Chapter 12 The Moth that Fights the Fire (")

"Is that guy considered a tall and friendly person?"

Following Rachel's words, Wang Yang looked at the entrance of the cafe and saw a tall man walking in. He was wearing a gray-white suit and a black tie. Although he was tall, he was not the type of a muscular man. His young face should look only in his early twenties, he was very handsome, and very friendly, and his appearance was completely in line with the requirements.

"The appearance is good." Wang Yang nodded with approval and said, "But I don't know if he is here for the interview. He is wearing formal clothes." Today, more than 400 people were interviewed, and none of the interviewees were wearing formal clothes. Rachel next to him smiled and said, "I'll know soon."

"Let me see." Mark Slunt turned his head, glanced at the man, and shook his head disdainfully, "No, no. I said he must not do it. I think no one except Tom Hanks."

Wang Yang rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to this guy, picked up the coffee and took a sip, and watched the man walk towards him.

"Oh, I'm upset. Are you the interviewer of the movie "Artistic - Ghost Record"?" The tall man asked with an awkward look. Wang Yang didn't know what he was embarrassed about, and nodded and said, "Yes." The tall man immediately laughed enthusiastically and said, "Haha, hello, my name is Zachary Levi, I'm here to participate in the interview." He looked at Mark Slunt stupidly, and said excitedly: "Hello, director."

Mark Slunt was slightly stunned, then he spread his hands angrily and said, "Do you think I look like a director? I am not a director, that's the one." He pointed to Wang Yang opposite him.

"What?!" Zachary Levi was shocked and looked at Wang Yang with shock, as if he had seen something terrifying, and said in a daze: "You are the director!? Oh my god, so young!" Mark Slunt shrugged: "Of course, that's him (young)."

This shocked expression is done well! Wang Yang couldn't help but praise him. This guy has a friendly face, which makes people feel very friendly and comfortable, but if the expression on his face is terrifying, it will be a hilarious effect in a comedy movie, and in a psychological horror movie, this contrast will make the audience more heart-wrenching and more scared. This is why he insists on looking at a harmonious face.

Zachary-Levi said blankly: "I can't believe that I was born in September 1980. Are you old or me old?"

Wang Yang smiled and said, "I'm a few months older than you in February. Actually, I can't believe that you are the first person to come for an interview today in formal clothes." Zachary-Levi scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said, "In fact, I just got off work and I worked part-time in a supermarket. I rushed over after work, so I didn't change my clothes." Wang Yang nodded and said, "So that's it." He clapped his hands and said, "Okay, let's get back to the point, start the interview. Do you have a resume?"

"Oh, OK." Zachary Levi immediately took out a resume from the briefcase he was holding in his hand. The resume paper was already very old. It seemed that he had been doing such an interview for a while. He handed the resume to Wang Yang and said, "For you."

After taking the resume, Wang Yang started to look through it. Zachary Levi, who was born on September 29, 1980 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and later moved around with his family until he settled in Ventura County, California. He has performed in school and local theaters since he was a child, and singing and dancing were also his strengths. After graduating from Buena High School, he came to Hollywood, Los Angeles to make a splash, but in the past year, his performance experience was only extras.

However, the opportunity to be an extra is not available every day. Although Hollywood shoots hundreds of movies every year, there are more than 200,000 union actors alone. In addition, those who are not in the union, the average number is that there are only one or two job opportunities a month.

In order to make a living and to be able to stay in Los Angeles, unknown people like Zachary Levi will not only save money, but also hold multiple jobs and make money by breaking down their jobs.

Speaking of which, Wang Yang and Zachary Levi are the same students and come to Los Angeles almost at the same time; the difference is that Wang Yang went to Southern California to study, while Levi went to Hollywood to work hard. Of course, many such people flocked to Hollywood every year. They loved acting since childhood and performed in school, but after graduating from high school, they were not admitted to any university, and they were unwilling to give up their dreams, so they came to Hollywood with dreams.

"Zachary, suppose you and your girlfriend are sitting on the sofa watching TV. Suddenly, your girlfriend twitches constantly, but she herself didn't notice it. She was still watching TV intrigue and laughing." Wang Yang finished describing the scene and said, "You are very surprised and scared to see this situation, so she called your girlfriend's name and shaken her body, but she ignored you at all and was still laughing. Please perform."

"Oh, damn, I don't have a girlfriend!" Zachary patted his forehead in annoyance. Wang Yang nodded to Mark Slunt and said, "Just think that Mr. Slunt next to him is your girlfriend." Mark Slunt rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, but I won't twitch or laugh."

Rachel smiled, revealing two dimples: "Or let me do it?"

"No, no, no!" Zachary waved his hand in a hurry. He was intoxicated by Rachel's sweet dimples. If she had acted as a girlfriend, he would have been unsuccessful! Zachary sat next to Mark Slunt and smiled dryly: "Hehe, Mr. Slunt is enough. Well, I'm going to start the performance."

Zachary suddenly changed his face and became astonished. He looked at Mark Slunt and said, "Oh, baby, what's wrong with you?" He shook Mark Slunt, his face becoming more and more panicked, and his tone trembled, "Oh, Jesus! Oh my God! Julia, don't scare me! Julia, wake up..." He said, and was about to hug Mark Slunt.

"Wait, wait!" Mark Slunt hurriedly pushed him away, and said with both hands covering his chest: "Man, I'm not gay!" He frowned and asked again: "Also, who is Julia?"

"Well, Julia is Julia Roberts, I like her." Zachary Levi smiled embarrassedly.

Rachel couldn't help laughing and said, "Wow, Julia is very good!" She blinked at Zachary and said, "Good taste!" Zachary scratched her head awkwardly.

It’s a bit immature, but it can be seen that you can devote your feelings. It’s not bad… Wang Yang put a tick in his heart and said, “Show it a little longer. Late at night, you fell asleep in bed, but you were awakened by your girlfriend, and then you heard footsteps outside the bedroom, and you were suddenly shocked.”

"Okay, then I'll start." Zachari closed his eyes, then slowly opened it "umm" and said in a daze: "Oh, baby, what's wrong...what?" He blinked suddenly, frowned tightly, and looked as if he was listening carefully on his side.

"Well, it's not bad." Wang Yang nodded. Although he couldn't say how great his performance was, and he lacked some sense of layering, he was already the best performer throughout the afternoon, and he should be enough to deal with it... He looked at Zachary, took a deep breath, slapped the table and said, "Okay, it's you!"

Zachary was stunned, but his breathing increased significantly. He suddenly "Wow" and asked excitedly and disbelief: "I was selected? I was selected?" Wang Yang nodded, and he burst into laughter in ecstasy: "Okay! OK! Oh thank God! Thank you, thank you..." He kept asking others to shake hands incoherently, and finally waved his fist and shouted: "Oh yeah, I'm the protagonist!"

His shouting naturally disturbed the other customers in the cafe. When everyone looked at him, Zachary smiled embarrassedly; "sorry, but I'm so excited!"

Zachary looked at Wang Yang excitedly and said, "Director, when will we sign the contract?"

Before Wang Yang could answer, Mark Slunt smiled and said, "In fact, you can sign now." He took out two contracts in duplicate from his briefcase, one pushed into Zachar and the other pushed into Rachel. He first took out the ID card of the Actors Union to show Zachar and said to him, "Although I don't like this movie, it's 4,000 US dollars a week, which is quite attractive, right?"

"Yes, and I like acting!" Zachary was full of joy. He took the certificate and read the contract. The contract was clearly written. He was employed to shoot the male lead in the film called "The Legend of the Ghost". His work circumference ranged from one week to two weeks and his filming was 4,000 US dollars. Before the filming began, he would get half of the filming, and his other half would pay after the filming was over.

This movie has the qualifications to be released for screening, DVD distribution, etc. The actors agree to all distributions, and the distribution will not infringe on their rights. The copyright owner of the movie is of course Wang Yang, who owns the copyright of all the film.

"Okay, no problem!" After Zachary read the contract, he couldn't wait to sign his name.

Once he signed this, Mark Slunt and the Actors Union received a 10% commission, but the Actors Union would also "cover" him. If Wang Yang also signed the contract and filmed the movie, but Zachary could not get his salary, the Actors Union would sue Wang Yang in court and defend his rights for Zachary.

Mark Slunt smiled contentedly, looked at Rachel again, knocked on another contract on the table, and said, "Rachel, I think you still need a short-term agent, look at this contract." He mysteriously took out a set of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Rachel, and smiled and said, "Actually, I have another identity, oh, not Cia, but just a licensed agent of Caa. If there is me and Caa is watching you, the young director will not be able to play any tricks."

Wang Yang rolled his eyes and said, "Please, when did I want to play tricks?"

"caa? Wow." Rachel took the contract and read the certificate in detail.caa is an innovative artist brokerage company and the largest brokerage company in the United States. This contract is not a contract contract for a contract, but more of a witness nature. She pays 15% of the salary of the movie as a commission, while Mark Slunt, a licensed agent in Caa, will guarantee her rights.

Rachel carefully finished reading the contract, after considering it, nodded and smiled, "Okay, it looks good, I signed it."

"Haha, if it's my commission, I can't escape!" Mark Slunt laughed proudly. The commission of 15% is more than 10% of the Actors Union! He glanced at Wang Yang, laughing and was very worthy of beating.

Wang Yang was really a little depressed. After all, those commissions were all his money! But no matter what, getting the right male and female lead candidate was a celebration. So, after reading two contracts, Wang Yang also signed his name. Finally, Mark Slunt also signed his name and stamped it with a seal. This officially means that the project of "The Legend of the Sporty and Ghost" was established, and Wang Yang had no chance of retreating!

The two actors' pay total of 8,000 US dollars, while Wang Yang's current working capital is only more than 4,000, but it is enough to pay half of the previous pay; when the movie is finished, he returned the rented furniture and appliances and the DVD machine, and the 4,000 gold he received is just enough for the remaining half of his pay.

In this way, except for the 10,000 US dollars of filming the movie, Wang Yang's remaining living expenses were less than 500 US dollars. The road back behind was already blocked, and he had only one choice. He made the movie well, and went forward all the way!

"Oh, my God! What a crazy baby! mumo..." Zachary kissed his contract wildly, and wet the paper of the contract, and then let it go reluctantly. While carefully putting the contract back into his briefcase, he smiled happily: "I can't wait to tell my family this good news! Director, can I leave?"

"It's OK, but let's exchange the contact numbers first." Wang Yang took out his cell phone, exchanged the numbers with Zachari, and wrote down his residential address to him, and explained: "The filming of the movie will start tomorrow, and the location is at my house, so you have to get up early. There is no requirement for dressing up your clothes, just be ordinary, just like a normal person."

"I understand, I will." Zachary put away the paper with the address, shook hands with everyone again, and said with a smile: "Thank you, thank you! I'm leaving, thank you..." He laughed while walking. Through the glass window, he ran away excitedly as soon as he left the cafe, and from time to time, waving his fists and twisting his body, as if he was dancing.

"Then, it's over." Mark Slunt packed up his things, stood up and patted his briefcase, and said, "Okay, there's nothing I have to do here. I'll go to the union to give a report and leave first. The young director, we'll work together if we have the chance." He took a few steps, then turned around and smiled, "Also, your girlfriend is very beautiful, but women will become crazy when they get angry. Good luck." His words naturally could only change to Wang Yang's rolling eyes.

After Zachary Levi and Mark Slunt left, only Wang Yang and Rachel were left at the table. After chatting for a while, the time came to 5 o'clock, the interview ended.

Wang Yang looked at his watch, exhaled, and smiled with relief: "It's over, today is a great harvest."

"So too." Rachel smiled and suggested again: "Do you want to have a drink in another place?" She picked up the contract and shook it: "I just got four thousand dollars, so I treat you."

"Okay!" Wang Yang agreed happily. He and Rachel had just discussed the relationship between movies and musicals, musicals and other dramas. They were having fun. It would be better to go have a drink and continue chatting, but someone would treat him anyway.

There are many bars on Sunset Tai Street. Wang Yang and Rachel left the "Sweetheart" cafe. In less than five minutes, they arrived at a bar called "Friends". This bar is a very quiet vertical bar. The phonograph plays leisurely classical music. The guests sit on the tables and chairs in groups, drinking and chatting. The atmosphere is very comfortable.

Wang Yang and Rachel sat in a corner. Since they were not 21 years old enough to drink, the bar only sold soda to them. They could only drink soda while laughing and talking about various topics, especially movies and dramas. Now they were discussing the topic of musical and dance films.

Song and dance films are definitely a unique type of film and occupy a very important position in the history of films. For example, "The Wizard of Oz" in the 1940s, "The Song of the Rain" in the 1950s, "My Fair Lady" in the 1960s, and "The Popular Son" in the 1970s, etc. They are all masterpieces that never fade and lead the trend of the time.

However, in the past ten or twenty years, musical and dance films have been silent for a long time. This type of movie has been gradually forgotten, and musical and dance films have also been labeled as "out of time" and "eliminated".

Rachel is a professional in drama performance. She is particularly interested in musical and dance films. She believes that the performance form of musical and dance films is very unique and romantic. However, the musical and dance films are now in awkward position and seem to be able to perform on Broadway. The big screen is abandoning it.

In fact, the topic of the paper she wrote this time was to explore the relationship and development prospects of drama and film, among which song and dance films are the objects of her focus on research.

"Believe me, musical and dance films will never be outdated, and their vitality will always be there." Wang Yang said with great certainty, drinking soda: "And, I think musical and dance films will soon burst out with their power."

Rachel said interestedly: "Oh, why do you think so?" She shrugged and smiled: "Although I also think that musical and dance films will not sink like this, I can't find a reason to convince others. Maybe I just influenced my judgment because of my personal hobbies. Many of my classmates say that musical and dance films are dead, and the dull and clichéd performance forms are no longer suitable for this new era."

"No, absolutely not." Wang Yang shook his head, put his palm next to his ears, and whispered: "Listen, what do you hear?" Rachel frowned, listened quietly with his ears, and then said in certainty: "Music?"

Wang Yang snapped his fingers, looked at the ancient phonograph placed on the other side of the bar, and said, "Yes, it's music! Think about it, where is there no music? You turn on the TV at home, you hear music; you drive on the road, you hear music from the radio; you drink in the bar, you also hear music. Please, how can the music be outdated? And, where is there no dance? You dance at parties; you dance on dates, and you even dance when you are emotional."

He smiled and concluded: "This is humanity, it's a nature. Music and dancing are like breathing and will never be outdated."

Rachel nodded in agreement: "Yes, you make sense. But..." She said confusedly: "But, I still can't imagine how the musical and dance film should develop? Only then can it recreate its vitality?"

Wang Yang thought for a while and said, "I always thought that movies are a very inclusive performance carrier, and it can be compatible with both musical and puppet show. The reason why musical and dance films are depressed now is that they have not found their direction." He looked at Rachel and smiled and said, "Actually, your classmates' words make some sense. The dull and clichéd performance forms are no longer suitable for now."

Rachel was stunned. Wang Yang said in front that the opera will never go out of time, and in the back, he agreed with her classmates. This is what she said? She shook her head and smiled slightly, saying, "I don't understand, what do you mean?"

"Why do your classmates say that the performance form of musical and dance films is 'dirty'?" Wang Yang smiled and asked a question. Rachel had no choice but to spread her hands: "Maybe that's what it was." Wang Yang shook his head and said, "No, absolutely not." He took a sip of soda and revealed the answer: "Your classmates would say this because they didn't live in 1940, or 1970. You know, they lived in 1998."

"The performance form of musical and dance films was fashionable and trendy twenty or thirty years ago; but now it is dull and cliché? Why?" Wang Yang shrugged and asked and answered himself: "It's very simple, because the times are changing."

Rachel understood a little, but she said a little bit confused: "What do you mean is that the performance form of musical and dance films should also change?"

Wang Yang nodded and said, "That's right, what I want to say is this. Song and dance films should always change with the changes of the times, whether it is the theme of the movie or the form of the performance."

He gave an example: "Just like the song and dance films in the 1940s and 1950s, when society experienced war and economic recession, what everyone needed was song and dance films full of optimism that could make the mood better; in the 1960s and 1970s, when society was engaged in racial movements all day long, the song and dance films that everyone needed became carriers to show their racial stance, and this is the theme of the movie changing."

Rachel couldn't help but nodded repeatedly, expressing her agreement. Wang Yang continued to preach: "What about the performance form? It used to be jazz and waltz; to later, hippies and rock... Whether it is singing or dancing, it has been changing."

"Why can't the current musical and dance films be good? Because it still stays in the previous era, but when it enters this era, its vitality will burst out." Wang Yang smiled and said, "We are all young people of this era. Think about it, what kind of musical and dance film themes will attract you? Maybe it's the youthful and sweet love in school? Maybe it's the confusion about the future? Maybe it's the contradiction and conflict between parents' expectations and their own ideals?"

He rolled his eyes and smiled, "Like my dad, he always hopes that I can inherit his small restaurant, and I want to be a director."

Rachel picked up the soda cup and toasted Wang Yang, and smiled with emotion: "Although my father didn't let me be a truck driver, my mother has been hoping that she would have a daughter who is a doctor since she was a child."

Wang Yang also picked up the soda cup and toasted her, took a sip, and continued: "The theme of the movie is there, so what about the performance form? Since the previous songs and dances have become dull and cliché, use the latest popular fast songs to arrange some melodies that are easy to remember and sing; in terms of dance, we must abandon the traditional stage dance, let the stage be integrated into the scenes of life, and let the dance be integrated into the activities of life; Well, just like the campus theme, the cheerleaders on the basketball court can make a big splash; or we can also dance in the cafeteria, come on, and use your imagination!"

"So, maybe you can jump in the classroom?" Rachel's eyes lit up.

"Good idea!" Wang Yang smiled and said, "Think about it, will a song and dance movie with such a theme and such a performance form still be 'dirty'? Maybe at that time, everyone will shout 'The song and dance movie is back again'."

Of course, he didn't explain some things clearly to Rachel, for example, he had watched a set of movies in his mind called "Singing and Dance Youth". He was very sure that song and dance films will definitely set off another craze in the future.

"Oh, God!" Rachel was excited when she heard it. Thinking that if there was such a musical and dance film, her heartbeat would be accelerated. She looked at Wang Yang and praised sincerely: "You said so well! Your words solved many problems in my heart. Now, my paper can be completed smoothly, ha, thank you!"

She thanked her, and suddenly shook her head complainingly and said, "At York University, no one can express your opinion. They will only say, 'The musical and dance films are dead. The performances of singing and dancing are only suitable for watching in the theater in formal clothes, and are no longer suitable for the big screen.' Oh, I can't stand it, it's such a group of idiots!" She laughed, looked at Wang Yang, with appreciation in her eyes, and said softly: "To be honest, it's a pleasant chat with you."

"So, me." Wang Yang asked with a smile again: "Do you have many fools at York University?"

Rachel shrugged and said, "Many, I am one of them, haha!" She laughed happily, revealing her white teeth and the two sweet dimples. Wang Yang couldn't help laughing. The two laughed for a while, and Rachel suddenly asked, "Where are you studying in a university?"

"I studied at the Film and Television Academy of Southern California before, but now it's not." Wang Yang smiled and took a sip of soda. Rachel asked in surprise: "Is something happened?" Wang Yang said: "Well, this is going to start from scratch again..." Perhaps because of a clear path to go on, he was so calm that he was talking about what others had experienced when he mentioned this matter.

After listening to Wang Yang's story, Rachel couldn't help but say angrily: "Oh my God, how can they do this?! They are wrongly accusing a good person!" Wang Yang waved his hand and said without any hesitation: "It's okay, it's all over. Maybe this is a good thing, it makes me become a director in advance, right?"

Rachel was amused by his words, laughed and shook her head, "Yang, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry... Is that all this happening? There's nothing I can do?"

"No more, I've tried all the solutions." Wang Yang smiled and asked, "But don't you suspect that I'm lying?"

"No, I don't think so." Rachel knew that he didn't want to talk about this topic anymore, so she stopped entangling. She looked at Wang Yang, held her left cheek with one hand, covered the dimples on one side, and said softly: "Although we have only known each other for less than a day, I have always seen people very accurately. You are not that kind of person. You are very kind, persistent, very motivated, and very insightful..." Very charming, the type I admire and like. She added in her heart.
To be continued...