On the set of Inception, there was a clatter of mahjong tiles, with several tables in play.
Ever since he brought board games and cards last time, Eric, being a man of action, quickly brought mahjong to the set.
To his surprise, many people on the set were enthusiasts, and Nicole was even a skilled mahjong player.
Everyone played mahjong while filming. Fortunately, they were all highly professional and could immediately switch to work mode once filming began.
Initially, it was just a few enthusiasts playing, but after a few days, the sound of tiles clacking permeated the entire set during breaks.
Theron, Daniel Brühl, and Tom Hardy all joined the mahjong craze.
Mahjong is one of those things that makes you itch to play when you see others doing it. And with the Director himself joining in, of course, everyone wanted to participate.
"Nine of Characters!" Eric picked up a tile and casually discarded it.
"Mahjong!" Theron immediately pushed over her tiles excitedly. Sure enough, it was a nine of characters.
"Wait, I also have mahjong!" Nicole followed closely, exclaiming with excitement.
The two women then high-fived happily: "Yes!"
"What? A nine of characters can be a double win!" Eric looked at them speechlessly.
"Uh, Director, actually, it's a triple win, I also have mahjong!" Neil weakly raised his hand.
Eric glared at him. He had no sense, didn't understand about discarding a winning tile, and still dared to win!
Neil chuckled a few times, thinking, for the sake of my movie, a win is a win! You can't deny it in front of everyone.
The script supervisor recorded the results: "Neil's next film will receive an additional 1 million USD investment, while Nicole and Theron will get priority casting rights for Eric's next film."
"My turn, my turn!" Ken Watanabe rubbed his hands, eager to play.
Neil patted his shoulder and comforted him, "Mr. Watanabe, if you keep losing, you'll be supplying all the fruits and snacks for the entire crew until the movie is finished."
Ken Watanabe's face darkened. He couldn't understand why his luck was so bad. Everyone else had wins and losses, but he just kept losing, losing, and losing.
The more he lost, the more he wanted to win a round, but mahjong seemed to be inherently against his luck.
He hadn't won a single hand, even when he had four joker tiles, he still lost.
Because in that round, Eric started with five joker tiles and won immediately upon opening!
Although mahjong was invented in China, it has spread all over the world and evolved into various different ways of playing.
America, naturally, developed its own version, for example, by adding nine joker tiles, which are wild cards, similar to the jokers in 'Fight the Landlord'.
Just then, a Female Reporter from Yahoo Entertainment, carrying a camera, walked in, guided by a staff member.
Movies need publicity and buzz. During filming, media are often invited for'set visits' to release some behind-the-scenes footage.
Previously, TV interviews boosted exposure, but now they could only rely on online media.
Seeing the Director, Assistant Director, leads, and supporting actors all touching, looking at, and playing cards, the Female Reporter and cameraman were stunned.
She had interviewed countless film crews, but this was the first time she encountered such a situation. What kind of operation was playing mahjong on set?
"Is this really a film set? Is this the set of the Director who made transformers, blue is the warmest color, and house of cards? I must have come to the wrong place!"
Doubting herself, the Female Reporter walked to Eric's mahjong table, took a closer look, and confirmed it was him.
"Just a moment, I'm about to win! Nine of Characters!"
"Got you!" Nicole suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly.
"Are you kidding me? You won with a nine of characters last time, and now it's a nine of characters again! Madam, I suspect you're targeting me!" Eric looked at Nicole's tiles speechlessly.
"Hahahaha. A bet is a bet, I won an investment share in your next movie, no backing out now."
Eric sighed and stood up: "I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing anymore. My luck is too bad today. I haven't won a single hand. I need to find a medium to change my luck."
The cameraman aimed the lens at Eric, and the Female Reporter looked at him very strangely: "Hello, Director Cooper, although I saw you playing mahjong, I still can't believe my eyes."
"Seeing is believing. If you saw it, you saw it. What's there not to believe?"
The Female Reporter choked for a moment: "In my imagination, you should be undergoing professional training or filming. This is somewhat unexpected."
Eric laughed heartily: "Playing mahjong is a way to relax. We can't film non-stop, can we? People need rest."
"I've always been very particular about humanization. Only when the mind is relaxed can one work better. Besides, playing mahjong is also a way to build camaraderie. When relationships are good, filming goes more smoothly, don't you agree?"
"That seems reasonable." The Female Reporter nodded.
"What are your stakes? How big do you play in a round?"
"We don't play for money. Gambling is a bad habit," Eric replied righteously.
"But there are other prizes. I won priority casting rights and an investment share in Eric's next film," Nicole said, her mouth unable to close from smiling.
"I also won priority casting rights for Eric's next film, and a recommendation slot for a supporting role," Theron said happily.
The cameraman turned the camera to the others.
Bale smiled and shrugged: "I lost half a month's worth of crew meal expenses, but I'm very happy."
Ken Watanabe's face was dark: "Don't film me. I'm the most miserable. I'm responsible for the crew's fruits and snacks for the next month."
Tom Hardy showed two rows of white teeth: "I won party invitations from two Oscar Winners."
Looking at everyone's winnings, the Female Reporter couldn't help but feel inwardly shocked.
Yes, you didn't play for money directly, but it cost more than playing for money.
Priority casting rights and recommendation slots—if word got out, countless actors and companies would be willing to pay for them.
Party invitations seemed useless, but in reality, they represented connections.
An Oscar Winner's party isn't something just any small-time industry player can attend. Many investors and Directors come, and getting to know them would greatly benefit one's career development.
As for the investment shares, they were even more powerful. Eric Cooper's films were almost synonymous with guaranteed profits.
Even a niche art film like blue is the warmest color could gross over 200 million. The market had already proven his vision; what else could challenge him?
Even if the share wasn't large, it could still bring in tens of millions of USD in income. How long would it take to win that much playing mahjong normally?
The Female Reporter remarked with some emotion: "Director Cooper, if this interview were released, I imagine the people willing to play mahjong with you could circle Los Angeles."
"Hahahaha. Welcome, welcome, but I only play with friends. Strangers, no thank you. I'm a bit socially anxious. You should ask about the movie instead."
The Female Reporter was speechless. Her planned interview rhythm was completely disrupted. She was clearly the reporter, yet she was being led by the nose. Socially anxious, my foot!
"Alright, how far along is Inception in filming?"
"We've completed 60%. Many of the remaining scenes need to be done in front of a green screen."
Hearing about green screen filming, the Female Reporter's eyes lit up: "Does that mean a lot of special effects will be used?"
"Yes, and they will be quite stunning effects. I think they will give the audience a very novel visual experience."
"Like transformers? When I watched it in the cinema, I must admit the expressions and textures of the Autobots really scared me."
"No, the use of special effects in Inception is a completely different experience from transformers. But I can guarantee it will be even more magnificent than the latter. This film will lead the audience into a strange dream."
"Wow. That sounds a bit like Alice in Wonderland."
"Hahahaha. But it's not as childish; this will be a thrilling journey."
The Female Reporter then turned the camera to the others.
"Bale, how is it working with Director Cooper?"
Bale hesitated for a moment. Eric had given him the impression of being incredibly talented since their very first day of filming.
However, his frequent departures from the set, acting like a hands-off boss, were quite challenging for Bale. Bale was an actor who loved to delve deeply into his roles, but after researching, he needed to discuss.
The best people to discuss with were, of course, the Director and screenwriter. Eric held both positions, which often left Bale with no one to talk to when he wanted to chat.
"Eric is a very impressive Director. You see no inexperience of a young Director in him at all. He always finds ways to solve all sorts of problems. Working with him has given me a very fresh experience."
"How is your character? Is the challenge difficult?"
"Cobb is a complex person. He is a dream thief with an unresolved past. I apologize, I can't say too much, but he is a very fascinating character."
"Dream thief? That sounds like a cool profession. How do you feel, Theron?"
Theron pointed to the Female Reporter's shadow: "My character is the Specter, someone who specifically opposes Cobb."
"Specter! Wow, that sounds like another cool codename. Do all of you have codenames?"
"I am the Chemist."
"Codename: Impostor!"
"Point Man!"
"Architect!"
The Female Reporter looked at everyone excitedly: "Just hearing these codenames gives me a feeling of a superhero team-up. I'm already deeply interested in the movie."
Neil then took the other party to visit the practical set built by MGM. She looked in amazement at the rotating corridor space in front of her, where several stunt performers were testing its safety.
"OMG! What is this for? Didn't you say you would use special effects?"
Neil shrugged: "Sometimes practical sets are more efficient and cost-effective than special effects. A few days ago, we were filming on the streets of Los Angeles."
"It was a rainy scene, but there's no way we'd have heavy rain in April, so we had to rent water trucks for artificial rain."
"That's fascinating. Can I experience this rotating corridor?"
"No problem!"
After this interview was released, it indeed sparked much discussion among the audience.
Especially the appearance of terms like Architect, Dream Thief, Impostor, Point Man, and Specter, which made many movie fans who followed films let their imaginations run wild.
Speculations about the plot of Inception appeared on various forums and chat rooms.
The twenty-meter-long rotating corridor also opened the eyes of many movie fans, who praised MGM's props department for its continued world-class standards.
But the most discussed topic was actually Eric and his team playing mahjong. Not only did audiences laugh heartily, but it also drew playful envy and teasing from many celebrities.
Julia Roberts: "They really should invite me. Everyone knows I was a mahjong master at 16. Even at 80, I might not be able to act, but I can't stop playing mahjong."
Tobey Maguire: "Yes, I watched the interview video, and honestly, I'm quite envious of that kind of set atmosphere. I wonder if Director Cooper plays poker? I'm pretty good at poker. We could have a match."
Little Li: "I don't play mahjong, but that kind of moderate relaxation sounds really good. Me? I like swimming, or maybe water gun games would be fun too."
Martin Scorsese: "What? Playing mahjong on set? I don't know, I've never thought of that. Anyway, I wouldn't want my set to be like that."
Unlike the playful banter of the audience and celebrities, TV stations and many newspapers launched a verbal assault on this phenomenon.
Many film critics also joined the chorus of criticism, lamenting that Eric was corrupting the crew and actors, saying he was disrupting Hollywood.
Scholars and professors from various universities, including Yale School of Drama and Juilliard School, also jumped out to criticize Eric, accusing him of setting a bad example for students who love acting and intend to pursue related careers. Many demanded an immediate apology from him.
The purpose of these remarks was, of course, to tarnish Eric's image. Those guys would seize any opportunity to attack him.
This incident also served as a wake-up call for Eric. His personal image represented not only himself but also the vast business empire behind him.
Like sand accumulating into a tower, or hating the house and its crow, when a person's bad reputation accumulates, everything around them will be affected.
Meanwhile, Lionheart Network's second batch of programs also premiered. This time, american horror story and The Simple Life were launched.
american horror story sampled a mix of classic urban legends and real-life cases, which many viewers would find familiar.
Although The Simple Life was very simple to film, theoretically, it should be more popular than american horror story.
Because Keeping Up with the Kardashians was very popular, it created that family of big butts and led the trend of butt enhancement among American girls.
Just before Eric's Crossing, the Kardashian family's butts suddenly shrunk, suggesting the big butt trend was fading, which was bad news for the girls who followed it.
On the big screen, shark tale was sweeping everything before it without a rival. After all, big companies and big productions had all changed their release dates, and the film itself was of excellent quality, so it naturally became invincible.
DreamWorks stood to make a huge profit, and MGM, responsible for overseas distribution, also earned a lot. Spielberg privately thanked Eric for drawing all the firepower away from them, creating a vacuum period.
As May began, the global box office for the passion of the christ ultimately settled at 690 million USD.
This was a very strong performance, ranking seventh last year.
And the second battle between MGM and The Big Six officially began: could Million Dollar Baby break through?