The richest person in Chinese entertainment

Chapter 397 The prosperity of the music industry and the piracy crisis in the film and television industry

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very excited to be here today, thank you very much ladies and gentlemen... and Leon."

Host Jon Stewart mentioned Zhang Chen at the beginning.

Zhang Chen was stunned for a moment, then saw that the camera was pointed at him, so he could only smile towards the stage.

Jon Stewart specifically mentioned Zhang Chen and continued, "Welcome everyone to the 78th Academy Awards. Tonight, countless audiences from all over the world are waiting for the awards to be presented. Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."

"I have to say that I was shocked when I saw all these superstars present today, especially when I saw Leon sitting here with his new movie. As the host, I am honored."

"Oh, by the way, after market research, we found that the reason why many movies had poor box office performance in the later stages was mainly because pirated copies were updated too quickly in the world. They caused all of us here to suffer heavy losses."

"Here we have to mention our Leon again. Thanks to his efforts, although pirated music still exists in our world, these pirates are not having a good time because of the existence of Morning Light Music."

"So, Leon, now that you have moved to the film industry, when can you help everyone in the film industry and clean up those scumbags?"

Jon Stewart continued to speak, and it was obvious that he directed many topics to Zhang Chen.

The reason for this is naturally because Oscar wants to win over Zhang Chen.

And this is no longer normal flattery, it's already a bit like licking the face to please.

"Leon, I didn't realize you were so popular at the Oscars." Will Smith also felt that today's host paid too much attention to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen was also helpless. The goodwill of the Oscars was a good thing. At least he was sure to win the award.

But this made him feel a little uncomfortable sitting there.

This host's praise was a bit too straightforward.

However, Jon Stewart's next words made Zhang Chen feel again that Oscar wanted to express goodwill to him today, and was afraid that he didn't understand.

"We all know that the global box office dropped a lot last year." Jon Stewart continued after gesturing with two fingers, "But fortunately, our Lyon has a complete cinema chain in their country. I think if your movies can be introduced to their country in the future, it should be able to reverse the current sluggish box office."

Zhang Chen raised his eyebrows. So this was the purpose of today's Oscars?
But there's no point trying to please him in this matter.

Chenguang Cinemas does have a market share of over 2000 percent in the mainland and owns nearly screens.

You should know that apart from the number of screens in Morning Glory Cinemas, the total number of other cinema chains including those controlled by China Film and Shanghai Film Group is only around 3000.

Thanks to the participation of Morning Glory Cinemas, by the end of 05, the total box office revenue in the mainland had successfully exceeded 30 billion yuan, a significant increase compared to last year's 22.5 billion yuan.

In the mainland cinema market, Morning Glory Cinemas has absolute say.

Therefore, it is understandable that Hollywood is showing goodwill to Morning Light Cinemas.

However, when it comes to imported films, Morning Light Cinemas still cannot compare with China Film Group.

Because China Film Group has the power of life and death over imported films.

Any foreign film that wants to enter the mainland market needs permission from China Film Group Corporation.

But no matter what, Zhang Chen is here to receive the award today, and other things will have to wait until after the award ceremony to be known.

"Okay, let's move on to today's awards ceremony. First up is the Best Documentary Short Film. The nominee is "The Key to Victory."

Another difference between the Oscars and the three major European awards is not only the time difference, but also the overall speaking style of the Oscar hosts is very different from that of the American people.

The overall atmosphere of the three major European universities is relatively serious and formal.

At the Oscars, any guest sitting in a seat, no matter if you are a big shot or a superstar, as long as you are the host or the award presenter, as long as they make eye contact with you at some point, they may make a few jokes to liven up the atmosphere.

Therefore, many viewers who watched the Oscars treated the ceremony as a "talk show".

Various jokes and gags emerge in endlessly.

"The next award to be presented is the Best Editing Award. Please welcome the presenter, Zhang Ziyi."

Zhang Chen was still trying to figure out the pronunciation of the host's name with a distinct accent when he saw Zhang Ziyi, who had disappeared from the country for a long time, walking onto the stage in a purple dress.

"I am very grateful to the Academy for giving me the opportunity to present this award. I am also honored to represent the Chinese people on this stage to recognize outstanding films from all over the world. As a filmmaker, I am very grateful to the Academy for giving me the opportunity to present this award.

Zhang Chen frowned as he listened, and at the same time he felt someone poking him with their elbow.

"Brother, is she planning to take root in the United States?"

"Who knows?" Zhang Chen sneered.

"She is so shameless. She even said she represents the Chinese people. Is she qualified to do that?"

"Perhaps she feels she is qualified?"

Zhang Chen no longer goes to watch someone's performance on the stage. Perhaps because she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for "Memoirs of a Geisha", she feels that she has entered Hollywood and is heading to the world?

Of course, it may also be because "Memoirs of a Geisha" was nominated for the Oscars for "Best Art Direction" and "Best Costume Design"?

It may also be because of the "friendship" between her foreign boyfriend and media tycoon Murdoch's third wife, the Chinese-born Chinese woman, that Zhang Ziyi feels that her status in the world film and television industry is different now.

But no matter what, although Zhang Ziyi is currently under comprehensive suppression from people in the film and television industry, led by the Morning Light Group, she feels like a fish in water in Hollywood because of her relationship with Wendi Deng and her status as one of thousands of judges at the Academy Awards.

As the award ceremony progressed, some singers also took to the stage to perform as an intermission.

Unlike Zhang Ziyi, who needed to "praise" herself to highlight her unique position, Zhang Chen won the respect of tonight's host and all the singers on stage just by sitting in his seat.

After every singer finished their performance on stage, they would more or less give Zhang Chen in the audience a friendly smile and say a few more words.

"Leon, I bought your new album, it's really good!"

"Leon, I think you should come to the Grammys, your new album is really great!"

"Leon, your movies and your songs make me sigh that there are really geniuses in the world."

I don't know how such explicit and disgusting words came out of these people's mouths.

Anyway, Zhang Chen could only respond to these people's flattery with a professional smile.

What else could he do? Now singers all over the world have tasted the benefits brought by Morning Light Music.

It is precisely because Morning Light Music has united most of the record companies in the world and made all the forces go to one place. Many people know that Morning Light Music has a special department to fight against pirated website servers hidden in every corner of the world.

The methods include but are not limited to legal means, hacking, music format encryption, and certain violent forces that are rumored but unknown to exist in certain unsafe areas.

It is said that Morning Glory Music spends more than 5000 million US dollars every year just on combating piracy.

It is precisely because of this that many singers are less worried about pirated music robbing them of their income. Now they only need to concentrate on creation, and then put the produced music on Morning Light Music for promotion and sale, and then wait for their share of the money.

This is also why the host, when mentioning pirated movies just now, wanted Zhang Chen to get involved in the film and television industry to deal with those pirates, so that pirated movies can also have a qualitative change like the music industry.

However, everyone knows that this is not something that can be achieved overnight.

So Zhang Chen didn’t care. Whether to do it or not depends entirely on future situations.

The film and television industry is different from the music industry. The water in the film and television industry is deeper.

He would not rashly do anything taboo without understanding the essence of the matter.

Only when the benefits reach a certain level and he can ensure the safety of obtaining these benefits will he consider doing this.

This is Zhang Chen’s principle of doing things.

"Next up is the Best Adapted Screenplay award, and the nominees are..."

After the fringe awards for the series were presented, the entire awards ceremony officially entered the main stage.

Before this, "Memoirs of a Geisha" lost to "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and missed the "Best Art Direction" award. This was different from what Zhang Chen had in mind, and it was not known whether it was related to the fact that he was the main investor in the "Harry Potter" series.

However, "Memoirs of a Geisha" was not completely without success. At least it won an award for "Best Costume Design", which made Zhang Ziyi, who was sitting in her seat, blush with pride.

I don't know if she is aware of the extent of her reputation among mainland Chinese people.

While Zhang Chen and Liu Yifei were chatting in a low voice, "Brokeback Mountain" successfully won the second award of the night, "Best Adapted Screenplay", and had previously won the "Best Original Score".

When the musician who composed the music for "Brokeback Mountain" went on stage to receive the award, he once again mentioned Zhang Chen, saying that it was fortunate that Zhang Chen did not compose music specifically for his movie, otherwise he might not have won the "Best Original Score" award.

When Brokeback Mountain won the Best Adapted Screenplay award, it was time for Zhang Chen to win the award.

"Next up is Best Original Screenplay, and the nominees are
"Crash", "Good Night, and Good Luck", "Love", "The Squid and the Whale", "Syriana"

The winner is”

"Love, congratulations Leon!"

Zhang Chen stood up calmly and walked onto the stage after hugging the cheering crowd around him, especially Liu Yifei, Emma and others, as well as Tian Zhuangzhuang, Lan Tianye and Wu Yanshu from the crew.

"Why do I feel like everyone is paying special attention to me tonight?" Zhang Chen held up the trophy, looking helpless. "I'm just a new director, and I can only express my gratitude for everyone's love on my own behalf."

After saying that, he even glanced in the direction of Zhang Ziyi.

However, he only glanced at it and stopped looking at Zhang Ziyi's flushed face. Instead, he continued, "Just now the host said that our country's market is getting bigger and bigger. I personally welcome everyone's films to be qualified to enter our country. I look forward to seeing everyone on our country's screens."

Zhang Chen doesn't want to touch the core interests of China Film.

What he meant was that as long as you get the permission of China Film, then Chenguang Cinemas will naturally welcome you when you enter the domestic market.

After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he went back to the stage without caring whether the foreigners could understand his subtext or not.

"The next award to be presented is 'Best Foreign Language Film'. Please welcome the presenter, Will Smith!"

As soon as Zhang Chen sat down, he heard the host’s introduction on the stage.

At the same time, Will Smith also stood up at the right time.

He did not go to heaven immediately, but gave Zhang Chen a meaningful smile.

Zhang Chen was stunned. Will Smith was presenting the "Best Foreign Language Film" award?
"Brother, if this is the arrangement." Liu Yifei also saw Will Smith's little move, and she asked with some surprise, "Can we win the prize?"

"I don't know." Zhang Chen shook his head, "That guy didn't tell me."

"Yes, the final list is in the hands of the judges. Will may be saying hello to you." Liu Yifei said with a little regret, but there was still anticipation on her face.

Although it is impossible to know the awards in advance, it does not mean that "Love" has no chance to win!
Zhang Chen laughed and didn't explain.

This thing, it's actually not that secretive.

Sure enough, Will Smith started to make jokes as soon as he got on stage.

"Oh dear Leon, I never thought that we would meet at the Grammys many years ago. You set a record in front of me, and this time we would meet again at the Oscars by some miracle."

Zhang Chen returned the "international friendly gesture" that Will had once given him towards the stage.

This gesture was transmitted to all parts of the world through television screens, and it shocked everyone.

Zhang Chen actually knows such a crude way of greeting?

However, this makes everyone feel that Zhang Chen, the world superstar, is no longer as distant as before.

Will Smith certainly didn't care about Zhang Chen's contempt, but began to open the envelope leisurely.

"Nominated for 'Best Foreign Language Film' are
The Beast Within (Italy)
Merry Christmas (France)

Paradise Now (Palestine)

Hope and Resistance (Germany)

Love (China)

The winner is”

　This should be the end of today's chapter. I have a wedding during the day and a friend's birthday party at night. I owe 8000 words in total. I will make up for it before the end of the month!

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(End of this chapter)