Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 245 The turbulent Cannes Film Festival
TV series are actually what audiences love to watch the most, while movies have a higher threshold.

In addition to spending money, there are also many directors who make literary films.

This has certain requirements for the audience.

In comparison, TV series with short-lived parents are very suitable for the general public.

Just like many later TV dramas, the height of the script will be deliberately lowered so that more viewers can accept it.

It's different in literary and artistic movies. The clouds and mountains are so foggy that it's hard to understand.

It's more strenuous than reading a book.

Yu Hua's "Shouting in the Drizzle" was very laborious to watch, and Chen Shiping spent all his energy on getting the script right.

Cheng Kaige turned around and couldn't understand the picture.

It’s not that I can’t understand it, it’s that there’s too much information hidden in the lens language.

As a result, the plot seems a bit dry.

Although the storyboards were all prepared by Chen Shiping in advance, Cheng Kaige also shot them according to the storyboard script.

But the actors' performances and the design of the camera language were all done by Cheng Kaige.

After reading the material, Chen Shiping didn't know what to say.

Cheng Kaige handed over the materials and left it alone.

It’s not my own thing, I’ll throw it down after taking pictures!
Chen Shiping didn't have to talk to him about editing anymore and just started editing himself.

It’s May and the Cannes Film Festival is about to begin again.

Cheng Kaige was busy preparing to go to Cannes.

This year several of the company's films were shortlisted for Cannes.

Zhang Yimo’s life, Jiang Wen’s sunshine, and Cheng Kaige’s romance.

Three major directors gathered in Cannes. After Beijing Film Studio achieved good results in commercial films, artistic films also reached the peak again.

Domestic media are not shy about praising Beijing Film Studio.

But Chen Shiping had a headache.

Three films gathered in Cannes, but the trophies were limited.

Isn’t this internal friction?

Chen Shiping can still understand Zhang Yimo going to Cannes.

After all, Berlin and Venice both won big prizes.

All that's left now is Cannes.

But Jiang Wen went to join in the fun. If he went to Berlin for a movie like Sunshine, he would definitely come back with a big award.

As for Cheng Kaige's affair, Chen Shiping didn't take it seriously at all.

I just went to run with him.

Chen Shiping was tinkering with the film in the editing room and said to Jiang Wen: "Stop participating, withdraw."

In the dark editing room, Jiang Wen sat in the corner and was silent for a long time. He could understand Chen Shiping's starting point as the director of the factory.

But why should Zhang Yimo withdraw himself? Why can't Zhang Yimo withdraw?

Or does Chen Shiping think that his sunshine is not as good as being alive?

Jiang Wen's eyes flickered and he said firmly: "No, I want to attend Cannes."

Chen Shiping's hand paused and he almost cut the film into pieces.

"You want to go even if you don't get the prize?"

"I am confident that I will win the prize!"

Jiang Wen's eyes were very bright in the darkness, and he said to Chen Shiping: "I saw Alive, and the photos were very good, but not good enough!"

Chen Shiping put down the scissors in his hand and turned to look at him.

Jiang Wen looked directly into Chen Shiping's eyes without any compromise.

You are the director of the factory and you are an investor, but that doesn’t allow me to make way for Zhang Yimo!
Chen Shiping looked at the light in Jiang Wen's eyes, and finally shrugged and said, "Since you are so confident, then go ahead."

Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief, said hello to Chen Shiping and left.

After coming out, the sun shone on him. He felt that the world was so bright and everything around him was particularly light.

He insisted on participating in Cannes not only because he had confidence in himself and did not want to lose to Zhang Yimou.

I also want to surpass Chen Shiping. Since Chen Shiping can win an award at Cannes for the first time, he can do it too!
As a contemporary director, Jiang Wen doesn’t want to become someone else’s foil!

To surpass Chen Shiping is the goal of all new directors of this generation.

Jiang Wen took a deep breath and walked towards the gate of Beijing Film Studio.

The journey of life is to keep moving forward!
At Cheng Kaige's home, Mr. Cheng looked at his son who was packing his things and couldn't help but said: "Don't be obsessed with one award. Your life should not be lived just for a Palme d'Or."

Cheng Kaige paused and said, "You don't understand."

Mr. Cheng was helpless. Why couldn't a man of forty still realize that he was just an ordinary person?

The world doesn't just revolve around you.

Cheng Kaige has been working hard for the Palme d'Or for the past ten years and he can't let go.

He clearly remembers what Chen Shiping said to him.

If he couldn't win the Palme d'Or, he wouldn't be able to raise his head in front of Chen Shiping.

Cheng Kaige doesn't care what others think of him, he just wants to prove that he is capable and capable of winning the Palme d'Or.

If it doesn’t work this year, then next year; if it doesn’t work next year, then the year after.

There is always a chance to win the Palme d'Or!
Cheng Kaige packed his things in silence and took the suitcase to the airport.

On the way to the airport, Zhang Yimo and Gong Li sat in the car without any communication.

When Gong Li looked out the car window, she saw Cheng Kaige sitting in a car they passed.

Then the car disappeared from the rearview mirror.

When the plane to Paris was about to stop boarding, Cheng Kaige hurriedly arrived.

In the cabin, Jiang Wen and Ning Jing were sitting together and chatting.

Seeing Cheng Kaige appear, Jiang Wen and he were stunned for a moment and looked at each other.

Cheng Kaige nodded slightly to them and walked towards his position.

Ning Jing couldn't help but glance at his back and felt that Cheng Kaige was a little different from what she had imagined.

The back figure is very lonely and desolate, as if
Ning Jing slowly shook her head, feeling that her thoughts were a bit funny.

Cannes is very cool in May, and this is not Jiang Wen’s first time here.

The last time he came here, he got the Best Actor.

This time he came to Cannes again as a director, and his goal was still the Palme d'Or.

A man can do anything!
He wants to be the best actor in China and also the best director!

At this time in China, Chen Shiping was listening to the news coming from the other end of the phone.

After thinking for a while, he said: "The focus of public relations this time is on Gong Li's Best Actress. As for the Palme d'Or, let Zhang Yimo and Jiang Wen fight for it."

"Where is the best actor? Ge You's performance this time is also amazing, and Huang Haibo is also good."

"Don't worry about it. There are a lot of variables in Cannes this time. Try to sell the film at a good price."

Ge You's acting skills in "Alive" are very good and he deserves to be an actor.

What Ge You needs is not public relations to prove his strength, but the comprehensive consideration of this Cannes award.

But Gong Li is almost there. Without public relations, there is basically no hope.

Huang Haibo's acting skills are also worthy of a best actor, but they can't compare to Ge You's.

But Chen Shiping feels that Cannes will not award so many awards to China this time.

There are four awards for Best Picture, Grand Jury Prize, and Best Actor and Actor. If you can win three of them, it's considered a big deal at Cannes.

If you are not lucky enough, I will give you two prizes at most.

Chen Shiping had no way of predicting what would happen this time, so he simply ignored it.

Let the public relations team work hard to publicize Gong Li's actress, and let fate do its best.

After Chen Shiping hung up the phone, he couldn't help but sigh.

If you insist on being squeezed into one session, isn't this causing trouble for yourself? However, each one of them was dissatisfied with each other, did not compete with each other, and felt unhappy in their hearts.

On the beach in Cannes, Huang Haibo screamed and jumped on the beach.

Jiang Wen laughed and cursed: "You are a child from Tianjin, how can you act like you have never seen the sea!"

"But there is no beach!" Huang Haibo laughed and kicked the water, making Jiang Wen's clothes wet.

Ning Jing was also making trouble, and Jiang Wen shouted and rushed towards the two people.

Huang Haibo and Ning Jing poured water on Jiang Wen while hiding.

The three of them didn't look like they were here to attend a film festival, but more like they were here for a trip.

In the best hotel in Cannes, Gong Li was sitting in her room reading the news about this year's jury.

Opposite her was someone from the distribution department of the factory, who was discussing with her how to do public relations this time.

After reading for a while, Gong Li put down the information in her hand and couldn't help but ask: "Did Director Chen say anything about public relations?"

"No, but don't worry, we have participated in many movies and have a very mature public relations plan."

Gong Li was a little disappointed when she heard this. Chen Shiping promised to give her a Best Actress trophy.

Nor do they give themselves any advice.

What a friend!
Zhang Yimou was discussing with people from Times International how to sell the copyright of the film.
Selling is not difficult, what is difficult is how much it will cost.

Zhang Yimo looked at the people coming from Wanwan and said: "We will sell the copyright after we win the prize."

"But, are you sure you will win the award?" The person from Wanwan said very directly: "If you had come a few days earlier, you would have seen the press exhibition. It is very possible to win the award under the scorching sun. There is also a pulp novel that is also very good. ”

Zhang Yimo frowned and asked, "Are the photos they took much better than the ones they took alive?"

The person from Wanwan shook his head and said: "No, it's just that the theme of the scorching sun is too dominant."

Zhang Yimou was startled. Not long after Big Brother was disbanded and its influence had not completely disappeared, the Western world would definitely let the scorching sun win the prize.

Although life is very similar to the scorching sun, the background is incomparable!

Who says the director doesn’t understand politics? Everyone knows it very well.

Zhang Yimo shook his head and said: "Then I should also be able to win the jury award."

"But there are also Jiang Wen's Sunshine and Cheng Kaige. Cheng Kaige has come three times, and he might be able to win the prize this time."

Zhang Yimo still said confidently: "Jiang Wen can't do it, and Cheng Kaige can't do it even more!"

When talking about his old classmates, Zhang Yimo still felt a little hesitant.

Seeing Zhang Yimo's persistence, people from Wanwan said, "Okay, let's wait until the awards are over before considering the copyright issue."

At this time, the country is treating the Cannes Film Festival as a battle between old and new directors.

Was it Zhang Yimou who achieved greater glory, or was it Jiang Wen who successfully defeated Zhang Yimou with a counterattack.

Zhang Yimo and Jiang Wen had a dispute over creative concepts when they were in Red Sorghum.

But Zhang Yimo was the director at that time, and he won in the end.

This time Cannes is a continuation of that controversy.

Jiang Wen played at the beach for a long time before taking Huang Haibo and Ning Jing back to the hotel.

In the hotel, Jiang Wen met a very wretched-looking man.

When the man saw Jiang Wen, he happily came up to say hello.

"Hey! Hello, Jiang Wen, I know you!"

Quentin happily came up to say hello. Jiang Wen was a little surprised who this foreigner was and why he was more familiar with him than himself.

Quentin was very enthusiastic and pulled Jiang Wen to talk about the movies he had acted in.

"I've seen your movies a long time ago. I didn't expect you to be a director. I saw you were on the shortlist before I came to Cannes, so I wanted to get to know you!"

Jiang Wen didn't expect that he still had foreign fans, so he smiled and chatted with him.

The two found a bar and sat down, and the more they chatted, the more they talked. They felt like they were born friends.

At least as new directors, they have one thing in common, that is, they all like women's feet.

Jiang Wen put down the draft beer cup in his hand and said, "This wine doesn't taste good. Next time you come to China, I'll treat you to the best wine!"

Quentin immediately shook his head and said, "No, no, no, you should add a glass of vodka to it!"

Jiang Wen tried it curiously, his eyes lit up immediately, and he felt the alcohol was getting stronger after a while.

"The two mixed together are awesome!"

"What does twisting mean?"

"Awesome means the most powerful."

"Why do you need to call it Nippi?"

Jiang Wen was stunned for a moment, he had never thought about this problem!

After thinking for a moment, he opened his hands and said, "Because it's so awesome!"

Quentin couldn't help laughing.

This metaphor is really vivid!

The two chatted happily, got drunk after drinking, and held hands to watch each other's movies together.

After reading Quentin's pulp novel, Jiang Wen couldn't help but say: "Awesome!"

After watching Jiang Wen's movie, Quentin said the same thing: "You can do it too! The heroine is very sexy!"

“Your dancing sequence was great too!”

The two old men became a little restless as they talked.

Quentin immediately pulled Jiang Wen and said, "I know a very good place! The striptease show there is very famous!"

Jiang Wen's eyes lit up and he said immediately: "I think we should change places!"

In a family hotel in Cannes, Cheng Kaige sat on the balcony enjoying the evening breeze.

This time he was the only one in Cannes.

He no longer had the money to pay for the actors to come.

Zhang Guorong did not come because the schedule was not suitable.

Xu Qing was originally planning to come, but funds did not allow it.

Moreover, Xu Qing felt that Cheng Kaige had no chance to win the award, and if he did, it would be in vain!
It's better to stay in the country honestly and not lose that person.

If only Cheng Kaige's Fengyue was shortlisted this time, she would definitely go with her.

But with Gong Li and Ning Jing in front of her, Xu Qing really didn't have the confidence to compete with them.

What's more, when filming Fengyue, she was almost scolded to death by Cheng Kaige.

I was too lazy to look at Cheng Kaige's ugly face after his defeat.

Soon the Cannes Film Festival officially begins.

During the screening stage, Jiang Wen's Sunny Day and Quentin Quentin's Pulp Fiction received the most praise.

Zhang Yimo's life is not only known as the lament of the times, but also reveals heaviness, hope and thinking about life.

Only Cheng Kaige's "Feng Yue" received a lot of criticism after it was screened.

Especially after the Cannes journalists wrote the film review and the film's plot and sent it back to China, they suffered a lot of criticism.

Accusing Cheng Kaige that the whole story revolves around the abnormal love between several men and women, and there is nothing interesting at all!

Even foreign film critics have made sharp comments, saying that Cheng Kaige's performance is getting worse every year.

Perhaps Yellow Earth is the most successful work of his life.

Cheng Kaige was not affected by these comments this time. He just waited quietly for the final result.

On the night of the awards ceremony, Cheng Kaige was sitting in the audience and saw Ge You and Gong Li coming on stage to take away the Best Actor and Actor awards.

I saw Jiang Wen win the Director Award and the Jury Award.

I saw my former photographer Zhang Yimo take home the special jury award.

After seeing Quentin take away the last Palme d'Or, Cheng Kaige stood up silently and left the film festival alone.

Cheng Kaige finally came to the beach and let the water cover the top of his feet.

(End of this chapter)