1994: I Became a Literary Master in America

Chapter 51 The Matrix

Xu Shengjie vaguely remembers that the filming period for the first Matrix movie was 25 weeks.

It took five months to make, from March to May 1998, and was officially released in March 1999.

According to interviews at the time, the Wachowski brothers had the idea in the early 90s.

It was just an idea; they wrote a very vague outline, roughly meaning that "in the future, AI destroys human civilization, and humans fight against AI, trying to restore human civilization." The idea came from the Terminator, but the specific story content, framework, and various metaphors and connotations that critics attributed to it after the film's release did not exist.

At the time, the entire Hollywood was going crazy for Terminator.

An attempt to replicate another Terminator.

Silver felt that the outline was in line with Warner Bros.' ideas, so he contacted the Wachowski brothers.

Two new screenwriters wanted to direct the film themselves.

Warner Bros. wasn't stupid; how could they possibly agree? But Silver did have high hopes for the Wachowski brothers, so he proposed that they first write a workable script, and then give them the opportunity to direct films in the future.

Once they have enough qualifications and can prove their abilities, they will launch The Matrix.

To be precise, the script for The Matrix didn't really take shape until 96 or 97; in any case, it was still just a concept at the time.

Well then, it's mine now!

Xu Shengjie was well aware of the significance of "The Matrix," and he had ample time to transform it into his own work.

As for directing?

We'll see!

In 98, he was only 23 years old.

It's highly likely that no Hollywood film company would be willing to entrust such a large project to a Chinese-American director.

There is discrimination, but more so, there is distrust.

Unless Xu Shengjie invests in the project himself, or has sufficient achievements to prove himself before the project is even started.

It's impossible for something like making a few low-budget movies and then getting hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from Hollywood to happen.

The key is that the IP address has to belong to him.

Moreover, The Matrix contains deep religious metaphors, which Americans love, thus guaranteeing the story's success as a bestseller.

Thinking about this, Xu Shengjie became excited.

He left his unfinished breakfast aside, walked to his worktable, and wrote down his creative plan for "The Matrix" in his notebook.

And IP addresses?

Xu Shengjie scratched his head, at a loss for what to do.

……

There's no rush in creating The Matrix.

He needs to lay some groundwork.

The most pressing tasks are the publication of "Buffy" and "Canal Street Metro Station," as well as the writing of the script for "Run Julie."

Especially at times like these, you need to be patient and persistent, and you can't lose your rhythm.

So after completing the creation of "The Matrix", Xu Shengjie continued to immerse himself in the scriptwriting of "Run Julie Run".

How should each shot be handled? How should each scene be filmed?

This is a massive undertaking in itself, and Xu Shengjie needs to make thorough preparations.

Julie returned in the evening.

The two were too lazy to cook at home, so they discussed it and decided to have dinner in the East Village.

They found a Japanese restaurant in East Village...

You have to admit one thing: the Japanese are very good at packaging and propaganda, and they attach great importance to this kind of propaganda.

They packaged Japanese cuisine as a culture, investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to promote it worldwide.

United States, France, United Kingdom...

Their advertisements are everywhere.

This includes China.

People may develop an interest in the Japanese through this food culture.

From the 70s onwards, the promotion of Japanese culture has continued unabated.

Food, animation, and various other industries are involved.

Xu Shengjie remembers clearly that 25 years ago, when he was chatting with his friends in a group chat, they talked about the relationship between the Japanese and the French.

A friend in the group directly stated: If a CT scan were to occur between China and Japan, there would be an 80% chance that France would support Japan.

The reason is simple: the Japanese infiltration of France is unparalleled in the world.

The French are generally pro-Japanese, and their promotion of Greater China culture has been nothing short of a disaster.

Xu Shengjie wholeheartedly agreed.

"Honey, you don't like it?"

Julie found it rather strange that Xu Shengjie had lost all interest.

Look at these Japanese dishes, how exquisite they are! And the chefs are all impeccably dressed, exuding an air of elegance.

Xu Shengjie pursed his lips and said irritably, "I walked into this restaurant, Expensive as fXck."

Imagine you're given a large plate with only one grain of rice on it, and then you have forty-five minutes to explain to me where that rice came from. I also have to act all touched and grateful… But, what the fxck man? Uh, sorry.

Xu Shengjie didn't care; it was a Japanese restaurant.

He was so blunt in front of the chefs, or rather, he didn't care at all about the anger in the eyes of those Japanese chefs.

Julie laughed and said, "No need to apologize. Don't apologize for telling the truth."

"OK, so what is this?"

I just feel that food should be warm, like Chinese fried rice. A whole bowl of fried rice is like a mountain or a pillow placed in the tableware. You can put your head on it and sleep; it's a feeling of satisfaction and happiness.

But now, on top of the cold rice, there is...

Then the chef tells you: "Sir, this is fish from the Dead Sea. Fifty years ago, the chef used a special samurai sword to cut it open, and then someone focused on attaching the fish slices to these grains of rice, with his hands that had been focused for fifty years..."

puff!

Julie couldn't help but laugh.

The diners nearby also agreed.

"Good food isn't something you can just talk about; it's something you can make with your heart."

It's not as simple as you saying it's delicious, or your beautiful plating making it magical. Whether it's good or not, the diner has to decide for themselves. That's why you see me taking you to those Chinese restaurants sometimes—maybe not the neatly dressed staff, maybe not the polite ones, maybe… without all those formalities—you can experience the aroma of the food, savor the changes it undergoes in your mouth, and then make a proper evaluation… well, I'm just not used to it.

"Just give me a bowl of ramen!"

As Xu Shengjie spoke, he pushed two beautifully crafted sushi plates in front of Julie.

Julie scratched her head vigorously, making her short, fiery red hair look messy.

"Okay, now that you mention it, I don't think I have much of an appetite anymore."

Checkout!

She took out a twenty-dollar bill and placed it under the plate.

Xu Shengjie also took ten dollars, got up, and left with Julie...

"The chef at the counter just now looked at you with such hatred that he wanted to kill you."

As Julie sat on the back of the motorcycle, she suddenly burst into laughter.

Am I wrong?

"It's nothing, it's just that I feel like you just want to sabotage their event."

"Hmm, probably!"

Xu Shengjie suddenly changed the subject, saying, "I just don't really like them."

"Because you are Chinese?"

"You knew all along!"

Xu Shengjie started the motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and roared off.

Julie quickly hugged him tightly, "But I'm not full, I'm so hungry!"

"Then, let's go to Hehe Restaurant, so you can experience what it means to have a down-to-earth atmosphere and what Chinese romance is all about."

……

Seven o'clock is the time when Hehe Restaurant gets crowded.

Today is Thursday, and unlike the weekend, there weren't any long queues.

Of course, Xu Shengjie doesn't need to queue here either.

He still found Ah Liang and, led by Ah Liang, entered the restaurant.

Just as he said in the Japanese restaurant, the place was bustling with people and filled with the aroma of food, which always made people feel happy.

We ordered a table full of steamed dim sum, including crystal shrimp dumplings, honeycomb tripe, siu mai, taro and pork ribs, and sticky rice chicken.

This isn't the first time I've eaten Chinese food.

Julie even learned how to clumsily use chopsticks.

"You're right. Compared to the polite but cold food in Japanese restaurants, Chinese food is much more delicious."

She excitedly picked up a shrimp dumpling and put it in her mouth.

He then revealed a satisfied expression, his eyes narrowing into slits.

I think I know what to write in my submission to The New Yorker.

Xu Shengjie had a sudden inspiration and came up with an idea.

Just then, I heard other people talking at the table behind me.

"No way, how could Maledana have used performance-enhancing drugs? And be suspended?"

"Really? I bet on Argentina to win the Argentina vs. Bulgaria match! Maradona is suspended, so they're doomed!"

"Maladona" is the Cantonese name for Maradona used by people on Hong Kong Island and in the Cantonese-speaking system of Guangdong and Guangxi.

Xu Shengjie's eyes lit up immediately!

……