Chapter 49

Indeed, changing the lead actor and director would definitely result in a different movie.

This would be a *Matrix* belonging to Chen Tiandu, a different *Matrix*, but one that would be even more exciting.

The change in costume and appearance is just a small part. Not to mention, Chen Tiandu's demeanor and acting style are different from Keanu Reeves. Keanu Reeves' Neo costume, with its heavy trench coat fabric, too many buttons, and overly formal appearance, especially the rain cape on the back in the first movie, is simply an eyesore. It is very restrictive during fight scenes, lacking fluidity.

He wanted to add more lightness and humor to the movie. This is the main tone of future blockbusters. Future superheroes can casually crack a few humorous jokes, which is rarely seen in today's movies.

Yes, Chen Tiandu decided to play Neo, a role that suits him well. The cloak design also references the transformation attire of a popular Japanese anime character: the hem is jagged, always fluttering in the wind. Neo's inner shirt is all black, while his is white, with very few buttons, almost invisible, as it is connected by mesh fabric.

Some fans seem to call this kind of attire "Death Battle Wear."

Since it's about being cool, why not make it even more stylish?!

Chen Tiandu presented this design, then asked a professional costume designer to modify it, tailor it for him, and finally revealed the movie's costume through *Vanity Fair* magazine.

Of course, no one knows yet that this is the costume for his next movie. After forming the production team and finding professional costume designers, further modifications will be made based on the plot, which will be the final version.

Compared to his own character's costume, the costume for Trinity, played by Kate, is much simpler. Because Chen Tiandu saw the poster and trailer of her future movie *Underworld*, and there is no better fit for Kate than the black leather outfit.

Costume is one aspect, but Chen Tiandu also doesn't entirely agree with Keanu Reeves' performance. It's mostly about being cool, with an unchanging expression and a constant stubble. If it grows longer, it becomes a full beard. This might be related to Keanu Reeves' age. Although it looks very manly, it becomes a barrier to showcasing other aspects of his personality. Watching his future movies, it's clear that despite the popularity of *The Matrix*, his performances didn't have much breakthrough.

Of course, Chen Tiandu hasn't seen all of his future movies, he just has some vague memories. Perhaps it has something to do with the period when he was unconscious after being hit on the head by a phone. It seems like he has experienced the future world, but it's not entirely clear. He knows many things but can't explain why.

Chen Tiandu is younger, with better muscle tone, and can have a slightly more lively personality. The character portrayal doesn't need to be too obvious; a few subtle humorous lines can give the audience a pleasant surprise.

The most unbearable point is Keanu Reeves' martial arts skills, "Foreigners doing Chinese kung fu is just too awkward."

In the original, the Wachowskis' excessive desire to showcase stunts is too obvious. They use slow-motion to highlight "speed" too much, which makes it less smooth. The fast parts are not fast enough, and the slow parts are too slow.

Whether it's Morpheus or Neo, despite the deliberate special effects, the stiff movements cannot be hidden. The essence of Chinese kung fu is not in the flashy moves.

For this reason, Chen Tiandu spared no effort in searching for many future materials. He found a movie clip that perfectly captures the essence of kung fu action, a film directed by Wong Kar-wai called *The Grandmaster*. The scenes of the Golden Pavilion fight, snowfield training, rain battle, station confrontation, and street brawl are all beautifully portrayed.

Wong Kar-wai's fight scenes are not as flashy, but they have a subtle and profound atmosphere. A discerning eye can immediately see the difference; that is true Chinese kung fu. However, such pure kung fu is not suitable for *The Matrix*. Chen Tiandu has an idea: he will combine the strengths of both, showcasing Chinese kung fu to the fullest in this movie.

...

With a net worth of half a billion, for a Chinese person who came to America from a "barbaric country" to make a fortune, it is already a lot. Many people speculate that he will squander this huge sum and never make another movie.

However, Chen Tiandu's life hasn't changed much. He still lives in the same apartment with Kate.

The media's attention to him has gradually cooled down, and his unwillingness to cooperate is a significant reason. Apart from some major media outlets like *Vanity Fair* and *Los Angeles Times*, he has declined all other interviews.

He has also politely declined all party invitations.

As an outsider, he faces more challenges. He knows that the success of a movie is not determined by how many parties you attend or how many magazine covers you appear on, but by the movie itself.

So after the second phase of *The Sixth Sense* promotion, he basically disappeared from the public eye.

He is busy every day, often accompanied by his lawyer Donny. Kate knows he is preparing for a new movie, but he keeps it a secret from her.

America has weekends, and Chen Tiandu is not a workaholic. Sometimes he takes Kate and friends like Vin Diesel out to socialize, living a peaceful life. During this period, he joined the Directors Guild of America (DGA), although the event was low-key, it was still reported by a gossip tabloid.

Then, three months after *The Sixth Sense* was released, he made the news again.

The reason for the news was that he spent two million dollars to acquire a nearly bankrupt special effects company, renaming it "Matrix Digital." This move was seen by some tabloids as the first step in spending his money, with two million dollars being a significant amount, indicating that he doesn't mind spending his easily earned wealth.

Chen Tiandu is probably the one who understands the importance of special effects in future movies the most.

The top special effects companies in Hollywood, of course, are Industrial Light & Magic and Digital Domain. However, the special effects industry in Hollywood is in a strange loop. They live in a dream but must face the harsh reality.

The film special effects industry has always been a gathering of elites, with fierce competition. Behind the box office success and glamour, there is a "Speed" of life and death.

The cost of special effects continues to rise, but the movie companies offer very low prices, leading to the bankruptcy of small companies and layoffs in large companies. This is not yet obvious now, but in a few years, the number of bankrupt special effects companies will skyrocket, and even James Cameron's Digital Domain will file for bankruptcy.

The best choice for Chen Tiandu would be to move Matrix Digital out of California, like Peter Jackson's Weta Digital, which is preparing for *The Lord of the Rings* in New Zealand or other tax-reduced regions.

China? He would love to build it there, but it's not realistic now.

So for now, he will stay in California, developing the company while accepting the high taxes here.

"This is the special effects company you bought?" Kate looked around curiously.

This morning, Chen Tiandu mysteriously told her he was taking her somewhere, and she didn't expect it to be here.

It was the first time she came here with Chen Tiandu, seeing the special effects company he has been working on recently. It's a large factory, very spacious. The largest hall can even accommodate several large trucks. There are computer rooms behind glass, plastic character models, robotic arms, shooting areas, and many employees working around a huge machine.

"Yes."

Chen Tiandu introduced, "Its predecessor was the Mack & Jet Special Effects Company, which has worked on many film and television projects. It has fifty-seven employees, all experienced technicians. The employees' skills are good, and their labor contracts meet my requirements. I looked at over a dozen special effects companies, and this one is the most suitable for my needs."

He feels it was worth it. If it develops for a few more years, it might cost ten times as much.

(Brother Tiandu has taken the first step towards his rise, please support with votes)

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