Bright Era of China Entertainment

"Short films are valued differently at home and abroad, Chu Xuan, do you know?" Wang Jiawei took a piece of pastry and took a bite. He glanced at Chu Xuan and said this.

Domestic micro-films do not generate much profit, so the existence of short films is not yet popular, and the domestic market does not pay much attention to short films.

Even though some domestic film festivals have short film awards, due to the above reasons, even if you win this award, it is of little significance and it is difficult to produce good follow-up effects.

The same is true. In the past few decades, there have been very few domestic short films, and there are even fewer directors making short films.

Even though there are short films popping up every year, they are basically used by directing students from major colleges to cope with graduation.

For this reason, there are very few short films produced with care in China, and few directors who produce short films with care. Except for the sixth-generation director Jia Zhangke and others who have gained international fame in the field of short films, the rest are some who have experienced countless failures and are still looking for a way out. He is an unknown person.

Throughout the history of Cannes since its establishment, less than [-] short films have been submitted for review by China, and only a few short films have been shortlisted and won awards.

This is the reason why China does not pay much attention to short films, and it is also the reason why the domestic film market has not yet fully developed.

No matter what the reason is, Chinese short films have little international weight. This is a fact that cannot be argued.

Compared with the short film situation in China, the influence of foreign countries in this regard is completely different.

The four major film festivals all have the Best Short Film Award, and the four major film festivals are global, so the value that this influence can produce is naturally different.

For more than half a century, a large number of directors with no background or resources have become famous through award-winning low-cost short films, and then with capital investment, they finally entered the film industry and became famous.

Over time, the Best Short Film Award, which is not taken seriously in China, has become a highly regarded award in foreign film festivals.

In the eyes of the media and industry insiders, any director who wins the best short film at the four major film festivals will have the opportunity to become a world-renowned director in the future.

"I probably understand a little bit." Chu Xuan said, Liu Yifei and Wen Muye also nodded.

The situation in the film industry at home and abroad is different, and they knew this beforehand.

With the international influence of Cannes, if a short film wins an award, the media will report it globally just like a movie, giving the work a certain international reputation. Winning a short film also shows the market potential of the director of the work.

With the popularity of the work and the market potential of the director, there will be capital willing to invest, and with investment, real movies can be made.

This is also the reason why many unknown directors around the world make short films to compete for awards every year, and the media reports and the favor of capital have promoted the status of short films.

They also understand this.

"Your "Hope" is a bit special." Wang Jiawei said with a smile: "There has never been a short film that can arouse popularity in China, and with the help of CCTV's "Six Princesses", your "Hope" has been well received domestically. The market is paying attention, and this is something that has never happened before.”

Everyone smiled slightly and looked at Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei.

The popularity of "Hope" as a short film is mainly due to the popularity of this young couple, in addition to its attractive sci-fi nature.

Look at Zhang Ziyi, look at Zou Xun, look at Li Congcheng. Which of these super popular actors will make a short film?For them, making short films is a very cheap thing.

Without the addition of well-known directors and popular actors, the media is not reluctant to report on things that are not popular or influential. It is normal that no one pays attention to previous short films in China.

However, the super-popular actors Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei decided to start and complete "Hope" with a short film just when they were about to deliver their graduation work. It was also when they had the dream of a special effects blockbuster.

This timing is very clever. From the perspective of outsiders, this is not a bargain. After all, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei are doing graduation works. This is a completely justified reason.

As Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei become more and more popular, their work "Hope" has naturally attracted much attention. Even new fans who don't know about it will go online to find out, hoping to catch up with old fans. They discuss the rhythm of "Hope".

For a short film to be so popular in China, as Wang Jiawei said, this is quite special.

"There is another special point, I don't know if you have thought of it." Wang Jiawei cut the steak with a knife and fork and said: "Although Cannes is already a comprehensive commercial and literary film festival, many judges are influenced by the literary and artistic core of previous films. Influenced by this, now their ideas are more or less biased towards literature and art.”

The Rising Star Director Program of the 80s aims to attract people from all over the world who have the dream of directing, thereby increasing the influence of Cannes.

New directors from all over the world have different thinking and concepts. This has allowed many commercial films to be injected into Cannes, and it has also made Cannes complete the transformation from literature and art to business and literature.

But in the decades before the 80s, some veteran judges had long been accustomed to Cannes' focus on literature and art. Even if these people accepted commercial films, they would still subconsciously prefer literature and art.

"Of the twelve short films this year, only "Hope" is a commercial film with a touch of literature and art. The other eleven are all purely literary films."

""Hope" can seize a shortlisted spot. In addition to the quality of the content and production technology, one of the reasons why the literary and artistic judges voted in favor is that "Hope" is Chinese science fiction."

Hearing Wang Jiawei's words, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei did not react for a moment, but Chen Kaige showed a look of surprise.

"Good guy, if you didn't tell me, I wouldn't have thought about it." Chen Kaige put down his knife and fork, looked at the young couple and said, "China is to science fiction what foreign countries are to martial arts."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, looking at each other, and they also had a clear understanding in their hearts.

Chen Kaige continued: "Any film festival hopes to be a great success every time. For the people of the organizing committee, their criterion for judging the success of this film festival is to gain more than private benefits. Lots of attention.”

Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei nodded, looked at him and continued to listen to him.

Chen Kaige continued: "Think about it, if Haolaiwu wants to make a martial arts film..."

He pointed casually: "The domestic market may question it. After all, martial arts is our specialty, can foreigners do it? But in addition to doubts, there will definitely be many people, media and even many film and television people who will be curious, expect and pay attention."

He smiled and said: "In the same way, China shoots science fiction? Overseas markets will also question it. Science fiction is the specialty of Europe and the United States. However, in their impression, China has no science fiction market. Now that the Chinese science fiction short film "Hope" has been shortlisted, for this The first science fiction film ever produced by China, even if it is a short film, it is destined to become a focus."

Wang Jiawei poked a piece of steak into his mouth with a knife and fork and said: "It has already attracted attention. After the shortlist and film information were announced, several media came to me to inquire about "Hope"."

At first, he didn't realize what kind of impact "Hope", a science fiction short film from my country, would have if it was shortlisted for Cannes.

After the shortlist was announced last month, one after another media came to his assistant to get some inside information about "Hope" from him, and he finally understood.

As Chen Kaige said, China is to science fiction what foreign countries are to martial arts.

If a foreign country wants to film martial arts, our country's media will definitely try to find out something in advance, such as what kind of martial arts, what kind of story, etc., so that it can be promoted and attract audiences.

Our country makes science fiction, and the same goes for foreign media. China, which is often said to have no science fiction, suddenly has a science fiction short film "Hope". The media are deeply curious about "Hope".Fumino's face looked a little ugly and said: "So, our "Hope" was just used by Cannes as a gimmick to attract people?"

In a circus, the monkeys always appear early to attract attention with their funny performances, and the highlight is often the lions, tigers and elephants behind them.

After hearing what the two great directors Chen Kaige and Wang Jiawei said, he suddenly felt that their "Hope" was just like a monkey, just an opening to attract people.

Wang Jiawei glanced at Wen Muye and said: "You have to be a young man, he is so passionate."

Fumino was confused. He just thought that his work's status in the hearts of the judges was like a circus, so he felt dissatisfied. How could he be so passionate?
"If the quality of the content of "Hope" is not good and the gimmick is just a joke, do you think Cannes will pick a stone to drop itself in the foot?" Wang Jiawei smiled.

After hearing what he said, Wen Mino smiled and scratched his head in embarrassment.

It turns out that while Wang Jiawei said he was passionate, he also said that he, as a director, could not hold his breath and could not understand such a simple thing.

Chen Kaige and Liu Xiaoli couldn't help laughing and glanced at Wen Muye.

"Hope" is a work directed by Fumino. In their eyes, Fumino is like a protective father. They think that "Hope" has been unfairly judged and defined, and the father feels unbalanced. Full of enthusiasm, he expressed joy and anger.

It's no wonder that Fumino performed like this. After all, it was his first time to participate in an international film festival, and some things were really hard to see through for the first time.

"So Director Wang, is there a good chance that "Hope" will win the award?" Wen Muye asked again.

He asked the question very bluntly, as if Wang Jiawei could decide which work would win the award with just one sentence. However, Wang Jiawei did not have this ability, or none of the judges could speak at Cannes, so this question made Wang Jiawei a little embarrassed.

This question is very impersonal and sophisticated, but it also shows Fumino's strong desire for "Hope" to win the award.

Wang Jiawei avoided talking about this and only said: "As a director, you must believe in your own work."

He added: "Just like what Director Kai Ge just said, China is to science fiction what foreign countries are to martial arts. If a foreign martial arts film is bad, you will definitely be reviled and insulted by the Chinese people without even thinking about it."

He looked up at Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei: "Similarly, if "Hope" is bad, it may also be criticized and insulted by those foreign media."

He said seriously: ""Hope" is China's first science fiction film. Since you choose to submit "Hope" to Cannes and attract global attention, you must be prepared to either return with honors or be criticized and defeated. There are only two results."

After hearing this, everyone looked stunned.

Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei had too many things to do. Before coming here, they had never considered such an outcome at this level.

This is the first time for Fumino and others to participate in an international film festival, and "Hope" is also their first work to be submitted to the international film festival for review.

The original team of "Hope" only had the vision of taking "Hope" abroad and the expectation of winning awards. They never considered what would happen if they didn't win.

China’s first science fiction film failed at Cannes?

Being ridiculed by foreigners?

Being criticized by foreign media?
If this spread back to China, it would be a huge disgrace.

Wen Muye, Kong Sheng, Li Xue and Liu Yi felt heavy. They were eager for "Hope" to win, but they would only feel regretful if they did not win.

But I never expected that such a result would occur if "Hope" did not win the award.

Wang Jiawei is not fooling them. What he said makes sense. If a martial arts film made by a foreign country is shown at a Chinese film festival, if it doesn't win an award, some viewers will find trouble and insult it.

Put yourself in their shoes and think about it, if their "Hope" had not won an award at Cannes, there is a high probability that they would have received the same cyberbullying treatment.

There is only one reason for this result. Science fiction is popular in the world, but there is no science fiction in China.

Unless they can prove that there is science fiction in our country!

Wen Muye, Kong Sheng, Li Xue and Liu Yi remained silent, but their hearts were filled with passion for the country's honor. After preparing to submit materials for review last year, their desire to win the prize for "Hope" reached its peak for the first time.

The same is true for Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei. The young couple has always had a good mentality. When it came to "Hope" being shortlisted for Cannes, they had the mentality that winning is the best, and it doesn't matter if they don't win. They were prepared to accompany them before coming to France.

But listening to what Wang Jiawei said, "Hope" may involve overseas changes in domestic film and television, and to a certain extent, also involve the honor and disgrace of Chinese film and television, which invisibly puts a lot of pressure on them.

"Don't be stressed and calm down. Even if you don't win the award, you are still young and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future." Chen Kaige patted Chu Xuan on the shoulder and comforted him.

His original "Farewell My Concubine" was also criticized, and the issue of his brother Leslie Cheung dressing up as a woman was inexplicably picked up by foreign media.

Not to mention "The Promise" which was released a few years in advance. Netizens almost scolded him for having a cerebral hemorrhage.

After more experience, he is more open-minded. Even if "Hope" is insulted by foreign media, it cannot conceal the fact that this short film is very successful in China and the excellence of original members such as Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei.

"Help me say something?" Although he thought so, he still fought for "Hope" to see if Wang Jiawei could give him some help.

"I'll try my best." Wang Jiawei said. He was just one of the 51 people on the jury. Faced with Chen Kaige's question, he could only give such an ambiguous answer.

"Have you finished eating?" Liu Xiaoli saw that the two children looked a little solemn and did not want them to be immersed in such an atmosphere, so she said: "After eating, go back to the room and take time to rest. In the afternoon, you have to do makeup and walk on the red carpet. .”

"Yes." Chen Kaige also understood Liu Xiaoli's intention from her words, and echoed: "It's your first time to walk on the red carpet of an international film festival. Then you have to cheer up and let the foreign media see our country. The first international appearance of the super popular national couple."

Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei looked at each other and laughed with everyone present.

They also knew that their mother and Chen Kaige saw that they were a little stressed, so they said something to make them relax.

However, it will really be their first time walking on an international red carpet, which gives them a sense of freshness.

After a full breakfast, everyone said goodbye to Wang Jiawei. Chu Xuan, Liu Yifei, Liu Xiaoli, and Chen Kaige went upstairs to rest. They were really tired after flying for a long time.

"I'll call you in the afternoon and have a good rest." Liu Xiaoli said in front of the door.

"Okay." Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei agreed. (End of chapter)