Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 403 Night Attack
The three major European directors' awards are definitely not as prestigious as the three major European Grand Slams, namely the Golden Bear, Golden Lion and Golden Palm.

However, only three people have achieved the three major European awards so far, while no one in the world has yet achieved the Best Director Grand Slam.

Achieving the grand slam of the three best directors in Europe is a rare feat.

In later generations, only one person has accomplished this feat: director Paul Thomas Anderson.

He accomplished this feat after winning Best Director at the Venice Film Festival 12 years ago.

Interestingly, he won the Best Director award at the Berlin Film Festival in the same year, and even more interestingly, Paul Thomas Anderson was sitting in the audience at that moment.

His film, "There Will Be Blood," won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution tonight, an award given for its music.

The Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution is a technical award and has become one of the permanent awards of the Berlin Film Festival.

It is used to recognize creators who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of cinematography, editing, music, costume design, etc. Each time it is awarded, it will specifically point out which aspect of the film is recognized as the reason for winning the award.

For example, "There Will Be Blood" won this award based on its music.

If Cao Yang hadn't appeared, tonight's "There Will Be Blood" would have brought Paul Thomas Anderson the Silver Bear for Best Director, but now it seems impossible.

Given that Berlin Film Festival director Dieter Kosslick chose such a grand occasion, even placing the Best Director award after the Golden Bear, it's certainly impossible for him to share the Best Director award with others under such a high-profile setting, making him the first director in history to achieve a grand slam of the three major European Best Director awards.

That wouldn't be "crowned," it would be deliberately disgusting.

Dieter Koslick would never do something so obviously offensive.

Since he chose to do what is right rather than award the jury prize, which carries even more weight than Best Director, he must do things even better.

"...I think everyone has already guessed who I'm talking about?"

Dieter Koslick looked at the audience with a smile.

"Who is it?"

Big Mimi whispered to Big Sweetie, "Do you know who it is? He won Best Director at all three major European film festivals. This director is amazing. I wish I could have the chance to act in one of his movies."

You can't blame Big Boobs for being ignorant.

For example, if you ask any minor actor, Zhang Yimou will tell you which of the three major European awards he has received.

It's estimated that very few people could name them all. Some might know that Zhang Yimou won the Berlin Golden Bear and the Venice Golden Lion, but probably not many would know which other awards he has won.

Just like Da Mimi, if you ask her which major awards Director Cao has won, she might know that Director Cao has won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as the Venice Golden Lion and the Cannes Palme d'Or.

Of course, as an ambitious actress, she can certainly list all the Best Actor and Actress awards that Cao Yang has mentored.

But Da Mimi doesn't know which of the three major European awards Cao has won besides the Palme d'Or and the Golden Bear.

As for the question about big breasts, Da Tiantian, who has been frequenting the "Cao Yang Bar" for the past six months, has come to the right person.

However, Da Tiantian was a little angry that Da Mimi didn't know about Director Cao's "great achievements," so she simply asked, "Guess?"

What's the point of guessing?

Big Mimi secretly rolled her eyes. If I knew, would I need to ask you?
Then she heard Dieter Kosslick, the director of the Berlin Film Festival, lavish praise on the director who was about to win an award, as if he were the best director on the planet.

But thinking about it, winning the grand slam of the three major European director awards is indeed very impressive.

Considering that Director Cao has two Venice Golden Lions and a Cannes Palme d'Or, I wonder who is more impressive compared to this Grand Slam director.

Big Mimi was a bit conflicted. Although Director Cao had won all three top awards, this director who was about to win the Grand Slam of Best Director would be the first person in history to achieve this honor, and he would be a person who would go down in film history.

Being the first, whether it's the very first time or the very first time, always carries a special emotional weight.

Then, Big Mimi heard the name "Cao Yang".

She blinked, looked up with some confusion, and was immediately startled.

Everyone in the audience stood up and started clapping. Da Tian Tian, ​​who was standing next to me, also stood up, clapping and looking at Director Cao. Her big eyes seemed to speak volumes, and you could tell at a glance that they were full of admiration.

Even if Big Boobs is slow to realize what's going on, she'll eventually understand.

Director Cao!

That person is Director Cao!

The first person in history to win Best Director at all three major European film festivals was actually Director Cao!
The first person in history!

Even if he isn't one of the three European Grand Slam winners, being the greatest of all time is still incredibly prestigious!

Big Mimi's eyes started to sparkle as she looked at Cao Yang.

She couldn't help but think that she had mentally whispered something to herself about how if Da Tian Tian could win the Best New Actress award, she would knock on Director Cao's door tonight.

While clapping, Big Mimi was lost in thought, realizing she couldn't go back on her word.

Cao Yang got up from his seat and walked all the way to the stage, and the applause from the guests never stopped.

Dieter Koslick gave Cao Yang a quick hug and whispered:

"Congratulations! You are now the first person in history to win the Grand Slam of Best Director awards. In addition, you also have the Hollywood Golden Globe Award for Best Director and the Oscar for Best Director. I believe that tomorrow... no, tonight, you will be the most watched person in the world."

Dieter Koslick paused for a moment, then said, "Cao, we're friends, best friends. I wonder if you're satisfied with the gift I gave you tonight?"

Cao Yang smiled, took the Silver Lion for Best Director from Dieter Koslick, and said with a smile, "Dieter, you know, what I care about most is the Grand Slam of the three major awards."

He then glanced at Dieter Koslick and said softly, "However, winning the grand slam of Best Director is fine too. I see your sincerity, Dieter, and I believe our friendship will last forever."

"I am very happy to receive this award. For me, I am already happy to be able to express my ideas in the form of photoelectric technology. I will be even happier to receive everyone's recognition."

Cao Yang shook the silver lion in his hand and said into the microphone with a smile, "As for winning the grand slam of Best Director at the three major European film festivals, that's something I never thought about, but I'm still very happy to be the first person in history to do so."

Thank you to the Berlin Film Festival, thank you Mr. Dieter, and thank you to all the members of the jury.

Finally, I would like to thank the entire crew, my alma mater, Beijing Film Academy, my teacher, Mr. Situ, and my parents.

Cao Yang raised his head and said with a smile, "In addition, this year is an Olympic year. As you all know, the Olympic Games are being held in my motherland this year. If you have time to come to Beijing, I will host a banquet for you here. Thank you."

"Hua Hua Hua..."

The applause rang out again.

The guests stood up once again to watch Cao Yang walk back to his seat.

In fact, awards and fame are sometimes related.

The significance of Cao Yang winning the Best Director Grand Slam is absolutely different from that of Paul Thomas Anderson winning the Best Director Grand Slam.

For example, when Paul Thomas Anderson later received this honor, it wasn't with the same grand reception Cao Yang has now, nor did the film festival chairman personally step down to present the Best Director award last.

Presenting the Best Director award after the Golden Bear signifies that tonight's Best Director is more important than the Golden Bear.

This can be considered the Berlin Film Festival's own endorsement of the Best Director Grand Slam, a full support and recognition that elevates the prestige of this honor to a new level.

No matter how you look at it, the biggest winner tonight is not "Elite Squad" which won the Golden Bear or its director José Padilla. Cao Yang completely stole the spotlight from the Golden Bear.

With this, the 58th Berlin International Film Festival has officially come to a close.

However, related news spread rapidly. Due to the time difference, it was 3 a.m. in China when the Berlin Film Festival ended.

Hou Keming, as a leader of the Beijing Film Academy, originally planned to stay up all night to get firsthand information about the Berlin Film Festival.

Although Cao Yang said before he went to Berlin that those Europeans wouldn't easily let him win the Grand Slam of three gold medals, what if they did?
Hou Keming still harbored a tiny bit of wishful thinking.

That's a triple gold medal grand slam! If Cao Yang becomes the fourth person in history to achieve this, it will be a joyous occasion for the entire Chinese nation. He is a living film master that no one can deny, a true master.

Putting everything else aside, Cao Yang's status and position in China will definitely see a significant improvement.

Of course, this "domestic" includes not only the general public but also the government.

Hou Keming could even hope that the Beijing Film Academy, which produced a master like Cao Yang, might be upgraded in administrative rank? Perhaps to match the vice-ministerial level of those 985 universities?
However, when Hou Keming saw that the first Best Actor award was given to Jackie Chan, his heart sank.

Cao Yang once said that if Berlin wanted him to win the Golden Bear to complete the final piece of the three-gold Grand Slam puzzle, in order to avoid unnecessary controversy and to appear more "pure", they would only give him the Golden Bear and not any other awards.

"Giving the first award to Best Actor is a way of telling me to give up and go to sleep early!"

Hou Keming shook his head bitterly. He really wanted the Beijing Film Academy to produce a living master recognized worldwide during his tenure.

Count the birds!

Damn Berlin.

Damn, time to sleep.

Since there was no hope for the Golden Bear, Hou Keming lost his mood. His disappointment was probably no less than Cao Yang's.

It's already this late, it's not so easy to fall asleep.

He lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a while.

Just as he was finally dozing off, his phone suddenly rang.

Hou Keming jumped out of bed. His phone was ringing at this time, so something must have happened, otherwise no one would call at this hour.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

His wife asked, still half asleep.

Hou Keming picked up his phone and glanced at it. His heart skipped a beat. The caller ID showed Xie Xiaojing's number.

Xie Xiaojing is the vice president of Beijing Film Academy and also the director of Qingying Film Studio. Could something have happened at Qingying Film Studio?
Was the accident during filming or among the interns at the Qingdao Film Studio?

While lost in thought, Hou Keming casually said to his wife, "Xie Xiaojing is on the phone. I don't know what it's about. I'll go to the living room to answer it."

As he spoke, he left the bedroom, and in his haste, he didn't even close the bedroom door properly.

Upon hearing that it was Xie Xiaojing on the phone, his wife's drowsiness lessened considerably.

What do leaders fear most? Receiving a phone call in the middle of the night, especially from another related leader, is one of their most feared situations.

Sure enough, Hou Keming's wife heard Old Hou's voice suddenly amplified outside.

"what?"

"is that true?"

Hou Keming's wife was no longer sleepy and sat up in bed, indicating that something had happened.

A dozen seconds later, Lao Hou pushed open the door and walked in.

"Old Hou, are you alright?"

His wife asked with concern.

Hou Keming was stunned for a moment, "Huh? Ha! Something's happened, something really happened, you know what? The first person in history, he's actually the first person in history..."

Before, everyone was only thinking about winning the three major awards; who would even consider a "lower" grand slam like Best Director?

Who would have thought that this "low-level" Best Director Grand Slam would be something no one has ever won before? The first person to win this honor would definitely make history and be incredibly prestigious.

The fourth person to achieve a triple crown of gold medals, and the first person to achieve a triple crown of Best Directors—who can say that the latter is inferior to the former?

"Ha ha……"

Old Hou became happier and happier as he thought about it, and couldn't help but laugh.

"It's over, Old Hou has gone mad."

This was his wife's first reaction.

Fortunately, Lao Hou didn't leave his wife wondering for long before he said with a smile, "I hadn't paid attention to it before. I was only thinking about the three major European awards and the three major gold medals. I never even considered the Best Director Grand Slam."

Cao Yang is really something! I never thought anyone would win the Best Director Grand Slam before. He's the first person in history to do so, haha…”

His wife finally understood what had happened. She breathed a sigh of relief, then, with a smile, looked at Old Hou and said:

"Old Hou, since we can't sleep anyway, and it's such a great thing, shouldn't we celebrate?"

Old Hou was taken aback, feeling a slight ache in his kidneys.

"Um... I need to make a few more phone calls to arrange things at the school overnight, like banners and celebrations."

"It's not too late to call later, let others sleep a little longer."

……

After the awards ceremony, Cao Yang attended a press conference and was asked many questions. Afterwards, he went to an official banquet, which he was sure to attend as the main character of the evening.

When Cao Yang returned to the hotel, it was already past midnight Berlin time.

He washed up and was getting ready for bed when the doorbell rang. Someone had rung the doorbell.

However, what was a bit strange was that if he had just pressed the doorbell of the hotel room normally, it would not have been intermittent. What he heard was that it suddenly rang once and then stopped, and then after about twenty seconds, it rang "softly" again.

It gives the impression that someone is hesitating or lingering outside the door, or that they have a guilty conscience.

Cao Yang frowned. Who could be outside at this hour?

This is an officially arranged five-star hotel. During the film festival, the hotel is temporarily closed to the public and is under strict management, so there shouldn't be any "outsiders" outside.

As soon as Cao Yang opened the door, before he could say anything, a figure rushed over, hugged him, and kissed him.

If Cao Yang hadn't had good eyesight and clearly seen who was rushing towards him, he might have kicked them directly.

But because he saw clearly who it was, he was momentarily surprised, which led to the successful sneak attack and his mouth being slit.

To be honest, if this person were a very career-oriented woman, he wouldn't be too surprised.

But it was precisely because it wasn't her, but someone else, that he was momentarily surprised to have been successfully ambushed.

"Wait a minute, listen to me... um."

Cao Yang grabbed her shoulders, trying to break free, but she hugged him even tighter and kissed him even more.

(End of this chapter)