Generation Z Artists

Chapter 290 The Power of Correctness
"You...you won an award?"

Erchou Cheng Yizhong grabbed his already sparse hair and suddenly jumped up.

"Holy crap! Who the hell gave this award? Are they crazy?! Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!"

My desk was inexplicably kicked hard; the teacup rolled off, the pen in the box flew out of its case, and the half-finished manuscript fell to the floor and was then stomped on again…

The original theme was sarcastic and veiled mockery, but now none of that is necessary.

At the headquarters of the Difficulty, the ugly, fiery mountain stared blankly, his lips trembling, and finally managed to squeeze out only three words of fear.

"impossible!"

Yeah, how could this happen?
The 13 ugly people, and even the haters they represented, were dumbfounded. At this moment, the two words that appeared most frequently were "impossible" and "unscientific".

"Is this fucking right?!"

The poet was furious and slammed his fist on the table.

"How can a kung fu movie with absolutely no skill deserve Best Picture? Have all those Hollywood association members gone mad?!"

"Old Chen, calm down."

Mrs. Chen tried to comfort him: "If there's one, there'll be two. Let's make an equally good one..."

What does "equally good" mean?

The poet exploded again, his face flushed and spittle flying from his mouth.

"My film will definitely be better!"

Well, what else can I say? Let's just say they're ambitious and have commendable fighting spirit...

In contrast, the China Film Group, Beijing Film Academy, and Jilin Provincial Writers Association were all jubilant.

"Holy crap! I knew it, Xiao Fang could definitely do it!"

"This is so inspiring! Should it be on the front page? Get it on the front page right now!"

Those who don't understand will curse, while those who do will be dumbfounded and speechless.

In the president's office of Beijing Film Academy, everyone was in a daze, slurping up cold noodles with gusto.

"No, what are they thinking?"

"Is this okay?"

"Old Teng, do we still not understand 'Hero'?"

The group of professionals weren't unhappy, but rather the shock was too great for them to be happy; they could only question the meaning of life.

"Um, Director Xie, let me catch my breath... Does our school really have an Oscar statuette for Best Picture?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? I'm fucking clueless too, okay? Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the broadcast signal?"

Xie Xiaojing was both excited and apprehensive, wishing she could pop herself into the television set and go see the scene live.

This surprise is so big and so sudden, I can hardly believe it!

To be honest, not only him, but no filmmaker in China dared to believe it.

At this time, the Chinese people were madly infatuated with the Oscars and regarded them as an untouchable sacred object.

Because Hollywood has basically monopolized the top 50 highest-grossing films in the world, with a threshold of 3.5 million US dollars, while the highest-grossing film in China, excluding "Hero", is 1 million RMB.

Such an exaggerated and despairing disparity—if Hollywood isn't a temple, then where is it?

At the same time, Hollywood's strictness and exclusion of outsiders have made even the smallest honor seem incredibly valuable.

Yes, Chinese filmmakers have always been well aware of the systemic discrimination against Hollywood.

Don't assume that filmmakers these days are so obsessed with winning the Oscars that they are ignorant and fearless, unable to understand the "fair" nature of Hollywood.

On the contrary, they not only understood, but also adapted to, and even embraced, that kind of discrimination.

Zhang Ziyi rose to the top of the Four Great Actresses with just one supporting role, Yu Jiaolong, crushing the princesses of the Beijing circle. The fundamental reason is that "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" made a major breakthrough in that discriminatory environment.

But no one dared to dream of a breakthrough of even greater magnitude.

When Fang Xinghe won Best Supporting Actor, they were shocked, but not horrified.

Although this is the first Oscar for acting awarded to a Chinese person, its importance is not particularly high, and it is much less significant than the Best Foreign Language Film award.

Given Fang Xinghe's fame in the United States, they could understand and accept it.

But Best Picture is another matter.

This is a science fiction story that should never happen.

The head of the directing department suddenly looked pitifully at the head of the acting department and said, "Old Liu, how about you slap me? I feel dizzy..."

Liu Shibing clenched his fists and charged forward, gritting his teeth and furious: "Damn it, I'll fight you to the death! Serves you right for being so cocky!"

In the China Film Group office, Han Sanping and the current CEO each slapped the desk, making a loud thud.

"You really took it?"

"She really took it!"

"Should we call again to confirm?"

"No need, no need, it's safe! There's no way it could go wrong!"

"Okay! Okay!"

"From today onwards, we mainland filmmakers have truly stood up!"

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

The award-winning film "Hero" had a huge impact on the mainland, but it wasn't the biggest impact—those two small islands were the ones that truly brought about a cataclysmic change.

The entertainment circles in both places were like a group of frightened birds and beasts, with middle-level employees spreading the news and upper-level employees communicating with each other immediately.

"It's over, it's over!"

Throughout the industry, countless people are filled with anxiety and despair.

The fact that "Hero," with its all-mainland cast, could flop at the box office is already a huge disaster. To then win the Oscar for Best Picture is tantamount to sealing the fate of Hong Kong and Taiwan cinema.

Yang, Chai, and Zhao, two entertainment tycoons from different regions, were caught in a chaotic war.

Liu, Li, Yuan, and Hong, the Hong Kong martial arts community is devastated.

Those who had been mentally prepared, like Yang Daheng, could only lament the changing times.

"From now on, Mr. Fang will be in charge of the Chinese film and television industry!"

Those who hadn't yet made up their minds to back down were having a buzzing in their heads.

"No, we absolutely cannot let him extend his reach into our territory again!"

But they all had one thing in common: they didn't understand.

"But how could that be?"

"I don't understand, why is this happening?!"

"Did they buy the tickets? How much money did Sony actually spend?"

"Is it worth it? A bunch of lunatics!"

The cast and crew of "Hero" really went crazy. They hugged, cheered, punched, and covered their faces. No one could believe it, but seeing the envious and jealous stares from everyone in the audience, a sense of pride and honor welled up inside them.

"Come on, let's go up on stage to receive our award!"

The winner of Best Picture is allowed to go on stage together with the core creative team. So, Wei Ping pulled Zhang Yimou, Li Jie linked arms with Fang Didi, Zhang Ziyi pulled Kung Fu Emperor, and the group happily went up to the stage to accept the award.

At that moment, the presenter finally read out the reason for "Hero" winning the award.

"Hero is undoubtedly the absolute pinnacle of action movies to date."

It combines a uniquely grand imagination, a realistic sense of impact that surpasses the limits of special effects, and incredible, gorgeous action to create a breathtaking visual spectacle.

Compared to The Matrix series, their imaginations are on par, but the action itself is on another level.

Compared to the Lord of the Rings series, they each have their own merits in terms of visual splendor, but their realism is more believable.

We are all absolutely convinced that Hero is the best action movie ever made, and that it will be a treasure trove of inspiration and a benchmark for all Hollywood action movies for the next twenty, thirty, or even fifty years.

Of course, we all know that this is not the fundamental reason why it received this honor.

What does the college love most about it?
It is not an action, but a philosophy of justice that transcends time, nationality, and cultural barriers.

Philosophy is never a binary opposition of life and death, black and white. This film starts from the perspective of stopping war, then transitions to non-war, and finally ends with actual war.

By exploring the irreconcilable contradictions between the lower and upper classes, the film's creative team constructs a harmonious and unified ultimate discourse on the theme of war. It immerses us in contemplation: Is peace a product of compromise, or a vassal of war?
Setting aside cultural differences regarding the necessity of 'unification,' let's simply consider that universal, ultimate question—

When a country is obviously democratic, advanced, developed, and deeply responsible, does it have the right or the obligation to correct some erroneous phenomena for the stability of the entire human world, the health of human civilization, and the happiness and safety of its own people?

How should we weigh and suppress the contradiction between the justness and destructiveness of war?

The unification war waged by Qin Shi Huang has been fully proven correct by history. Taking this as a lesson, what role and value should the United States, as the current global hegemon, play in global affairs?
All these considerations give "Hero" a uniquely captivating and profound charm.

The committee debated its value several times, and the film, cultural, academic, political and economic circles had their own interpretations of its philosophy. As a result, "Hero" became the most talked-about phenomenon film of the year, profoundly influencing the critical thinking of various sectors of the United States and spurring an unexpected wave of introspection.

Therefore, the academy is unwilling to make a hasty, rushed, or superficial interpretation of "Hero".

We simply want to acknowledge its outstanding achievements in the film industry.

This is a great classic that combines a brilliant visual appeal with profound ideas, and it deserves to win this year's Academy Award for Best Picture.

"If we cannot personally encourage this masterpiece, it will be the biggest dereliction of duty in the history of the Oscars..."

When the commendation speech reached this point, the "Hero" crew was thrown into chaos once again.

Wei Ping wept uncontrollably; the scene was quite dramatic.

Mou Zi was both excited and embarrassed, and subconsciously glanced at Fang Xinghe.

Gong Li grinned widely and gripped her brother's arm tightly.

Zhang Ziyi stared intently at the handsome man's profile, her eyes glazed over.

Jay didn't care about anything else; as long as he got a Best Picture award, he couldn't stop laughing.

Assistant cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding, chin held high, was incredibly arrogant—"Director Fang and I are best buddies. He's made two movies, and I was the one who carried the camera in both of them!"
The assistant director, costume designer, art director, and special effects supervisor, who were just there to make up the numbers, were beaming with joy, their eyes sparkling with the symbol "$".

Only Fang Xinghe remained calm, as still as a deep lake and as serene as a mountain.

As a Gen Z born in a prosperous era, he genuinely doesn't care about the Oscars.

As a filmmaker living in the present, he is well aware of the significance of this award.

Therefore, he felt both genuine joy and a sense of meaninglessness, amusement, and unworthy of his involvement.

This torn state did not tear his spirit apart, but it made him subconsciously maintain a detached and condescending attitude, calmly and even coldly considering and weighing all the subsequent events.

Chinese cinema hasn't truly stood up yet, but I have.

Starting today, I will establish my own independent circle and crush the so-called Northwest Circle, Beijing Circle, Shanghai Circle, and Hong Kong Circle.

However, at the level of fundamental goals (cultural confidence and cultural independence), Chinese films and even Chinese culture still have a long way to go and face many difficulties in the future.

The card of political correctness can only be played once or twice at most.

Hero won the Hollywood Pearl Award, while The Young Ones had to go home empty-handed.

The fact that a Chinese film won Best Picture will immediately trigger collective vigilance in Hollywood, and the environment they will face in the future will only become more complex and difficult.

All of this constitutes chaos.

but me……

Fang Xinghe asked himself questions and weighed the pros and cons repeatedly, and finally confirmed—I absolutely love this chaos.

If an era is not turbulent enough, like a stagnant pool, then it will lose all the joy of struggle.

Great men love winter swimming and battling giant waves in natural waters. This is not just about swimming for fitness; it's about conquering adversity and tempering one's will.

Fang Xinghe wouldn't dare compare himself to a great man, but this is what he thinks now: Having been given a second chance at life, and with a newfound advantage, health and longevity are no longer an issue. But he can't just lie low forever, waiting for total victory, can he?

Even if we don't talk about responsibility, we still need to find some fun in life.

I dare not touch or meddle in other areas, but in the cultural sphere, all injustices are my source of amusement.

So let's start with this Best Picture winner and show those spineless and arrogant people what kind of style China's Generation Z really is.

Thinking about it this way, his demeanor became even more aloof.

Girls around the world watching on screens were drooling, completely unable to comprehend how Fang Shuai could be so cool.

Cool, right? Hold on, there's more to come.

When it came time for the "Hero" crew to give their acceptance speeches, Wei Ping was pulled aside by Sister Li and Zhao Xiaoding, not giving him a chance to boast. Zhang Yimou gave a perfunctory thank-you speech, and seeing that many female celebrities in the audience were cheering, he simply handed over the microphone and stood to the side.

He doesn't say nice things, nor is he keen on public speaking. He's already won the award, so he's content and might as well watch Fang Xinghe stir up trouble.

Yes, he had a premonition that Fang Xinghe would not be satisfied with conventional remarks and would surely say something surprising.

However, he still didn't expect that Fang Dabiwang's remarks could be so fierce, so wild, and so insane.

"I'm afraid you're all curious about my feelings about winning Best Picture. Well... it's nothing special."

Fang Xinghe is known for his outrageous words and actions.

He looked down at the little golden statue in his hand, then casually handed it to Sister Li, rested his hands on the small lectern with the microphone, and looked around the theater.

His expression changed from calm to solemn.

The volume suddenly increased, suppressing the buzzing from the entire audience.

"This is not my award!"

He completely absolved himself of any responsibility for this collective honor.

"Hero is neither a project I led nor a complete presentation of my personal artistic ideas. I contributed some effort to this film and received equivalent returns, nothing more."

Therefore, I will not consider this Best Picture award as an honor that belongs entirely to me.

No, it's not a success for director Fang Xinghe.

He thought: "Heroes is just so-so. With May just around the corner, it's time to build up momentum for 'Young You'."

The head of the online trolls will never miss any opportunity to exploit the leeks (a derogatory term for inexperienced users).

Then he passionately declared:
"The Oscars are hard to conquer. This hall of fame, which embodies a rich film history, has extraordinary value and significance, which is why it can arouse the greatest desire to challenge and conquer in every filmmaker."

So, I'll bring my own film and come back a few more times.

Best screenplay, best actor, best director, best film... I'm greedy, I want it all.

If "Young You" doesn't work, then we'll do the next one.

If the next one still doesn't work, then the one after that.

I am 17 years old this year, and before I turn 30, I will completely and utterly conquer this place.

That was already incredibly arrogant, but even arrogance was yet to come.

Amidst the gasps and curses of many who could hardly contain themselves, Brother Fang placed himself under the sight of all guns.

"I would not say that I am the best director in the world. When art reaches a certain level, it is really difficult to distinguish between them."

But I am the world’s best writer, actor, director and artist. You can call me a new screenwriter, a new actor, or a new director now. I don’t blame you because “Hero” is not my independent work.

But next time, you will have to acknowledge my uniqueness, marvel at my artistic talent, and recognize my artistic achievements.

Yes, it's the movie "Better Days," which will be released during the summer season.

It's the best teen movie ever made worldwide. I'm not sure if you Americans can understand it, but please reserve a spot for me at the 76th Academy Awards for Best Actor.

This is not a request, it is a reminder—Star River is Coming.

I will burst into this so-called adult world with a wild vitality and unbridled talent that you cannot comprehend. Perhaps my age will severely limit the roles I can play, but I will grow up eventually, and this world will be amazed by me in the not-too-distant future.

Having enjoyed himself to the fullest, Brother Fang finally calmed his flamboyant eyebrows and ended the day with a relaxed demeanor.

"Finally, thank you to the academy for awarding us this highest honor. The part you like the most is also the part I like the most."

This is the most wonderful thing.

thank you all! "

Fang Xinghe's brief yet impactful speech came to a complete end, but the shockwaves it caused were only just beginning.

In that very instant, his number of followers surged by over 2000. Countless young girls were captivated by his arrogant and unrestrained nature.

And this is only the smallest part of the overall impact.

At least Sony started to panic—Dad, the cooperation has been going so well, they can't possibly not give us "Young Love", right?
That's not necessarily true. Right now, Brother Fang isn't in the mood to think about such trivial matters.

Tonight is his busiest night since arriving in the United States.

*************
My constitution is too weak; the inflammation can't be reduced without an IV drip.

(End of this chapter)