novellhall Chapter 240 It's just a movie, don't take it too seriously [5000]
Chapter 240 It's just a movie, don't take it too seriously [5000]
Chapter 240 It's just a movie, don't take it too seriously [5000]
At this moment, Chen Xun was surrounded by champagne and congratulations.
Vin Diesel put his arm around Chan's shoulder and said to the reporters who surrounded him, "Chan is our family's lucky star. He'll be in the next movie, and the one after that. As long as he wants, he'll always have a place in this series."
A reporter asked Chen Xun, "With 'Fast & Furious 6' surpassing 1.2 billion yuan at the box office, what are your thoughts?"
Chen Xun thought for a moment and said, "Numbers are just numbers. What I care more about is whether the audience gets the happiness they want after watching the movie."
What are your thoughts on Warner Bros.' Interstellar?
"Warner was very proactive about your departure before."
Chen Xun smiled and replied tactfully: "Director Nolan is a great filmmaker, and his films are always unique. As for Interstellar, I will definitely watch it; I'm a science fiction fan."
The banquet lasted until late at night.
Chen Xun went to the terrace for some fresh air, holding a glass of water in his hand.
He no longer drinks alcohol.
Rob followed: "The meeting with Warner Bros. is over. Nolan insists on not changing the movie, so Warner Bros. has no choice but to go ahead with it. Now all the pressure is on them."
At six o'clock in the morning in Los Angeles, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
After finishing his last set of weighted squats at the gym, sweat dripped from his chin onto the floor, leaving dark dots.
He straightened up, stretched his shoulders, and felt something was wrong.
It's not that I'm tired.
It's too easy!
Last night, the global box office figures for "Fast & Furious 6" finally settled at $1.32 billion, and the system notification popped up on time:
[Fast & Furious 6 Project Settlement Completed]
Overall Rating: A+
[Reward: Physical Coordination +17% (Already Integrated)]
[Bonus Reward: Trendsetting Progress +3%]
Current overall progress: 32%
He was scrolling through his phone on his hotel bed when he felt a warm current spread from his spine to his limbs, like a deep massage.
When I woke up, all the muscle soreness from yesterday's roadshow was gone, and my body felt so light that I could float.
Now it feels even more obvious.
He walked to the horizontal bar and easily did dozens of pull-ups.
Upon landing, he even had the illusion that his joints had been given new lubricant.
It has the effect of increasing physical coordination by 17%.
I lay on the sofa after taking a shower.
Robert called, his voice trembling with excitement: "Chen! Check the news!"
"What happened?"
"Guardians of the Galaxy and Interstellar! Two trailers will be released simultaneously this morning at 9 AM!"
"Everyone online is comparing them now!"
Chen Xun opened Twitter on his phone.
#Guardians of the Galaxy vs. Interstellar#
#TrailerBattle#
#ChenXunXingJue#
Clicking on the first topic, the most popular one is a comparison video.
On the left is the trailer for *Guardians of the Galaxy*: Star-Lord dancing on a deserted planet while wearing a Walkman, Rocket Raccoon making sarcastic remarks, Groot being cute, Gamora wielding a sword, and Drax showing off his muscles —
Accompanied by the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".
The pace is brisk and the jokes are frequent.
On the right is the trailer for *Interstellar*: endless cornfields, spinning spacecraft, the accretion disk of a black hole, and Matthew McConaughey desperately pounding on a bookshelf in fifth-dimensional space —
The soundtrack is a grand, organ-like string arrangement, creating a heavy, expansive, and unpredictable atmosphere.
The two trailers have completely opposite styles.
But the release time was exactly the same, down to the second.
The comments section is in an uproar: "Marvel's move is brilliant! They deliberately chose the same day to release the trailers, just to go head-to-head with Warner Bros.!"
"Interstellar seems too complex; I probably won't understand it. Guardians of the Galaxy is much simpler—it's just fun!"
"But Nolan's films are never meant to be understood, they're meant to be experienced."
"I'm rooting for Star-Lord! Chen Xun looks so cool in that red jacket!"
"Matthew McConaughey's acting skills are beyond question, but the Interstellar trailer—how should I put it—is a bit too Nolan-esque, all concepts and no characters."
"+1 to the comment above. Guardians of the Galaxy made me remember at least five characters, while I only remember the cornfield and the black hole from Interstellar."
"But Nolan's box office appeal is undeniable; *Inception* grossed 800 million, *The Dark Knight* 1 billion." However, this time his opponents are Chen Xun and Marvel.
Chen Xun continued scrolling down.
Within an hour of its release, Guardians of the Galaxy garnered 320 million views on YouTube!
Interstellar: 290 million!
Two hours later, Guardians of the Galaxy grossed 650 million and Interstellar grossed 580 million!
The gap is widening.
-
Some netizens have unearthed a clip of Matthew McConaughey's interview on "The Tonight Show".
When the host asked him what he thought about Chen Xun being replaced in "Interstellar", Matthew shrugged and said, "This industry is cruel. You have to cherish the present because you never know where the next opportunity will be."
""
At the time, this statement was interpreted as a veiled criticism of Chen Xun for "not cherishing the opportunity."
This video has now resurfaced.
It was also accompanied by the caption: "Matthew McConaughey: Live in the moment!"
"Chen Xun: Cherish this (with a poster of Fast & Furious 6's 1.3 billion box office), cherish this (with a screenshot from the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer), and cherish this again (with a photo of Chen Xun with an Oscar trophy)."
The post has been shared over 100,000 times.
Rob laughed out loud on the phone: "Warner Bros. is going to be embarrassed this time. They tried to use Interstellar to overshadow you, but the trailer's popularity was overshadowed by Guardians of the Galaxy."
Chen asked, "What was Marvel's reaction?"
"Director Gunn just sent me a text message: Perfect timing!"
Rob said, "Disney CEO Bob Iger personally oversaw the promotional plan for Guardians of the Galaxy, demanding a 30% increase in the budget to ensure dominance during the Christmas season."
What about Warner?
"It must have exploded inside!"
Rob lowered his voice: "I have a friend in Warner's marketing department, and he said the atmosphere at this morning's meeting was like a funeral."
Nolan insisted on keeping the trailer unchanged, saying that movies are not fast food and do not need to cater to everyone.
"But the distribution team was devastated because data showed that Guardians of the Galaxy had a 15-point higher audience interest rate than Interstellar."
Chen Xun turned off Twitter and leaned back in his car seat.
The Los Angeles sun shone brightly outside the car window, but he could sense the undercurrents swirling in Hollywood.
A war without gunfire has begun.
And he unknowingly found himself in the eye of the storm.
In the afternoon, Chen Xun participated in the cover interview of Time magazine as scheduled.
The reporter was a woman in her forties named Sarah, known for her in-depth reporting.
"Chen, congratulations on the box office of Fast & Furious 6."
Sarah turned on the recorder: "1.32 billion, what does that number mean to you?"
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "It means trust. The audience trusts this series, and they trust me. I can't let them down."
"You were replaced in 'Interstellar,' and now your movie is a box office hit, while their trailers aren't performing as well as expected. Do you see this as some kind of revenge?"
"No!"
Chen Xun shook his head: "Film is not a sports competition, there are no winners and losers. Director Nolan has his artistic pursuits, and I have my path. We are just doing what we think is right."
Even if Chen Xun had feelings of comparison in his heart, he wouldn't reveal them at this time, lest he give others something to criticize.
There's no truth to anything in the entertainment industry!
"But the market will make comparisons!"
Sarah was clearly dissatisfied with Chen Xun's answer, staring at him: "Everyone is comparing Guardians of the Galaxy and Interstellar right now. Two blockbusters going head-to-head for Christmas, are you feeling pressured?"
"There's always pressure."
Chen Xun smiled: "But I feel more excited. I like competition; competition makes people improve."
The interview lasted for more than an hour.
As it ended, Sarah put away the recorder and suddenly said, "Chen, do you know what I admire most about you?"
"Which point?"
"You never evade questions, but your answers are always appropriate, restrained, and neither arrogant nor humble."
Sarah laughed: "In Hollywood, many people get arrogant when they become famous or complain when they are bullied, but you seem to have always been very stable."
"Maybe it's because I've experienced a low point in my life."
"I know that all of this is hard-won, so I dare not waste it."
As I walked out of the coffee shop, Rob was waiting at the door, his expression somewhat subtle.
"What's wrong?" Chen asked.
"Just received the message."
Rob handed over the phone: "Warner contacted Spielberg."
The screen shows a screenshot of an email sent from the Warner Bros. CEO's office to Steven Spielberg.
The message was short, but essentially it invited Spielberg to participate as a consultant in the follow-up promotion of "Interstellar" and hoped to use his influence to add some warmth to the film.
Chen Xun raised an eyebrow: "Are they trying to use Spielberg to counter Nolan's aloof image?"
"clever!"
Rob put away his phone: "But Spielberg hasn't replied yet. I bet the old man is in a very awkward position right now. He was the one who gave you the script, and now Warner Bros. has kicked you out, and they want him to come back and save the day."
Chen Xun remained silent.
He recalled the look in Spielberg's eyes when he handed him the encrypted USB drive at a dinner party a year ago.
The old man said, "This project is suitable for you."
But now the project has nothing to do with him anymore.
"There's one more thing."
Rob continued, "Matthew McConaughey's agent contacted several media outlets today, wanting to arrange interviews on the topic of the actor's artistic pursuits. Clearly, they want to shift public opinion and bring the focus back from box office competition to the art of acting."
"That's standard procedure, so what about us?"
Chen Xun opened the car door.
"Director Gunn suggested you do an interview as well, but the topic should be why audiences need happiness. The core of Guardians of the Galaxy is not saving the universe, but a group of weirdos finding their families, which is very touching."
Chen Xun nodded: "Okay!"
The interview with Matthew McConaughey was arranged at a private art gallery in downtown Los Angeles.
The gallery was filled with abstract paintings, and the lighting was dim, with small spotlights below each painting serving as the sole light source.
Matthew wore a beige linen shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, and sat on an antique sofa that looked very expensive.
The reporter opposite him was from The New Yorker and was known for writing in-depth feature articles.
"Matthew, first of all, congratulations on the release of the Interstellar trailer."
"The audience response was very enthusiastic."
Matthew smiled slightly, leaned back, and placed his fingers interlaced on his knees.
This is his classic pose: "Thank you, but the word 'passionate' is interesting. Nolan's films never aim for passion, but rather for resonance."
"Like a stone thrown into a lake, the ripples may not spread quickly, but they will last a long time."
The reporter nodded: "There's a scene in the trailer where you're hitting a bookshelf in a five-dimensional space. Could you talk about that scene?"
"It's a play about time and love."
Matthew's eyes deepened: "Cooper, in that space beyond three dimensions, tried to touch emotions in a physical way. Nolan wrote a line that we didn't use in the end, but I've always remembered it. He said: 'Love is the only force that can transcend dimensions.'"
"It sounds profound, but some viewers have said that the trailer is a bit difficult to understand."
Matthew smiled, his smile filled with tolerance: "A movie isn't fast food; you can't expect to swallow it whole."
"Good movies need to be chewed and digested. Nolan trusts the wisdom of the audience, and so do I."
"Recently, many people have been comparing Interstellar and Guardians of the Galaxy. What's your opinion on that?"
Matthew paused for a few seconds, then lightly tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest: "I don't want to compare!"
"Every filmmaker has their own language. Nolan's language is about the universe, time, and the meaning of human existence, while the language of some films may be entertainment, laughter, or a brief escape."
"They are neither superior nor inferior, just different!"
He paused, then added, "But I personally believe that films should challenge audiences, not pander to them."
The interview lasted forty minutes.
Afterwards, a reporter from The New Yorker wrote in his notebook: "Matthew McConaughey perfectly embodied the image of an old-school artist—profound, philosophical, and with a touch of superiority."
That evening.
Chen Xun gave an exclusive interview.
The interview with Chen Xun took place in the gym's rest area.
Since incorporating body coordination, Chen Xun feels that fitness is simply a pleasure.
He had just finished his morning training, wearing a gray training T-shirt soaked with sweat and a towel draped around his neck.
Across from me was Lisa, a reporter from Entertainment Weekly, a red-haired woman in her early thirties known for her down-to-earth interviewing style.
"Chen, wipe your sweat first?"
Lisa handed her a bottle of ice water.
Thanks.
Chen Xun took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp: "Sorry, I just finished exercising!"
Lisa laughed: "It's okay, this feels real. First of all, congratulations on Fast & Furious 6 surpassing 1.3 billion! How are you feeling now?"
"Feel----"
Chen Xun wiped his face with a towel: "It feels like a dream. Four years ago, I was still playing corpses and earning eighty US dollars a day. Now, audiences around the world are willing to spend 1.3 billion to watch my movies. It feels unreal."
"But you seem very calm."
"Because I know that these 1.3 billion don't belong to me alone."
Chen Xun said, "It was created by the director, screenwriter, Fan, Paul, Michelle—the whole team, and all the audience members who went to the cinema."
"I'm just the one standing at the very front."
Lisa nodded: "The Guardians of the Galaxy trailer was very well received, but many people say it's just entertainment and doesn't have the depth of Interstellar. What do you think?"
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "I think the word 'depth' has been overused. Does crying your eyes out count as depth, while laughing so hard you're doubled over doesn't?"
What is Guardians of the Galaxy about?
"It was a group of abandoned people who found each other and formed a family."
"Star-Lord was kidnapped as a child, Gamora was his adoptive father's tool, Rocket was a product of experimentation, and Groot was the last survivor—each of them was broken, but together, they were whole."
He paused. "Isn't this depth?"
"About loneliness, about belonging, about how to find your place in a broken world."
"We just chose to package it with jokes, music, and cool action scenes."
"So you disagree with the claim that entertainment films lack depth?"
I disagree.
Chen Xun laughed: "When I was an extra, I was starving on set once and only had five US dollars left in my pocket. That night, I sneaked into a cheap movie theater and watched a nonsensical comedy."
"I laughed for ninety minutes. When I walked out of the theater, I felt that life wasn't so bad. That movie may never be shown in arthouse theaters, but it gave me the strength to keep going."
"Would you call this depth?"
Lisa quickly took notes in her notebook.
"One last question."
She looked up: "Matthew McConaughey said in an interview that movies should challenge audiences, not pander to them. What do you think?"
Chen Xun remained silent for two seconds.
Then he said, "I don't think challenge and pandering are opposites."
"You can challenge the audience and let them enjoy the process of being challenged."
"Nolan's Inception is a perfect example! The concept is mind-bending, but the audience enjoys watching it."
"As for pandering—I don't think respecting the audience's preferences is anything shameful."
"Audiences pay for tickets and spend their time sitting in a dark room. They have the right to get what they want, and we as filmmakers have a responsibility to make it good."
After the interview, Lisa couldn't help but tweet on the way back: "Just finished interviewing Chen Xun, and I have to say, he's one of the few Hollywood actors who can explain profound truths in plain language. He's unpretentious, down-to-earth, and doesn't lecture you."
"He's just telling you that movies can be cool, they can be heartwarming, and most importantly, they should make you feel alive. P.S.: He looks ten times more handsome after training, all sweaty and refreshed than in any of his professionally edited photos."
This tweet was retweeted over 50,000 times within two hours.
That evening, public opinion began to ferment.
The popular post on the Reddit movie subreddit is titled: "Matthew McConaughey vs. Chen Xun: When Old-School Art Meets New-School Sincerity".
The post provides a detailed comparison of the core viewpoints from the two interviews:
Matthew: "Movies aren't fast food; they need to be chewed."
Chen Xun: "But fast food can also save your life when you're starving."
Matthew: "Films should challenge the audience."
Chen Xun: "Challenges are fine, but don't make the audience feel like you're testing them."
Matthew: "Love is the only force that can transcend dimensions."
Chen Xun: "Love is also the reason why Star-Lord is willing to take a bullet for Groot, even though he tells lame jokes while doing so."
The comments section overwhelmingly supports Chen Xun: "I'm on Chen Xun's side. Matthew is right, but it's exhausting to listen to. Chen Xun's words are simple, but they're genuine."
"Matthew seems to be saying: You mortals don't understand art."
Chen Xun is saying: Come on, let's have a blast!
-
"As an ordinary viewer, I'm exhausted after get off work and just want to watch a movie to relax."
"You want me to chew? I don't even have time to chew my dinner!"
I'll go see Interstellar because Nolan never misses a beat, but I'll take the whole family to see Guardians of the Galaxy because I know everyone will be happy.
"Chen Xun's line, 'When I was working as an extra, I was starving all day, but after watching a comedy, I felt that life wasn't so bad—that broke my heart.'"
"This is what real people say!"
On Twitter, some netizens have compiled Matthew's interview into a collection of GIFs:
Matthew gazes intently at the sky, Matthew interlacs his fingers, Matthew's smile carries a hint of sadness —
The caption reads: "When you want to appear profound but you're hungry."
A photo of Chen Xun drinking water in the gym was turned into an emoji.
"Take a break if you're tired. It's just a movie, don't take it too seriously."
.