The Best Director

Chapter 69 Chris Gardner's Candidate

The story of "When Happiness Knocks on the Door" probably tells about Chris Gardner, a middle-aged man with a wife and children. Because of wrong judgment, he invested all his savings in a new medical product, a bone density scanner. above. But this product did not bring the good life they imagined for their family. Due to poor sales, Chris Gardner had to travel to various hospitals in San Francisco every day, trying to achieve the goal of selling at least two units a month, because then he could Barely maintain the monthly household expenses.

One day, he saw a man in a Ferrari looking for a parking space in a parking lot, and he said to the man, "You can use my parking space, but you have to tell me, what do you do for work? And what?" Do it?" The man said he was a stockbroker, and he told Chris Gardner that you don't need a college degree to be a stockbroker, you just need to be proficient in numbers and know how to behave in the world.

So Chris Gardner decided to become a stockbroker, and he got an internship. But at this time, his wife finally couldn't stand it anymore, and she wanted to take Chris to New York; but Chris Gardner insisted on keeping his son, because they had no money to pay the rent, the two father and son were kicked out, Chris Reese Gardner and his son lived a hard life. They slept in cheap hotels, went to public toilets in subway stations, and competed for the ambulance room in the church... At the same time, Chris continued to sell bone density scanners while working as a brokerage intern .

Chris Gardner has also been depressed and shed tears in such a poor situation, but none of this has knocked him down. For the future of his son and his own happiness, he persisted all the way, and finally ushered in the light. He was hired by the company , to become an official stockbroker.

This is the life of Chris Gardner in "Happiness Comes Knocking", which is also based on a true story.

In a western restaurant, Wang Yang met the real Chris Gardner, a tall black man in his 40s with a shaved head and a kind smile on his face. Sandy Pax got in touch with him very quickly. His investment company was set up in Chicago, but it happened to be handling some business in New York recently. He was very happy to hear that Wang Yang was going to shoot a biographical film based on his story. , and would be happy to have an interview with Wang Yang.

"At that time, we lived on the street for a year before we found a small house." Recalling these, Chris Gardner couldn't help but look sad, he sighed, and said: "That house is very narrow, There is no electricity, my son and I sleep together on a small wooden bed every night, many nights I spend the whole night with my eyes open, I really don’t know if I will suddenly collapse and give up the happiness I pursued ? Or give up your own life?"

Sitting opposite Wang Yang nodded silently, with mixed emotions. He thought of Anne Darren, and her happy smiling face appeared in front of his eyes. Fortunately, they didn't give up in the end, didn't they?

"But, I can't, I see my son and I know I can't.

"Chris Gardner's eyes became moist, he took a sip from the red wine glass on the table, and said: "I have never had a father since I was a child, and I can't let my son do the same. It is the most important thing for me to let him live a good life, but at that time, I could only light candles and bathe him in a tub I found at the garbage station, but he just stood in it and said to me Saying 'Dad, you know what? You are a good dad. '"

Chris Gardner became short of breath. He wiped the tears welling up from the corners of his eyes and said, "At that time, I was like this now, and the tears welled up all at once." He smiled guiltily and said: "I'm not a good father, I put him through a lot of suffering, he's just a kid, he shouldn't have to suffer. But I said to myself, I will, I will be a good father, I will let him Be happy, and make yourself happy.”

"Well, Mr. Gardner, you did it." Wang Yang said with a slight smile, and continued to listen to him tell his own story.

The real "When Happiness Knocks at the Door" is different from the story in the movie. Chris Gardner's situation is even more unlucky, and the degree of desperation for him and his son is also worse and lasts longer. He was 27, shortly after his son was born, met the Ferrari guy, spent 10 months looking for a job on Wall Street, and finally found someone who was willing to give him a chance.

When Chris Gardner quit his job as a medical supplies salesman and came to New York from San Francisco with his wife and children, it turned out that the man who made the promise had just been fired. So he had no job, no income, and his wife divorced him and took the son away, but she gave the baby back to Chris Gardner a few months later. In order to get his son, Chris moved out of the cheap single dormitory where children were not allowed to live in, and took his son to live on the streets.

The two father and son wandered like that, and the park and the toilet became their temporary sleeping places. It took Chris a year to save enough money to rent a small house. Later, he got a training opportunity from a brokerage company and passed the exam to become an official licensed stockbroker; then he founded his own investment company and became a millionaire.

Of course, biographical films also need to be filmed, to rearrange a complex story, sometimes to make it simple and natural, and sometimes to make it more dramatic and better-looking. At the same time, the ultimate purpose of the story is to serve the theme of the movie. There are several themes in "When Happiness Knocks on the Door", the warmth between father and son, the ordinary and great fatherly love, and the defense of one's dreams. Difficulties are good, we must persist in the pursuit of happiness.

"When you are in the darkest moment of your life, the only person who can help you is yourself." After Chris Gardner finished telling his story, he took a long breath, looked at Wang Yang and said with a smile : "No one can help you, because the problem comes from your heart. Only by overcoming yourself and persevering can you see the dawn. This is the most important point I have learned in my own life."

Wang Yang nodded heavily. When surrounded by darkness, only by still yearning for the light and rushing towards the flame without hesitation can he reach a beautiful world. He smiled and said, "This is probably a kind of self-salvation."

"Yes" Chris Gardner agreed, he cut a small piece of steak with a knife and fork and put it in his mouth, and said, "You can't let yourself go with the crowd, when I was receiving relief from the church During a period of time, I met a lot of people who were as down and out as I was, and later I became a manager, and they continued to receive rescue. Why?" He shrugged and said with some pride: "Dignity, you must never lose it This, or you become numb and open to what you call reality, and when you lose it, you lose everything."

Chris put down the knife, stretched out two fingers, and said with a smile: "There is one more, dream. Young man, what is a dream?" Wang Yang replied without thinking, "I am very eager to do something."

"Haha" Chris nodded with a big smile, showing a big mouthful of white teeth, and said: "Dreams are things you absolutely love to do. These things make you feel excited and happy, and you can't wait to hope that the sun in the morning will be happy." Dots rise because you want to do these jobs so badly. If you do a job just because it's something you're good at, or because it's paid well, then you're just a walking dead, a slave. But dreams are different, it makes You really live, and you live with dignity."

"Well, I think so." Wang Yang took a bite of beef, thinking about McDonald's waiter and filming, he couldn't help laughing: "Fortunately, the job I'm doing now is what I like."

Chris Gardner smiled approvingly and gave a thumbs up: "I read the latest issue of "Time Magazine", I know your story, you are a good person." Wang Yang smiled and said: "Thank you .” Chris Gardner picked up a napkin to wipe his hands, and asked with interest: “By the way, I wonder who will play me?”

Who will play Chris Gardner? From the moment he thought about shooting "When Happiness Comes Knocking", Wang Yang had a clear candidate in his heart, and it was him, Will Smith. Like "Juno," "Happiness Knocks" needed a lead actor who could play a smart, humorous, and charismatic Chris Gardner, as well as a fatherly love for his son. Vulnerability, the joy of being successful, etc.

Combining these aspects, it is definitely not a simple matter to perform well. At the same time, the appearance and temperament of the actor must also be considered. Although Chris Gardner is not a handsome guy in reality, in the movie, he needs to be a handsome guy, not the kind of handsome guy with electric eyes, but a very friendly and good-looking guy. handsome guy. On the one hand, this is conducive to expressing the warmth between father and son. If a ferocious father wants to appear warm, the difficulty will rise sharply; Dana's participation, if you want the audience not to experience visual fatigue, then you have to show them a leading actor who is very popular with the audience.

This is not a handsome guy in the simple sense, or even a handsome guy, but he can fascinate the audience and make them watch his one-man show willingly, which is a very strange charm. It's like "Forrest Gump" Tom Hanks; "Captain Jack" Johnny Depp and so on; and of course Will Smith.

However, it is 1999, not 2006. Can Will Smith be competent for Chris Gardner? this is a problem. But Wang Yang thinks that the question he should consider first is, will Will Smith agree to his invitation? Also, what Oscar-winning actor can he invite?

It's not because of the salary, or that reason. His qualifications are not convincing enough, let alone impress the actors who have no shortage of film contracts. Why would they take the risk of participating in a 19-year-old director's biographical film? Don't look at what Time said about "the next 'King of the World'"; now it's back to "High School Musical" or worse, and a lot of people think he's crazy.

Wang Yang knows this, so Will Smith is the best candidate, because at least they know each other well, and Will also said "there is a chance to work together", although that is just a polite remark, it is better than nothing. Will Will agree to appear in "When Happiness Comes Knocking"? Wang Yang couldn't guarantee it, but he was already mentally prepared to try his best to impress that guy.

Thinking of this, Wang Yang smiled at Chris Gardner and said, "Mr. Gardner, the candidate has not been confirmed yet. I will notify you as soon as it is confirmed." Chris nodded, Wang Yang said again: "When the time comes, we will disturb you again." No matter who plays the male lead, he must communicate with Chris Gardner, which will help him understand the role and the story.

"Haha, I am very happy." Chris Gard laughed heartily again, and he suddenly said with enthusiasm: "Actually, I have always been interested in movies. Maybe I can make a cameo in the movie?"

Wang Yang couldn't help smiling, nodded and said: "Oh, no problem, I think it will be very interesting." Taking a sip of soda water, looking at Chris, Wang Yang suggested again: "By the way, Mr. Gardner , I think you can write an autobiography, your story is very attractive, and your language is very interesting and touching, if you write an autobiography, it will definitely become a bestseller, which will also encourage more people .”

The reason why Wang Yang encouraged Chris Gardner to write an autobiography is not just kidding. If there is a best-selling autobiography with the same name, and it is released in conjunction with the film, there is no doubt that the film promotion work of "When Happiness Comes Knocking" will become It is much simpler, and the cost of publicity will be reduced, but the effect will be very, very good. And, he believed, it would indeed be a good book.

"Write an autobiography?" Chris Gardner was slightly taken aback, and a trace of emotion flashed across his face. He frowned and thought for a while, then laughed and said, "This is a good idea. I really want to share my success with others. It’s the right way.” He said excitedly: “After you say that, I almost know how to write in my mind, and I’ll start writing when I get home.” Wang Yang said with a smile: “Then I look forward to seeing your first draft .”

After a pleasant dinner, Wang Yang had a deeper understanding of the story of "When Happiness Knocks on the Door". He listened to Chris Gardner's heartfelt thoughts and those experiences that were not shown in the movie. It all gave him a feeling of "controlling the story".

Back at the hotel apartment, Wang Yang took a hot bath, put on his pajamas and sat down on the sofa in the living room. He looked around and found that the apartment was quiet without Jessica's laughter and figure. Habit. After thinking for a while, Wang Yang picked up the mobile phone on the coffee table in front of him, found Will Smith's number in the address book, he pressed the dial button, and after a while, he said, "Hi, Will, hello. It's me, Wang Yang."

"Hey, buddy, how are you?" Will Smith's magnetic voice came from the phone, and before Wang Yang could answer, he smiled again: "Magic Yang, I know your heroic deeds, then It's so cool"

"Yes, thank you, ha" Wang Yang smiled, and after saying hello, he directly explained the purpose of his visit: "Will, I am currently preparing a movie "When Happiness Comes Knocking on the Door". After some nervousness, the tone was full of sincerity: "I very much hope that you can play the leading actor."

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