Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 24 [Venice Water City, Renting a Movie Hall] Please read
"Then please tell Mr. Qiu and Ms. Xu that I really like this story and I am confident that I can make it a good film."

Although Qiu Fusheng had other intentions in helping me, he just wanted me to make a movie or to invest in a movie I made.

But no matter which one it is, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for Li Yishu.

Decades of directing career before his rebirth taught Li Yishu that using investors' money to promote his own fame and fortune was the best choice.

“Although I haven’t read the novel Farewell My Concubine, Director Li is so optimistic about it that I am more interested in it.”

Qiu Fusheng smiled and said, "When I return to Taiwan, I will talk to Ms. Xu about this. I have also met Director Chen Kai. He is a talented director, but I believe Director Li's talent and ability are definitely not inferior to his."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Qiu."

Li Yishu picked up the teacup on the table and said, "I'll use tea instead of wine. Thank you for your help, Mr. Qiu."

"Haha, Director Li is so polite."

Seeing the other party drinking the tea, Qiu Fusheng also picked up the teacup and took a sip. He was a very polite person. Even though Li Yishu had not yet fully emerged, looking at his behavior, he could be sure that he would be someone he could easily deal with in the future.

He is young, but he is graceful and speaks eloquently. He is definitely a promising young man.

Gong Li, who had been drinking tea but not saying anything, immediately asked curiously when she saw that the two had finished their conversation: "Yishu, what is the story of "Farewell My Concubine"? Could it be the story of Xiang Yu and Yu Ji?"

Although she has not seen "The Mountain, the Man, the Dog" directed by Lee Ye-su, but since it was shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival, Gong Li can basically be sure that this new brother must be quite capable, but art films are not the same as historical war films.

Lee Yi-su is so young, it may not be possible for her to film a story about the Chu-Han contention.

"It's the story of Xiang Yu and Yu Ji, but it's a Peking Opera..."

Li Yishu briefly explained the plot, then smiled and said, "By the way, Sister Gong Li, the role of Juxian is very suitable for you. If I can really direct this movie, you must come to help your brother."

"No problem!" Gong Li said generously, "As long as you invite me, I will definitely go!"

"Then I have to ask Director Zhang in advance if he has any plans for filming next."

Li Yishu looked at Zhang Yimou.

He remembered that after "The Big Red Lantern", he filmed "To Live" with Gong Li, and then "Raise the Red Lantern" with Gong Li.

Ten years later, they collaborated again on "Curse of the Golden Flower".

Gong Li blurted out: "No matter if he has a plan or not, as long as Yishu invites me, Gong Li will definitely go to your crew."

Zhang Yimou smiled but said nothing. He makes movies based on the script. He would only be interested in good scripts or good novels.

Li Yishu thanked, "Thank you very much, Sister Gong Li."

The next morning.

After checking out of the hotel, the group went to the airport and flew directly to Venice Marco Polo International Airport.

Speaking of Venice, the world-famous underwater city, the entire city is submerged in water. Li Yishu is very curious about where their airport is built?
Later, I learned from Qiu Fusheng, who had been to Venice, that Venice’s airport was on a small island 8 kilometers away from the city center.

For the passengers who get off the plane, there is only one way to travel, and that is to take a boat into the center of Venice through the estuary pier on the right side of the airport.

After about an hour's flight, everyone arrived at Venice Marco Polo International Airport.

A group of people followed the guide out of the airport hall and came to a pier inside the airport that connected to the river in the city center.

Seeing this novel way to enter the city and the view of Venice in the distance, Gong Li said with emotion: "Living on the water, don't people here get eczema?" "Eczema? I think so. Living on the water all year round, there must be some."

Li Yishu looked out at the city of Venice a few kilometers away on the other side of the river.

I am also full of curiosity about this city that is written in textbooks.

Soon it was Li Yishu and the others' turn to board the boat. As he watched the boat sail along the edge of the city, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Qiu, aren't we going to the city?"

"No, the film festival is held on Lido Island, and the hotel we booked is also there."

Qiu Fusheng shook his head, then noticed that they had sailed to the outskirts of Lido Island, and pointed to a floating city in the distance and said, "That's Lido Island, the largest island outside the main city of Venice. Every year when the film festival is held, there will be tourists from all over the world visiting here."

Li Yishu looked in the direction the other party pointed and overlooked Lido Island from a distance. The buildings seemed to be floating on the water, and no coastline was visible.

Venice Film Festival, here I come!

Lido Island.

Once you enter the island by boat, you will find yourself in a completely different world.

There are many flat boats on the river similar to those in the Jiangnan water towns, and there are embankments on both sides for pedestrians to walk on.

After Li Yishu followed Zhang Yimou and others ashore, she carried her suitcase and went to a hotel they had booked in advance.

It is called a hotel, but in fact it is just a four-story inn, and the accommodation environment is relatively decent.

The group settled down. Seeing that it was still early and not yet time for lunch, Qiu Fusheng took everyone to the venue of the film festival to communicate with the organizers in advance and to set up their respective exhibition halls.

Unlike those films that were not shortlisted, which were required to pay an additional exhibition fee, film exhibitions of shortlisted works like Li Yishu do not require any additional payment except for the minimum venue rental fee.

Qiu Fusheng was wealthy and directly booked a screening hall for the crew of "Raise the Red Lantern" that could accommodate 500 people, which was also the largest theater.

Originally, he wanted to book a large hall for Li Yishu, but was rejected, so he only asked for a small hall that could seat 50 people.

The organizer originally agreed that Li Yishu should owe the money temporarily.

After all, even if the works that are shortlisted don’t win any awards, they will not have trouble selling the copyrights at the film festival. Film producers from all over the world will come, and they can be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is enough to pay for the exhibition hall fees.

But Gong Li didn't want to go through so much trouble, so she paid the money for renting the exhibition hall first.

Li Yishu didn't say anything about this. After all, she owed Gong Li a favor and she would find a way to repay it later.

After renting the exhibition hall, Li Yishu and Gong Li spent a day tidying up the exhibition hall. They also posted the poster of "The Mountain, the Man and the Dog" that he brought from China at the door of the screening room.

This poster was drawn stroke by stroke by an art teacher at Emei Film Studio after watching the movie. The style used is more of an ink painting.

On the poster, there is a green field, two little stick figures and a dog.

At first glance, this poster gives people a sense of tranquil beauty.

"It's almost done. After the opening ceremony, tourists, film critics, and film producers will buy tickets to watch the film."

Gong Li, who has been to Berlin and Cannes, is quite familiar with the procedures of the film festival.

　Please vote for me, read this, and collect it!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)