I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

If Cheng Sheng didn't possess the status of a top director, along with influence and strength within the industry, even if he wrote numerous acclaimed scripts and firmly held the position of the top screenwriter in mainland China, he would have no way to restrain a top director like Chen Kaige, let alone make him film the script without making a single word change and with 100% adherence to it.

The uncertainty of the censorship environment has become a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of all screenwriters.

The ambiguous and ever-changing censorship standards force all screenwriters to preemptively censor themselves, deliberately avoiding profound social issues, complex human nature portrayals, and sharp social critiques. This ultimately leads to the homogenization, superficiality, and safety-seeking of film and television scripts, making it difficult to produce high-quality works.

The once wildly popular Hong Kong ghost films have completely declined, not because Uncle Nine passed away or the subject matter ran dry, but because they were restricted by the strict censorship system.

The mainland promotes a science-oriented approach, which restricts all supernatural and ghost-themed films. These films are either heavily edited or cannot be released, effectively cutting off a creative path for classic themes.

Finally, there's the internal predicament of the screenwriting industry.

The industry has very low barriers to entry, leading to a large influx of non-professionals and a mixed bag of quality among screenwriters.

There are very few professional screenwriters who are truly proficient in genre storytelling and possess both literary depth and intellectual prowess.

Most practitioners chase after quick profits and traffic, blindly copying the formulas of hit shows and churning out scripts on an assembly line. They lack observation of life, reverence for art, and the refinement of stories, which further lowers the industry reputation of screenwriters and makes capital and directors look down on the value of screenwriters.

Once you understand these layers of industry rules, the results of this awards ceremony become self-evident.

"So, Sister Hua, you mean that the biggest contributor to this film winning the Golden Lion and Twins winning Best Actress is Cheng Sheng from beginning to end?" Fan Shuangbing's pupils shrank slightly, her face full of sadness.

"Otherwise what?" Wang Jinhua said calmly, "Cheng Sheng set strict rules in advance: the script would not be changed a single word, the plot would not be altered, and the filming would be strictly implemented. All the shots, character settings, emotions, and core themes were set by Cheng Sheng. Chen Kaige was only responsible for executing the filming. This award should have belonged mostly to Cheng Sheng."

Fan Shuangbing felt a mix of emotions, filled with helplessness and resentment.

If success or failure hinges on Chen Kaige, she will still have a chance to actively curry favor and fight for resources.

But if Cheng Sheng is the one in control behind the scenes, she really has no way to deal with it.

Over the years, she had considered trying to win Cheng Sheng over. She had even humbled herself and offered herself to him, just to cling to this powerful figure.

No matter how much she tried to be friendly or take the initiative, Cheng Sheng remained unmoved, cold and distant, and completely looked down on her.

She remained unconvinced.

In terms of appearance, she is exquisite and bright, with a high degree of recognizability; in terms of figure, she is curvaceous and charming, the type that best fits men's aesthetic; in terms of age, she is younger and has an advantage over Zeng Li.

Why is it that Zeng Li can stay firmly by Cheng Sheng's side and enjoy top-notch resources, while she, who offered herself up, was discarded like trash?
Back on the set of "Ten Red Army Soldiers," she put aside all her pride and took the initiative to show her affection. Such a direct hint and approach would be irresistible to an ordinary man, but Cheng Sheng remained unmoved and unmoved.

The repeated setbacks and being ignored finally caused the accumulated resentment and frustration to erupt completely at this moment.

"I'm not reconciled." Fan Shuangbing gritted her teeth, a stubborn and ruthless glint in her eyes, and secretly vowed: If others can win international awards and become Best Actress by relying on Cheng Sheng, so can I.

Since gentle gestures and offering myself up have been useless, I'll take the initiative. Even if I have to force my way in, I'll cling to Cheng Sheng's powerful backer and do everything in my power to win a Best Actress award at one of the three major European film festivals to prove my strength.

She looked up at Wang Jinhua, her tone earnest and firm: "Sister Hua, after Cheng Sheng returns to China, could you arrange to meet him alone? I want to have a good talk with him."

Wang Jinhua was incredibly perceptive; she saw right through her thoughts and knew that she was determined to curry favor with Cheng Sheng and compete for top-tier resources.

But she did not stop it; instead, she secretly approved of it.

Today, Cheng Sheng is no longer an ordinary up-and-coming director and screenwriter, but a top figure who holds the key to blockbuster hits and controls international award resources.

If Orange Sky Entertainment can leverage Fan Shuangbing's connections to successfully connect with Cheng Sheng, the company will never have to worry about top-tier projects or award-winning resources in the future, which will be entirely beneficial to the company's development.

“Sure.” Wang Jinhua nodded slightly, her tone firm: “With my connections and status, it won’t be a problem to arrange a private meeting with him. I’ll make the arrangements as soon as he returns to China.”

"Thank you, Sister Hua!"

Fan Shuangbing's brows relaxed instantly, a charming smile appeared on her face, and hope rekindled in her eyes.

Huayi Entertainment Headquarters
At the same time, in the top-floor office of Huayi Entertainment, the atmosphere was completely different, filled with oppression and bitterness.

Feng Dapao's face was ashen as he stared intently at the replay of Chen Kaige receiving the award on TV. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and his aura was extremely low.

Xiao Wang, standing to the side, leaned against his desk, looking at him with a half-smile, a hint of mockery and amusement in his eyes.

Unable to suppress his sarcasm and resentment, Feng Dapao spoke coldly: "It's ridiculous! 'Blue Is the Warmest Color' is not Chen Kaige's style from beginning to end. There is not a trace of his previous works throughout the entire film. It is obvious that it won because of the script. How can he shamelessly stand on the stage to accept this award? He really got away with it."

"The company sent people to Venice to preview the film a long time ago." Mr. Wang said calmly, "The narrative rhythm, cinematography, and emotional core of the film are completely different from Chen Kaige's previous works. Industry insiders can see the difference at a glance. But so what? The audience, media, and judges will only remember that the final winner is Chen Kaige, and they will only praise his brilliant achievements. No one will delve into the script contributors behind the scenes."

The entertainment industry has always only cared about the results, not the process.

"In the end, it's all just good luck!" Feng Dapao said indignantly, still unconvinced: "If it weren't for his wife Chen Hong's connection with Cheng Sheng and his fellow townsman status, how could he have gotten a top-notch script personally polished by Cheng Sheng? To put it bluntly, it's all about women, what real ability is that!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Wang chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed, offering a calm consolation: "Old Feng, in this industry, only results matter, not reasons. If you win, you win; if you're in the limelight, you're in the limelight."

He silently added in his mind: You have the nerve to mock someone for relying on their wife? It's like the pot calling the kettle black. If Xu Fan hadn't intervened and actively connected them, do you think you could have gotten Cheng Sheng's script offer? You would have been excluded long ago. (End of Chapter)