novellhall Chapter 130 I'm Not Here to Sell Myself [5000]
Chapter 130 I'm Not Here to Sell Myself [5000]
Chapter 130 I'm Not Here to Sell Myself [5000]
As soon as Chen Xun and Luo Bo entered the venue, they felt gazes coming from all directions.
Curiosity, admiration, and even a hint of jealousy!
Chen Xun wore a simple black suit today, without a tie.
His level 4 aura was fully unleashed, allowing him to walk naturally and steadily under such gazes.
"Chen! Our hero!"
The first person to greet us was director Martin.
The old man's face was radiant.
Holding a glass of champagne in one hand, he gave Chen Xun a tight hug with the other: "Look at this place, it's all because of you, buddy. Seeing you reminds me of the scenes we filmed!"
A blue attribute ball floated out from his body as he embraced:
[Director's perspective narrative rhythm enhanced +5]
Chen Xun absorbed the information and felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the overall pacing of the film.
There were so many balls falling at the party!
Sure enough!
Next up quickly was Greg Silverman.
His smile was much more genuine than the last time I saw him, and his handshake was much stronger.
"Chen, well done! We've all seen the data: 700 million in box office revenue. This is an amazing start!"
Kayla came too.
She was wearing an elegant black dress. When she saw Chen Xun, she walked over and gently clinked glasses with him.
"Congratulations, partner! The film's success is well worth your effort!"
Her favorability rating is 91.
It's been so long since we last met, yet the favorability rating is still quite stable.
This was unexpected by Chen Xun.
It seems this woman doesn't actually want to appear as aloof as she seems.
An attribute orb fell from her body:
[British accent dialogue with subtle emotional adjustments +4]
Chen Xun absorbed the information and felt he gained a new understanding of how certain subtle emotions were expressed in English dialogue.
Gina playfully punched Chen Xun on the shoulder: "Wow, you're a big star! Next time we work together, my pay will definitely go up, all thanks to you!"
A blue attribute ball fell from her body:
[Straightforward personality +3]
Chen Xun absorbed the information and felt that he was more adept at dealing with straightforward people like this.
Robert flitted through the crowd like a butterfly, shielding Chen Xun from unnecessary small talk while whispering in his ear the backgrounds of certain important figures.
Chen Xun was holding a glass of soda water.
He decided to stay sober tonight.
He always gets into trouble when he gets drunk, so he simply stopped drinking!
If he hadn't played Green Lantern before, and hadn't brought any benefit to those present, he probably could have drunk himself to death here and no one would have cared.
The most likely outcome is that they definitely won't be able to get into a party of that caliber.
Now, even if he's just drinking soda water, people around him greet him with smiles and even clink glasses and drink together.
Chen Xun walked slowly around the venue.
His eyes kept scanning the people around him.
Warner Bros. executives from various departments, veteran producers, and even directors and actors from other projects trying to ride the wave or gather information —
Each character may drop valuable attribute orbs.
He approached a woman dressed in a well-tailored suit.
She is talking to Silverman at this moment.
Rob whispered to him, "That's Katharine Kennedy, the newly appointed president of Lucasfilm and a top producer. She's a special guest of Warner Bros. today."
At this time, Lucasfilm had just been acquired by Disney, and Kathleen Kennedy had just taken office.
This is a frequent Oscar nominee and a renowned producer.
From "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" to the Jurassic Park series, and later the Star Wars series, all were created by this person.
She also produced the famous "Pretty Woman in the Snow" and "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" with Hayao Miyazaki.
Chen Xun stepped forward to greet her and expressed his appreciation for the film she produced.
Catherine Kennedy responded with a smile.
Their attitude was fairly friendly.
During the conversation, a blue attribute orb quietly floated out from her body:
[Top Producer's Project Risk Assessment Intuition +8]
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately absorbed it.
Experience is directly and evenly distributed to the [Eye Contact] and [Rhythm] attributes.
A vague intuition about how to quickly assess a film project's commercial potential, potential pitfalls, and resource matching came to mind.
This knowledge is abstract, but extremely valuable.
Then, he "bumped into" Warner Bros.' chief marketing officer.
When discussing the marketing strategies behind Green Lantern's later critical turnaround, the other party spoke eloquently.
A purple attribute orb dropped:
[Core Strategies for Crisis Public Relations and Public Opinion Shift +9]
Experience is directly and evenly distributed to the [Rhythm] and [Aura] attributes.
After absorbing this knowledge, Chen Xun gained a more systematic understanding of how to manipulate media narratives and guide public sentiment.
He discovered that the attributes dropped by these non-actors were more comprehensive, basically consisting of multiple attributes stacked together.
Chen Xun wandered around the venue, quietly absorbing the valuable experiences flowing within this core circle of Hollywood power.
The attribute balls come in various colors and are generally of high quality.
Some improve the accuracy of dialogue, some enhance physical expression, and some deepen the control of facial expressions.
..
His experience points for all attributes are steadily increasing.
Although the next upgrade is still a long way off, these accumulations have made his foundation increasingly solid.
Halfway through the celebration banquet, Chen Xun was introduced by Robert to a woman in her fifties who was very well-maintained.
Chen Xun asked Robert, "I'm not here to sell myself!"
Rob: ? ? ?
He clearly understood the meaning behind Chen Xun's gaze, and immediately felt a wave of exasperation. He quickly tried to explain to Chen Xun.
This woman is Vivian Rose, Senior Vice President of Artist Relations and Special Projects at Warner Bros.
They specialize in handling public relations, contracts, and various troubles for top celebrities.
There are many famous people!
Once you become famous, you're bound to have some scandals, and that's when someone like Vivian has to step in and handle the public relations.
The importance of good public relations cannot be overstated.
If he were to encounter counterfeit goods, such as recording conversations, Chen Xun would be driven mad with worry!
"Chen, I'm so glad to finally see you!"
Vivian Rose shook hands with him, her eyes seemingly containing a powerful force.
"I've read all your public interview transcripts and public opinion reports. Your grasp of the media and public sentiment is a talent beyond your years!"
Have you ever thought about going into public relations?
She winked meaningfully.
Chen Xun shivered.
What this PR professional said is quite intriguing.
Is it a verb, or ———
He didn't dare to think!
Seeing that Chen Xun did not reply, Vivian did not press him further. Instead, she changed the subject and began to offer advice on future career planning.
To be precise, Vivian was speaking, and Chen Xun was listening.
She was indeed very experienced; in just a few words, she pointed out several potential risks to Chen Xun's current public image and areas that could be improved.
Just as Chen Xun finished dealing with the woman who was very interested in him and stepped onto the balcony to look up and get some fresh air, a voice rang out beside him.
"Mr. Chen Xun, congratulations on the great success of the film."
Chen Xun turned his head and saw a white man wearing a dark casual suit and glasses.
The face looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.
He also looked very interested in Chen Xun.
It's clear they didn't come purely to offer congratulations.
No way!
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat.
I just finished dealing with one old woman, and now another old man is here.
Is he having a particularly lucky day with women?
"Thanks!"
Chen Xun clinked glasses with him: "Excuse me, you are—"
Gary Ross.
The other person extended their hand: "You're a director and screenwriter too. You might have seen my films 'Happy Valley' or 'Seabiscuit'?"
Chen Xun immediately remembered.
Gary Ross is indeed a well-known screenwriter who transitioned into directing.
The work is known for its delicate character portrayals and excellent script.
He has received numerous screenwriting award nominations.
He immediately shook hands: "Mr. Ross, I've heard so much about you. I really enjoyed your 'Seabiscuit'."
Just call me Gary.
Gary Ross smiled, his gaze lingering on Chen Xun's face for a few seconds: "I've just heard several rounds of people praising you—good acting skills, good fighting ability, audience appeal—but I'm more curious about something else."
He paused for a moment: "I've read almost all the reports and interviews about your film's promotion, and I've found that you seem to have a kind of instinct for the story itself that goes beyond an actor's natural intuition."
"I heard you adapted the script for 'Green Lantern,' which was excellent. It's full of universal emotional values and resonates with the audience. You seem to have a lot of ideas about the script?"
This question is a bit unexpected.
From the start of filming Green Lantern until the film's finale, very few people asked him about the scriptwriting process.
Chen Xun was stunned for a moment.
What does this guy want from him?
Write a script for him?
Gary Ross, seeing that Chen Xun didn't speak, didn't mind and continued, "I've seen some of your early bit parts, and you're a completely different person now. This kind of leap requires not only hard work but also talent. I'm a screenwriter, and I can smell that."
A purple attribute orb dropped from Gary Ross:
[Sharp insight into the core of a character +9]
That ball was of very high quality!
Chen Xun absorbed it immediately.
A clear idea of how to quickly grasp the essence of a character and understand the logic behind their behavior came to mind.
The experience gained from the [Emotion] and [Rhythm] attributes both increased slightly.
"I'm preparing a new project, I wonder if you'd be interested?"
When Chen Xun didn't deny it, Gary Ross sent an invitation: "The Hunger Games is adapted from Susan Collins' bestselling novel, I think you should have heard of it."
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat.
The Hunger Games!
Of course he knew.
This will be one of the most popular dystopian teen films in the coming years, with huge box office and influence.
"I've heard about it; the premise is quite unique!"
Chen Xun made no secret of his fondness for "The Hunger Games".
"Yes, it's a brutal survival competition story, but at its core it's about resistance, hope, and humanity."
Gary Ross adjusted his glasses: "We're casting, especially for the male lead, Peeta Mellark. Would you be interested?"
He paused, looking at Chen Xun: "I've seen your dramatic scenes in 'Green Lantern,' especially those with Keira Knightley. You grasped the nuances of the character's inner world very well, which is rare. Many young actors either only know how to be cool or only have a bitter and resentful look."
A blue attribute ball floated out from Gary's body:
[Accurate summarization of the character's core essence +5]
Chen Xun absorbed the information and felt that his understanding of the script's characters was clearer.
"Of course, I really like this novel!"
A big-budget production, or a film series.
Chen Xun would naturally not let this opportunity slip by!
And the female lead in "The Hunger Games" is none other than Jennifer Lawrence!
Seeing Chen Xun's interest, Gary Ross became increasingly excited: "I've seen the global box office report for 'Green Lantern,' and in the Asian market, especially in China, the response has been very good!"
"The original author, Susan, also recommended you to me. She felt that your image and temperament were very reserved, which suited Peeta's state in the arena. She also specifically mentioned your fight scenes in the movie, which were realistic and fluid, perfectly meeting our requirements!"
Another attribute ball, this time it's purple:
[A keen eye for balancing commercial potential and artistic qualities in a project +7]
Chen Xun absorbed it.
He gained a deeper understanding of the "wanting both" principle in Hollywood project operations.
"That's a very high compliment, Ms. Susan, you flatter me!"
Chen Xun responded with a smile.
"That's no compliment!"
Gary Ross said earnestly, "I'm a screenwriter by training. When I choose actors, besides looking at their acting skills, I value their understanding of the story and their ability to sense the soul of the character. You are very perceptive, which perfectly suits the needs of the character Peeta."
Gary Ross's invitation was undoubtedly a huge opportunity.
The Hunger Games series is destined to be a global phenomenon!
If he plays the role of Peeta well, it will solidify his position among the younger generation of actors in Hollywood.
"Thank you for your recognition and invitation, Gary."
"I really admire the story of The Hunger Games, and the character Peeta is very appealing. It's an honor to have the opportunity to audition, and I will prepare carefully."
Upon receiving Chen Xun's affirmation, Gary Ross visibly breathed a sigh of relief; he appreciated this straightforward yet measured response.
"I've asked my assistant to send your agent the materials and details for the audition. Prepare well, Chen. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of sparks you can create."
After a brief chat, Gary Ross left; he clearly had many more people to meet that evening.
Chen lingered on the balcony, a cool evening breeze blowing by.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Rob: "I heard Gary Ross is looking for you. The Hunger Games. I just got a message from his assistant! Bro, you're about to take off!"
Chen replied, "I've scheduled an audition, and I'll send you the materials."
Wow!
Robert cheered with joy on the other end of the phone.
Although he has received many script offers, there are really none that can match the level of "The Hunger Games"!
Green Lantern had just won its duel when The Hunger Games followed!
Rob made a fortune just from the salary splits of these two films!
When Chen Di returned to Christine's villa in Beverly Hills, he saw Christine sitting on a sofa with her luggage next to her.
"Christine, you're back?"
Chen was a little surprised.
She should theoretically still be in Europe shooting a magazine spread.
"Are you moving out?"
Christine's eyes were a little red.
"Yeah! We bought Brother Zhenglong's house, do you want to move in with us?"
Chen Xun casually extended the invitation.
"well?"
Christine was taken aback.
This is not the script she had envisioned!
She originally thought that Chen Di wanted to move out in order to get rid of her.
It seems that this is not the case now.
Chen Xun took something out of his pocket and handed it to her.
A key with a metallic sheen, with a simple leather keychain hanging on it.
"for you!"
Christine froze, glancing at the keys, then at Chen's calm face, and for a moment, she couldn't react: "What?"
"The keys to the new house."
Chen pulled her hand down, placed the keys in her palm, and asked, "Do you want to move in with me?"
Christine froze completely!
Christine stared at the cool key in her palm. The feeling of the metal digging into her skin was so real that it shut down all the messy suspicions and grievances she had harbored along the way.
Chen felt a little resentful, but his face remained calm.
He walked to the kitchen island, poured himself a glass of water, and poured one for Christine as well, placing it on the coffee table in front of her.
Chen Di certainly had a plan.
Giving them the key was partly a sincere invitation, but also partly a precaution.
He admitted that he was a scumbag.
But is it wrong for him, as a young person, to choose to have it all?
Let alone in America, even in the entertainment industry of his previous life, this kind of thing was not uncommon.
Trying to create a pure love story in the entertainment industry is just delusional!
He knew Christine's personality; she was used to being independent and had a rebellious stubbornness.
During this period, the two were so busy that they rarely had time to go home, but their relationship became more and more stable.
If the two of them stayed at home every day, Chen would probably have broken up long ago for various reasons!
Chen has moved away, but it's still very close.
At the same time, it gave Christine a key that seemed to give her the upper hand, but instead it disarmed her defenses.
Since they're all in the relatively small area of Beverly Hills, each with their own space but closely connected, it might be more suitable for them now than traditional cohabitation.
"That's more like it!"
Christine snorted and leaned back into the sofa, finally relaxing her tense shoulders.
She looked at the keys in her hand again, this time with something else in her gaze.
"You've seen that house, what did you think? Jackie Chan lived there for so long, the feng shui must be pretty good!"
"It's quite large, and the garden is especially beautiful!"
According to Chen Xun's habit, moving house requires warming up the pot first.
Firstly, it's to declare that the Buddha finally has his own territory here.
Secondly, it helps to build relationships.
He sent Rob a message: "The new house is all set up. I'd like to have a small housewarming this weekend and invite some friends. Can you help me with the arrangements? I'll mainly prepare the food, and you can take care of the drinks. Don't make it too extravagant."
4
Rob replied very quickly:
-
"The day has finally come! No problem! Leave the drinks to me, I guarantee they'll be classy and unconventional."
Chen made a list of people he wanted to invite. Christine would definitely come, as would Dachota and her sister Ai Ya, Gina and Kayla, Kate, and Li Suyan, his roommate who was not really his roommate.
So, if you do the math, they're all women!
Chen Xun was a little confused!
I've been living in America for so long, and all my friends are women.
Three of them had close relationships with him.
This is outrageous!
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was going to engage in group sex!
Left with no other choice, Chen Di finally called for Chris and his wife.
With Rob included, there were now three men present.
Two of them are married.