Chapter 426 Arriving at Shanghai
The Shanghai Film Festival is an international Class A film festival co-sponsored by the National Film Administration of China, China Central Television and Shanghai City, and certified by the International Film Producers Association.
The Shanghai Film Festival was first held in 1993. The film festival is held in early June every year. The highest award is the Golden Goblet Award, which consists of 12 awards.
Filmmakers who serve as chairman of the Golden Goblet Award jury include Wong Kar-wai, Jean-Jacques Annaud, John Woo, Danny Boyle, Luc Besson, Andrei Zyagintsev, etc.
In fact, according to the original plan, little Gilbert was invited to serve as the chairman of the jury for this year's Shanghai International Film Industry Golden Goblet Award.
Although little Gilbert has never won any international Category A film festival awards, let alone the three major European film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.
But this does not affect Little Gilbert's qualification to serve as chairman of the jury. After all, he is a two-time Oscar winner for Best Director.
Although the Oscars are essentially a regional award, with the global influence of Hollywood, the Oscars have long become a world-class award, a stage that all filmmakers yearn for.
The three major film festivals in Europe can only shy away from the Oscars.
This gap in influence is comprehensive and cannot be bridged by artistry and professionalism.
Besides, do the three major European film festivals really have an Oscar major, or are they more artistic than the Oscars? I’m afraid not necessarily!
Little Gilbert is quite happy to serve as the chairman of the jury.
However, the North American summer season is also very busy with various tasks, and he really can't spare more than ten days to select a bunch of movies that he doesn't know or have never seen.
So little Gilbert declined and instead agreed to attend the exchange lecture.
In addition to little Gilbert, this lecture also invited several well-known domestic directors, national teachers and Chen Gezi to attend and communicate with little Gilbert face to face.
Three days after the lecture, there was a small test. This test was where little Gilbert selected fifty students.
Of course, to the outside world, Gilbert is just inspecting talents in the Chinese film industry and has no other purpose.
In June in Shanghai, the weather is as hot as a furnace, even hotter than the summer in Los Angeles.
When Little Gilbert's private plane landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Paul, the president of Disney Greater China, and Wilson, the general manager of Warner China Branch, had been waiting here for a long time.
In addition to these two people and their entourage, people from the Shanghai International Film Festival Organizing Committee are also waiting for little Gilbert to arrive.
Seeing the luxurious business jet parked in front of the tarmac, several Shanghai International Film Festival staff members were still whispering.
"Isn't this little director Gilbert a movie maker? He's so rich? He can afford to buy a plane."
"Do you think all directors are poor? They earn one to two billion US dollars per movie!"
"It's such an exaggeration. Doesn't it mean that the salary is only 20 million US dollars?"
"Tch, who will make a movie for you with only 20 million US dollars? Usually there will be a share of the box office. And don't forget that little Gilbert is not only a director, but also a super rich man.
Have you read this year’s Forbes Rich List? It ranks ninth in the world with US$23.1 billion. "
"Oh my God, that's terrible. He's only thirty-three, right?"
"To be precise, I haven't even celebrated my thirty-third birthday yet."
"Shh, don't talk, they are coming."
Stepping off the private plane, little Gilbert immediately felt a rush of hot air. Fortunately, he was prepared and came in casual clothes.
Although it’s not formal, it’s not hot!
Sijia wore a plaid shirt on her upper body and denim shorts on her lower body, her face was red. She had been obsessed with little Gilbert for a long time on the plane, and now her body felt a little weak.
She was fanning a rather Chinese-style fan, the same fan that little Gilbert gave her on her birthday.
"It's so hot, so hot, my dear, I want to eat ice cream." Scarlett said coquettishly.
Little Gilbert asked Scarlett to be calm: "Eating now will cause diarrhea. If you wait, go to the hotel to rest first."
"Okay," Sijia nodded obediently, indicating that she was obedient.
The two walked towards the crowd, and the entourage quickly took suitcases and briefcases, etc., and placed them on several RVs first.
A slightly chubby middle-aged man wearing glasses came up to say hello: "Hello, are you Director Gilbert Landrini Jr.?"
After little Gilbert nodded, the middle-aged man put a smile on his face: "Hello, hello, welcome to Shanghai. I am Xu Caikun, I will be responsible for receiving you."
I almost thought it was a certain Kunkun, and little Gilbert wanted to tell him how beautiful he was.
After a brief exchange of greetings and meeting with Paul and Wilson, Xu Caikun said: "We will take you to the hotel to rest first, and we will pick you up tomorrow."
"Then I'll do as I please." Little Gilbert said with a smile.
He has always been able to speak Chinese, after all, it was his mother tongue in his previous life, but if he hasn't spoken a language for a long time, he can't speak it as well as the locals.
However, there is no doubt that little Gilbert’s Chinese language proficiency is better than that of most foreigners.
Not only did these officials come to the airport to pick him up, but there were also media reporters and others, taking photos not far away.
There was originally an interview session or something, but considering that it was very hard for little Gilbert to fly for such a long time, we gave it up and just took a photo.
After the greetings, little Gilbert, Scarlett, and their entourage got into the RV and headed to the Peace Hotel on the Bund to rest. These days, hotels need to be qualified to receive foreign guests. It doesn't mean that little Gilbert can stay wherever he wants, so the Peace Hotel is the best choice.
After arriving at the hotel, little Gilbert fell asleep with his head covered and slept until the next morning.
Although he said he pays attention to physical exercise, he is not young anymore. He is in his thirties and cannot endure it.
There were still two days before the opening of the Shang Hai International Film Festival. Little Gilbert didn't go out and wander around, but just walked around with Scarlett.
After Johnny Depp arrived at the hotel to rest, he didn't know what to do.
Little Gilbert didn't bother to care about him, as long as nothing happened.
Although foreigners are rare in China these days, in the big city of Shanghai, especially on the Bund, foreigners are not uncommon.
The most amazing thing is that little Gilbert and Scarlett met several Chinese movie fans on the way, asking for autographs and photos.
Little Gilbert didn't feel much, but Scarlett's little vanity was satisfied.
She jumped up and down and said happily: "I didn't expect that I also have fans in China. I'm so happy!"
"Of course, wherever we go, Scarlett, there will be people who like us." Little Gilbert said.
Sijia was very satisfied when she heard this: "This girl is infinitely charming, haha."
Looking at Scarlett who fell into narcissism, little Gilbert shook his head speechlessly. What Chinese people value is humility, which means that you cannot praise yourself, but let others praise you.
But Americans don't have this burden. If others don't praise themselves, they still have to praise themselves.
After walking around and returning to the hotel, Anna reported on the itinerary to communicate with the organizer: "There is a dinner party tonight, and you, Scarlett, and Mr. Depp need to attend.
In addition, we need to attend the film festival opening in two days, and the China premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean" the day after the opening ceremony.
After that, there will be communication forums and lectures, as well as a quiz based on your arrangement.
In addition, Fudan University wants to invite you to give a lecture. I wonder if you have time? "
After hearing this, little Gilbert waved his hand and said, "Just look at the arrangements..."
"Okay," Anna wrote down the time in her work diary, and then remembered another thing: "By the way, there is also a TV talk show that wants to interview you."
"What program?"
"It seems to be called "Interview with Yang Lan"?"
After hearing this, little Gilbert refused: "Forget it about the TV interview, it's too ostentatious, and now some people are very dissatisfied with me."
When Anna heard this, she crossed out the talk show to show that she understood.
With 911 and China's entry into the WTO, China and the United States seem to be in a honeymoon period again. Now the two sides have very close political, cultural, and economic exchanges.
But Gilbert Jr. is a director who is extremely mainstream in Hollywood. His stance on China in the past two years has made many people quite dissatisfied.
At this time, don't stimulate the fragile nerves of these people, lest they do something and make it difficult for everyone.
It's okay to attend an event, but there's no need for a TV interview.
After confirming the work schedule, he took a rest in the afternoon. In the evening, little Gilbert took Scarlett to attend a reception dinner specially held for him.
Johnny Depp is very funny. He came here wearing a traditional Chinese tunic suit, and matching his weird outfit, it was very weird.
Little Gilbert smiled and explained to the Chinese staff: "John is a Hollywood weirdo, but he is still a good person. He just thinks it shows he respects you."
Several accompanying Chinese staff smiled awkwardly. Is this called respect? They don't think so.
This dinner was quite good. The Chinese food that can entertain foreign guests must be improved to suit the taste of foreign guests.
Little Gilbert has no major problems and he can eat authentic Chinese food. However, Scarlett and Johnny Depp were full of praise for this improved Chinese food and praised it repeatedly.
Scarlett also used two Chinese sentences taught to her by little Gilbert, raised her thumb and said: "Good times, good times, crab crab..."
Although her speech was not standard, for the big-tongued Scarlett, being able to speak a few words was already quite impressive.
In China, eating is never just about eating, it usually has many additional meanings.
Let's chat with little Gilbert. If you can talk about something, such as projects, it's all political achievements.
It's a pity that little Gilbert is very tight-lipped and refuses to reveal anything about Disneyland and surrounding factory investments.
There were only two sentences back and forth: "I don't understand this, I need to communicate with Paul."
"I don't know about this. You should talk to Wilson."
A group of Chinese personnel secretly cursed: Nonsense, if we could talk to them clearly, would we still mention this matter?
But it's a pity that little Gilbert pretended to be stupid and even toasted to no avail. Both Disney and Warner branches have a few drunkards, which comes in handy at this time.
(End of chapter)