Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 102 Emergency Brake

Got it.

This is Cao Yang’s real thought.

This time I wasn't aiming for the Palme d'Or. If I wanted to win it, not only would I have to be good at selecting films, I should also start working earlier.

If you don't get the support of powerful people in the officialdom, it's simply wishful thinking to win the highest award of the three major awards. There is no such thing as fairness and justice.

Just think about it, whether it is Berlin, Venice or Cannes, seven to nine people are invited to serve as judges every year. Their identities are actors, directors, producers, etc. How can their tastes be the same?
Different tastes, this is just an excuse.

Various interests are mixed in secret, and the official also has to ensure that "their own people" win awards, so when the awards are given out every year, there are only a few awards, and these jury members can only ensure the interests of the people behind them by "arguing."

Cao Yang walked onto the stage with a smile on his face and shook hands with the award presenter first. The other person spoke English with a light accent and Cao Yang could understand him.

If you want to be in Hollywood, you must learn English.

The award presenter was very enthusiastic and kept praising "Secret Sunshine" for its excellence and congratulating the winner. Cao Yang listened with a smile and said thank you.

The presenter also gave the award to Paul Thomas Anderson, another American director of the Double Yolk Egg.

The award presenter didn't seem to like the American very much. He just said congratulations and gave the trophy and certificate to the other party without much of a smile on his face.

Paul Thomas Anderson took the initiative to come over and shake hands with Director Cao, and said: "I really like your movie 'Empty Room'. The use of camera language in it is simply art."

Cao Yang was a little embarrassed. He couldn't remember who this American director was. If it was a slightly famous European art film director, he would know most of them. He met them in Berlin and Venice.

I don’t know many American directors because we are not in the same circle.

But she must not lose her courtesy, and said with a smile: "Your movie is also very exciting, especially the performance of the male lead, I think it is very good, I didn't expect him to be able to perform to such an effect."

Apart from Cao Yang's own Secret Sunshine, there are no other award-winning films with "strong" female protagonists this time, so there is definitely no problem in praising his film and its leading actor.

Paul Thomas Anderson was very happy. Although the other party was young, he was a famous director who had won the Golden Lion Award. Praising his movie was a kind of recognition of himself.

"Yeah, I also think Adam Sandler had a breakthrough performance."

Then, he extended his hand and made a gesture of invitation, indicating that Cao Yang should speak first.

Cao Yang declined for a moment and then walked towards the microphone.

"I am honored to receive the Best Director award. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival and the jury for recognizing me. Thank you to our leading actor Wu Qihua for his wonderful performance. Thank you to Cannes Best Actress Ms. Gao Yuanyuan for her wonderful performance. You are the best.

I would like to thank all the staff and actors of Secret Sunshine, especially my alma mater Beijing Film Academy for its support and cultivation, my teacher Mr. Situ, and my parents. Thank you. "

Although Cannes is the most famous of the three major film festivals in Europe and seems to be the most authoritative, in fact, in recent years, Cannes has been most fond of awarding multiple awards to a film.

I won’t talk about anything else, let’s just talk about the highest award.

Whether it is Berlin or Venice, they are very cautious when awarding the Golden Bear and the Golden Lion. Generally, after winning the highest award, they will also win other awards, but not as frequently as in Cannes.

Let’s just talk about the last ten years or so.

In 1991, "Barton Fink" won the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actor.

In 1992, "The Good Will of the Betrayal" won the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actress.

In 1993, "The Piano Lesson" won the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actress.

In 1996, "Secrets and Lies" won the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actress.

In 1999, "Rosetta" won the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actress.

In 2000, Dancer in the Dark won the Palme d'Or and Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2001, The Piano Teacher won the Grand Jury Prize, Best Actress, and Best Actor.

How many permanent awards does Cannes have? Six permanent awards.

It’s just that the promotion in Cannes was the best, which is why he is more famous and appears more “authoritative”.

Of course, the biggest reason why the three major European organizations have remained standing and recognized by the whole world over the years is that they all still have a bottom line - awards can be won, but your quality must at least be up to standard.

The selection committee of each film festival can at least play a certain filtering role.

There were no surprises at this year's Cannes. Before the closing ceremony, many people knew that the Palme d'Or had already been booked after watching "The Pianist".

A movie about World War II that reflects the cruelty of the Nazis. This is France, and that's enough to know.

As expected, the Palme d’Or was given to "The Pianist" without any surprise.

However, many people had predicted that Adrien Brody, the leading actor of "The Pianist", would win the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival, but he didn't.

Cao Yang also felt it was a bit of a pity that the plot of "The Pianist" was actually not that good. It could be said that Adrien Brody alone carried the entire story.

He truly embodied that period of history, switching freely between elegance and desolation without any sense of disobedience.

He is a good actor. It is said that for this movie, he practiced piano for several hours every day and lost 30 kilograms to better fit the image of a refugee.

The award ceremony was over, followed by a brief interview.

Cao Yang's "Secret Sunshine" won the Best Director and Best Actress awards, making it one of the big winners of this film festival.

Routine interviews don’t ask anything new, for example:

"Director Cao, this is your first time attending the Cannes Film Festival and you've won two awards. Can you tell us how you feel now?"

Feelings? What feelings can there be? Of course, happiness.

"Director Cao, aren't you disappointed that you didn't win the Palme d'Or this time?"

What a pity! I didn't come here for the Palme d'Or, so don't talk nonsense.

"Director Cao, will you come to the Cannes Film Festival next year?"

How can I know? It depends on the progress of the film and whether it is suitable for Cannes.

Of course, these psychological activities are just thoughts in my mind and I dare not make them public.

After finishing a series of things, it was already past 11 o'clock in the evening when I returned to the hotel.

Gao Yuanyuan has hardly eaten anything since lunch, and has hardly drunk any water, because the clothes she is wearing are not only difficult to put on, but also difficult to take off. In order to reduce unnecessary trouble, almost all female stars choose to starve and not drink water.

So it’s not easy for female celebrities either. Of course, when you see their income, you will immediately feel that this little difficulty is nothing!

Cao Yang felt a little tired, but Gao Yuanyuan was obviously very excited and insisted on discussing acting with Cao Yang.

There were a few postures that weren’t usually discussed… they were performance postures related to acting, and I discussed them all with Cao Yang.

When the two were about to reach an agreement, Gao Yuanyuan said in a daze, "Honey, let's have a daughter. I miss her so much..."

For Cao Yang, it was like a high-speed train that suddenly braked with a click, and he almost sprained his waist.

(End of this chapter)