Drunken Master

The economic team is negotiating gently with the other party's producer. I didn't expect Pei Yan to be so hot-tempered. Pei Yan asked for leave from the crew that night, drove back to the city from the suburban studio, and rushed directly to the hotel. This time It was intended to smack the big mouth of the film agent.

He went straight to the hotel and caught him in the lobby.

The agent who has been approaching them on behalf of Universal Pictures is actually a Chinese. In Hollywood, the yellow skin has not been removed, but Xin'er has long been out of order. He speaks a foreign accent. His surname is Cao , called Billy.

Cao Billy turned his head and saw that it was Pei Shaoxia rushing in, shaking his shoulders first, then his cheeks, his forehead, which was tanned dark brown by the California sun, flickered under the hotel lights, the target was obvious, and he couldn't run away.

Pei Yan went over and asked this person: "Mr. Cao, didn't you tell me that Zhuang Xiao was definitely the lead actor in this movie?"

Billy Cao is an old man, and his expression is very calm: "Oh? Ah? Did I say that? At the beginning... the roles of each of them have not been decided yet. It was decided by the director, not me!"

Pei Yan: "..."

Before signing the contract, he was connected with Billy Cao. Domestic actors want to go abroad. After all, they belong to a relatively disadvantaged group. They don’t have the qualifications to play big names with filmmakers. I have to be Zhuang Xiao to play this villain", it is impossible to state this in the contract.

Everything is subject to the contract, which is indeed not written in the contract.

Pei Yan rubbed her back teeth hard, her body blocked the other party's way: "You told me at the time that Mr. Zhuang was the male lead, so I accepted the drama you introduced and signed the contract. You deliberately played me."

Cao Billy paused and smiled: "How can I play with you, Mr. Pei, the film crew values ​​you very much, and wanted to entrust you and praise you from the very beginning. The role in the script is also very suitable, it is simply tailor-made for you!"

Tailor a fart!

Pei Yan thought to herself, am I evil or evil, cruel or charming, you can tailor it for me?

He asked Billy Cao straightforwardly: "Why can't I play the male lead? The age is right, it takes effort, and I'm originally from a Chinese background, am I not suitable for acting?"

"Uh... this..." Cao Billy had no choice but to choose a sofa in the lobby and sit down, "Mr. Pei, you said that although the copyright of the old classic "Drunken Master" was purchased for the film, the script has been changed several times. , a lot of changes, the background was changed from Hong Kong in the Republic of China to Chinatown in Los Angeles - this is an American commercial blockbuster!"

"Can't I act as an immigrant youth in Los Angeles' Chinatown?" Pei Yan stared at the other party.

"Oh, Mr. Pei, you sit down, you sit first..." Cao Billy hurriedly asked Pei Yan to sit down as well, because he was really afraid that Pei Shaoxia would swing his arms and beat him up in the next second, "You have to understand the psychology of investors. It's very expensive to make movies these days." It’s not easy to make money, you have to consider the market and whether the stars are popular.”

"Zhuang Xiao's market appeal is not enough? Is he not big enough to be popular?" Pei Yan did not give in.

Cao Billy also secretly wondered, this guy surnamed Pei is really funny, I don't know why, this is going around, are you fighting for the male lead for yourself, or for Zhuang Xiao?The contract was signed a long time ago, you promised to play the villain, why are you arguing with me?

Of course, outsiders can't understand Pei Shaoxia's mind.In Pei Yan's heart, Zhuang Xiao was convinced that Zhuang Xiao played the leading role in such a classic work.Others are not as good as him, right?If I knew it was someone else who wanted to act, I would definitely fight for every inch of land, and I would never let the virtuous.

Pei Yan asked unwillingly: "Who will play the leading role?"

Billy Cao smiled, and said softly, "Universal invited the star of our agency, Tony Axas."

When this string of names came out, Pei Yan was confused.

Isn't Los Angeles Chinatown in the script?

Isn't it the story script of the second generation of Chinese immigrants in the United States in the past?

Isn't this a fucking remake of the Hong Kong version of "Drunken Master"?Are you remaking The Matrix or Iron Man?

Pei Yan confirmed again: "Tony Axas plays the leading role...? But he is American."

Cao Billy spread his hands together: "It's Americans, this is Hollywood's investment and production, Mr. Pei!"

Pei Yan leaned back on the sofa suddenly, bit the corner of her mouth, and stared at the person who was talking to him on behalf of the producer...

Cao Billy explained to Pei Yan as patiently as possible that the roles of the boss and son of the international human-snake crime syndicate in the script were modified specifically for Zhuang Xiao and Pei Yan.The original father-son relationship in the book was changed to a pair of brothers, so Zhuang Xiao played the elder brother "Deng Bai" in the villain boss, and Pei Yan played the younger brother "Deng Hu".

Tony Axas is the new star recruited by the brokerage company here. He is a popular fried chicken in the United States and the company's cash machine.

"But this is a Chinese character, you even changed the skin of the character?!" Pei Yan yelled at Cao Billy word by word.

"Tsk, isn't it that serious? Tony also has one-eighth of Asian descent. He is of mixed race." Billy Cao smiled and shrugged nonchalantly, "He looks a bit oriental, shave his hair all over, and then use shadow powder Put on some makeup and act as an immigrant, you can definitely make a fake out of the real one, it's all OK!"

Pei Yan has his pride.This is no longer a matter of reconciliation, damn it, I feel a suffocation in my chest, I'm really aggrieved.

Obviously, the film crew borrowed the reputation of Zhuang Xiao and his old man and newcomer in the Kung Fu circle in the mainland film industry, and used the publicity of the remake to get him and Zhuang Xiao in, but they would not give them starring roles.An actor from the mainland, how can you easily play a leading role in Hollywood?

You can't even rank the partner next to the protagonist.The second and third partners next to the male number one, who is full of personal heroism, are usually a black man and a Mexican.For Chinese actors, the male is generally responsible for playing tricks and carrying the bag for the white male lead; the female is responsible for being a vase and accompanying the white male lead to bed.

Every time someone in China appears in an American blockbuster, they are ridiculed by colleagues in the industry: Tsk, so-and-so went to Hollywood to buy a bottle of American soy sauce and came back.

The soy sauce came back, and they may not be able to eat. There are not many scenes with lines in the feature film, and there are even mainland stars who are glamorous to make soy sauce. There were no scenes of this person in the feature film, and they were all cut for you; when it was screened in theaters in the mainland, you, a soy sauce party, would be posted back to fool things.

Pei Yan can't look down on someone who sharpened his head and drilled towards the opposite side, isn't he cheap?

Isn't it embarrassing to be embarrassing on the inside?Play the leading role if you want to act, otherwise you won't go.

As a result, this time it was he himself who went over there to make foreign soy sauce.

"Heh, is it appropriate for you to take advantage of Mr. Zhuang's fame and use his martial arts team for special effects, and give him a small supporting role?" Pei Yan looked coldly at Cao Billy's chattering mouth.

Cao Billy was also very annoyed after talking for a long time, wondering if your kid is sensible?Mr. Zhuang himself has no objection. Zhuang Xiao is very experienced in life, and he will never turn his face on this kind of thing...

Cao Billy stared at Pei Yan: "Let me tell you, Mr. Pei, why did you use Tony? Because Tony has box office appeal in the North American market, but you and Zhuang Xiao don't! How much money can the mainland make? How do you let the producers get back the money?"

Big truth.Hollywood producers can get at least 50% of the box office revenue in the US market, or even more.And when it was screened in mainland China, most of the money went into the pockets of the theaters, and the commission of the film studio may be less than 20%, all of which are losing money and making money.Who really values ​​your market where you can't get any money?Who will use your star?

The market must bow to capital.

Movies are just a business. Do you talk about feelings with businessmen?

The contract was signed long ago, and this film had to be shot.

To take a step back, the martial arts team of "Drunken Master" is still the dealer team, and Zhuang Xiao also took over the supporting villain.

Pei Yan can't even say to quit now, as if she also has an obligation to Zhuang Xiao.If you judge with a self-indulgent sentimentality, Zhuang Xiao may have taken the optional supporting role because of his relationship...

Pei Yan didn't turn on Cao Billy and scold her, some yearning and enthusiasm in her heart were poured cold water, and the rest was business operation and contract fulfillment.This is business. People who hang out in the circle still have to eat.

Cao Billy felt in his heart that he had convinced Pei Yan, and he was done. The child is young, has a violent temper, is impulsive, and has a quack air, but he is still sensible, so he immediately changed his smiling face and talked to Pei Yan. Yan hooked his shoulders and put his back on his back: "Okay, don't be unhappy, Mr. Pei, it's settled like this. I have finalized the arrangement and itinerary with your team. Let's meet in Los Angeles some other day. I will invite you to You have dinner with Mr. Zhuang! Being in a big production of a famous Hollywood director, this is your chance to become famous in one fell swoop... People go to a higher place and go to a higher level..."

……

One month later, Pei Yan, accompanied by his management team and assistants, went to the United States to film "Drunken Master".

The perverted brother of the criminal group he plays has a lot of scenes and lines, and he has learned English two months in advance, and he joined the group a few days earlier than Zhuang Xiao. There will be filming of his rivalry with Zhuang Xiao.

The schedule handed over by the crew was dense and well organized.As for which scene it was his turn to shoot, he was not allowed to play a supporting role.

On the second day after he landed in Los Angeles, he only tried on two sets of makeup before he received a message from Zhuang Xiao himself: [I know you will join the group tomorrow, are you free for dinner tonight? 】

Pei Yan didn't expect Zhuang Xiao to ask him out in person.

Without thinking, he directly dialed the number and connected the phone: "Mr. Zhuang, the first two meetings were in a hurry, and we didn't have a chance to talk in detail... What time and place is convenient for you, I'll go find you?"

Zhuang Xiao said: "You must be busy when you join the group, depending on your time, I'm still free anyway."

Pei Yan said: "You said the time and place, I am not familiar with this place, nor anywhere."

Zhuang Xiao said: "at seven o'clock in the evening, there is a small Hunan restaurant in the city, Zuixianglou. This kind of place is not as good as you in Sanlitun, where you can sing and sing every night, and you can eat the same food every night. There are not many serious Chinese restaurants in this city. , this one is pretty decent.”

Pei Yan looked up and saw that his assistant was dancing and winking wildly at him, and then remembered: "Oh... I also made an appointment with a person from the Universal production team at night, and I forgot about this person. what!"

Pei Yan was very straightforward.

Zhuang Xiao was overjoyed on the phone.

Zhuang Xiao said: "This matter is much more important than eating, so go talk about your business."

Pei Yan hurriedly said: "I just met once, not long after that, I'll go find you for dinner."

Zhuang Xiao suddenly mentioned on the phone: "Have you donated money to Letu's family? Are you the one who donated anonymously in the hospital account?"

Pei Yan paused for a moment: "Well...you got it."

Zhuang Xiao said: "His mother chased after me and asked me if I gave the 200 million yuan. She insisted on saying that it was my money and asked me to take it away. I think it must have been given by you."

Pei Yan hurriedly said, "Don't tell him that I gave him my mother."

"I didn't say it." Zhuang Xiao said, "But I told Xiao Sati, don't mind."

Pei Yan said, "Just mention it, whatever you want."

He also didn't want outsiders to know.He doesn't care if Sa Risheng or whoever finds him pleasing to the eye.

Zhuang Xiao said, "Success, we are waiting for you at the restaurant."

Pei Yan replied, "Then, see you tonight."

Zhuang Xiao asked: "Hey, can you eat spicy food?"

Pei Yan said: "It's funny, I don't think I can eat spicy food?!"

In the voice, Zhuang Xiao seemed to laugh again, his voice was slightly deep and mellow, and the feeling was different from the face-to-face conversation, the voice was very good.

Pei Yan is a vigorous and impulsive person when doing things. When he is obsessed with one thing, the other seven or eight things in front of him are all cut off by him.Introduced by Billy Cao, he hurriedly chatted with several businessmen from the producer who were full of investment, market, cinema, and income, and went to meet Zhuang Xiaohui for dinner.

This kind of restaurant in Chinatown doesn't even have a decent elegant private room, but the two big tables in the innermost corner are reserved by the bankers, and the crowds are crowded.

Bao Pengzhi stood up, shook hands with Pei Yan, and greeted him warmly: "Mr. Pei, just now we told the boss that if you haven't shown up at this point, I'm afraid you won't come here tonight. We've waited in vain!"

Pei Yan narrowed her eyes slightly, and scanned a table of dealers: "Why didn't I dare to come?"

Fatty Bao shook his shoulders and said in a serious manner, "We have a lot of people."

Pei Yan sneered: "I can count as ten."

The people around let out low smiles one after another, all of them were waiting for him with malicious expressions on their faces.

Sitting at the innermost position of the big round table was Zhuang Xiao, who didn't get up from his seat, and said to the surrounding people: "I said he dares to come? I haven't stretched my muscles and bones enough last time."

Zhuang Xiao was still dressed in the same way. His clothes looked ordinary, but his hair and face were neatly trimmed.Her hair is all combed back and tied in a short braid. She has a smiling face and bright eyes.

"Is the ring set up?" Pei Yan half-provocatively glanced at the boss, "Are you enough people here today?"

Zhuang Xiao easily placed one hand on the table: "We won't take turns bullying you one by one, but will you still be subdued one-on-one?"

Pei Yan hurriedly covered her uninjured right ear, and made an expression of "I'm convinced".Everyone hummed and laughed, and temporarily wiped out their grievances on the water.The mood at the dinner table was not bad, and both parties were very different from the strange, cold and tense state when they met for the first time.

Bao Pengzhi moved the host and guest inside, and Pei Yan stepped over several younger brothers with long legs, grabbed a seat, and sat next to Zhuang Xiao as a matter of course.

Zhuang Xiao signaled: "Order? I'll wait for you to order."

Pei Yan: "You order, you are hungry, you can eat anything you order."

Zhuang Xiao looked at him: "I thought you had already eaten."

Pei Yan looked disgusted: "What are you eating? I'm not used to foreign wine paired with cheese, and it smells like something rancid in the refrigerator during a power outage in summer...won't you also eat that for the set lunch?"

Zhuang Xiao sneered: "The set lunch is really not as good as that one, do you regret coming here?"

"I really regret coming." Pei Yan said the word "regret", and turned her head to look at Zhuang Xiao.Zhuang Xiao's entire expression was concealed under the neat and elegant beard around his lips, but it couldn't cover half of the dimple that appeared when he laughed...

Lively, carefree, nose full of wine and pride.

This is like a group of rough people in the martial arts circle gathering for dinner, without the petty bourgeois sentiments of Yangchun Baixue, without the deliberate gestures of some celebrities, and without the coy pretentiousness of insisting on replacing twice-cooked pork with shiitake mushrooms and cabbage.In the high-end bar where I drank and chatted with Yankees before, the waiters were all very hard, which made Pei Yan feel uncomfortable sitting and drinking.