yournovel Chapter 130 Scheming Against Mickey Mouse
Chapter 130 Scheming Against Mickey Mouse
Chapter 130 Scheming Against Mickey Mouse
Jodie Foster?
When Ronald uttered that name, Qin Han paused for a moment, holding his soda.
For anyone familiar with Hollywood film history, this is an absolutely unavoidable name.
A future two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress, a top student in the Department of Literature at Yale University, and a super genius who perfectly blends stunning beauty with top-notch acting skills.
In later generations, whether as a heartbreaking victim in "The Rape of Pear Blossom" or as Clarice Starling, the FBI agent who dances with the cannibal Hannibal Lecter in the abyss of the mind in "The Silence of the Lambs," she has left behind incredibly powerful performances.
Coincidentally, Qin Han's first impression of her came from Martin Scorsese's masterpiece, "Taxi Driver".
In that film, Jodie Foster played Iris, a woman who wandered the streets of New York.
At this moment, the clues were finally connected by Qin Han from beginning to end.
The crazy director Ronald described as "speaking with an Italian accent," "swearing constantly," and "trying to kidnap Disney child stars to play delinquent girls" is undoubtedly none other than Martin Scorsese, the future godfather of film noir, whom the system had previously hinted at!
"Alice No Longer Lives Here" is one of his early works.
Clearly, it was during the filming of this movie that this talented independent director saw through Jodie Foster's mature acting skills and amazing talent, which far exceeded those of her peers, hidden beneath the skin of a Disney "good girl".
Their extremely successful first collaboration led to their second partnership.
Taxi Driver burst onto the scene, winning the Cannes Palme d'Or and elevating Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and a young Jodie Foster to cinematic legend.
Qin Han watched Ronald, who was filled with righteous indignation, without changing his expression. A strong sense of absurdity welled up in his heart, and he almost laughed out loud.
This rigid and conservative Disney executive is like a mother hen protecting her chicks, guarding against even an ordinary rebellious teenage girl character to prevent her contracted "pure and innocent" actress from being corrupted by the outside world.
If he knew that just two years later, this "pure and promising seedling" would not only be wearing shorts that barely covered her buttocks, cheap high heels, and gaudy makeup, but would also be standing under the neon lights of New York at midnight, flirting with passersby;
She even received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the young age of thirteen for this role, sparking a nationwide debate in the United States.
I wonder if this old-fashioned producer, whose mind is full of "Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck," will have his blood pressure spike and suffer a heart attack on the spot.
Taxi Driver!
Qin Han silently pondered the name repeatedly in his heart.
If you do the math, the genius screenwriter Paul Schrader, the soul creator of this great film, should now be experiencing the darkest period of his life.
In 1973, Paul Schrader had just signed a divorce agreement with his wife.
He not only lost his marriage and his property, but also his job as a film critic, which he relied on for a living.
For the next six months or so, this man, utterly defeated by life, would become a homeless person on the streets of Los Angeles.
Without a fixed place to live, every night he could only curl up in the back seat of a car or shamelessly spend the night on a friend's sofa.
His only companions were cheap whiskey, pornographic movies playing on a loop in late-night drive-in theaters, tormenting insomnia, and an increasingly distorted obsession with guns.
It's a deep-seated "urban loneliness."
Curled up in the train car, Paul Schrader looked out the grime-covered windows at the indifferent steel jungle of Los Angeles.
The rampant materialism, and the suffocating nihilism and despair that permeated American society after the Vietnam War.
He poured all his anger, repression, madness and anguish into his pen, creating Travis Beeker, one of the most famous anti-hero characters in film history, in less than two weeks.
The crazy veteran who drew his gun in front of the mirror and coldly said, "You talkin'tome?"
However, precisely because it was written so realistically, when the script was sent to major Hollywood studios, it elicited not amazement at the genius, but utter disgust.
A mentally ill veteran suffering from severe PTSD who spends his days watching adult films?
To "save" a "young girl," a butcher storms into a gangster brothel with two pistols, unleashing a bloodbath that turns the entire big screen blood red.
In the eyes of Hollywood studios of that era, this kind of story was a box office poison capable of dragging any company that dared to invest into the abyss.
That script, destined to go down in history, lingered on the fringes of Hollywood's trash cans for two whole years.
Until it met Martin Scorsese, who was equally angry with the world, and Robert De Niro, the "acting fanatic" who actually drove a taxi for several months to experience his role.
Qin Han gently shook the soda water in his hand. He knew he couldn't let this kind of misplaced talent happen again.
After dealing with the blood debts of those Japanese right-wingers, Han's Film Studio's next step is to send people to the streets of Los Angeles to dig out that down-on-his-luck screenwriter who was sleeping in a beat-up car and reeking of alcohol.
If they can extend an olive branch at this critical juncture, buy out the rights to "Taxi Driver" at a bargain price, and then bring Martin Scorsese, this young beast who has not yet fully made his name, under their wing.
Therefore, Jodie Foster, the future Best Actress with exceptional intelligence and extraordinary talent, would naturally fall into the pocket of Hans Brothers Pictures, as if drawn by a magnet.
A masterpiece ranked among the top ten in film history; a future godfather-level director of gangster films; a super child star with unlimited potential.
The cost that Hans Films will have to pay may only be a negligible script buyout fee!
Ronald, standing opposite Qin and Han, naturally couldn't possibly have mind-reading abilities.
He never imagined that this seemingly gentle and refined young man from the East had managed to arrange the child star that Disney had painstakingly cultivated in just a few seconds.
The rigid Disney production director remained engrossed in his anger, rambling on about his dissatisfaction with New Hollywood directors.
"You have no idea how difficult that Italian was! He was like a piece of chewing gum stuck to the sole of my shoe!"
Ronald waved his arms, his dark blue bow tie askew from his emotional outburst: "Yesterday, I personally called him from my office and gave him a stern warning: if he didn't stop harassing Judy and her mother, Disney's legal department would teach him a lesson about financial ruin! And guess what that lunatic said?"
He laughed in exasperation: "He said, 'To hell with court!' He'll prove to the judge that Disney is stifling a genius, and that only Martin Scorsese can unleash that girl's true soul! God, who does he think he is?"
Ashley listened with great interest.
As the head of Warner Bros., he most enjoys seeing these lifeless old producers get their comeuppance.
Holding his thick Cuban cigar, he deliberately exhaled a puff of smoke and gloated, "Relax, Ronald. Maybe Disney really needs to reflect on this. You can't live off Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck forever."
"Young people today have changed. They like things that are exciting, realistic, and even a bit gory. Even if you occasionally lower your standards and shoot some slightly outrageous subjects, the sky won't fall down."
"Ted, don't just talk the talk without walking the walk!" Ronald glared at the Warner president and retorted angrily, "Disney's brand value lies in family and innocence! That's the legacy left by Mr. Walt Disney!"
"Do you know how serious the consequences would be if one of our signed child stars smoked, swore, or wore revealing clothes on screen?"
"Middle-class parents who take their kids to Disneyland will be bombarding us with complaints!"
Seeing that Ronald was getting more and more agitated, Qin Han knew it was time to throw out the bait: "Mr. Ronald, I understand your situation. It sounds like this director Scorsese has indeed caused you quite a bit of trouble."
"He not only disrupted the little girl's normal life, but more fatally, his behavior touched upon Disney's brand image."
Qin Han's words instantly bridged the psychological distance between him and the angry executive. Ronald sighed heavily and nodded in deep agreement: "Who can argue with that? The worst part is Judy's mother, that extremely stubborn Ms. Brandy, who seems genuinely moved by that mad director's so-called 'artistic prospects.'"
"She actually started pressuring the company to loosen the restrictions on Judy's roles, even implying that if we didn't agree, she wouldn't renew her contract when it expired. This is utterly ridiculous!"
"In that case, perhaps I can lend a hand and help Disney solve this headache." Qin Han casually placed the water glass in his hand on the tray of a passing waiter, meeting Ronald's somewhat surprised gaze.
"Help? Qin, what are you planning to do?" Sidney, the vice president of Global, raised an eyebrow. His keen business sense made him sense something unusual.
Why would this young man from the East, who would never do a losing business, suddenly become so enthusiastic about something that had nothing to do with him?
"It's actually very simple." Qin Han turned to Ronald and began to guide him gently: "Mr. Ronald, as a newly established independent agency, Han's Film Company's biggest advantage is its flexibility."
His eyes were crystal clear, as if he genuinely wanted to help an innocent company harassed by thugs: "If you'd like, I can act as a third party representing Disney and contact this director Scorsese. I can find out what he's up to, what kind of project he has, and what his specific ideas are."
"If that project is really as filthy as you fear, but the little girl and her mother insist on acting in it, Disney could simply subcontract the contract to Hans Films."
"By having us act as the agent, all the controversies, public opinion risks, and criticisms surrounding this film will be unrelated to Disney."
"You simply 'temporarily loaned out the actor out of respect for their personal wishes.' This not only quelled the mother's resentment but also cleverly avoided all brand risks. Isn't that right?"
Ronald stared blankly at the young man in front of him.
These words perfectly and precisely resolved all the dilemmas he was currently facing, allowing him to get rid of that difficult, crazy director without offending the mother of the child star with great potential, thus avoiding the loss of talent!
Is there really such a thing as taking on trouble on one's own initiative and acting as a white glove in the world?
"You—you're serious?" Ronald's eyes were filled with obvious suspicion and wariness. "Qin, to be honest, I'm very grateful for your suggestion."
"I really don't think you can communicate well with that eccentric. He's as stubborn as a Sicilian mule, he'll do anything for a movie, and he won't listen to any rational business advice."
Faced with this probing question, Qin Han laughed.
"Mr. Ronald, I think you may not be very familiar with the current structure of Hans Films, or my personal style of doing things."
His gaze slowly swept over Ashley, who was holding a cigar, and Sidney, who was holding a whiskey, and he said calmly, "These two can testify for me. In our company, there is no one who follows the rules and is normal; most of them are outliers. Believe me, no one in this world knows better than me how to communicate with outliers."
Ashley and Sidney exchanged a glance, a knowing smile playing on their lips.
They witnessed firsthand how Qin Han managed to squeeze Sylvester Stallone, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who couldn't even afford a meal, into A...
The plate is made to a high standard.
Not to mention the chilling rumors that circulated when he was filming "Enter the Dragon" in Hong Kong: manipulating the stock market, framing triad bosses, and even fighting corrupt officials.
Those methods were even more absurd than those in the movies.
In front of this Easterner, even the most troublesome madman would be obediently molded into a hen that lays golden eggs.
Ronald looked at the two Hollywood moguls, who clearly acquiesced.
For them to simultaneously acknowledge this Chinese man, he must possess extraordinary abilities.
Ronald took out an exquisite metal business card holder from his suit pocket, took out a card and handed it to Qin Han: "Qin, I must admit, this is the first time in my twenty years in the industry that I have discussed business so seriously with a Chinese filmmaker."
His tone had lost its initial rigidity and arrogance, replaced by a greater sense of respect: "Since these two old friends speak so highly of you, I feel this is not only an opportunity to resolve a problem, but also a good start for Disney and Hans Pictures to establish a connection. After the dinner, I can hand your business card directly to our boss."
Qin Han took the business card, glanced at it quickly, and then took out his own business card and handed it over: "Of course, no problem, it's my honor, Mr. Ronald."
"Disney is a company with a great tradition. I would be very happy to visit you if the opportunity arises. Perhaps then I can offer you a few script ideas."
Upon hearing the words "script idea," Ashley finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The head of Warner Bros. pointed at Qin Han and, in the tone of a seasoned veteran, jokingly said, "Ronald! Take my advice! When this young man walks into your office with a smile and hands you a copy of his so-called 'script ideas,' you'd better have a good dose of nitroglycerin pills ready in your desk drawer!"
"Believe me, the script this young man has provided is definitely not the kind of bedtime fairy tale that will lull children to sleep!"
Ashley's teasing remark elicited a heartfelt chuckle from Sidney, and the atmosphere became incredibly harmonious once again.
With a slight smile, Qin Han prepared to raise a toast to the three Hollywood moguls before him in farewell.
Suddenly, a very faint sound came from the radio headset hidden under the high collar of his Zhongshan suit.
"Boss, we've got the results. That Japanese guy has confessed everything."
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