Global Film Emperor

Chapter 410 Human Deception is a Great Reward (Part 2) Approximately 5,000 words
Lu Bo's film review of "Rebirth" posted on Douban has caused quite a stir in the Chinese film industry. His various well-founded analyses of the film, which combine theory with reality, are indeed very convincing, and those with different opinions have no good way to refute Lu Bo's analysis.

With the help of some enthusiastic individuals, this film review was even translated into English and published on foreign websites. In no time, Lu Bo, this amateur film critic, gained a certain following among film enthusiasts around the world.

However, this is only a hot topic within the circle of movie enthusiasts. The discussion about "Rebirth" has not really spread beyond that circle. For ordinary viewers, their discussions revolve around "The Avengers".

Many people say that putting "Into the Past" and "The Avengers" in the same arena is an extremely foolish and arrogant decision by Mickey Mouse, but anyone with eyes can see that no matter when "Into the Past" is released or who it competes with, the final box office results will not be much different.

After all, his films are not suitable for watching with family, so the audience is mostly individuals, pure film lovers or die-hard fans of Lu Ze, Mickey, Kamiya, etc. Apart from that, most ordinary viewers will not set foot in the screening room of "Rebirth".

"Afterlife" is a very personal film. Most of the ordinary people were eliminated when the script was written. It is a gift that Mickey gave to a small circle.

So, apart from the commendable box office performance in the opening week due to the full support of movie lovers worldwide, the box office plummeted after a week, falling from second place on the box office chart and being surpassed by many commercial films behind it, becoming the lowest-scoring film of the same period, apart from bad films. Of course, this is also largely due to insufficient marketing and promotion.

Conversely, in the eyes of professionals, "Rebirth" has become the top film of the year, defeating all other films with its sheer volume and power. Although it is only the beginning of the new year and it is still unknown whether a new dark horse will emerge, industry insiders do not have particularly high expectations.

In conclusion, like most profound films, "Rebirth" has not yet broken out of its niche and has not become a phenomenon, but it still enjoys an excellent reputation among industry insiders and has become the biggest favorite to win awards this year.

As for when and what award to win, that's a question for later. Let's focus on the present. What changes did "Rebirth" bring to Mickey and the others? Aside from the ridicule and sarcasm directed at Mickey in the entertainment newspapers, the most significant impact was on the international fame of the male lead, Lu Ze.

……

"I'd like two Big Macs, a Coke, a pair of chicken wings, and a chocolate sundae, please."

The Cullinan, modified in black, slowly drove into the McDonald's external order window. Its tall body made Lu Ze almost level with the waiter taking orders. The window slowly rolled down, and he, wearing aviator sunglasses, spoke to the busy waiter.

"Sir, it would be more cost-effective to switch to a set meal... Wait, are you Parker?"

"Hmm... I guess so, but he's just a character I played."

"God! Don't mess with me, buddy. If I hadn't read 'Rebirth' several times, I wouldn't have recognized you. You're much stronger than Parker."

The waiter touched his forehead, his expression quite varied, it was hard to tell whether he wanted to cry or laugh, but it was clear he was very excited, his face was turning red, he took the banknotes from Lu Ze and folded the corner to make a mark.

"Yes, I've been working out lately."

"Is there any new film project planned?"

"That needs to be kept secret."

"Okay, can we take a picture together?"

Lu Ze didn't refuse. He took off his sunglasses and waited for the waiter to secretly take out his phone. After the manager wasn't around, the waiter quickly turned around and took a picture without checking if it was blurry. He then took the packaging bag from the kitchen and handed it to Lu Ze, and also secretly gave Lu Ze a sundae.

"Here you go, it's free. Take it before my boss sees it."

"Thanks, buddy. Goodbye, have a nice day."

It was a simple act of kindness, though not entirely aboveboard, but Lu Ze accepted it gladly. He smiled, bumped fists with the deliveryman, put the items in the car, and stepped on the gas.

"Go for it, buddy! I believe in you!"

The young man leaned out of the window and shouted quite loudly. Lu Ze heard him, but the car did not stop. He simply stuck his hand out of the window and gave a thumbs up.

Perhaps this was just a minor incident for Lu Ze, but for Xiao Ge, it was a day to be filled with joy. For an actor whose name he didn't know but whose work he liked, even when the next car stopped, his smile became much more genuine.

This was just a minor incident, but Lu Ze really enjoyed this way of interacting with fans. Although they weren't as crazy as fans in China, it was still very comfortable to be around them.

In the past few days, more than one person has recognized him, but he is not surrounded by people like he would be in China, with people taking pictures of him with their phones without his permission.

Most people would simply say hello, ask for a photo or a short video, and then leave quickly. Only a very few would ask for autographs, which Lu Ze always granted, earning him a good reputation on foreign social media.

As the car drove along the highway, he took a big bite of his hamburger at a red light. Now his weight basically meets the requirements for "Exile," but the price of gaining muscle is that his physical exertion has increased significantly. He needs to eat a lot to keep his stomach from complaining. Of course, this will result in a higher body fat percentage, so he will need to undergo a week of carb-free fat-burning before filming.

About half an hour later, he arrived at the company, honked his horn a few times, and the newly hired security guard at the gate raised the gate and greeted Lu Ze.

The Universal Brothers are no longer deserted; paparazzi often take photos at the entrance, after all, Mickey Mouse, who has made enemies everywhere, is a popular entertainment subject.

The old method of swiping access cards to enter the compound is no longer sufficient to protect the company's internal information. Lu Ze also believes that it is necessary to hire security personnel from several professional security companies to conduct 24-hour patrols, as it is essential to set up multiple surveillance cameras.

Good morning, Mr. Lu.

Hello, Jill.

The young black man who worked in the mailroom was fired for taking money to secretly photograph Mickey Mouse. After going through several tests, 55-year-old Jill took over the job with a salary several times higher.

Would you like a sundae?

"If possible, that would be best, sir."

After a brief chat with Jill, he returned to his office, moved a Golden Rooster Award trophy that the cleaner had placed askew, and then sat down to start writing the quarterly report for the Electricity Association on his computer.

To be honest, this kind of report that requires bureaucratic jargon is enough to drive someone who has never worked in the system or done clerical work crazy. Its format is regulated and cannot be done haphazardly. If such a report is sent, his mentor will definitely send it back and make him rewrite it.

That's right, every report he submitted had to be sent to the old man first, and only after the old man's approval could it be officially released. This could be seen as a way of protecting Lu Ze.

"Dong dong dong."

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and Mickey cautiously poked his head out, looked around, chuckled, and swaggered in.

"Why are you acting like a thief?" "I heard from security that the camera in your room has never been turned on. I thought you were up to something bad. Aren't you afraid of disturbing your enjoyment?"

"If you have something important to say, say it. If you don't, get lost. I'm busy here, don't try to amuse yourself."

It's true that Lu Ze turned off the cameras, but that's because he doesn't like being monitored, even if it's for his own safety. As for Mickey's claim about doing bad things, that was just a joke. Given Lu Ze's character, whether he would do anything wrong is another matter, but even if he did, it wouldn't happen in the company.

"I just finished discussing the specifics of the share transfer agreement with the negotiating company. I don't have many requirements; I just want to follow the normal contractual obligations. I just don't want the new shareholder to interfere too much."

"You can decide these yourself; you don't need to discuss them with me."

"All right……"

Lu Ze didn't look up, still writing and drawing on the manuscript paper, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes writing with flowing strokes. Mickey was getting a little bored, after all, he couldn't recognize all the Chinese characters and had no idea what Lu Ze was writing. So he picked up a wrench that looked like a key, opened the dust cover of the cabinet clock, wound up the pendulum that was swinging to the time, then sat down, picked up a fountain pen, pulled out the cap, and then pressed it back in, over and over again, so bored that he was almost wiping his nose on the wall.

It wasn't until a brilliant idea struck him that he slammed his hand on the table, startling Lu Ze, who instinctively leaned back in his chair.

"What are you doing again?"

"I ask you, what was my goal in founding Universal Brothers?"

The sudden question made Lu Ze think for a long time. Mickey's question stumped him, not because he had a bad memory, but because Mickey had too many targets. Who knew which one he was asking about? After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke uncertainly.

"To become a major film and television company...?"

"That's not it, guess again!"

"How am I supposed to guess? You talk so much nonsense all day long, how am I supposed to know which one it is? Just tell me."

"It's about attracting global film and television talent to our side!"

"So what? What exactly are you trying to say?"

Lu Ze still remembers this dream, of course. Mickey's bold words on the day the share transfer agreement was signed still leave a deep impression on Lu Ze, but he still can't guess Mickey's intentions.

“I can sell the shares, even for 20 million or 10 million, it’s all OK. But I want an additional project, and I want an agreement that allows talent to connect with each other.”

"Be more specific, what do you mean?"

"What does Universal Brothers lack most right now? People! There are only seven people in the whole company, plus three more to keep watch. Not only is it embarrassing, but we're also stretched thin when we need a team. I'm thinking, why don't I just not build my own team for now? As the big brother company that holds shares in Universal Brothers, shouldn't we help our little brother? Nominally, the people are still your company's, but when I need them, you have to lend them to me. Of course, we'll pay their salaries too. Similarly, when they need help, the little brother companies have to step up, right? As long as you pay, we'll help!"

The pen cap wasn't properly fastened, and Mickey Mouse slammed onto the table with a thud, splattering ink onto Lu Ze's manuscript paper. However, Lu Ze didn't pay any attention to it; instead, he pondered the possibilities of the problem, ultimately concluding that it was unlikely.

While there have been precedents of artists' contracts being split 50/50 between two companies, and it's quite common for artists to participate in projects with other companies, those are all individual contracts. I've never heard of two companies allowing their entire staff to be transferred between each other.

What Mickey wants is not just the mutual rental of directors, screenwriters, and actors, but also the right to use costumes, makeup, props, post-production, special effects, and even the publicity team. No matter how you look at it, it seems a bit unrealistic.

"They are film giants, the leading European film companies. It's not impossible for them to connect with each other at the same level, since contracts don't transfer. But we're just a bunch of small fry, with only one actor, two directors, and one cinematographer. The difference in our level is too great. I don't think it's possible."

"You're belittling yourself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Mickey stiffened his neck. Perhaps it was due to his extreme arrogance and inflated ego that he refused to accept being in a weak position. He displayed an air of being able to single-handedly hold off a million-strong army. His intelligence once again took over, and he carefully analyzed the situation with Lu Ze.

"Logically speaking, yes, the four of us are definitely not as strong as other companies, after all, there is a difference in the number of people. But we also have our own advantages. Think about it, how long have we been established as a company? How many movies have we made? Two! But what happened? A low-budget film, 'The Effect,' beat many big-budget films, and 'Rebirth' is a sure thing to win an award."

"Why didn't 'Rebirth' become a breakout hit or a phenomenon? It's because we didn't have money or promotional channels! But they did! We borrowed their people, gave them important roles, and once their new movie was a huge success, they used their promotional channels to hype it up, and voila, the people became famous! So do you think they came here to be our saviors? They came here to gild their resumes!"

"You lend me a decent person, and I'll gild their reputation and then return them. Only a fool wouldn't do that kind of deal! At first, our goal isn't big; we'll just borrow a few, that's all! Let them test the waters and see if our metallurgical plant can handle the work. Once the results meet their expectations, they'll naturally start borrowing in large numbers—clothing, props, everything! After all, it's a valuable experience, and we'll cover their wages, plus the contract is in their hands. Why would they refuse?"

Lu Ze thought about it and realized that it wasn't impossible. Since the other party had acquired shares, the two companies were essentially related by marriage, so they should at least be polite to each other. It shouldn't be a problem to ask for a few people to play roles, since the other party would also receive dividends.

Of course, this is on the premise of not relying on big stars. Otherwise, if the movie is bad, the big stars will be affected to some extent, and the other party certainly wouldn't dare to gamble with the company's mainstay.

But if he borrowed a few talented but unknown underdogs to gamble, Gambiano Films' talent pool should be able to handle it without much trouble. If they lost, so be it. But if they became famous, they would all have to send Mickey a banner to thank the selfless Mr. Lianqiao.

Initially, a clause could be set stipulating that only a maximum number of people could be lent out, and the highest possible value of each person lent out could also be capped. This clause should be easily agreed to, since they are well aware of Mickey's abilities. Once the movie he starred in becomes a hit, the other party would probably be hoping that Mickey would revise the contract. Thinking about it this way, it seems very feasible! However, there is one drawback to this approach, and Lu Ze must remind Mickey of it.

“There’s nothing wrong with what you’re thinking, and it’s a good idea. It can temporarily solve some of the manpower problems. I agree to add this clause to the contract. However, we can’t not build a team. Other people’s teams are useful, but they are still other people’s. If we part ways with them one day, we will still be in a situation where we have no one to use and can only find freelance actors. So I think it’s equally important to build a team.”

"Hahahaha!"

Mickey, as if possessed, suddenly burst into three loud laughs at Lu Ze's worries. He jumped up from the stool, squatted on the ground, and imitated the actions of planting flowers in Lu Ze's flower garden a few days ago.

Come on! Guess what I'm trying to say!

Lu Ze crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and watched coldly. Sometimes he really couldn't stand Mickey's sudden and baffling human behavior, and he even had to guess the meaning of the words. Was he playing a game of guessing idioms based on actions?
"Mentally challenged children".

"Pshaw! I'm serious! Guess!"

"The baboon's happiness."

"Get lost! You don't need to guess!"

He jumped up and stood up straight, imitating Michael Jackson, touching his crotch with his left hand, supporting his forehead with his right, pouting, exhaling, and turning his head to point at Lu Ze like Conan.

"That's what they call! As long as you dig well with your pickaxe, there's no corner of the wall that I can't break down!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)