Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 308-319 [North American version of I Want to Be Famous, Venice premiere]

night.

New York Hilton Hotel.

"Yes, that's it. Very good, Good, my baby!"

In the large suite, a black-haired man was holding a camera and clicking rapidly.

Accompanied by the sound of clicking, the blonde woman lying on the bed fiddled with her style wantonly.

"Nawo, you are so beautiful!"

The black-haired man looked at the photos in the camera and smiled with satisfaction. He had to say that Naomi had a great figure. Although she was not tall, only about 1.6 meters, her body proportions were very good.

Naomi blushed and asked, "Lee, are you okay?"

This is her first time modeling.

"OK!"

Li Yishu smiled and put the camera aside.

Hearing this, Naomi breathed a sigh of relief and put on the bathrobe next to her.

Li Yishu picked up the water cup on the table. He had sweated a lot after exercising, so he needed to replenish his energy. He took a few big gulps, then filled it up and handed it to Naomi.

Naomi was also a little thirsty, so she took the cup and drank

"Who among you came up with the gift at the theater today?"

After hearing what Li Yishu said, she drank and said, "It's Cindy."

"She?" Li Yishu raised her eyebrows and asked in surprise, "How did she come up with this?"

"I don't know, but I think it has something to do with Richard Gere."

Before he could speak, Naomi said mysteriously, "Last month when we were practicing dancing, Richard came to see Cindy and they had a big fight. Since then, Cindy has often asked me about you."

"Fight? What are you fighting about?"

"Richard said that Cindy was able to become the second female lead because she slept with you, and then Cindy admitted it..."

"what?!"

Li Yishu was shocked, he didn't expect that he would be the one to eat the melon. Although he hired Cindy Crawford as the second female lead with the idea of ​​revenge on Richard Gere, he hasn't done it yet!

Naomi also asked curiously, "Lee, did you really do that with Cindy?"

"NO!" Li Yishu glanced at her and shook her head.

"Do you want to?"

"Nawo, what do you mean?"

"Nothing, just curious."

Naomi smiled sweetly and said, "That's Cindy Crawford. I knew her when I was in Australia. She is one of the top five supermodels in the world. Vuge magazine even named her the sexiest woman in the world."

"Haha, she is indeed very sexy, but Nawo, you are also very beautiful. All you lack is an opportunity, a chance to show off your beauty."

Li Yishu smiled and touched the other person's face. Naomi Watts, who is only 26 years old this year, looks younger and more charming than when she starred in "King Kong" 10 years later.

"Then... then can I have this chance?" Naomi took a deep breath. She didn't think Cindy was much prettier than herself. Maybe she had a better figure, but in terms of appearance, she still thought she was very charming.

But as Li Yishu said, she lacks a space to showcase her beauty.

The reason why female stars give people a feeling of being beautiful and charming, besides their good looks, the most important thing is the blessing of their status and the rendering brought by the spotlight.

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Of course, this time I will take photos of your full beauty. Then you will become the envy of women all over the world because you can show your most beautiful self."

"Just think about it. When the movie is released, you will be walking on the red carpet in an evening gown, with reporters and fans from all over the world on both sides, cheering "Nawo" and "Nawo"... "

Naomi's breathing became increasingly rapid. In her mind, she had imagined herself walking on the red carpet in a haute couture dress, with reporters on both sides desperately taking pictures, flashes of light flashing continuously, dazzling...

She was so eager to be a big star.

Naomi has been in Hollywood for almost a year and she worries about her life every day. She can't pay the rent or buy cosmetics, which leads to her often going out without makeup. She has only bought clothes once since she came here, and that was because the mall was clearing out its inventory and having a discount promotion.

Big star? I dare not even think about it.

But now, it seems that all this is about to become a reality.

"Thank you, Li." Naomi looked at the man in front of her with complicated eyes.

Even though it all started out as a mutual agreement, and Naomi even took the initiative to ensure that her role as the heroine would not be replaced, after spending some time together, Naomi became deeply involved.

Although she was very unhappy with her fellow countryman and classmate Nicole Kidman, Naomi had to admit that she envied her. Not only did she become famous quickly after coming to the United States, she also married the famous Tom Cruise and became a Hollywood rising star under Tom's care.

Now Naomi feels like she might be the next Nicole!
And she is better than Nicole, because Lee is not only a great director, but also owns a decent-sized film company.

Li Yishu said with a smile: "I don't like verbal thanks, Nawo, you have to take action."

Naomi smiled charmingly and lowered her head in understanding.

8 month 5 number.

Venice, Italy.

This is Li Yishu's second time to attend the Venice International Film Festival. He is no longer a rookie coming here for the first time. The company has already booked a room in a large hotel in Venice.

When Li Yishu brought Monica here, Lai Shengchuan, Zhang Aijia and others had already come early to decorate the exhibition hall.

In the hotel room.

Li Yishu introduced: "This is Monica, my producer at North American Film Company. This time, she is mainly here to learn about the process of participating in the European Film Festival."

Zhang Aijia was surprised that such a beautiful woman was actually a producer, but she still extended her hand enthusiastically, "Hello, Miss Monica, I am the assistant director of this film and also an actor. You can call me Zhang."

Monica smiled and shook hands. "Hello Zhang, nice to meet you. My boss told me about you. He said you are one of the best Chinese female directors he has ever seen. He also said you are the best actor among directors and the best director among actors."

"Director Li is so polite." Zhang Aijia just took it as a compliment.

Li Yishu laughed: "Sister Aijia, I am not being polite. What I said is absolutely true. You are indeed the best actress and director I have ever seen." "Then I will shamelessly accept it."

Sylvia Chang couldn't stop smiling. If we only talk about women, she really feels that no one in Hong Kong, Taiwan or even the mainland can compare to her.

It's not that there are no female directors. Hong Kong's Xu Anhua is a famous female director. The films she made are all very good, and "To the Wrath of the Sea" is a classic. But she is not an actress.

Not much is known about her in mainland China, but if there really was a woman who could act and direct, Sylvia Chang would definitely have heard of her, but unfortunately, she hasn't.

Lai Shengchuan extended his hand: "Hello, Ms. Monica, I am Stan Lai, the assistant director of this film, and also a screenwriter."

"I've seen your film 'The Peach Blossom Land'. It's very well shot. The combination of modern and ancient times is refreshing. And my boss told me that you wrote the script?"

“Yes, this is the script I wrote.”

"Wow, that's great!"

Monica said happily: "I think you can try to write some Hollywood scripts. Right now our company lacks your wild and imaginative creativity!"

Lai Shengchuan was a little tempted: "I think I can give it a try. When I was studying drama arts at Berkeley University, I also learned how to write film scripts."

"This is my business card. You are welcome to contribute at any time. You are also a director, and I really hope to work with you."

"Thank you."

Seeing that Monica handled the social skills very well, Li Yishu was also smiling. It seems that during the time she served as a producer, she has successfully transformed from an actor to a producer.

He smiled and said, "Okay everyone, now that we all know each other, let's go try some Italian food. Monica is Italian and has been to Venice several times. Let her take us to taste the local delicacies."

Monica nodded with a smile: "No problem, I know a restaurant, it doesn't have a big sign, but it tastes great, authentic Italian food."

The group chatted and laughed as they left the hotel, took the gondola, a unique boat ride in the water city of Venice, and headed to the small restaurant that Monica mentioned served authentic Italian food.

the other side.

Jiang Wen, who was attending the Venice Film Festival for the first time, was sitting on a gondola with the film's heroine Ning Jing, hero Xia Yu, and several assistants including one of the investors Wen Jun, admiring the exotic scenery.

"This place stinks." Ning Jing looked at the turbid green water and couldn't help covering her nose. She had read about the water city of Venice in books before and was full of curiosity and longing for this city that needed boats as a means of transportation.

But after actually arriving at this place, she found out that she was wrong. There was no water park at all, nor was it the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea. It was clearly a city built on a stinking ditch.

Xia Yu, who originally didn't want to complain, nodded in agreement when he heard Ning Jing say that: "I thought Venice would be fun. When I came here, I wanted to play in the water and row a boat. The smell of this place is only slightly better than the public toilet at our doorstep."

"Haha, it does stink a bit, but we're not here to have fun."

Jiang Wen could still accept the stench, and turned to look at Wen Jun behind him: "Mr. Wen, how is the inspection going now?"

Jiang Wen has been busy these days setting up the exhibition hall and meeting some friends he met overseas. He didn't have much time to pay attention to the films selected for the main competition unit this year, so he gave this job to Wen Jun.

Wen Jun said: "This year, there are a total of 18 films nominated, of which there are four Chinese films. The biggest threat is of course Director Li's The Reader."

“When does The Reader premiere?”

As early as when the Venice Film Festival announced the shortlist, Jiang Wen knew that Li Yishu would be directing and acting this time. This reminded him of Li Yishu's first film "The Mountain, the Man, and the Dog", which successfully won the Golden Lion Award.

So he was very curious about what role Lee Yi-seo would play this time.

Wen Jun said, "Tomorrow, I met with Zhang Aijia yesterday, and she said that Director Li will be in Venice today, so tomorrow should be the premiere of The Reader."

"Then I'll have to go check it out tomorrow."

Ning Jing became interested. She had been following Jiang Wen around the exhibition hall these days and had not yet gone to see the shortlisted films for this year's main competition unit.

Not to mention that it is a movie starring the great director Lee Ye-su.

Jiang Wen said, "Well, let's go take a look together tomorrow. Mr. Wen, I'll trouble you to be in charge of the exhibition hall tomorrow."

"Okay, leave it to me!" Wen Jun smiled. This was his own business, so he naturally had to pay more attention to it. It would be good to make money, but at least he had to get his money back first.

Early the next morning.

The entrance of "The Reader" exhibition hall.

Li Yishu warmly welcomed journalists and film critics from all over the world, including Abraham, the president of the Venice Film Critics Association, whom he was familiar with.

Abraham smiled and said, "Lee, you finally came to Venice! I thought you had forgotten about our Venice International Film Festival after winning the three gold medals."

“Please rest assured, President Abel, I will never forget that Venice gave me the first major award in my life. The Golden Lion Award made me passionate about movies. I owe my current achievements to the Venice Film Festival!”

Li Yishu was not lying. If the Venice Film Festival had not awarded him his first Golden Lion Award, making him famous overnight, he would not have achieved what he has today.

Of course, it’s not that the Golden Lion Award determines everything, but it is enough to shorten Li Yishu’s development by several years.

Without the Golden Lion Award, it is hard to say whether he could have made "Farewell My Concubine". Without the Palme d'Or, he would not have been able to complete the three gold grand slam later, let alone become the number one Chinese director and the godfather of Asian films.

"Haha, it's all because of the movie you directed that impressed the judges. The Golden Lion Award is fair and just."

Abraham frowned.

"That's right!"

Li Yishu smiled brightly, he understood that the other party was talking about what happened at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Abraham suddenly said, "By the way, Li, are you really not considering becoming the chairman of the jury for our Venice Film Festival? I have talked to the organizers of Venice before, and they are happy to invite you to serve as the chairman of the jury."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I won't have time next year because I have a movie coming up."

Li Yishu looked apologetic. Being the chairman of the jury would definitely be beneficial for him, but the delay was too long.

The first thing is to watch the films sent in by directors from all over the world, select a shortlist, and then select the jury members for the final selection.

It will take at least two months in total.

Abraham asked, “What about the year after next?”

At this moment, Zhang Aijia came over and smiled politely at Abraham, then whispered to Li Yishu, "Director Li, the Wang family is here for them."

"Okay, you go and receive them first, I'll be there soon."

Li Yishu nodded, and waited until Zhang Aijia left before answering his question: "It's hard to say about the year after next, but please rest assured, if I am to be the chairman of the jury, it will definitely be the Venice Film Festival. I have enjoyed too much success here!"

(End of this chapter)