Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 496 We, the Chinese (8000 words)
In a spacious office, a middle-aged man with a round, prosperous face and a 4/6 parted hairstyle, around 50 years old, was talking animatedly into the phone on the desk about the news he had just seen online.

Finally said:
"He said it's fair. Mr. Wang, what do you think?"

A steady, middle-aged voice came from the other end of the phone, "Mr. Zhao, I just heard you mention this. I don't have any thoughts on it yet. Why don't you share your opinion?"

“Alright, Mr. Wang, I’ll just offer my initial thoughts.” The middle-aged fat man coughed lightly. “My opinion is that anyone can talk big; it’s all just about public image, and we don’t need to take it to heart. Since Director Zhang’s side also supports us in taking action, then we don’t really need to hesitate. We just need to see how to do it.”

"Um……"

What do you think, Mr. Wang?

"That's true... Um, Mr. Zhao, what do you think we should do?"

The middle-aged fat man said confidently, "I think no matter how great he is, he's just an actor. We have two paths to take, one soft and one hard. Let's start with the soft approach and have Li Bingbing talk to him and ask him to vote for us in Best Film or Best Director. If we succeed, we'll definitely get something in return."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a voice that sounded like a half-smile: "Reward? What reward?"

The middle-aged fat man paused for a moment, then said, "Of course it's money."

"money??"

Hearing the question from the other end of the phone, the middle-aged fat man asked doubtfully, "Yes, Mr. Wang, do you think it's inappropriate?"

"It's not that it's inappropriate, it's just... Mr. Zhao, have you seen the Forbes China Celebrity List for March this year?"

"No. Is there... any connection?" the middle-aged fat man said somewhat guiltily.

"It is somewhat related. Mr. Zhao, since you haven't seen it, let me remind you. Chen Nuo's global revenue last year, that is, 2011, including Inception and Twilight, was estimated at 30 billion. 30 billion, not Japanese yen or Korean won, but RMB. So, how much do you think is appropriate for us to pay to buy that ticket in his possession?"

Even though the air conditioning was on in the room, a thin layer of sweat suddenly appeared on the middle-aged fat man's forehead. He wiped it with his hand and said, "This, this... it was my oversight."

"Haha, no, no. Mr. Zhao, it's good that you have this intention. I believe he's just an ordinary person, and it's impossible for him not to love money, but I think the price to sway him with money is too high. Will all the box office revenue and copyright revenue from 'Detective Hunter Zhang' be enough? I think it might not even be enough for him. What do you say, Mr. Zhao?"

"Yes Yes."

"Then Mr. Zhao, please continue."

"...How about using a honey trap?" The middle-aged fat man wanted to slap himself as soon as he said it.

Sure enough, the person on the other end of the phone burst into laughter and kept laughing, as if they were too lazy to even speak.

This is clearly a mockery.

If it were anyone else, the middle-aged fat man might have lost his temper.

However, this person was none other than the CEO of Enlight Media, the first listed film and television company in China. He could never show off his temper in front of such a person.

He immediately chuckled twice and said, "I misspoke and made a foolish mistake. Please forgive me, Mr. Wang."

There was another chuckle on the other end, followed by, "Mr. Zhao, you can't say that. It's just that this person is indeed special; many methods that work elsewhere don't quite work on him. It's perfectly normal that he's not quite there yet. By the way, Mr. Zhao, you mentioned using both soft and hard tactics. Have you covered the soft part? What about the hard part? How do you plan to do it?"

"I..." The middle-aged man wasn't stupid. Hearing this, he naturally realized what was going on and couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, saying, "No, no, I was just thinking things up. There was nothing wrong with it. Mr. Wang, I'll listen to you. I'll do whatever you say."

The voice on the other end of the phone finally cracked a smile, saying, "Mr. Zhao, in the movie 'Detective Hunter Zhang,' you, me, and Mr. Chen Xiangrong of Yinrun are all in this together, sharing both success and failure. We've put in so much effort, gathered so many people, and worked together to create this movie, so of course we all want it to have a good outcome. Mr. Zhao, you've put so much thought into this matter, and Mr. Chen and I are truly grateful to you."

"No, no, Mr. Wang, you're too kind."

"Then let me share my thoughts. Okay?"

"well."

"First of all, a direct confrontation is definitely not an option. Let's not even talk about now; even back then, Huayi offended him, and what happened then? The example is right here. Who are the Wang brothers? Given Huayi's qualifications and its past success, it should have been the first film and television company in China to go public. But why did it only go public at the beginning of this year? Even after all these years of struggle to finally go public, its current stock price increase is far below expectations. Enlight Media's P/E ratio is currently over 40, while Huayi's is only in the 20s. Why? Isn't it all because everyone is wary, afraid that something unexpected might happen one day?"

"So, if you're asking me to resort to force for a movie, I definitely wouldn't agree. The key question is, even if we did resort to force, could we actually succeed?"

"You just said he's just an actor. That title is actually quite debatable."

"I understand what you mean, Mr. Zhao. After all, people outside call us 'capital,' saying things like capital can promote whomever it wants, and what good is a good actor if they have to listen to capital? Is that true? It's definitely true. We do have that confidence. After all, the money is in our hands, right?"

"But actors are not all the same. Can an actor who earns 30 billion yuan a year be called an actor? Can an actor who can get a fund company to put his name in the risk assessment report of a listed company with which he has a grudge be called an actor?"

"How can an actor get a leading private enterprise spanning five or six industries to sign a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with his company? How can an actor cause one of China's top directors to turn against his partner of more than ten years because of a malicious scandal?"

"Can't you?"

The more the middle-aged fat man listened, the more sweaty he became, and at this point he couldn't help but keep wiping his sweat.

"Mr. Zhao, I believe you are aware of these things, you just haven't figured them out yet, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the middle-aged fat man said repeatedly.

"So now it should be clear?"

"Understood, understood, thank you, Mr. Wang."

"No, no, I believe that you, Mr. Zhao, did not think it through at the time."

"Yes, yes, so, Mr. Wang, what do you think we should do about this? Or should we just leave it to fate?"

"Forcing it won't work. Leaving it to fate definitely won't work either. So personally, I think we should go back to another path, but not with money, and certainly not with a honey trap. We should do it this way, this way..."

……

……

On June 16, 2012, at 6:30 p.m., the opening ceremony of the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival was officially held.

This year's opening ceremony was not only star-studded, but also a truly "international event." From the moment the red carpet was laid out, the entire Shanghai Grand Theatre was transformed into a sea of ​​images and fashion, with the flashbulbs of domestic and international media illuminating the night like day.

First to appear was Jackie Chan. He and his team from "CZ12" walked the red carpet, drawing cheers from the fans. Following closely behind were Li An, who brought his new film for the screening, along with the cast of "1942" led by Feng Xiaogang.

Besides the film crews of these screening films, the actors who came to support the event were truly a "battle of the gods".

Among the female stars, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, and Fan Binbing led the way, while Zhao Wei, Zhao Liying, Yang Mi, and others made glamorous appearances, each with their own unique charm and elegance. Zhang Ziyi exuded confidence in a champagne gold evening gown, while Zhou Xun wore a dark green dress, radiating a cool and mysterious aura. Fan Binbing, in a modified "dragon robe" style, stunned everyone, seemingly returning to her peak as the "Queen of the Red Carpet."

On the male side, veteran actors such as Chow Yun-fat, Ge You, Aaron Kwok, and Tony Leung Ka-fai lend their support; while middle-aged male gods such as Nicholas Tse, Eddie Peng, Huang Xiaoming, and Chen Kun follow closely behind.

But what truly heated up the event was the influx of international guests.

First of all, many directors and actors from Japan and South Korea came, some of whom are familiar to Chinese audiences, and others who are only known to specific groups. However, they also inexplicably came to join the fun at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

For example, two famous Japanese directors, Takeshi Kitano and Hayao Miyazaki, came, as did Hirokazu Kore-eda, who led a team to promote "Like Father, Like Son". On the actors' side, Tomokazu Miura appeared on the red carpet with his wife, Momoe Yamaguchi, who had not appeared in public for nearly 20 years. In addition, Rie Miyazawa, Masato Sakai, and others also came to show their support.

On the South Korean side, legendary actors such as Jeon Do-yeon, Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik, and Jun Ji-hyun also made appearances to support the South Korean films nominated this year, attracting a large number of media photographers.

The Hollywood cast is equally impressive.

David O. Russell and the cast of "Silver Linings Playbook" attended the event, with stars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper walking the red carpet, drawing screams from all sides.

Warner Bros. Vice President Michael Slan was also present and conveyed President Barry Mayer's congratulations and support during the interview.

The real climax of the event was the appearance of Leonardo DiCaprio.

Today, Leonardo DiCaprio, dressed in a well-tailored black suit and black bow tie, stepped out of the limousine with Martin Scorsese, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the entire audience.

This was the first time in history that this Hollywood star, who became a household name in China because of "Titanic," had made a public appearance in China, so the sensation it caused was predictable. Especially in an international metropolis like Shanghai, as everyone knows, the Shanghai citizens who came to watch the red carpet tonight were practically going crazy.

After Leonardo DiCaprio ignited the atmosphere, each new Hollywood star's arrival was met with cheers from the audience.

Charlize Theron, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr., Cate Blanchett, Ryan Reynolds, Ellen Page, and many others graced the red carpet across the ocean in their finest attire today. Even some seemingly unrelated British figures, such as Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet, and director Christopher Nolan, were present.

Finally, the 90-minute red carpet event featured the lineup of judges for this year's film festival.

Among them, Li Bingbing and Natalie Portman, two Chinese and American celebrities, wore black and white evening gowns respectively, looking elegant and poised, while Clint Eastwood opted for his usual old-fashioned style, wearing a black suit with a bow tie.

However, when the seven judges walked up the steps to take a group photo, the focus of every photographer's lens remained on the young man in his twenties in the middle, wearing a suit and bow tie.

There was nothing he could do; he was standing in the middle, and his red hair made him a perfect subject for focusing.

Media reports afterwards indicated that over 400 Chinese and foreign celebrities and directors walked the red carpet during the 90-minute event, a spectacle that would make even Cannes and Berlin pale in comparison.

As a result, in the following days, almost all mainstream media in China published extensive reports on the topic, with the headline "Global Attention Focused on Shanghai."

From CCTV to portal websites, from trending topics on Weibo to print media columns, there's a consensus that this is a signal of the accelerated rise of the Chinese film industry, and a direct reflection of the unprecedented importance that global filmmakers attach to the Chinese-language market. Some have even called this grand event China's most internationally influential cultural event since the 2008 Olympics.

Chinese movie fans were absolutely thrilled and screamed with joy.

On Weibo, Douban, Tianya, and the comment sections of various portal websites, the sounds of movie fans celebrating were everywhere. Keep in mind that in this day and age, seeing a top Hollywood star in person in China is incredibly difficult. And that one night, more than a dozen fans gathered in Shanghai!
It's not surprising that almost every one of those pro-Japanese and pro-American people in China is clamoring to kowtow to Chen Nuo.

However, no matter how exaggerated the outside reports are, no matter how noisy the public opinion storm is, and no matter how many topics his fans and movie fans all over the country and the world discuss on Weibo and Twitter, praising him to the skies, as if the earth can't contain him and only the solar system is his home.

Chen Taiyang's nickname resurfaced from somewhere and once again resonated across the internet.

His red hair became a global fashion trend this summer. Hair salon owners around the world were overjoyed. Countless Chinese girls, Korean guys, and even some European and American girls walked into their local hair salons after that day, pulled out a photo, and said, "Give me the same color."

Even a host of luxury brands have incorporated this fiery red as the main color for hair accessories and clothing designs in their upcoming autumn/winter collections.

But Chen Nuo was almost completely unaware of all the noise and revelry, and had no time to care. Because after stepping off the red carpet that night, he immediately threw himself into the most crucial and least-known task of this film festival—watching films.

Three to four films a day, working non-stop from morning till night, his schedule was packed. He and the other six judges were arranged in a closed screening room, leaving early and returning late, rain or shine. One film after another was shown, and he watched until his eyes ached and his head was spinning, feeling dizzy and disoriented, as if he couldn't tell whether it was morning or evening, or whether the plot was reality or a dream.

He has no idea how jubilant the outside world is right now, or who is cheering and worshipping him on social media.

His only task now is to pick out the most deserving names from the 17 works shortlisted for the main competition.

……

……

"...Indeed, it's a good movie, but it didn't move me."

"My God, how is that possible? Although there are some flaws in the technique, the narrative perspective and editing are absolutely refreshing."

"So what? No matter how good the technique is, it's meaningless if there's no core element that moves people. It's just the director trying to attract attention."

“How could that be, Clint? I strongly urge you to abandon your male perspective and re-examine this film.”

“I’m sorry, Roxanne, I was born a man, and I will be a man for the rest of my life. But you, if I may be so bold, cannot praise it so much just because it comes from the same place as you.”

"What are you talking about? I absolutely did not mean that! My God, you damn American, how could you insult my professional ethics like that? I demand an apology from you."

"You want me to apologize? Haha. I'm old enough to be your grandfather."

"So what..."

Clint Eastwood and Iranian director Roxanne Banetima were talking as they walked out of the theater, presumably to use the restroom.

Chen Nuo sat on the sofa in the theater, stretched, and yawned.

This wasn't the first time such a heated discussion had taken place. After all, considering their nationalities—one Iranian, the other American—Chen Nuo was already quite satisfied that they hadn't pulled out guns and started shooting at each other on the first day.

“What do you think?” Natalie Portman asked him.

By the way, all discussions on this seven-person judging panel were conducted in English. This was a rule he set himself: no translators or assistants, and no cell phones, to ensure the elimination of any external interference.

So Chen Nuo replied in English, "I think it's pretty good."

Natalie Portman laughed and said, "Me too. I think our perspective as actors is different from that of directors and producers."

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "I think so."

We've reached the fourth day of watching the films, and tomorrow we'll see the last one, after which the final discussion and vote will begin. In the discussions after each day's viewing, his opinions have often been very close to Natalie Portman's.

“I think ‘The Bear’ deserves at least a jury prize.”

"Haha. Will you vote for it then? An Iranian film?" Chen Nuo laughed.

If the United States and Iran are considered evil forces and the Axis powers, then what does Iran mean to Natalie Portman, a Jew born in Jerusalem?
Natalie Portman laughed and said, “Yes, I think I would vote for it. Chen, I liked what you said at the meet-and-greet: we’re here to celebrate our differences and enjoy our commonalities. Although we have different nationalities and beliefs, we share the same love for film. That’s what brought us together. I think it’s a good movie, and that’s the most important thing, isn’t it?”

Chen Nuo had only been joking, but after hearing Natalie Portman's serious answer, his expression turned serious, and he nodded solemnly, saying, "I think so. By the way, did I say thank you?"

"what?"

“Thank you for accepting my invitation to come to China as our judge, Natalie. I know it must have been especially difficult for you to be separated from the children for a while. Thank you so much.”

This time, Natalie Portman laughed and said, "No, I should be thanking you. It's such a rare opportunity to come to Shanghai and enjoy so many wonderful films. Thank you for giving me this chance."

Chen Nuo opened her arms and said, "Come and give me a hug, your husband isn't here."

Natalie Portman burst into laughter, her laughter even startling Terence Chang and George Barlaffee in the front row, who turned around in surprise.

Natalie winked at him and said in a serious, low voice, "Actually, it doesn't have to be just a hug, anything else is fine, Chen."

Chen Nuo knew, of course, that this was a joke.

However, around 11 p.m., the doorbell of his hotel room suddenly rang. He was almost asleep, but he was suddenly wide awake and his mind was filled with all sorts of distracting thoughts.

No way?
But to be honest, anyone who has seen "The Killer Is Not So... no, I mean "Star Wars" has been captivated by that little... queen in it, right?
Although Natalie Portman is 31 years old this year and has a child, Chen Nuo has been with Fan Binbing during this time, and he is very clear about the beauty of this mature wife... cough.

In short, Chen Nuo really thought a lot in the darkness.

The final conclusion was that if Natalie had been locked up here for the past few days and, feeling lonely, wanted to have a casual fling with him, it would be really hard to refuse.

After much thought, perhaps the only option is to reluctantly make a sacrifice for the sake of the deep friendship between China, the US, and the Jews.

With a tragic spirit of dedication, Chen Nuo went over and opened the door.

Suddenly, it felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over me from head to toe.

The person standing at the door was not the stunningly beautiful Padme Emidala, but a middle-aged man with a receding hairline.

"Producer Zhang? Is there something wrong?" Chen Nuo asked in surprise.

Zhang Jiazhen smiled at him and said, "Can we go inside and talk?"

Chen Nuo looked at Zhang Jiazhen's expression and nodded, saying, "Of course, please come in."

Late at night, facing a bald, middle-aged man, Chen Nuo certainly couldn't entertain any unrealistic thoughts. Although as an actor he possessed an imagination and self-hypnotic abilities far beyond the average person, no matter how strong they were, he couldn't possibly transform the man before him into a woman. Besides, Zhang Jiazhen wasn't wearing a wig.

Therefore, Chen Nuo took the initiative to speak, "Producer Zhang, what's the matter?"

Zhang Jiazhen coughed lightly and said, "Mr. Chen, I'm sorry to bother you so late. I'm just doing this on someone else's behalf."

"It's nothing." Chen Nuo shook his head. "Go ahead and tell me what's wrong."

Zhang Jiazhen said, "Here's the thing, Mr. Chen, tomorrow we'll be entering the final discussion and voting stage. After watching so many films these past few days, Mr. Chen, what do you think are the chances of our two films winning awards this time? Detective Hunter Zhang and Xiao Hong, do you think they can win?"

Chen Nuo frankly said, "I don't know, we'll have to discuss it tomorrow to find out. It might be a bit difficult."

Zhang Jiazhen nodded. "I think so too. Although these two films are quite excellent in terms of the overall level of Chinese films, this year's competition is really fierce. So, Mr. Chen, if the final result is that Chinese films don't win a single award at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, then I'm afraid... we won't be able to explain it well."

Chen Nuo silently looked at Zhang Jiazhen for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed, "It's not so easy to explain now."

Zhang Jiazhen said with a worried look, "After all, this is a film festival held on our own Chinese soil. If our own films don't even win an award, everyone will definitely be dissatisfied. What will the audience think? What will the media say? Will their confidence in Chinese films be damaged again? Besides, as the chairman of the jury, you will inevitably face rumors and gossip, saying that you... are a Western worshipper or something. That won't be good for your reputation."

"It's really not good." Chen Nuo nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Chen," Zhang Jiazhen said earnestly, "Think about it, at your own film festival, your own film won nothing. As the chairman, you came here with the expectations of the leaders. If this is the result, wouldn't you really be letting them down?"

Chen Nuo said, "Yes, so, Producer Zhang, what do you mean?"

Looking at his expression, Zhang Jiazhen said, "What I mean is... cough, Mr. Chen, I'll be frank. Of the seven members of the jury, Bingbing and I are definitely on your side. As for Natalie Portman and Clint Eastwood, they're here in Shanghai as judges, frankly, because of you. Your word carries significant weight. So, if we unite, five votes can decide everything. Then, which film wins the award will be up to us, won't it?"

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "That makes sense. So, which movie do you think is more suitable for us to promote? Xiao Hong? Or Detective Hunter Zhang?"

Seeing him smile, Zhang Jiazhen's tense expression immediately relaxed, and he laughed and said, "Of course, either one is fine. However, from my personal point of view, Detective Hunter Zhang might be a little better. After all, this kind of documentary art film is still very convincing."

Chen Nuo nodded and said, "It seems that Producer Zhang and Mr. Wang of Enlight Media have a good relationship? Oh, I remember now, Enlight Media invested in Producer Zhang's 'Reign of Assassins' a couple of years ago, right?"

Zhang Jiazhen smiled and said, "Let's not beat around the bush, that's true. But to be honest, although I came here at Mr. Wang's request, I'm genuinely thinking about the future of Chinese cinema. What I said just now was from the bottom of my heart. Actually, this isn't just about us; film festivals around the world also have these kinds of unspoken rules. Don't you agree?"

Chen Nuo smiled, looking at this bigwig who had once been Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh's agent, produced "Mission: Impossible 2" and "Broken Arrow," was a close friend of John Woo, and would later transform an artist surnamed Huang from a male model into a leading man, and said, "Yes. Producer Zhang, you must have been keeping these words in your heart for a long time, right? Did President Wang discuss this with you before our lockdown? Or did you hide a cell phone?"

Zhang Jiazhen chuckled and said, "Well, it's hard to say. Anyway, Mr. Chen, do you think what I said earlier was right or wrong?"

“Yes, that’s all right,” Chen Nuo said with a smile. “There’s only one thing that’s not quite right. You mentioned ‘our Chinese films’ several times just now… But if I remember correctly, Producer Zhang, you immigrated to the United States before 97. Producer Zhang, did you recently change your citizenship back?”

Zhang Jiazhen's face froze instantly, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "President Chen, what... what do you mean by this?"

"It's nothing, just out of curiosity," Chen Nuo said with a smile. "I heard that Donnie Yen has been busy changing his nationality recently, which is quite complicated. I just wanted to ask if you have any successful experience? I'll pass it on to him later."

Zhang Jiazhen's face turned from red to white, a rather dramatic sight. He stood there stunned for a moment, speechless.

Chen Nuo continued, "Oh. It seems not. As for that producer Zhang, you're not quite right when you say 'Chinese films.' Please pay attention to this in the future. As a true Chinese, I want to thank you on behalf of Chinese films. Thank you for your concern for us."

Zhang Jiazhen slowly stood up from his chair and said, "Mr. Chen, it seems I came here for nothing tonight, didn't I?"

Chen Nuo said, "I wouldn't say that. At least it lets me know that President Wang has this trick up his sleeve. Producer Zhang, go back and tell President Wang Changtian that it was a real mistake to put such a big accusation on me. I don't really fall for that kind of thing. Actually, it would be better to send me some money and some beautiful women."

Zhang Jiazhen forced a smile: "Mr. Chen, you're quite humorous. But this isn't about putting any label on you. Think about it calmly, what I said just now was wrong? If our jury really doesn't give Chinese films an award, the public pressure will be overwhelming. Where will Chinese films put their face then? Will we Chinese filmmakers still have any face left? What good will that do you? Besides, what if the higher-ups are not satisfied? Mr. Chen, have you really thought about all of this?"

Chen Nuo smiled faintly and said, "I hadn't thought about it before, but I did think about it just now. I was thinking, if Chinese films today have to rely on such methods to win an award at their own film festival—that would be truly shameful, that would truly make Chinese filmmakers hopeless, and that would truly make the leaders increasingly dissatisfied. So, Producer Zhang, if the people want to criticize me in the end, then let them criticize me..."

"However, Producer Zhang, to be honest with you, if in the end the public opinion is overwhelming and everyone starts to criticize me, I'm actually afraid."

Zhang Jiazhen's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Then, Mr. Chen, you..."

Chen Nuo interrupted with a smile, "But I don't think so. Producer Zhang, you may be underestimating us Chinese. What we are best at is not being far ahead, but knowing our shortcomings and striving to catch up."

(End of this chapter)