, I think the 'Indiana Jones' series has become more than just the work itself, but has been amplified into a synonym for the genre as a whole. The Oriental version of 'Indiana Jones' is actually an adventure movie in the East, not specifically to be compared with 'Indiana Jones', I hope you don't get me wrong, these are two different series, of course, if possible, one day in the future, I also hope that the two film series will have some kind of wonderful intersection, I personally look forward to it. ”

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Tomorrow will continue 5 more (to be continued......)