Hong Kong: Rise of the Kings

"My name is Harrison Ford."

"My name is Morgan Freeman."

"My name is Stallone."

The three of them stood side by side in front of Du Yongxiao, sizing up the legendary Chinese boss.

Du Yongxiao drank coffee and looked at them.

The three people in front of them are all young, at least much younger than the last time Du Yongxiao saw them on the big screen.

Stallone, in particular, is simply a brat.

Du Yongxiao did not speak, but turned to look at Fox President Ryder, who was also in charge of the interview.

Ryder understood, picked up the information of the three of them and asked: "Is that Harrison Ford? You wrote it very clearly above and you have rich acting experience. Oh, by the way, you were recommended by director Lucas. I came with He is also an old friend, so now I just want to ask you a question, why do you want to join Fox?"

After hearing this, Ford adjusted his mentality and replied: "I'm waiting for an opportunity."

"Chance?"

"Yes, you should be very clear after reading my resume. In most of my works, I am a dispensable little character. I even only have one line. To be honest, now I am a carpenter by profession and an actor by profession. .but---"

Ford looked at Ryder with a solemn tone and said: "I hope this situation can be changed. At the very least, carpenters will be treated as amateurs and actors will be treated as professionals."

Ryder smiled, handed the information to Du Yongxiao and said, "What do you think?"

Du Yongxiao took the information and glanced at Ford, "You are excellent in appearance and other aspects, so I am surprised. Why don't those film companies reuse you?"

Ford shrugged: "Maybe, they're jealous of me."

"Haha, you are very humorous, Mr. Ford." Du Yongxiao smiled, put the information aside, and looked directly at Harrison Ford: "So now, if you join us at Fox, what movies are you going to make?"

"Well, this-" Ford shrugged, "I don't have a good script yet, yes. But I am willing to obey the company's arrangements-"

"Follow the arrangement?" Du Yongxiao smiled and tapped his fingers on the table, "Well, I happen to have a book here called "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It's a tomb robbing adventure theme. I wonder if you would like to take it over?"

"I do!" Ford said excitedly, "I like movies with this theme very much, especially things like vampires, mummies, and tomb robbers!"

"Haha, but filming this kind of scene will be very hard."

"I'm not afraid!"

"Okay! You're in great spirits!" Du Yongxiao nodded towards Ford and then gave Ryder a look.

Ryder picked up Ford's information, stamped it, and said to Ford: "Congratulations, you are admitted!"

…

Stallone and Freeman watched with envy as Harrison Ford signed with Fox.

After finishing, Ford encouraged them both: "Believe in yourself, you can do it too! Come on!"

Ford leaves.

Ryder shouted, "Next, Morgan Freeman!"

"I am here!"

Freeman quickly stood up and stood in front of Du Yongxiao and Ryder with a calm expression. After all, he was considered a professional and had not resigned yet and was working in a television station.

Ryder looked at the information: "Are you still working at the TV station?"

"Yes."

"You have been starring in a children's program for four years, and you have played Mr. Haodu for four years. You should have some feelings after such a long time. Why did you leave the TV station to join us at Fox?"

"This is because..." Freeman paused, gritted his teeth, and told the truth: "The TV station is engaged in racial discrimination. Because I am black, they will not give me a salary increase. Yes, although I am conscientious at work. , but received very little remuneration.”

"That means you are not satisfied with the salary, so what do you want from Fox, especially in terms of salary?" Ryder looked at Freeman seriously.

Freeman was stunned for a moment, "Well... I just ask to be the same as other people, especially those white actors."

Ryder smiled and handed the information to Du Yongxiao, "You'd better ask."

Du Yongxiao nodded, took the information, glanced at it, and then looked at Freeman. In his impression, the most classic movie in his previous life was the black dad in "The Shawshank Redemption" adapted from Stephen King.

In this era, the path for black actors is very narrow, and they basically cannot be protagonists. In the future, there will be Denzel Washington and Will Smith. These are the only black superstars in Hollywood.

In fact, the reason why Hollywood launches these black superstars is to balance the big screen and take care of the black audiences.

Therefore, even if the Freeman in front of him joins other film companies, he will not be the protagonist, and will only be a supporting role.

"Mr. Freeman, first of all, I would like to state that I do not discriminate against race. It is even written in our Fox recruitment advertisement that everyone is equal and talented people are welcome. But -" Du Yongxiao changed the subject, "You should also understand , being a black man has great limitations, and it is extremely difficult to be a protagonist, and for the sake of profit, the film company will probably only assign you supporting roles. Are you willing to do this?"

Freeman hesitated, "I do. Because I know that I can't change this era, I can only adapt to it."

Du Yongxiao nodded, "I'm very satisfied with your answer. But don't worry, Mr. Freeman, this is Hollywood, isn't it? It's the place where miracles happen. Even us Chinese can become kung fu superstars, and maybe one day you can too. Play a leading role and win an Academy Award.”

Du Yongxiao is not just talking randomly. In his previous life, Morgan Freeman won two nominations for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Ozark".

In 1989, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as a loyal, honest, kind and brave veteran driver in "Driving Miss Daisy."

The film "Shawshank Redemption" released in 1994 earned him his third Academy Award nomination.

In 2005, he won the 77th Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Million Dollar Baby". In November 2010, Morgan Freeman received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.

It can be said that the black actor in front of him is the "award-winning master" among all black actors in Hollywood. No one can surpass him.

When Freeman heard what Du Yongxiao said, he thought he was encouraging him, and said sincerely: "Thank you, Mr. Du! You are the first person to encourage me like this. No matter what my acting career is in the future, I will never Forget about your encouragement to me, thank you!”

Freeman bowed deeply to Du Yongxiao and expressed his gratitude.

Du Yongxiao nodded to Ryder, and Ryder put a big seal on Freeman's information.

Freeman, admitted.

…

Stallone was extremely excited when he saw that the two people who came with him were all accepted.

When Freeman left, he patted him on the shoulder: "Come on!"

Stallone nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, for sure!"

"Stallone!"

"exist!"

Stallone hurriedly stood up, with his hands behind his back, chest raised and head raised, like a sergeant, facing Du Yongxiao and Ryder.

Ryder looked at his information and frowned: "It says you are a screenwriter, a director, or an actor?"

"Yes!" Stallone puffed out his chest and belly, "I'm almost an all-rounder."

Ryder smiled and wiped his nose: "But it shows that many movie companies don't want you, and the box office of "The Wild Boys" that you wrote, directed, and starred in... I'm sorry, I'm really embarrassed to tell you this number. !”

Stallone blushed: "That's because I didn't perform well. If I was given a chance -"

"What if I gave you a chance?" Ryder interrupted him, "Many people in this world lack opportunities. Compared with them, you are already very lucky. It's just a pity that you are not capable enough, so you failed to seize the opportunity."

Ryder said and handed the information in his hand to Du Yongxiao: "What do you think?" The implication was that he was not very optimistic about Stallone and felt that Stallone was a bit arrogant and unclear about the situation.

Stallone became nervous and looked at Du Yongxiao.

Du Yongxiao took the information and flipped through it a few times, then looked up at Stallone: ​​"Have you ever shot porn films before?"

"Huh?" Stallone was startled. He had always regarded this as a stain in his life and never dared to write it on the documents. How did the other party know?

Ryder also looked at Du Yongxiao and then at Stallone in surprise.

As a filmmaker, he knows very well that if an actor shoots that kind of movie, it will be difficult to turn around. After all, that kind of "art film" and a true "art film" are two extremes.

Others around him were also surprised how Du Yongxiao knew these things.

No matter, they are the kind of people who don’t mind watching the excitement and immediately pointed at Stallone: ​​"No way, you have made a small movie and you dare to come here for an interview?"

"This is really courageous."

"That kind of movie is so embarrassing, you have to be treated like a naked pig!"

After hearing these sarcastic comments, Stallone immediately wanted to deny it.

He knew that a person who had made such a movie would not have the chance to appear on the big screen.

But facing Du Yongxiao's piercing gaze, Stallone gritted his teeth and swallowed back his desire to lie. He said with some frustration: "Yes, that's right! I filmed it!"

"Why make a movie like that?" Du Yongxiao continued to ask, not caring about Stallone's embarrassment.

Ryder and others looked at Stallone with a trace of contempt in their eyes.

Movies also have class distinctions, and many people despise small movies like that.

Stallone moved his lips and said in a low voice: "For money."

"for money?"

"How much did you get paid for that movie?"

Stallone didn't know how to answer.

"Two hundred...two hundred dollars."

Du Yongxiao was surprised: "Two hundred dollars?"

Ryder went over and said to him: "These kind of movies are not popular. Many of them are shot with street performers and bar hoodlums. They are all shot at low prices, let alone male actors..."

Du Yongxiao understood Ryder's meaning and looked at Stallone again: "Then I want to know now, do you regret it in the future?"

Everyone also looked at Stallone, guessing that he would definitely regret the answer, and then confess to Du Yongxiao, vowing to change his ways and film well.

But--

"I don't regret it!" Stallone's eyes shone as he looked at Du Yongxiao and said decisively, "Although the salary is very small, the film has a plot. Through this film, I at least honed my acting skills!"

Stallone's words fell to the ground————

"Hahaha!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Ryder also burst out laughing, feeling that this was the funniest joke he had heard today.

Only Du Yongxiao didn't smile. He handed the information to Ryder casually, then raised his head and said to Stallone: ​​"Congratulations, you are admitted!"