Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

As the year draws to a close,

It is almost the peak season for award ceremonies across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

First, good news came from the Busan International Film Festival: Lin Jiachuan won Best Actor for the Sino-Korean co-production "Train to Busan," while Mu Deyuan, a top student from the Cinematography Department of the Beijing Film Academy, won Best Director and Best Visual Effects.

At the subsequent Tokyo International Film Festival, Zhang Songwen won Best Actor for the Sino-Japanese co-production "Departures," while Professor Xie, the Supreme Elder, won Best Director and Best Feature Film.

Even though only the newspaper delivery person didn't show up for "Hearing Girl," Liu Yifei surprisingly won Best Actress, once again winning a Best Actress award, and it was at a well-known international film festival!

This has made Liu Yifei, who was already very popular recently, even more popular. The media regretted that they had used up almost all the praise in their previous reports and didn't know how to release a press release.

Zhang Huijun, the sect leader, was overjoyed. He swaggered around campus with five replica trophies, walking with an air of authority, almost as if he were about to grab a megaphone and shout it from the neighboring Central Academy of Drama:

Who else!

After seeing his superior linger at the door dozens of times, the doorman, Uncle Qin, finally couldn't help but step forward and remind him, "Director, you're carrying five trophies in both hands, don't get them scratched or bruised. I have a bag, would you like me to put them in there?"

Zhang Huijun was taken aback, looking down at the trophy in his hand. "Old Qin, didn't I already put it away?"

"Alright, alright, so this is how you put on an act, huh?" Old Master Qin pursed his lips and said nothing more, returning to the gatehouse to continue his daydream... cough, daydream.

Here, at the Taipei Arena,

6:30 PM, red carpet.

In Taipei in November, the evenings were already a bit chilly, but the red carpet outside the Taipei Arena was packed with fans and media holding up light sticks and cameras.

A black minivan was parked at the entrance to the red carpet.

The car door opened, and Zhuang Huai'an got out first. He was wearing a dark gray suit, without a tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone. He looked as casual as if he were attending a friend's party rather than an awards ceremony.

The staff member stepped forward and opened the other car door, and Liu Yifei got out.

She wore a moon-white strapless gown with silver vine patterns embroidered on the hem, which shimmered softly under the red carpet lights. Her hair was styled in a low bun, and she wore a pair of small diamond stud earrings and a delicate platinum necklace. It was understated but made her skin look radiant.

Her appearance caused the screams from both sides of the red carpet to reach their peak instantly.

The couple walked side by side down the red carpet, maintaining a perfect distance between them. When they reached the media area, they stopped and posed for photos with the reporters.

"Director Zhuang! Yifei! Look this way!"

"Let's take a photo together, you two! Director Zhuang, come closer!"

The flashes of light instantly created a white ocean.

Liu Yifei smiled and posed for the camera. Zhuang Huai'an stood next to her, mimicking an unknown deceased person by wearing sunglasses. These things were indeed useful.

The two, one cool and the other beautiful, captivated many photographers.

After a few brief interviews, the couple entered the venue. They were the last to appear, and the venue was almost full of people.

Following the staff's directions, the two walked to the middle of the second row, where the rest of the "Hearing Girl" crew had already arrived.

This year marks the 43rd Golden Horse Awards, with the theme: "Flowers in Full Bloom at Golden Horse." To be honest, before experiencing the "green incident," the Golden Horse Awards truly deserve the description of "flowers in full bloom."

Previously, the organizing committee announced that "Hearing Girl" was nominated for Best Director, Best Feature Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Effects.

It received a total of 8 nominations, second only to "Perhaps Love" with 12 nominations.

After the warm-up, the hosts, Ms. Tsai and Ms. Hou, appeared on stage to the background music of the movie "Brokeback Mountain" and performed a skit with a same-sex theme. In order to echo the "Golden Horse" theme, actors were specially arranged to play Western cowboys from the movie and ride real horses onto the stage.

The two teased the guests present. Cai Niangniang was extremely bold, frequently bringing up Jay Chou in the audience, and even told Miss Hou that she would dress up as Jay Chou and go on a date with her that night.

What seemed like a joke was actually quite embarrassing for everyone.

In the past, Zhuang Huai'an might have been somewhat puzzled as to why the Golden Horse Awards organizing committee insisted on having an effeminate man on stage when there were so many excellent hosts in Taiwan.

Now I understand. Cai Niangniang is able to let go and rein in at the same time, and she's not afraid of offending people. Her awkward moments are also explosive points. That's exactly the kind of controversy and topics the organizing committee wants.

After all, that's just the style of this place.

Coco then took the stage and sang five classic movie songs in a row. Her hot figure and daring dance completely stole the spotlight from the host.

This was Zhuang Huai'an's first time meeting Coco. Her energetic singing and dancing performance truly lived up to her title as an international superstar. However, he couldn't quite understand how someone so outgoing and passionate on stage could...

Ugh…

The process continued, and "Hearing Girl" received no awards, soon moving on to the Best Actress category.

The award presenters were Hou Hsiao-hsien and Chang Man-yu.

The big screen played a series of nominated films: Angelica Lee's "Re-cycle", Si Qinggaowa's "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt", Zhou Xun's "Perhaps Love", Liu Jialing's "Curiosity Kills the Cat", and Zhang Aijia's "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful".

They are all accomplished actresses.

Liu Yifei placed her hands on her knees, her back straight, her expression calm, with even a faint smile on her lips, showing no sign of nervousness.

This marks her third time being nominated for Best Actress this year.

The first time was at the Hundred Flowers Awards at the end of October in Hangzhou. She won Best Actress and Best Newcomer. She was really excited that time, tears welled up in her eyes, and her hand holding the trophy was shaking.

The second time was at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where the judges awarded her the Best Actress award. She didn't go to the event; she was in Changsha preparing for the Golden Eagle Awards. Du Hua called her to tell her.

She was putting on makeup at the time, and when she heard the news, she just said "Oh" and continued applying makeup, as if she had only heard something insignificant.

Zhuang Huai'an asked her: "Aren't you even a little excited about becoming the Tokyo Film Festival Best Actress winner?"

Liu Yifei thought for a moment and said: I'm excited, but excitement can't put food on the table, I still need to put on makeup.

So, sitting in the nomination seat at this year's Golden Horse Awards, she did have a little bit of anticipation, after all, it's the Golden Horse Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in Chinese-language cinema.

But that's all. Getting it is a pleasant surprise, and not getting it won't be the end of the world.

Her gaze calmly fell on the stage as she watched Zhang Manyu open the envelope.

Zhang Manyu glanced at it, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and then handed it to Hou Xiaoxian.

Hou Hsiao-hsien smiled, spoke slowly into the microphone in his signature Taiwanese-accented Mandarin:

"The Best Actress award at the 43rd Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan goes to…"

The moment he finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

The applause, screams, and cheers almost lifted the roof off the Taipei Arena.

Liu Yifei sat in her seat, not standing up abruptly like the other award winners, nor covering her mouth to shed tears. She simply widened her eyes slightly, as if surprised for a moment, and then the smile on her lips slowly expanded into a calm and bright smile.

She turned around and hugged each of the crew members around her. When it was her turn with her own man, she suppressed the urge to kiss him, but playfully tickled Zhuang Huai'an on the back before pulling away.

She slightly adjusted her skirt and walked towards the stage.

She walked at a moderate pace, her back straight, her moon-white dress swaying gently behind her. She resembled a magnolia quietly blooming in the moonlight, composed, clean, and neither arrogant nor humble.

When she walked to the center of the stage and received the trophy from Maggie Cheung, her hand was steady and did not shake.

Zhang Manyu looked at her with admiration in her eyes, gently patted the back of her hand, and Liu Yifei responded with a smile, then walked to the microphone and stood there.

The applause gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes were focused on the girl.

Liu Yifei glanced down at the trophy in her hand; the golden pony gleamed warmly under the lights. She looked up, her gaze sweeping across the sea of ​​people below the stage, her voice clear and bright with a hint of coquettishness:

"Thank you to the organizing committee, thank you to the judges for their recognition, and thank you to my alma mater, Beijing Film Academy, for your nurturing."

Zhuang Huai'an felt very gratified, as if he were witnessing his daughter growing up.