Global Film Emperor

Chapter 453 Speculations about "Exile" (Third Update)
The film's ending didn't reveal a release date, as it hasn't been scheduled yet and hasn't even passed censorship. However, the story reveals a great deal of information, leaving most viewers confused.

"Why would a fish carry you onto the boat? This setting is a bit fantastical. I just checked the plot summary, which says it's a story about the protagonist being stranded on a desert island, eventually being rescued, and returning to human society. The synopsis doesn't mention fish at all."

"OP, don't you think it's a bit fantastical that fish would swim over to him to eat?"

"I want this skill too! Then I can eat sashimi every day. I'll be a poor, ugly, and pathetic guy drooling over bluefin tuna sashimi. [emoji]"

"Emmm... I don't understand what it means, but movies I don't understand are usually good movies (quite proud) [doge]."

"Hahaha... So I'm not the only one who doesn't understand movies? I feel like I only saw the first layer of this movie, while the real meaning of this movie is on the fifth layer [doge].

"I didn't understand it either, but I have to say, the special effects are so realistic! You can't tell the fish are fake at all, and the colors are so pleasing to the eye. Even though it's a cool color scheme, it's incredibly charming. Art students love it! And... Ze Shen must have eaten a real fish, right? *sobs* I feel so bad for him..."

"Upstairs, do you feel sorry for yourself? Isn't this cerebral palsy? Give me tens of millions in film salary to eat a fish, and I can bankrupt the world's richest man."

"You can't say that. It's not a big deal for actors to eat a live fish while filming, but if the film is really good, it's only right to say 'thank you for your hard work.' Do you still doubt Lu Ze's abilities? He's a master actor. I think it's only right that he earns so much from acting. I'd accept a hundred million for a film. At least he wouldn't feed us. Just based on this trailer, I'm definitely going to watch this movie. Finally, I want to say that he's earning Euros now. What are some people so sour about?"

"Could it be a stand-in?"

"Impossible. It's a direct shot, there's no room for a stunt double. It's real people eating. But speaking of which, Ze Shen seems to have said that actors earn this kind of money. If you can't do hard work and people tell you it's hard work after you move a little, you don't deserve to be an actor. I believe him because Lu Ze does all the action scenes himself, except for the particularly difficult ones. He has been doing it all by himself all along."

"Ze Shen doesn't seem to need your pity, right? He's never asked us for comfort. From the muscular boxing champion to the fat boss, and then to the extremely thin living, he looks three times in three years. He's completely unrecognizable. This time, his muscles are all sculpted, and his body fat is probably frighteningly low. Well, China finally has its own rubber man."

"No matter what you say, I'm going to see this movie. Lu Ze has a good reputation. I'm willing to cry like an idiot in the movie theater. It's not like I'll be the only one."

This thread is rife with arguments, with all sorts of trolls stirring up trouble. It's just a trailer, yet they've dragged it into the issue of actors' exorbitant salaries. But that's understandable, given that Weibo is China's largest hub for idiots.

Some very young children didn't recognize Lu Ze, since he hadn't been in the public eye in China for a long time. It's quite normal for those born in the 2010s or even 2015 not to know him. Their focus was on why Ding Zhiyi or Xu Shuang weren't on screen, and they started posting about it online, which led to them being lectured by their older relatives and no longer daring to speak.

In short, what these bad uncles and aunties are saying is that they hope these kids won't cause trouble for their favorite artists. Lu Ze is a senior that your idols can't afford to offend; with just one sentence, he can make your idol get frozen out until they're sixty.

Didn't you see how affectionately Lu Ze's idol calls him "Big Brother"? You guys are still trying to make your idols feel important, but be careful you don't end up being told that idols shouldn't be held responsible for their fans' actions.

The upper floors are a haven for trolls and idiots, but there are also genuine movie fans and professionals who discuss the plot and have guessed the general background story based on just a fifty-second trailer.

"I think this synopsis is a trap. It must be hiding some very important information. This seems to be something Universal Brothers likes to do, just like Marvel."

"This trailer gave me a slight pause. Things might not be that simple. I guess this movie isn't about life on a deserted island and returning to human society. After all, that kind of story has been made to death. There are many movies like Cast Away abroad, and there's The Island and some lesser-known ones in China. Single-player survival mode and playing Minecraft together online to explore the wilderness—this kind of format has basically been explored by predecessors. Logically speaking, Lu Ze and screenwriter Mickey can't be relying on old ideas. I guess the focus is on what happens after returning to human society."

"It must be related to those abnormal fish. Maybe it will really involve superpowers, like being able to control fish or something, but wouldn't that just turn it into a superhero movie? Is Lu Ze really going to act in a popcorn movie?"

"What's wrong with popcorn? I'll watch popcorn too. Lu Ze's acting skills are undeniable; what can't he do better?"

Lu Ze had just finished discussing the rental of a golf course with the owner of a golf club in the capital. The two were friends. When Lu Ze was working in China, it was Hu Zhiguang who introduced him to this owner. They had kept in touch over the years and would visit each other during holidays. The owner was very happy to see Lu Ze and warmly welcomed him.

Upon hearing Lu Ze's request, the boss immediately agreed without hesitation, and asked Lu Ze not to discuss money with him, as he didn't need the money and he wasn't happy to talk about money when a friend came to ask for help.

After all, Lu Ze was only renting the banquet venue in the club, and in this cold weather, not many members came to play ball. It was just the off-season, so it was fine to rent it out.

He had only one request: that Lu Ze give him one hundred complimentary tickets so he could give them to his friends. He also promised to bring his family to the premiere. This request was not unreasonable at all, and Lu Ze naturally agreed immediately.

He didn't spend a penny; the venue belonged to them, and they even did the setup. Since it was a gift to a friend, the table placement was a problem—who was closer and who was farther away? Lu Ze didn't know most of their circle of friends, so Lu Ze couldn't handle it. In this way, Lu Ze not only saved some money but was also treated to a meal, a seemingly expensive cigar, and a bottle of Romanée-Conti. Lu Ze felt genuinely embarrassed and thanked them profusely before being driven to Old Master Chen's house by the boss's driver to rest.

……

On the broadcasting side, the preliminary review team had just finished watching the movie, and the second theater became very quiet. The group of people were all deep in thought. The movie had given them a chill down their spines, but there were also many things worth thinking about. In the end, they could only sigh that Lu Ze was indeed Lu Ze, truly ruthless.

"Come on, everyone, take a break. Li, turn on the ventilation. Let's talk about this movie, just as film fans. What do you guys think?"

Team Leader Gao lit a cigarette, glanced at his team members, leaned back in his chair, and gently flicked the ash into the ashtray.

“It’s a good movie.”

"Yes, indeed. The storyline is simple, but the content of the film is anything but simple; in fact, it can be said to be quite complex. The most basic theme is animal protection, which is very clear and straightforward. At the same time, it explores the relationship between people, between people and society, and between people and animals on a deeper level. It is truly a good movie."

"In addition, the use of camera shots is also outstanding. The plot is connected in a particularly good way and is very smooth. I was completely stunned when I watched it. I felt like I had wasted all my years of studying photography."

"The control over color is also exceptionally top-notch, at a master level. It's hard to find directors who can play with color metaphor to this extent nowadays. The only ones I can think of are Zhuang Yu and Teacher Liu."

This praise pleased Team Leader Gao greatly. He kept nodding and smiling at the team members who expressed their feelings, leaving them somewhat confused. After all, they didn't know that Team Leader Gao was a student taught by Old Master Chen. Although he wasn't a direct disciple, he still owed Old Master Chen a debt of gratitude for his guidance. Lu Ze could be considered his junior brother in some ways. As a senior brother from the same lineage, he was naturally very happy.

After finishing their cigarette, everyone regained their senses. Team Leader Gao clapped his hands, attracting the attention of his team members.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Time to go home."

These words stunned the team members. They glanced at the time and then slapped their foreheads. It was already past six o'clock. They usually got off work at five-thirty, with almost no exceptions.

Overtime? What a load of rubbish! A thirty-day review period—I can review it whenever I want. You can wait if you want, or go back and revise if you don't. Make the review team work overtime for you? You've been drinking too much Shuanghuanglian (a traditional Chinese medicine) and it's gone awry!

But with this rare classic film playing, they were reluctant to leave. One of the subordinates who was on good terms with Team Leader Gao quietly asked, "Team Leader, how about... we finish reviewing it all at once? And submit it to the second review tomorrow?"

"Hmm? Aren't you the one who hates working overtime the most? You start counting down the seconds a minute before you leave work, and you won't stay a minute longer. Why don't you want to leave this time?"

"This is different... This is a good movie... It's rare to see one like this."

Team Leader Gao was actually holding back a laugh. Working overtime to help his junior colleague solve the problem was perfectly acceptable to him, and it seemed that the team members all felt the same way.

He glanced around and saw that the team members all looked quite eager, so he smiled.

"You have no objections, right?"

"No, no... Where did this opinion come from? If I watched movies like this every day, I'd be happy to work until the wee hours every night."

Everyone shook their heads and consciously returned to their seats.

"Let me tell you, there's no overtime pay for working overtime. Call home and ask for a video call, so your wives and husbands won't worry if you haven't worked overtime for ages. After the review is over, we'll have a dinner party, my treat. After the call, we'll analyze the footage."

"..."

(End of this chapter)