Chapter 487 The Coen Brothers and Paramount Pictures
In a friendly match, the opponent scored eight goals!
The Chinese national football team has really become famous now.

"Think about how arrogant Ma Tingxiao was before the competition. He would never have thought that Shen Lang, a movie actor, would beat him in his professional field!"

"The Chinese national football team has really lost all its dignity. Before the game, the famous players in Shanghai were still trying to save the national football team's face, but the national football team itself was not doing well. The famous players were really angry!"

"I heard that the Chinese national football team has already started the plan to change the coach?"

"Can the problems of the Chinese national football team be solved by changing the coach?"

……

While everyone was still discussing football, Shen Lang had already met the brothers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen at Jialan Film and Television in the capital.

The Coen brothers are a famous American film director duo.

It is rare for two brothers to co-direct a movie.

But these two are still a rare and highly successful director combination, winners of the Palme d'Or and Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Because they both started out as independent film directors, they have been paying attention to Shen Lang's acting talent since "Pulp Fiction".

After accepting Paramount's invitation this time, the two heard that the director Paramount originally wanted to invite was Shen Lang.

What surprised them even more was that Shen Lang actually refused to be the director of the film and asked to play the killer Anton in the movie.

However, the people at Paramount don't seem to be optimistic about Shen Lang playing the perverted killer in this movie.

Because in their opinion, the character of Anton should be cruel and cold-blooded, but the role played by Shen Lang in the movie "Pulp Fiction" is gentle and affectionate to his girlfriend. That image is too profound and was rated by American audiences as the most suitable Asian man to be a boyfriend.

For an actor with such delicate emotions and a stereotype that the audience already has, it is undoubtedly more difficult to play a cold-blooded murderer.

But the Coen brothers took a very different view.

They found Shen Lang's performance in the movie "Blind Shaft" on the Internet and showed it to the senior executives of Paramount Pictures.

Finally, under the insistence of the two brothers, Paramount finally gave in and temporarily stopped negotiations with Spanish actor Javier Bardem, allowing the Coen brothers to observe Shen Lang.

Originally, Paramount wanted to invite Shen Lang to the United States for an interview, but the Coen brothers felt that this was not respectful enough to Shen Lang, so they bought plane tickets and flew to China in person.

The entire Jialan Films was stunned when they heard that the Coen brothers were coming in person.

You know, these two directors are also first-tier directors in the United States.

A frequent visitor to Cannes and a master of independent films.

"Niubi" has to call "ancestor" in front of both of them.

Such a talented director actually flew to China in person. After getting off the plane, he didn't even put his luggage away, but dragged his suitcase to find Jialan Film and Television.

"Jeff!"

"Jeff!"

The two brothers opened their arms enthusiastically the moment they saw Shen Lang.

The look and behavior of Joel and Ethan clearly showed that they saw their idol.

Shen Lang was a little confused at first and didn't know why the two people came. After they explained, he realized that they were here for the movie "No Country for Old Men".

"Joel, Ethan, No Country for Old Men is a very good novel, and the thriller crime genre happens to be your strengths. Paramount found the right people by finding you two brothers!"

The fancy sedan was carried by everyone, and with just one word from Shen Lang, two big directors who were much older than him were happy.

"Actually, we think that you are also very suitable to be the director of this film! We have watched "Blind Shaft" many times, and your performance in it is impeccable!" After the greetings, the Coen brothers told Shen Lang the most important purpose of this trip.

"So you really want me to star in the film, but the top executives at Paramount have doubts?"

Joel, the eldest of the Coen brothers, quickly explained: "Jeff, I hope you don't think too much. In our opinion, you are the most suitable one!"

"As for Paramount, we came to China to meet you just for the sake of formality!"

Ethan added: "By the way, I'd like to hear your opinion on directing this movie!"

Joel nodded: "That's right!"

Shen Lang smiled. Paramount, one of the eight major film studios in Hollywood, is a very powerful company. They have their own set of operating logic within the company, and will not easily change this logic just because of his rising fame in the past two years.

This is the reason why big companies can make money, but it is also the original sin that causes their rigid behavior.

The company's top management is just like its logo - the snow-capped mountain. They are cold, mechanical and look at everything from the perspective of commercial returns.

Since the other party did not approve of them playing this role, the Coen brothers' insistence was simply because Paramount had not yet found a more suitable director for this film.

I was originally chosen as the director because I had just won multiple Oscars and was now very popular in North America. The latest work of the Oscar-winning best director was a gimmick that was Paramount's business logic.

He rejected Paramount, and the other party chose the Coen brothers without hesitation. The Coen brothers, with their thriller films such as "Fargo", became another suitable candidate for filming "No Country for Old Men". This was also their business logic.

However, the company believed that the role of Anton, a man who did not play by the rules and was cold-blooded, violent and mechanical, was inconsistent with Shen Lang's own image.

Therefore, Shen Lang knew that if he wanted to get this role, he had to leave an indelible image to the senior management of Paramount to prove himself.

Instead of what the Coen brothers said, it's just a formality.

To put it bluntly, I am also an employee, and others need film companies to give them roles out of considerations of money or reputation.

He himself has no shortage of money or fame, but he fought for this role in order to experience a different life through the movie character.

Anton, the killer, will definitely add a different color to his acting career.

and so……

"You'd better give it a try. You've come all the way here, so you have to give an explanation to the company!" Shen Lang looked at the Coen brothers with a smile.

The Coen brothers were stunned when they heard this, and Joel quickly explained: "Jeff, it's really not necessary!"

Shen Lang shook his head: "When I read the script outline, I was very interested in this role. I want to take this opportunity to try and see if I can fit in with the role!"

Hearing Shen Lang's sincere words, the Coen brothers were moved and had to nod in agreement.

Since Shen Lang has to act in a rehearsal and the script is purely in English, he can't just find a few ordinary Chinese actors.

Suddenly he thought of a way and called the old dean Kong Hui for help. There were many European and American students in the film school...

Kong Hui immediately became interested when he heard this, and after hanging up the phone he went to help Shen Lang contact him.

After a while, the old dean called back.

Coincidentally, there is a performance by the graduate students of the Film Academy's Acting Department today. There are two white international students from South Africa in the class. It is said that their pronunciation of the Milton accent is quite good. If Shen Lang is willing, they can go to the Film Academy in the afternoon to try out for a role!

The old dean has arranged it so well, so why would you need a bicycle?
"Thank you, Uncle Kong! We will be there this afternoon!"

(End of this chapter)