EFB Chapter 84 Public Opinion Tsunami
Chapter 84 Public Opinion Tsunami
Chapter 83 Public Opinion Tsunami (Seeking monthly votes, 13 chapters)
In the 24 hours following the official announcement, public opinion was like a gasoline drum that had been ignited, with the flames spreading from the core of the entertainment industry all the way to every corner of the internet. 4:30 p.m., BJ, editorial department of Entertainment Weekly.
Editor-in-Chief Chen slammed a stack of freshly printed manuscripts onto the conference table.
"Change all the headlines!" he yelled, spitting almost onto the editor's face. "What 'National Day box office review,' what 'new drama announcements of the four little actresses'—move them all to the back! Now, immediately, right now, I want to see in-depth coverage of 'Inception'!"
The entire editorial department was like a hornet's nest that had been stirred up, instantly becoming bustling with activity.
The sound of typing filled the air, the printer hummed as it spat out papers, and several interns ran around panting with their documents.
"Xiao Zhang, contact Huayi's spokesperson and clarify the details of the transaction!"
"Xiao Li, find a professor at the film academy to analyze why Nolan chose Chinese actors!"
"Xiao Wang, go and dig into the background of Light Chaser Pictures. Just who is this Jiang Yu?"
Old Chen paced back and forth in his office, his leather shoes making a rapid clattering sound on the floor.
He's fifty-two this year and has been an entertainment reporter for almost thirty years, from the newspaper era to the internet era. What kind of big scenes hasn't he seen?
This time, he was genuinely a little excited.
"Editor-in-chief," the deputy editor-in-chief pushed open the door, holding a freshly drawn draft, "would you like to see if this title is suitable: 'Chinese Capital Knocks on Hollywood's Door: Li Binbin and Ge You Join the Cast'"
"The underlying industrial transformation?"
Old Chen took the manuscript and quickly skimmed through it, his eyes growing brighter and brighter: "Good! Not ruthless enough. Add a subheading—From Seeking Roles to Giving Roles, Chinese-Language Cinema Ushers in a Historic Turning Point."
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"
"Exaggerated?" Old Chen's eyes widened. "Tell me, when was the last time a Chinese actor played a major role in a Hollywood S-level movie? When was the last time a Chinese company appeared on the production company list of a top Hollywood production? If this isn't a historic turning point, what is?"
The deputy editor was speechless and could only nod: "I'll revise it right away."
Old Chen walked to the window and looked down at the bustling traffic on Chang'an Avenue.
He recalled the grand occasion when Titanic was released in China in 1998.
At that time, all the media were discussing the industrial miracle of Hollywood and how big the gap was between Chinese films and Hollywood.
In the past two years, Chinese actors who want to go to Hollywood have to work incredibly hard to get in. Even if they only play a minor supporting role with a few lines, they can be hyped up by the domestic media.
Only a year has passed.
Now, Chinese actors can not only play important roles, but Chinese companies can also become producers.
"Times have really changed," Old Chen muttered to himself.
At 7 PM, the entertainment sections of major portal websites.
Tencent Entertainment's homepage now features a special banner: "Inception Official Announcement Special Report: Chinese Faces Shine in Nolan's Dream."
The special feature not only compiles all relevant news but also includes several sub-sections:
[In-depth analysis] Why did Nolan choose Chinese actors?
[Industry Observation] Light Chaser Animation: Building a Bridge Between Chinese and American Film and Television in Three Years.
[Profile] Li Binbin's "Dream Building" Journey: From TV Queen to Hollywood Rising Star.
[Netizens' Hot Topic] What do you think of this casting? Voting is underway.
NetEase Entertainment's headline was even more direct: "Huayi Brothers traded Feng Xiaogang for Nolan? In-depth analysis."
The deals behind casting.
The article provides a detailed analysis of the potential costs Huayi Brothers might have to pay, including the film's investment share, future cooperation commitments, and even the possible sharing of certain domestic distribution channels.
The author also boldly predicts: "This is just the beginning. With the explosive growth of the Chinese film market, Chinese capital will have an increasingly greater say in Hollywood."
Sohu Entertainment focused on Jiang Yu: "Mysterious Overseas Returnee Jiang Yu: 25-Year-Old Controls Top Hollywood Resources".
The article states: "Three years ago, he was an international student at USC. Three years later, he is already an investor in numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including *Iron Man*, *Avatar*, *Inception*, *2012*, and *Black Swan*. His Light Chaser Pictures not only establishes film and television bases and special effects technology in China, but also builds a comprehensive network of connections in Hollywood. Industry insiders reveal that Jiang Yu's goal is not just to invest in movies, but to build a film and television empire spanning China and the United States."
This article was quickly forwarded to various forums, and the comment section exploded: "25 years old??? I'm 25 and still worrying about rent, while she's already making waves in Hollywood."
"Isn't this the real male lead in a domineering CEO novel? Young, rich, resourceful, and knowledgeable about movies."
"I heard he's very handsome? Can I have a picture?"
"Stop swooning upstairs. Someone like that is never short of beautiful women. But speaking of which, Liu Yifei seems to have a pretty good relationship with him?"
"Not only is it good, but 'Black Swan' was invested in by Light Chaser Pictures, and the female lead is Liu Yifei. If this doesn't matter, I'll eat my keyboard."
8 PM, Tianya Forum Film and Television section.
Title: [In-Depth Exposé] The Inside Story of the Casting of "Inception" - Read on if you know.
The original poster, "Entertainment Industry Sweeper Monk," started a thread: "No nonsense, let's get straight to the point."
1. The role played by Li Binbin was originally intended for a Canadian actor. Nolan said at Cannes last year that "the Dream Weaver needs a mysterious youthful feel." Later, the script was revised, the Dream Weaver's age was increased, and an Eastern background was added. Why the change? Because Light Chaser Pictures was an investor, and they wanted to cast a Chinese actor.
2. The character played by Ge You was originally an Asian businessman in the script. Why was he changed to Mr. Chen, a Chinese-American? Because Huayi Brothers wanted two roles, one for Li Binbin and one for Ge You. After evaluation, Nolan's team felt that Ge You's comedic talent and world-weary demeanor were very suitable for this complex businessman role, so they agreed.
3. Transaction Terms: Huayi Brothers will relinquish 20% of its investment in "Aftershock" to Light Chaser Animation, while promising to prioritize purchasing Light Chaser Animation's visual effects services for the next three years. In return, Light Chaser Animation guarantees that at least one important supporting role in "Inception" will be given to a Huayi Brothers artist.
4. Why Li Binbin and Ge You? Li Binbin speaks good English, has experience endorsing international brands, and her image fits the description of an "intelligent beauty".
Ge You is a national treasure-level actor with international recognition, which can enhance the quality of a film.
5. This is just the beginning. According to reliable sources, Light Chaser Animation Studios has at least three Hollywood projects in development, all requiring Asian actors. Currently, all the top actors' teams in China are actively involved; whoever can connect with this network will take off.
6. Finally, one last thing: Jiang Yu is no ordinary person. He not only has money, but also vision and courage. Directors and producers who have worked with him speak highly of him. A person like him is destined to change the industry landscape.
Within ten minutes of posting, there were already over a hundred replies: "Is the poster an industry insider? That's a lot of information!"
"So it's capital paving the way. In the past, actors begged directors; now, capital chooses actors."
"It's surreal to think that Ge You is going to Hollywood. But I'm also quite looking forward to it, and I'd love to see him act opposite Leonardo DiCaprio."
"Li Binbin really won badly this time. Zhou Xun is probably furious."
"By the way, what projects does Light Chaser Pictures have coming up? Can you give us a hint?"
"Is Jiang Yu married? Does he have a girlfriend? We can't waste such a valuable resource!"
The original poster replied in post #356: "I'm not sure about Jiang Yu's relationship status. I heard he's getting close to Liu Yifei. But these are private matters, let's focus on his work. As for his next project, I can only say that there will be big news in November, so stay tuned."
This reply got hundreds of upvotes, with everyone guessing what the big news in November would be.
At 9 PM, this was the top trending topic on Baidu Tieba.
1. #Inception Chinese actors#
2. #Li Binbin Joins Nolan's New Film#
3. #GeYouHollywood#
4. #What is the background of Light Chaser Pictures?#
5. #Who is Jiang Yu?#
6. #LiuYifeiBlackSwan#
7. #Huayi Resource Exchange#
8. #Zhou Xun's reaction#
9. #What does Zhang Ziyi think?#
10. #FanBinbinTakesAction#
Each topic has thousands of comments, with comedians, fans, and casual observers all clashing.
A well-known film critic, "Film Detective," published a long article: "Many people only see that Li Binbin and Ge You got good roles, but they don't see the underlying industry logic."
1. The Chinese film market is growing at a rate of over 30% annually, and its total box office this year is expected to exceed 60 billion yuan. The six major Hollywood studios are increasingly focusing on the Chinese market, and in order to appeal to Chinese audiences, incorporating Chinese elements and casting Chinese actors has become inevitable.
2. In previous Hollywood movies, Chinese actors either had minor roles or played stereotypical characters. Why are they able to play important roles this time? Because this time, Hollywood projects faced financing difficulties due to the financial crisis, not because Hollywood was handing out roles to us out of charity. Light Chaser Pictures was the primary investor in *Inception*, so they had a say in the project.
3. This marks a new stage in the industrialization of Chinese-language films: from a simple consumer market to participation in global production. We can not only watch movies, but also invest in them, and even have our people act in them.
4. For actors, this is also a turning point. Previously, going to Hollywood required learning English, honing acting skills, and attending countless auditions, with no guarantee of success. Now, as long as you have commercial value and a company is willing to use its resources to help you, the path is open.
5. Finally, a prediction: In the next five years, at least ten Chinese actors will enter mainstream Hollywood productions through similar means. The prerequisite is that they must have genuine talent; simply relying on resources won't win over audiences, and Hollywood isn't stupid.
This post was shared over 10,000 times, and the comments section was in an uproar.
Some agreed: "That's right. Capital paving the way is only the first step. In the end, it's the work itself that matters."
Some people sarcastically commented: "So it all comes down to who you are and who your company is. No matter how good your acting is, it's all for nothing if you don't have resources."
Some rationally analyze: "This is an inevitable process of industrial upgrading. First, you open the door with capital, and then you gain a foothold with strength. This is how the Korean film industry has also come about."
At 10 p.m., the crew of "The Message" checked into their hotel.
After taking a shower, Zhou Xun sat on the bed in his pajamas, scrolling through his phone.
The agent sat on the sofa opposite, his face grave.
"Sister Xun, the online discussions about you today are not very friendly."
Zhou Xun didn't say anything and continued scrolling down.
She saw the trending topic "Zhou Xun's reaction," and the first post was from a gossip blogger: "According to staff members of the 'The Message' crew, after the official announcement today, Zhou Xun had a dark expression on her face the entire time and didn't even eat lunch. It makes sense; both are top actresses, but Li Binbin has soared to Hollywood while she's still filming a spy drama. Who could feel resentful?"
The comments below were even more jarring: "Zhou Xun's acting is good, but his commercial value is not as good as Li Binbin's. Hollywood values commercial value more."
"I heard Zhou Xun's English isn't good, so going to Hollywood won't help him."
"She's not young anymore; if she doesn't change her career path soon, it will be too late."
"It feels like Zhou Xun is fading into obscurity. Li Binbin has completely outpaced her this time."
Zhou Xun's finger remained on the screen for a long time without moving.
The agent cautiously suggested, "Sister Xun, how about we post a blog to congratulate Li Binbin? It'll seem more magnanimous."
Zhou Xun put down his phone, lay down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
The hotel ceiling was off-white with a thin crack running from the corner of the wall all the way to the chandelier.
That's how the entertainment industry is; friends can turn into rivals over time.
"No need to send it." Zhou Xun closed his eyes. "Sending it would just seem fake. Let things be as they are."
The agent wanted to say something, but seeing her exhausted appearance, he ultimately didn't speak.
As the room quieted down, Zhou Xun suddenly recalled the look in Li Binbin's eyes when they were filming during the day; there was a mixture of smugness and pity.
She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.
The pillow was very soft and had the hotel's lavender scent.
All she could smell was the scent of defeat.
At the same time, in Li Binbin's room.
Li Binbin had just finished a phone call with his sister Li Xue and checked out the online public opinion.
Overall, it's good.
Most media outlets and netizens congratulated her, praising her for her vision and ability.
Although there were a few sarcastic remarks, they were harmless.
She opened her blog and posted: "Thank you for all the well wishes. It's an honor to join the Inception family and work with director Nolan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and all the excellent actors. I will do my best to live up to this trust. Please continue to support The Message and Chinese films."
The accompanying photo is a behind-the-scenes shot of her on the set of "The Message," wearing a cheongsam and smiling gently.
Within five minutes of posting, it had been shared and commented on over a thousand times.
"Go Binbin! Bring glory to our country!"
Looking forward to your performance in Hollywood!
"This picture of her in a cheongsam is breathtakingly beautiful!"
"Why didn't Sister Xun repost this? Aren't you best friends?"
"Don't cause trouble upstairs, Sister Xun is probably busy."
Li Binbin scrolled through the comments, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes held no warmth.
She knew Zhou Xun must be feeling terrible right now; if she were in his shoes, she would feel terrible too.
This is the entertainment industry—cruel and realistic.
When an opportunity comes, if you don't seize it, someone else will.
My phone vibrated; it was a text message from Huang Xiaoming: "Sister Binbin, congratulations! I'm so happy for you! When are you treating us?"
'
Li Binbin replied, "After we finish filming 'The Message,' I'll treat the whole crew to dinner."
"Okay! By the way, Sister Binbin, about that thing you mentioned before—I contacted Yifei, and she said we should have dinner together after filming 'Black Swan' is finished."
"Could you come too? Tell me about your experience in Hollywood."
Li Binbin smiled as he read the message.
Huang Xiaoming may seem carefree, but he's actually quite shrewd.
He knows who has resources right now, so he gravitates towards them.
"Okay, call me when the time comes," she replied.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Binbin put down his phone and walked to the window.
The view outside the window is of Tianjin at night. It's not as bustling as Beijing, but it still has thousands of lights.
She recalled the scene on the day of the audition. In a conference room at a hotel in Los Angeles, Nolan sat at the end of a long table, wearing a plaid shirt, his hair a little messy, and his eyes sharp.
After she finished filming that scene, her palms were sweaty with nervousness.
Nolan paused for a few seconds, then said, "The way you understand Adrian is interesting. She's not just a technician, she's an artist. You've got that."
That sentence made her realize she had a chance.
When she was signing the contract, she saw that "Light Chaser Pictures" was the first name on the list of producers, and she felt reassured.
Los Angeles, Jiang Yu's apartment.
Jiang Yu had just finished showering and was drying his hair when he walked out of the bathroom.
The TV in the living room was on, and CNN was reporting on the official announcement of "Inception." Although the report was short, it was still big news.
He sat down on the sofa, opened his laptop, and browsed reports from major domestic websites.
The more I look at it, the more I want to laugh.
Media analyses vary widely, some approaching the truth while others are pure speculation.
Netizens' comments were wildly imaginative, ranging from industry analysis to gossip and speculation.
What made him both amused and exasperated was that people actually started digging into his romantic history.
"Jiang Yu had an American girlfriend while studying abroad, but they broke up later."
"I heard he had dinner with Scarlett Janssen at that Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills."
Breaking news! He and Liu Yifei were spotted in San Francisco! They were seen strolling around Fisherman's Wharf together!
Someone replied to the last comment: "The person upstairs who spread rumors should be held legally responsible. I saw that photo; it's not Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei at all, but two Asian tourists."
"How do you know it isn't? What if it is?"
"If so, I'll eat my keyboard live on stream."
Jiang Yu smiled, shook his head, and closed the webpage.
The phone rang at that moment; it was Liu Yifei calling.
"Feed?" he answered.
"Have you seen the news?" Liu Yifei's voice sounded energetic; she must have just finished work. "The whole country is talking about you and 'Inception'."
The message.
"I saw it." Jiang Yu leaned back on the sofa. "It was quite lively."
"It's more than just lively, it's absolutely explosive!" Liu Yifei said with a laugh. "I had just finished work, and when my assistant handed me my phone, I had dozens of missed calls, all from friends in China asking for news. Even my childhood friend called to ask if I knew you."
"What did you say?"
"I said I know her, but we're not close." Liu Yifei paused, "but I don't think she believes me."
Jiang Yu laughed: "Why?"
"Because her next question was: 'What's he like? How old is he? Does he have a girlfriend?'"
Jiang Yu: "————"
Liu Yifei laughed out loud on the other end of the phone: "Scared? My childhood friend is like that, she wants to ask about any young people who seem promising. Don't mind her."
"I don't mind," Jiang Yu said. "So, what do you think of me as a person?"
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.
After several seconds, Liu Yifei whispered, "You—don't you know yourself?"
"I want to hear what you have to say."
There was silence for a few more seconds.
Then Liu Yifei said, "You're great. Smart, visionary, reliable, and a good person too."
She spoke slowly, each word carefully chosen.
As Jiang Yu listened, a part of his heart softened.
"You are too," he said. "Good acting skills, hardworking, genuine, and you're even cuter in private than on screen."
Now it was Liu Yifei's turn to fall silent.
Jiang Yu could imagine that her face must be red right now.
"I—I need to remove my makeup now," Liu Yifei said hurriedly. "I have an early scene to film tomorrow. Goodnight."
"Good night."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu sat on the sofa, watching the flickering images on the TV with a smile on his lips.