Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 225 235 [Awards keep coming, Gong Huang, the Holy Body of Palace Fighting]

"Ha ha……"

Hearing Zhou Xun say this, Li Yishu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Gong Li next to her also had a slight smile on her face and was in a good mood.

Zhou Xun continued, "Boss, would you like to order a song for the lady next to you? I can sing any song."

"What song can I order?"

Li Yishu looked at the other person with interest. Although he knew that Zhou Xun had worked as a resident singer in a bar in Sanlitun when he was a migrant worker in Beijing, he did not expect that he had already been in Sanlitun in 1993.

"Boss, any song is fine!" Zhou Xun was full of confidence.

"Will Zhang Xueyou sing?"

"meeting!"

"Then let's sing a song called 'I Only Want to Love One Person in My Life.'" Li Yishu turned to look at Gong Li, only to see that her lips were slightly pursed, with the corners of her mouth rising a little.

Zhou Xun nodded: "No problem, boss!"

"how much is it?"

"Well... Boss, wait and see if I sing well. It's up to you to see if you like it."

She was playing a trick. Nowadays, people who come to the bars in Sanlitun are basically either rich people or cultural celebrities, and they all care about their face.

The price of a song is clearly marked, which is for ordinary customers.

Although it was a little dim in the bar and he couldn't see the faces of the two men, Zhou Xun believed that they were definitely not ordinary people.

Li Yishu smiled cheerfully: "Haha, OK! Then go sing!"

"Okay."

Zhou Xun left with the flower basket in high spirits.

After she left, Gong Li next to her couldn't help but tease her: "Are you really going to love only one person for your whole life? I think you are quite sentimental."

"Hehe~~"

Li Yishu smiled without saying anything. She said, "I only wish to love one person in my life." "I only wish" means hope, but she didn't say "I must."

Jingle Bell--

Just then, Li Yishu's cell phone rang. In the noisy bar, the ringtone stuck to his shirt pocket. He didn't hear it clearly at first, but Gong Li noticed it.

He took out his cell phone and saw that it was Yongmei calling. He said something to Gong Li and walked out of the bar.

There was snow all over the ground outside and there were few lights outside at night. A gust of cold wind blew, making Li Yishu, who had just come out of the hot bar, feel a lot more energetic.

"Hey, what's wrong, Yongmei?"

"Boss, Mr. Xu from Tomson Pictures just sent me a fax saying that our Farewell My Concubine has been shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the 51st Golden Globe Awards."

Shortlisted?!

Secretary Li Yi was nominated for and won the Golden Globe Award.

Thinking of this, he said, "Mr. Xu, can you tell me when we're going to leave?"

Yongmei on the other end of the phone said, "The Golden Globe Awards will be held on January 1 at the Hilton Hotel in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Ms. Xu said that if you don't have that much time, she can take people to Los Angeles first."

The main investor of this film is Xu Lu, and she is also responsible for participating in various major awards.

For example, the 38th Asia Pacific Film Festival was held in Japan last September. Although Lee Yi-su was not present, she still successfully won the Best Director Award.

There were also various other small awards. In total, Lee Yi-su won no less than twenty trophies with this movie, either Best Picture, Best Director, or Best Foreign Language Film.

The most popular award is the Society of Film Critics Award.

The New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Boston, Chicago...

Including the 27th National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

I can only say that it’s really awesome to win these Film Critics Association Awards. I’ve won more than a dozen trophies in the United States alone.

But these are just to fool laymen. Experts don't care about these city film critics awards.

It's like every city has a Writers Association, and when writers associations from a dozen cities award first prizes, at most your city will be named.

"No need, I will go there myself. You tell Mr. Xu and we will leave around January 1th." Li Yishu thought about it and decided that it would be a good idea to go there earlier. He could also take a look at the post-production of "Final Destination" shot by Li An.

"Final Destination" was completed at the beginning of this month and is now in post-production. The most expensive shot is the use of computer special effects to simulate a plane explosion.

Monica called and said that this shot alone would cost $30, which made Li Yishu determined to build her own special effects team.

But of course it can't be done in the United States. It would be easy to be poached by movie giants there, so it can only be done in Hong Kong.

After chatting for a few more words, when Li Yishu returned to the bar, Zhou Xun had already gone on stage and started singing.

"I only wish to love one person in my life, because you are unique to me. I only wish to love one person in my life, and even one lifetime is not enough..."

Zhou Xun's Cantonese is average, even a little clumsy, but in terms of singing alone, he is still very talented.

No wonder he later released an album and sang a very good song "Piaoyao".

Unfortunately, her throat was damaged by smoking and drinking. When Huang Rong opened her mouth with a smoky voice, people felt that this was not the clever Miss Huang, but the experienced Mei Chaofeng.

"It's OK to sing."

Gong Li smiled and looked at Li Yishu: "How much money are you going to give later?"

He smiled and said, "No money!"

"No money?" Gong Li was slightly stunned.

"Give her a chance."

Li Yishu looked at Zhou Xun, who had already stepped down from the stage and was walking towards her, with a smile on her face.

Zhou Xun walked over quickly, his face full of joy, and said, "Boss! I'm sorry that I didn't sing well. I made you laugh."

"It's OK to sing."

Li Yishu smiled and took out her wallet from her pocket, pulled out 10 hundred-dollar bills and placed them on the table, then took out one of her business cards: "Pick one."

The bar was dimly lit, and Zhou Xun only saw a hundred-dollar bill and what looked like a business card.

She glanced at Li Yishu, then at the money and business cards on the table, and said hesitantly, "Boss, what do you mean?"

Li Yishu did not answer the other party's question, but asked back: "Have you ever acted in "Ancient Tomb Abandoned House" directed by Xie Tieli?"

"Boss, have you seen it?" Zhou Xun was very surprised. She filmed that movie two years ago and had been a resident singer in Yanjing for several months. No one knew that she had actually filmed a movie.

"Well, I wasn't sure before, but now it's certain."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "You acted very well. There is no need to continue wasting time here."

"Boss, you...you are a director?" No matter how dumb Zhou Xun was, he guessed that the other party should be a film practitioner.

Li Yishu did not answer, but asked: "Do you choose this or this?"

"I choose the boss's business card." Although Zhou Xun was very envious of the 1000 yuan, she was more aware of the importance of business cards than money.

This is an opportunity!
"Haha, okay, you keep the business card."

Li Yishu handed the other party his business card, then took the money and turned to look at Gong Li: "It's almost nine o'clock, shall we go back?" "Don't you want to tell Mr. Qiu?" Gong Li turned around and looked at another table, where Qiu Fusheng was drinking and chatting with Ge You and others.

"Just call me later."

"it is good."

The two stood up and prepared to leave. Li Yishu also made a phone call gesture to Zhou Xun.

After everyone had left, Zhou Xun lowered his head to look at the business card, but the place was too dark and he couldn't see it clearly, so he had to look at the backstage of the bar.

When Zhou Xun saw the business card, he was dumbfounded.

Lee Ye-seo!
This, isn’t this the great young director!
Zhou Xun was ecstatic when she thought of the other party's achievements in the film industry. She didn't expect that she was so lucky to be noticed by this great director.

If she could star in the other person's movie, wouldn't she become instantly famous all over the country like Jiang Qinqin?

On the street outside the bar.

Li Yishu drove the car and took Gong Li back to the courtyard.

Gong Li teased, "Do you like that little girl very much?"

"It's not that I like her, but I think she's good. I've seen a movie she starred in, and her performance was quite lively. It's not a good idea to waste time in this bar."

Li Yishu shook his head. He didn't like tablet computers like Zhou Xun. He just wanted to start learning how to produce film and television dramas at his own company in Yanjing, as he would have to sign artists in the future.

Since you want to sign, why don’t you take action in advance when you see a good candidate like Zhou Xun? Are you going to wait until later?

Although he established the company mainly to serve himself, Li Yishu's career is developing too fast now. Without considering Pioneer VCD, just based on the current situation of the Art Film Company, he has integrated resources to establish the Art Entertainment Group.

The next twenty years will be an era of rapid development for domestic artist management. Even Zhang Yimou’s film company later signed artists, so Li Yishu naturally would not miss it.

What's more, Li Yishu also hopes to train a group of outstanding film actors so that they will not be used as foils by those people in Hong Kong in the millennium.

This is also why when filming "Sword Rain" at the beginning, he considered that there were too many Hong Kong actors and directly replaced Li Saifeng, who had better fighting scenes.

Even the male and female protagonists were chosen to play mainland actors Gong Li and Zhao Wenzhuo.

In fact, considering the box office, it would be more appropriate to choose a Hong Kong martial arts actor as the male actor. However, in order to counter the large influx of Hong Kong stars moving north in the future, Zhao Wenzhuo, who had no acting foundation or popularity at the time, was chosen to play the role.

"Is your company going to sign an artist?"

Gong Li was surprised and said, "I remember last year, didn't you say you wouldn't sign it?"

Li Yishu drove with one hand and shrugged his shoulders: "There is no way. The company has grown too fast. Now it has become a group. The mainland branch will focus on producing TV series in the future. Instead of making others famous, it is better to make our own people famous."

"Your business is developing faster and faster."

Gong Li said with emotion: "I still remember the first time you went to the Venice Film Festival, you didn't even have the money to buy a good suit."

"Haha, Sister Gong Li, things may change over time."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "At first, I didn't expect that I could have a kiss with her."

Gong Li snorted, "Li Yishu, you look very proud, don't you?"

"No, no, I'm not proud. It's just that Sister Gong Li, you have always been the muse and mother of the earth in my mind!"

"Mother Earth? What does that mean?"

"Haha, you'll know when you get back."

Li Yishu smiled mischievously. Seeing that Gong Li was about to continue asking questions, he changed the subject directly: "By the way, Sister Gong Li, our Farewell My Concubine has been nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the Golden Globe Awards. Do you want to go?"

"Golden Globes?"

Gong Li asked in confusion: "When does it start?"

Li Yishu said: "It will be held on January 1nd. We will go there around January 22th. After attending the Golden Globe Awards, we will fly directly to Berlin to attend the Berlin International Film Festival. We will be there in time."

According to the tradition of the Berlin International Film Festival in previous years, it should be held around mid-February. Tomorrow, Qiu Fusheng will send "Central Station" to Berlin. By then, the registration there should be closed around early January, and the list will be announced at the end of January.

Gong Li thought about it and nodded, "Okay, I can do anything. But those people will go there, will they all go?"

"It's just a Best Foreign Language Film Award, just bring a few of the main creators with you."

Li Yishu shook his head. This was not a competition for a big award, just an election for the Best Foreign Language Film Award. When the time comes, he will just take a few main creators and Xu Lu there together.

In Gong Li’s courtyard house at night.

"Sister Gong Li!"

Looking at Gong Li who was naked, Li Yishu held the two big white rabbits and said excitedly: "This is the Mother Earth I mentioned!"

"You really are the one whoever gives you milk is your mother."

Gong Li said with a smile: "Is this the Mother Earth? Aren't there many of them on the streets?"

"It's different. In my heart, you are the only mother of the earth."

Li Yishu's eyes flickered. He always felt that the two actresses with the most maternal brilliance were Gong Li and Monica Bellucci.

Both of them have plump figures and have the temperament of a heavy earth mother.

But the two are different.

Gong Li is a big tree deeply rooted in the earth, and Nuwa bursting with life; Monica is a carved cold sculpture, and the Virgin Mary who sheds tears of compassion for all living beings.

Gong Li couldn't help laughing when Li Yishu praised her like this: "You're exaggerating, aren't you? You make me sound like the queen who rules the country."

"That's right, you are the Emperor Gong in my mind!"

Li Yishu's eyes lit up, he had always remembered Gong Li's nickname, Gong Huang!

Looking at actresses at home and abroad, the only ones nicknamed "Huang" by audiences and netizens, besides Gong Li, are American Queen Charlize Theron.

"Gong Huang?" Gong Li raised her eyebrows, repeated it silently several times, and then the corners of her mouth rose inexplicably, and she said with a smile: "This Gong Huang sounds good."

"I'll arrange a role for you as the mother of the country, and I guarantee that you will get enough of being a queen."

"Then I want to play Wu Zetian!"

"Wu Zetian is not good, let's go to Empress Lü Zhi!"

The image of Wu Zetian is actually not very suitable for Gong Li to play. Although she was the first female emperor, this character should have more liveliness, charm and outward sharpness.

On the other hand, Gong Li's slightly sad and cold face is actually not suitable for playing Wu Zetian, who is famous for her charm and sharpness.
She is more suitable for playing a role of growing up step by step in the power struggle, gradually learning to look directly into people's hearts, from melancholy and numbness to arrogance and indignation at the world. This is very similar to Empress Lu, and can be called a saint of palace fighting!

Hearing this, Gong Li was surprised and asked, "How did you know that someone wanted me to play Lü Zhi?"

"Someone asked you to act?"

Li Yishu was slightly stunned, and then suddenly remembered a less popular movie "The King of Western Chu".

He remembered that in this movie, Xiang Yu was played by Ray Lui, Yu Ji seemed to be played by Guan Zhilin, Liu Bang was played by Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li played Lu Zhi.

She was just Lu Zhi during the Chu-Han contention period, not the Empress Lu who later wielded great power and ruled the country.

Gong Li nodded: "Well, the Hong Kong Yindu Agency asked me to act in it, and they said it would start filming in March. If you want me to play Empress Lu, then I will turn it down..."

"Don't push it, just go ahead and act. It's a good opportunity to get a feel for playing Lü Zhi, and I don't have time to direct right now."

Li Yishu shook his head. He just said it casually. If they were to shoot, he really didn't know when to start.

(End of this chapter)