Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 271 A Premiere That Was Unlike Any Other

Filming for "Inception" began on October 14th and was completed on December 12th, taking approximately two months.

Isn't it incredible that such a big-budget film was completed in just two months?

In fact, the film project was initiated in March, followed by a long period of pre-production work.

They built a hotel corridor that can rotate 360 ​​degrees, constructed roadside cafes in Paris, experimented with the range of high-pressure nitrogen explosions, modified train tracks, and built snow mountain fortresses...

According to industry standards, Inception was actually filmed over ten months, not including post-production.

Post-production and CG modeling will conservatively take another three months, meaning the film will take more than a year to complete.

During this period, at 7:11 pm on November 12, the 25th Golden Rooster Awards ceremony was held at the Sanya Cultural and Convention Center in Hainan Province.

Interestingly, "Crazy Stone," which was originally announced to only receive a nomination but not an award, surprised everyone by winning Best Screenplay.

The screenwriter of "Crazy Stone" is Cao Yang. Could it be that Cao Yang received too much, exceeding the expectations of the Golden Rooster Awards committee, and this was an extra reward?
Or perhaps it was Mr. Li Qiankuan who exerted his influence?

Cao Yang gave Li Qiankuan a lot of face, which definitely exceeded Li Qiankuan's expectations.

As the vice chairman of the judging committee, along with six other members from the Beijing Film Academy, plus that unexpectedly successful video and his seniority, it would be easy for Li Qiankuan to get another award.

Choosing "Crazy Stone" is understandable. The film's director, Ning Hao, like Li Qiankuan, graduated from the cinematography department. Although Ning Hao is now pursuing a master's degree in directing, his roots are still in cinematography.

Furthermore, the choice of products is also quite clever.

Based on the nominations, "Crazy Stone" still has a chance at Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, but it's definitely out of the running for Best Actor; that role has already been decided.

If the Best Supporting Actor award were given to "Crazy Stone," it would definitely generate a lot of controversy and arguments would be inevitable.

But giving it to Best Screenplay is different, because the screenwriter for this movie is Cao Yang, it's that simple.

This would both surprise Cao Yang and help Ning Hao, who came from the photography department.

Indeed, the essence of dividing the cake is still to maximize profits.

The award was accepted on Cao Yang's behalf by Duan Yihong, who was nominated for Best Actor for "Crazy Stone." However, the recorded video was not played at that time.

The Best Actor award went to Jackie Chan, who won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor for his role in "New Police Story," becoming the first Hong Kong filmmaker to win the award.

The announcement of this award will definitely cause a lot of controversy in the industry.

"New Police Story" is a purely commercial film, so it would be reasonable to give it an award for Best Cinematography or Best Art Direction.

I reckon the little cannon is going to lose its composure again.

"A World Without Thieves" didn't even get a nomination, but "New Police Story" won Best Actor. I wonder if Xiao Gangpao will "gaffe" again in front of the media.

Cao Yang's "Nine-Tailed Fox" won two awards: Best Director and Best Cinematography.

After Cao Yang was announced as the winner of Best Director, Duan Yihong went on stage to accept the award on his behalf. He also played one of the male leads in "Nine-Tailed Fox" and was a member of the "Nine-Tailed Fox" crew.

Because Best Director is the grand prize, that recorded video was played this time.

When the guests in the audience saw Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, and other Hollywood stars all speaking somewhat awkward Chinese as they offered their blessings to the Golden Rooster Awards, well, the applause was very gracious and lasted for a long time.

Depp even added, "...The Golden Rooster Awards, China's Oscars..."

Many people looked normal and clapped enthusiastically, but they were probably thinking to themselves, "How much has Depp drunk? How can he say such nonsense?"
Hmm, he must not know the meaning of that sentence, otherwise how could he have the nerve to say it?
The cinematographer for "Nine-Tailed Fox" was Gu Changwei. He was filming "Inception" abroad with Cao Yang, so Duan Yihong took the stage on his behalf.

Duan Yihong didn't win any awards today, but he went on stage three times and performed a hat trick. I wonder what he thinks about that.

Although "Nine-Tailed Fox" only won two awards, it was already the biggest winner of the night.

"Zhang Side," which received eight nominations, only won two awards.

"Kekexili" received seven nominations, but... zero.

It is said that after the awards ceremony, Lu Chuan looked very upset. During a media interview, he cried and kept repeating how difficult it had been for him, and how much hardship he had endured to make "Kekexili" a success.

Then a reporter, quite oblivious to the situation, asked: "At the 9th Shanghai International Television Festival in 2002, I watched the documentary 'Me and the Tibetan Antelope - The Glacier Flows Here,' directed by Liu Yujun, which took ten years to create."

Why is it that the plot, concept, creativity, scenes, atmosphere, visual background, camera composition, and even some of the dialogue in "Kekexili" are exactly the same as those in that documentary?

Almost everyone who has seen the film *Kekexili* thinks it's less like a movie and more like a documentary. Director Lu Chuan, what are your thoughts on this?

"Nonsense! Ridiculous! How could I possibly plagiarize?"
"We're both filming stories about Tibetan antelopes, so it's normal for our ideas to overlap... Yes, the poaching of Tibetan antelopes is a real phenomenon. Documentaries about it are allowed, so why can't I? Why is my filming considered plagiarism?" He then broke down in tears again, recounting the hardships of filming...

Okay, this is a director who likes to cry, often bursting into tears in front of the public and the media.

After filming "Inception", Cao Yang returned to China to rest for about ten days before getting back to post-production work.

When Chen Kaige heard that Cao Yang had returned to China, he personally called to invite Cao Yang to attend the premiere ceremony of "The Promise".

Contrary to Cao Yang's memory, perhaps because Cao Yang held the premiere at the CPPCC Auditorium first, Chen's "The Promise" premiere was not held at the CPPCC.

Like Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers," he set up a "Gate of Infinity" at the Workers' Stadium for its global premiere.

Cao Yang heard from Tian Zhuangzhuang that Lao Chen had built the Gate of Infinity at the Workers' Stadium. He thought it was just a magnificent gate, but when he arrived, he realized that it was not the "Gate of Infinity" at all, but the "City of Infinity"!
Its scale was so large that no one could associate it with a "gate".

Old Tian was also a little stunned. He smacked his lips and blurted out without thinking:
"Old Chen's wife told me that night that just organizing this premiere cost nearly 20 million yuan. At the time, I thought to myself, 'You two really know how to have fun, even faking the accounts for a premiere...'"

Cao Yang was standing next to Lao Tian and wanted to complain for a while, but there were too many things to complain about, so he didn't know which one to say first.

Lao Tian, ​​according to your literal meaning, it's not that the couple knows how to have fun, it's that you know how to have fun, okay?
Why would Old Chen's wife tell you these things at night?
Cao Yang quickly shook his head, stopping his wild thoughts, and pretended not to hear Lao Tian's words. Maybe Lao Chen was having dinner or talking to Lao Tian with his wife that night.

"Are you envious?"

Cao Yang chuckled and teased Lao Tian, ​​"Old Chen can come up with 20 million from his investment to put on a premiere, but you can't even get a few million in investment."

"Can that be the same?"

Lao Tian retorted, "Old Chen won his first Cannes Palme d'Or and this is his first time making a commercial blockbuster. Many people are optimistic about him... Can I be like him? I am a person with artistic integrity and will not degenerate into making commercial films."

"Okay, as long as you're happy."

Cao Yang and Lao Tian didn't get out of the car. Lao Chen's premiere was like a film festival, with a red carpet and a red carpet ceremony, which was also broadcast live on CCTV. Given Cao Yang and Lao Tian's status, they certainly wouldn't have entered so early.

After waiting for about twenty minutes, staff came to inform us that we could enter.

Cao Yang and Lao Tian got out of the car, turned a corner, and stepped onto the red carpet.

Good heavens! At the end of the red carpet is the "Gate of Infinity," a three-meter-high and ten-meter-wide structure with a golden roof and red walls. The theme is written in large gilded characters: "Open the Gate of Infinity, Ignite the Light of Infinity."

A white balloon light symbolizing a full moon rose above the red carpet, and huge posters of the six main actors were erected in the square, while the trees were covered with pink "crabapple blossoms".

Dozens of "Red Army" soldiers, wearing red helmets and armor, stood outside the "Gate of Infinity" holding shields with red edges, black backgrounds, and pink begonia patterns, as well as crescent shovels and long knives.

The guards inside the "Gate of Infinity" are the Black Army, wearing black and silver armor with white floral patterns and thin veils covering their faces.

Amidst the flashing lights of the media, escorted by soldiers on both sides, and announced by the host Jingwei.

"Now stepping into the Gate of Infinity are renowned director Tian Zhuangzhuang and internationally acclaimed director Cao Yang. Let's welcome them."

Cao Yang and Lao Tian stepped into the "Gate of Infinity".

The "Gate of Infinity" is not a gate, but a gate tower, about ten meters deep, with a platform on top used for performances.

Old Chen and his wife stood by the gatehouse, waiting for Cao Yang and Old Tian to come over. Old Chen shook hands with Old Tian first, while Old Chen's wife hugged Cao Yang and said with a smile, "Cao Yang, it's been a while since you've come to visit your sister-in-law."

This is what I said...

“I also want to visit my senior brother and sister-in-law, but everyone has been too busy in the past year. I’m busy, and my senior brother and sister-in-law are busy too. Let’s get together properly when we all have some free time in a while.”

Cao Yang replied with a smile.

"Okay, it's settled then."

Sister Hong let go of Cao Yang, and Old Chen grasped Cao Yang's hand and patted the back of Cao Yang's hand with his other hand, "Not bad, you didn't embarrass the teacher."

Cao Yang was a little confused. What did this mean?
This is your premiere, okay? Why do you always act like an older brother in front of me?

"Cao Yang, you and Lao Tian go in with the staff first. Lao Chen and I are going to meet up with the actors to walk the red carpet."

Sister Hong said with a smile from the side.

"Okay, you guys go ahead."

Cao Yang nodded. It was indeed a unique premiere; the film crew was even going to be the last to walk the red carpet.

(End of this chapter)