In La Chimont, New York, in a low-key white house.

Li Yu and his youngest son, Li Chun, sat on the couch by the fireplace while the TV set played the Hulk cartoon produced by UPN in '96.

The anime ran for two seasons, with the second season being renamed Hulk and Hulk.

Li Chun actually wanted to watch the second season the most, but Li Yu disagreed.

In the second season of the animation, there are many pictures of the female Hulk bursting clothes and transforming, although there are no pictures that are inappropriate for children, but the elegance and conservatism of the Oriental people still make Li Yu feel that children should not be exposed to these too early.

And Li Chun has watched the first season of the animation many times, and he kept asking questions during the viewing process.

"Dad, why is it that all the other clothes of the Hulk are torn, but the pants are never torn?"

"Dad, who do you think is the Hulk or the big boss?"

"Dad, why is Banner's hair brown and black after his transformation?"

The tricky questions made Li Yu busy for a while.

At this time, he began to miss the time when his wife was resting at home, because his wife only needed a look to make his son obediently shut up and watch TV quietly.

It's a pity that my wife goes to work today, but my youngest son just has a holiday.

The task of taking care of the children naturally fell to Li Yu, a former family cook.

It's nothing if it's a weekday, but recently Li Yu is preparing for the film project "Hulk".

This is Li Yu's first foray into a real Hollywood commercial film.

From the time his agent began to contact Universal, Li Yan began to make various preparations, including comics related to the Hulk.

Even an ancient "Hulk" TV series filmed in 1978 was turned out and watched by Li Yu.

And today, it is the day when the broker's representative Li Yu officially signed a contract with Universal.

Early in the morning, Li Yan was waiting for the other party's call.

As soon as the cartoon finished an episode, the landline phone in the living room suddenly rang.

Li Chun ran over first and picked up the phone receiver.

After skillfully pronouncing his name in English, there was a hearty laugh on the other end of the phone.

"Mason, guess who I am?"

The other party spoke Chinese, which was equivalent to directly telling Li Chun the answer.

"Uncle Jiang, I can hear your voice at once."

Jiang Zhiqiang on the other end of the phone laughed.

"Really? Then next time I'll take the test in English. ”

Li Chun agreed.

Li Yu, who was standing aside, rubbed Li Chun's head and took the phone receiver from his son's hand.

"Jiang Sheng, aren't you on the mainland during this time? How can you call me when you are available? ”

"The film directed by Yimou is almost finished, and I plan to go back to the United States after the New Year to discuss overseas distribution with the filmmakers here, we haven't seen each other for half a year, and we must get together then."

Li Yu held the phone and nodded.

"Definitely, definitely."

"By the way, last time you said Carl was helping you with a commercial film project, how is it going?"

"The official signing today is a comic film that Universal is in preparation."

"yes, then I'll have to congratulate you in advance."

Li Yu politely coped with two sentences, and Jiang Zhiqiang on the other end of the phone finally got to the point.

"I'm calling you today, in fact, I was entrusted by someone."

"Oh, who's so big-faced?"

"Cheng Long."

Li Yu was stunned on the spot.

He and Cheng Long can't fight, what is the other party looking for him?

On the phone, Jiang Zhiqiang's voice continued to ring.

"Cheng Long is also entrusted by others, Michael Ovitz, you must have heard of this person, right?"

Li Yu, who was holding the telephone receiver, was stunned again.

The name of Hollywood's No. 1 agent, Li Yu has not only heard of it, it is simply thunderous.

Although Ovitz had already left CAA when Li signed with CAA, Li still heard a lot of legendary stories about the other party.

And most of them are from Li Yu's agent, Carl Meyer.

This world is like this, the person who knows someone best is not necessarily his friend, but more likely to be the other person's sworn enemy.

This is exactly the case with Carl Meyer.

However, Carl Meyer has privately revealed to Li that he is actually just a shield for his uncle Ron Meyer to deal with Ovitz.

When Ovitz wanted to return to CAA, Ron Meyer was reluctant to do so, but because of his old feelings, he didn't want to tear his face directly with Ovitz, so he instructed his nephew Carl to jump out and "backstab" Ovitz.

Now as soon as he heard that Ovitz had found himself through Cheng Long and Cheng Long had found himself through Jiang Zhiqiang, Li Yu suddenly became vigilant in his heart.

If it was a normal cooperation, there would be no need for Ovitz to go around in such a big circle.

"What is the specific situation, the phone mileage dragon did not explain to me in detail, only said that he would cooperate with Ovitz on a movie recently, and then two days ago Ovitz suddenly found Cheng Long, saying that he also has a film project in his hand, which is to tell a story about Chinese Americans in the United States, and wants to find Cheng Long as the starring role."

"After reading the script, Cheng Long directly recommended you to Ovitz, saying that if Ovitz can convince you to be a director, then he will agree to be the leading actor."

Li Yu did not say anything.

Tell him directly that things are certainly not as simple as they say on the phone.

Jiang Zhiqiang on the other end of the phone also said his judgment.

"Cheng Long shouldn't lie about this kind of thing, so that script must be there, but if he really has the heart, he should call you in person, not contact you through me."

"I'd suggest you read the script, but Ovitz has to be careful, I've heard he doesn't have a good relationship with Carl."

Li Yan thought about it for a while, originally wanted Jiang Zhiqiang to directly reject Cheng Long, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was not appropriate.

Cheng Long's development momentum in Hollywood is becoming more and more rapid, and he has become the representative of Chinese filmmakers in Hollywood.

And Cheng Long is a person who attaches great importance to face, if he refuses directly like this, it will inevitably make Cheng Long feel very embarrassed.

In the end, Li Yu decided to use a more tactful way, not to refuse directly, but to agree to read the script first.

Anyway, he started the filming of "The Incredible Hulk" right away, and Cheng Long also has a film project to participate in, so when the time comes, he refuses on the grounds that the time is not coincidental, and both sides look better on their faces.

Jiang Zhiqiang on the other end of the phone also supported Li Yan's decision.

And he had more on his mind.

If it can promote the cooperation between Li Yu and Cheng Long, it can be regarded as a strong alliance in the Chinese film industry in Hollywood.

If this movie is successful, it can definitely become a good story in the Chinese film industry.

The two made an appointment on the phone and asked Cheng Long to send the script to Jiang Zhiqiang first.

If the script is really good, Jiang Zhiqiang will push the script to Li Yu again.

As soon as the matter was discussed, Li Chun ran over with Li Yu's mobile phone

"Daddy, it's Uncle Meyer's call."

After Li Yu and Jiang Zhiqiang said goodbye, they put down the microphone and settled down, and then took the mobile phone from their son's hand.

"Carl, I'm sorry I was on the phone with an old friend, how is it going over there?"

"Lee, something has happened to the Hulk project." On the other end of the phone, the agent Carl's tone was rarely solemn.

Li Yu's brows tightened.

"What happened? Was it the global executives who weren't happy with my plan, or did they think there was a problem with the script? ”

On the other end of the phone, Karl replied in a deep voice:

"In fact, the top management of Universal was very happy with you and your shooting plan at first, but someone stepped in and snatched the project."

Hearing the news, Li Yu was enveloped in great disappointment on the spot.

But what he couldn't figure out even more was that he had already come to the point of signing a contract, and he could still be cut off.

Especially if you cut off the beard from CAA, what is the origin of the other party?

"Not William Morris (WMA), but a remnant of an old era!"

Listening to the hateful tone of the agent Carl on the other end of the phone, Li Yu suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

It can't be such a coincidence, right?

As soon as he thought this, Carl on the other end of the phone had already said the name.

"Michael Ovitz, someone next to me secretly whispered to him that I was working on the Hulk project for you, and Ovitz also prepared a set of shooting plans and scripts, and persuaded the global executives with clever words."

Li Yu's brain went blank.

So the "Hulk" project just said goodbye to him?

On the phone, Carl continued to curse Ovitz loudly, until he realized that Li Yu had not responded, and then calmed down.

At this time, the most important thing to do is not to complain and complain, but to appease Li Yu first.

"My uncle already knows about this, he will personally negotiate with the world, and you don't have to be too disappointed, I will seek other more suitable projects for you."

Before the words of comfort were finished, they were directly interrupted by Li Yu.

With Li Yu's self-cultivation, making such an impudent act is enough to prove that he cares about this matter very much.

"I'd love to know where I lost to the other side, and we had been preparing for so long."

Karl immediately apologized:

"Lee, it's all my fault, there was an internal ghost around me who leaked our script outline to Ovitz, and the other party came up with a new script for our script outline."

Li Yu was silent.

While it is true that Ovitz's methods of competition are not very glamorous, they can only be regarded as basic operations in Hollywood.

In order to compete for a role in a movie, directors, actors, and agents behind them can use all kinds of means.

But the global top is not stupid.

If it weren't for the more appealing script that Ovitz came up with, how could they have changed their minds on the fly?

On the phone, there was a hint of frustration in Karl's unwilling voice.

"The answer from Universal's top brass was that Ovitz came up with a script that was more commercial and enjoyable, and that these backstabbing idiots had forgotten who wanted to inject more meaning and thought into the film in the first place."

"Of course, you can completely ignore the remarks of these stupid people, as long as it is not written in the contract, what these people say, even the punctuation marks, is a lie."

"I think what really got them excited about the script was that Ovitz brought in Jamie Dutton to write the script."

"You also know that Jamie Dutton has been really hot recently, Warner and Westar have asked him to write superhero movie scripts, and from the news I received, Warner and Westar executives are very satisfied with Jamie Dutton's script."

Obviously, Li Yu was not completely convinced.

After a moment of silence, he continued to ask:

"What about the director? I want to know who I've beaten against. ”

These words made Carl on the other end of the phone faintly smell a trace of uneasiness, and immediately corrected:

"Lee, this is Ovitz's usual trick, before he left CAA, he was very much in favor of the so-called packaging service, with the script he recommended, you must use the director and actors he recommended."

"He thinks he's at the pinnacle of Hollywood's power, but in fact, if he continues to be at the helm of CAA, he will definitely bring CAA to ruin."

"The behemoths of Hollywood won't allow a guy to bargain with."

"If you look at what happened to Spielberg and DreamWorks, you know that Ovitz failed only a matter of time."

It's a pity that Li Yan on the other end of the phone is not interested in this set of rhetoric.

Losing is losing!

Li Yu now just wants to know where he lost.

In desperation, Carl had no choice but to name the director whom Ovitz recommended to the global hierarchy to replace Li Yu.

"It's Joe Johnston."

"Ovitz, a cunning old fox, not only found a strong reinforcement like Jamie Dutton, but also chose Joe Johnston as the director very schemingly."

"As we all know, the criticism that Joe Johnston encountered after the release of "Jurassic Park 3" was to blame for Universal."

"The global executives have a debt to Joe Johnston, and it's only natural that he will be more inclined to replace you as the director of 'The Incredible Hulk'."

That's what Carl said, but Li Yu knew it in his heart.

Hollywood doesn't have that many people who are sophisticated.

The real reason why Universal's executives chose Joe Johnston is because although "Jurassic Park 3" has a reputation for unfinished money, it has really made money for Universal.

Whoever has the brighter box office results in genre films will be more competitive, and this is the rule of the game in Hollywood.

Carl knew that it was useless to comfort Li Yu now, so he could only promise to find a way to get the script of "The Incredible Hulk" written by Jamie Dutton as soon as possible.

Even if he is successfully intercepted by Ovitz this time, it does not mean that Karl will give up.

After the call, Li Yan stood in place with his mobile phone.

Li Chun, who was sitting in front of the TV, didn't see Li Yu come back for a long time, so he turned his head and called him.

"Daddy?"

Li Yu came back to his senses, raised his head and was about to answer, when the phone rang again.

After seeing the caller's name clearly, Li Yu hurriedly answered the phone.

"Hello, Mr. Meyer."

Of course, it is not his agent Carl Meyer who can make Li Yu use such an honorific title, but the other party's uncle, Ron Meyer, the current president of CAA.

"Mr. Li, I know all about the changes that happened to the "Hulk" project, no matter what the reason, such a problem is a mistake on our part, and I sincerely apologize to you."

"Also, I've received some additional information about my old friend Ovitz being able to snatch the Hulk project from us, and I think you have the authority to know about those things."

(End of chapter)