Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 651 Influence

In the morning, Zhang Chen dragged his tired body to the company, his eyes looking like a panda's.

Zhang Chen was still sleepy-eyed, even yawning as he walked.

When I pushed open the glass door of Starry Night Pictures, the expected greetings did not come. Upon closer inspection, I saw that everyone was gathered in the lobby.

A group of people cheered and hugged each other, seemingly celebrating something.

The loud noise was so great that no one noticed his arrival.

At that moment, Zhong Lifang, who had just been hugging someone, turned her head and saw Zhang Chen at the door. She immediately rushed over like a gust of wind.

She walked on ten-centimeter high heels as if they were flat on the ground, unaware that two buttons on her business suit had popped open.

Zhong Lifang clutched a crumpled piece of paper tightly in her hand, her face beaming with undisguised happiness.

"Director Zhang, we've made it! We've made it!"

Her voice cracked with excitement as she rushed to Zhang Chen, holding the list up and waving it in front of him.

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score...

Pacific Rim 2 received a total of eight nominations.
Zhong Lifang's voice couldn't hide her excitement: "And Fan Binbin and Guo Fan are also nominated for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively, for their roles in 'Gravity'!"

Zhong Lifang was speaking excitedly when she suddenly noticed that Zhang Chen in front of her was not surprised at all. There was a faint smile on his lips and even a hint of understanding in his eyes.

She slapped her forehead suddenly, exclaiming as if in a flash of realization, "Wait... you already knew? So we were all so excited here that we didn't sleep all night, and you, on the other hand, kept it all to yourself!"

Zhang Chen smiled as he accepted the list, and the name "Pacific Rim 2" was prominently featured in the "Best Picture" nomination column.

"I only found out a few hours earlier than you guys. David called me at three in the morning. Otherwise, why do you think I'd be in this state?"

Zhang Chen looked annoyed.

"Don't you always look down on these awards? Why are you so excited that you couldn't sleep all night?"

"Who said I was excited? I was woken up at 3 a.m. and couldn't fall back asleep. Do you think I wanted this?"

Mentioning this, Zhang Chen looked even more resentful, all because of that guy David.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the cheering employees in the office area and landing on the gradually awakening city skyline outside the window. "But to be honest, seeing everyone's excitement makes me even happier than if I knew it myself..."

Zhong Lifang sighed, hands on her hips, but the excitement in her eyes did not diminish at all. Her tone was full of emotion: "How could I not be excited? Do you know how long we Chinese filmmakers have been waiting for this day?"

She pulled Zhang Chen to the bulletin board in the lobby, where it was covered with celebratory posters printed overnight by the employees. There were posters of Fan Binbin in his spacesuit in "Gravity", close-ups of the mechs in "Pacific Rim 2", and even a photo of Zhang Chen and Guo Fan with the words "Olympic Dream Team" written in red pen.

"Ever since director Xie Jin took 'Hibiscus Town' to Venice, the older generation of filmmakers have been hoping to have a place at the Oscars."

"It's not about how important winning awards is, but about letting the world truly see that Chinese films are not just kung fu movies. We can also make top-notch commercial blockbusters and create awe-inspiring artistic works."

She became more and more emotional as she spoke, her eyes slightly reddening. She raised her hand to wipe her eyes, "Who would have thought that happiness would come so suddenly? 'Universe 2' received eight nominations all at once, and 'Gravity' also won two, namely the heavyweight Best Actress and Best Director awards."

Since the Oscars were founded in 1929, this is the first time a Chinese actress has been nominated for Best Actress. Neither Gong Li nor Zhang Ziyi has ever received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. This honor belongs to our Star Entertainment.

Also, you and Guo Fan have received Best Director nominations again. Although Ang Lee won it before you, this is the first time that mainland Chinese filmmakers have been nominated, and two of them at once!
In my opinion, this isn't just a victory for Starlight Pictures; it's a milestone for the entire Chinese film industry!

No sooner had the words been spoken than an even louder cheer erupted from the office area. Someone ran over with a champagne glass in hand, foam spilling all the way: "President Zhang! Director Zhong! Director Han called! He said he wants to come over in person to congratulate us!"

At the same time, in front of the Republican-era buildings in Shanghai Film Park, Fan Binbin had just finished reshooting a night scene. She took off her costume and changed into a simple black suit with a pearl brooch on the collar of her white shirt. Her makeup was exquisite, but she couldn't hide the fatigue in her eyes. However, when the reporters surrounded her, a smile instantly appeared on her lips, like an irrepressible light.

"I was being suspended by wires when I received the notification,"

She raised her hand to tidy up the stray hairs that had been ruffled by the wind, her fingertips still bearing the lingering residue of her costume. Her tone held a hint of excitement as she said, "My assistant was waving her phone downstairs and calling me. I thought it was the production crew urging me to hurry up. When I came down and saw that my phone screen was full of congratulatory messages, my legs went weak. I checked the list on the Oscars website three times before I dared to believe it was real."

A reporter handed over the microphone, his voice full of anticipation: "As the first Chinese actress to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, what would you most like to say to your supporters right now?"

Fan Binbin took the microphone, his eyes sweeping over the fans in the crowd holding up signs that read "Go, Fan Xiaopang!" His eyes lit up: "This is not only my honor, but also a victory for all those who believe that Chinese actors can stand on the international stage."

The character in *Gravity* is an ordinary person struggling in the face of extreme space danger; her fear and resilience are actually a microcosm of everyone who perseveres in adversity.

"I think the reason why the Oscar judges saw the power of this character is because good acting has no cultural boundaries."

She paused, then emphasized her words, "Of course, I want to thank Director Zhang Chen the most. He went against everyone's wishes and let me play this one-man show, saying, 'Only you can bring out the soul of the character.' That trust is my greatest source of confidence."

The interview video topped the homepages of major video platforms within half an hour, and five related topics, including #FanBinbinOscarBestActressNomination#, #ChineseActorAchievesZeroBreakthroughAtOscar#, #TwoMainlandDirectorsAimForOscars#, successively dominated the top of Weibo's trending topics list, causing the server to briefly freeze.

The online discussion spread like wildfire. Some people dug up Fan Binbin's classic scene in "Gravity"—the scene where the space capsule went out of control. She didn't have a single line of dialogue, but with just the contraction of her pupils, the trembling of her fingertips, and the movement of her Adam's apple, she vividly portrayed the emotional layers from despair to struggle and then to the rekindling of hope. The barrage of comments like "well deserved" almost covered the screen.

"From 1929 to 2010, almost a hundred years have passed! Finally, a Chinese-American actress has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress! This is incredibly prestigious!"

"People used to say that Fan Bingbing was a 'carpet star,' but now he's proven them wrong with his talent! He carried the entire movie 'Gravity' by himself; it's hard to imagine anyone else being able to do it!"

"The Best Director is even more amazing! After Ang Lee, mainland directors have finally stood out, and two of them at once. Zhang Chen and Guo Fan's sci-fi films are progressing side by side. This is absolutely amazing!"

On Douban Movie Forum, netizens spontaneously compiled "Fan Binbin's Acting Career Growth Guide," which clearly shows her transformation from a child star to a powerful actress through more than 20 stills, from "My Fair Princess" to "The Shallows," and then to "Painted Skin," "Pacific Rim," and "Gravity." The post quickly garnered over 100,000 comments, with some jokingly saying, "From now on, please call her Fan, a candidate for Best Actress, instead of calling her Fatty Fan!"

Just as domestic public opinion was in an uproar, Zhang Chen's phone kept ringing, with the name "Han Sanping" flashing on the screen.

He pressed the answer button, and Han Sanping's hearty laughter immediately came from the other end of the phone: "Zhang Chen, Zhang Chen, you've really brought honor to Chinese cinema! The leaders of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television just called me specifically to say that we should promote this nomination well and let more people see the progress of Chinese films!"

"It's all thanks to everyone's hard work," Zhang Chen replied with a smile. "We also owe a lot to Third Master's consistent support. When we're venturing abroad, China Film Group is our biggest source of confidence."

"Those are minor matters!"

Han Sanping changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, "I'll host a dinner tonight. Let's invite Guo Fan and Binbin over too, and have a good talk about the arrangements for the awards ceremony. The General Administration wants to send a delegation to support you!"

After hanging up Han Sanping's call, before I could even put my phone down, it rang again with an international call. The caller ID showed "Angelina Jolie".

Zhang Chen pressed the speakerphone button, and Jolie's signature husky voice immediately came through: "Zhang, congratulations on your 'Pacific Rim 2' being nominated for an Oscar! A total of eight nominations, that's rare in Oscar history. Zhang, I'm so proud of my own judgment..."

"Thank you. If that's the case, I'm also looking forward to our cooperation," Zhang Chen replied politely.

"I really look forward to seeing you at the Oscars!"

Jolie laughed and said, "By the way, Fan Binbin's performance was outstanding. In 'Gravity,' she is definitely a strong contender for Best Actress!"

Following this, Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise and Jason Statham also called to congratulate him. Cruise excitedly said on the phone, "I knew you could make top-notch sci-fi films. The narrative pacing of *Planet 2* is stronger than many Hollywood blockbusters; the Oscar nomination is well-deserved!"

Jason was much more direct: "When you get to Los Angeles, I'll treat you to whiskey, and we'll have a good talk about our next collaboration!"

Zhang Chen responded to each question, while Zhong Lifang listened with shining eyes. As soon as he hung up, she immediately leaned over and said, "This is a top Hollywood resource actively extending an olive branch! From now on, our movies will never have to worry about international casts again!"

Other domestic film and television companies were also caught up in this Oscar nomination storm.

Companies such as Enlight Media and Bona Film Group called to express their congratulations.

Wang Changtian of Enlight Media excitedly said at an internal meeting: "We need to speed things up. Star Entertainment has already started to target the North American market. Enlight Media doesn't have such big ambitions. Our first goal is to consolidate our domestic market and, incidentally, conquer Southeast Asia..."

Wang Zhonglei, president of Huayi Brothers, finished making a congratulatory call with a somewhat insincere tone. He had just hung up when he received a call from the president of Universal Pictures Asia, whose unusually enthusiastic tone was:
"Mr. Wang, we greatly admire your company's production capabilities and would like to explore global distribution cooperation for the 'Detective Dee' series. In addition, we have several science fiction projects that we hope to jointly develop with Huayi Brothers."

Wang Zhonglei was stunned, and his fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the phone.

Although Huayi Brothers is a domestic film and television giant, its previous cooperation with Universal was limited to the distribution of imported films and never involved co-production.

He couldn't help but ask, "Why did you suddenly choose Huayi Brothers? As far as I know, your company had been in contact with several other companies before."

A soft laugh came from the other end of the phone: "Because we have a common enemy..."

Global Times doesn't put on airs; it gets straight to the point.

"There's a Chinese saying, 'Two tigers cannot share one mountain.' Huayi Brothers was clearly the first privately-owned film and television company to go public, yet its reputation isn't as big as Star Entertainment's. I bet Mr. Wang has been unhappy about that for a long time."

"Haha, you're joking. They're all Chinese companies~" Wang Zhongjun's tone was somewhat insincere.

"Let me put it another way. Universal is very optimistic about the growing Chinese market and hopes to choose a large-scale local film and television company as a partner. I wonder if Huayi Brothers has any ideas?"

"Yes, of course!"

After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhonglei remained in a daze for a long time.

He walked to the window and looked at the endless stream of people below. Suddenly, he remembered a line that Lü Bu often said in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms: "How can a great man live under someone else's thumb for long?"

……

Compared to the fervor in China, North American media reports were more restrained, but the approval was evident in every word.

The Hollywood Reporter devoted a full page to a commentary article with the eye-catching title "Eastern Power Sweeps the Oscars." The article stated: "Fan Binbin's performance in Gravity is textbook-worthy. She almost single-handedly carries the 90-minute film, and every detail, from the physiological reactions to weightlessness in the space capsule to the psychological struggle in the face of death, is meticulously crafted."

"Among Hollywood's many talented actresses, her performance is in no way inferior, and may even be more captivating."

The New York Times focused on the director nominations: "The simultaneous nominations of Zhang Chen and Guo Fan mark a double breakthrough for Chinese cinema."

Zhang Chen proved with *Pacific Rim 2* that Chinese commercial films have reached an industrial level comparable to Hollywood, while Guo Fan continued the artistic expression of space aesthetics with *Gravity*.

"They showed the Oscar judges that Chinese directors can handle both the romance of explosive scenes and the delicate and profound space fantasy."

Even the notoriously critical Los Angeles Times gave it high praise: "The success of Gravity has shattered the prejudice that Asian actors can only play stereotypical roles. Fan Binbin's impeccable performance proves that excellent actors can transcend cultural barriers."

Although there were occasional dissenting voices, such as a Washington Post commentary that mentioned "the possibility of involvement by overseas distributors," these were quickly drowned out by the voices of professional film critics.

In his column, renowned film critic Roger Albert bluntly stated, "Those who question it clearly haven't seen 'Gravity'."

"Fan Binbin's performance was completely natural; she wasn't 'acting' Ryan, she *was* Ryan."

"Among all the actresses nominated for Best Actress this year, her performance is the most multifaceted, and such a performance deserves any honor."

Another film critic, Todd McCarthy, added: "The Oscar judges have always valued the difficulty of 'one-man shows.' From 'Cast Away' to 'Moon,' actors who can carry the entire film have always been nominees. Fan Binbin's nomination is reasonable."

What excites movie fans around the world even more is that this Oscar nomination has become a continuation of the box office battle between Pacific Rim 2 and Avatar.

Previously, the two films had been locked in a fierce battle at the global box office, with their box office takings remaining neck and neck.

Now that both films have been nominated for eight awards, including Best Picture and Best Visual Effects, they have immediately sparked a new round of heated discussions about the "battle of the gods".

On IMDb, North America's largest movie forum, the number of related discussion posts exceeded 50 within 24 hours.

"The mech battles in Ocean Park 2 were absolutely stunning! The chaotic battle between mechs and monsters is arguably the best action scene in film history!"

"Pandora in Avatar was a visual revolution, wasn't it? The floating mountains and bioluminescent features were absolutely stunning!"

"With Ocean 2 leading at the box office, will Avatar be able to turn the tide at the Oscars? After all, Cameron is an old friend of the Oscars."

"I'm rooting for Ocean Light 2! Not only are the special effects amazing, but the plot is also much deeper, and the patriotism in the mechs is so touching!"

Major cinemas took the opportunity to launch "double-film screening packages," allowing viewers to watch two films consecutively at a discounted price. Many movie fans even watched the films two or three times, comparing the special effects details and plot logic of the two films with their notebooks.

An IMAX theater in Los Angeles even held an "Oscar Best Picture prediction poll," which showed that "Ring 2" received 52% of the vote, slightly higher than "Avatar" with 48%. Fans holding signs that read "Robots will win" and "Pandora is invincible" were also present, creating an atmosphere as enthusiastic as a concert.

In a New York café, several Oscar voters are discussing the nominations in hushed tones.

“Gravity must be given serious consideration; Fan Binbin’s performance is so impactful,” said a judge with white hair. “When I watched the film, I completely forgot that she was a Chinese actress; I only saw a person struggling in dire straits.”

Another judge nodded in agreement: "The industrial standards of 'Global Times 2' are also commendable. The fact that Chinese films can produce such special effects exceeds my expectations."

"However, Avatar's innovative significance is more important, so this will be a difficult choice."

On the streets of Hollywood, many passersby mentioned these two films when interviewed.

"I've watched Ocean Drive 2 three times already, and I never get tired of the mecha transformation scenes!"

"Avatar showed me the future of cinema, but Ocean 2 made me feel the power of Chinese films. It's a really tough choice!"

This cross-border discussion has garnered global attention for the 2010 Academy Awards even before the ceremony has taken place.

For Zhang Chen and the entire Chinese film industry, regardless of whether they ultimately win an award, this nomination is already a historic breakthrough—it proves that Chinese films can not only create miracles in the domestic market, but also win respect on the international stage.

The show has just begun.

(End of this chapter)