Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 230: Fashion Circle Layout and "Family of Four" Dinner
In 1998, the entire country of South Korea was hit hard by the financial crisis.

Traditional pillar industries such as home appliances and automobiles declined, and nine banks and three financial groups across the country went bankrupt.

The then-President Daejung put forward the slogan that "the foundation of Korea in the 21st century is high-tech and cultural industries."

Starting from 1999, the government promulgated a number of laws and regulations, including the "Basic Law on the Revitalization of the Cultural Industry", and South Korea's entertainment industry started from then on.

Jang Nara's father and brother were both actors. Influenced by the family atmosphere, Jang Nara became a professional actor in the Department of Arts at Seoul National University in 2000.

His father, Jang Gyo-yeon, is a Korean drama actor, whose stage name is Joo Ho-seong.

Zhu Husheng has a keen sense of smell. He first took advantage of the rise of Korean "idol culture" in the early 2000s to create a sweet and lovely personality for his daughter.

Jang Nara released her first album in her sophomore year, which performed well and she began to enter the film and television industry.

As mentioned earlier, just as film directors like Park Chan-wook are eager to break out of the country, the Korean entertainment industry is too small and the competition is too fierce.

Later, Zhu Husheng would take his daughter across the ocean to develop in a neighboring country, which led to Jang Nara's popularity in China.

Until the scandal of her "making money" on a Korean program broke out.

It is unknown whether this is true or not, but her future in the mainland was ruined from then on.

This life happened by chance, because of his acquaintance with Choi Min-sik when he was an actor, he actually set his sights on Boss Lu!
Zhu Husheng, you are confused!

You don’t know that you are about to become the Korean version of Liu Xiaoli, or even worse!

"How about this, when I go to Korea for a roadshow next month, you bring them to see me."

Choi Min-sik didn't expect him to be so easy to talk to. He thanked him repeatedly, and the three of them said goodbye.

Lu Kuan returned to the hotel and immediately browsed the European Cup schedule online. What he saw today about Gunners King Henry’s girlfriend gave him a reminder!
Henry is going to play in the European Cup soon!

The Greek myth of 2004! The final was between Greece and Portugal, with odds of 1 to 80.

Similar to the 02 World Cup, as a veteran football fan, Boss Lu knows that football matches are full of uncertainties. Let's first see whether Greece can enter the final on July 7th.

The buzz surrounding "Alien Land" yesterday has not died down yet, and the next day major film media from various countries reported on the grand occasion in the Lumiere Hall.

Many media outlets used "15-minute standing ovation" as their news headlines.

The "China Film Journey" program sent by the domestic film channel was full of praise in the domestic media, and described yesterday's grand scene truthfully with pride and pride.

Among them, the enthusiastic response of Western filmmakers to the Chinese mythological elements and the prosperous Shanghai shooting scenes in the film made domestic audiences very excited and they couldn't wait to see the film immediately.

The China Film News borrowed the opening film review from the program of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

So far, the only movie shown at the opening ceremony is "Alien Land", and of course this is also a review of "Alien Land".

"This is a 140-minute visual feast. It was born out of Hollywood, but is more full of mysterious and romantic oriental colors. It is an epic masterpiece!"

"No science fiction film in recent years can surpass this in terms of character portrayal, narrative rhythm, action scenes, and special effects art that has never been seen in Chinese films."

"In this short yet long film, we follow this talented oriental director as he uncovers the mystery of Ximai Farm. The whole process is full of suspense and excitement."

“It’s a pity that Cannes’ old friend Lu Kuan’s film The Thief missed out on the Palme d’Or last year.”

"This is his first attempt at a purely commercial film, and it's a peak debut. It will undoubtedly create a sci-fi sensation around the world!"

"We will never forget the thought-provoking question from Dr. Lan Jiangshui at the end of the film."

“If humans continue to exploit and destroy nature without end, we will eventually suffer the bitter consequences.”

The domestic audience was extremely excited. This time, both Lu Laoban’s black fans and his black fans felt a sense of pleasure and pride in sharing the same hatred for the enemy.

Can we also have a science fiction film that will make those foreigners stand up and applaud for more than ten minutes?

Can we also show off the superiority of our national culture and long history on such occasions?
Internet media outlets such as Blog.com and Douban are firing on all cylinders, and coupled with Focus Media's elevator advertising, domestic expectations and enthusiastic calls for the film have been visibly intensified.

What made domestic audiences most happy was another interview clip from the authoritative French film media "Figaro" reprinted by the "Peking Daily".

In this film, Lu Kuan not only acknowledged the shortcomings of mainland films, but also showed the pride of the great culture to foreigners in a dignified manner, which was simply praised by readers!

So inspiring!

As mentioned earlier, during certain periods, people in China care a lot about recognition from the outside world.

This is also normal.

The country has just emerged from the barriers of backwardness and is on the road to revival. At this moment, we are unable to give ourselves strong support from the bottom of our hearts, and we will be particularly sensitive to external evaluations.

It was also during this period that demons and monsters were rampant, reminding everyone to reflect every day.

It was not until later generations that we once again took center stage on the world stage and confidence in our overall national culture was gradually re-established.

Ordinary people began to disdain Western evaluations and only focus on our own development.

Who cares? Love whoever you want.

Following the French "Figaro", the British "Empire" also sang praises for the film on the front page.

These foreigners appreciate the topic of over-exploitation of nature in "Alien Land" and use it to show off their environmentalist ideas.

In addition, Empire also recognized the actors' performances.

"Before watching the movie, everyone tends to think that Leonardo DiCaprio and that overly young Chinese girl would be a vase couple."

"But after the movie ended, I think there was no audience that would not be impressed by the stunning movements of the Chinese girl Liu and Leonardo DiCaprio's layered acting skills."

In addition, the Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Sight & Sound, Variety and other media have also praised the film.

in the country, movie fans eagerly read the reprints and reports from authoritative film media and giggled at the flattery of foreigners.

Perhaps the most conflicted are Liu Yifei's fans, who on the one hand are happy about their idol's shining on the world stage.

Netizens began to dig up the past of those who mocked Liu Yifei when she replaced Zhang Ziyi.

On the other hand, some fans could not accept the updates he posted on his blog and the intimate photo with Boss Lu.

This guy, we went to the movies together last Valentine's Day, and now he's in this state again.

Could it be that the damn washing machine has already been used?

Beast!
Let her go!
On the afternoon of May 5, as a compatriot and to cater to domestic media, Lu Kuan specially accepted an interview with Chinese media at the Carlton Hotel.

Ju Wenpei from the Film Channel was the first to ask, "Director Lu, we've all seen your speech at the Beijing Film Academy Forum about your views on commercial and art films."

"Although 'Alien Land' has not yet been released to the public, no one doubts the success of such a work in the market."

"Besides the fact that we need to look far and wide to learn and improve on commercial and science fiction films, what suggestions do you have for the development of art films?"

Lu Kuan was speechless. Professional film media just loved to show off. He had rejected a similar interview before, but now they were digging up last year's past even in Cannes.

"This Valentine's Day, I went to the cinema to watch the film "Love Is Not Blind," produced by Wenjie. I discovered a trend in movie-watching that is becoming more and more common."

“The Commercialization of Films During the Holiday Season.”

Ju Wenpei was puzzled: "Can you explain it?"

"Before, everyone in China was vying for the Golden Week and Lunar New Year period, but now Valentine's Day has also become an important period for romantic and youth films, starting with 'Love Is Not Blind.'"

"Love Is Not Blind" was released in March, with a total box office of over 3 million, almost surpassing "Thief" which won the Cannes Jury Grand Prix, which really shocked the industry.

Everyone is scrutinizing the value of the Valentine's Day slot chosen by Boss Lu.

Lu Kuan returned to Ju Wenpei's question: "The reason I mentioned this is to explain that commercial films are the mainstream trend in the current mainland market, while art films are niche and non-mainstream."

"The words 'niche' and 'non-mainstream' here don't have any derogatory connotations; they are simply an overview of the nature of the film. I personally really want to explore art films, which is normal for a director."

"Therefore, regarding the suggestion you mentioned, my suggestion is to make commercial films. All capable directors should come together to create wonderful genre films for the audience!"

Ju Wenpei wondered, "Won't this squeeze out art films? Will there still be room for them to survive?"

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Of course."

"In fact, at last year's Beijing Film Academy Forum, Section Chief Jia asked me the same question, namely, how to support and develop art films. I didn't give a direct answer."

"The answer is simple. Take American art films as an example."

"Everyone only knows Hollywood, but in fact, another center of American film is New York. New York is the headquarters of American art films."

"In the United States, subsidies for art films come from Hollywood commercials. Official agencies extract a certain percentage of the box office revenue from commercial films to subsidize ticket prices, screening schedules, and publicity for art films."

"So you can see that not only are Hollywood's commercial films a global success, but American directors also win the most of Europe's three major awards."

Ju Wenpei understood: "You mean, we can also learn from this model and use commercial films to support art films."

"That's right, but I'm just giving an example. If the current domestic film market size is 10 billion, then art films are about 5000 million."

"What if the domestic commercial film industry reaches 100 billion? Isn't the art film 5 million? What about 1000 billion?"

Boss Lu concluded with a smile: "So, if I were to give advice to Section Chief Jia and other art film directors, my suggestion would be that you all make commercial films, work together to expand the mainland film market and lure audiences into the theaters!"

The reporters all laughed and asked, "Are you representing the government to recruit the heroes of Liangshan?"

The questions asked by reporters from media outlets like Xinlang Entertainment are relatively entertaining.

Han Lu: "Fei Yi, the dress you wore on the red carpet at the opening ceremony last night was stunning. Could you tell us about it?"

"Oh, the name of the dress is Chinese Style Bamboo Rhythm. It's the director's idea, the work of Ms. Guo Pei from Rose House."

Han Lu was surprised and asked, "Director Lu? You also know about fashion design?"

Boss Lu smiled and said, "I just provided a design idea. Of course, the credit goes to the professionals."

Wang Daren, who mingles with the journalists, doesn't quite believe this statement.

Creativity is the most important part of clothing design. Even if you just give the designer a word or an image, it may be the most important fashion support for the ready-made garment.

"Can you tell us why you chose this dress?"

Lu Kuan pondered for two seconds before saying, "First, we need to consider, just like in 'Foreign Land', how to create art that incorporates our excellent cultural heritage into something that can be appreciated by both the Chinese and Western audiences."

"Secondly, considering that our leading actress, Xiao Liu, is still underage, perhaps this style of dress can bring a touch of purity and freshness to the Cannes Film Festival, rather than simply emphasizing the exposure of female sexuality."

The interview ended quickly, and the reporters went back to prepare their stories with satisfaction. Han Lu led Wang Daren over.

"Director, let me introduce you to a friend, American designer Wang Daren."

Lu Kuan pretended not to know: "Hello, Han Lu, you just asked the question on behalf of Mr. Wang, right?"

Han Lu smiled and replied, "Yesterday I was designing the dresses for the stars at the premiere and on the red carpet, and Designer Wang gave me a lot of help. I'm just returning the favor!"

Wang Daren no longer had the patience to listen to their pleasantries: "Director Lu, could you give me a moment to treat you and Miss Liu to a cup of coffee?"

"Okay, let's go."

Concubine Liu Yi glanced at the long-haired man in surprise, and was even more surprised that Lu Kuan actually agreed.

No, there must be something on this man that Lu Kuan has his eyes on.

Otherwise, why would he waste this time?
The four of them came to the hotel bar and sat down in a booth.

Lu Kuan looked at Wang Daren who was looking for a waiter to place an order, and recalled several other Chinese designers in later generations.

There are many outstanding Chinese designers, such as Wu Jigang, who designed dresses specifically for the wife of the Grand Commander Ao;

Wang Tao, known for his neo-Chinese style;
Wang Haizhen, who has won the Fashion Fringe and has done a good job of balancing commerciality and artistry, etc.

But among them, there are only two who are equally matched, whose works and reputations are unanimously recognized in both China and the West. One is Yin Yiqing and the other is Wang Daren.

Wang Daren is slightly more famous and has many celebrity fans both at home and abroad:
Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Rihanna.

Li Yuchun, Bingbing and others from China.

In 2013, Yin Yiqing had shown her collections at the Paris Fashion Week for three consecutive years. According to regulations, she could become a formal member of the Haute Couture Association, on par with brands such as Armani.

This is a great achievement for an independent designer.

However, Yin Yiqing should still be studying in France now, and Wang Daren is about to start creating his own personal brand.

In Cannes a year ago, Boss Lu introduced Bingbing to the concept of fashion route, an important part of which is to make friends with famous fashion brands and designers.

Take Li Yuchun as an example. As a singer who debuted through a civilian talent show, her starting point is not low.

But how she became Givenchy’s first global spokesperson in China in 2013 has a lot to do with the young man in front of her.

Wang Daren was admitted to Parsons, a world-renowned fashion design school, as an exception when he was in high school.

In 2007, the 23-year-old Wang Daren appeared on the New York Fall/Winter Fashion Week that year. In 2008, he won the prestigious "Swarovski Award" awarded by the American Fashion Designers Association (CFDA), which established his position in the fashion circle.

In 2012, he joined Balenciaga, taking charge of the luxury brand as creative director.

It was also from this year that he began to customize Li Yuchun's looks for various shows.

Together with Li Yuchun's other behind-the-scenes team, she became Givenchy's first global spokesperson in China in 2013.

Whether it is in the field of artist management business or considering the subsequent fashion resources of Xiao Liu, Bingbing and others, Wang Daren is a good helper in the fashion circle.

"We're about the same age, so I'll just call you Daren, okay? You can just call me Lukuan."

Designers are all straightforward, and Wang Daren readily agreed: "It's an honor to meet you, and the road ahead is wide!"

Liu Yifei covered her mouth and tried to laugh. Artists seemed not very good at socializing, and he probably didn't realize that it was a polite remark.

Boss Lu looked at Wang Daren, who looked like a bit of a submissive, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"Oh! So, can I ask for details about the dress Ms. Liu wore on the red carpet yesterday?"

He had just heard that it was Guo Pei's work, but the idea came from the young director in front of him.

"It's nothing serious, it's just a sudden inspiration. Why are you making such a fuss about it?"

Wang Daren said seriously: "No, that's absolutely not the case."

"I just dropped out of Parsons College last year and interned at Vogue. I've seen a lot of designs that attempt to blend Chinese and Western cultures."

"It's a pity they only have ambitions but no finished products. I haven't seen a design that has the same level of sophistication as what you call the Chinese style bamboo rhyme."

Boss Lu was a little amused and confused. He had just finished chatting with movie fanatic Park Chan-wook yesterday, and today he met fashion fanatic Wang Daren.

He had no choice but to sell the bamboo design concept that had fooled Guo Pei in the past.

"That's brilliant! Lu Kuan, you're a genius!"

Concubine Liu Yi looked speechlessly at Wang Daren, who looked like he was about to bow down to her, and thought to herself that she had been fooled again.

She thought of Zhao Benshan's "Selling Crutch".

It's a pity that such a young guy will soon have to use crutches. His progress is only 20%.

Lu Kuan coughed twice and said, "Daren, can you show me your work?"

Wang Daren was overjoyed and immediately took out the manuscript of his work from his bag and handed it to the young director respectfully.

Boss Lu pretended to stroke his chin, nodded, and sighed in silence.

Wang Daren, who was sitting opposite him, was stunned. He was eager to get recognition from this director who was able to shoot "Alien Land" and come up with the idea of ​​bamboo design.

Although he is not a fashion designer, the aesthetics are the same.

It’s not surprising that even Alexander Wang himself could capture some of the aesthetic concepts in yesterday’s films.

He looked at Lu Kuan's serious expression and unconsciously used honorifics again: "Director Lu, what do you think?"

Boss Lu thought to himself, "Don't be so impatient, I'm still organizing my words."

I didn't study fashion much in my previous life. How can I trick this Chinese guy into taking my bait?

“The lines and proportions are good.”

"The Chesterfield coat you used is especially stunning, with its slim fit and short notched lapels!"

There were some bumps in the road at the beginning, but Boss Lu became more and more skilled at fooling people.

"Daren, your design may seem simple and easy to understand, but if you look into it carefully, it is actually quite profound."

"The horizontal and vertical lines, even the diagonal lines and curvatures of the folds and embroidery in each draft are all exquisite. Not only do they fit the streamlines of the human body, but they also give the viewer a strong visual impact!"

Wang Daren's hands were shaking with excitement as he held the water cup. He dropped out of college and went to intern at Vogue, which was a lot of pressure.

If you don't do well, you may not even be able to go back. Maybe you can only go home to inherit the inheritance and live a life of luxury and debauchery as a rich second-generation Chinese.

This is not what he wants.

Concubine Liu Yi silently observed his expression.

Well, the progress bar is almost 50%.

Boss Lu suddenly changed the subject: "Daren, how about you design the costumes for my movie?"

Wang Daren was stunned when he heard this.

It is normal for directors to look for fashion brands or independent designers to design movie props and costumes.

Giorgio Armani has designed costumes for films such as "Gattaca" and "The Righteous One".

I'm still doing internship, and you're just going to start a new business like that?

"Director Lu, are you so optimistic about me?"

"Of course!"

"There's a Chinese proverb that goes, 'Young and strong are better than young men,' and this is also true in the design industry. Artists are the profession that least needs to consider age differences."

"The aesthetic experiences and perceptions of different ages can give rise to works of different styles."

Boss Lu started to criticize: "You should have seen the haute couture at last year's Paris Fashion Week. What the hell was that Karl Lagerfeld thing? Chanel is so old-fashioned."

“As these people get older and become stagnant, their work loses its sparkle.”

"So I prefer to work with young designers. Especially after seeing your work, which is minimalist yet has a hint of decadence, this futuristic approach really goes well with the style of science fiction films!"

Everyone desires recognition, especially recognition from an authority.

Having won the Golden Lion Award and the Cannes Jury Prize, and having been able to get all the filmmakers to stand up and applaud for 15 minutes yesterday, Lu Laoban is clearly among the authorities.

Wang Daren said gratefully, "Director Lu, thank you very much for your recognition. Your praise is the direction of my future efforts."

Concubine Liu Yi carefully observed his expression, 70%.

"It's just... Anna invited me to intern at Vogue, and she has high hopes for me. If I..."

Anna?

The prototype of "The Devil Wears Prada"?
Boss Lu thought quickly and said, "Daren, you misunderstood!"

"My company only produces four or five films and TV series a year. Such a workload is a waste for a designer of your caliber!" "I think you can thrive in Vogue first and absorb their aesthetic nourishment."

"When you feel you can start your own business, I can invest in your studio. What do you think?"

I didn't expect this guy to have such good connections. He was recruited as an intern by Anna herself. So why not create his own media and see if he can get in touch with Vogue?

If I remember correctly, the Chinese edition of Vogue will be launched next year.

This magazine is known as the fashion bible. It was founded in 1892 and is an authority in the fashion industry.

If I can influence Vogue, it will be easier to promote people in the future.

This is about having the right to speak in the fashion industry.

A country girl like Xiao Liu, who dresses casually in life, can be transformed into a fashion queen in minutes!

Liu Yifei looked at him strangely and asked, "How come you pressed pause when the progress bar was almost finished?"

Given Lu Kuan's personality, there was only one explanation: he had discovered another side storyline on the map.

Wang Daren was naturally very willing to accept Boss Lu's proposal.

"Daren, I'll have someone send you some biographies and historical background information later. Please help me design some costumes for my next movie first."

"Next time I'm in New York, I'll visit you at Vogue!"

"No problem, Guide!"
-
Every film festival is a pleasant film journey for directors like Lu Kuan.

He can move freely between various theaters and enjoy the films that interest him like an ordinary audience member.

The most important thing is to have a learning and thinking perspective, and to communicate with the on-site director after watching the movie.

This is very important for learning and absorbing the strengths of directors from different countries and styles.

Boss Lu and Liu Yifei supported the screening of domestic films such as "2046", "Big Event", and "House of Flying Daggers".

Among them, although "House of Flying Daggers" did not completely eliminate the problem of empty plot, it is very friendly to Western moviegoers.

The second screening was particularly successful, with the audience standing up and applauding several times.

The film's visual impact, music design, and sound effects have all been officially praised by magazines and program publications such as Variety.

Johnnie To's "Big Event" also made foreign media exclaim that it is the best genre film in Hong Kong.

Leonardo then invited Lu Kuan to attend the premiere of Brad Pitt's "Troy" and introduced the two to each other.

This time, Pitt brought his wife Jennifer Aniston, who also plays Rachel in "Friends", to the meeting.

Because "Troy" is a blockbuster about the ancient Greek Trojan Horse Massacre, and Aniston has Greek ancestry and background.

All we can say is that the commercial hype of Hollywood stars is everywhere.

Liu Yifei was very happy to see Aniston. She felt the joy of successfully chasing her idol and uploaded a photo of the two of them to her homepage.

And "Friends" will officially end this year, in May 2004, and become a fond memory for a generation of people at home and abroad.

There is also Park Chan-wook's "Oldboy", which can be said to be a masterpiece of its generation. Lu Kuan and Quentin, who was also in attendance, discussed it from beginning to end in the audience.

Everyone agrees that this is the best Korean movie now.

On May 2004, 5, the Cannes Film Festival entered its final climax with the awards ceremony.

Logically speaking, Boss Lu didn't need to stay in Cannes until now. "Alien" was screened in the non-competitive unit.

After the premiere and interview, he achieved his promotional purpose of bringing the film to this Cannes Film Festival.

The reason he was invited to the final awards ceremony was because he wanted to witness with his own eyes the draw for the Super Lotto that he had bought for $950 million last year!
"Fahrenheit 911/"!
Of course, it also depends on whether Zhang Manyu can be crowned Best Actress.

After the premiere, she has verbally agreed to star in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", and this time she can also show her support for her future heroine.

By the way, Quentin also invited him to be the guest of honor to present the Jury Grand Prix.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is particularly rich in Asian film elements.

In addition to Wang Jiawei, Zhang Yimou and others introduced earlier, "The Journey" directed by Yang Chao and actor Geng Le was nominated for the Golden Camera.

"Tropical Malady" by Thai director Weerasethakul won the Special Jury Award.

And the 14-year-old boy Yuya Yagira who was living a simple life actually won the Best Actor award, which made Liang Chaowei almost vomit blood. This time he came to Cannes with great hopes.

Wang Jiawei's "2046" is co-distributed by MK2, and they are very optimistic that this film will be as popular as "In the Mood for Love" back then.

Next comes the Best Actress award.

Concubine Liu Yi and Lu Kuan sat in the audience.

"Do you think Sister Manyu will win the award?"

"meeting."

Concubine Liu Yi was curious: "Did you calculate it? Or did Quentin tell you?"

She suddenly understood something: "Oh! I see. Did Quentin tell you that she would win the Best Actress award, so you chose her as the leading actress?"

"This way, your new film will have a movie queen joining it, and the box office will be somewhat guaranteed?"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "You guessed the ending, but not the beginning."

"This year's Cannes films are mostly dominated by male protagonists, with very few outstanding female characters."

"Zhang Manyu's only two competitors are Zhang Ziyi and Charlize Theron. I don't think Zhang Ziyi is very good, and Charlize Theron is starring in a biographical film, so her room for development is limited."

Liu Yifei nodded: "Emily in "Clean" is indeed very outstanding."

She went to see Zhang Manyu's "Clean" with Lu Kuan, and was also present at the scene. The latter agreed to play the female lead in Lu Kuan's new movie.

"The gracefulness and subtlety of the oriental beauty in 'Clean' has always been her strength. In other words, this role is Zhang Manyu's comfort zone."

"It's the same as your roles as Zhao Ling'er, Wang Yuyan, and Xiao Longnu. They are all roles that fit the characters' personalities."

Lu Kuan seemed to suddenly remember something: "By the way, how did Zhang Jizhong arrange your filming schedule for The Return of the Condor Heroes?"

She has a filming assignment with the crew of "Zhu Xian" from July to October, but the character Lu Xueqi she plays will only appear in a few episodes in September.

However, I didn't have much time before that because I had to go on a global roadshow for "Alien Land", which is not the kind of two-city-a-day schedule I do in China.

"I've discussed this with him. The crew will start filming in late September, so I can join them in October."

"That's good."

Speaking of The Return of the Condor Heroes, Concubine Liu Yi also has a small knot in her heart, that is the scene where she lost her virginity to Zhen Zhibing...

The news that Big Beard invited Lu Kuan to make a guest appearance has not been released yet, and she doesn't know yet that he will be the one to play the role.

I'm still thinking about how to talk to Zhang Jizhong, don't be too...

But this seemed very unprofessional, and the girl was very hesitant.

The award presenter's call of "Maggie Cheung" interrupted her wandering thoughts, and Zhang Manyu was crowned the queen as she wished.

She walked onto the stage calmly. Her previous experience of winning awards made Zhang Manyu extremely calm.

"Thank you to my crew, my director... and my ex-husband Mr. Assaye, thank you for creating such a role for me. You are the key to my success. Thank you!"

Liu Yifei was stunned when she heard this: "The director is her ex-husband?"

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "What's so strange about this? She lost her husband and won a Best Actress award. It's a win!"

The little girl curled her lips and said nothing more.

If she were to be offered the choice between a beautiful relationship and a movie queen, she would choose the former without hesitation.

All the Chinese-language filmmakers present, even Asian filmmakers like Park Chan-wook, stood up and applauded.

This is the first time that a Chinese actress has won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, and she is also the first Asian actress to win the award since the festival was founded.

Boss Lu was naturally grinning from ear to ear. This Best Actress award came at the perfect time, and was worth at least 1000 million at the box office.

Concubine Liu Yi admired her for her elegant demeanor.

"Sister Manyu, how come you're not excited at all? I cried with excitement at the premiere of 'Alien Land'!"

"Excited? Even if you won a Berlin Golden Bear, four Golden Horses, and five Golden Statues, you wouldn't be excited. Just sprinkle some water."

The girl looked unconvinced: "Lu Kuan, don't look down on me! When I win the Best Actress award, I will make you unattainable! Beg me to act in your movie."

Boss Lu straightened his suit and prepared to go backstage to participate in the award ceremony, leaving only a light "blessing".

"I hope so."

The Jury Grand Prix was won by "Oldboy" by South Korean director Park Chan-wook. He gave a warm hug to Lu Kuan, who presented the award, and was so excited that he almost cried.

The climax of the film comes when the Palme d'Or is announced. Quentin comes on stage with a strange smile and announces the final winner without any foreshadowing.

"Fahrenheit 911/"!
Fortunately, the butterfly wings did not fall into the hands of another family because of the wide road, otherwise the $950 million would have been a fucking loss!

However, many of the audience were shocked, including the confident Wang Jiawei.

The experience of a documentary winning an award at one of Europe's three major documentaries dates back 48 years...

This damn Quentin is so useless!
Besides "Fahrenheit 911/" director Moore who was extremely excited, Sean Penn was the first to stand up and applaud...

The second one is Lu Kuan, a director from China. Sean Penn looked at him and nodded approvingly. He is indeed a young director with a global vision!
Maybe it was a mistake that I rejected his "Foreign Land" last time.

The fact that "Fahrenheit 911/" won the award was related to the personal taste of Quentin Tarantino, the chairman of the jury, but it was more a reflection of Cannes' overall development strategy.

In recent years, Hollywood has become increasingly powerful, while the three major European film companies have gradually declined.

Although they look down on Hollywood, for example, Venice's slogan is "Down with Hollywood", in order to survive, they have to humble themselves and submit to some rules.

For example, inviting Hollywood movies and superstars to promote and attract traffic to the film festival, and this year's Cannes included cartoons in the main competition unit.

So, how does the unique Cannes maintain its own style and uniqueness?
How to show the world that you are not drowned in the tide of commercialization?

The method is also very simple. Learn from Berlin's Zheng Zhi-ization route and let Zheng Zhi's correct anti-war film win the Palme d'Or. This is a clear proof of their resistance against the United States and Hollywood!

Just like "Elephant", which beat "Thief" last year, it is also a movie about a shooting incident in the United States.

In other words, the purpose of the Cannes Film Festival is to give out shows and awards.

I use your Hollywood way to build momentum, but I'm not sure about awards. For example, a purely commercial film like "Alien Land" is unlikely to win an award no matter how well you shoot it.

I couldn’t even get into the main competition unit.

"Fahrenheit 911/" won the Palme d'Or, and the people of the third world were ecstatic!
And in faraway America, only two people suffered from insomnia that night.

One is George W. Bush, who was almost chosen as the Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.

The other is poor Harvey.

You have indeed been exploited so badly by Boss Lu!
The Jewish white pigs are now in pain, suffering, and feeling very blue and thin.

On the one hand, he was particularly dissatisfied with Boss Lu for "tricking" the Golden Palm Award away from him;
On the other hand, he was intoxicated by the huge success of "Alien Land" at the film festival and the wonderful box office figures that were about to be shown.

Lu Kuan, oh Lu Kuan, you are such a little bitch that makes me love and hate you!

The Cannes Film Festival has officially closed.

The next day, Boss Lu and Liu Xiaoli and her daughter came to Paris together.

Before flying back to China, Ankang, who had already taken up the position of First Secretary for Education at the Chinese Embassy in France, wanted to invite them to dinner.

The last time I saw my daughter Liu Yifei was in New York in early 2003.

After arriving in Paris, Boss Lu decided to temporarily separate from them because he wanted to sell movies!

MK2 headquarters, Lu Kuan revisited the old place, and still remembered the situation on this day last year when MK2's Lauren and Luc Besson teamed up to fool him.

This time I came again to discuss the release of "Fahrenheit 2/911" with MK.

MK2 is the largest and most professional art film distributor in France, and has a certain influence in North Africa and South America.

Lu Kuan was ready to hand over all regions except China and the United States to them.

"Mr. Lauren, we meet again."

Luc Besson was not present today, and only Lu Kuan and Lauren had a private conversation.

"Honestly, I'm surprised that you actually have the copyright to this film?"

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "Oh! It was my Jewish friend Harvey. He sold this movie to me last year. I didn't expect it to win the Palme d'Or. It's amazing."

Lauren nodded in understanding. He thought it was a trick by Lu Kuan and Harvey from Miramax.

The conflict between Harvey and Eisner has reached a fever pitch, especially after the "Alien Land" incident. Harvey is now at risk of being fired by Disney at any time.

But being kicked out doesn't matter. Disney will buy his shares and he can start a new business. His connections are all his, so there's no difference.

Boss Lu glanced at his watch. "Let's cut to the chase. Does MK2 have any interest in being a distributor?"

"Of course!"

Lauren took out an English version of the contract from the desk and handed it over. Boss Lu leaned back on the sofa and flipped through the pages.

MK2 is a company that prides itself on being very stylish and they don't look down on mediocre commercial films.

It must be an art film, and it must be an art film with excellent marketability, like Wang Jiawei's "In the Mood for Love".

"Fahrenheit 911/2" is % politically correct in the European literary and art circles, especially the anti-war literary and art circles, so MK is certainly interested in it.

"15% is too high, 10%?"

Lauren frowned and said, "Aren't you bargaining too hard?"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Generally speaking, an Oscar nomination will increase a film's box office by $3000 million, and winning it will probably add $5000 to $6000."

"The Palme d'Or at Cannes is slightly less impressive, but according to data from the Box Office, it's somewhere between $1500 million and $2000 million."

"Lauren, I think this increase is enough to offset the points you gave up."

Boss Lu stood up slowly and said, "I have a dinner party coming up. Please consider the 10% offer."

Lauren saw that his expression did not seem fake, and after thinking about it, she felt that it did make sense, so the two of them reached a verbal agreement immediately.

The place Ankang arranged for us to have dinner was at 134 Montparnasse in the 1914th arrondissement of Paris, a Chinese tofu restaurant that was derived from the Chinese Restaurant founded in .

The China Hotel has a long history and was first founded by Li Shizeng, a Chinese living in France.

He previously founded a tofu company in Paris, dedicated to promoting a series of tofu food products.

Later, because tofu tasted too bland and did not suit the Parisian people's taste for cheese, Li Shizeng opened a restaurant to improve the cooking of tofu.

It is said that the earliest group of Chinese students who went to France to study and work, including Mr. Xiangyu and Comrade Xiaoping, all worked and studied in this tofu company and rayon factory.

The waiter quickly brought out a variety of tofu-based delicacies: double pepper tofu pot, mapo tofu, and tofu with green onions.

Liu Yifei said with a bitter face: "Dad, I finally came to Paris once, why did you take me to eat this?"

"Go, Xiaolu is invited today, you and your mother are just guests."

Boss Lu smiled and said, “After eating too much meat, steak and seafood in the hotel, I still prefer Chinese food.”

Liu Xiaoli also patted her daughter's arm and said, "Just eat your food. Why are you talking so much? Eating something light is just right for staying in shape!"

Ankang raised his glass to Lu Kuan and said, "Xiaolu, I saw your interview on Figaro. It was great!"

"Westerners' perception of us is still stuck in our backward past. Some even think we're still from the Qing Dynasty, when people wore pigtails."

"Influenced by your film, the embassy has recently been organizing more cultural outreach activities!"

He serves as the First Secretary for Education. The main responsibility of the Education Department of the embassy abroad is to promote educational exchanges and cooperation between my country and the host country.

Promote the promotion of Chinese language and cultural publicity.

Lu Kuan nodded and said, "Film is the seventh largest art form in the world and it is also an art form that the French are obsessed with. I also hope to do my part to help traditional culture go abroad."

"By the way, Xiao Liu's performance was also very good. The Zhuyun dress she wore has now become the subject of research for many fashion designers."

Ankang laughed and said, "That's right. She was very tired during filming and would call me to complain. Now it seems that all the hardship has paid off and she is finally getting her wish, haha!"

Liu Xiaoli also raised her glass: "Xiaolu, Auntie will toast you too. Thank you for taking care of Xixi."

"Where."

When discussing positions at work and seniority in life, Lu Kuan would politely lower his cup.

"There's no patronage. I hired her and she contributed to the film. It's a mutual relationship."

Besides, there is no pay, where can I find such a good thing for free!

"Xiaolu, that's just polite talk. Good characters are a scarce resource. I understand that."

Ankang changed the subject: "Especially with a decent and upright director like you, I feel at ease filming with you, Xixi."

Boss Lu raised his eyes and met his gaze. They smiled in tacit understanding and drank the wine in their glasses.

Is this praise or warning from Xiao Liu's father?

Liu Xiaoli gave her ex-husband a look, signaling him not to say more.

Ever since those messy rumors appeared on the Internet, especially the Valentine's Day movie-watching incident that was confirmed by netizens, she has been receiving long-distance calls.

Tell yourself to take good care of your underage daughter and never make a big mistake!
You talk as if you are a stepmother, but your daughter has to be obedient, right?

I only turned 8 in August, but I'm almost like a kite with a broken string, impossible to catch.

Ankang turned to business: "By the way, the first Confucius Institute in Paris will be completed next year. There may be some cultural exchange projects at that time."

"If it's convenient, Xiaolu can promote the Chinese cultural elements in your film, if that will be helpful for your subsequent participation in the Cannes Film Festival."

"The embassy will invite some French cultural and artistic figures to participate, which will also help boost your profile."

Boss Lu hadn't thought of this approach, so it's hard to say how effective it will be.

But it is possible to get to know some film festival executives, French cultural circles, and fashion celebrities through him.

Liu Yifei said excitedly: "Dad, you can invite me to the fashion show and wear a traditional Chinese cheongsam, what do you think?"

Ankang joked, "I'm afraid I can't afford you. Your mother said the endorsement fee is over 300 million yuan a year. How about you give me a discount?"

"That won't do. Father and daughter have to settle accounts clearly. A discount is fine!"

Everyone laughed.

(End of this chapter)