novellhall Chapter 328 Zootopia
Chapter 328 Zootopia
Chapter 327 Zootopia (Seeking monthly votes)
"Master—I—"
Xin Zhilei's voice choked with emotion, and her eyes instantly reddened. She nodded vigorously, almost blurting out, "I do! I'm a hundred times willing!"
"I don't even need to look at the contract terms! You decide how to sign it, that's how I'll sign! Being able to sign with your company is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me!"
Her tone was incredibly firm, without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing her excited expression, Chen Xun smiled and patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, we'll film together if there are suitable projects in the future."
"Whether it's Hollywood or China, as long as you have the talent, there are endless possibilities."
Watching this scene from a distance, Jackie Chan smiled, raised his glass, and gestured to Chen Xun in the distance.
One week after filming wrapped on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
The afternoon sun in Los Angeles streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Beverly Hills apartment, casting its light onto the carpet.
Chen Xun nestled on the sofa, unconsciously glancing at the system panel.
The attribute values haven't increased at all in the past few days.
I'm only 102 attribute points away from achieving the "Streets Drained by Ten Thousand People" level, but the water from the remote area can't quench my immediate thirst.
Warner Bros.' Joker project is still in the early stages of development. Director Todd Phillips is working with Warner Bros. headquarters to work on the budget, and there's no sign of casting. The earliest filming is expected to start is next year.
I've received quite a few offers to make cameo appearances for them in domestic productions.
However, Marvel has a locked schedule for reshoots and global promotion, so flying halfway around the world just to record a few lines seems like too much of a hassle.
Chen Xun casually closed the system panel, opened Instagram and started scrolling through posts, scrolling through names, when he suddenly stopped.
This is a recent update from Emma Stone.
In the photo, she is wearing monitoring headphones, sitting in front of a professional voice-over microphone, with the cover of the script in front of her bearing the prominent Zootopia logo.
"Officer Judy's voice-over day is coming up soon, and her throat is probably going to be hoarse."
Chen Xun's eyes lit up instantly.
He and Emma Stone are very close.
When the two collaborated on "La La Land," he played the male lead Sebastian, and he and Emma played Mia, portraying a deeply memorable on-screen couple throughout the entire film.
From audition to filming to film festival promotion, we spent more than half a year together, and we are very good friends in private.
The two have maintained contact, but he later devoted himself to the filming of "Crosscurrent" and the Marvel crew, which reduced their opportunities to meet.
Zootopia, Disney's major animated film of the year.
Chen Xun immediately became interested.
When he dubbed the Chinese animated film "Big Fish & Begonia", the system unlocked the core ability of [character voice shaping].
The character arc could be fully created using only sound, and quite a few attribute orbs were dropped at the time.
While voice acting for animation may seem like just speaking, it actually demands a very high level of conviction in the performance, precision in conveying emotions, and nuance in the vocal range.
There is a good chance that the attribute orb will drop, allowing you to accumulate the remaining 102 points.
Find an opportunity to visit the set, even if it's just to get a free passerby or a minor character's voice acting, say a few lines, and gain some points.
Chen Xun immediately sent Emma Stone a private message: "Officer Judy, are you still in the recording studio tomorrow?"
"Your old partner Sebastian has requested a visit to the set!"
Less than ten seconds after the message was sent, Emma's reply popped up, accompanied by a string of exclamation marks: "Oh my god! Chen! You finally wrapped up filming?"
"Of course! Tomorrow morning at 10 AM, Disney Burbank Studios. The whole team has heard of you!"
With the set visit confirmed, Chen Xun finally felt relieved.
He didn't have any intention of getting a role; he just wanted to get into the recording studio, even if it was just to try out a couple of lines, so that he could accumulate the remaining 102 attribute points and that would be perfect.
The next morning, at Disney Burbank Recording Studios.
Chen Xun had just reached the door when a figure pounced on him.
Emma Stone, dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans, took off her recording headphones, smiled, and gave him a big hug: "My goodness, Chen, it's been so long! I wanted to message you at the Berlin Film Festival to congratulate you on winning the award! You're absolutely amazing!"
"Congratulations on landing the role of Judy. Disney's princess series has gained another rabbit police officer."
Chen Xun smiled and hugged her back, his tone teasing.
Emma smiled and pulled him into the recording studio, introducing him to the creative team inside: "Everyone, let me introduce you to my La La Land co-star, Chen Xun, the male lead of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!"
'
The main creators in the recording studio immediately surrounded him, their eyes full of enthusiasm and curiosity.
Voice director Byron Howard, co-director of *Zootopia* and a renowned Disney animation director, was the first to extend his hand and shake Chen Xun's hand firmly: "Chen! I've heard so much about you! I've seen *La La Land*, and your performance was absolutely moving!"
The producers, sound engineers, and sound effects team present were all veterans of the Hollywood industry.
No one would underestimate an actor who has won awards at the three major European film festivals and landed a leading role in a Marvel A-list production.
Even though he is a Chinese actor.
In Hollywood, talent is always the best passport.
After greeting everyone, Chen Xun was pulled to the listening station by Emma, where he watched her record a line from Judy's dialogue.
Emma's clear and firm voice came through the headphones, vividly portraying Judy Hopps' optimism, persistence, and occasional grievances. Chen Xun couldn't help but applaud along.
After a scene was filmed, director Byron took off his headphones, but couldn't help but sigh and shake his head at the production team with a furrowed brow.
"What's wrong? Still not working?"
Emma walked over with a glass of water, her tone knowing.
Byron nodded with a wry smile, tapping the name "Nick Wilde" on the script with his fingertip: "It's still the role of Nick. We've tried no fewer than thirty actors, almost all the famous comedians and voice actors in Hollywood, but we still can't find the one who fits the role perfectly."
"The filming is stuck here, and we can't record the later scenes with the other actors at all."
The assistant director next to him chimed in, "The character of Nick is so complex. He's a street con man, glib and cynical, but deep down he craves trust more than anyone else. He's gentle and sensitive."
"This kind of contrast is too difficult to portray with just the voice."
Emma Stone's eyes darted around, and she suddenly looked at Chen Xun beside her, patting his arm with a smile: "Hey, Byron, why don't you guys give Chen a try?"
The entire recording studio fell silent instantly.
All eyes turned to Chen Xun.
Emma became more and more certain as she spoke, pointing at Chen Xun and saying to director Byron, "Think about it, isn't the Star-Lord he plays the same type as Nick?"
On the surface, he seems roguish and glib, always talking nonsense, but deep down he is more loyal, gentle, and sensitive than anyone else.
"Besides, I know better than anyone how good his voice acting is. I worked with him for six months, not to mention he's also dubbed animated films, so his ability to create compelling voices is definitely not a problem!"
Chen Xun was taken aback for a moment, then quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, I'm just here to visit the set, I won't disturb your casting process."
He originally came here to gain some attribute points, but he never expected to steal the male lead's voice acting role, which was completely beyond his expectations.
"Emma is absolutely right!"
Director Byron's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had suddenly unlocked his full potential. He stared intently at Chen Xun, his voice filled with excitement: "Chen! How could we have forgotten about you!"
"Star-Lord's character is exactly the same as Nick Fury's at their core! They're both people who use cynicism as a disguise!"
He immediately picked up the script and handed it to Chen Xun, his tone pleading: "Chen, just try one scene! Just one scene! Even if it's just to help us get a feel for it, it will be a huge help!"
The other members of the production team around them echoed this sentiment, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Chen Xun looked at the script handed to him, then at the 898/1000 value on the system panel, and was tempted.
Even if it's just a short play, it can trigger the drop of attribute orbs, which is just enough to make up the remaining values. Why not?
He took the script and nodded: "Okay, then I'll try a section."
The entire audience erupted in cheers. The sound engineer immediately prepared monitoring headphones and a microphone for Chen Xun and led him into the soundproof recording studio.
Chen Xun put on his headphones and looked at the clips on the script.
It's the classic scene where Nick Wilde and Judy first meet.
Nick tricked the elephant into buying a giant popsicle with Finnick, then broke it into paw-shaped popsicles and sold them to the hamsters to make money.
He was glib and smooth-talking throughout, completely outsmarting Judy, yet his cunning was hidden in the details.
He took a deep breath and activated his [character voice shaping] ability.
The core charm of Nick's character lies in the extreme contrast.
On the surface, he's a cynical street swindler, but deep down he's a wounded fox who still retains his kindness.
Outside the recording studio, everyone held their breath, staring intently at the waveforms on the monitoring console.
Chen Xun faced the microphone, a mischievous smile reminiscent of Nick Fury, and the moment he spoke, everyone froze.
It was a voice completely different from his own, a lazy yet magnetic voice.
The last syllable rose slightly, carrying the cunning and nonchalance characteristic of a fox.
The rhythm of every line of dialogue was perfectly timed.
He handled everything with ease and delivered a truly captivating performance.
"I know you like to talk a good game, little bunny, but have you forgotten that you don't have a search warrant?"
"Oh, how sad. I'm a law-abiding citizen, how could you doubt me?"
There was no exaggerated tone or deliberate imitation.
He brought to life a carefree, cunning red fox with just his voice, vividly presenting it to everyone.
Even without seeing his face, you can imagine Nick's mischievous grin just by hearing his voice.
After a scene was recorded, the recording studio was completely silent.
Director Byron clenched his fist and shouted excitedly into the microphone, "Chen! Try another scene! Try the one where Nick and Judy are arguing!"
"It's the one where Judy said the wrong thing at the press conference, and Nick broke off relations with her!"
Chen Xun also became interested and flipped to the script of that scene.
This scene is the emotional outburst point for Nick's character, and it is also the scene that tests the depth of his character the most in the whole film.
From initial expectations to disappointment when wounds are reopened, and then to decades of pent-up resentment and anger.
There was no hysterical shouting throughout, yet every word was piercing to the heart.
He took a deep breath and spoke again.
The languidness and nonchalance in his voice had completely disappeared, replaced by a tremor pressing down on his throat.
Every word carried restrained anger, and the devastating feeling of being betrayed by the person he trusted most.
When he said, "Do you think I'd be crazy enough to trust someone who only sees me through prejudiced lenses?", the barely perceptible sob in his voice made Emma Stone, who was outside the recording studio, cover her mouth.
Without using any gestures or facial expressions, he revealed Nick's soft heart hidden beneath his hard exterior to everyone with just his voice.
"Perfect! My God!"
Director Byron ripped off his headphones and practically jumped up and shouted, instantly eliciting thunderous applause from the entire recording studio.
"That's him! This is Nick! We've been looking for Nick for months!"
"Incredible! He hasn't even read the complete script, how can he control the emotions so accurately!"
"This is the feeling we wanted! Cunning yet gentle, broken yet powerful!"
The creative team was discussing it like crazy. The Disney production manager rushed over, waved vigorously at Chen Xun in the recording studio, and said with absolute certainty, "Chen! We want you to voice this role!"
"You're the perfect Nick Wilde!"
Chen Xun took off his headphones, completely stunned.
-
He was just visiting the set to try and get a few lines and accumulate 102 attribute points before leaving.
How did he end up landing Nick Wilde, the male lead in Zootopia?
Just then!
Several attribute orbs gleaming with a golden aura quietly fell from his body:
[Exquisite Voice Portrayal of Animated Characters +15]
[Contrasting voice acting enhances empathy by +8]
[Voice acting performance conviction +12]
Chen Xun stared at the floating attribute ball before him, subconsciously chanting in his mind, "Absorb it all!"
The light instantly surged into his body.
The core capability of character voice acting has been reactivated.
Countless techniques for constructing characters with voice and conveying emotions with breath are perfectly integrated with his previous acting experience.
-
He looked down at the system panel; the numbers jumped rapidly before settling steadily.
Current cumulative attribute value: 933/1000
Just 57 points away from completely achieving the "streets deserted" level.
Director Byron and his Disney production team rushed over, clutching the official dubbing contract, their excitement barely concealed: "Chen! We are officially inviting you to be the exclusive voice actor for Nick Wilde in 'Zootopia.' The salary, dubbing schedule, and global promotional support—all conditions are set at the highest level for top Hollywood voice actors!"
"We can discuss any requests you have!"
Emma Stone chuckled and nudged Chen Xun's arm, her eyes full of teasing: "See? I told you you could definitely do it."
"Now look what's happened, my partner has gone from Sebastian, the pianist in 'La La Land,' to a cunning red fox."
Chen Xun looked at the script in his hand, then glanced at the progress bar on the system panel, which was almost there. Without hesitation, he accepted the contract: "It's an honor to join the Disney team. I really like the character Nick."