(I went to IMBD to find information, and the salary figure in the previous chapter has been revised.) ）

“Why？”

"Because it's a routine."

Alex became a little interested, and crackled the line: "Do you mean the routine of the story, or the audience's expectations?" ”

"Does it make a difference?"

"Of course, one is the level of the screenwriter, and the other is the level of the audience."

"Sorry, I don't think it's any different, have you seen Lost in Translation?"

"Yes."

"Did you expect them to have sex and believe they would?"

"Well, it looks like that." He thought about it.

"OK, but they just didn't have sex, they didn't even kiss, that's why the movie is so good."

"Your point of view is a bit extreme, because in many stories, hugging, kissing, and having sex are all natural things, and we don't have to deliberately shy away from them to show that we are different."

"Ha, then do you know what the phrase 'meet a stranger on New Year's Day' means in the eyes of the audience?"

"What?"

"Please, what else can you do but shoot a shot?"

“……”

Alex wanted to refute, but he couldn't find a strong reason, and he wouldn't change his mind easily, so he replied, "Okay, I'll admit some of your content. So what do you mean by looking for me...... Do you want to try the male lead? ”

"yes, this is my profile."

Immediately, the other party sent a link, he clicked on it and took a look, and was instantly confused:

First, that guy is actually an Oriental.

Second, I just happened to know each other. Security guards in The World, The Little Tailor in Eros, HAN in Fast and Furious 3.

Third, the crazy resume stunned me.

Alex isn't a base audience, he's a crazy audiophile. He is especially fond of independent films from various countries. "Time" and "Movie Handbook" evaluate the world's top ten films every year, and he vaguely remembers that this Oriental seems to have six or seven films on the list.

And at the beginning of the year, the ranking of the world's top 100 actors in 2005 announced by the American "Village Voice" magazine, this is also the only actor from Chinese mainland, and the official comment is——

"It's as deep and calm as a river, and it's unexpectedly explosive."

You know, he is only a rookie director, and the guy who has been in contact with the biggest name is only the male number six in "Heavenly Dynasty". If the actor rank is from A to E. Even in the United States, this person can be ranked B and completely crush his peers......

Alex slowed down for a long time before he typed, "SORRY, I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE YOU, HOW COULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THIS MOVIE?" ”

"Hehe, because you specified the conditions, the protagonist doesn't have to be an American."

All right. The other party is obviously pretending to be stupid, and everyone can see that it is the division between the Americans and France, Britain, Germany and Australia. And not the division of Easterners and Westerners.

Alex subconsciously wanted to refuse, but the ghost made a pause, and when he hesitated, another sentence came from there: "If you have time, you can give me a script, we might as well meet and talk about it." ”

"Ugh. OK！ ”

A few minutes later, until the other party went offline, Alex grabbed his hair and said to himself, "Oh my God, I must be crazy!" ”

……

Reputedly. On the occasion of the New Year, share a midnight kiss with your lover*, the loneliness and depression of the year will disappear, and the new year will be full of joy and hope.

Wilson, 29, broke up with his girlfriend a year ago and came to Los Angeles alone. He dreamed of becoming a screenwriter, but he had to work as a video clerk.

On New Year's Day, a friend who rented a room helped him post a friend advertisement on the website, and Vivien, a girl who seemed to smoke and drink heavily, asked him to meet. Both of them have a bad impression of each other, so they agree that they will decide whether to separate before midnight.

Vivian is an aspiring young actor who comes to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. She has a terrible ex-boyfriend who finds out he's cheating on when she finds out he's pregnant, so she knocks the baby out and hides in a motel.

Like Wilson, she didn't want to spend Chinese New Year's Eve so pitifully, and she was worried about meeting someone unladylike, so she carefully tempted, disguised, and communicated, trying her best to make herself seem indifferent.

They spent a day in Hollywood, chatting, arguing, getting to know each other, and when the masks came off, they suddenly realized: Oh, it turns out that we are the same.

In the end, the two slept for one night, and Tianming had love. Wilson starts a new life, and Vivien returns to her hometown, deciding to live a realistic life.

This play is called "Looking for a Midnight Kiss", and the story structure draws on the masterpiece "Love Before Dawn" in the chattering world, but the expression is not so cold and more down-to-earth.

In the afternoon, the coffee shop.

Alex drank a strong cup of black coffee and kept looking out the window. At 14:55, an Oriental appeared on the side of the street.

His legs were long, and he ran over in a few steps, walking straight to the table without thinking.

"Hey!"

"Hey!"

Alex got up, looked at each other secretly, short hair, jeans, shirt cuffs rolled up, and a pair of unforgettable eyes, and said with a smile: "Chu, you are younger than you imagined." ”

"Thank you, as a director, you fit this sentence better than me."

"How come you are in the United States and still see my announcement?"

"Oh, I've wanted to come here lately, and the house is near UCLA."

Chu Qing also ordered a cup of coffee and asked, "Are you from California?" ”

"Oh no, I'm from Texas."

"I've never been to Texas, and I've heard it's good."

After a few pleasantries, he threw in a sugar cube, stirred it casually, and said, "I read your script, it's very good, but you don't seem to have written its production company?" ”

"Uh, it's Midnight Kiss Pictures."

"SORRY, I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT."

"It's a small company I run with a friend." Alex grew embarrassed.

Uh-huh!

He nodded and said with a smile: "OK, I believe you know very well what I mean, I really want to play this role." ”

"Chu, you're a great actor, but ......"

Alex has been struggling for two days. At the moment, there was no decision, so I had to vaguely say: "You know, the American audience may not be used to ......"

"Do you think the audience will see this movie? Or do you think it will be released in theaters? He asked with a smile.

"Uh, it's difficult."

The director told the truth that he was not a big coffee like Jarmush.

"So. Oriental or Western, is it a matter of business and principle? He spread his hands and was sincere.

“……”

Small budget, independent films, new works by newcomers, and no connections, these points are enough to strangle any fantasy. Alex's biggest hope is to go to the Woodstock or Florida Film Festival and get an award. Mix the bonuses, then be bought out of the rights and directly distribute the DVD.

The release was difficult, so he could only take the route of brushing awards, and when it came to brushing awards, he couldn't help but look at the other side: even if he looked for Hollywood stars, he might not necessarily be as tall as anyone.

Therefore, he only thought about it for two minutes. "Okay, you convinced me." You can get the broker to come forward. ”

"I don't have an agent, let's talk directly."

"OK, our cost is not high, I can only pay $3,000."

$3,000?

Chu Qing silently estimated it, and couldn't help but sweat: "Can I ask how much the investment is?" ”

"$120,000."

“……”

Ya resisted the urge to squirt, please. $120,000 is a LOWB good felling in China? He didn't want to be filmed by a stupid * dick DV, so he said casually: "Dude, do you mind if I invest a little money, how about 500,000?" ”

"Poof!"

Alex squirted and raised his voice: "Are you kidding?" Why？ ”

“Why？”

Seeing that the other party reacted violently. Chu Qing was also stunned and said, "Does this need a reason?" I love this movie. ”

"That's it?"

"That's all!"

“……”

Alex looked at him for a while before he said, "Thank you!" ”

Americans are quite practical, especially in Hollywood, where actors can be paid less, but not more. For example, when Qin Hailu filmed "The Piano of Steel", not only did he not want to be paid, but he also used his own money to supplement the crew, which was completely fantastical for them.

"Your story is very much in line with European tastes, and the market over there should be good, by the way, do you prefer Berlin, Venice, or Cannes?"

Chu Qing changed his role in an instant, and Balabala said: "If I invest, it will become a co-production, is there an obstacle for you to participate in that Woodtok?" I don't know much about the situation here, it's said that Sundance is very influential and we can go there......"

Alex was very Alexander, feeling that he was facing a big demon king, and said weakly: "Chu, do you really have no conditions?" ”

"What? Oh, you say I really have! ”

The creature took a sip of coffee and spat out a few words: "You're going to change the script." ”

“What？”

Poor American director jumped.

"Hey, calm down, listen to me."

Chu Qing waved his hand and said, "In the first place, Wilson masturbated to the photo of his friend's girlfriend, and this should be deleted." I think a girl from any country will kick him away if she knows that he has done such a thing, it's disgusting! ”

"In the second place, the plot of the two of them in the theater, I really wanted to beat you up when I watched it, why didn't you expand and write?"

"Well, I don't think it's necessary."

"NO, this is the most exciting, be sure to write it! Otherwise, why do you set the identity of a screenwriter and actor, it's a complete waste! ”

"Third, why let the next day come? Why make them *sexually? You let them kiss at midnight, all the meaning has been made clear, and I think the end is redundant. ”

"NO, NO, NO, THIS IS BACK TO OUR TOPIC OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S NATURAL TO HAVE *SEX." Alex hurriedly retorted.

"Dude, let's not argue now."

Chu Qing motioned for him to be quiet, and said with a smile: "The above is my commitment and requirements, an investment of 500,000 US dollars, three revisions, how many days do you need to consider?" ”

“……”

The pace was too fast, Alex was completely confused, and said, "Give me a week, okay?" ”

"No problem!"

Chu Qingte was refreshed, got up and said, "Okay, I'm going to repair my broken car, you can call me at any time, bye!" (To be continued......)