Regarding sexual orientation, it's not actually immutable; it's fluid.
It's normal for someone to suddenly change due to emotional trauma or immense pressure.
I believe some people might have this feeling: they don't dislike seeing same-sex relationships. Of course, I'm not talking about adult films, but simply love stories or real-life events.
This is even more common in relatively more open countries like those in Europe and America.
For example, two of the most famous Hollywood cases are Elliot Page, who transitioned from Ellen Page.
This girl was hailed as a genius from her debut, and her acting was full of spirit.
She also dated boyfriends, so at that time, her sexual orientation should have been normal.
Later, she suddenly announced she was coming out, officially became a lesbian, then successfully transitioned and even married her girlfriend.
There's also Kristen Stewart, famous for her role in twilight. She openly dated her co-star Robert Pattinson for at least five years.
Her sexual orientation during this period must have been normal as well.
But later, she also announced she was coming out and married her girlfriend after dating for over two years.
Regarding her sudden change, media and psychologists speculate that it was most likely related to her relationship with Robert Pattinson.
It's estimated that the five-year relationship caused her severe psychological trauma or lingering effects, leading to a reversal in her sexual orientation.
Relating this to Judy's current situation, Eric couldn't help but feel it was somewhat similar to Kristen Stewart's.
"Judy, have you been stimulated? This change is a bit startling to me."
"I don't know, I just don't know when, but suddenly I don't find you so annoying anymore."
"Don't joke around, this isn't a small matter, and you know my situation, don't you? I have six women living at home."
Judy shook her head, "I don't care. I don't fancy ordinary men. At least, besides being a playboy, you meet my standards in all other aspects."
"Didn't your family introduce you to boyfriends before? From prominent families, young talents, well-matched, and they still didn't meet your standards?" Eric asked, somewhat puzzled.
Judy pondered for a moment, "How should I put it? If it were right after graduation, when I was finding my own job and earning ten or twenty thousand dollars a month…
…I would have thought the men my family introduced were quite good."
"They all graduated from prestigious schools, became company executives or entered politics at a young age, and might inherit family businesses in the future, with bright prospects."
"But unfortunately, the timing was off. Back then, I only felt attracted to women."
"But now, when I see them, I just chuckle a few times and don't even have the desire for in-depth communication."
"Last year, I went home for a party, and my peers were gathered together, actually proud of earning a mere million dollars."
At this, she rolled her eyes, "Come on! What do you want me to say? Tell them I'm already worth hundreds of millions?"
"It's too shallow. The level of those guys no longer meets my needs. Not having a common language is a very painful thing, and it might not last."
"What's more, besides all that, regarding looks, I don't expect them to be like big stars, but at least healthy and handsome, right?"
"Have you seen the rough cut of twilight? Henry Cavill, who plays the male lead—eighty percent of his handsomeness would be considered passing."
"Tsk tsk."
After hearing Judy's demands, Eric was a bit speechless, thinking it was not impossible but close to a pipe dream.
Most Americans never earn a million dollars in their lifetime. For a normal middle-class family, saving ten or twenty thousand dollars after a few years of work is quite good.
The looks requirement is even harder than money. Although Henry Cavill hasn't developed his sexy physique yet, his face isn't just for show.
Eighty percent of his handsomeness would be enough to completely overshadow Ryan Reynolds.
What's more, this face is given by parents, it's natural. Ugly is ugly.
As for plastic surgery?
Go ask these prominent families if any men undergo plastic surgery?
I have money and power; you still dislike my looks? Is it hard for me to find someone younger and prettier? You are trampling on my dignity.
"Ahem. Aren't your demands too high? Wanting everything means wanting nothing."
"Think of it another way. You are very strong. It's actually better to find a weaker man. Two strong people together can easily lead to problems."
"You'll have disputes over all sorts of trivial matters, then neither will back down. There are simply too many examples of this."
Judy suddenly grabbed his shoulders, "So, after looking around, only you meet my requirements the most."
"You are stronger, possessing wisdom, handsomeness, and wealth. Besides you, I really can't think of any other peer who can conquer me!"
"But I have girlfriends, and a whole bunch of them. To be honest, besides the six at home, I have a few more outside."
"It's okay. If there are too many, I can even help you deal with a few."
"What?"
"I can help you handle them. I'm good at dealing with women, you know."
"Wait, but aren't you…?"
"I mean I can accept men now, it doesn't mean I reject women."
Oh.
Eric understood, and he slowly nodded, "But why does this feel like a transaction? We're like two merchants discussing a piece of merchandise."
"Isn't marriage itself an emotional transaction?"
"Let me ask you a question, answer seriously."
"What?"
"Do you have feelings for me?"
Eric hesitated for a moment, "I've always considered you a brother, a good friend, someone I can share my most intimate secrets with."
"That's not an answer. I asked if you have feelings?"
"I don't know!" Eric shouted.
Before he finished speaking, taking advantage of his pause, Judy leaned in and kissed him.
A moment later, feeling something unusual, Judy smiled ambiguously, "It seems your body is much more honest than your mouth."
Saying that, she took off her top, but Eric stopped her.
"Wait, wait, now is not the time."
"You look down on me? Eric Cooper, in this situation, if you dare to say no, I'll make you regret it!"
With that, she clenched her fists, "When I was in college, I could beat up four of you, and I still can now."
Eric quickly denied, "No, no, no, I admit you're hot, Judy, but I really have something tomorrow."
"Excuse!"
"Really, I have to go see a doctor."
"Are you sick?"
"Not sick, it's for body conditioning. If you don't believe me, come along. It's a very experienced old doctor."
Judy crossed her arms, scanning his face suspiciously, "Alright, you must be lying to me."
...The next day, Eric first went to the factory area to take a look.
After the expansion, it can accommodate about 12,000 people, but the limit is 15,000 people; any more and the land area simply won't allow it.
Expanding to coastal cities is the only way.
After reiterating the importance of safe production and making sure no accidents occurred, he left the factory and went to Oriental MGM.
He went to the internal cinema and directly participated in the screening of the meg.
At the end, when the shark was killed by the young Jason Statham, the lights came back on.
"Eric, it's about 110 minutes. What do you think?"
Eric slowly nodded. The movie was indeed shot according to his script. Although there were some deletions and modifications in dialogue, it didn't affect the overall quality.
As a commercial film, it was qualified and worthy of being shown on the big screen to entertain the audience.
Of course, a commercial film is just a commercial film, and it actually has quite a few problems.
For example, Xu Jinglei, who played the female lead, was not heavily interfered with during casting at the time, but from the finished product, she was far inferior to Li Bingbing.
The two are not people of the same temperament. Xu Jinglei always has a delicate feeling, even if she tried very hard to show her resolute side.
This should be the biggest flaw of the movie. Fortunately, the young Jason Statham was more outstanding, with brilliant action scenes and intense underwater combat.
It's foreseeable that after its release, it will definitely be labeled as a bad movie with illogical plot, but as the saying goes, it's just a commercial film.
"Hmm, it's still acceptable. Refine the special effects a bit more, and I think it's ready for the big screen."
Old Han immediately smiled, "With your words, I feel reassured. Are there any other areas that need improvement? Please give your suggestions."
Eric thought to himself, if I tell you now to reshoot with a different Xu Jinglei, is that realistic?
He mentioned a few innocuous details, but he spoke casually, while others couldn't just listen casually. They quickly pulled out their notebooks and jotted them down.
Are you kidding? Eric Cooper, an international director whose personal box office is approaching 2 billion dollars, his words are golden.
"Huang Bo's acting is very good. He even dies with a sense of humor. Although his screen time isn't much, he's a highlight."
"I remember you recommended him, right?"
"Yes, that time when I went to the school to promote transformers, I felt he had a lot of character and would add some color to the movie."
"You have a keen eye for talent. Although this actor isn't good-looking, he's very hardworking. He can be used as a character actor—thieves, illegal vendors, hooligans. Just standing there, he looks exactly the part."
Eric laughed heartily, but if Huang Bo were really trained in that direction, his future might be ruined.
"Broaden your perspective a bit. His temperament, rather than resembling a rogue villain, is more like that of a common person, the kind of ordinary people we see everywhere on the street."
"If there's such a role, why not let Huang Bo try it? I think he can do it very well."
"Enough about him, Lao Chen, you've seen the film too. Are there any areas that need cutting? Please bring them up quickly so we can make the changes." Old Han looked at Chen Ou.
The latter's expression was calm, "This film doesn't need any cuts. There are no sensitive parts. It can go straight to release."
"You said it."
"I'll take responsibility, rest assured!"
After the screening, the director, co-screenwriter, and others rushed to make revisions as requested. The three returned to the office for tea.
Chen Ou looked at Eric and said, "I'm planning to organize a high-level forum here. Are you interested in gracing us with your presence?"
"A forum? Is it another discussion about the gaps in filmmaking? Then there's no need. It always comes down to technology, censorship, and costs—not very interesting."
"Not entirely. The theme is how Chinese films can make an impact at the Oscar."
"Since Lee Ang won an Oscar with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001, mainland China has also been eager to win an equally significant award."
"In 2002, Zhang Yimou made Hero, but unfortunately, it only received a Best Foreign Language Film nomination."
"Last year, he made House of Flying Daggers, and it didn't even get a Best Foreign Language nomination, only a Best Cinematography nomination."
"In 2003, He Ping made warriors of heaven and earth, and it didn't even get a single nomination."
"This group of directors in mainland China is very confused and doesn't know how to make films that will win the Oscar's favor. Why don't you come and give some guidance?"
"I'll call Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, and the others. We can all have a chat."
Eric sighed, an unplanned task he was reluctant to take on.
And is this something that works just by talking about it?
If he remembered correctly, this year should be the birth of the epic bad movie The Promise, and next year will be the debut of the equally bandwagon-jumping bad movie The Banquet.
These big directors in mainland China seem to have fallen into a thinking trap: it must be historical, and it must tell a story so chaotic that others can't understand it.
Their obsession with the Oscar has made this group of people fanatical, green with envy over Lee Ang to the point of madness.
They all want to replicate another Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but they are all too hasty, only learning its form and abandoning its spirit.
It's beyond saving; they'll only sober up after a fall.
Seeing that Eric didn't want to participate, Old Han persuaded, "It won't take too long, just over an hour."
"Alright, I'll take you to that place shortly. It starts at 8 AM tomorrow and ends at 10 AM, so it won't delay your trip south."
Since both of them said so, Eric couldn't refuse them and reluctantly agreed.
"Alright then, Lao Chen, you go prepare quickly. We two have some things to deal with."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Leaving Oriental MGM, they picked up Judy, who was shopping for clothes in Wangfujing, and the car drove all the way to the North City.
After several turns, when they got out of the car, they were in front of a long alley.
Even though Eric had stayed in Yanjing for a long time, he had no idea where he was.
Old Han led the way and finally arrived at a siheyuan, where an old man with a white beard and reading glasses was waiting.
He looked at least seventy or eighty years old, but his spirit was very vigorous, which fit the image of an old Chinese medicine doctor.
Old Han and the doctor seemed to be acquaintances. He had Eric sit down for a pulse diagnosis.
After a moment, he shook his head slightly, "Young man, your body is very good, except for one organ, and that is your kidney."
Saying that, he suddenly pressed hard on Eric's index finger.
Eric immediately felt an electric shock and couldn't help but cry out, startling Judy next to him.
"It's severely depleted. Fortunately, you're young, and you exercise regularly, and you're also drinking the medicinal wine I prescribed."
Chuckling a few times, Eric quickly asked, "Doctor, what should I do? To be honest, I have several wives."
The old Chinese medicine doctor was not surprised. Those who come to him are usually living lavish lives. He had seen many with several wives; as long as they don't register the marriages, it's not illegal.
He took out a box of pills and wrote down another prescription.
"Take this first. After you finish it, follow the prescription to get herbs at Chinatown. Drink one dose every three days for a month."
"Additionally, I'll give you a DVD with a set of exercises. Go back and follow it, practicing once in the morning and once in the evening."
"But I tell you, these are all external aids. The key is still moderation, otherwise, even ancient emperors died from exhaustion, let alone you!"
Eric nodded repeatedly, "I thought you'd give me a book, like a kung fu manual."
The old Chinese medicine doctor gave him a sidelong glance, "What era is this? Don't you know about keeping up with the times?"
"Uh…"
Behind him, Judy patted Eric's shoulder. He could only ask sheepishly, "Does taking the medicine affect marital life?"