Hollywood Domination Chapter 31: A small victory

"I want to play Roxy," Jenny said, "not just because Roxy is the heroine of Chicago, but because she's the most complicated character I can play right now, and because I love Roxy— —To be honest, I love the era in which "Chicago" took place, ignorant, flashy, and morally corrupt. They thought they were living in a civilized age, but in our opinion, it was simply the Middle Ages of America."

Rob showed shock, and Jenny also knew that her current choice of words and words, including the cultural literacy revealed, were far beyond a normal public high school graduate. (Based on her school district and the American education system, such graduates are at most one star and a half better than illiterate)

"You know that "Chicago" is essentially the story of two criminals who escape the law through the attention of the public, Rob." Jenny continued, "because it is based on true events, it is ironic. The meaning is so strong. I noticed that you made some changes in the movie, softening the character image of Roxy, of course, this is a necessary sacrifice for popularization, and movie audiences don’t need an annoying heroine.”

She paused slightly, Rob nodded involuntarily, Jenny continued, "But Roxie and Velma are both criminals at heart, Roxie is stupid, impulsive, selfish, greedy, shallow, vain, vulgar, ignorant, so stupid Deceived by a salesman, impulsive enough to shoot and kill, selfish enough to want her husband to take the blame—but she desperately tries to squeeze out innocence, pity, and weakness to play with the public, so the musical version of Roxy's aria is contrived and sharp, Although she is beautiful, she is annoying, and that hatred is not a deep-rooted hatred, but a disgust that judges ugliness and seeks novelty. Her ugliness and beauty are in conflict, but they are unified. This contrast makes Roxy the most Fascinating and most complex character, I really want to play Roxie, it will be a big challenge for my acting skills and a good opportunity to hone it, so I am really enthusiastic - this is a good role, I am a An actor, an actor wants to play a good role, it's that simple."

As if he met her for the first time, Rob stared at Jenny for a long time. Jenny made an innocent expression and spread her hands, "Did I convince you?"

"It seems that you have a deep understanding of the role." Rob was silent for a while, and instead of answering her question, he drank some wine and changed the subject, "You even noticed that I asked Renee to do Changes made - indeed, Renee emphasized her naive side when dealing with Roxie, and the crime she committed by shooting and killing was also designed to be quite understated. The whole movie I intend to emphasize flashy, give them beautiful Songs and dances, those satirical things can be left alone, I even deleted Velma's aria about the so-called baby."

He seemed a little drunk, "Do you know why?"

Jenny said sincerely, "Because this era is actually no different from 1920. People only want to see what they need to see, beautiful actors, wonderful singing and dancing, and glittering scenes. As for the connotation, who will Care?"

Rob burst out laughing and even clapped Jenny, "You're so **** right honey, who cares about connotations? Tony, Emmy, Golden Globes, Oscar, they're all the same, you give They watch pleasure, give them one **** after another, and then sprinkle it with irony and black humor, let them think they have seen through the hypocrisy under the glitz, let them think they are the sober one, and then you reap Box office and awards. Milan Kundera is right, this is an era of elegance, but the definition of elegance has changed, isn’t it? In the past, it was “elegance” for a child to save a dog, you have to force yourself to be moved, now It's this kind of innocence that Hollywood is selling in bulk, who the **** needs to really touch the heart? The directors who make that kind of film can only call the wind and rain at Sundance, thinking that they are so good, only they know these worldly truths. Here he-damn is Hollywood, what people need is a commodity, not a high-flying he-damn artwork! Both box office and word-of-mouth are the last word of his-damn.”

It was probably because of the chatter, and Rob's alcohol was also on the rise, he took a sip of *ing, which surprised Jenny a little, she didn't understand how they got here.

She cast a look at Cesare instructively, Cesare nodded slightly at her, then smiled and echoed Rob, "It's the fault of the middle class, they and their arty, Greenspan and His **** monetary policy, everyone's trying to squeeze into the middle class these days, you know, the market needs a gentrified aesthetic, the market needs a genteel, Rob, we have to provide a genteel, better I think this is at least much more interesting than filming those boring films where justice is declared and Roxie ends up being punished.”

Rob drank the wine in his glass and raised his hand to let the waiter come over, "No, I'll pay the bill, listen, no one is allowed to leave, let's go to Lubitsch, we'll get drunk."

None of them mentioned the audition, and they went straight to Lubitsch after paying the bill. Although there was a long queue at the door, Cesare led them straight in. In this bar that only sold vodka, Rob got drunk Jenny was too drunk. Although she didn't dare to drink anymore after a few drinks, she started playing tricks to avoid alcohol, but vodka is basically liquid alcohol. She hid in the bathroom and vomited near the end. Fan.

On the contrary, Cesare showed his amazing drinking capacity. Although his face was flushed in the end, and his footsteps began to float, he was basically able to maintain an upright position. After paying the bill, he was able to help Rob into the taxi. The backseat took care of him all the way and kept him from throwing up in the car.

Jenny became sober after throwing up. She sat in the front seat and waited in the car while Cesare sent Rob into the hotel. She returned to the back seat to sit with him when Cesare sent him back. .

Cesare first said the address of her home. Although he was drunk, he still hadn't forgotten such a small detail, which made Jenny raise his evaluation of his self-control ability. She asked, "Are you drunk? Right?"

"The alcohol is almost gone." Cesare put down the rolled up sleeves of his shirt. As for the tie, it was loosened and stuffed eight hundred years ago. "You did well tonight."

"Not bad?" Jenny asked back, she was still a little shocked by the rapid pace of tonight, "I don't even know if I earned that audition opportunity."

"What else do you need? Rob is begging you to audition instead? Don't be ridiculous," Cesare leaned his head back and leaned on the back of the chair, seeming a little tired. "Doesn't your words prove that you are fully qualified to compete for Roxy? Rob has no reason not to recommend you. Don't tell me you didn't see it. He even said that his mother likes you very much."

"If you ask me, he's under too much pressure." Jenny didn't think she was very pleasing. "His adaptation of "Chicago" is actually a bit risky, and the critics may not be well received."

"Of course, you know this, I know it, and he knows it." Cesare said, "Film critics are all Bitch. But his thinking is not smooth sailing in Weinstein, tonight about Meiya and the middle class This is not the first time that the dialogue on class aesthetics has happened. Rob and I have talked about it several times. He also has times when he is not confident in his own views, but I think his ideas can be successful. In essence, "Chicago" is indeed Literary films, but no one said that literary films do not need to cater to the audience, at best they can only say that they cater to another audience. Moreover, no one would shoot a literary film with a budget of nearly 50 million US dollars.”

"Of course the director must first be worthy of the investors and the market." Jenny also agrees with Cesare and Rob's views. Double Harvest. "Rob still has too little experience as a director, otherwise he would not have such doubts at all."

"It's also because his previous circle was too lofty," Cesare shrugged, "You know the Broadway circle, for them, movies and TV dramas are too vulgar. Rob has more pressure to move closer to the mainstream than others They are stronger, and this is his first film, so his performance on the set is understandable."

"Director." Jenny said meaningfully.

Cesare rubbed his face and let out a few chuckles, "I have to say, your performance tonight is surprising——Jefferson, you are always surprising again and again."

"I just didn't go to a good high school, but that doesn't mean I don't have ideas." Jenny said with a guilty conscience. In fact, she only has those tricks. Neither Jenny nor Chen Zhen has ever been interested in literature and art. She has never read Milan Kundera's novels at all. She is completely acceptable to the words of Mei Ya and the middle class. not come up.

"I'm talking about your research on the "Chicago" musical—but you're also talking about one aspect, which is a very good quality, and you can continue to maintain it." Cesare nodded, "Although Hollywood It doesn't pay much attention to cultural literacy, but it can help you get the love of many directors."

This is the truth. Hollywood’s requirements for actors have never been related to diplomas and knowledge, but without culture, it is difficult to direct a good show. Like tonight, if Jenny didn’t seem to be expected, Rob might not be so drunk —Of course, drinking together once is nothing, but what about two or three times? There are many dinners, and we become friends with each other. In this industry where connections determine everything, what is more precious than a director friend like Rob Marshall?

"So, you are satisfied with my performance tonight?" Jenny didn't want to talk about the topic just now, but confirmed this point to Cesare.

"I'm very satisfied." Perhaps because he did drink too much, Cesare also rarely hesitated to praise. "Go to restaurants with me in the car, call me nicknames—these are all good ways to protect yourself."

He sees it through, but it's not unusual given Cesare's carefulness, Jeanne said, "Thank you, a girl must know how to protect herself."

"Very cautious, the spirit is commendable." Cesare didn't look at her, but continued to take a nap with half-covered eyes, "But you could have asked me first, Jefferson, you should trust me more."

"You mean—" Jenny frowned.

"If there is a possibility in that respect, I will tell you first." Cesare said, "Of course, it was my negligence that I didn't take the initiative to tell you, but you could have asked first, and if you did, I would Tell you—"

He straightened up and turned his head to look at Jenny. The fast-moving light and shadow cast traces on his face, and it was like a rare smile in a trance—not out of business courtesy, nor the way he treated Rob. A smile—a smile that shouldn't be on Cesare's face at all.

Jenny decided this was an illusion of hers.

"Tell me what?" she pressed.

"Robo is gay." Cesare announced.

Damn——Jenny was dumbfounded, and it took a while before she said, "No wonder——No wonder he noticed your cufflinks and my earrings—and found out that my earrings are fake—"

"On Broadway, heterosexuals are not so easy to get ahead." Cesare leaned back again, "When you arrive in New York, you need to be careful with female directors. As for men, you can safely treat them as **** honey."

Is there anything else Jenny can say? "I see."

The two didn't speak for a while, and then Cesare asked, "If Rob is not **** tonight, if he expresses interest in you, if he represents not a musical audition, but Titanic ", how would you react?"

Of course, "Titanic" has already been filmed, but Cesare's meaning is obvious, and Jenny did not pretend to understand, she was silent for a while, and told Cesare. "I don't know either, maybe I won't make a choice until then."

"Very good," Cesare said.

"What's so good about it?" Jenny was suddenly a little unhappy. She often overreacted in front of Cesare because of his pressure.

"You are very cautious about sex." Cesare said, "It means a lot of trouble in the future, very good. You trust me enough to tell the truth, very good. Jefferson, I am your agent Man, you don't need to be so nervous in front of me, you can trust me a little more, remember? I'm all for your own good."

He was actually right, but Jenny still couldn't help being upset, and she replied sharply, "How can I trust you, Mr. Vijay, when you still call me Jefferson?"

Cesare laughed. If the first laugh was Jenny's illusion, then at this moment he was really laughing, the kind that was completely amused. "Okay, okay, Jenny, Jane, is it okay?"

"It's fine for now, Chesa." Jenny said flatly, "Ah, we're here."

Before Cesare spoke, she said first, "If you say 'don't let me down' as your farewell this time, I will make you look good."

Cesare opened his mouth and closed it again, and after a second, he said to Jenny, "Then good night, Jenny."

"Good night, Chesa." Jenny said sweetly, she got out of the car, and waved her fingers to Chesaray to say goodbye, feeling like she had won a small victory.

She did win—five days later, Cesare called her and told her to pack her bags and fly to New York to audition for The Chicago Musical.

The author has something to say: Note: 1 Meiya can also be called Kitsch, the original text is Kitsch, which is a concept proposed by Milan Kundera. The meaning is more complicated. You can check it out on Baidu. Simply put, when seeing a child running on the lawn, Kitsch caused two lines of tears "closely connected before and after": the first line said: I saw the child running on the grass. How nice it is to run; the second line says how nice it is to be with all human beings and be touched by children running on the grass. Kundera went on to emphasize: "The second tear makes Kitsch more Kitsch".

2 The aesthetics of the middle class, the United States is a country dominated by the middle class, and the middle class is also the main force of movie consumption. In order to cater to the aesthetics of the middle class, mainstream Hollywood movies have many unwritten rules. The study of middle-class aesthetics is a very important job in Hollywood.

3 The consumer credit advocated by Greenspan played an important role in packing the poor into the middle class, which also triggered the subprime mortgage crisis. For example, a major sign of the middle class is that there are houses and cars in the suburbs, and children go to good schools. Under the loose credit policy, the poor can pretend to be among the middle class through credit and start to learn the lifestyle of the middle class. The result of this false prosperity was a credit crisis. Of course, the subprime mortgage crisis had not yet erupted in 2001, but Greenspan's policies were not without controversy.

Rob’s complaints centered on the fact that in order to cater to the arty kitsch needs of the middle class, he had to adapt "Chicago" to be more gentle. Cesare’s words were all extreme words that echoed him. If everyone didn’t understand, There is no need to delve into it, just know that he is flattering without any trace.

4 Rob is indeed gay~ In a special place like Broadway, there is a joke that there are more gays than straights.

5 Sundance Film Festival is the most important independent film festival in the United States. "Pulp Fiction", "Memento" and so on are all favored by filmmakers at Sundance.

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1 When I wrote the previous chapter, I had a brain twitch. I made Piranha 2 into 1, and the Terminator into Jaws. Thank you for pointing it out, it has been changed.

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