83: The producer's olive branch, artistic considerations

“David Green…”

Lin Da’s fingertips lightly traced across his phone screen, and the excitement he felt from the system upgrade and Allen Parker’s grand blueprint was instantly replaced by a sudden sense of solemnity.

He still vividly remembered the meticulous interrogation and scrutiny from David Green, the core producer of “the last silk road echo,” during the “welcome banquet.” He knew that this veteran, who had been immersed in Hollywood for many years, was not to be trifled with. A sudden call at this hour… probably meant trouble.

Could something have gone wrong with the character of An Si Yuan again? Or had Karl Rothschild backed out?

Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Da’s mind, but his tone when answering the phone remained calm and steady, without the slightest ripple.

“Good evening, Mr. Green. Calling so late, it must be something important, right?” Lin Da’s voice was gentle, yet carried a subtle hint of caution.

From the other end of the phone, David Green’s slightly hoarse but robust laughter came through: “Haha, Lin, you young man, are always so… unexpected.”

His tone seemed to carry not the expected accusation that Lin Da had anticipated, but rather a hint of… appreciation?

“I just finished watching the first batch of edited clips from ‘the last silk road echo,’” David Green continued, his voice filled with unconcealed admiration. “I have to say, that kid Marcus really struck gold this time. Your portrayal of An Si Yuan is simply… perfect! Especially those few inner monologues, they even moved an old guy like me.”

Lin Da felt a slight relaxation in his heart upon hearing this, but he did not let down his guard. He knew that these Hollywood moguls always kept their emotions hidden, and this flattery might just be the prelude to… an impending storm.

“Mr. Green, you flatter me,” Lin Da humbly replied. “It’s thanks to Director Marcus’s excellent guidance and the collective efforts of everyone in the crew.”

“Heh heh, you kid, still so humble,” David Green chuckled, then changed the subject, his tone becoming a bit more serious. “Lin, besides telling you that your performance in ‘the last silk road echo’ has completely conquered us old guys, I called you today because there’s something… more important I want to discuss with you.”

Something more important?

Lin Da’s heart tightened again.

“Please speak, Mr. Green.”

“I have a new film project on hand,” David Green said slowly, his voice carrying a subtle solemnity. “An… independent art film.”

Independent art film?

Lin Da raised an eyebrow slightly. This was somewhat unexpected. He had originally thought that a commercial blockbuster producer like David Green would be discussing a similar commercial project with him.

“The script for this film is excellent, full of deep insights into human nature and ruthless questioning of social reality. The director is a regular at the three major European film festivals, known for his unique artistic style and extreme training of actors, but also… ‘notorious’ for his eccentric temper and almost obsessive control over his work.”

David Green paused, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness: “This project has a small investment, and the shooting period might be very long. Moreover… the chances of winning awards are very high, but the box office prospects are not bright.”

“Most importantly,” his voice became even more meaningful, “the male lead in this film is a marginal character with an extremely complex inner world, full of contradictions and struggles, who demands almost perverted levels of acting skill and… sacrifice from the actor.”

Lin Da listened quietly, but his heart was already in turmoil.

He knew the weight of David Green’s words.

This was not just an invitation to a film project, but more like a deep… probing of his artistic pursuits and career planning.

Commercial blockbusters could bring fame, fortune, and popularity.

Art films, on the other hand, could hone acting skills, compete for awards, and truly gild an actor’s resume.

The “actor emperor road” that Allen Parker had planned for him required finding a perfect balance between commercial and artistic endeavors.

And now, this opportunity was right in front of him.

“Mr. Green,” Lin Da took a deep breath, his eyes shining with firm resolve, “I am very interested in this project.”

“Oh?” David Green’s tone carried a subtle surprise. He hadn’t expected Lin Da to answer so decisively. He had thought that this young man, who had just begun to make a name for himself in Hollywood, would be more inclined to choose commercial blockbusters that could quickly boost his popularity.

“Lin, you need to think carefully,” David Green’s tone became serious. “This film might prevent you from taking on other commercial projects for a long time. Moreover, that director’s ‘difficulty’ is famous in Hollywood. Many big-name stars have suffered under him.”

“I understand.” Lin Da nodded, his tone calm but with an undeniable determination. “But I also believe that a true actor should not just pursue immediate fame, fortune, and comfort. To have the opportunity to challenge such a deep and meaningful role, and to have the opportunity to collaborate with such a driven and talented director, for me, is a… much-desired tempering.”

He paused, a confident curve forming at the corner of his mouth, and the “Speech Manipulation (Intermediate)” skill silently activated at this moment:

“Moreover, I believe that true art can transcend commercial barriers and reach directly into people’s hearts. The value of a work that can make audiences think and touch their souls is far beyond what box office numbers can measure.”

David Green was silent on the other end of the phone for a long time.

He could clearly feel the purest love and dedication for the art of acting emanating from this young man from the East.

Such passion was becoming increasingly rare in this superficial and utilitarian Hollywood.

“Good! What a Lin Da!” David Green finally spoke, his voice filled with unconcealed admiration and… a hint of respect. “I was right about you! This role is perfect for you!”

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of expectation: “I will send the script to your email as soon as possible. I will also arrange for you to meet the director as soon as possible. However, Lin, I still need to remind you, this path is not easy. Are you… ready?”

Lin Da’s gaze turned to the glittering Hollywood stars outside the window, still dazzling in the night, and a blazing fire ignited in his eyes.

“Mr. Green,” his voice was calm and firm, yet filled with boundless heroic spirit, “I am always ready!”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Da’s emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

He knew that his life was about to embark on a brand new, even more magnificent, and even more… artistic journey!

And his “actor emperor road” became clearer and more… anticipated because of this sudden “artistic consideration”!

Just then, the system’s notification sound echoed in his mind again:

“Ding! Detected that the host is facing a major career development choice and has shown a firm determination to pursue art!”

““Actor Emperor Road System” special side quest released: ‘Temple of Art—Challenge of Independent Film’!”

“Quest Objective: Successfully obtain and excellently portray the male lead in the designated independent art film, and receive at least one Best Actor nomination or significant award recognition from an international A-list film festival.”

“Quest Reward: Acting Points +500, “Essence of the Role (Advanced)” x1, “Actor Emperor Aura (Beginner)” proficiency greatly increased, “Mysterious Skill Fragment” x1!”

New quest! Generous rewards!

Lin Da’s eyes shone with an even more fervent light.

He knew that this artistic consideration, for him, was not just a challenge, but also… an important stepping stone to the throne of the Actor Emperor!

““Actor Emperor Road System” special side quest released: ‘Temple of Art—Challenge of Independent Film’!”

Lin Da looked at the golden glowing quest prompt in his mind, and the series of tempting and generous rewards that followed, and the excitement and heroic spirit in his heart were like a volcano about to erupt, impossible to suppress.

500 Acting Points! Advanced Role Deep Customization Authority! A significant increase in Actor Emperor Halo proficiency! And a mysterious skill fragment!

Each reward was like a timely help, providing the most solid backing for the “Road to the Art Palace” he was about to embark on, which was full of unknowns.

“The challenge of independent art films…” Lin Da murmured to himself, his eyes flickering with excitement and… a hint of solemnity.

He knew that the European director Producer David Green spoke of—who was “known for his unique artistic style and extreme training of actors, but also ‘notorious’ for his eccentric temper and almost obsessive control over his works”—was by no means an easy person to deal with.

To gain his recognition and successfully star as the male lead in this highly award-potential art film was, for him, not just a tempering of his acting skills, but also an… excellent opportunity to prove his artistic value to the international film industry!

“Mr. Green,” Lin Da collected himself and said to David Green on the phone, his tone firm, “I have great respect and… curiosity for this project and this director. Please arrange for us to meet as soon as possible. I believe we will definitely create different sparks together.”

“Haha, good kid! I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me!” David Green laughed heartily on the other end of the phone, “The director’s name is Victor Antonioni, he’s an Italian-Frenchman, and his temper is indeed… a bit eccentric. However, he has always favored truly talented actors. If you, kid, can show your true abilities and conquer him, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation: “I’ve already sent the script to your email; the title is ‘lost lighthouse’. Read it carefully first. Three days later, I’ll arrange for you to meet at a private art salon in Los Angeles. From then on, it’s all up to you.”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Da immediately opened his email and found the script titled “lost lighthouse”.

Under the light, he began to study it carefully.

This was a… story full of symbolic meaning and philosophical contemplation.

The script tells the story of a Tower Keeper who guards an ancient lighthouse on a desolate island, living a solitary life isolated from the world, day after day, year after year. Until one day, the appearance of a mysterious young woman breaks his peaceful life and uncovers a long-buried past, as well as… the cruel truth about humanity, redemption, and loss hidden behind the lighthouse.

Lin Da was about to play precisely that Tower Keeper, whose inner world was extremely complex, full of contradictions and struggles, holding onto a sliver of belief amidst loneliness and despair.

This role had almost no intense external conflicts; all dramatic tension came from the turbulent emotional entanglements deep within him. He had few lines, but every glance, every subtle expression, even every rhythm of his breathing, would be key to revealing the character’s soul.

“Interesting… So interesting!” Lin Da was engrossed in reading, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented excitement.

This role was undoubtedly a huge challenge for him, and also an… excellent opportunity to maximize his Character Essence (Advanced) skill!

He could almost imagine himself standing at the top of that lonely lighthouse, facing the turbulent sea, feeling that bone-deep loneliness and… the persistence of seeking light in the darkness.

“System, for the ‘lost lighthouse’ script and the character ‘Tower Keeper’, use the Character Deep Customization Authority (Advanced)!”

“Ding! Character Deep Customization Authority (Advanced) has been activated. Target script and character are being analyzed…”

“Analysis Result: This script has extremely high artistic value, and the character ‘Tower Keeper’ has rich inner layers and great award potential. However, character portrayal is extremely difficult, requiring extremely high demands on the actor’s inner acting and detail control. It is recommended that the host, during the performance, emphasize the character’s psychological alienation in a solitary environment, and the difficult choices when facing redemption and destruction.”

“The System will provide the following customized auxiliary solutions based on the host’s needs:”

“1. Emotional Simulation Training: Conduct high-intensity immersive simulation training for key emotional nodes of the character at different stages, helping the host to grasp the character’s emotions more accurately.”

“2. Micro-expression and Body Language Optimization: Provide targeted micro-expression and body language optimization suggestions based on the character’s personality traits and inner activities, enhancing the authenticity and appeal of the performance.”

“3. Philosophical Contemplation Guidance: Provide reference materials related to the script’s themes, such as philosophy and psychology, to help the host understand the character’s human core and symbolic meaning more deeply.”

Looking at these “private customized” auxiliary solutions provided by the System, Lin Da’s heart was filled with confidence.

He knew that with the System’s help, combined with his own efforts and talent, he would definitely be able to portray the role of this “Tower Keeper” vividly and profoundly, reaching the hearts of the audience!

For the next three days, Lin Da once again entered a state of “closed-door cultivation.”

He completely immersed himself in the world of the “lost lighthouse” script, repeatedly pondering every gaze, every action, and every inner monologue of the “Tower Keeper.”

He utilized the “Emotional Simulation Training” provided by the System, experiencing the character’s inner feelings in various extreme emotions such as loneliness, despair, hope, and confusion, again and again.

He also carefully studied the philosophical and psychological reference materials, trying to understand the human questions and symbolic meanings carried by this character from a deeper level.

Three days later, when Lin Da walked out of the hotel room again, ready to head to the private art salon arranged with Director Victor Antonioni, his eyes were completely different from three days prior.

No longer the spirited look from before, but rather… a profound, melancholic, and a hint of a chilling… brokenness belonging to the “Tower Keeper,” honed in solitude.

He seemed to have truly become that lost soul who, on a desolate island, kept company with the lighthouse and solitude.

The private art salon was located in an unassuming old building in downtown Los Angeles. It had no luxurious decorations but was filled with a rich artistic atmosphere. Paintings of various styles hung on the walls, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and a faint scent of old books.

Lin Da, guided by a waiter, arrived at a dimly lit private room.

Inside the room, only one man was seated.

He looked about fifty years old, with graying hair and a thin face, wearing a somewhat faded linen shirt. His eyes were sharp and deep, carrying a hint of the artist’s characteristic neuroticism and… undeniable pickiness.

He was the frequent guest of the three major European film festivals, known for his unique artistic style and extreme training of actors, and also “notorious” for his eccentric temper and almost obsessive control over his works… the genius director, Victor Antonioni.

Victor Antonioni’s gaze, like two sharp scalpels, swept back and forth across Lin Da’s body, as if trying to see through him completely.

Lin Da’s heart tightened slightly. He knew that the real test had just begun.

He didn’t speak, just stood there quietly, allowing the other party to scrutinize him.

His eyes were calm and deep, carrying a hint of the “Tower Keeper’s” melancholy and… confusion about the unknown.

The “Aura Control (Intermediate)—Empathy” skill quietly activated at this moment. He tried to use this silent method to establish a… soul-level connection with this genius director, who was also full of loneliness and stubbornness.

After a long while, Victor Antonioni slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and low, with a strong Italian accent:

“You… are Lin Da?”