Chapter 464 Premiere and Additional Events (12,000 words update!)
Even after Yu Qin left, Lu Yanhe was still in shock.
Chen Ziyan looked at him, and he looked at Chen Ziyan.
“We all thought she might ask me to make her next movie, but we never expected that the movie she asked you to make would be like this.” Chen Ziyan shook her head in disbelief. “I’m completely stunned.”
“I was stunned too,” Lu Yanhe said.
After saying these two sentences, the two looked at each other in silence for a moment. Chen Ziyan said, "However, I was really surprised that she could come up with such a story so quickly. Just hearing this story brought back a lot of memories."
"Past events?" Lu Yanhe asked, somewhat surprised.
Chen Ziyan nodded, "In the entertainment industry, there are quite a few people like the female protagonist in her story who are a bit crazy."
Lu Yanhe immediately thought of Mengli.
Uh, that's true.
"If Yu Qin actually makes this movie, it will definitely be a hot topic. It's like tearing off the fig leaf of the entertainment industry," Chen Ziyan said. "Especially the ending, which is a complete satire of this vain and fame-driven world."
Lu Yanhe was silent for a moment, "Actually, I don't recall ever seeing this kind of relationship in any movie before."
"It's too crazy and extreme," Chen Ziyan said. "No director would dare to film such a subject."
The two men looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Why do I feel like you think this story... is pretty good, Ziyan?"
"I didn't say it was good, I just said that not many directors would dare to make it."
"Is it because filming it is destined to bring huge controversy?" Lu Yanhe asked.
Chen Ziyan said, "The biggest point of contention in this story is that it portrays a very negative female protagonist. You have to understand that the content of movies in recent years has been to condemn the harassment and persecution of women by men, not the other way around. Such a story is easy to be criticized."
Lu Yanhe nodded, "That's true."
Chen Ziyan: "It's too risky for you to act in this movie. It's really unnecessary. Why would you take such a risk?"
Lu Yanhe nodded. "Mm."
The two looked at each other again.
After a moment of silence, Chen Ziyan asked, "So what do you think... putting aside the fact that Yu Qin wanted you to act in the film, what do you think of this story? If it were made into a movie, based on her style of making 'Happy Hour,' what do you think it would be like?"
"I don't know, but I always felt that Director Yu was deliberately shaping the female lead into such a negative image."
"When she was filming 'Happy Time' with Ning Xiulian, she must have accumulated a lot of conflicts."
"I really don't know why she thought Ning Xiulian would agree to star in this film," Lu Yanhe said.
Chen Ziyan paused for two seconds and said, "Could it be that Ning Xiulian will actually agree to act in this movie in the end?"
Lu Yanhe always felt that this was impossible to come true, but inexplicably, he had a little bit of a restless hope that it would come true.
Do you want to watch a show?
At this moment, Fu Kai and Shang Yongzhou arrived at the hotel one after the other.
With the premiere of "Paths of Glory" just around the corner, the main cast and crew of this film, which was shortlisted for the Horizons section, finally met up on Lido Island.
Shang Yongzhou's arrival was even officially reported by the Venice International Film Festival, which issued a special message to welcome him.
His official description is: China's top film actor.
Upon seeing this introduction, Lu Yanhe felt a mixture of envy and a silent reflection, realizing that even a long-established art film event like the Venice International Film Festival still cared about the status of actors and the popularity of stars.
Those artists who constantly claim to be artists and belittle the star system are just as eager to see stars at the film festivals they yearn for.
When they were having dinner together, Fu Kai asked about the movie "Happy Time".
"We heard back home that this movie received very good feedback in Venice. Is that true?"
Fu Kai asked whether it was true or false because often, news is taken out of context and fragmented by the media.
Lu Yanhe said, "This film has received very high praise from the media, and it is also the kind of film appreciated by the Venice International Film Festival."
Fu Kai seemed thoughtful. "Did you go to the premiere? What did you think of it?"
"Well, the box office results may not have been very good, but it was indeed very well made," Lu Yanhe said. "After all, most viewers expect a movie to be a good story."
Fu Kai understood immediately, "Isn't that the same approach as our 'Road to Glory'?"
“The Road to Glory has a complete storyline, while Happy Times has almost none,” Lu Yanhe said. “If we were to describe it in terms of literary genres, The Road to Glory is still a novel, but Happy Times is an essay.”
"It seems that Yu Qin's films have always been in this style."
Shang Yongzhou pondered for a moment and said, "She contacted me yesterday and spoke to me on the phone, telling me about her ideas for the next film."
"Huh?" Lu Yanhe looked at Shang Yongzhou in surprise. "It's not a story set against the backdrop of a film festival, is it?"
Chen Ziyan looked at Shang Yongzhou in surprise, "She asked you to act in this movie?"
Shang Yongzhou nodded and said, "Yes."
Chen Ziyan and Lu Yanhe looked at each other in bewilderment.
Seeing their expressions, Shang Yongzhou realized something and asked, "She also went to see Yan He?"
Chen Ziyan nodded.
Lu Yanhe immediately added, "But I refused."
Shang Yongzhou said, "Yes, I refused too."
Chen Ziyan asked, "You also think this story is no good?"
“No, actually I think the story is quite satirical. If it were made into a film, such a character would definitely leave a mark and be discussed by many people.” Shang Yongzhou said frankly, “But I feel that the story is too thematically driven. Everything is laid out in the open, with not much room for interpretation. I don’t want to play such a simple character.”
Chen Ziyan suddenly realized, "Indeed."
Fu Kai asked, "Then why did Yan He refuse at the time?"
Lu Yanhe said with a smile: "The main reason is the same as my senior brother's. If the actress were changed to a male actor, I might consider it a little. The actress's role is really good, but in my opinion, the male actor is just a tool. He doesn't have much room to perform. His existence is just to give the actress an object to perform for."
Fu Kai: "You two are both very greedy. You both think it's a pretty good story, but you both rejected it because the roles offered to you didn't provide enough room for you to develop your characters."
Fu Kai was just joking when he said that.
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "Then as actors, we should of course look for the best roles."
Shang Yongzhou: "Anyone can play a tool-like role."
They finished lunch chatting and laughing, and then sat together at the corner cafe to continue their conversation.
Chen Ziyan asked Fu Kai if he had any ideas for his next film.
Fu Kai said, "I plan to go back to what I'm good at and shoot some more relaxed, everyday films."
Chen Ziyan said, "The special screenings of 'Road to Glory' received pretty good reviews from film critics. Why don't you strike while the iron is hot and make another art film?"
Fu Kai: "I've already filmed the story I wanted to tell with 'The Road to Glory.' I can't just force myself to make a film when I have no ideas. I just like things that don't require too much thought or depth. If I accumulate a few ideas, that's enough for one film. If I make another one, I won't be able to come up with anything new."
Lu Yanhe was surprised to hear Fu Kai say that.
Fu Kai and Yu Qin seem to be two extremes.
If Yu Qin were here, she would definitely say, "What kind of garbage are those photos you took?"
Actually, director Fu Kai's films have never received high ratings. However, Shang Yongzhou's willingness to collaborate with him again and again was something Lu Yanhe couldn't understand before filming "The Road to Glory." But after filming "The Road to Glory," and after he carefully watched all of Fu Kai's films, Lu Yanhe suddenly understood Shang Yongzhou's choice.
Because Fu Kai is a very genuine director. He never tries to have it all in his films. Whether it's a commercial film or an art film like *The Road to Glory*, he doesn't follow a conventional formula. He has his own understanding of film. There's a unique auteur quality in him. This auteurism allows his film style to transcend the simple distinction between commercial and art films.
In comparison, Yu Qin's films, including "Happy Times," are indeed well-made. However, Lu Yanhe can see echoes of many other classic works in this film. Yu Qin is shooting this film from the perspective of "I'm making an art film."
"Huh? Isn't that Chen Ziliang?" Chen Ziyan's gaze suddenly paused for a moment in front of her.
“It’s him.” Lu Yanhe saw him in front of an ice cream shop diagonally across the street.
"What is he here for?" Chen Ziyan asked, somewhat puzzled.
Chen Ziyan wasn't questioning Chen Ziliang's presence at the Venice International Film Festival. In fact, many celebrities without films nominated for the festival attend due to invitations from sponsoring brands or other reasons. However, these celebrities usually arrive during the opening ceremony. Those who arrive during the festival are generally actors rushing to their own film premieres.
We had not received any prior notice that Chen Ziliang would be coming to Venice.
Come over at this time—
Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan looked at each other in bewilderment.
They glanced at Shang Yongzhou instinctively.
Shang Yongzhou asked in confusion, "Why are you all looking at me like that? I didn't ask him to come over, and I don't know him well."
Chen Ziyan: "That's not what we were thinking."
Shang Yongzhou seemed even more confused. "Then what are you thinking?"
Fu Kai suddenly shook his phone.
"People from Ruyi Pictures asked me for an invitation to the premiere of 'The Road to Glory,' which I got for Chen Ziliang," Fu Kai said.
Lu Yanhe and Chen Ziyan looked at each other in bewilderment.
Chen Ziyan said, "If he wants to come and support us, then he can."
Lu Yanhe thought so too.
Regardless, Chen Ziliang is a popular star, even though his reputation isn't great, he's still a walking topic generator.
He was willing to attend the premiere of "Road to Glory" to increase the film's exposure and star power, and it was for free, so why wouldn't he?
Lu Yanhe's thoughts were very pure—
Whether Chen Ziliang is happy about helping promote "Road to Glory" can be put aside for now.
-
"Did you also guess that Chen Ziliang might have taken the role in the movie that neither you nor Shang Yongzhou wanted to act in?" Chen Ziyan asked.
Lu Yanhe nodded, "Yes."
Chen Ziyan sighed softly and said, "If it's really as we suspect, then it's truly... ridiculous."
Lu Yanhe: "Actually, I don't care whether Chen Ziliang plays the role or not, and I don't think it's important. My senior brother Yongzhou and I both feel that the male actor doesn't deserve to play that role. At least I'm not the only one who thinks so, which makes me even more determined. I'm more curious whether Ning Xiulian will play the role. Sister Ziyan, to be honest, from an actor's point of view, if it weren't for the fact that the role is obviously based on Ning Xiulian, it would be a really good role. There's so much room for performance, and it's a very rare type of role."
"Aren't you worried that this actress is too selfish and narcissistic?" Chen Ziyan asked with concern. "When portraying such a character, aren't you worried that the audience's dislike for the character will be transferred onto the actress?"
“In the current film and television environment, I actually think that audiences don’t want to see those great and righteous characters anymore. They love these somewhat extreme characters,” Lu Yanhe said. “Audiences increasingly want to see selfishness and flaws in characters. The more selfish a character is, the more relatable they are to ordinary people.”
"If you were Ning Xiulian, would you act it?" Chen Ziyan asked.
Lu Yanhe: "It's hard to say, but it certainly won't be as decisive as rejecting the male actor role now."
A good, complex role is fatally attractive to an actor.
Chen Ziyan: "Ning Xiulian might not refuse."
"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised and asked why.
“You said it yourself, this is a great role for an actor.” Chen Ziyan asked Lu Yanhe, “Ning Xiulian doesn’t care about being criticized for being an old cow eating young grass, and she publicly held hands and kissed Gu Zhao on the red carpet. How much do you think she would care about playing a role that might be criticized? Rather than letting someone else play a role based on her, it’s better for her to play it herself. If she plays it well, it might become a masterpiece.”
Lu Yanhe stared at Chen Ziyan in shock.
What Chen Ziyan said was something he truly hadn't expected.
But then I thought about it again and realized that it wasn't entirely unreasonable.
That evening, Lu Yanhe was invited by Math, the brand he endorses, to attend Math's brand event at the Venice International Film Festival.
He met Ning Xiulian at this event.
There was only her, not Gu Zhao.
As a top contender for Best Actress at this year's Venice International Film Festival, Ning Xiulian received a warm welcome at the event.
Lu Yanhe and Ning Xiulian were asked to take photos together by many people.
They didn't even have time to chat for long before they started taking photos together.
While smiling at everyone's cameras, Ning Xiulian whispered to Lu Yanhe, "Did Director Yu Qin tell you about her idea?"
"Hmm," Lu Yanhe said, "I told you, Teacher Ning, can you act?"
Ning Xiulian: "Act! Why wouldn't you act?"
Lu Yanhe's heart skipped a beat.
Chen Ziyan is truly a prophet.
It was a real performance.
“From what I’ve heard of this story, the female protagonist… seems to have a rather negative image.” Lu Yanhe carefully chose his words. “Aren’t you worried about the potential backlash against you?”
Ning Xiulian: "Do you think that if I stop acting, the voices attacking me will disappear? If I stop acting, Yu Qin will find someone else to play the role. Who wouldn't think of me when they read this story?"
Lu Yanhe: "Uh, that's true."
The two maintained polite, camera-ready smiles.
Ning Xiulian: "It's such a pity. If you had played the role, the scenes with you would have been even more exciting."
"Who was ultimately cast to play the male lead?" Lu Yanhe asked.
Ning Xiulian said, "Yu Qin approached Ruyi Pictures for investment, and Ruyi Pictures agreed on the condition that Chen Ziliang play the male actor role."
really……
Lu Yanhe silently controlled his expression, making sure it didn't change, especially avoiding any hint of sarcasm.
Otherwise, with so many cameras pointed at him, who knows what people might interpret it as?
"I thought Director Yu wouldn't seek investment from film companies? I heard that she invested in 'Happy Time' herself?"
“Yes, so now we have no money and can only look for money from outside,” Ning Xiulian said.
Lu Yanhe silently gave Ning Xiulian a thumbs up, "Teacher Ning, you're amazing. If I were you, I really wouldn't dare to agree to act in this movie so easily."
Ning Xiulian: "If you've worked with Yu Qin on a movie, you'll be just like me. Instead of worrying about so many things, you might as well go crazy with her."
"..." Lu Yanhe almost lost control of his expression once again.
This choice of words.
Insanity.
So... you knew this was madness too?
Ning Xiulian: "But sometimes, you have to admit that people who are good in every way may be suitable as friends in life, but they can't create good works. On the other hand, those with eccentric personalities, extreme views, and difficult-to-work-with characteristics that seem abnormal to normal people can ultimately create amazing works. If you knew how many times I argued with her during the filming of 'Happy Hour,' you would definitely find it hard to believe the reputation 'Happy Hour' has achieved now. At that time, I really thought this movie was going to be terrible, as terrible as stinking mud that everyone would be disgusted by. But in the end, it was shortlisted for the Venice International Film Festival, and it also received good reviews and praise from the media. Art, haha, it's something that can't be understood by common sense."
Ning Xiulian's words made Lu Yanhe thoughtful and quite moved.
After a while, Lu Yanhe suddenly realized what was happening.
Okay, okay, just listen to it, don't get brainwashed. The directors he's worked with—Luo Yuzhong, Chen Lingling, Wang Zhong, and Liu Bige—aren't they all pretty normal?
But then, a question hesitantly surfaced in his mind.
Do they all seem to have their own eccentricities or differences from ordinary people?
-
At the premiere of "The Road to Glory," Ning Xiulian and Chen Ziliang were both invited to walk the red carpet to support this Chinese-language film that was nominated for the Horizons section.
They also invited Yu Qin.
However, Yu Qin did not come, probably because both Lu Yanhe and Shang Yongzhou declined her invitation to star in their next drama.
Shang Yongzhou also invited several big-name actors who were still in Venice.
The red carpet for "Road to Glory" was dazzling with stars, no less impressive than the premieres of films in the main competition.
Lu Yanhe, Shang Yongzhou, and Fu Kai walked down the red carpet together.
Because of limited funding, none of the other actors in the film came. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but they were genuinely strapped for cash and didn't have the money to support them.
Glory, without the support of material wealth, is nothing but a castle in the air that can vanish at any moment.
As the lead actor, Lu Yanhe has a strong sense of responsibility, which is to do his best to make this film seen by people.
At this moment, Lu Yanhe walks on the red carpet with an aura that makes it seem like this is his home turf.
In the eyes of the media, this aura becomes a kind of star's demeanor and halo.
Compared to Shang Yongzhou, who has always been steady and reliable outside of movies, celebrities like Lu Yanhe, who are born with a knack for trending topics and creating entertainment buzz, are more favored by the media.
Lu Yanhe's activity in the international film scene over the past two years has made him quite familiar to many overseas media outlets.
So, at that moment, the Chinese-language media discovered something.
The treatment Lu Yanhe received at the premiere of "The Road to Glory" was no less than that received by the already famous Shang Yongzhou.
In the minds of Chinese-language media professionals, Lu Yanhe and Shang Yongzhou are definitely still somewhat different. Even with Lu Yanhe's rising popularity and momentum in recent years, he still lags behind Shang Yongzhou. Therefore, their discovery at the premiere was somewhat shocking and unbelievable.
Artistic director Picasso personally hosted today's premiere.
During his introduction, he described Shang Yongzhou and Lu Yanhe as the best male actors in China today, and also the most famous Chinese actors internationally.
Such an introduction, coming from Picasso, is far more convincing than if it came from a Chinese person.
There's no way around it; when it comes to praising yourself, it's always more convincing than when someone else praises you.
Then, the screening of "Road to Glory" began.
As the lights dimmed in the screening room, Lu Yanhe heard his heart skip two nervous beats, but then calmed down.
I still get nervous, but I've started to learn how to regulate it myself.
Lu Yanhe will always remember what Chen Ziyan said when she persuaded him to take on this film.
—You now have a keen eye for choosing unconventional films that are full of adventure and exploration, but you haven't yet developed the discerning eye to appreciate classics.
—I read the script for this movie carefully three times, and I had a feeling about each one.
—I haven't seen such an academic and meticulously crafted script in a long time.
The movie begins with Shang Yongzhou getting out of the car.
In the passenger seat was the test report he had brought from the hospital.
There was no background music, and no monologue.
The film opens with Shang Yongzhou driving home expressionlessly, his eyes somber, as if concealing an icy plain eternally shrouded in thick fog.
Until he got home and opened the door.
Lu Yanhe makes his appearance.
He sat on the sofa, one foot on the sofa and the other on the ground, in a nonchalant pose, holding a game console and playing a game with great enthusiasm.
"What the hell?! Are you blind or brainless? Even a pig can do better than you, bro! Are you trying to screw me over?!"
On screen, Lu Yanhe cursed angrily.
He looked up at Shang Yongzhou, said nothing, and then his eyelids drooped again.
We had dinner together that evening.
Lu Yanhe kept complaining that Shang Yongzhou's dinner was too vegetarian and had little meat.
He wanted to borrow 500 yuan from Shang Yongzhou, saying that a classmate was coming over in a couple of days and he wanted to go out with the classmate.
Shang Yongzhou remained silent throughout the entire process.
Lu Yanhe kept chattering away like a chatterbox.
"Seriously, bro? You won't even lend me this little bit of money?"
"I promise I'll pay you back."
...
The opening scene effectively establishes the characters of the two brothers: one dynamic, one still; one reserved, one extroverted. Through the visuals, the script, which Chen Ziyan praised as exceptionally well-crafted, truly shines in this moment.
For the first full fifteen minutes, which was the period when Lu Yanhe was behaving terribly, there was almost no close-up shot of him.
Every scene featuring him is told from Shang Yongzhou's perspective, which makes his chatter seem like background noise.
The film's tone remains heavy and melancholic as Shang Yongzhou faces his terminal illness.
Lu Yanhe's performance was like a shadow puppet show watched from afar across a river.
The more lively the shadow puppet show on the other side of the river became, the more pronounced the quiet and loneliness on this side of the river became.
It wasn't until Lu Yanhe was coerced and lured into getting into the car by Shang Yongzhou and began accompanying Shang Yongzhou on his journey to review his life and make up for his regrets that Lu Yanhe truly got his first close-up shot. When Lu Yanhe learned that Shang Yongzhou was going to see the friend who had betrayed him back then, he showed a look of surprise.
That was the first time Lu Yanhe showed his true emotions in this movie after a frustrating ten-odd minutes.
From Lu Yanhe's perspective, Shang Yongzhou's somber face was blurred for the first time in the shot, becoming an image of a typhoid patient seen through a window covered in mottled dust.
...
Lu Yanhe has watched many movies and has been moved by the directors' techniques, the actors' performances, the scripts' ingenuity, and the cinematography's beauty.
But he hardly realized that movies could also present a structural beauty on the screen.
This movie tells the story of two people's transformation.
One is about terminally ill patients facing death and making up for their regrets in life.
One is a spiritual journey of outwardly troublesome individuals who inwardly feel despair about life, but ultimately rediscover their faith in life.
As Chen Ziyan said, this theme is grand and classic, and cannot be expressed in a playful way. In fact, it may even seem outdated to many people today.
But its existence has an irreplaceable significance.
In the film "Road to Glory," the actors' performances are far more important than in other genres of film.
Because it has no fig leaf, nor any auxiliary tools to rely on.
The emotions in a film are entirely driven by the performances of the two actors, pushed to the appropriate level, before they can resonate with the audience.
...
In the desolate wilderness, the weather was freezing cold.
They were trapped in the mountains and could only huddle in their car to keep warm.
Lu Yanhe lost control of his emotions and hurled insults at people like he was dumping garbage.
Shang Yongzhou remained silent, offering no rebuttal.
After Lu Yanhe finished cursing and finally quieted down for a while, he suddenly heard Lu Yanhe's puzzled voice again, asking, "I've been cursing you for so long, but you haven't hit me. What's wrong with you?"
Two seconds later, Shang Yongzhou said, "The fact that you still have the energy to curse me means you still have plenty of energy and can keep going."
Lu Yanhe gritted his teeth and cursed.
...
He was furious and about to leave when he almost fell off a cliff. After being rescued, he was both ashamed and angry. This was the highlight of Lu Yanhe's performance.
His grievances, anger, annoyance, and self-loathing were presented in distinct layers.
This surprised Lu Yanhe.
Fu Kai had actually captured all of his emotional changes with remarkable accuracy.
During filming, Fu Kai did not communicate with him about what kind of scene he wanted.
Therefore, the scene that Lu Yanhe imagined was not even as specific or detailed as what was presented in the movie.
...
But as Lu Yanhe learns more and more about his cousin's past in the movie, his attitude gradually changes.
He gradually accepted this arduous journey of recollection.
On this journey of recollection, he discovers that his cousin, whom his family described as an outstanding figure, also has a troubled past, made wrong decisions, and selfishly hurt others. The more he learns about him, the less he understands why his cousin would embark on such a journey.
Why did the seemingly perfect life, which could have been concealed indefinitely, suddenly reveal its flawed truth to him?
“I’ve hated you since I was little, no, I should say I’m annoyed by you.” One sleepless night, Lu Yanhe suddenly spoke in the darkness, “You’re the kind of kid that everyone else hates the most. My mom always said how outstanding and capable you were since I was little. Every time I did something, she would always use you as an example to teach me a lesson.”
With his back to Lu Yanhe, Shang Yongzhou said in a deep voice, "Then why do you come here every time you have a holiday?"
“My mom will only agree if we come here,” Lu Yanhe clicked his tongue. “I really should have my mom come with you this time, so she can see it for herself.”
A very defiant tone.
Shang Yongzhou said, "It's okay. Your mother will soon understand that there are things in life that are more important than so-called excellence and success."
"Where did you copy this inspirational quote from?"
Shang Yongzhou remained silent.
"But, bro, are you hiding something from me? I've been feeling like you've been acting strange lately. Did something happen to you? Did you get dumped, or were you fired?"
Shang Yongzhou: "And you?"
"What about me?"
"Why do you deliberately make yourself look like an ignorant and troublesome person?" Shang Yongzhou asked.
"Intentionally? That's just my nature. I'm not as good as you. Brother, you need to learn to accept this: not everyone in this world is as qualified as you to pursue excellence."
“I don’t know if others are qualified, but you have always been qualified,” Shang Yongzhou said.
Forget it.
“If you hadn’t been desperately clinging to the railing and trying to climb back up when you fell off the cliff, I sometimes felt that you were almost giving up on your life out of despair.”
Lu Yanhe remained silent for a long, long time before finally saying, "Why do you cultured people always say things that are incomprehensible to others?"
...
Then, on an unexpected, sunny afternoon, Lu Yanhe found Shang Yongzhou's terminal illness notice in his car.
He was stunned and at a loss, sitting there dumbfounded for a long time before he came to his senses.
Fu Kai used a series of shots that switched back and forth here.
He didn't keep the camera focused on Lu Yanhe the whole time, but instead moved back and forth between Lu Yanhe inside the car and Shang Yongzhou, who was buying something in front of the newsstand across the street.
Lu Yanhe, bewildered and lost in the shadows, and Shang Yongzhou, calm and undisturbed in the sunlight.
The back-and-forth movement of the three sets of shots creates a profound and subtle emotional impact.
...
That night, in the hotel, Shang Yongzhou woke up in the middle of the night and heard Lu Yanhe sobbing quietly in the bathroom.
He instinctively opened his mouth as if to ask something, then realized something and closed his mouth again.
A sliver of light leaking from the crack in the toilet door coldly cut across Shang Yongzhou's face.
His seemingly emotionless pupils held a deep, unfathomable melancholy.
The shadow of death is ever-present, and all one can do is gradually accept the reality, rather than truly facing it with equanimity.
Fear is ever-present.
...
After the holiday, Lu Yanhe returned to his hometown and said goodbye to Shang Yongzhou.
He didn't mention to Shang Yongzhou that he had seen the terminal illness notice, and Shang Yongzhou didn't mention it either.
The two of them tacitly remained silent.
In the movie, Lu Yanhe's mother comes to pick him up. As always, she expresses her affection for Shang Yongzhou, but can't help but complain about Lu Yanhe.
Amidst his mother's incessant nagging, Lu Yanhe reverted to his rebellious and unruly state.
Shang Yongzhou saw them off, and at the entrance of the station, he handed their luggage to Lu Yanhe.
"Do you know how to get rid of someone's incessant chatter?" Shang Yongzhou asked Lu Yanhe.
Lu Yanhe looked annoyed: "I don't know."
“You have two paths. One is to strive to climb to a height where you can no longer hear others’ incessant chatter. The other is to find a coffin, bury yourself in it, and sleep forever,” Shang Yongzhou said. “While you still have a choice, choose one carefully.”
Lu Yanhe paused for a moment, shook his head, and looked to the side.
"What kind of dark motivational self-help book is this?"
"Don't deliberately give up just because you look down on success theories. Everyone has moments when they want to give up on themselves and rebel against the world." Shang Yongzhou patted Lu Yanhe on the shoulder. "But what kind of life you want to have is never about what you rebel against, but what you create."
Lu Yanhe paused for two seconds, then gave Shang Yongzhou the middle finger.
His mother slapped him on the back of the head. "Put your hand down!"
Lu Yanhe followed his mother into the station, grumbling and cursing.
After Shang Yongzhou watched them go inside, Lu Yanhe suddenly raised his hand again.
The raised middle finger stood out conspicuously in the crowded throng.
...
Three months later, on a rainy day, Lu Yanhe attended his funeral.
-
Schmidt Lowry, the owner of Green Valley Films, was brought to see this Chinese-language film by Tom White, the head of HP's Asia-Pacific region.
As the owner of a mid-sized American film company, Schmidt Lowry has always been accustomed to buying films with market potential at major film festivals, acquiring distribution rights, and having Green Valley Films handle the distribution.
Before arriving, Schmidt Lowry whispered to Tom White, "Tom, I know you're very focused on the Asia-Pacific market right now, but you know that Asian films have never done well at the box office in the U.S."
Tom White said, "Schmidt, I'm not here to ask you to buy the film; I'm here specifically to invite you to see Lu Yanhe's performance."
"Lu Yanhe? Isn't that the Chinese actor you've praised so many times?"
“Yes,” Tom White said. “Believe me, go see the film and witness his performance; you won’t be disappointed.”
Schmidt Lowry entered the cinema with a skeptical attitude and watched this Chinese-language film with everyone else.
When the movie ended, Schmidt Lowry was still somewhat stunned when many audience members around him stood up and began to applaud.
“Oh, where do these film festival audiences come from? Are they paid by PR managers to applaud them?” Schmidt Lowry couldn’t help but complain.
Tom White smiled and shook his head, asking, "Don't you think this movie is very well made?"
“Oh, maybe Europeans would like this style of film, but I’ve never been interested,” Schmidt Lowry said. “Believe me, Tom, this film will definitely not gross more than half a million dollars in the United States.”
“I know,” Tom White nodded, “but this is the second time I’ve watched this movie.”
"Huh?" Schmidt Lowry asked in surprise, "You've already seen this movie once? And you're willing to watch it a second time?"
Tom White asked, "Schmidt, do you know why I dragged you to see this movie?"
"Just tell me directly, stop beating around the bush."
“I attended a special screening—you know, a special screening for the media and film critics—and I heard at least four or five critics say that this film should have been in the main competition,” Tom Wright said. “And Tom Wayne of Variety said that this film is the kind of film that is best suited for awards.”
Schmidt Lowry frowned slightly.
"What's the meaning?"
Tom White said, "I remember you said you also wanted to work on a film that could compete for an Oscar, and I think 'Path of Glory' is the best option for you right now, in terms of its subject matter, style, and the feedback it received at the Venice International Film Festival. You can acquire the distribution rights to this film with minimal budget and start your Oscar campaign."
Schmidt Lowry looked at Tom White in disbelief: "Are you crazy? This is a Chinese-language film, and you're going to use it to compete for the Oscars?"
“Two years ago, a South Korean film received three nominations: Best Picture, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Editing,” Tom White said. “It’s not a mainstream Oscar choice, but as we all know, the Oscars have been paying more and more attention to internationalization in recent years. If you want to use an American film to compete for the Oscars, do you think you can compete with the big names who are pushing it? 'Paths of Glory' could be a card in your hand that takes an unconventional approach but fits the current Oscar options.”
Schmidt Lowry fell into deep thought.
“Let’s go. I’ll make an appointment with Yan He later. We’ll go talk to the main creators of this film. You don’t need to make a decision right away. Let’s talk first,” Tom White said. “Schmidt, although this film isn’t your style, you can definitely see how well it fits the Oscars’ tastes in recent years. Don’t let your prejudice cause you to miss the opportunity to knock on the door of the Oscars.”
Schmidt Lowry looked at Tom White with a helpless expression.
“You should really become a public relations professional,” he said.
-
The screening room was very lively.
Although Lu Yanhe knew that the applause at the scene didn't mean anything—it was just that thunderous applause was so common at film festival screenings. Unless it was a film so bad that people left halfway through and didn't want to finish watching it, film festival audiences were generally very tolerant and willing to praise the creators of these films with the most enthusiastic encouragement.
This is one of the reasons why filmmakers often feel more honored at film festivals.
Nevertheless, Lu Yanhe was still moved and excited by the applause.
From shooting a film to its release to the audience, it actually takes a very long time.
As an actor, he has already put in a lot of effort on set.
Then, after several months, or even a year or two, it takes shape and meets the world.
The actors, equally unsure of what the film would be like, watched it with the audience, filled with a mix of tension, excitement, unease, and anticipation.
If the film is well-made, the excitement and emotion at that moment will be a long-awaited feedback, a satisfaction of having one's efforts and hard work recognized.
Lu Yanhe proudly thanked everyone, his smile never fading.
Ning Xiulian nodded and clapped applauded, leaning over from the third row to say to Lu Yanhe, "You acted wonderfully!"
Hearing her praise and encouragement amidst the noisy environment, Lu Yanhe smiled and thanked her.
After the screening, they were led away by staff to the backstage area.
"Congratulations, this film has received praise from everyone," the staff said with smiles.
According to the standard procedures of the film festival, a film in competition is not only screened for the first time, but also includes multiple stages such as media photo sessions, press conferences, and interviews with reporters.
This is also one of the most important tasks for the film's creators during the film festival.
Shang Yongzhou and Lu Yanhe were already very familiar with the process and knew it very well.
Fu Kai, however, was attending for the first time and felt somewhat at a loss, frequently asking Lu Yanhe and Shang Yongzhou questions about details. But the audience's reaction clearly exceeded his expectations; he maintained a constant smile. His excitement continued even after the screening ended, and he was very talkative and eloquent when answering reporters' questions.
Seeing this, Lu Yanhe basically stopped answering proactively, only replying with a sentence or two when he was called upon.
This is generally how it is when you attend a film festival for the first time.
Lu Yanhe understood.
Of course, at the media conference, Yongshanhe San, who was deliberately picking a fight, still appeared.
Yong Shanhe asked Lu Yanhe three questions: "I heard that you and another lead actor, Mr. Shang Yongzhou, are known as the two top male actors in China. This time, the two top male actors joined forces to film 'The Road to Glory'. Why was it nominated in the Horizons section instead of the main competition section?"
It was highly provocative.
Lu Yanhe chuckled twice and said, "Mr. Yongshanhe really doesn't miss any opportunity to find fault. I can't help but reflect on myself and wonder what I did to Mr. Yongshanhe that made him target me so persistently."
The fact that Lu Yanhe and Yong Shanhe were at odds was known to many media outlets through their previous battle, which had been reported by global media.
Lu Yanhe spoke frankly, which made everyone burst into laughter.
He laughed and said, "Mr. Yongshan Hesan asked the wrong person about this. You should ask Mr. Picasso. It's his decision which section each film is shortlisted for. For us creators, which section a film is shortlisted for isn't important. What's important is whether we can get positive feedback after the screening. I'm very happy that our film 'Road to Glory' has achieved that. This is the first film that director Fu Kai, Shang Yongzhou, and I have collaborated on, and we are very grateful to have received such enthusiastic praise in Venice. We thank everyone for their encouragement, and we will continue to work hard to create more good works and meet everyone more often."
He completely ignored Yongshanhe San's question and used it as a springboard to steer the conversation toward the film itself.
His answer was also applauded by the others.
How could such a talented and humble young actor not be liked?
At the scene, Tom White and Schmidt Lowry stood at the back, listening to Lu Yanhe respond to Yong Shanhe's three ill-intentioned questions in fluent English with ease and composure.
Tom Wright looked at Schmidt Lowry: "You have a lead actor who is very good at dealing with people, which is something you rarely encounter. Talented people often have difficulty getting along with others, but he is different."
Schmidt Lowry looked at Tom White with a puzzled expression: "Tom, why are you so eager to recommend him and 'Path of Glory' to me?"
Tom White said, "Because he has a close working relationship with us at HP, his success means my success. Of course, if you are willing to be his promoter, that will also be your success."
Tom White finished speaking to Schmidt Lowry in a seemingly relaxed but actually confident tone, and then smiled slightly.
“The film and television industry is always dominated by a very small number of people,” Tom White said. “It is a collaborative industry, but it is even more so a industry dominated by key figures, and Lu Yanhe is such a person. You may not believe what I’m saying, but you can definitely give it a try. It won’t cost you too much.”
"Competing for the Olympics is never a competition that can be won with a small investment."
“Winning the Olympics isn’t a 100-meter sprint, it’s a marathon. If you see no hope, you can give up early,” Tom White said. “But if you see hope, you’ll naturally keep pushing.”
(End of this chapter)
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