Generation Z Artists

Chapter 286 Awesome Acceptance Speech
Li Feng and Fang Xinghe walked onto the podium amidst the attention of thousands.

When screenwriter Li first stepped onto this kind of occasion, her mind went blank and her legs trembled, while Fang Xinghe was like a cloud, carried by the wind, step by step to the top.

After receiving the golden statuette, Li Feng stammered out a few words.

"Thank you to the Academy Awards for this recognition. This is something I never expected; it feels like a dream..."

Thank you, Director Zhang Yimou. Film is the art of the director, and he transformed my vision into incredible images and colors...

Thanks to Fang Xinghe, he transformed a mediocre script into a rich and soulful one.

It's an honor to receive this award with him. We did it... phew..."

After choking up for a few seconds, Li Feng suddenly stepped back and stopped right there.

He lost his composure, but not his mind. He knew what audiences around the world wanted to see, so he decisively shirked his responsibilities, stepped aside to laugh foolishly, and played the supporting role well.

Fang Xinghe accepted the second golden statuette handed to him by Okmattang, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

This smile was neither commercial nor ceremonial; it was simply too personal.

His remarks were naturally the same.

"Thank you to the Academy for their careful and professional evaluation of the philosophical ideas in the script of Hero."

We all know very well that, up until the final 10 minutes, Hero was just a visual spectacle that was the pinnacle of popcorn entertainment, with gorgeous visuals, exciting fights, and a strong impact, but it was severely unbalanced.

In the final 10 minutes, I made a structural change to the ending conceived by director Zhang Yimou, based on historical events.

The original ending explored peace and the world, while the new ending delves deeper into the origins of peace, for whom the world exists, and why individuals must always yield to the collective…

Fang Xinghe spoke eloquently and clearly, and the atmosphere in the audience quickly became solemn and respectful.

Because this is precisely the most mainstream value in the United States right now, and with the troops being dispatched on the 20th, their momentum is still strong, and no one dares to ignore the lofty righteousness that Brother Fang speaks of.

He was actually giving a lecture to Hollywood.

A lesson in political correctness.

"Historical accuracy is a brilliant distillation by American scholars into the core ideas of 'Hero'."

To be honest, I didn't focus on this aspect when designing the script structure.

My thinking was entirely based on the core significance of the concept of unification for Chinese civilization. However, after the widespread acclaim for "Hero," I suddenly realized that what is right will not become wrong because of cultural barriers, and progressive ideas have always existed universally and widely in the hearts of every human being.

The Qin crossbow formations, Qin armor, Qin engineers, and the Qin royal palace reflect the progress of the Qin state in the fields of science, technology, military, and economy.

The ideas held by the King of Qin himself reflected the progress in civilization's foundation, including his vision, breadth of mind, and other cultural qualities.

My failure was inevitable, a certainty only fully revealed at the end, and structurally it carries a layer of fatalistic metaphor—

Those who can truly understand and drive the general trend of history are always a very small minority; most people are fighting against the tide of the times based on their personal stance.

The Crown Prince's reputation was like this, as was Flying Snow's, and so was the nameless one.

In this struggle, those who are upright, selfless, and fearless in the face of death are called heroes.

Those who scheme and plot for personal gain are called maggots.

As the screenwriter of "Hero," I hope this film can inspire everyone by suggesting that when we are debating whether a historical event is right or wrong, if we cannot guarantee that we have an absolutely rational understanding of the whole situation, we might as well stop and think about it. Perhaps with the passage of time, we will have different feelings and understandings.

Just like in the final scene, Prince Yu and Wuming smiled knowingly at the fourth wall…

As soon as he finished speaking, about a third of the Hollywood audience applauded enthusiastically.

They were so excited that they all stood up, clapping and shouting to cheer on Brother Fang.

This is the main force in Hollywood, or what you might call the conservative right wing.

The other two-thirds had complicated expressions, and they had no choice but to clap along, but their mood was clearly not as pleasant.

This is a combination of progressive liberals and neoliberals in Hollywood who absolutely hate Fang Xinghe's political correctness.

However, they cannot deny the insightful nature and brilliant logic of Fang Xinghe's speech.

ABC's studio commentators immediately gave it strong affirmation.

"Star River is a great playwright with true philosophical insight, yes, great, and I take responsibility for my praise!"

Without a doubt, the ending of "Hero" is not a random product of a flash of inspiration. It has perfect underlying logic and profound contradictions, and every line of dialogue serves the final scene.

The most accurate interpretation of Crown Prince Yu's final smile is that it represents a final reconciliation between his individual stance and historical correctness. Crown Prince Yu did not accept his fate and chose to resist, but he gladly accepted this ending...

It sounds a bit hard to understand, doesn't it?

But this is the most ingenious metaphor, requiring repeated contemplation to grasp even a fraction of its meaning, leaving a lingering aftertaste that grows ever more wonderful with each thought!
Star River deserves the Best Screenplay award!
Even that's far from enough to commend his excellence!

The liberals at the scene were disgusted; they didn't think he deserved the award at all.

But soon, they received a pat on the head as a reward from Brother Fang.

Fang Xinghe glanced at the timer; the red light for speaking had already lit up, and his time was almost up.

But Martin immediately gave him a gesture, signaling him to continue.

How long was the speech?

That was meant to restrict Xiao Kara; the production team wished they could keep Fang Ge on stage the whole time!
Fang Xinghe smiled gently and spoke again.

"Furthermore, I want to correct a misunderstanding held by some film critics and audiences—"

"Hero" undoubtedly celebrates the heroic view of history.

However, at the same time, it did not mock the people's view of history.

Destiny is a double-edged sword, cutting outwards and twisting inwards, both beneficial and harmful. This eternally contradictory structure, like the Tai Chi symbol, is precisely the most magnificent part of Eastern philosophy.

Dear organizing committee and lovely college members, since you haven't recognized this part, let me say a few words of praise.

Personally, I firmly believe that destiny can be severed, so it should be cherished and not abused.

This heartfelt reverence is an important part of my personality and also an important part of the universal values ​​I want to convey.

The United States is a powerful and great nation, and you are living in the best period in history, a time that inspires both admiration and envy.

But I don't like the current state where freedom and fairness cannot coexist. While rampant neoliberalism is certainly bad, is rampant neoconservatism absolutely correct?
No, I don't think so.

I hope you can find a balance that allows both to coexist as soon as possible, and I firmly believe that is what makes a better society.

Finally, thank you for awarding me this prize and for allowing me to ramble on for so long.

What a wonderful night! Hats off to the Oscars, and hats off to Best Screenplay by Fang Xinghe!

Thank you, and see you later! "

When Fang Xinghe took a step back and bowed slightly, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

A person's outward charm is determined by their speech.

However, the kind of charm that deserves to be described as "brilliant" must come from the brilliance reflected by thoughts that are above average, above reality, and above emotion.

At that moment, Fang Xinghe delivered a profound speech that could be described as a lecture, shattering all arrogance and prejudice.

Many people still dislike him, and this won't change their minds and make them like him.

But even the most hating people have to admit that this guy is incredibly charming, like a celestial being.

Dislike and respect can always coexist.

As a result, the liberals who had previously applauded in a perfunctory manner began to shout enthusiastically.

Their transformation was so natural—Fang Xinghe's neutral attitude of "I am not your absolute opponent" at the end was incredibly refreshing.

Because they had to acknowledge Fang Xinghe's absolute influence, while also having to face his own level, quality, persuasiveness, and leadership.

Constantly fighting against such a monster is incredibly stressful.

Now, Brother Fang has suddenly changed his attitude, no longer focusing on hammering free will, but instead putting a brake on the madness of neoconservatism. What else could this be but a good buddy?
"I love you! Star river!"

Angelina Jolie, a staunch supporter of the freedom camp and a Hollywood icon known for her carefully crafted persona, has declared that she is bringing Fang Xinghe back into the fold on behalf of this camp.

Overjoyed and impatient.

The stars, actors, directors, and screenwriters who shared her stance gave her "friendly laughs," which seemed to be admiration and encouragement, but were actually expressions of relief and smugness.

In contrast, the conservatives who had previously applauded Fang Xinghe enthusiastically naturally lost their enthusiasm.

However, they can't find fault with Fang Xinghe either. SR has never claimed to be a conservative; you're just using this as an excuse. If you don't believe me, read the full text of "The Sino-US Perspective"—isn't it consistently about opposing neoliberalism?

Fang stepped off the stage with a carefree air, waving to the many celebrities with a smile.

They're really interesting—some are arrogant at first but obsequious later, while others are obsequious at first but arrogant later.

But it doesn't matter, your brother Fang doesn't care at all.

Anyway, the voting results were already determined and were just waiting to be announced. I turned around and waved, "What's wrong?"

Perhaps only Fang Xinghe in the whole world can be completely certain that neoconservatism reached its peak three days ago, and in the long days to come, it will be a continuous downhill road.

Brother Fang was relaxed and unhurried—"It's not my country, why should I be tied to you and die with you?"

I sat back down, my smile fading – the benefits are over, and our alliance is over.

Facing numerous gazes, I nodded slightly, my expression reserved, my eyes distant—that's just how pragmatic and flexible I am, so if you disagree, you'd better keep it to yourself!

Indeed, many people are feeling very stifled, especially those purely conservatives who are jumping around campaigning for him.

Well, it's not just about individual voting; it's about banding together to exert maximum pressure and fight for "Heroes".

For reasons everyone understands, their sense of dedication is exceptionally high.

But now...

The guy who was trying so hard to lick the idol's boots suddenly waved his hand and said, "I'm not playing with simps anymore!"
What upset them even more was that not long after, "Hero" won another major award that they had poured their hearts and souls into supporting...

"This year, the world film scene has produced many masterpieces, and a large number of excellent films, whether touching, profound or heartwarming, have emerged in the non-English language film category."

"The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film aims to recognize international masterpieces that are not mainstream but possess unique artistic value and can serve as a valuable supplement to our work."

"The candidate list is as follows..."

As the big screen began switching between excerpts from five films, audiences around the world held their breath.

They couldn't understand the situation; all they knew was that this was the top prize that "Heroes" was striving for, and also the most promising one.

Whether or not they can obtain this thing may directly determine the fate of "Hero" and even Fang Xinghe.

The close-up shot cuts back to Fang Ge's face and stays still.

His Oscar-worthy camera presence allowed him to find the camera position immediately, so the young man turned his head, looked up, and began to adjust his robes.

"So, the film that won the Best Foreign Language Film award is..."

""hero"!"

As the sound subsided, Fang Xinghe happened to rise up, stand straight, and gently applaud Mou Zi.

Mou Zi was stunned for a moment before hurriedly getting up and hugging him immediately, her eyes red.

"Congratulations, Brother Mou."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much... Xinghe, thank you so much..."

"Grass!"

Before the two directors, one old and one new, could talk any more, they were interrupted by an ecstatic Zhang Weiping, who jumped up high and started punching wildly, looking like he was going crazy.

"Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! We're so awesome! Holy crap! Best Foreign Language Film! I've got an Oscar too!"

Fang Xinghe smiled, made way for him, and patted Mouzi on the shoulder.

"Go ahead and collect your prize."

"Together! Together!" Mouzi hugged him tightly and pulled him forward. "How can we do without you?"

Fang Xinghe remained unmoved and shook his head in refusal.

"This is a group award. You and Producer Zhang go ahead. My acceptance speech will be saved for later."

Seeing that the applause was about to subside and that they could not delay any longer, Zhang Yimou had no choice but to lead Zhang Weiping forward, walking amidst the cheers of all the nearby film crews who stood up to see them off.

Once on stage, this Shaanxi farmer, quite pathetically, shed a few tears, quickly wiping them away, leaving only a sob.

"I am very grateful for the recognition from the organizing committee and all my American colleagues. The difficulties this film encountered are unimaginable to you. They came not only from the filming itself, but also from self-torture."

This is the first time China has produced a blockbuster film. What path should it take next? Nobody knows.

With seven or eight people on the creative team, whose idea is more correct? I don't know.

From the very beginning of the preparation period, endless pressure weighed on my shoulders. China is a director-centric system…

Mou Zi was too excited, and his words were sometimes incoherent and his logic was confused.

But he will never forget the most important thing—

"Thank you Fang Xinghe, our investor, producer, assistant director, martial arts choreographer, screenwriter, and second male lead..."

It was because of his reasoned arguments that we filmed this additional version of the ending.

At first, I didn't agree and thought my version was more profound, but as it turns out, Xinghe is the commander who can grasp both popular commercial elements and unique artistic heights.

He was unwilling to go on stage and share my glory, but all the glory of "Hero" was already inseparable from him...

Finally, I would also like to thank our lovely and professional crew, and especially thank Li Lianjie, he…”

My one-minute speech consisted of one-third introduction, one-third praising Brother Fang, and one-third thanking all the members.

Zhang Yimou was quite composed on the awards stage; his loss of composure was probably due to his intense desire for the Oscar.

This is something that everyone from the 50s to the 80s yearns for, except for Generation Z who might not care.

Look at Zhang Weiping again. He only has less than 30 seconds left to speak, and he still has to try to pat himself on the back.

"Chinese films have it tough, and Chinese filmmakers have it even tougher, but facts have proven that we have the ability to overcome all difficulties...blah blah blah... In the end, I am the best film investor in China!"

After imitating Fang Xinghe's show-off act, Wei Ping was finally satisfied.

but……

Very few people paid any attention to him.

After many people applauded Zhang Yimou, the rest of the time they just idly touched their left hand with their right.

Anyone with eyes can see that the first element of the success of "Hero" is Fang Xinghe, the second is Zhang Yimou's grand-scale staging and composition, and the third is Li Lianjie's brilliant action scenes delivered with gritted teeth... Who do you think you are, Zhang Weiping?

A mere $4000 million? Which Hollywood company can't afford that?

These arrogant celebrities didn't even remember the fat man's name; they were mostly whispering and gossiping among themselves.

Why didn't Star River go on stage?

What is he waiting for?
Could it be that he really has a chance to win that highly competitive performance award?
It's worth noting that this year's Best Supporting Actor award is incredibly difficult to obtain; even Christopher Walken's performance would have to be ranked last.

but……

Brother Fang was absolutely certain.

When all the technical awards were snatched away, but the Best Foreign Language Film award was won smoothly, he finally understood the trajectory of this politically correct farce.

The judges ate Harvey's food, drank Harvey's drinks, and maybe even slept with Harvey's; *Chicago* and *Frida* must win the award.

Most judges didn't like "Hero," but it was so right that it deserved an award.

"The Pianist" is such a classic; it's the kind of art film that the Oscars love most, and it's a must-win.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy swept through the global film market; how could it not win awards?

Well, it can wait a bit, because The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won't be nominated for the Oscars until next year. This year, the second film, The Two Towers, is nominated. No rush.

There are three films that absolutely deserve awards, so how should they be divided? Who should win which award?

The most correct person gets the most correct award.

So, who is the most right person in Hollywood right now?

Supreme being of the stars, radiant galaxy, you, Brother Fang.

He has already prepared his next acceptance speech.

(End of this chapter)