The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 341 Premiere (V)
Subtitle of this chapter: What is Master Yuan going to shoot next?
Tuesday, July 26, 1921.
10:00 AM Pacific Time.
A restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, USA.
"Mr. Chaplin, Miss Purviance has arrived. Please come this way."
"Thanks."
Mr. Chaplin's name is Charles, and there is no need to introduce who he is.
Unlike his old friend and partner David Griffith, whose film career was on the decline, his acting career was booming.
In 1917, he signed a famous " million-dollar" contract with the First National Exhibitors Circuit, for which he would make eight films, receiving an advance fee of $12,500 for each.
Among these eight films, the famous "The Kid" was released in January 1921, and in June of this year he completed a 30-minute comedy "The Leisure Class", which would have been released in September if history had not changed.
"Charlie, you're here."
"Edna, I'm sorry. I'm late..."
His lunch companion was a woman, a beauty by the standards of the era and a major star of the silent era, Edna Purviance.
They were originally lovers, but Chaplin had a bit of a lolita complex and none of his wives were over 18 years old.
In 1918 he married 17-year-old Mildred Harris, and the two separated.
However, their relationship remained "good" after the breakup, especially in terms of work. For example, Lillian Gish was David Griffith's favorite actress. Edna Purviance starred in many of Chaplin's films before 1923, including these two films .
Chaplin noticed that the atmosphere in the restaurant was a little strange. Since this restaurant was located on Sunset Boulevard, many of the customers were also in the film industry.
But today, none of these people greeted this celebrity, but were discussing something with great interest.
He pointed around and asked curiously, "Edna, what's going on?"
Miss Purviance opened her eyes wide and asked curiously, "Charlie, didn't you read today's newspaper?"
Chaplin shrugged and said, "I've been editing the film all day and haven't seen it yet..."
"Waiter, get me a special edition of the Los Angeles Times!" Edna immediately asked someone to bring a newspaper.
And when our Mr. Charles Chaplin took the newspaper and looked at it...
The old man's eyes almost fell to the ground, and he stammered, "Is this true?!"
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles' Chinatown.
“Is this, is this true?!”
After some discussion, the three brothers of the Li family accepted the invitation of our Master Yuan and prepared to go to Shanghai to open a film company.
The chairman of the film company, Xiao Yang Shengjian, had already returned to China, and the three of them came to Hollywood, hoping to recruit some overseas Chinese children who were interested in the film industry.
So they and their colleague Chaplin saw this Los Angeles Times special edition at about the same time.
Like the special editions of major newspapers around the world today, this one naturally announced that the British government had fully agreed to the conditions of the Irish Provisional Government. These conditions were...
"How is this possible?! The British actually allowed 'Orphans of Famine' to be shown in Ireland! This movie is..."
Even though these three are Seres, after watching the filming of the movie, they naturally know that this is a movie that makes the bull shit out of the bull.
Li Haishan, the eldest, said, "Second brother, what's impossible about this? Don't you see that the two crown princes are in the hands of the Irish?"
Li Beihai, who ranked second, said, "Brother, weren't they originally saying that we Chinese kidnapped them? Why did they go to Ireland again?"
It was the younger brother, Li Minwei, who said thoughtfully, "Big Brother, Second Brother. Could it be that this was done by Second Master Yuan, just as the people in Anliang Hall said?"
"Hmm..." The three brothers looked at each other for a long time.
Li Haishan said, "If it was really done by the Second Master, he is a bit too bold."
Li Beihai said: "From what I see, the Second Master seems to have always been very courageous."
Li Minwei said: "..."
"Third brother, why don't you speak?"
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm wondering if it was really Second Master who did it. What will he do after he returns to China..."
Back to the Sunset Strip restaurant.
"David wrote to me a few months ago saying he wanted to make a blockbuster movie and hoped that United Artists or I would personally invest in it. But, but, but..."
"Charlie, but what?"
"But I refused." Charlie Chaplin said a little unwillingly.
He refused because he was not optimistic about David Griffith's comeback, and he felt that the $3 million budget was a joke.
He even thought "Orphan of Famine" was another Ponzi scheme.
By this time, however, the film master had realized that even if Griffiths made the film look like shit, "Orphans of Famine" would still be a hit.
Purviance naturally understood this truth, and she said with regret, "This is indeed a pity ."
She added with a touch of envy, "The newspaper said this movie was made by DreamWorks. Not only did this company make '12,' but now they've done something like this. It's truly amazing."
She added in a more envious tone, "By the way, the president of DreamWorks is Lillian Gish. The director of '12' bears her name."
At this point, Edna couldn't help but say with longing: "It would be great if we could cooperate with DreamWorks..."
And this was not just her idea. In this restaurant where people from the film industry gathered, in this movie city, there were countless people who were making the same sound.
Our Master Yuan has finally taken the first step towards his rather grand ambition of controlling the American and even global film industry.
"Listen, Joseph. Now that the British have agreed to a public release, we should start planning the next step."
"Neo, what's the next plan? Isn't the next plan the premiere?"
"No, no, no, Joseph. I'm talking about after the premiere."
"Neo, what happened after the premiere? You mean..."
"Yes, Joseph. There really are a lot of things."
Old Kennedy was definitely not a fool. After hearing this, he understood what Yuan Yanshu was saying.
There is no doubt that "Orphan of Famine" will be a big hit, and the next step is to take advantage of the popularity of this film's release to reap more commercial benefits.
Should we build several sound theaters across the United States and even around the world?
Should we discuss the agreements between DreamWorks and local theater chains?
Should DreamWorks' shares and scale be expanded at the same time?
And DreamWorks' next... no, the next few films should be put on the agenda.
