It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1417 Spending a little money to accomplish big things? Just giving up... The film festival organizer's phone call...

"Get me to act? Don't even think about it!"

In the hotel room, facing Chen Fei's teasing, Han Jianu suddenly sat up straight, crossed her arms, and said in a resolute tone, "I'm already married, and my dad has finally stopped pressuring me to get married. Now I just want to relax and enjoy my life. Who wants to suffer with you?"

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Wen Muye and raised her chin, saying, "Anyway, I have a man to support me, so I don't have to worry about food or drink. There's no need for me to stay up all night on set."

Wen Muye smiled and nodded, reaching out to ruffle her hair, his eyes full of doting: "Yes, I'll take care of you."

Seeing the two of them being so affectionate, Chen Fei couldn't help but tease, "Okay, you win. But lying down isn't that easy, is it? If your dad isn't pressuring you to get married, does he have nothing else to pressure you about?"

Upon hearing this, Han Jianu's face immediately fell, and she sighed, "Don't even mention it. The pressure to get married just passed, and now the pressure to have children has started."

She scratched her head in frustration: "My dad sends me messages every day saying things like 'Uncle Ren is already a grandson' or 'My elementary school classmate has already had a second child.' It's so annoying."

Wen Muye picked up the conversation and smiled helplessly: "So this time, our round-the-world trip is just to have fun first. After we get back, Jia Nu can focus on getting pregnant, and I'll continue to be busy with work."

Han Jianu stretched and said, "I want to enjoy this year to the fullest, otherwise it will be difficult to go out once I have a child."

Liu Yifei listened with a smile the whole time, without interrupting.

After Han Jianu finished complaining about being pressured to have children, she suddenly said, "If you have a girl, why don't you arrange a marriage between her and our little stone?"

Han Jianu's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this.

She suddenly jumped up from the sofa and moved closer to Liu Yifei: "This is a great idea! Little Stone is so well-behaved and smart. If he could be my son-in-law, my dad would be ecstatic!"

The two women immediately huddled together and started chatting away.

From what special skills the child should learn in the future, to whether they should act together when they grow up, to even thinking about the child's future nickname, she completely forgot about the two men next to her.

Chen Fei was both amused and exasperated, and shook his head helplessly.

He simply stood up and waved to Wen Muye: "Let's go, let's go to the cinema first and check on the progress of the premiere venue setup. Let's not be their backdrop here."

Wen Muye was already used to Han Jianu's wildly imaginative ideas, and he stood up while suppressing a laugh: "Okay."

The two opened the door and went out, but before they had taken two steps, they heard Liu Yifei's voice from inside the house: "It's okay if it's a boy, let him be Xiao Shitou's brother, and they can protect their sister together in the future!"

Han Jianu chimed in, "Yes! We need to make sure they get along well from a young age so they can look out for each other in the future!"

Chen Fei and Wen Muye exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly.

……

In fact, the premiere preparations at the cinema were already handled by professional staff.

From the lighting arrangement to the seating arrangement, everything proceeded according to the established procedures, requiring absolutely no extra assistance.

Chen Fei was just joking when he said he wanted to recruit Han Jianu as a conscript.

He and Wen Muye took a quick look around the venue, confirmed that everything was in order, and checked whether any important film critics were missing from the guest invitation list. Finding no problems, they turned around and left the cinema.

Back at the hotel, Liu Yifei and Han Jianu were still chatting enthusiastically in the bedroom.

Wen Muye went to his room to pack his luggage.

Chen Fei sat listlessly on the living room sofa and casually opened the domestic news.

At this time, the calendar had quietly turned to September, and another wave of developments in the film and television industry was gradually emerging.

News of preparations for the Golden Rooster Awards and the Golden Horse Awards has been released one after another.

The official call for submissions has begun, but it has rarely sparked heated discussions.

Chen Fei glanced at the related reports and couldn't help but shake his head.

Today's Golden Rooster and Golden Horse Awards are completely incomparable to the Dragon Soaring International Film Festival, which was co-created by Feiyue Films.

Over the years, Shanhe Film and Television City has been expanding in scale and its supporting facilities have been continuously improved. It is about to surpass Hengdian and become the largest film and television base in China.

The Dragon Soaring International Film Festival, held in the film city, is backed by the resources of Feiyue Film and Television. Its open attitude has attracted the attention of Hollywood film companies. It can not only invite top international movie stars to the event, but also introduce high-quality overseas films for screening. Its influence has already spread all over the world.

In previous years, Chen Fei would occasionally pay attention to the Golden Rooster and Golden Horse Awards to see the industry trends.

But in the last two years, he has completely forgotten about those two awards.

Even the once highly anticipated Hong Kong Film Awards have now become completely "crippled".

At the beginning of this year, after the list of winners was announced, the related notices didn't even make a ripple online.

With netizens either busy scrolling through Douyin or discussing currently showing domestic blockbusters, who would care about a regional award that is gradually declining?
From 2000 to 2023, the landscape of the film and television industry has been completely reshaped.

Flying Films and Dragon Soaring International Film Festival have long been new industry benchmarks.

In contrast, those once prestigious awards are nothing more than remnants of the past, discarded in the changing times.

However, some people in the industry still regard awards like the Golden Rooster and Golden Horse as "treasures".

For example, the production companies behind "Investiture of the Gods Part 1".

They are planning to submit this film for awards, even if it doesn't win a major award, at least to gain some exposure through the awards and make it easier to expand into overseas markets later.

After all, in the eyes of some overseas distributors, the label of "award-winning film" is still a stepping stone to attracting audiences.

Meanwhile, several production companies are also holding an emergency meeting to discuss the post-production of "Fengshen Part 2".

Currently, the film's release date has been extended to September 20, but daily box office revenue has already fallen below 10 million.

At this rate, the total box office will only reach around 22 billion at most.

However, the previously announced "total investment of 30 billion yuan" has always been a source of pressure for everyone.

In fact, people in the industry know that this "30 billion" figure is highly inflated and is mostly an exaggeration made by the initial investor, Jingxi Culture, to generate hype.

Later, after China Film Group and several other companies took over, the actual investment, when divided among each company, was only about 3 million yuan.

Even so, the first film's box office of 22 billion yuan was not enough to recoup the investment after deducting theater revenue sharing and marketing costs.

Therefore, the second and third parts must continue to be developed in order to have a chance to recoup costs through a series of effects.

But now a problem has arisen: post-production for the second installment requires real money, and several production companies are having second thoughts, with no one wanting to spend any more money.

So, during the meeting, several production companies directly called over director Ulsan and, in a firm and unquestionable tone, gave him the following instructions:

"Director Wu, for the post-production of the second film, you need to find a way to reduce the cost and achieve the best visual effects with the least amount of money. We can't be as extravagant as the first film."

At the end of the conference room, Wu Ershan clutched the later budget sheet in his hand, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

Looking at the list of necessary special effects production and music recording costs, he felt helpless.

Post-production for big-budget productions requires significant funding. To ensure quality while simultaneously keeping costs extremely low is simply a pipe dream!

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute and explain the complexities of post-production, but seeing the expressionless faces of the production team, he swallowed his words.

After all, the project still needs the support of these investors, and he simply doesn't have the confidence to stand up to them.

In the end, all he could do was take a deep breath, grit his teeth, and say, "I'll do my best."

Upon hearing this, representatives from several production companies immediately smiled with satisfaction and nodded in agreement: "That's right. As long as you're willing to put in the effort, you can definitely do it. We're waiting to see your results."

After the meeting, Ulsan was left alone in the conference room, looking at the budget sheet on the table, feeling a splitting headache.

Looking back on the time when he collaborated with Jingxi, he was so dashing.

But now, times have changed, and costs are constantly being cut...

Want to achieve great things with minimal spending?

What kind of international joke are you kidding?
"Forget it, I don't care. Anyway, I've got all my money back. I'll just do the post-production according to the budget they gave me. It's not like I'm losing money."

Ulsan muttered to himself, "I've completely given up."

……

On September 2nd, the Palais des Cinemas on Lido Island in Venice was brightly lit.

Today, the premiere of "The Room Next Door" officially kicked off!

Thanks to Chen Fei's international appeal, the premiere was just as lively as a film festival opening ceremony. Jury president Damien Chazelle and all the jury members were present, and directors and actors from various countries who received invitations all came.

The red carpet was packed with media reporters holding cameras and fans waving support signs. The sounds of camera shutters and cheers rose and fell, filling the night sea breeze with a vibrant atmosphere.

Yang Ying's figure stood out in the crowd.

She agonized over it all morning, but ultimately couldn't resist the hype and changed into a silver fishtail gown to walk the red carpet again.

When the camera was pointed at her, she skillfully struck an elegant pose, her smile perfectly appropriate...

But she knew in her heart that she was just there to "ride the wave" of popularity.

After walking the red carpet and taking photos with the media, she did not go in to watch the video. Instead, she claimed to be feeling unwell and had her assistant lift her dress as she quietly returned to her hotel.

She dared not meet Liu Yifei, and was even more afraid of facing seniors like Gong Li and Zhang Manyu beside her, fearing that her appearance of "walking the red carpet without any works" would be despised and ridiculed.

However, as soon as she returned to her hotel room, her assistant rushed in with her phone: "Sis, I have some news! Lisa has signed with Crazy Horse! The whole internet is talking about it, her female supporters have increased a lot, and she's incredibly popular!"

Yang Ying's previously tired eyes instantly lit up, and she sat up abruptly: "Crazy Horse Show? She really went?"

She had heard of Crazy Horse Show before, which was known for its extreme visual performances and the label of "female power".

If I could get on this stage, I could both gain international recognition and be labeled as an "independent woman"—it would be a win-win situation!

“Yes, and the show starts at the end of the month, so we have plenty of time and can make it in time,” the assistant added.

Yang Ying became more and more excited as she thought about it. Her fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of the sofa. Suddenly, she asked, "By the way, what exactly is this Crazy Horse Show? I've only heard the general idea before, and I don't know much about it yet."

The assistant quickly explained, "It's a long-established cabaret show in Paris, France, featuring artistic performances that combine lighting and physical expression. The style is quite avant-garde, emphasizing women's confidence and charm. Although there is some nudity, it's not a vulgar show. Many international celebrities have attended and even made guest appearances."

After hearing this, Yang Ying felt a sense of conflict.

After all, the runway show's style was rather revealing, and she was afraid of attracting controversy for "grabbing attention."

But then I thought, Lisa gained so much popularity because of this, if I miss this opportunity, I might not have such a good chance next time.

Moreover, she urgently needs to break the stereotype of being "Huang Xiaoming's ex-wife," and the "artistic" and "female power" labels of Crazy Horse Show can help her transform her image.

After a moment's hesitation, she slammed her hand on the sofa: "Go! We can't let this opportunity slip by! You need to contact the organizers right away and see if you can secure a spot for either a performance or a show. The cost is not a problem!"

The assistant immediately nodded in agreement and turned to get back to work.

Yang Ying walked to the window, looking at the flashing lights in the direction of the cinema in the distance, her heart filled with anticipation for the future!
Liu Yifei's shining moments kept appearing, which she admired but couldn't emulate.

But with her previous modeling experience, runway shows might be a turning point for her.

If she could succeed Fan Bingbing and become the next generation of "carpet star" in the industry, it might be a good choice.

Meanwhile, at the premiere of "The Room Next Door".

When the last frame fell, the theater lights had not yet come on, but thunderous applause had already erupted and lasted for more than ten minutes!
Many viewers, with tears in their eyes, were still immersed in the film's story about women helping each other and breaking free from their predicaments.

The film uses delicate cinematography to depict the struggles of two women between family and self. Although it does not deliberately evoke emotions, every detail is very touching.

Chen Fei stood in the front row, clapping, his ears filled with a constant stream of praise:
"It's so touching! The scene where the mother secretly hides the college acceptance letter reminded me of my own mother. The forbearance and love in this Eastern family were portrayed so accurately!"

"The cinematography is so beautiful! The scene of two women walking under one umbrella in an alley on a rainy day is both lonely and full of power. This ability to convey emotions through images makes it hard to believe that this is Liu Yifei's directorial debut!"

"What's most commendable is that it didn't portray men as villains, but rather objectively presented the predicament itself. This restrained expression is far superior to deliberate gender antagonism and is fully qualified to compete for the Golden Lion Award!"

The audience showered the audience with praise.

The news was immediately relayed back to China by the media present at the premiere.

In an instant, three news items quickly rose to the top of the trending searches:
"Warmest congratulations on the successful conclusion of the Venice premiere of 'The Room Next Door'! Chen Fei, Liu Yifei, and the main cast expressed their gratitude, and the entire audience rose to their feet and applauded!"

"The applause lasted for nearly twenty minutes! The Venice premiere of 'The Room Next Door' received a standing ovation, with film critics praising it as 'the best film with a female theme of the year'."

"The Venice Film Festival's program highly recommends 'The Room Next Door'! It ranks among the top three in the main competition and is considered a strong contender for the award, far surpassing many other films competing at the same time!"

When news of the Venice premiere of "The Room Next Door" reached China, social media platforms instantly went wild!

Netizens' exclamations kept flooding the screen:

"This is such a great honor for Chinese-language films! If Liu Yifei can really win a major award, she'll go from being a double Best Actress winner to a top-tier actress and director, which is absolutely amazing!"

"Judging from the overwhelming feedback at the scene, I feel like the Golden Lion Award or Best Director is halfway there. I'm looking forward to the official announcement!"

"Could it be that, besides Han Jia Nu's Palme d'Or, another actress is about to win one of the three major European awards?"

Fans were overjoyed and flooded the comments section with their support.

"From actress to director, Liu Yifei has made steady progress with every step! The international recognition that 'The Room Next Door' has received is the best proof of that!"

"Waiting for the closing ceremony to announce the awards! Go Sisi! If she wins, we'll all set off fireworks to celebrate!"

"My wife is amazing!!!"

Seeing so many people on the mainland supporting her, Liu Yifei, far away in Venice, was both excited and nervous.

With the premiere over, she is now completely caught in a dual state of "promotion + waiting".

During the day, she would accompany Chen Fei to various media interviews, repeatedly telling the stories behind the film's creation, from the shaping of female characters to the design of camera language, striving to let more judges and audiences feel the depth of the film.

Back at the hotel that evening, she couldn't help but repeatedly read through the program reviews and feedback from the PR team, feeling both expectant and anxious.

She knew that the positive reviews at the premiere were only the first step. The public relations team's precise communication with the jury, the film's positive word-of-mouth among international film critics, and the subtle biases in the final jury votes—every step could affect the outcome.

Whether he can win a major award during this trip to Venice and achieve a magnificent transformation from actor to director depends on those crucial few minutes at the closing ceremony.

Chen Fei noticed her nervousness and, while accompanying her to enjoy the night view from the hotel balcony that evening, gently patted her shoulder: "Don't think too much. We've already presented our best work to everyone. The rest is up to the judges. No matter the result, you're the best."

Liu Yifei gazed at the distant sea and nodded gently, her anxiety easing slightly.

She also knows that all she can do now is wait patiently and hope that the closing ceremony will bring a highlight moment for "The Room Next Door".

……

Before we knew it, it was September 8th.

That morning, just as dawn was breaking, Liu Yifei woke up and tossed and turned, unable to fall back asleep. So she got up and went to the living room, pacing back and forth.

As she walked, she would occasionally glance down at her phone, updating the latest news about the film festival.

Chen Fei was awakened by the noise in the living room. When he went to the door, he saw her anxious look and understood what was going on.

He didn't say much, but silently went to the kitchen to make a cup of warm milk and brought it to her: "Drink something first, don't rush, what's meant to come will come."

Liu Yifei took the milk, her fingertips touching the warm cup, which calmed her down a little, but she still couldn't help staring blankly at her phone screen.

And so, they waited until 9 a.m., when the telephone in the living room suddenly rang on time, breaking the silence.

Liu Yifei suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on the unfamiliar international number on the caller ID.

She took a deep breath, her hands still trembling uncontrollably as she pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear.

The gentle voice of a staff member from the Venice International Film Festival organizers came from the other end of the phone. The message was short, but it made Liu Yifei's eyes gradually brighten.

She nodded repeatedly, saying, "Okay, okay, I understand, thank you... We'll definitely be there on time tomorrow."

The moment she hung up the phone, Liu Yifei could no longer contain her joy. She turned around abruptly and hugged Chen Fei, shouting excitedly:

"It's a call from the organizers! They invited us to the closing ceremony tomorrow and even hinted that there are prizes to be won!"

Her voice trembled noticeably, and her eyes were slightly red.

The anxiety and anticipation of these past few days have finally received a definite response at this moment!

Chen Fei gently patted her back, a relieved smile on his face: "I told you, our film wouldn't be let down."

The oppressive atmosphere in the living room was instantly replaced by joy.

Liu Yifei held Chen Fei's hand and began excitedly discussing what dress to wear tomorrow and what thank-you speech to give on stage. Even her previous nervousness turned into anticipation for tomorrow.

The morning light in Venice outside the window was perfect, as if it too was cheering for the upcoming honor...

(End of this chapter)