91: A blockbuster, the gaze of Chinatown

Director Li Anlan's heartfelt declaration, 'You are the most perfect Chen Ajiu in my heart!', was like a giant stone cast into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.

Inside the conference room, thunderous applause lasted for a long time.

Everyone's eyes were focused on this tall, composed young man from the East. There was admiration, appreciation, curiosity, and a hint of… barely perceptible jealousy and apprehension.

HBO's star producer, Mark Johnson, had also shifted from initial scrutiny to undisguised admiration. He walked up to Lin Da and extended his hand, 'Lin, congratulations. Your performance has given the character Chen Ajiu… a soul. I believe that chinatown stories will become a landmark work because of your involvement.'

'Mr. Johnson, you flatter me,' Lin Da humbly shook his hand. 'It's because Director Li and Director Smith wrote such a good script, which gave me ample room to perform.'

Director Michael Smith also walked over, and his face, usually known for its sternness, now showed a rare smile. 'Lin, your performance completely exceeded my expectations. I'm looking forward to our upcoming collaboration.'

Those veteran Hollywood actors who had previously harbored doubts about Lin Da now looked at him with kindness and recognition. They knew that this young man was no ordinary talent. His talent and potential were enough to secure him a place in Hollywood's competitive arena of fame and fortune.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Vice President Huang's face was extremely grim.

The schadenfreude on his face had long vanished without a trace, replaced by endless resentment and… a hint of unbelievable fear.

He never expected that Lin Da would actually conquer these top figures at HBO with his performance at a script reading!

The rumors he had spread earlier about Lin Da being 'undeserving of his position' and 'rising through connections' seemed so pale, weak, and vulnerable in the face of Lin Da's overwhelming strength.

He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails almost digging into his flesh, his eyes filled with unwillingness. But he knew that at this moment, he was powerless to change anything. Saying anything more would only make him more embarrassed.

He could only slink out of the conference room, filled with resentment and humiliation, when no one was paying attention.

Lin Da sharply caught Vice President Huang's resentful gaze as he left, and sneered inwardly, but didn't pay too much attention.

A clown, after all, can't make it to the big stage.

What he needed to do now was seize the opportunity and portray the character Chen Ajiu to the fullest!

After the script reading, Allen Parker called immediately, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement:

'Lin! I knew you could do it! I just got off the phone with Mark Johnson, and he couldn't stop praising your performance! HBO has already decided to sign a formal actor contract with you immediately, and… they're adding a portion of the promotion budget for your character!'

'That's great, Allen.' Lin Da's tone remained calm, but a warm current also surged in his heart.

'That's not all!' Allen Parker's voice became even more excited. 'Director Li Anlan and Director Michael Smith are both very fond of you. They're even considering adding some… more in-depth and challenging scenes for your character!'

Adding scenes?

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Da's eyes.

'Lin, listen,' Allen Parker's voice grew serious, 'chinatown stories, for you, is not just an ordinary TV series. It will be your first and most solid stepping stone to impact the Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, and to accumulate international prestige and audience base!'

'I will use all of CAA's resources to get you the best publicity and promotion. At the same time, I will also start looking for some… more artistic and award-winning potential film projects for you.'

'Your actor emperor road, from today, officially… accelerated!'

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

He knew that the path Allen Parker had planned for him was full of opportunities, and also… full of unprecedented challenges.

But he was fearless!

He opened the actor emperor road system 2.0.

Looking at the 'Battle for a Foothold in Hollywood' core mission in the task module, which had taken a big step forward in completion due to his excellent performance today, Lin Da's heart was filled with fighting spirit.

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

chinatown stories would be the cornerstone of his actor emperor road.

And he was already ready to embrace his… star-studded future!

Just as he was immersed in his future plans and the comprehension of new skills, his phone vibrated again.

It was a congratulatory text message from Su Wanqing, filled with sincere praise and… a barely perceptible anticipation for the chang'an mystery collaboration.

Lin Da smiled slightly and replied with a thank you message.

He knew that he was not alone on this walk of fame.

Behind him, there was the system's blessing, Allen Parker's strategic planning, CAA's strong support, and even more… the expectations of countless viewers and fans who loved him, as well as… the silent support of some like-minded partners.

And those undercurrents that had tried to hinder his progress had not completely dissipated.

Vice President Huang's resentment, Xinghui Entertainment's remaining forces, and… those potential opponents secretly coveting everything he possessed.

Lin Da's eyes became deep and firm.

He knew that this journey called 'actor emperor road' was destined not to be smooth sailing.

But so what?

When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth.

Since he, Lin Da, had embarked on this path, he would inevitably… overcome all obstacles and forge ahead bravely!

Until… he stood at the pinnacle of world cinema, holding that little golden man symbolizing the highest honor!

The 'stunning debut' at the HBO script reading was like a deep-sea bomb dropped into the turbulent ocean of Hollywood, and its aftershocks quickly spread, truly bringing Lin Da, a young actor from the East, into the sight of those top producers and directors.

The news brought by Allen Parker made Lin Da even more delighted. HBO not only immediately decided to sign a formal actor contract with him for chinatown stories, but also, unprecedentedly, added a portion of the promotion budget for the character 'Chen Ajiu,' and hinted to the directorial team that they could appropriately add some more in-depth and challenging scenes based on Lin Da's performance.

This 'honor' was simply unheard of for a newcomer actor who had just emerged in Hollywood.

Lin Da knew that this was not only an acknowledgment of his acting skills but also a big gamble on his commercial value and future potential.

He did not slack off in the slightest, immersing himself completely in the tragic and heroic character of 'Chen Ajiu' during the period before official filming began.

'System, use [Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) (Chen Ajiu exclusive)] x3.'

As Lin Da silently chanted the command in his mind, three soul fragments emitting a faint glow instantly transformed into three streams of information, surging into his mind like a bursting dam.

Those were Chen Ajiu's more hidden, and even more… cruel memories.

He saw the ragged teenager in the darkest, dampest corner of San Francisco's Chinatown, fighting with wild dogs for half a moldy piece of bread, his eyes filled with primal hunger and… a stubborn desire for life.

He saw the young man who was forced to pick up a butcher knife for the first time, his hands trembling, his face pale amidst the splashing blood and piercing screams, but his eyes gradually becoming numb and… cold in fear and despair.

He saw the lonely soul who, on countless sleepless nights, huddled alone on a cold bed board, silently licking his wounds, but then, at dawn the next day, put on a cold mask and continued to struggle for survival amidst the clash of swords and blades.

These 'soul fragments' were like sharp keys, opening the deepest, locked door to Chen Ajiu's inner world. They instantly allowed Lin Da's understanding of this character to reach an unprecedented depth.

He no longer just 'understood' Chen Ajiu; he seemed to… 'become' Chen Ajiu.

He could feel the pain of Chen Ajiu's every breath, the pulsation of his every heartbeat, his craving for light in the darkness, and… that extravagant hope for warmth and redemption, deeply buried in his heart, daring not to be easily touched.

'System, use [Oscar Road · Script Radar (Primary)] on the chinatown stories script.'

'Ding! [Oscar Road · Script Radar (Primary)] analysis results:'

'Script Name: chinatown stories'

'Project Potential (Emmy Awards/Golden Globe Awards): S-level.'

'Key points for awards: 1. Deep exploration of Chinese immigrant history and profound reflection on social issues such as racial discrimination and cultural conflict. 2. The legendary experience and complex humanity of the core character Chen Ajiu, from a low-level nobody to a generation's hero. 3. Director Michael Smith's sharp narrative style and unique interpretation of violent aesthetics, as well as Director Li Anlan's precise grasp of the cultural connotations of the East.'

'Character 'Chen Ajiu' Award Potential (Best Actor): A+ level. The key lies in whether the actor can accurately portray the character's inner transformation in different periods and his emotional explosiveness in extreme situations.'

A+ level award potential!

A more intense flame burned in Lin Da's eyes. He knew that the character Chen Ajiu would be an important cornerstone for him to impact the Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and even… the Oscar Best Actor throne!

He unhesitatingly added all of the 1000 newly acquired Acting Points to the core attributes related to the character Chen Ajiu, such as 'Internal Monologue Control (Heroic Aura),' 'Emotional Explosiveness (Endurance and Ruthlessness),' and 'Body Language (Period Feel and Underworld Vibe).'

He felt as if his body was undergoing some kind of miraculous transformation. Every cell was greedily absorbing the nutrients belonging to Chen Ajiu, striving to get closer to that soul that struggled in darkness and was reborn in blood and fire.

Finally, the day for the official filming of chinatown stories arrived.

The filming location was a gigantic set built on the outskirts of Los Angeles, perfectly replicating the appearance of San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1930s and 1940s.

Lin Da, dressed in slightly worn but cleanly laundered coarse cloth clothes, with a hint of world-weariness beyond his age and… a barely perceptible wariness on his face, slowly walked into this 'Chinatown' that was both familiar and strange.

His eyes were deep and calm, as if he had lived there for many years, witnessed its prosperity and sin, and carried its hopes and despair.

The Technique - Character Dimension (Beginner) skill quietly activated at this moment. He could clearly feel that his 'exclusive dimension' with the character Chen Ajiu was creating an… increasingly strong connection.

The first scene to be filmed today was the young Chen Ajiu's fierce conflict with local white hoodlums at the dock over a discarded apple.

This scene had few lines, but it demanded extremely high levels of physical explosiveness and the intensity of the actor's gaze.

'Action!'

With Director Michael Smith's command, filming officially began!

The young Chen Ajiu, played by Lin Da, was ragged and scrawny, but his eyes burned with the fierce light of a wild wolf.

When the white hoodlum disdainfully knocked the apple from his hand to the ground and insulted him with discriminatory language, Chen Ajiu did not flinch in the slightest.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes as cold as knives, his body slightly hunched, like a leopard about to attack!

'Give me… my apple back!' His voice was hoarse and low, every word squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with an undeniable… ruthlessness!

That raw wildness of a low-level individual struggling for survival in desperation, and… a chilling killing intent, instantly enveloped the entire set!

Even the experienced stunt actors playing the white hoodlums felt a hint of… apprehension the moment their eyes met Lin Da's!

They seemed to have truly seen a… young Asura who had climbed out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!

Behind the monitor, Director Michael Smith and Director Li Anlan watched intently, their eyes filled with incredible shock and… ecstasy!

They knew that they had found a… true genius! An actor with soul who could portray the character Chen Ajiu so vividly, even… surpassing the script itself!

And Lin Da, under everyone's gaze, slowly curved his lips, revealing a… cold smile that belonged to Chen Ajiu, bloodthirsty yet tinged with a hint of sorrow.

He knew that on this journey called 'actor emperor road,' he had taken… the most solid, and most… stunning first step!

The call of Chinatown, the prologue of a hero, had only just begun!