Chapter 186: Fan Meeting

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Fan Meeting

Francis did not step forward. He just stood quietly in the corner behind the monitor, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on Irene.

He recalled that when Irene was filming Legally Blonde, she often encountered problems, asking for his opinion almost every day. When unexpected situations arose, she would get a bit flustered and need him to offer a few pointers from the sidelines.

But now, standing in the center of the set, her eyes were determined and her instructions clear. When faced with questions from actors, she could calmly provide suggestions for adjustments and even find the time to reassure slightly nervous extras. She had matured and become so capable, having completely shed her initial inexperience.

Eleanor quietly nudged Francis’s arm and whispered, "Look at our daughter. She really looks like a director now. Who was it that kept worrying about her before?"

Francis nodded, a gratified smile appearing on his lips. "Yes, she’s grown up and become more professional. Her control over the lens and her guidance of the actors are much more mature than before. She can handle this film."

Just then, a scene wrapped up. Irene turned, saw her parents standing in the corner, and walked over quickly, her tone filled with anticipation. "Dad, Mom, what do you think? Is there anything that felt off?"

Francis patted her shoulder. "Very good, even better than I expected. Your direction is smooth, and your understanding of the characters is spot on. Just keep it up. No need to be too nervous."

Eleanor took Irene’s hand. "Don’t overwork yourself. Look, you have dark circles under your eyes. We’ve seen your directing, and it’s excellent. This film will definitely be a big hit."

Irene couldn’t exactly say she wasn’t losing sleep over the movie, so she just smiled and nodded. "I know, Mom. Do you want to walk around nearby? The beach near the set is very beautiful. Vera will accompany you."

"We won’t walk around yet," Britney said with a smile. "I’d like to stay here and watch you film. Maybe I can find some inspiration."

Nicolas nodded as well. "I’ll stay too. It’s perfect timing to wait for Depp to finish filming so we can have a good drink together."

Irene smiled helplessly and had Vivian find them some temporary seating.

As soon as the whistle for wrap sounded, the set instantly became lively. Irene clapped her hands and smiled at the core members gathering around. "That’s it for today. Let me introduce some important guests to everyone."

She pulled her parents over. "These are my parents, Francis and Eleanor. And this is my cousin, Nicolas, whom you should all recognize. And finally, this person here, Britney. They are visiting us recently, so please don’t be surprised if you see them around."

Henry Cavill’s eyes lit up instantly. He stepped forward quickly, his tone filled with irrepressible excitement. "Mr. Coppola! I’m Henry. I’m a huge fan of The Godfather, and it’s always been my wish to work with you."

Francis shook his hand with a smile. "Your performance as Will is very inspired. You have a bright future ahead of you, young man. However, I’ve already retired from directing and probably won’t be making any more films in the future. But it’s fate that you’re acting in my daughter’s production, isn’t it?"

On the other side, Keira Knightley walked over to Britney with a blushing face and whispered, "Britney, I’m your super fan. I listen to ’...Baby One More Time’ every day." Britney smiled and gave her a hug. "Thanks for your support. I’ll give you an autograph in a bit."

Depp hooked his arm around Nicolas’s shoulder and slapped his back, laughing. "You finally made it, you guy. You promised to treat me to some good wine. Don’t you dare welch on it." Nicolas retorted with a laugh, "Let’s get this straight first. Don’t let drinking interfere with Irene’s filming, or I won’t let you off the hook."

Everyone chatted and laughed. The atmosphere, which felt like a fan meeting, instantly broke the slightly awkward mood, turning the set into a joyful gathering place.

In the evening, a roaring bonfire was lit in the open space by the seaside.

Chen Shiyu and the crew were busy setting up tables and chairs and distributing food. All kinds of barbecue and seafood were laid out everywhere as if they were free.

In one corner, there were even supplies Chen Shiyu had procured from China: bags of White Rabbit Creamy Candy, Mimi shrimp chips, fruit leather, and simply packaged sunflower seeds and peanuts. They were all tastes of childhood that Irene had long missed.

"Oh my god, there’s actually White Rabbit," Irene picked up a candy and unwrapped it. The sweet, creamy flavor melted in her mouth, instantly evoking memories from her past life. "You just can’t find this authentic taste in the US. Shiyu, you are so reliable."

Chen Shiyu said with a smile, "I heard from Vera that you really like Chinese food, so I specially brought a few extra bags. These snacks are very common in China and are cheap, much more cost-effective than buying them in the US. The price of a whole box there isn’t even enough to buy a small box here."

Vera leaned over, holding a piece of fruit leather in her hand, chewing as she spoke. "Irene, Shiyu told me so much about what he saw in China. It’s just so surprising."

"Oh? Tell me about it," Irene asked curiously.

"He said China is developing really fast. There are skyscrapers being built everywhere in the cities, the streets are clean and lively, and everyone is working with such drive," Vera’s eyes sparkled.

"And the locals were very friendly to him. When they found out he was there for procurement, they proactively recommended cost-effective supplies to him and even helped him contact manufacturers. "

Chen Shiyu nodded and added, "On this procurement trip, I also took the opportunity to survey the local film industry and found the potential to be immense. The demand for movies in the Chinese market is very strong now. Everyone loves watching films, and whether they are domestic or imported, they all receive enthusiastic responses. Although the industry is still in a developmental stage, I believe that in time, it will definitely become an important box office market for Hollywood."

He paused and continued, "I also visited a few film studios. Although the scale and facilities can’t compare to Hollywood for now, they are very well-planned, and the government is very supportive of the film industry’s development. In the future, we could definitely consider releasing our films in China, or even going there for location shooting."

Irene listened intently, a sense of emotion welling up in her heart.

In her past life, as an ordinary student, she only knew that China was developing rapidly, but she hadn’t realized that the film industry had already reached such a scale. China in 2001 was in a stage of vigorous development, and the potential of its film market was indeed not to be underestimated.

"What you say makes a lot of sense," Irene nodded. "After Pirates of the Caribbean wraps, I will seriously consider the issue of distribution in the Chinese market. Maybe in the future, we really can go to China to film."

After all, she knew that Mission: Impossible III had filmed on location in Shanghai and Xitang. Her films could absolutely cooperate with the locals as well, seizing the opportunity to gain goodwill.

Come to think of it, when The Italian Job was released, she had actually talked to Fox about a simultaneous release in mainland China, but Hollywood didn’t attach any importance to that region at the time and just brushed Irene off.

She was also busy with the preparations for Pirates of the Caribbean back then, so she completely forgot about following up on it. When this movie is released next year, she definitely must not overlook it again.

#Note, I can’t remove about Chinese conversations in here, because even in real life China is very huge market for Hollywood