novellhall Chapter 213 Does this tank lack rearview mirrors? [5000]
Chapter 213 Does this tank lack rearview mirrors? [5000]
Chapter 213 Does this tank lack rearview mirrors? [5000]
Chen Xun declined Lionsgate's invitation to a roadshow in China due to scheduling conflicts!
The news quickly spread online.
Jennifer texted: "I heard those idiots came looking for you? Ignore them. The China site was a disaster; I was answering your questions like a fool. They deserved it!"
The fans applauded.
"Well done! Xun-ge is awesome!"
"You were too afraid to involve me before, and now you want me to clean up your mess? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
"Support Brother Xun, focus on Fast & Furious 6!"
Some fans also expressed their regret: "Ah, I really wanted to see him and Jennifer on stage together."
"The movie is innocent, won't this affect the box office?"
Some more level-headed netizens commented below: "Lionsgate really tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead."
"A classic case of wanting everything but ending up with nothing."
"Look at how Universal treats Chen Xun, then look at Lionsgate, the difference is obvious."
Lionsgate.
After the senior management saw Chen Xun's side's crisp and efficient response, the conference room remained quiet for a long time.
They hadn't expected Chen Xun to refuse so decisively, leaving no room for negotiation.
The box office in the Chinese market appears to be showing a visible decline.
On the set of Fast & Furious 6.
During a break in filming a garage scene, director Justin Lin came over and handed Chen Xun a cup of coffee: "I heard you turned down Lionsgate's invitation yesterday?"
Chen Xun took the coffee: "The news travels fast!"
Justin Lin smiled and said, "This circle is very small."
"You did the right thing! Some respect isn't earned through compromise, but through strength and choice."
He patted Chen Xun on the shoulder: "We'll always save a spot for you here."
Not far away, Vin Diesel and Paul were gesturing something, and when they saw Chen Xun looking over, they both gave him a thumbs up.
Chen Xun took a sip of coffee.
It's a bit bitter, but the aftertaste is very pleasant.
The progress of the "Highly Rated" feature on the panel has quietly increased by 1%.
Lionsgate was in a difficult position at this point.
The roadshow in China had been planned long ago, so they had no choice but to proceed despite the difficulties.
Capital Station.
The theater, which was originally scheduled to accommodate nearly a thousand people, was less than half full.
During the interactive segment, the host tried hard to create a lively atmosphere, but few of the questions were answered.
Jennifer tried to keep smiling, but the weariness in her eyes was undeniable.
This is a stark contrast to the fervent adoration she received in Europe and America.
During the Q&A session, when someone finally raised their hand, the question was: "Were Chen Xun's scenes cut from the movie? Why is he almost entirely absent from the promotional materials?"
The same problem as the roadshow in Shanghai.
The producer could only force a smile and continue explaining.
The situation was even worse at Guangzhou Station.
Many seats in the media area at the press conference were empty.
The reporters who came also showed little interest, taking a few photos as a routine matter, and asking questions listlessly.
A fan photo session arranged by Lionsgate China received very few responses, making the carefully prepared backdrop and props seem particularly out of place.
Photos and videos from the scene quickly spread online, with headlines that were increasingly scathing: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Roadshow Meets Cold Shoulder, the Awkward Scene Could Be Digged Out of a Three-Bedroom Apartment."
"Without Chen Xun, even Big Cousin can't carry the team in China anymore?"
Soon, a screenshot of a chat log, allegedly leaked by an insider, became a trending topic on Weibo.
The screenshots point directly to internal communications within Lionsgate's marketing department following Chen Xun's encounter with the Warner Bros. controversy.
The document mentions assessing the North American market's sensitivity to Chen Xun's recent public opinion, deciding to adjust the focus of publicity, downplaying his presence in mainstream promotional materials in North America and Asia, and temporarily excluding the China roadshow from his itinerary to observe subsequent trends.
The moment this screenshot was released, public opinion exploded.
"It's confirmed! They deliberately excluded Chen Xun from the game!"
"So you're playing favorites, aren't you? You sidelined North America to avoid the impact, but now that China can't function without you, you want to pull him in as a last-minute savior?"
"Heh, typical double standard. Looking down on Chinese actors but wanting the Chinese market? Where's your shame?"
"They even made excuses about scheduling conflicts before, treating the audience like idiots!"
#Lionsgate's Differential Treatment#
#BoycottTheHungerGames2#
Similar topics have seen a surge in popularity.
Chen Xun's fan club issued another statement, this time with strong language.
The article directly criticizes Lionsgate for its lack of basic respect for its co-stars and for its rude treatment of Chinese audiences, and formally calls on fans to boycott the film.
Many film influencers and entertainment accounts also followed up with comments, with public opinion almost unanimously criticizing Lionsgate's move as both stupid and malicious.
The vice president in charge of publicity stared at the dismal public opinion report and the plummeting pre-sale data on the screen, his face ashen.
He had just finished another emergency video conference with headquarters, and his voice was hoarse: "Now is not the time to investigate the source of the screenshots! The key is to put out the fire! Is Chen Xun still insisting that he's unavailable?"
The assistant whispered, "His agent, Rob, replied very frankly, saying that Mr. Chen Xun is currently filming key scenes on the set of 'Fast & Furious 6'."
"The filming is very important to Universal Pictures and director Justin Lin, and they are unable to coordinate any time for it."
By the end, the assistant's voice was almost inaudible.
"Fuck!"
The vice president slammed his fist on the table: "They did this on purpose!"
After venting, there is a deep sense of powerlessness.
Who can he blame?
When headquarters made the decision to avoid risks, the China region felt it was inappropriate, but they also held onto a glimmer of hope.
They believe that thanks to the Hunger Games IP and Jennifer Lawrence's appeal, the Chinese market will not be significantly affected.
Reality gave them a resounding slap in the face.
"What do we do now?"
The marketing manager asked, "Will the remaining roadshow stops proceed as originally planned?"
"What else can we do?"
The vice president waved wearily: "Just grit your teeth and get through the process. Downsize the project, and in the press releases, focus on Jennifer's personal charm and the movie's special effects. Don't mention Chen Xun, not a single word!"
"In addition, prepare a statement in a sincere tone, emphasizing that we have always respected and valued all our co-stars, that the previous arrangements were based on a comprehensive assessment and misunderstanding, and that we regret the discussions that have been sparked—in short, adopt a humble attitude and let this wave of public opinion pass first."
This belated statement, once posted online, only garnered more ridicule: "Now you know what regret is?"
"Why didn't you do this sooner?"
"This statement is as good as not reading it at all; it shows absolutely no sincerity."
The planned China roadshow, which was originally intended to be leisurely and effortless, ended hastily in a chaotic atmosphere.
As if they had accomplished some arduous task, the Lionsgate team hurriedly flew with Jennifer to their next destination.
Meanwhile, the sun was shining brightly on the set of Fast & Furious 6 in London.
Today we're filming a scene of an outdoor car convoy gathering; it's a grand spectacle.
-
Several heavily modified sports cars gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Chen Xun leaned against his car, listening to the action director's final explanation of the movement.
Paul strolled over, handed him a bottle of water, and gestured towards the huge "GG" sign next to Jennifer, who was touching up her makeup not far away: "I heard she's having a pretty exciting time in China?"
Chen Xun unscrewed the cap and took a sip: "Lionsgate's roadshow this time was a bit unlucky!"
"Serves you right!"
Vin Diesel also walked over at some point, wearing the leather jacket from the movie, arms crossed: "There are too many smart people like this in Hollywood, always thinking about how to maximize profits with minimal risk, treating actors purely as tools, but they forget that the audience isn't stupid, especially today's audience."
He glanced at Chen Xun: "You did the right thing! You can't compromise on the bottom line. If you back down the first time, they'll make you back down a second and a third time."
Director Justin Lin walked over with a walkie-talkie, and after hearing the last few sentences, he interjected, "That's right. In the end, our industry is all about people and stories. If you can't even respect the people you're working with, how can you tell a moving story?"
He clapped his hands: "Family, get ready to start! Chen Xun, your car will cut in from this position. I need a clean, sharp drift, and the angle has to be cool, understand?"
"Understood, Director."
Chen Xun put on the prop sunglasses and opened the car door.
With a low growl from the engine, filming began.
Chen Xun controlled the vehicle, precisely executing commands with each gear shift and turn cleanly and efficiently.
When his car drifted into the designated spot at a beautiful angle, several stunt drivers on the scene whistled.
"It's rare to see actors in a film crew with such superb driving skills!"
One of the stunt drivers, seeing the trajectory of Chen Xun's car, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"If everyone had skills like Chen Xun's, would we still be able to continue this business?"
The stunt driver next to him said something to him, and he looked at Chen Xun with jealousy in his eyes.
Not only is he handsome, but his driving skills are also amazing.
It's said that he's also had romantic relationships with several female celebrities!
What a winner in life!
[Advanced Driving Control +7]
[Camera presence +5]
Chen Xun saw the two purple attribute orbs that had fallen from his body and absorbed them directly.
He felt he had a more nuanced control over the modified car he was driving.
I'm also getting a clearer idea of how to naturally showcase my driving skills in front of the camera.
During his break, Chen Xun opened his phone and browsed Weibo.
The topics about Lionsgate's lukewarm reception to its roadshow and its statement are still trending on social media, with the comments section buzzing.
He saw that in his fan community, fans were posting behind-the-scenes photos of "Fast & Furious 6" and discussing them excitedly.
"My brother Xun is still the coolest when he's racing in London."
"Global Times knows how to treat its own people."
Rob texted: "Lionsgate has completely shut down, and the promotional strategies in Japan and South Korea have also changed. They're not mentioning you at all, only promoting Jennifer and the special effects. After what happened in China, their Asian box office is probably in jeopardy."
Chen Xun replied with an "OK" emoji.
He didn't feel any schadenfreude.
I just felt that all of this was inevitable.
You reap what you sow, and Hollywood is no exception.
Suburbs of London.
An abandoned Royal Air Force base has been converted into a film set.
The originally empty runway and hangar area were transformed by the art team into a realistic street scene of an Eastern European town.
The walls are mottled, there are Russian signs, old-fashioned streetlights, and even a few deliberately aged Lada cars parked on the side of the road.
A huge object was parked in the center of the field.
A T-72 main battle tank painted in desert camouflage.
Tracks, turret —
The rugged lines gleam with a cold, metallic sheen under the light.
It just stayed there.
It exudes a powerful aura.
"Wow!"
As Chen Xun approached, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.
He's played superheroes and driven countless modified cars, but this is the first time he's faced a real tank up close.
This thing and sports cars are from completely different worlds.
"How was it? Pretty awesome, huh?"
Paul had already arrived and was circling the tank like a big boy who had seen a new toy: "I've only ever touched static ones in military museums before."
Vin Diesel, wearing sunglasses, stood next to the tank with his arms crossed.
Even with his powerful aura, he was somewhat intimidated by the tank.
Director Justin Lin and his military advisor are gesturing famously next to the tank.
Seeing that the main actors had all arrived, Director Lin patted the tank's armor: "Family, this is our new partner for today and the next few days. The scenes are simple, but also crazy."
"We need it to rush into the street, crash into a few cars, and then be stopped by our convoy using special ropes."
"That doesn't sound simple!"
Gale looked up at the towering turret.
"So everyone needs to train."
Justin Lin pointed to Sean: "This is Sean. Over the next two days, he will teach you the basic operation of the tank, mainly driving."
"You don't need to fire the cannons, but you need to be able to drive it in a straight line, turn corners, and react to specific commands. Safety first, and listen to Sean."
Sean, a tall, thin man, said with a serious expression, "Gentlemen, this is not a toy. Although we have removed the main gun's firing mechanism and taken safety precautions, and limited the engine's power, it is still a steel monster weighing over forty tons."
"Once you're in the cockpit, follow my instructions completely, understand?"
Everyone nodded.
The first training exercise was: recognizing tanks.
Sean opened the cockpit hood. The space inside was cramped, filled with various levers, gauges, and pedals. A strong smell of engine oil and metal wafted out.
"Who wants to go first?"
Sean asked.
They looked at each other.
Vin Diesel cleared his throat, ready to show his leadership qualities.
Chen Xun raised his hand first: "I'll give it a try."
He was indeed a little impatient, and the system seemed to be reacting to this novel toy, with the edges of the panel glowing slightly.
Under Sean's guidance, Chen Xun laboriously climbed into the cockpit.
The space was even more cramped than he had imagined, the seats were rock hard, and the view was indescribable.
There is only a narrow observation slit directly in front, and the periscopes on both sides look quite retro.
"This is the joystick, for controlling direction and gear shifting; this is the accelerator pedal; look at the instrument panel here—it shows the RPM, oil pressure, and temperature—"
Sean leaned half his body in and quickly explained.
As Chen Xun listened, he quickly constructed an operational model in his mind.
He discovered that the principle behind this thing was completely different from driving a car; steering was done by manipulating the speed difference between the two tracks, more like driving a large tracked construction machine.
[Basic Knowledge of Heavy Vehicles +3]
Spatial orientation (limited field of vision) +5
Two green orbs of light floated out from Sean and were absorbed by Chen Xun.
In an instant, he gained a clearer understanding of the complex layout of the instruments and joysticks in front of him, and he also had a preliminary concept of how to determine direction when his field of vision was limited.
"Alright, now try starting it. Put it in the lowest gear and gently push the left lever to turn the car slightly to the left."
Sean gave the order.
Chen Xun took a deep breath and pressed the start button.
The tank's diesel engine emitted a deep, powerful roar, causing the entire vehicle to vibrate slightly.
He followed the instructions and slowly pushed the left control lever.
The tracks emitted a grating metallic scraping sound, and the massive vehicle began to swerve clumsily and slowly to the left.
"Great! Stop! Back on track!" Sean shouted.
Chen Xun returned the control lever to its original position.
Although it was only a tiny movement, the feeling of controlling a machine weighing over forty tons still made his heart race a little.
This is much more exciting than driving a sports car.
He climbed out of the cockpit, sweat already beading on his forehead.
Paul immediately asked, "How are you feeling?"
"It's like driving a moving building."
Chen Xun wiped his sweat: "And this building has no windows."
Driving a tank is indeed quite strenuous.
It's Vin Diesel's turn.
He stayed inside for a longer time, and when he came out he looked very cool, but Chen Xun noticed that he rubbed his palms on his pants.
I imagine they're quite nervous too.
After everyone had their initial experience, a problem arose.
Sean drew the route needed for filming and several key impact points on the ground with chalk.
"The route is mostly straight, but there are a few minor directional adjustments. When you reach marker C, you need to turn left by about 15 degrees to simulate being affected by roadside obstacles."
"This adjustment must be accurate, otherwise it will bump into the wrong set or affect the camera's ability to capture shots from behind."
Paul looked at the tank, then at the route map, and scratched his head: "Sean, there's a problem. With such poor visibility inside, how do we know if we're veering off course? How do we accurately judge a 15-degree angle?"
Sean pointed to the periscope: "Rely on this, and experience too. I'll remind you via radio from the command post."
Just then, Tyrese stared at the tank's smooth rear armor and blurted out, "Does this tank not have rearview mirrors?"
The scene fell silent for a second.
Everyone instinctively looked towards the rear of the tank.
It was completely bare, with nothing but armor plates, toolboxes, and exhaust pipes.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Rearview mirror! Do you think this is a car?"
Paul slapped his thigh with amusement: "My God, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day!"
Even Sean, who had a serious expression, couldn't help but twitch his lips: "When designing tanks, the main considerations are threats from the front and sides. The rear is usually observed by other crew members, so there is indeed no such feature as a rearview mirror."
Director Justin Lin's eyes lit up: "Wait! This 'no rearview mirror' joke is great! We can add it to the dialogue!"
Everyone thought it was good.
Tyrese scratched his head, never expecting that his unintentional remark would actually add a joke to the movie.
Jokes aside, the real problems still need to be solved.
How do you drive straight and make precise turns in conditions of extremely poor visibility?
The group began to brainstorm ideas.
Vin Diesel suggested placing prominent fluorescent markings on the ground directly in front of the tank.
Gail thought it would be good to make a prominent mark on the buildings within the periscope's field of view.
After thinking for a moment, and combining his new understanding of tank control after absorbing the attribute orb, Chen Xun suggested, "Perhaps we can set up a few simple physical reference points?"
"For example, if you keep the joystick in a fixed position and feel a slight vibration in the car at a specific frequency, that means you are moving in a straight line."
"Slightly disrupting this balance is the beginning of a shift."
Sean looked at Chen Xun with some surprise: "This idea is very similar to the motion-sensing driving we practiced. The driver can use the vibration, sound and inertia of the vehicle to help make judgments, but it takes time to get used to it."