Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 128 Connections
International actress Zhang was very excited that "Purple Butterfly" was selected for the main competition unit of Cannes.

She has particularly high expectations for "Purple Butterfly".

The so-called four great Qingyis now include Li Xiaoran, the Berlin Film Festival winner, Yu Feihong, the Venice Film Festival winner, Gao Yuanyuan, the Cannes Film Festival winner, and Zhang Ziyi... the box office winner.

Her current press releases brag about her box office when compared with big actresses, and brag about her acting skills and awards when compared with big actresses.

Her box office is indeed impressive now, whether it was the more than 2.5 million US dollars worldwide for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", or the 2 million in mainland China alone for "Hero", and the nearly 3.5 million US dollars worldwide for "Rush Hour " in which she starred.

However, not having won a big award has always been a big worry for her. Although the press release said that she had the highest box office, the other three were all international film queens. Whoever doesn't have the award will be embarrassed. She can't always say that she is the Hundred Flowers Film Queen, right?

After "Purple Butterfly" was shortlisted for the main competition unit of Cannes, international actress Zhang Ziyi couldn't help but think that as long as she won the Cannes Best Actress award, she would definitely be able to surpass the other three major actresses in one fell swoop. After all, by then she would have all the awards and box office success she wanted.

She is definitely the number one female star in the country.

Lao Tian was quite surprised to learn that Cao Yang's film had entered the main competition unit of Cannes. At that time, because the incident involving the male lead of this biographical film had caused such a big fuss, he also called Cao Yang and advised him to come back if he couldn't make it.

In Lao Tian's opinion, it was already a remarkable thing that Cao Yang was able to rewrite the script and finish filming the movie. He never expected that it would be selected for the main competition unit of Cannes.

"You're really good, I thought this movie was just so-so, but I didn't expect you to make it to Cannes."

Old Tian called Cao Yang and said with a smile: "Not bad, boy. It's a victory to enter the main competition unit."

Cao Yang couldn't help but reply: "What a pity, I should have waited to go to Venice, maybe Lao Ma could get me a San Marco Award."

The San Marco Prize was won by Lao Tian’s “Spring in a Small Town” in Venice last year. Well, it’s just a consolation, but it’s much better than nothing.

Even though it is just a consolation award, with this award, the film sales can increase by at least hundreds of thousands.

"Get lost."

Old Tian cursed with a smile, then asked, "When are you going to Cannes? It's a mess outside now. If you really can't do it, don't go. It's too dangerous."

"There's still a month until the film festival opens. Maybe things will get better by then. Don't worry, I won't try to be stubborn."

After Cao Yang finished speaking, he remembered something else, so he said to Lao Tian: "Stop the documentary you were planning to make and wait until the situation gets better."

After hanging up the phone with Lao Tian, ​​Cao Yang continued to write the script.

In a blink of an eye, there is still a week left before the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, and Cao Yang has to leave. If it weren't for his illness outside, he would have gone to Cannes long ago.

Berman has been in Cannes for more than two months. It would be unreasonable if the director did not show up.

"Be careful. I searched a lot of relevant news. France is avoiding Chinese people as much as possible and is very unfriendly."

Before leaving, Dong Xuan was reluctant to leave and once again reminded Cao Yang to be careful.

Cao Yang patted Dong Xuan's head gently and said with a smile: "I know, you have said it many times, you are almost turning into a nagging old woman."

"Ah? Am I getting old?"

Dong Xuan screamed and quickly took out her makeup mirror to take a look.

Cao Yang smiled softly and said, "You are really good at catching key words."

After kissing Dong Xuan on the forehead, Cao Yang said to her: "Okay, go back. It's not safe outside yet."

As usual, we flew to Nice first. The Cannes Organizing Committee arranged a reception car in Nice and took Cao Yang directly to the hotel. This time we stayed at the Carlton Hotel again. This seems to be the official partner hotel of the Cannes Film Festival. Many stars stay here.

After a night's rest, Bellman came over.

"This situation is a bit unexpected. According to internal information, our biggest competitor is an American movie called Elephant, which is based on the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in the suburbs of Denver, USA."

"Is it adapted from a true story?"

Cao Yang sighed. It sounded like that was what the French would like. Although it was a bit inhumane to say so, they did like to laugh at the Americans.

With this in mind, the Gallic roosters should be very happy this year, as there are two competitive American films, both of which are the types they like (watching jokes). It would be a good deal if the Palme d'Or was given to an American film this year.

"How have you done in the past two months? The French won't give two American movies a double yolk again, right?"

Cao Yang joked that he knew this was impossible. If it were other awards, such as Best Director or the Grand Jury Prize, maybe he could get a double yolk and give it to two American films.

It's possible to get a double yolk in the Palme d'Or, but it's a bit impossible for both films to be American.

"how is this possible?"

Berman spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe one for Best Director and one for the Palme d'Or. Who knows? By the way, there's someone I think you should meet. It might be helpful."

"Who? Spielberg?"

Cao Yang wondered if Behrman was referring to this great director. As a member of the jury, he could still win other awards, but he could not influence the winner of the Palme d'Or.

"No, no, no, not Spielberg. Depp should go to see him, not us."

Berman didn't keep the question secret and said directly: "Do you know who is the president of the jury this year? French director, Patrice Chéreau."

"It's him, then I really should go and see him."

Cao Yang was a little dazed. He met this director at the Berlin Film Festival, where he won the Jury Prize. Patrice Chéreau won the Berlin Golden Bear.

Later, when I was aiming for the Golden Lion in Venice, I met with many famous European art film directors during those two months, and Patrice Chéreau was present at several of them.

As the chairman of the jury, he is qualified to influence the winner of the Palme d'Or.

In addition to Patrice Chappelle, Cao Yang will also meet Marin Kamitz, the founder of MK2.

This old guy controls an art cinema chain that people both love and hate. In France, he is definitely one of the people that art film directors are most reluctant to offend. He has a very good relationship with Cannes, especially the top management, and several of them are old friends of his.

There is also Luc Godard, a senior member of the Cannes Film Festival Organizing Committee, who is responsible for related matters during the film festival every year.

These are the people who have a say in who wins the Palme d'Or.

Sometimes when the two teams are evenly matched on the field, off-field factors become a key link. It depends on who can bring in more helpers and who has a greater chance of winning.

I also want to make an appointment with Jiang Wen, who is a member of the Cannes jury this year. We are all family when we go out together, so we still need to get together.

At the same time, Cao Yang couldn't help but think that in the beginning, if he wanted to operate the award, he had to rely on the school's resources and connections. Now, with his potential strength among the top three in Europe, he should slowly become the school's resources and connections, right?

(End of this chapter)