Chapter 738 Who doesn't have a little ambition and a bit of aspiration? (7000 words)
Last year, Lu Yanhe was crowned emperor in Xituer.
This year, Lu Yanhe became the youngest invitee to the Situ Master Class.
Especially now—with the Situ Film Festival having such a significant influence on the Oscars—this move is undoubtedly a way to boost Lu Yanhe's chances of winning an award this year.
The significance of a top-tier film festival generating buzz at such a crucial juncture is self-evident.
How many Oscar voters have won awards at Seatour? How many people have "recognized" their talent in the film industry here at Seatour?
Just like Lu Yanhe twenty or thirty years later, if Xituer needs him, can he not show up?
Lu Yanhe's film career is basically closely linked to the Citour Film Festival.
His first film was in the main competition at the Citour, which brought him great fame.
Satur also won his first major international acting award, and this Best Actor award made him a strong contender for this year's Oscars.
To be honest, even without Situ, Lu Yanhe might still have become famous for his miraculous box office success, but he might not have reached the same level of status and influence in the mainstream film industry.
These things are all complementary.
Another Chinese-language film has been nominated for this year's Situation Film Festival.
"In the Waves" is the third directorial work of a young director, Wang Shuai.
Lu Yanhe did not know this director.
Of course, this director was not famous before. His two previous works were shortlisted for other sections of the Cittour Film Festival, but the response was not particularly good.
No one expected that his new film would suddenly be shortlisted for the main competition of this year's competition.
This film is a semi-documentary.
The only professional actor in the film is Cheng Ben, a relatively unknown but talented actor.
It is described as a semi-documentary film because it was made under the guise of "making a TV show," allowing other people to participate in the filming process in their real-life personas.
There is no script before filming begins; there is only a concept.
The entire process was filmed handheld.
After each day's filming, the director would work with Cheng Ben that night to plan what Cheng Ben would say and do the next day. Then, through Cheng Ben's performance the next day, they would stimulate the feelings of other people. In this way, the filming of the movie was completed.
The film depicts the lives of young people in a factory.
Finally, the director edited the footage he had shot into a movie.
Very artistic.
The day Lu Yanhe held his masterclass was the day before the film's first screening in Situ.
Wang Shuai specifically asked someone he knew to invite Lu Yanhe to the premiere.
Lu Yanhe really wanted to participate, but he had to leave early the next morning.
There are also jobs arranged for me in the United States.
Lu Yanhe added Wang Shuai on WeChat and sent him a message explaining why he couldn't attend. He apologized and expressed his hope to have the opportunity to support the film when it is released in China.
Wang Shuai expressed some regret and hoped that there would be an opportunity to cooperate in the future.
Lu Yanhe said, "It definitely will."
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After arriving at the hotel, Lu Yanhe had a brief chat with the local liaison and learned that there weren't many Chinese filmmakers attending the Situ Film Festival this year.
His hotel was booked by the film festival organizing committee.
The hotel for film crews that are usually shortlisted for the main competition is provided by the organizing committee.
However, many well-funded film crews (especially those Hollywood stars) will book hotels with better facilities.
Lu Yanhe asked one more question: Was the crew of "In the Waves" staying at this hotel?
If so, he plans to visit her in person.
Lu Yanhe, who has attended many film festivals, knows very well how nervous a group of young filmmakers would feel to attend a top-tier film festival in a foreign country.
The struggle and inner conflict he felt before texting Luo Yuzhong in preparation for the role in "The Golden Era" is still vivid in his memory.
Perhaps Wang Shuai sent him a message inviting him to tomorrow's premiere with the same sentiment.
Lu Yanhe thought for a moment. Although he couldn't attend, there were still other ways to show his support.
At the very least, a group photo posted on social media will attract attention.
As a result, the contact person said that the crew of "In the Waves" did not choose the hotel provided by the organizing committee, supposedly because they could not afford the hotel and found their own accommodation.
Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Generally speaking, in China, film crews that are shortlisted for top international film festivals, regardless of how low the budget of their films, will not skimp on the festival schedule.
For a film, this is not only a journey of honor, but also means that film companies from all over the world will come to buy your film, and you will never be short of money.
Being selected for the main competition at the Seatour Film Festival—that title alone is valuable.
Lu Yanhe immediately went to inquire which production company made "In the Waves." It turned out that the film was made by Wang Shuai himself—the entire filming budget came from his savings, because no domestic film company was willing to invest.
The most awkward part is that, so far, even though "The Wave" has been shortlisted for the main competition at the Citour Film Festival, no domestic film company is willing to distribute the film.
It's a semi-documentary, with no celebrities, and it has absolutely no selling points, neither in terms of subject matter nor cast.
Unless Wang Shuai is willing to sell it for several million.
Otherwise, in the eyes of domestic film companies, this film is not profitable and is destined to lose money.
Lu Yanhe was extremely surprised.
Chen Yin was the one who found out about this for him.
Lu Yanhe thought about it carefully and sent a message to Chen Yin: If no domestic company takes over after the film festival, you should go and make some contact and see what Wang Shuai thinks.
Chen Yin agreed.
Lu Yanhe sent a message to Wang Shuai: Director, I just arrived in Xituer and checked into the hotel. Where are you staying? Is it convenient for us to meet now?
It's already 10 PM local time.
If it weren't for Lu Yanhe's work schedule for tomorrow, he wouldn't have wanted to meet him at this time.
Five minutes later, Wang Shuai sent a message: It's convenient! Which hotel are you at? We'll come find you!
Lu Yanhe: Oh dear, let's not bother with formalities.
Lu Yanhe: [Grinning]
Lu Yanhe: Is it inconvenient for you to call a taxi here? Or you can send me your address and I'll have a car come and pick you up. That would be more convenient, and I can also get ready first.
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Wang Shuai and Cheng Ben were already standing downstairs at the agreed-upon spot, waiting for the car sent by Lu Yanhe to arrive.
The night was shrouded in darkness.
They don't have a car today.
They only rented one car the day after tomorrow to make it easier for them to attend the premiere.
This time, it was just the two of them and the film's producer, Rosson, in Citur.
Because there simply weren't enough funds to support more people coming.
After the news broke that "In the Wave" had been shortlisted for the Situation Awards, several film companies did contact them, expressing their willingness to distribute the film and support their Situation Awards campaign. However, the conditions they offered were all too... well, let's just say they made people lose hope.
Filming this movie cost Wang Shuai a total of 9.2 million yuan, which is his life savings, including the profits from his two previous films.
Cheng Ben, who starred in this movie, only received 300,000 yuan, even though he spent half a year filming with him.
It's fair to say that the entire production budget for this film was spent on production and post-production.
The prices offered by domestic film companies are simply... completely unable to recoup their costs.
Although many people say that being shortlisted for Situer means that overseas sales will definitely be very good and that you will definitely make money, it doesn't matter if you don't make money domestically.
Wang Shuai felt that since that was the case, it would be better not to sell.
Situ gritted his teeth and borrowed some money from his family. Cheng Ben also felt that the director had a hard time, so after hearing about the situation, he offered to pay for the hotel expenses.
However, Cheng Ben is not a very wealthy actor.
He's not a celebrity actor. When things are good, he can earn 700,000 to 800,000 a year, but when things are bad, he might not even earn 30,000 to 40,000. It all depends on whether there's work and how much the pay is.
Because the official recommended hotels provided by Situer, even though they had cooperative rates for the main competition film crews and were much cheaper, still cost thousands of dollars a night, they ultimately decided to rent an apartment in a slightly more remote area.
"Is Lu Yanhe only arriving this late?"
"It should be." Wang Shuai nodded. "I just saw the video of his fans picking him up at the airport online."
Cheng Ben: "Sigh, it's such a pity, he left again early the day after tomorrow."
“He is indeed very busy. He is very likely to win an Oscar this year.” Wang Shuai took a deep breath, his eyes sparkling. “Speaking of which, the movie ‘Tropical Rainy Season’ started at the Citour Film Festival.”
"yes."
Both of their voices were leisurely, carrying a hidden meaning, unspoken yet implied. But the meaning was already understood between them.
Who doesn't have a little ambition and aspirations?
Cheng Ben smiled and said to Wang Shuai, "Actually, director, if you had invited Lu Yanhe to star in the film back then, things might be completely different now."
Wang Shuai shook his head, "No, this movie can't be played by someone with a star aura, it can only be you."
Cheng Ben was taken aback.
Wang Shuai suddenly realized that what he said... was incredibly lacking in emotional intelligence.
"Uh, that's not what I meant."
Cheng Ben smiled and said, "It's alright. After acting in this movie, I'll at least have a film that's been shown on the international stage. I won't be considered an unknown anymore, right?"
Wang Shuai patted him on the shoulder.
"It will definitely work."
-
That evening, Lu Yanhe met with Cheng Ben and Wang Shuai at the hotel. When they arrived, wine and snacks were already laid out on the table.
He chatted with them for a long time about the story of making the movie "The Wave," and then took a photo with them with a smile. He said that it was a pity that he could not make it to the premiere of "The Wave" in Situ this time, but he would definitely try his best to support it when it was released in China.
Neither Wang Shuai nor Cheng Ben expected that they would have such a pleasant chat that evening.
They didn't even mention to Lu Yanhe the difficulties of filming the movie. Instead, they talked about the excitement, joy, and sense of self-identity they experienced during the filming and creation process.
Lu Yanhe was quite surprised by their attitude. However, good film directors and filmmakers generally possess this idealistic and pure aspect regarding the art of film.
Lu Yanhe said, "I wonder if you are free tomorrow night? After my masterclass this afternoon, I will be having dinner with some friends in Situ. If you are free, I would like to invite you to come along and introduce you to each other."
Upon hearing this, Wang Shuai and Cheng Ben showed a hint of surprise.
“Okay, tomorrow night—” Wang Shuai paused for a moment before saying, “We’re free. We’re not celebrities, so we don’t have any plans.”
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "When the day after tomorrow arrives, you will find that it will be completely different."
He experienced it himself and understood it.
It really was an overnight success.
Situ is such a place.
If your film is good, you'll receive divine acclaim here.
He didn't do the kind of thing that involves booking two rooms for them so they could sleep there and not have to rush back late at night.
He knows what a person in a low position is sensitive to, what they care about, and what their self-esteem cares about.
He also felt that there was no need to show "goodwill" at this time and in this place.
The real goodwill they need now is a gesture of respect, something he'll do tomorrow night in Situ's social circle.
It was also the group photo that he posted on various social media platforms thirty minutes later.
—I arrived in Situ late at night and chatted with the talented director Wang Shuai and teacher Cheng Ben about "In the Waves". I can't wait to watch this movie and look forward to the day after tomorrow when it will be released!
It was also before Wang Shuai and Cheng Ben left that Lu Yanhe said to them—
Bring some invitations to the premiere the day after tomorrow; they might come in handy.
-
After washing up and going to bed, I couldn't sleep until I naturally woke up the next morning. I was woken up by Wang Biao at 8:30. After washing up again, I had to start doing my makeup and changing clothes early in the morning because there were media interviews, and each family only had 20 minutes.
Every time a reporter came in, Lu Yanhe would always apologize first, explaining that his schedule was very tight this time and he could only give them twenty minutes.
When each reporter left, Wang Biao would give them a note, saying that because the interview time was indeed very short today, if they had any questions to ask, they could send them to this email address, and Lu Yanhe would reply as soon as possible.
Although the six media outlets arrived and left in a hurry, they all felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.
At noon, Lu Yanhe had a working lunch with Wintour, the art director of Situ.
Lu Yanhe gave him a warm hug.
Wintour said, "Welcome back."
The two of them sat together, naturally talking about movies.
He talked about the films, directors, and actors of this year's awards, as well as some interesting anecdotes from the North American awards season, including Chen Bige's "stunning" dress.
Wintour said, "I wish that dress had been worn on the red carpet in our Seatour."
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "I will pass on your words to her."
Wintour then asked about Lu Yanhe's upcoming film projects.
Lu Yanhe brought up "Dingfeng No. 1" and the play that director Wang Zhong wrote for him and Chen Bige.
Wintour asked, "Will 'Windbreaker' be released around this time next year?"
He clearly wanted to get the film to Satur.
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "It's not up to me to decide. We'll have to ask Liu Bige and the company in Longyan for their opinions, but I'll pass it on."
Wintour said, "The films you made in Hollywood can also have their premieres at Seatour. We will arrange screenings of a standard no less prestigious than those in the main competition."
Lu Yanhe nodded: "If the timing and schedule are right, I will definitely give priority to showing it at the Situer.
Wintour nodded in satisfaction.
In the afternoon, a masterclass.
Lu Yanhe gave a presentation.
He talked about his past experiences as an actor and screenwriter, and his understanding of film.
There will naturally be a free exchange session afterwards.
What everyone is most interested in right now is the Oscar campaign.
Some even asked directly, "Do you think you have a chance to win that Oscar this year?"
Lu Yanhe smiled, his eyes lowered with a radiant expression. After a few seconds of laughter, he looked up, nodded, and said, "Of course. If I hadn't had the opportunity, what would I have been doing in the United States lately? Would I have been spending my days at various parties and dinners, eating and drinking for free?"
The entire audience burst into laughter.
Wintour was also smiling happily.
He is the host of the masterclass.
After finishing, Lu Yanhe rested for a while before heading to the restaurant to have dinner with his friends in Situeryo and introduce Wang Shuai and Cheng Ben to them.
They were all famous filmmakers from various countries, including directors, actors, and screenwriters. They were all friends that Lu Yanhe had met at the film festival and had kept in touch with since.
This includes Fellaini Ricci, a famous Spanish actress who was a judge in the main competition of the year "Three Mountains" was held, and Lily Winton, a British actress who had a misunderstanding with Shang Yongzhou because of her "expressionless face" but later became friends with him.
During the meal, Lu Yanhe chatted privately with everyone for a while.
Near the end, Lu Yanhe, along with Wang Shuai, personally handed out the invitations to each of them.
At 8 p.m., Lu Yanhe arrived at the open-air screening venue.
Two of his films will be screened here tonight.
"Three Mountains" and "Late Spring".
Thousands of spectators gathered here.
As soon as Lu Yanhe stepped onto the stage, he was greeted with thunderous applause and cheers.
Wintour has reappeared.
He served as the opening guest for the event.
He didn't miss a single one: his lunch break, his afternoon masterclass, or his evening screening.
The film festival's official media account provided full coverage.
They received exceptional treatment and prestige, unlike the creators of other films nominated for the main competition.
After the screening, Lu Yanhe stood in the night wind and was suddenly deeply moved.
"At this moment, I am deeply moved because I've been a bit tired lately. But just now, sitting here watching the movie on the big screen, and seeing myself in that movie, I suddenly felt a sense of peace. I've never watched a movie with so many people before. I must admit, I wasn't fully focused because I kept glancing back at your reactions—I've seen these two movies many times, and what I really wanted to see was how you all reacted. And then, I saw focus in many of your eyes and faces, a complete immersion in the film. Suddenly, I felt a very solid sense of strength, like I was being fully recharged. Thank you all for being here tonight to watch these two movies. Thank you for being like a gentle breeze tonight, comforting me."
He waved goodbye to this year's Seatour Film Festival.
A photo was taken of him waving goodbye as he left the stage in the night breeze. His eyes were clear and bright, and his smile was pure. He seemed to still be the boy who came to Situer for the first time with "Three Mountains".
While he was on the plane back to the United States, at the premiere of "The Wave," the media present were completely surprised that this little-known and unnoticed film would be graced by the presence of several big names.
After its premiere, "In the Wave" did not receive the miraculous unanimous praise it deserved; opinions on the film's thematic expression were somewhat polarized.
However, almost every media outlet expressed appreciation and respect for the film's director and lead actors.
-
Meanwhile, the Sundance Film Festival in the United States also began.
Lee Chi-pak appeared at the Sundance Film Festival with his film "Buried Alive".
Because the production company was Parameter, it did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Sundance Film Festival. Buried was only screened at the festival and did not compete for any awards.
In fact, the Sundance Film Festival doesn't have any awards.
For films, the unique feature of this film festival is that if a film receives rave reviews at Sundance, its market rating will rise several levels.
It's a bit like a "preliminary" test.
Blood Simple, Sex, Lies and Videotape, Past Life, Hearing Girl, Manchester by the Sea, Whiplash... A large number of independent films that have won both Oscars and box office success have emerged from this film festival, and even James Wan's Saw came from this film festival.
Many films that were not originally intended for theatrical release but were sold directly as DVDs become wildly popular after being screened at a film festival, which leads to their unexpected success in theaters and even box office hits.
That's right, a prime example is "Saw".
Parameter wanted *Buried* screened at the Sundance Film Festival because it was a film perfectly suited for the festival. Its performance at one of the four major international film festivals would certainly not be as successful.
In some ways, the Sundance Film Festival can be considered the American equivalent of the Jose Film Festival.
It is a film festival for the audience.
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Lu Yanhe, the screenwriter, also made an appearance.
The Sundance Film Festival provides top-tier exposure in the United States.
Lu Yanhe's attendance was also part of his public relations activities for this year's awards season.
The box office success of "Home Alone" has secured him a crucial swing vote in this year's Oscar race. It's safe to say that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this year's Best Supporting Actor award is his.
The momentum is there.
With the success of "Home Alone," expectations for "Buried" have risen accordingly.
This is a complete chain of events.
Then, unsurprisingly, Buried became a huge hit.
It's not reputation, it's the reaction.
All media outlets and audiences were captivated and amazed by the film's creativity.
Everyone is talking about this movie.
With this level of discussion, as long as this movie doesn't flop, its box office performance is sure to be good.
Because there is no precedent.
Filming an entire movie with actors inside a coffin is unprecedented.
For audiences, this is why they go to the cinema.
Is there any gimmick that makes you both scalp crawl and want to see what's going on?
In just six months, Lu Yanhe has made remarkable progress, from the Oscar-nominated film "Tropical Rainy Season" to the box office success of his screenplay film "Home Alone," and then to the Sundance Film Festival acclaim for his screenplay film "Buried."
In the entire Hollywood, no one has been able to rival him in the past six months.
Zebi Doyle felt a strange sense of bewilderment at what was happening before his eyes.
It really happened, just as Lu Yanhe said, it exploded.
Although it hasn't been released yet, and we don't know how well it will perform at the box office.
But the production cost of this movie was less than $1.5 million.
And it was this very film that, at the Sundance Film Festival, attracted the most discussion and attention by a landslide.
"Lu, is there a sequel to 'Buried Alive'?"
“There’s only this one.” Lu Yanhe smiled and shook his head.
Zeby Doyle: "Won't you reconsider?"
Lu Yanhe said, "Zebi, you should really think about the 'Speed' thing."
-
Subsequently, on February 15th, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Lu Yanhe almost universally accepted his second Best Supporting Actor award among the four major indicators.
Aside from Clarke's Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor, only the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor remains to be won.
However, at this point, it seemed that no one thought Clark could still pose a challenge to Lu Yanhe.
February 18, British Academy Film Awards.
The Best Supporting Actor award was a huge upset; Clark won, and he himself was incredulous as he walked onto the stage to accept it. Then, overwhelmed with emotion, he repeatedly exclaimed "Fuck," "Wow," and "My God"...
Although Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised, at this moment, he finally displayed the composure of someone who had been through countless battles.
He controlled his expression and smiled.
After the BAFTA Awards, everyone told him it didn't matter, nothing would change, and this year's Oscar was definitely his.
Lu Yanhe waved his hand with a smile and said, "Don't jinx me. We've already done our best. Whether we win an award or not, I've already gained a lot."
He told everyone to relax and that it was okay.
Nothing in life is ever completely smooth sailing.
It's okay, let's wait for the wind to come.
No rush.
(End of this chapter)
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