HuaYu: A Great Director Starting with Dream of the Red Chamber

Stepping out of the banquet hall, the oppressive atmosphere was instantly dispelled by the salty sea breeze.

"Damn! That felt so good!"

Zhang Qiang and Li Yan followed behind, the bald man gleaming in the afternoon sun, waving his fist and shouting:

"You didn't see it, but when you came out just now, those foreigners' eyes changed! Oh my, you've really shown off your erudition, all that Said and Orientalism stuff, you've totally fooled them..."

Ding Xiaoxiao clutched the DV camera, excited, but still a little worried, and asked:

"Director, I recorded everything! But... wasn't that a bit too offensive? I saw Director Guan's face turn green just now..."

Li Yan smiled and comforted him:

"It's alright, Xiaoxiao. There's no such thing as perfect harmony in this industry. Just wanting to stand up and eat already offends everyone who's kneeling down..."

Just as he was about to continue speaking, a voice called out from behind him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Li?"

Li Yan stopped and looked back.

The one who spoke was the curly-haired Jewish man in the room, Daniel Katz, the godfather of independent cinema after Weinstein.

Katz stopped in front of Li Yan:

"Dude, your assumption just now was very dangerous. If you're not careful, that debate could have put you on your way home early."

Having said that, he smiled and extended his right hand, staring at Li Yan with his shrewd brown eyes:

"However, what surprised me the most was..."

"A young Chinese man, in Venice, used the theories of a Palestinian scholar, along with Auschwitz, to attack your country's renowned director..."

"Tsk tsk, my friend, you know how to satirize this world!"

Li Yan shrugged, extended his hand to shake his, and smiled frankly:

"It's precisely because it's dangerous that it's powerful, isn't it? Otherwise, how would someone as busy as you have noticed me?"

Katz paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, a genuine hint of appreciation flashing in his shrewd brown eyes:

"Smart! Aggressive yet tactful. I smell the scum of Hollywood's Golden Age in you, the scum who will stop at nothing."

He took a business card out of his jacket pocket and handed it to him:

"My name is Daniel Katz, and I currently work in film and television investment at the Guggenheim, but I personally prefer... well, things that aren't so conventional."

"There's a private party after the official banquet tonight, at that white villa by the sea. It'll just be drinks and a bunch of restless young people. Interested in having a drink?"

Li Yan took the business card, glanced at it, and saw that it was very simple, containing only his name and phone number.

His smile widened, and it seemed that Katz was already planning to go solo.

The A24 cable, that's how it's connected.

"Of course," Li Yan said, putting the business card into his pocket and making a joke, "as long as your wine isn't the kind of 'special supply' made to cater to other people's tastes."

Katz burst into laughter again and patted Li Yan's shoulder hard:

"Rest assured, this is pure Scotch single malt whisky!"

……

A while after Li Yan and his group left, the forum in the hotel finally ended in a subtle atmosphere.

Guan Hu walked out the door with a livid face, surrounded by several media colleagues who were watching his expression cautiously.

"Director Guan, that Li Yan is too arrogant! This kind of young man doesn't know his own limitations..."

Guan Hu stopped in his tracks and gave a disdainful snort:

"Arrogant? Let him be arrogant! This young man thinks he can revolutionize the industry just because he's read a couple of books and learned a couple of terms? How naive."

He adjusted his glasses, reverting to his artist's demeanor.

"Movies speak for themselves through their work, not through empty words. Reality will teach him a lesson! Let's go, don't let this clown spoil the fun."

Not far away, Jiang Zhiqiang took in the whole scene.

He sat on the sofa in the rest area, his feelings somewhat complicated.

"Self-colonization..."

He carefully considered the word.

Having spent so many years in the Western film industry, he knew all too well what those arrogant judges wanted to see.

Long braids, red lanterns, leaping across rooftops, a backward countryside, repressed humanity...

This is the "ticket" to major film festivals, and also the key for him, the middleman, to make a profit.

Although Li Yan's words were directed at Guan Hu, they also, to some extent, tore away the fig leaf covering up the fact that these people make a living this way.

"That's too radical!"

Jiang Zhiqiang shook his head and gave a soft chuckle.

"Young people are arrogant and ignorant. If Western aesthetic barriers were so easy to break down, Chinese-language films would have gone global long ago. Why would we have to wait until today?"

But his palm kept gently patting the score of 3.58 for "The Tuner" on the program booklet.

The assistant, quite perceptive, leaned over and whispered:

"Boss, should I make a contact with that Li Yan? His score is really high."

This is indeed a very rare high score.

For a feature film, this score almost guarantees at least a special award, and may even be a contender for the Golden Lion.

"No rush."

Jiang Zhiqiang thought for a moment, then shook his head:

"A high score only means the film is good, not that it will win an award. The judges at Venice have very discerning tastes."

"Moreover, while the kid may have gotten his tongue off, he's also narrowed his own path. If he ends up with nothing, he'll become a laughingstock."

He carefully folded the program booklet and tucked it into the pocket of his linen suit.

"Let's wait a bit longer. Adding flowers to brocade is always safer than providing charcoal in the snow. Let's wait until he can actually lift the trophy..."

……

As night fell, a cool sea breeze blew across Lido Island.

After the official banquet, Li Yan asked Zhang Qiang to take Na Zha and Ding Xiaoxiao, who was a little tipsy, back to their hotel.

Before leaving, Naza tugged at Li Yan's arm, her little face full of worry:

"Director, are you really alright?"

Li Yan pinched her cheek and comforted her, "Don't worry, we were prepared, weren't we? Okay, go back and get some rest."

At the dinner just now, the Chinese community was clearly divided.

Or rather, Li Yan and his group were isolated.

Aside from Huang Bo and Yan Ni awkwardly nodding at him.

The only people left were some foreign filmmakers and film distributors who wanted to place bets in advance and try to make a big profit with a small investment.

For Li Yan, the peace and quiet was a welcome respite, allowing him to conserve his energy and prepare to deal with Katz.

It was tough on Ding Xiaoxiao, who had to attend to social events for the entire time.

……

The villa by the sea did not have the smell of burning grass or any other odor that Li Yan had expected.

It was more like a startup gathering in Silicon Valley.

A group of casually dressed young filmmakers, eager for opportunities, were discussing camera language and script structure in small groups, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

On the balcony on the second floor.

Katz poured Li Yan a glass of whiskey, the ice cubes in the glass making a crisp cracking sound.

"Just say it, Li."

Katz took a sip of his drink and got straight to the point:

"I've watched 'Andhadhun' three times! It's a very mature genre film narrative, and the open ending is a stroke of genius."

"It has all the potential to be adapted into a feature film. I want its North American distribution rights, as well as the priority right to adapt it into a feature film."

He opened his palms:

"Since Gordon gave me the inside scoop, I'll give you $50,000 for a buyout! Also, if you have any feature film projects planned in the future, we can prioritize collaborating. For a new director like you, my friend, the doors of Hollywood are open for you..."