The entertainment industry: My 99 future timelines!

On the way out.

Many thoughts flashed through Li Xu's mind, but in the end he did not directly agree to the conditions offered by CJ Entertainment.

Even if the 13 billion won overseas version fee offered by the other party is enough to cover the entire cost of "Love Announcement", the subsequent box office in the domestic market will almost be pure profit.

Even if CJ's resources can indeed help him gain a foothold in Asia, and even help his next film compete in Cannes.

However, the five-year exclusive agency agreement means that his works will have to be distributed through CJ for the next five years, and if the cooperation doesn't go well...

Shen Ao, watching Li Xu deep in thought, couldn't hold back any longer: "Junior, 13 billion won! That's almost 1100 million RMB! That's enough for us to film another 'Love Announcement'!"

"But unfortunately, it comes with a five-year exclusive distribution right."

"There's also the priority investment right for the next installment. This is tantamount to tying Li Xu's future development for the next five years to CJ's ship, which isn't worth it."

"CJ has a big appetite."

"What they want is not just a movie, but the future of a director."

Jing Tian calmly interjected.

Having never lacked money since childhood and being able to easily access tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, she was very calm at the moment, only slightly excited about CJ Entertainment's willingness to help her make a run at Cannes.

Hearing Jing Tian's calm words, Li Xu didn't speak immediately, waiting until they were almost back at the hotel.

He turned his head to look at Shen Ao, then at Jing Tian, ​​and finally his gaze swept over Liu Yifei, who had been walking quietly on his other side without saying a word or making any interference. He sighed and uttered a sentence:

"The most common mistake young directors make is selling their future creative freedom for a little money."

"I know there are plenty of directors in the world who are willing to pay any price to get into the Cannes Film Festival, but that certainly doesn't include me."

"Shen Ao, have more confidence in me, have more confidence in our work, and let's see how the awards go."

Upon hearing Li Xu's words...

Shen Ao paused for a few seconds, many thoughts flashing through his mind, but in the end he sighed and didn't try to persuade him anymore.

After all, the final decision on this project rests with Li Xu, and CJ Entertainment's conditions are indeed harsh.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei glanced at Shen Ao but remained silent. She knew that Li Xu would never compromise given his personality, and Shen Ao's idea was just that—an idea.

Jing Tian watched from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips, but said nothing.

She liked this harmonious atmosphere very much.

Li Xu is a good person, but Shen Ao, Li Xu's "follower," is also an obedient person.

-

October 11, 2007, evening, Grand Hotel Haeundae, Busan, the night before the awards ceremony for the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, dispelled the heat of the night before the awards ceremony.

Li Xu pinched the bridge of his nose, temporarily suppressing those chaotic expectations.

In the room, Shen Ao was facing his laptop, the screen displaying complex graphs and Korean reports. He was frowning and muttering to himself.

I observed the content of these articles.

Shen Ao didn't even look up, ignoring whether Li Xu was listening: "Junior, according to the latest odds and opinion analysis, 'Wonderful Town' and 'Track' are ranked at the top, and we're probably in third or fourth place."

"But in the BIFF Daily's program booklet, we and Thailand's Wonderful Town both scored 3.5, tied for the highest. These judges' tastes are really hard to guess."

"Also, the chairman of this year's Busan International Film Festival, Derek Merry, is an Iranian master who likes films with national metaphors and philosophical meanings; although Ms. Yu Nan is one of us, her standards have always been strict, so it's hard to say whether she will judge us."

"Director Lee Chang-dong's works have always been profound and weighty. Although Ms. Jing said she had already spoken to Park Jae-hyun, no one can say for sure how effective it will be."

"Apply for Australia".

Listening to Shen Ao's rambling, Li Xu decisively interrupted, his voice calm, "Stop guessing, it's useless, the results will be out soon."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ao looked up, his face revealing undisguised anxiety. Unlike Li Xu, he was completely able to control his emotions and continued to mutter curses and grumble.

"My dear Xu, you can stay calm, but I can't! Do you even know what the situation is like outside?"

"According to my sources, our domestic media outlets have already written headlines like 'Li Xu Surprisingly Wins Award'! Our professors at the Beijing Film Academy are watching too, just waiting for us to win. If we don't, although it's not exactly a huge loss of face, it's still..."

"And that bastard CJ, Kim Sung-min, has been making sarcastic remarks among journalists these past few days, saying we're young and impetuous, don't know the rules, and implying we've offended someone and our awards are in jeopardy. Damn it, if this were in China, I'd definitely catch that bastard and give him a good beating!"

"Let him say it."

"We've done everything we were supposed to do. Aren't these kinds of rumors common in the film and television industry? We'll get used to it."

"As for those media people in China, they're used to praising the good and criticizing the bad, always looking for a big story, and they treat foreign films like their fathers. We don't need to pay them any attention."

Li Xu walked to the window and looked down at the brightly lit Haeundae Beach under the night sky and the faint outline of the movie theater in the distance.

Tomorrow, the 10th Busan International Film Festival will conclude here, and the winner of the "New Currents Award" will soon be revealed. It's not that I'm completely calm and unmoved.

But it still comes down to the same thing.

He did everything he was supposed to do.

They didn't even object to Jing Tian's help, nor did they object to her passing on a message to Lee Chang-dong through Park Jae-hyun. After all, when it comes to winning awards, the quality of the work is one aspect, but interpersonal relationships are also an important factor.

He really felt there was no need to do anything more.

He still possesses basic integrity and pride.

Upon hearing Li Xu's words, Shen Ao immediately fell silent. He understood Li Xu's feelings, but he was just feeling anxious and helpless.

"I'm going to get some fresh air."

Seeing Shen Ao's state, Li Xu picked up his coat, turned around and walked out, neither interfering nor offering comfort.

Winning an award abroad is a first for everyone, and he didn't have much time to think about it, let alone comfort others at this crucial moment.

"I'll stay with you."

Liu Yifei arrived at some point.

She stood quietly at the door, dressed in simple jeans and a cardigan, without makeup.

But under the dim lighting of the hotel corridor, she had a clear and pure beauty that seemed to have been washed away, which was closer to her usual state than her previous glamorous and heavily made-up appearance on the red carpet.

Li Xu nodded and did not refuse.

After leaving the hotel, the two tacitly agreed not to take a car, but instead slowly walked along the path behind the hotel toward the beach at night.

Busan's night sea is not quiet; in the distance, there are the lights of cruise ships, and nearby, the waves gently lap at the beach.

Li Xu and Liu Yifei walked side by side, letting the sea breeze blow.

After walking for a long time, Liu Yifei suddenly spoke softly, "Li Xu, are you nervous?"

"A little."

"Mainly because I don't want to disappoint those who believe in me."

As he spoke, images of Jing Tian, ​​Shen Ao, and many other staff members from the "Love Announcement" crew flashed through Li Xu's mind. Finally, the image in his mind settled on Liu Yifei beside him, whose face showed her longing for an award and a career change a few days ago.

He really didn't want to disappoint the people he cared about.

It's not just for myself.

Liu Yifei nodded gently. She didn't know what Li Xu was thinking, but she spoke her mind:

"Li Xu, I will always remember the day we filmed the rainstorm kissing scene together. I was also very anxious that day, worried that I would not do well in the next scene."

"And the result?"

"One take."

"I was a bit stunned by the sudden change to your kissing scene in the pouring rain that day, but the result was good in the end, and the filming effect was perfect."

"So I think you don't need to worry too much, because with your directing and acting abilities, our work can be considered almost perfect for a small-to-medium-sized investment romance film with a budget of tens of millions. I have a lot of faith in it, and I always have. Ever since I first came to your house on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to say that I wanted to invest in you, this idea has never changed."

As she spoke, Liu Yifei silently stopped and looked at Li Xu, her eyes reflecting starlight like a sea in the night. "So, please believe in yourself, and believe in me, who believes in you enough."

Li Xu stopped and looked back at Liu Yifei. The night breeze from Busan blew through her hair and brushed against her cheeks; she looked beautiful.

However, the way she said those words with such determination was even more beautiful and resolute.

Li Xu was momentarily stunned by her beauty.

Li Xu was so determined that she never imagined that, given her personality, she would say something that seemed completely out of character for her.

Unconsciously, Li Xu suddenly thought of the phone call Jing Tian made after the celebration banquet. She seemed to have the same firm belief in him.

Today feels just like those days.

"What have I done to deserve such trust from you all, a trust you all hold even stronger than I do myself?"

I sighed inwardly.

Li Xu wasn't stupid, nor was he emotionally deprived. He could hear a different meaning in Liu Yifei's words, a meaning similar to Jing Tian's.

After thinking for a moment, Li Xu nodded slightly and said earnestly, "Okay, I understand."

"Senior Yifei, I have confidence in our movie. Your performance was perfect."

Liu Yifei smiled and didn't say much more, only earnestly saying, "No matter what the outcome is tomorrow, I think Song Qing is the best role I've ever played, and you are the best and most outstanding director I've ever met. Let's cheer each other on."

-

October 12, 2007, Busan Cinema Center.

On both sides of the red carpet, flashes of light resembled a dense galaxy.

The appearance of the crew of "Love Announcement" caused quite a stir.

Li Xu was dressed in a simple black suit, while Liu Yifei held his arm, wearing a light pink strapless dress.

Jing Tian chose a neat white pantsuit.

Shen Ao tried to make himself look less like a follower.

The red carpet host introduced them enthusiastically, and questions followed one after another.

After offering a brief greeting in Korean, Lee Wook didn't say much more, but calmly responded in English: "Busan is a hotbed of film, and it's already a great honor to bring my work here. Awards are an extra gift; I'll be pleasantly surprised if I receive one, and if not, I'll continue to work hard."

After answering the questions, Li Xu and his group were finally able to enter the film festival's main ceremony hall.

In the hall, celebrities, filmmakers, and media from Asia and even the world gathered together.

The cast and crew of "Love Announcement" were seated in the middle front row near the aisle.

As Li Xu took his seat, he noticed that the Thai team from "Wonderful Town" was sitting diagonally in front of him and the Chinese-Korean co-production team from "Orbit" was sitting to his side and behind him.

Not far behind them, Li Xu also spotted Kim Sung-min from CJ Entertainment.

He was chatting and laughing with someone when he felt Li Xu's gaze. He nodded slightly, but his face was filled with gloom.

This situation stirred something within Li Xu, and he immediately thought of many things.

"Li Xu, I noticed that the representative from CJ Entertainment looked off. He's been making sarcastic remarks about our movie these past few days. It seems like our movie has a very good chance of success."

Shen Ao, with his keen eye, noticed this scene and spoke up at the opportune moment.

Li Xu's lips curled up slightly, and he hummed softly. Seeing that this CJ Entertainment representative looked like he had just lost his mother, he was happy.

To strangers, he appears to be a perfectly nice person, but that doesn't mean he's lost his sharp tongue.

-

More than an hour later.

The ceremony officially began.

The Busan International Film Festival host jokingly interjected with the presentations of awards from the non-competitive sections.

The crew of "Love Announcement" watched quietly, their applause polite and restrained.

Finally, after presenting a series of awards, the host announced in a triumphant voice: "Next, we will present the 12th Busan International Film Festival's main competition award—the 'New Currents Award'!"

The audience erupted in applause, which quickly subsided into silence.

The award presenters were the chairman of this year's "New Wave Awards" jury, Iranian director Derek Mairi, and one of the jury members, Chinese actress Yu Nan.

The two stood in front of the microphone.

Derek Merry spoke first, saying in English: "The New Wave Award aims to encourage emerging forces in Asian cinema."

"In this competition, we have seen diverse new voices from different countries and regions in Asia, telling the story of this era in different languages ​​and from different perspectives."

"The choice is difficult because there are many excellent works."

Yu Nan then spoke in Chinese, with the translation proceeding simultaneously: "We are looking for works that not only possess talent, but also have a unique perspective and sincere expression."

"They may not be perfect, but they must show us the creators' courage, thought, and love for film."

"After repeated and careful discussions, our jury finally selected three films from a total of 11 potential winners among Asian newcomers."

"They come from different countries, but each one touched us deeply in its own unique way."

After Yu Nan finished speaking, Dai Ruiqi took the first envelope from her hand, opened it, and read aloud: "The first award-winning film is—'The Wonderful Town' (Thailand, Director: Yathiya Asara), congratulations!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

Cheers erupted in the area where the Thai film "Teen Town" was filmed.

Derek Merry then picked up the second envelope: "The second winning film is—'Flowers in My Pocket' (Malaysia, Director: Liu Chengda), congratulations!"

Another round of applause erupted, and the Malaysian "Flowers in My Pocket" team cheered.

Yu Nan picked up the last envelope, which was also the last hope for the remaining nine nominated films.

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the audience, seemingly scanning everyone, yet also lingering particularly on the "Love Announcement" team.

Feeling Yu Nan's gaze, Li Xu could feel his heart pounding faster.

Liu Yifei, standing beside him, tightened her grip on Jing Tian's hand.

Shen Ao held his breath.

"The third and final film to win this year's 'New Currents Award' is—"

Yu Nan then glanced at Derek Merry, and the two nodded to each other, clearly and forcefully pronouncing the name:

"Congratulations to director Li Xu on 'Finding Love in the Bookstore' (a Chinese film directed by Li Xu)!"

"boom--!"

The applause, cheers, and whistles erupted once again!

A dazzling spotlight suddenly shone on the area where the "Love Announcement" crew was located.

bingo!

I actually won!

New Wave Award!

Feeling the deafening roar around him, Li Xu felt a huge, burning joy and a sense of relief instantly sweep over his entire body.

"Brother Xu! We won! We won!"

Shen Ao jumped up instantly, grabbed Li Xu's shoulders and shook him violently in his excitement, completely losing his composure.

Besides Shen Ao, Liu Yifei and Jing Tian were not in much better shape. Although their expressions were not as exaggerated as Shen Ao's, they were also filled with excitement and extreme agitation.

Liu Yifei covered her mouth tightly, her eyes brimming with tears. She sat there, looking up at Li Xu, who was completely enveloped by the dazzling spotlight, a radiant smile spreading across her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Love Announcement" was a success!

Li Xu succeeded!

She, Liu Yifei, also succeeded!

From then on, in everyone's eyes, she would never be just a pretty face like Little Dragon Girl again!