Chapter 269: Crowds of people
Of course, the reason why "The Sun Also Rises" was not selected in Cannes was not because it was eliminated, but because the film was destroyed.
In preparation for Cannes, Jiang Wen has actually left for France.
Then he said that he was working overtime at a local post-production company in France, hoping to complete the post-production of "The Sun Also Rises" in time for the Cannes Film Festival.
I didn’t expect that just before the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, "The Sun Also Rises" encountered a catastrophe that had never happened in a century. Due to serious problems within the post-production company, the most important and beautiful shots in the film were irreparably destroyed because of the film. postpone.
Also missed Cannes.
And this is just a lie thrown out by the producers to save face.
Because, Jiang Wen personally admitted in an interview after the Cannes Film Festival that Cannes looked down on him.
Facing an interview with the media asking about this matter, Jiang Wen said personally: "It didn't choose us because it had to choose 20 out of more than 1,600 films to catch up with its 60th birthday. "
Jiang Wen certainly had regrets about not being selected at Cannes. He continued to make amends: "I think my films are more interesting than the films they selected. In fact, none of the films they selected this year are interesting, so what? What? This is the game, it’s his choice.”
"Also, because the Venice Film Festival is held in September and the Cannes Film Festival is held in May. Most film producers are willing to pile them all at the door of Cannes, and Cannes starts to pick and choose. It is dazzling, and 20 of the 1,600 films are excluded. Those outside the department are all not selected. Of course, Venice was also selected. This happened to Li Yu, George Clooney, and Zhang Yimou. "Zhang Yimou also had two in one year. The film was not selected by Cannes, so it went to Venice and Berlin. One won the Golden Lion in Venice, and the other won the Golden Bear in Berlin. These are "No One Less" and "My Father and Mother""
"This kind of thing will happen. We should understand it and not describe it when we don't understand it. But you should admit one thing, they didn't choose us."
These If you want to make up for it, you are obviously not convinced.
But no matter what, the fact that most film producers went to Cannes has already shown that this Venice Film Festival does not have too many strong films, otherwise it would not be "Lust, Caution"'s turn to dominate.
It's not that Wang Shu looks down on this movie, it's that this movie is indeed good, but it's still a little short of the highest honor of the three major European movies.
Of course, Li Yu’s reputation is not bad, and it also has some bonuses.
Also, the three major international film festivals do have their own judging criteria. A film that can win the grand prize at the Berlin Film Festival may not necessarily win the same big prize at Cannes and Venice.
Similarly, the same is true for Cannes and Venice.
It’s just that compared to Berlin and Venice, Chinese-language films are more difficult to be favored by Cannes.
Although there are not many Chinese-language films that have won awards at the Berlin Film Festival and Venice Film Festival, there are still quite a lot of them if you count them carefully.
In comparison, at the Cannes International Film Festival, only "Farewell My Concubine" directed by Chen Kaige won the Palme d'Or.
Beyond this, there is no other domestic director who has won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
And this is one of the reasons why Chen Kaige was pushed to the point of failure.
“This year’s Cannes Film Festival is relatively difficult, and Cannes doesn’t like Chinese films very much. Even if we rush to get an art film to get there, I don’t think there is a good chance.”< br>
Wang Shu understood this truth in his heart and had no corresponding thoughts.
In contrast, Jiang Wen and others were keen to get closer.
After all, it is the 60th year of Cannes, and the skills of a decade are much more brilliant than the Cannes Film Festival in other years.
However, although this Cannes Film Festival is unprecedentedly grand, the competition is also great.
It is natural for Wang Shu to go to the exhibition to participate in the non-competition section. It would be difficult to compete in the main competition section.
Especially in this kind of year, off-field factors have become more important.
Chinese films are more difficult.
It can be said that although Wang Shu has always wanted to make art films and win awards, he has never thought about competing for this Cannes International Film Festival.
At the Cannes International Film Festival in other years, there may be opportunities for Chinese-language films directed by him.
This time, the chances are extremely slim.
No need to waste time and energy on it.
"Li Eucalyptus."
Wang Shu pondered.
This year's Venice Film Festival is of course due to the influence of the Cannes Film Festival, there are not many relatively strong films participating, and the competitive pressure is relatively reduced.
"Lust, Caution", which won the Golden Lion Award, was not very impressive either.
It’s just Li Yu.
He is the winner of the Golden Bear Award at the 43rd and 46th Berlin International Film Festival, and the winner of the Golden Lion Award at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival in 2005, and Also won the Academy Award for Best Director.
It is now 2007, and it has only been two years since he won the Venice Golden Lion in 2005.
To be honest, Wang Shu feels that awarding the Golden Lion Award to Li Eucalyptus at this Venice Film Festival has some meaning to preserve the reputation of the Venice Film Festival.
Because most film producers go to Cannes, not only are there fewer film producers coming to the Venice Film Festival, but many of them are films that were eliminated by Cannes.
In this case, no matter how you choose, it will always feel inferior.
Accordingly, with the honor Li Yu received, awarding the Golden Lion Award to the other party was just right to save face.
Therefore, although the competition difficulty of this Venice Film Festival has dropped a lot, the difficulty of the Golden Lion Award is, on the contrary, even greater than in previous years.
This time, we need to save face, and we need to consider off-site factors.
If the Golden Lion Award is awarded to a less famous director, it will give people the impression that the Venice Film Festival can only choose among the films eliminated by the Cannes Film Festival.
There will be a sense that the Venice Film Festival is weaker than the Cannes Film Festival.
In order to avoid this situation, it is necessary to award the Golden Lion Award to a well-known director to offset the gossip.
Li Eucalyptus’s honor is that he is such a well-known director.
“Even if you don’t win the Golden Lion, it would be good to win a Jury Prize or a Silver Lion for Best Director.”
Wang Shu is not ambitious.
At this Venice Film Festival, it is likely that only the Golden Lion Award is more difficult to obtain, while the difficulty of obtaining other awards has been reduced a lot.
As for next year's Berlin Film Festival, even if he makes an art film, there is no guarantee that he will win an award.
Because different jury members have different judging standards, and in addition, the films selected for the top three in Europe are not vegetarian.
So, even if he took out the award-winning art film in the original timeline.
It is not necessarily possible to win the same grand prize by visiting the three major European companies at different times.
On the premise of ensuring the quality of the film, there are also off-site factors and a bit of luck.
Luck lies in the jury members. No matter how excellent the film is, if it does not suit the taste of the jury members, it will be in vain.
Back at the company, Wang Shu began to look for actors.
He thought for a while, took out his mobile phone and called Mei Ting.
"What are you busy with?" Wang Shu asked first when the call was connected.
Since entering March, Mei Ting has been harassed by the divorce storm, and then admitted to divorcing Yan Po.
Rumors about the divorce of the two began to spread at the end of last year.
It’s just a rumor, no one can be sure.
On the Lunar New Year, Mei Ting and Yan Po did not go out as a couple. This phenomenon further confirmed the rumors that the two were divorced. Mei Ting suffered from the media's insidious questioning and the heated discussion inside and outside the circle, so she admitted the divorce.
"I'm at home, not busy with anything." Mei Ting replied in a low voice.
"Do you have time to have dinner together tonight?" Wang Shu invited.
"Okay, come and pick me up." Mei Ting obviously became energetic after hearing this, and responded with a sweet voice.
Wang Shu smiled and said, "I will pick you up after I finish my work in the company."
"Are you busy at work?" Mei Ting asked with concern .
"A bit." Wang Shu responded, and then explained, "It's mainly because I suddenly have an extra trip to Cannes, so time is tight and there are many things that need to be dealt with quickly."
"I saw the news , said the organizer of Cannes invited you," Mei Ting said in a low voice.
Although Wang Shu was not by Mei Ting's side and Mei Ting was extremely restrained, Wang Shu still heard a hint of amusement in the other party's tone.
The top three in Europe are the halls of honor for film art that every actor longs for.
Mei Ting, as an actor who graduated from the Acting Department of Beijing Theater Academy, also has aspirations for the top three in Europe.
It's just that she can't reach it.
"Haha." Wang Shu laughed twice and said, "So with this extra schedule, I will be busy."
"I will be busy in a while." Mei Ting She responded softly, and then explained, "A TV series crew contacted me, and then I will most likely join the crew."
Remembering that Wang Shu was a film director actively invited by the organizers of Cannes, she specially Explain that it is a TV drama crew to avoid embarrassment.
"That's it." Wang Shu groaned, and then said, "I won't talk to you anymore. We will talk about it when we have dinner together in the evening."
"Okay." Mei Ting responded obediently after hearing Wang Shu's words.
By the time Wang Shu finished his work, it was already past six o'clock in the evening.
Wang Shu left the company and drove to the intersection near Mei Ting’s house, where he met Mei Ting, who was carefully dressed and put on makeup.
"It's cold outside, why don't you wait at home? I'll call you when I get there and you can just come out again." Wang Shu looked at Mei Ting who got into the passenger seat and said accusingly.
Mei Ting's face was filled with a smile. She smiled sweetly and said, "I just got here and I didn't wait long."
When Wang Shu heard this, he glared at her and said nothing more.
Although Mei Ting said she hadn't waited long, her face clearly looked like she had been outside for a long time.
Wang Shu called Mei Ting as soon as he left the company and told her that he had left and was on his way to her home.
Yishushu Company is a bit far from Mei Tiao’s home, about an hour’s drive.
Presumably from that time on, Mei Ting had already gone out and came here to wait.
At least, I waited for more than half an hour.
Mei Ting saw Wang Shu staring at her and gave him a silly smile.
Wang Shu reached out and touched her face, and then said: "It's cold, let's go eat hot pot."
In March, the weather in the capital has begun to get warmer.
But, this is March in the Gregorian calendar, and it’s still cold.
"Okay." Wang Shu said whatever he said, and Mei Ting nodded in agreement without any objection.
Eat hot pot. Naturally, I didn’t eat at the hot pot restaurant near Mei Ting’s house, but went to other places.
It takes more than forty minutes to drive from Mei Tiao’s house.
Taking advantage of this moment, Wang Shu casually took out a script from the side and handed it over, saying: "The place to eat hot pot is a bit far, please take a look at this first."
< br>Mei Ting was startled by Wang Shu's actions, but she was an actor. As soon as she subconsciously took it from Wang Shu before reading it, she realized that it was a script. She was at a loss and asked in surprise: "This Is it for me?”
Wang Shu heard this and asked with a smile: "What do you mean?"
When Mei Ting heard this, she was sure that the thing in her hand was the script Wang Shu had given her, and she couldn't help but curl her lips in resentment. glared at him.
However, the smile that appeared involuntarily on Mei Ting's face showed that she was very happy in her heart.
Wang Shu reached out and touched her head at the right time, and said with a smile: "Let's take a look first. If you think there is no problem, find a time to ask your agent to come to my Yishu to sign the contract."
“If you don’t want to act, forget it.”
When he said this, he saw that Mei Ting seemed to be about to open her mouth, and quickly continued, "Read the script first, and then talk after reading it."
After hearing this, Mei Ting swallowed back what she wanted to say, and she behaved well. The response: "Yes."
Wang Shu smiled when he saw this, and then said, "You can see for yourself for a while, and I will drive."
"Okay, you drive. "Mei Ting said sweetly with a smile on her face.
Wang Shu started the car and headed towards the hot pot restaurant.
Mei Ting looked at Wang Shu's profile, then looked back at the script in her hand.
""A Crowd of People"."
After turning the first page, Mei Ting saw the name of the script.
Then, I sat in the car and slowly started watching.
As long as an invitation is given to Wang Shu's script, few actors will refuse to act.
Even with Wang Shu's name alone and no need for a script, as long as he gives an invitation, no one will refuse it.
Mei Ting knew in her heart that when Wang Shu gave her the script and asked her to read it first, the weight was different.
Even if she refuses to act, Wang Shu will not be angry and will not give her any more drama dates in the future.
It's about respecting her.
In the original timeline, since 2007, the only Chinese-language films that have won awards at the Venice International Film Festival are "Lust, Caution", "Nowhere", "Sister Peach", "Human Mountain", and "Taoyuan" Taiwan No. 7".
Among them, "Lust, Caution" by Li Yu has been filmed and will compete for the Golden Lion Award at this Venice Film Festival.
Although "Nowhere" is also a Venice Golden Lion Award-winning film, it is not only an English film, but also has a regional flavor. In addition, this film is adapted from the American writer Jessica Bruder's novel of the same name is simply not suitable for being turned into a Chinese film.
If Wang Shu went to Hollywood, he might be able to make this film.
Today in the country, it is impossible.
As for "Sister Tao" and "Taoyuan Terrace No. 7", one is the best actress-winning film and the other is the best screenplay-winning film.
Wang Shu also has no need to mess with these two parts.
The only choice is "A Crowd of People".
(End of this chapter)