Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 332 343 [Young Girl Xiaoyu Liu Ruoying, Promoter of Major Film Festivals]

More than half an hour later.

Wu Dun shook Director Chen's hand and said enthusiastically, "Director Chen, Director Li, please consider it. We at Changhong Film and Television really hope to cooperate with your company."

"Our Emei factory also hopes to cooperate more with our counterparts in Taiwan, which is also the purpose of our trip to Taiwan."

Director Chen smiled and said, "However, regarding the specific cooperation, please give us a few days to consider, Mr. Wu. After all, our Emei Factory is a state-owned unit, and many audits are not decided by me as a director."

Wu Dun laughed: "I understand, Director Chen is not in a hurry. Please give it some thought. I will come to visit Director Chen and you in a few days."

After a few more pleasantries, Wu Dun and his group left first.

"Okay, everyone go back first."

After Director Chen turned around and said a few words to a group of employees, he asked everyone to go back and rest. He left Li Jian and several factory leaders to chat with Li Yishu.

During the conversation just now, Director Chen still wanted to cooperate with Changhong Film and Television.

On the one hand, Emei Film Studio is not like Beijing Film Studio and Xi'an Film Studio, which can often cooperate with Hong Kong and Taiwan film companies;
On the other hand, the film production project proposed by the other party is still very mature. The films starring Bruce Lee and Shao Wen have been selling well this year. Now these two child stars can be said to be the Good Fortune Boys.

But just when Director Chen was about to agree, he was interrupted by Li Yishu without a trace. It seemed that there must be something wrong with Changhong Film and Television.

Now that everyone had left, he asked, "Yishu, is there something wrong with Changhong Films?"

"There is a problem."

After Li Yishu sorted out his thoughts, he slowly said, "The project is indeed a good one, but before I came here, I specifically asked someone for information about this Changhong Film and Television Company. The company was established last year, and the boss behind the scenes is the manager Wu Dun mentioned earlier. This person... has a background in the underworld."

"The underworld?!"

When these words were spoken, Director Chen, Li Jian and others were all shocked.

They had all just met Wu Dun, who was chubby and spoke enthusiastically, and didn't look like a gangster at all.

"Yes, this Wu Dun is from the Bamboo Union. There are several big gangs in Formosa, and one of them is the Bamboo Union."

Li Yishu thought for a moment and continued, "If he just has a background in the underworld, it's normal. Hong Kong's Yongsheng Film Company also has relevant background. He also cooperated with our company this year. However, the main problem is that Wu Dun is a bit troublesome. He is suspected to be involved in the Jiangnan case that caused a sensation ten years ago."

"Jiangnan case?"

Several people frowned, but Director Chen seemed to know something and asked in surprise: "Is it the case of the assassination of the agent in Formosa Island?"

"That's right." Li Yishu nodded: "It's this case. I don't know the specific situation, so whether to cooperate with Wu Dun or not is up to you, Director Chen."

"This……"

Director Chen hesitated. He knew more or less about the background of Long Wu of Yongsheng Film Company, but Emei Film Studio was not the only one cooperating with Yongsheng. If other film studios wanted to cooperate in film production, it would be okay for other studios but not Emei Film Studio.

But this time it is a little different. Not only is it related to the underworld, but it is also suspected to have connections with the authorities in Taiwan.

Director Chen glanced at Li Yishu and saw that he was sitting there silently, as if he didn't want to be involved in this matter. He had no choice but to talk to several other leaders, including Li Jian, to ask for everyone's opinions.

Most of the leaders were resistant. Although Emei Film Studio was only in the upper middle level among the major domestic film studios, it was not at the point of burning its boats. In recent years, with the help of Li Yishu, the son of a factory worker, the studio had made considerable progress.

Naturally, I don’t want to cooperate with such a company with a complicated background.

Director Chen, however, was unwilling to give up. Since Han Sanping failed to compete with him the year before last and used his connections to go to Yanjing to serve as the director of the Beijing Film Studio, the Beijing Film Studio has now developed rapidly. It has not only cooperated with many film companies in Hong Kong to produce films, but has also produced two domestic blockbusters with investments of over 100 million yuan.

If nothing unexpected happens, as long as these two movies are released and achieve excellent box office results, Han Sanping, as the factory director, will definitely be viewed differently by his superiors and be entrusted with important tasks.

Although the development of Beijing Film Studio is inseparable from the support of famous directors such as Li Yishu and Chen Kaige, it still goes like this: learning how to use talents is the primary responsibility of a leader.

When he thought about the possibility that he might be surpassed by Han Sanping in the future, and that the dispute over the position of factory director two years ago would be brought up, Factory Director Chen gritted his teeth and said:
"I know everyone's concerns, but we can't refuse cooperation because of this. If our Emei Film Studio wants to stand out among many domestic film studios, we have to try more. Moreover, we are just a co-producer and are not involved in other matters."

"That's it for this matter. When Mr. Wu comes again in a couple of days, we'll discuss cooperation. I'll report to the committee later."

Decades later, Lao Wang said it well: Tsinghua and Peking University are not as good as courage!

Director Chen is the representative of courage at this moment.

However, in Li Yishu's opinion, he did not make a wrong move. Wu Dun's Changhong Film and Television had many collaborations with mainland TV stations in the future. He vaguely remembered that the other party also invested in the "Fifth Prince" version of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber".

This shows that Wu Dun’s background is not a big problem.

Come to think of it, Yongsheng's Longwu has been cooperating with mainland film studios for several years and there haven't been any major problems.

After the brief internal meeting, Director Chen warmly escorted Li Yishu out of the hotel.

"Yishu, it really doesn't matter?"

Li Jian was still a little worried. He didn't know much about things in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Thinking that it was the underworld and spies made him worried.

The workers in state-owned factories these days still have a sense of ownership. Li Jian has worked in Emei Factory for many years, so he naturally does not want any major problems to occur in the studio.

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry too much. Since Director Chen has decided to cooperate, he must have his own ideas. And there is no need to worry too much about the background of Changhong Film and Television. If there is really a reprimand from the higher-ups, it will be Director Chen who will bear the responsibility."

"Okay." Li Jian nodded, and suddenly remembered something, and said, "By the way, did you say anything to Director Chen? Just now he asked me to write an industry report for this visit to Taiwan in the next few days."

"Nothing." Li Yishu pretended to be ignorant and said with a smile: "Isn't it normal to write a report? So many people came to Emei Factory this time, they must write an inspection report and discuss it back."

Hearing this, Li Jian said nothing more, "Then you go back first and tell your mother that we will leave the day after tomorrow. The expedition team plans to take a day to visit the island the day after tomorrow. I will leave the team and go see Tuantuan then."

"Row."

Li Yishu agreed, "Dad, I'll go first."

"go Go."

After saying goodbye to his father Li Jian, Li Yishu hailed a taxi at the intersection. Instead of returning directly to Qingxia, he gave a string of addresses.

He didn't have much Liuwei Dihuang Pills left, so he had to ask the owner of the Chinese medicine store to get some more.

I have to say that the handmade Liuwei Dihuang Pills are really effective. Combined with wolfberry water, it is an essential medicine for nourishing energy and replenishing strength!
An hour later, when Li Yishu returned to the house, she saw Zhang Aijia playing with the child.

Ever since they finished filming "The Reader", Sylvia Chang and Brigitte Lin have always had a very good relationship. Moreover, Brigitte Lin suddenly retired from the film industry and stayed in the United States for more than half a year instead of returning to Taiwan. Anyone who is careful enough can find the problem.

So after Qingxia returned to Taiwan this time, she happened to sit down with Zhang Aijia in private, and the news of her pregnancy and childbirth was revealed.

Li Yishu didn't care about the matter being known by outsiders. After all, Qingxia's retirement from the entertainment industry did not mean that she would stop meeting with her old friends in the circle. The changes in her figure and the maternal radiance revealed at that moment would definitely be noticed by others at a glance.

Li Yishu said as she changed her slippers, "Sister Aijia, why are you here?"

Zhang Aijia noticed Li Yishu coming in and said with a smile, "What's the matter? Director Li doesn't welcome me? There's nothing I can do if he doesn't welcome me. I'm here to give your son a gift for his 100-day birthday party!"

"Haha, how can you not be welcome?"

Li Yishu walked to Qingxia's side with a smile, put his arm around her waist, and said, "Of course I welcome you to give a gift to my son."

When Zhang Aijia saw this scene, she said with a sigh, "When we were filming, I felt that there must be something wrong between you two. Sure enough, I guessed it right."

Qingxia said with a smile: "Yes, yes, everyone knows that you, Zhang Aijia, have a keen eye for talent. Nothing can be hidden from your eyes."

"That is!"

Zhang Aijia showed a proud look on her face, then glanced at Li Yishu beside her and said, "Director Li, I am considered the matchmaker between the two of you, right? Shouldn't I give you the matchmaker gift?"

Li Yishu laughed and said, "Okay, before you leave later, I'll give you a big red envelope."

"Forget about the big red envelope. I'll save it to buy milk powder for my nephew." Zhang Aijia rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "If Director Li really wants to give a matchmaker gift, I really have something I want to ask you for help."

"No problem, anything I can do to help."

Li Yishu agreed immediately. He took into consideration Qingxia's current condition. If she went out often, she might be photographed by paparazzi. The change in body shape could not be faked, so it would be better to have someone come to her house.

Sylvia Chang knew the truth and had a good relationship with Qingxia. Li Yishu didn't mind helping her. After all, it was just a movie-related matter, either investment or helping with distribution or something like that.

"That's great!" Zhang Aijia looked at Qingxia with a smile: "Qingxia, your husband is so nice!"

After hearing this, Qingxia smiled helplessly, but she still felt very happy about this sentence.

"Tell me, what's going on?"

"It's nothing, actually. I just shot an art film called "The Little Fisher Girl" last year and I want to send it to the Berlin or Cannes Film Festival."

Girl Xiaoyu?

The one shot by Liu Milk Tea?
Li Yishu has some impression of this movie. It seems that Rene Liu became famous because of this movie. She also won a Best Actress award, but she doesn't know what award it was.

He said, "You don't need my help with this, right? Why don't you just ask the people from the Formosa Film Bureau to help send it to Berlin and Cannes?"

In recent years, Taiwanese filmmakers have also liked to travel to Europe, hoping to win some awards at European film festivals.

The people from the Formosa Film Bureau naturally supported it with both hands.

Although Sylvia Chang is not a big director, she is also one of the well-known female directors in Taiwan. There is no reason for the Film Bureau not to support her.

"It's no problem to just send it over. I just..."

Zhang Aijia hesitated for a few seconds, then gritted her teeth and said, "I was just worried that my film wouldn't be shortlisted, so I thought of asking Director Li for help. I don't care about winning any awards, I just want to get on the shortlist so I can sell more copyright fees at the European Film Festival."

Zhang Aijia went to Venice with Li Yishu last year, and she had participated in several film festivals before. She naturally knew that the films shortlisted for the three major film festivals would naturally have a higher price than those that were not shortlisted when selling copyrights.

"Well." Li Yishu began to think.

"If it's troublesome, then forget it. I don't have to be shortlisted. Director Li can ask Amy to help me with PR at the film festival."

"It's not a big deal, it's just a shortlist. I can still get it done, but you have to tell me whether it's Berlin or Cannes."

Getting a film nominated may be difficult for others, but it is very simple for Lee Yi-su. After all, there are a large number of runner-up films at the three major film festivals every year.

Zhang Aijia was delighted: "Cannes, it's only a few days away from the Berlin finals."

"Okay, then let's go to Cannes. I'll call Amy and tell her later. Then she'll contact you. Just follow her instructions on what to do."

Li Yishu smiled and took this opportunity to test Amy's ability in film public relations.

In recent years, thanks to Lee Yi-su's films, Amy has had very good relationships with the organizers of the three major film festivals. She is trying to see if she can get her films shortlisted.

If successful, the company can try to become a promoter of film festivals in the future.

"Thank you, Director Li!" Zhang Aijia was so happy that she quickly invited him, "I know a private restaurant with great food. I'll host Director Li and his wife for a good meal tonight."

Qingxia couldn't help smiling from ear to ear, and was very satisfied with the four words "director's wife". She had to look at Li Yishu, and she turned her head and asked with her eyes.

Seeing that she wanted to go, Li Yishu nodded and agreed. It happened that he would be returning to the mainland in two days, so it would be nice to accompany her to visit the island. There were two mothers at home to take care of the children anyway.

That evening.

Several people went out.

In the private hotel, after eating and drinking, Sylvia Chang suggested going to sing karaoke.

Qingxia had been very cooped up since she became pregnant and gave birth, and then to her confinement period, and had hardly gone out to play. She was happy today, and seeing that Li Yishu had no objection, she readily agreed.

Sylvia Chang is a local in Taipei, so she naturally knows which karaoke bars have a good environment and high privacy.

Before leaving, Zhang Aijia suddenly said, "Director Li, do you want to invite the leading actress of my film? She is a singer and she sings very well."

Li Yishu looked at Qingxia and nodded when she saw that she had no objection: "Call her over."

Now it is winter, and the changes in body shape are not so easy to be noticed because of the concealment of the blue clouds.

(End of this chapter)