Subtitle of this chapter: The old does not go, the new does not come.

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"Is it ...... about investment?"

For a film of this era, the budget of $3 million is indeed a bit exaggerated...... Well, not just a little but a little bit. It was quite normal for Kennedy Sr. to hesitate.

He originally wanted to be the producer of this movie, but now it seems that he will have to pay at least hundreds of thousands of dollars to become this producer, which is much higher than his original estimate.

So Kennedy Sr. had no choice but to come up with a delaying tactic, and said in an apologetic tone: "Miss Gish, Mr. Yuan, Mr. Griffith." Excuse me. I'm going to go back and think about it and ask my partner for advice. ”

Before our Master Yuan could speak, he heard Mr. Griffith speak: "Mr. Kennedy, it's not that we are urging you, it's just that this movie is about to start shooting in early April. There's really not much time left to wait. ”

Speaking of which, this film master has been really hard these days. He himself knows that "Famine Orphan Girl" is a chance for him to turn over, and it can even be said to be the last straw.

If he succeeds, he will be able to become the first person in American and even the world again; If he failed, then he had to declare bankruptcy and quit the film industry.

So in order to prepare for the filming of this film, he really worked day and night, and everyone lost a lot of weight.

And Miss Lillian-Ghisch has already lost weight twice, and if she hadn't put on heavy makeup and wore clothes that concealed her figure, she would have been able to call it a body and a bone now. Yuan Yanqian felt that her concubine's feeling had greatly decreased.

The big star is now also a big producer with status, and she said lightly: "Mr. Kennedy, the investors of this film are not only Mr. Roosevelt's Fidelity Savings Guarantee Company, but also the First National Bank of New York, Citibank (author's note: the two banks have not merged at this time), JPMorgan Chase Bank and New York Life Insurance Company. I think you, when you learn about this fact at the Bank of Boston, will agree. ”

The New York Life Insurance Company is naturally the one that Mr. John McCall pulls. He is the grandson of Darwin P. Kingsley, the president of this major insurance company.

Again, Yuan Yanqian made this film in order to integrate the Northeast American financial consortium to enter the film industry together, so he sent a small amount of money directly to these consortiums.

In addition, "Famine Orphan Girl" has such a large investment and high technical requirements, which he deliberately did.

At this moment, the film industry does not have high technical requirements, nor does it have great financial requirements, and the appreciation level of the American people is just like that.

But the appetite of man is hanged. If the American people were accustomed to watching big-budget sound movies like "Famine Orphans," it would inevitably hit silent and small-budget films. forced those companies to increase their investment in films.

In addition, lured by the ultra-high profit returns, other film companies will definitely follow in their footsteps and make big-budget films. This kind of big production success can naturally make a lot of money, but once it fails, those film companies will immediately go bankrupt.

When the time comes, the Northeast consortium or other consortia will naturally kick those Jewish jewelers and fur merchants out of Hollywood, which will achieve Yuan Yanqian's goal.

In short, he would rather let the ASP control Hollywood than give the Jews a chance to get ahead.

For you, if you have the chance, of course, you have to bring in the Boston consortium.

Kennedy Sr. nodded and said, "I understand." ...... a week No, within three days, I will give you the exact news. ”

"That's good, let's have a toast, and I wish us a happy cooperation."

At this time, the waiter brought the wine, and Yuan Yanqian picked up the wine glass and said to everyone.

“CHEERS！”

After this glass, everyone entered the small talk mode. Miss Susie, who sat next to Kennedy Sr., tugged at his sleeve and winked at him as she turned her mouth towards the master of the film.

JFK's father nodded understandingly, wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "Mr. Griffith, I heard that you have an actress audition this time." I'm a little curious about this and don't know how it's going? ”

When the film master heard this question, his expression froze, and he glanced at Yuan Yan and said vaguely: "It has only been a month since the newspaper was published, and the result remains to be tested by time." ”

In fact, the audition of the actresses that Master Yuan came up with was not very good, and so far there have only been two or three hundred people who have signed up, and they have not exceeded it.

This approach seems a little too advanced. There were two main reasons for the failure: first, the social status of film actors at that time was not high enough, and second, the female literacy rate in the United States in 1921 was too low.

Literate intellectual women don't have that much desire to be movie stars, and low-level women who want to be movie stars can't even read newspapers.

Of course, Kennedy Sr. didn't care about it, but wanted to stir up a conversation. He pointed to the Broadway actress and said, "Mr. Griffith, do you think Miss Susie meets your standards?" ”

What else is there to say about this? Can this still be substandard? Can you say that even if it doesn't meet the standards?

"Well......" The film master, who is also a scene person, looked at the actress "carefully" and nodded, "If Miss Susie is interested, then it is our pleasure." If it's convenient, come and report to us tomorrow. ”

In these years, there is not even an audition, as long as the producer or director sees it, he will directly become an actor.

"Great." The actress smiled, but also added a bit of grace, and said angrily, "Thank you, Griffith...... Well, director. ”

Yuan Yan said in her heart, in addition to her good looks, this chick also has a good voice, and it seems that she has a different taste when she holds hands. Kennedy Sr. was quite picky?

His heart moved, no wonder this old boy really went to invest in a film company later, no wonder his two boys were so good, it turned out to be because of ......

Master Yuan glanced at FDR covertly and thought in his heart, this guy is said to be also a lewd person, and he has a mistress after becoming a paralyzed.

It's unbelievable, this film company must continue to do it, and it must become bigger and stronger......

For the sake of the motherland, he is going to be a pimp. Of course, later he carried forward the business of pimping and became a marriage agency.

Miss Susie happily took old Kennedy by the neck, kissed him on the old cheek, and then said cheerfully to the people at the table, "Why don't I invite you all to the opera to-night." ”

"Ms. Mary Garden has come to New York, and she's bringing a new opera, 'Three Oranges Love.'"

The Mary Garden lady was America's most popular soprano at the time, and it's no exaggeration to call her a superstar. If you compare the coffee positions, Lillian-Gish is more than a step behind her.

No way, opera performed by classical vocal methods, that is, bel canto singing, is recognized as a high art, and cinema is just a popular entertainment at this time.

Born in Aberdeen, England, she rose to fame in Paris and is currently a pillar and director of the Chicago Opera.

Ms. Garden made her first appearance in the United States as Salome, the biblical Israeli princess who killed the prophet John for eros, causing a sensation in the United States.

Salome is a one-act opera written by Hedwig Rahmann based on Wilde's play of the same name, with music by Richard Strauss. It has been a very classic opera since its inception.

And "Love of Three Oranges" is one of the masterpieces of the Russian composer Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891-1953).

It seems that this musical actor is still a little self-aware, knowing that Yuan Yanqian is only suitable for going to the opera, not the kind of musical she plays.

FDR shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Susie. I'm not available tonight. ”

He is now the vice president of Fidelity Savings to connect the two sides, but he is a senator, deputy secretary of the Navy and vice presidential candidates, how can he mix with them?

The film master also shook his head and said, "Lilian and I still have a lot of work to do tonight." Sorry, we're not going. ”

"Oh......" The actress was a little disappointed by this, so she looked at another person who was concentrating on eating and drinking, and asked, "What about Mr. Yuan?" ”

"I'm ......"

Our Master Yuan was originally going to refuse, and he is not a mustache fan who would rather skip meals than save money to watch the opera.

In fact, in the 100 years since, the audience for opera has been shrinking, and in the 21st century it has really become a niche hobby used to pretend. Yuan Hongji, who came through at that time, would like any opera.

Old Mr. Kennedy suddenly interjected: "Mr. Yuan, you must go, I still have some questions about the script I want to ask you." ”

As he spoke, he also gave Yuan Yanqian a look that all men understand......

Master Yuan was such a spiritual person, he immediately understood what the other party meant, and agreed in one mouth: "Since Mr. Kennedy said so, I can't live up to Miss Suzie's kindness, so ......"

"Ouch!"

Miss Ji Xu, who was sitting next to him, was such a spiritual figure, and immediately understood what these two stinky men meant, and very secretly invited Yuan Yanqian to eat a big elbow, and he inhaled in pain, and he couldn't even speak.

"Tired, what's wrong with you? Are you okay? ”

The acting skills of the big star are really natural, she threw down the knife and fork in her hand in a panic, holding her greasy face, and the expression on her face was surprised and distressed looking at her Chinese lover, as if she was completely unaware.

"I, I, I'm fine." Yuan Yan, who was in a cold sweat on her head, looked at the big star with palpitations, and secretly said in her heart, Kong Lao Er has a sentence that is really right, but women and villains are difficult to raise.

I can't help it, so I have to stop going tonight......

He was about to say no, when he heard Miss Gish say to old Kennedy and Miss Susie, "Since it's all right, I'll leave him to you." ”

"Ahh You mean to let me go to the opera with them in the evening? Master Yuan asked in a low voice in her ear.

"Of course." The big star glanced at him coquettishly, picked up the wine glass to cover his mouth and whispered, "I'm just for An...... Well, and your fiancée just taught you a bad lesson. ”

In fact, this is where Miss Lillian-Gish's cleverness and sophistication come in. Since she was a child, her experience has told her that men can't be tied by bolts, and the more excellent men are, the more so, since that's the case, then don't bolt.

But you still have to express your dissatisfaction strongly, if you don't mind if the man you like goes out to, then what kind of "like"?

Yuan Yanqian had no choice but to scratch her head and spread her hands towards the others.

"Hahaha......" Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they saw this strange "couple" being funny.

In the early twenties, opera was extremely popular in North America, especially among the upper class and intellectuals. Many wealthy people have generously donated not only to form opera troupes, but even to set up their own theaters for each opera troupe.

The Chicago Opera Company and the Grand Opera House of Chicago, for example, are sponsored by the Harold F. McCormicks. Mr. McCormick was the big boss of the International Harvester Company (IHC), and his wife was the daughter of the elder Rockefeller.

And musicals were indeed very popular with the American people, with some saying that nineteenth-century Americans were as excited and embraced musicals "as the Milanese waited for Puccini's new opera, or the Viennese waited for Brahms's new symphony."

However, in 1921, musicals had not yet made it to the top of the world. The most critical factor is that the kind of musical "drama" with a serious storyline in later generations has not yet appeared, and today's musicals are all funny singing and dancing frolics.

A few days ago, our Master Yuan was wearing a Chinese dress full of underworld flavor, but tonight he changed into a tuxedo full of elite atmosphere.

Do you watch an opera, what you watch is a forced style...... Well, he wouldn't have been able to get into the Metropolitan Opera in New York without dressing like this. It wasn't until 1944, after World War II, that audiences were allowed to wear "military uniforms, or private vacation uniforms, or everyday black tuxedos." However, the box and the high-priced seats in front of it still require men to wear a black bow tie, and women must wear at least a light evening dress.

Master Yuan, who was so handsome no matter what he was wearing, met the old Kennedy waiting for him at the door of the theater, and two ladies dressed up. One is Miss Susie, of course, and the other is his "female companion" tonight.

I only heard Miss Susie greet warmly: "Mr. Yuan, let me introduce you, this is my colleague, Ethel?" Miss Ethel Merman. (note 1)

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Note 1: In our timeline, Issel Moreman was only 13 years old in 1921, and Master Yuan was really not Ronaldo, so in his timeline, Miss Moreman was past the legal SEX age.