Chapter 31: A Small Victory 

 "I want to play Lockhee. "Not just because Lockhee is the heroine of Chicago, but because she's the most complex character I can play right now, but because I love Lockhee — and honestly, I love the era in Chicago, which was ignorant, flashy, morally corrupt, who thought they lived in a civilized age, but to us, it was the American Middle Ages." "

 Rob was shocked, and Jenny knew that her current choice of words, including her cultural literacy, far surpassed that of a normal public high school graduate. (In her school district and the U.S. education system, such a graduate is at best a fraction better than an illiterate.)

 "You know Chicago is, at its core, the story of two criminals who escaped justice through the attention of the masses, Rob. Jenny continued, "It's because it's based on a real story that the irony is so strong. I noticed that you made some changes in the film to soften the character of Loke, of course, this is a necessary sacrifice for popularity, and moviegoers don't need a nasty heroine. "

 She paused slightly, Rob nodded involuntarily, and Jenny continued, "But both Lockhee and Velma are criminals in nature, Lockshy is stupid, impulsive, selfish, greedy, shallow, vain, vulgar, ignorant, stupid enough to be deceived by a salesman, impulsive enough to shoot and kill, selfish enough to want her husband to take the blame - but she has to desperately squeeze out innocence, patheticness, and weakness to play with the public, so the musical version of Lockhee singing is contrived and sharp, although she drifts." Bright, but annoying, and that hate is not outright hatred, but the hatred of ugliness and curiosity, her ugliness and beauty are conflicting, but they are unified. This contrast makes Lockhee the most fascinating and complex character, and I really wanted to play Lockhee, and it would be a big challenge for my acting skills and a good opportunity to hone my skills, so I was really passionate about it – it's a good role, I'm an actor, and an actor wants to play a good role, it's as simple as that. "

 Rob looked at Jenny for a long time as if he had known her for the first time, and Jenny made an innocent expression and spread her hands, "Did I convince you?"

 "It looks like you have a very good understanding of the character. Rob was silent for a moment, then didn't answer her question, but took a sip of red wine and changed the subject, "You even noticed the change I asked Renee to make—it's true that Renee emphasized her naïve and ignorant side in dealing with Lockhee, and designed her crime of shooting and murder quite lightly, and I was going to emphasize the glitz and show them beautiful songs and dances throughout the movie, and I even deleted Velma's singing about the so-called baby." "

 He seemed a little drunk, "Do you know what this is?"

 Jenny said sincerely, "Because the age is no different from 1920, people just want to see what they need to see, beautiful actors, wonderful singing and dancing and glittering scenes, and as for the connotation, who cares?"

 Rob burst out laughing and even applauded Jenny, "You're fucking right, dear, who cares about connotation? Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, they're all the same, you give them the pleasure of watching, give them one high and one climax after another, and then sprinkle sarcasm and black humor on it to make them think they've seen through the hypocrisy under the glitz, make them think they're the sober one, and then you'll reap the box office and the awards." Milan Kundera is right, this is an era of elegance, but the definition of elegance has changed, isn't it? In the past, children saving dogs were 'elegant', and you had to force yourself to be moved, but now Hollywood is selling this kind of painless feeling in batches, who the needs to really touch the heart? The directors who make that kind of film can only call the wind and rain at Sundance, thinking that they can't do it, only they know these truths of the world. Here's the fuck Hollywood, what people need. Mom is a commodity, not a high and low god. Mommy art! Box office and word-of-mouth are the last word. "

 It is estimated that the conversation is rising, and Rob's alcohol strength has also come up, and he has a mouthful of fucking, but it is a little startled Jenny, she doesn't understand how they jumped here.

 She gave Cesare a demonstrative look, and Cesare nodded at her, then smiled and echoed Rob, "It's the fault of the middle class, they and their vassals, Greenspan and his fucking monetary policy, everybody's trying to squeeze into the middle class these days, you know, the market needs a gentrified aesthetic, the market needs kitsch, Rob, we'll have to provide kitsch, at best, it's a lot more fun than filming those boring justices that get proclaimed and Lockhee finally subdue." "

 Rob drank the wine from his glass and raised his hand to let the waiter come over, "No, I'll pay for it, listen, no one is allowed to leave, let's go to Lubitsch and get drunk." "

 None of them mentioned the audition, and went straight to Lubitsch after settling the bill, although there was a long queue at the door, but Cesare led them straight in, and in this bar that only sold vodka, Rob got drunk, and Jenny was not much better, although after a few drinks, she didn't dare to drink again, and began to play tricks to avoid drinking, but vodka was basically liquid alcohol, and she hid in the bathroom and vomited near the end.

 Cesare, on the other hand, showed off his incredible amount of alcohol, and by the end he was able to maintain his uprightness, although his face was flushed and his steps began to float a little, and he was able to help Rob into the taxi after checkout, and take care of him all the way in the back seat to prevent him from throwing up in the car.

 Jeanne was awake after throwing up, and she sat in the front seat, waiting in the car while Cesare sent Rob to the hotel, and waited until Cesare sent back to the back seat to sit with him.

 Cesare first told the address of her house, and although he was drunk, he hadn't forgotten such small details, which made Jenny raise his opinion of his self-control again, and she asked, "You're not drunk, are you?"

 "The strength of the wine is almost gone. Cesare lowered the sleeves of his shirt that had been rolled up, and as for the tie, it had been pulled loose and tucked eight hundred years ago. "You did well tonight. "

 "Not bad?" asked Jenny, who was still a little preoccupied with the pace of tonight's sharp turn, "I don't even know if I earned that audition." "

 "What else do you need?" Rob begged you to audition, don't tease," Cesare leaned back in his chair, looking a little tired. "Doesn't that prove that you are fully qualified to run for Loxie? There is no reason why Rob should not recommend you. Don't tell me you didn't see it, he even likes you very much. "

 "If you want me to say, he's too stressed. Jenny doesn't think she's likable, "and his adaptation of Chicago is actually a bit risky, and critics may not be well acclaimed." "

 "Of course, you know that, I know, and he knows it. Cesare said, "The critics are all Bitch. But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Weinstein, and this wasn't the first time tonight had a conversation about kitsch and middle-class aesthetics, and Rob and I talked a few times, and he had moments when he wasn't confident in his opinion, but I think his ideas were successful. Essentially, "Chicago" is a literary film, but no one is saying that a literary film does not need to cater to an audience, at best, it is to say that it is catering to a different audience. Moreover, no one will shoot a literary film with a budget of nearly 50 million US dollars. "

 "Of course, the director must first be worthy of the investor and the market. Jeanne also agreed with Cesare and Robb, and of course she was an afterthought, because "Chicago" did achieve at least a good reputation and box office success. "Rob still has too little experience as a director, otherwise he would not have such doubts at all. "

 "And because his previous circles were too high," Cesare shrugged, "you know the Broadway circles, for them, movies and TV shows are too vulgar. Rob is under more pressure than anyone else to move closer to the mainstream, and this is his first film, and his performance on the set is understandable. "

 "Director. Jenny said meaningfully.

 Cesare rubbed his face and let out a few chuckles, "I can't help but say, you've been surprising tonight – Jefferson, you've always surprised people time and time again." "

 "I just didn't get into a good high school, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a mind. Jenny said with some humility. In fact, she only has a few axes, whether it is Jenny or Chen Zhen, she has never read Milan Kundera's novels, and she can't take any words like elegance and middle class.

 "I'm talking about your research into Chicago musicals — but you're also talking about one thing, it's a good quality that you can keep up. Cesare nodded, "Although Hollywood doesn't value cultural literacy, it can help you gain the affection of a lot of directors." "

 This is true, Hollywood's requirements for actors have never had anything to do with diplomas and knowledge, but it is difficult to direct a good drama without culture, for example, tonight, if Jenny does not seem to have the material, Rob may not be drunk and not return home - of course, once a drink together is nothing, but what about two or three times? In an industry where connections are everything, what could be more valuable than a directorial friend like Rob Marshall?

 "So, you're happy with my performance tonight?" said Jeanne, not going to dwell on the topic she had just talked about, but confirmed it to Cesare.

 "I'm very satisfied. Probably because he had drunk too much, Cesare was also a rare compliment. "Going to a restaurant with me and calling me by a nickname – that's a good way to protect yourself. "

 He saw through it, but it was not unusual in Cesare's scrutiny, and Jeanne said, "Thanks, a girl must know how to protect herself." "

 "Very cautious and in good spirits. Cesare didn't look at her, but continued to half-cover his eyes and take a nap, "But you could have asked me first, Jefferson, you should have trusted me a little more." "

 "You mean—" Jenny frowned.

 "If there's a possibility of that, I'll tell you first. "Of course, I didn't tell you that it was my negligence, but you could have asked first, and if you did, I'd have told you—"

 He straightened up and turned his head to look at Jenny, the swift flow of light casting a trail on his face, like a rare smile—not out of business courtesy, not the kind he had done to Rob—a smile that should not have been on Cesare's face at all.

 Jenny decided it was her delusion.

 "Tell me what?" she asked.

 "Rob is Gay. Cesare announced.

 Damn—Jenny was dumbfounded, and after a moment said, "No wonder - no wonder he noticed your cufflinks and my earrings - and found out that my earrings were fake-"

 "On Broadway, heterosexuals don't get ahead so easily. Cesare leaned back again, "When you get to New York, you need to be careful of the female choreographer, and as for the men, you can safely treat them as Gay. "

 What else does Jenny have to say?" "

 The two didn't speak for a moment, and then Cesare asked, "How would you react if Rob wasn't Gay tonight, if he showed interest in you, if he represented not an audition for a musical, but Titanic?"

 Of course, "Titanic" has already been filmed, but Cesare's meaning is obvious, and Jenny did not pretend not to understand, she was silent for a while and told Cesare. "I don't know, maybe it won't be until that time that I make my choice. "

 "Good. Cesare said.

 "What's so good?" said Jeanne, who was often overreacting to Cesare's pressure.

 "You're very cautious about sex. "That means there's going to be a lot less trouble in the future, which is good." You trust me to the point where you can tell the truth, and that's good. Jefferson, I'm your agent, you don't have to be so nervous in front of me, you can trust me a little more, remember? "

 He was right, but Jenny couldn't help but be upset, and she replied sharply, "How can I trust you when you still call me Jefferson, Mr. Vejerry?"

 Cesare laughed, and if the first laugh was Jeanne's delusion, then he was laughing genuinely, the kind that was utterly amused. "Alright, alright, Jenny, Jane, is it okay?"

 "For now, Chesa. Jenny said plainly, "Ah, here we are." "

 Before Cesare could speak, she preemptively said, "If you say 'don't let me down' again this time as a farewell word, I'll make you look good." "

 Cesare's open mouth closed again, and after a second, he said to Jenny, "Good night, Jenny." "

 "Good night, Chesa. Jenny said sweetly, as she got out of the car and twisted her finger at Cesare in good faith, feeling like she had won a small victory.

 She did win — five days later, Cesare called her and told her to pack up and fly to New York to audition for the Chicago musical.

 The author has something to say: Notes: 1 Kitsch, also known as Kitsch, is a concept proposed by Milan Kundera. The meaning is more complicated, you can take a look at Baidu, simply put, when you see a child running on the lawn, Kitsch caused two lines of "closely connected" tears: the first line says: how good it is to see a child running on the grass, and the second line is to say how good it is to be with all human beings and be moved by the children running on the grass. Kundera went on to emphasize: "The second tear makes Kitsch more Kitsch".

 2 Middle-class aesthetics, the United States is a middle-class dominated country, and the middle class is also the main force of film consumption. Studying middle-class aesthetics is an important part of Hollywood's work.

 3 Greenspan's advocacy of consumer credit played an important role in packing the poor into the middle class, which also triggered the subprime mortgage crisis. For example, one of the hallmarks of the middle class is that the suburbs have houses, cars, and good schools for their children, and under the loose credit policy, the poor can pretend to be among the middle class through credit and start learning the middle-class lifestyle, but the result of this false prosperity is the credit crisis. Of course, the subprime mortgage crisis in 2001 had not yet erupted, but Greenspan's policy was not without controversy.

 Rob's complaint focused on the fact that he had to adapt Chicago more gently in order to cater to the needs of the middle-class vassal elegance, and Cesare was talking about extreme things that echoed him, and if people didn't understand it, there was no need to dig into it, just know that he was slapping his ass without a trace.

 4 Rob is indeed Gay~ In a special place like Broadway, there is a joke that Gay is more than heterosexual.

 5 The Sundance Film Festival is the most important independent film festival in the United States, and "Pulp Fiction" and "Fragments of Memory" are all favored by studios at Sundance.

 When I wrote the previous chapter, my brain pumped, and I made Piranha 2 into 1, and Terminator into Jaws, thank you for pointing it out.