Raising Dragons in Hollywood

Chapter 23: It's all good and I don't like it

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[1] They are connected

After drinking champagne and ending the filming of "Aaron's Adventures" (the company management didn't like the word "strong man" very much, and finally removed the prefix of juvenile), Sammy returned to the daily life of creating alone.

On his precious drawing book, he took a pen and drew a lot of sketches of dragons, and wrote the names of these dragons next to him, what two-winged butterfly dragon, colorful glass dragon, dark bomb dragon...

"It's just inexplicable and unreasonable!"

Mai Qilong muttered indignantly: "You have come out with so many bizarre fake dragons, why don't you take a good look at me."

But soon, he regretted thinking so.

Because after a certain dragon slayer finished drawing dragons, he began to arrange various ways to die for these dragons.

For example, he painted the electric field of the two-winged butterfly dragon, which fell pitifully to the ground, with its wings drooping at its sides...

Obviously, the picture is only black and white, and the brush strokes are also very scribbled, that is, a random drawing.

But Mai Qi was shivering and stammering to ask: "Why is a large part of the body covered with black?"

"Because it was electrocuted! The dragon was electrocuted!" Sammy didn't know what terrible words he said.

He also thoughtfully continued: "I think, with the progress of the times, the Dragon Slayer warriors should also keep pace with the times. Think about it, if the Dragon Slayer Sword in my hand can also be equipped with a high-voltage switch..."

"Too, too scary."

Mickey murmured to himself, "And the high-voltage switch? Are you the devil?"

"what?"

"Uh, I mean, so creative."

"Haha, thank you for the compliment. By the way, I really plan to make a dragon-slaying sword in the near future. What do you think of the stainless steel?" Sammy said enthusiastically.

When he talked about getting up, he grabbed a hanger on the cabinet and was excited like swinging a sword. After waving it forcefully in mid-air for a few times, he took up an attacking posture, holding the hanger with both hands, and Xiao Yuan’s face was full of expression. His serious expression: "Mickey! Look at my dragon slaying sword! The ultimate trick - lightning and thunder!"

With a black line on his face, Mai Qilong had to step back, trying his best to dodge the 'Dragon Slayer Sword' that was about to poke at the tip of his nose.

Then, he decided to join up with Director Jones tomorrow and go out to promote together.

This home...

The dragon can't wait any longer!

As for the publicity, it was a new event launched by the company due to the good ratings of "Aaron's Adventures" not long ago.

They also applied for a special fund to support the crew to go to various cities while the iron is hot, and to carry out some publicity to expand the influence of the drama.

As a result, Director Jones, who has finally been resurrected from a negative state recently, felt guilty for his previous decadence, and couldn't wait to do something for the crew, immediately cheered up his spirits, took the initiative to lead the team, actively promoted, and was determined to bring this drama back to life. Set energy to a higher level.

But sadly, Sammy's lack of interest: [Oh, it's nice to have publicity, but I don't like it. ]

He thought 'I'm not an actor, I feel so stupid to walk from behind the scenes to the front of the stage', so he used 'I'm just an assistant' as an excuse and declined the invitation.

Mickey didn't want to go either.

This lazy dragon just wants to eat, drink, sleep and sleep at home.

But now!

He thinks that it is necessary for him to leave a little pervert who abuses dragons, and then come back after the other party regains his composure.

Director Jones warmly welcomed Mickey's arrival.

Because, just the night before the publicity team was about to leave, the 'teddy bear' played by Mickey also appeared on the screen.

If…

Before that, if the popularity of the non-human characters in "Aaron's Adventures" - the stone statue, the little goldfish and Mr. Ghost was three-legged, then when the teddy bear appeared, it was to kill all of them and become the biggest winner!

- Mr. Xiong crying with a tissue box;

- Mr. Gluttonous Bear who hides all the stolen candy and honey jars in his stomach;

- Mr. Oversized Stuffed Bear who will open his arms to hug Aaron;

- Mr. Clumsy Bear dancing with ghosts under the moonlight!

No child can resist this kind of cute existence, what's more, he is honest, warm, loyal, and full of security.

Even if they knew that it was just a virtual character, they couldn't help but want to roll around, crying and shouting for Mr. Xiong.

However, playing a non-human and faceless character is not friendly to actors.

Even if Mickey stood at the center of the propaganda team, no one could connect him with the teddy bear in the TV series. At most, he asked curiously, "What does that handsome man do?"

So, at some official publicity venue, he had to re-tuck himself into the big teddy bear costume, which was a tiring and hot job.

Fortunately, even if the dragon is a minor, he is strong and physically strong. Moreover, he can roll happily in the magma, and he is not afraid of any high temperature at all.

In this way, always dressed as a teddy bear, the Mai Qilong, who never showed a little tiredness (because not tired), has magically become the representative of 'dedication'!

He also received well-meaning [next time, work together] invitations and stacks of business cards from a number of people.

Not to mention the other actors.

Even Director Jones was a little jealous of him.

If others try so hard to gather among the people, they may not be able to make the right contacts.

But even if this silly boy doesn't do anything, someone will take the initiative to hand over the business card when he stands there still

The world is so unfair!

But once, they accidentally helped Mickey take the teddy bear's headgear, and they were surprised to find that the teddy bear's head alone weighed ten pounds...

All jealousy is gone!

—Fuck, is he still human

- Such a heavy thing, wearing it for more than ten hours, how can it be able to jump around with the children

(Mickey: Hehehe! Not a human.)

at the same time…

After the departure of Mai Qilong, Sammy's stainless steel dragon slaying sword construction plan still failed to proceed smoothly.

Because Mr. Ed from the Marketing Department enthusiastically helped him make a new plan for "Who Killed the Dragon".

"What? There's still a follow-up to that short film?" Sammy was surprised.

"Yes, why not? Find a way to promote products, isn't that the job of our department!" Ed said with a friendly smile.

- But you didn't say that before, did you

- Didn't you say that worthless things are not worth promoting

Sammy looked at Ed, who seemed to have changed abruptly, in bewilderment, a little bewildered.

After all, people who used to turn a blind eye to you and occasionally sneer at you suddenly become very enthusiastic and smiley, which is really uncomfortable.

But Ed acted like he didn't care.

In his eyes, there are only two types of people - those who can create benefits are useful; those who cannot create benefits are useless.

The previous Sammy belonged to the second category, and naturally did not need to be ignored.

But now, since he has successfully jumped to the first category, it is natural for him to give the corresponding courtesy attitude.

"I haven't congratulated you yet... 'The Adventures of Aaron' is an amazing show."

Although he had never seen it at all, Ed had the ability to say it as if he had really seen it.

"No no, it's the collective effort of everyone on the set, and the direction of director Jones..." Sammy explained, waving his hands.

This is because, on the one hand, I don't want to be too showy; on the other hand, although the power grab was successful, it was actually under the acquiescence of Director Jones' tolerance. After all, he is the real director in name of the crew.

Moreover, it was indeed Director Jones who created this series in the first place, and he paid a lot for the crew.

Even though he did fall to his knees due to psychological problems and negative emotions a while ago, Sammy still doesn't want to arrogantly claim to be the savior of the world, or make people feel that his success is due to him alone, that would be too arrogant and self-righteous.

But Ed didn't want to understand that.

He believes that he knows everything that happened in the "Aaron Adventures" crew, and even used this incident to satirize Norris of the Film and Television Entertainment Department's 'not knowing people'.

However, that is all in the past.

Interests can make all grievances disappear, if not, it can only be because the interests are not big enough.

-what? Did I mention that Norris was ill-informed

- No such thing! I don't remember any such thing.

Obviously, there is no face-slapping for the brazen, because there is no face at all.

Sammy had become a somewhat useful talent in his eyes. Therefore, he can pretend not to see the embarrassed and inexplicable puzzled expressions of the other party, happily follow his train of thought, and say something, "It sounds pleasant at first, but if you think about it carefully, you will find that these compliments can be completely changed by name and surname, and then applied to any one. Only after the framing of the human body did I start to mention some specific measures for the animation "Who Killed the Dragon".

Ed didn't care about this short animation when Sammy didn't have any success, but Sammy proved his ability.

Even realistic businessmen still don't understand why people love the non-human characters in "The Adventures of Aaron" so much.

But this does not prevent him from shrewdly using those popular non-human characters to indirectly think of the short animation "Who Killed the Dragon" before, and produced the idea of 'Since some people really like this tone, then, yes. Can't you try pushing this too? 'thought.

Hence, the present conversation.

It's just that Sammy couldn't understand the twists and turns.

He's very bad at dealing with these kinds of people, and he's clumsy with everything other than writing.

As Ed spoke more and more, he became more and more incomprehensible, so he had to sit there blankly, watching the other party perform there in confusion.

In fact... I really didn't understand a word: [You seem to say it well, but I don't like it. ]

Wait until the conversation between the two ends.

Sammy walked out of the office slowly, his mind blank.

Rossi, who has always been more utilitarian, came over to ask: "Hey, what did he talk to you about?"

"Talk... Let's settle things like this, please continue to work hard in the future?" Sammy replied subconsciously.

"What the hell? What's the deal? What's the deal with him?"

Rossi asked anxiously.

"Uh, sorry, I don't know."

Sammy told a friend in great shame: "But what he said, I, I remember this one... uh, the last one."

—So, after chatting face to face with the marketing boss for more than half an hour in the office, how did you remember the last sentence

-[Let's settle things like this, please continue to work hard in the future? ]

—Damn it, what nonsense!

—How could I know such a shrewd person as you who are so shrewd

The smile on Rosie's face faded away.

He turned around and left. He really didn't want to talk to his stupid friends anymore. He really could always kill the living and live the dead.

Fortunately, the company has always had its own operation mode, and professional personnel are responsible for professional matters.

Even if Sammy didn't remember what he had talked to Ed, the marketing department was able to incorporate Who Killed the Dragon into its daily publicity plan methodically and step by step.

The specific measures are-

They used "Who Killed the Dragon" as the opening animation for a movie called "Happy Life."

That is to say, when the audience has just entered the stage and has not yet entered the viewing state, they will give a free "Who Killed the Dragon" first, so that everyone can have a good time.

When everyone was quiet and entered the state, the dinner officially began - "Happy Life".

It wasn't until this time that Sammy realized that he had been dazed by Ed's evasion and praise, and he almost thought that this short animation would get a chance to play it alone.

how is this possible

The company simply does not have and is unlikely to promote a short animation of less than ten film lengths.

Therefore, the animation "Who Killed the Dragon" is likely to be just a handy job for the marketing department.

The real main product is the "Happy Life".

A plot is probably about 'how several rebellious high school students in their teens face life, love and friendship'.

But there is still a problem here:

Although it is said to be the opening animation of the giveaway, if it has nothing to do with the upcoming movie, it will be very strange, right

But Sammy couldn't figure out what connection "Who Killed the Dragon" could have with this "Happy Life".

However, the employees in the marketing department are super powerful, and they can give a far-fetched explanation: ""Who Killed the Dragon" is an adult's killing of innocence; "Happy Life" is a rebellious adolescent, and rebellious The reasons for it are various, but there is definitely dissatisfaction and protest against adult society, so they are connected.”

Makes sense!

Sammy might have believed it, if not the creator himself.

But in that case, what can be said

Okay, if you think it's good to have a connection!

To be honest, if this matter is changed to some arrogant creators, it is very likely that there will be a feeling of being cheated and insulted.

After all, just a moment ago, Ed, the marketing boss, praised you so much that you were dizzy, and then you nodded blindly when he said anything; but the next moment, you were shocked to discover that you 's work was actually regarded as an addition to other works, and was given away for nothing! What kind of excitement is that

However, after Sammy tried to understand all this, nothing happened.

He is not so indifferent to fame and fortune, but he just knows clearly that it is not bad for a short animation to have such a result.

Moreover, as long as one thinks that the short animation that was made so hard can finally successfully enter the cinema, it will no longer be shelved, but will be seen by more audiences!

...even if it's just an addition to other films, it's something to be happy about.

"Will anyone find my pleasure?"

He slowly recalled the scene where the little skeleton jumped out of the grave, waving his bones and arms, and then thought that the audience in the theater was caught off guard, maybe they would be startled, so he couldn't help but frown, like a The children who had succeeded in mischief covered their mouths and secretly laughed.

[two] giveaways turn defeat into victory

From the creator's mentality of 'wanting to see the audience's reaction'.

When "Happy Life" was released, Sammy went to the cinema alone to watch a movie.

But unfortunately...

He didn't see how frightened the audience was.

Maybe for some children, seeing black and white skeletons and cemetery things will be scary.

But for older people, such a picture is still relatively pediatric.

"That's fine! It's just a matter of understanding the tolerance of the audience."

Sammy cheered himself up silently in his heart: "It can be seen that the audience's tolerance is very high. In fact, there is no need to take care of them like chicks."

only…

When the short animation was over, countless people in the theater were red-eyed. Some people with relatively low tear points even choked and cried directly.

Sammy, who was holding the popcorn in one hand and the juice glass in the other, was happy again.

Proudly like a king, he held his head high, looked around happily, then closed his eyes in delight: "Cry, louder, and let me hear you!"

Although a little disappointed not to see everyone being frightened.

But he can make everyone cry like he did when he bullied Rosie's girlfriend Ellie...

It's a very fulfilling thing!

Thinking of this, he was satisfied, thinking that the movie theater was not in vain, and he had no objection to the company's arrangement of 'taking his own works as a topping'.

After that, "Who Killed the Dragon" quickly became famous with its fantastic and bizarre pictures and twists and turns of the storyline.

At the beginning, some people wrote this on the Internet after watching the movie: [I have nothing to do on weekends, go to the theater to buy tickets, and watch a boring youth film that is said to be very boring, full of rebellious adolescent boys and girls, puppy love and abortion. My friends all laughed at me and wondered if I sold my soul to the devil to watch that kind of movie. But I didn't expect it, but I was met with a surprise. ]

[Don't lie! The short animation played at the beginning of that boring youth film is really good! The boy fought side by side with the little skeleton and defeated the dragon, but in the end, he was forced by adults to admit that 'there is no dragon in the world'. I'm not afraid of everyone's jokes, I'm crying, especially when the little skeleton disappears, you must all watch it, it's really beautiful...]

At the end, the fan also left a sentence: [Oh, what do you want to ask about that happy life? Sorry, I don't know, I just remembered that short animation after I left the movie theater. ]

The longer the film has been in theaters, the more such reviews have become.

Maybe because of this...

The director of "Happy Life" went to the marketing department to make trouble.

He also made a strong protest to Ed: "What do you mean by putting such an inexplicable and weird animation in front of my movie?"

"Don't you understand, darling? I'm doing this for your own good."

Ed showed a surprised expression: "This time, the actors in your film are all newcomers, and there are no big stars or big productions, so it is difficult to make a sensation. I just came up with such a method to increase the competition of your films. force."

Then, he explained in detail why he did this: "You know what? The director of the short animation was previously involved in the creation of "Aaron's Adventures", and recently, the popular non-human characters are all from him Design, the company has also carried out special publicity for this point, so the popularity is booming.”

"That is to say, short animations do not lack popularity, but only an opportunity to be shown. "Happy Life" is just the opposite. It has the opportunity to be shown, but lacks popularity. In that case, why not let you join forces?"

"What's so good? Damn powerful alliance! After watching the cartoon, all the audience cried and cried, and they were not in the mood to watch our film seriously! This seriously affected their subsequent viewing experience."

"You have to take that shitty animation down!" the director yelled almost angrily.

But Ed was not in the least bit frightened by him.

He immediately asked soberly: "However, no matter whether the audience is watching animations or movies, don't they all need to buy tickets to enter the venue? From the perspective of sales, don't consumers who shop for gifts don't? Are you a consumer?"

The director was speechless for a while, and he didn't know how to refute it.

But Ed continued to analyze: "Who Killed the Dragon didn't hold you back? It's only a few minutes, how much of the limelight can it steal from your movie? And, if it's really what you say It's been so overwhelming..."

Having said this, he showed a smiley expression: "Then I have to congratulate you, if some of the audience went to the cinema for the short animation to watch "Happy Life", then you are earning money Here it is! Think about it, this is one plus one more than two, how much will this increase your box office?"

It sounds very reasonable at first glance, but it is actually a very shameless fallacy!

The director of "Happy Life" didn't know how to refute it, and he was completely angry: 'Do I need other people's works to help me gain popularity? High box office? Bah, I'd rather die! '

But his opinion was completely ignored.

Of course, Ed isn't maintaining short animations and Sammy either.

In fact, everything he said above is true.

In his opinion, whether it's short animations or movies, it's all about making money!

As for the fragile self-esteem of creators

In his opinion: "Hehe, it's none of my business!"

Next, things got tricky.

People buy tickets to enter the cinema, and what they want to see is not the movie being shown, but an opening animation before the movie.

Probably the cartoon "Who Killed the Dragon" is really touching!

While Sammy continued to stay at home and was busy building his own stainless steel dragon slaughtering sword, he actually had a few fans sporadically.

Once, a supernatural fan even found Sammy.

He excitedly pulled the sleeve of the round-faced little director and stammered: "You, are you the director of "Who Killed the Dragon"? Please do your best in the future! I, I like it very much Yes, and, in order to watch that animation, I bought tickets for "Happy Life" five times! Just watch your opening animation, and I'll come out after watching it."

"But that's less than ten."

Sammy was very confused and said: "You spent more than an hour of ticket money, just to watch ten kinds of free animations? Moreover, you came to me specifically to tell me. Such a thing, You did it five times, uh (are you stupid)…”

"Are you that rich? Have you ever bought something without considering the value?"

The devil-like director sent out such a soul-questioning question to the fans in a puzzled way.

The fan:…

Take off the powder on the spot, goodbye (not).