Who are you calling "little fresh meat"? I'm the king.

Chapter 1008 Filming Continues (33)

In the original timeline, large-scale protests by Black people against "Green Book" occurred after it won the Oscar for Best Picture...

Jan Miles, author of "The Post-Race Black Green Book," commented in The Washington Post that the film "tells the history of racism through the eyes of a well-meaning white man, which is more harmful than the harm done."
The New York Times questions: Why does the Oscars continue to indulge in the fantasy of racial harmony?

In addition, a bunch of moviegoers questioned: "The white driver who was fired in real life became a white bodhisattva who came to the rescue at the crucial moment in the movie. The so-called half-century friendship couldn't even be found in a group photo. Two solo photos were pieced together. I'm disgusted..."

One media commentator remarked that "Green Book, with its decades-old dramatic structure, simplifies America's long, brutal, and persistent history of racism into a single problem, a formula, a dramatic equation that can be balanced and resolved. This type of film exists primarily to appease white audiences who are uneasy about a Black person gaining a moral high ground."

The Green Book is not true to reality!

First, the working-class white man Lip and the black musician Shirley did not become lifelong friends, but were limited to an employer-employee relationship;
The Black man Shirley is not a lonely person like the one in the film who only has one brother and never contacts him. In reality, he has two brothers and they have always kept in touch.

Shirley, a Black man, is not as isolated from Black culture as depicted in the film; in reality, he has consistently collaborated with Black musicians.

But Shirley in the movie is lonely and in pain!
The script required an abnormal Black character; even if he was a gifted musician with aristocratic qualities, he had to be mired in trouble so that another white person would be needed to save him.

The problem is, in the original timeline, these things wouldn't have happened until *Green Book* won the Oscar for Best Picture…

If so much criticism arises before the award is even given…

Can it still win an award?
Shen Yan's PR team, Tom Quinn and Tim Liggle, are also managers at Liaoyuan Pictures. They both came from Miramax and are close associates of Harvey Weinstein…

Nobody knows better than those two when it comes to the Oscars!
The fact that "Anora" was chosen as the Best Picture at the Oscars...

As for Best Director…

It should be quite stable!
The original timeline awarded it to Alfonso Cuarón…

There really weren't many good options this year!

Therefore, Shen Yan was also full of confidence...

But he still has to attend necessary events, after all, he's the director.

The Toronto International Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, followed by a string of year-end accolades from film critics' associations and various film festivals, including the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, the British Academy Film Awards, and awards from major North American film associations…

In the original timeline, *Parasite* participated in numerous film festivals, with director Bong Joon-ho and lead actor Song Kang-ho constantly attending festivals and giving interviews. It also appeared on famous American talk shows and generated buzz on social media, ultimately winning countless awards worldwide…

Yang Yang joined in: "What awards are you focusing on for public relations?"

Shen Yan said, "There are also awards for Best Director and Best Film... Parasite is an ensemble piece, so it's unlikely to win any acting awards..."

Will the actor come with you?

"Definitely... Parasite is an Oscar contender, and Hollywood actors, even top actors, would be honored to star in such a film... Moreover, Parasite was a project that Sandra Bullock snatched..."

"Stolen?"

"Initially, I planned to approach Julia Roberts... but the script was leaked, and Sandra Bullock came directly to 20th Century Fox... offering $65 million in funding..."

Yang Yang was surprised: "Hollywood actors care about scripts this much?"

"Of course! You know, although Hollywood produces tens of thousands of scripts every year, less than 5% of them can be considered masterpieces, and even fewer can compete for Oscars!"

Shi Shi couldn't help but interject: "Is Sandra Bullock better than Julia Roberts?"

"You can't say that...but her reputation is indeed very good!"

To put it simply, even those websites that specialize in compiling lists of explicit content don't have her...

At the 85th Academy Awards, Seth MacFarlane, director of "Ted," also hosted the event and performed a sexually suggestive song that would put countless Hollywood actresses to shame, "We Saw Your Boobs," listing a large number of female stars who sacrificed themselves for "art"...

No Sandra Bullock!

"The promotion for 'Earthfire'..."

Shen Yan waved his hand: "《地火》is a disaster movie, the main thing is the special effects... Whether I go on promotion or not won't have much impact..."

"After all, it's the National Day holiday, and there's also 'Hello, Mrs. Money'!"

"That movie wasn't good..." Yang Yang glanced at the time: "Let's get to work!"

A group of people immediately stood up and started filming…

……

Xie Zhiyao was probably lustful towards Xu Hongdou at first sight!

From a man's perspective, everyone has a love for beauty, and he will naturally feel a good impression of a beautiful woman at first sight.

Their first meeting was when Xu Hongdou was searching for Xie Zhiyao's younger brother to pay for his phone repairs. Xie Zhiyao was immediately captivated by the stunningly beautiful woman before him, with her perfect figure, elegant demeanor, and striking looks; it was love at first sight…

Of course, this only goes as far as visual aesthetics.

To say that one would like Hongdou after only a few words would be too hasty.

Xie Zhiyao isn't that kind of casual man!
Otherwise, she wouldn't have remained single until she was 32.

Later on, I liked it more and more...

Especially after overhearing Xu Hongdou's conversation with Xie's father...

Oh, this is the scene they're filming right now!
The actor playing Xie Zhiyao's father is Yu Hewei...

He came over to help out as a guest star!
Xie's father went to find Xu Hongdou, hoping she could persuade Xie Zhiyao to return to Beijing and stop wasting his time in the poor and remote Yunmiao Village.

Xie's father said the following: "Look, in the years since A-Yao came back, he hasn't gotten any benefits. Everyone in the village comes to him for everything. There are so many troubles. What does Xie Heshun's wood carving factory have to do with him? What does running this guesthouse have to do with him? Xiao Huang is a leader and should be in charge, but now when something goes wrong, everyone comes to A-Yao. What kind of situation is this!"

Xu Hongdou said, "But A Yao has invested so much, and now the infrastructure is almost up and running. If he leaves now, wouldn't that be giving up halfway?"

Mr. Xie said, "He can transfer out, right?"

Xu Hongdou said, "The person who is willing to take over must have seen the value of what A Yao is doing, right?"

Mr. Xie was stumped by the question and said, "So...that makes sense! But isn't it like a mosquito getting stuck in a spider web, unable to fly or walk away? What's he trying to achieve?"

Xu Hongdou slowly took a sip of tea, thought for a moment, and said, "Uncle Xie, how about I tell you about my situation?" Seeing Xie's father nod and say "okay," she continued, "You see, after graduating from university, I've been working in Beijing. The hotel industry is incredibly busy. Occasionally, when customers thank you, you feel a sense of accomplishment and value, right? But most of the time, it's just mechanical work. You see, after working for over ten years, I'm just like most people, thinking about making money, buying a house, buying a car, so I can settle down in Beijing. Then when you go back to your hometown, you'll be seen as very successful by your relatives, right? Very outstanding, and you can become a role model to encourage the next generation to study hard—"

Mr. Xie exclaimed in response, "How wonderful!"

Xu Hongdou then changed the subject, saying, "But I've never thought about whether success within the conventional value system is what I truly want."

For example, if I only had three months to live before leaving this world, what would I want to do? What would be my dream? I hadn't thought about these things, I didn't know, I hadn't considered these questions. But Ayao and Xinxin are different. You see, they have their own firm goals and ideals to strive for. I especially admire and respect them. You see, they don't just think about themselves, nor do they only look at the short road in front of them. They have much farther to go, and they want to take others with them.”

Mr. Xie didn't understand and asked in confusion, "Further places? Where is that? Isn't that Beijing? Is there anywhere farther than Beijing?"

Xu Hongdou said, "Yes? What about Yunmiao Village three, five, or eight to ten years from now? By then, no one will have to work hard to earn money and go out to struggle anymore. Everyone who left can come back—"

Mr. Xie was even more puzzled: "How can someone who has left come back?"

Xu Hongdou calmly replied, "Sure, if the village is well-built, then we can build and protect our hometown together, right? In that time, everyone will be able to find employment, be cared for, and have support in their old age! Moreover, the government is now advocating for rural revitalization, and Ayao's approach coincides with that!"

Seeing that Xie's father didn't know what to say for a moment, Xu Hongdou changed the subject and said, "Uncle, you and Aunt worked so hard to earn money to support Ayao's education and changed his destiny. Now he's back with money and knowledge, and he wants to change the destiny of even more people. The reason you left back then is the reason he's back now. Don't you think we should support him, encourage him, and trust him?"

This conversation, which was originally intended to be Xie Zhiyao's father's idea, turned into Xu Hongdou trying to persuade Xie Zhiyao's father instead. Although it was meant to be comforting, Xu Hongdou kept smiling, her facial expression was relaxed, and her tone and manner of speaking sounded friendly, yet her stance was clear and quite persuasive.

It was because of this conversation that Xie's father's attitude changed drastically overnight. He no longer opposed Xie Zhiyao starting his own business, and instead, before leaving, he surprisingly said to his son, "Do a good job!"

Xie Zhiyao also developed deep feelings for Xu Hongdou after overhearing this conversation!

Their relationship was just like what Hu Youyu said: 'We can rationally control ourselves from falling into a relationship, but we can't completely control how feelings develop!'

Like Xie Zhiyao, Xu Hongdou's story is similar. Although she knows that her time with Xie Zhiyao may be short-lived, she still cannot suppress her deep love for him.

Xie Zhiyao was the same…

But he was very restrained!
Xu Hongdou was destined to leave, while Xie Zhiyao had to stay in Dali to continue his business. They didn't bring it up, nor did they force anyone to stay or leave for anyone else...

(End of this chapter)