Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 470 Tear off the braid, hold your head high and move forward

Because of the tight schedule, after arriving in New York and resting briefly, Liu Yifei went ahead to Twitter's headquarters in Los Angeles to take care of the official business that needed to be handled for him.

Twitter, which has been online for more than two years, also faces many development problems, such as competition from other competitors emerging in the market, such as Myspace, owned by News Corp., which should not be underestimated.

Reports on new user growth rates and activities, access to third-party developer APIs, and the recent leaked indecent video of Kim Kardashian and singer Ray, the latter involving a series of marketing hype schemes.

Because she has been receiving online marketing from time travelers since she was 15, and Twitter was also founded by her, Liu Yifei can now play the role of a virtuous wife in these familiar fields.

Of course, for some major strategic decisions, Lu Kuan still had to make the final decision himself, and exert influence through his counterparts such as Chen Shih-Chun and Sun Wen-Wen.

After the successful hosting of the Olympic opening ceremony, Sun Wenwen no longer needed to hide her identity and could openly appear in front of and behind the scenes.

Those painful memories from her life have all been buried in the glory of being the vice president of a top internet social platform.

At 3:30 p.m. on the 31st, Lu Kuan arrived at Sixth Avenue in New York.

It seemed to be his usual simple and unpretentious manner, with only Ah Fei accompanying him.

However, this time when entering the United States, security standards have been greatly strengthened, and a professional team has already provided a complete solution.

For example, the two Escalades escorting the main vehicle were filled with burly, older black men.

The invited guests, dressed in suits, stepped out of the car. The sunlight from Sixth Avenue slanted through the glass curtain wall, giving the Time magazine headquarters building a cold, metallic sheen.

New York has a humid continental climate. As we approach September, the temperature hovers around 20 degrees Celsius, and there is already a hint of autumn in the air.

The photographer who was setting up the equipment and the reporter covering the day, Michael Elliott, an international affairs journalist, stood in front of the steps.

Elliott stepped forward and shook hands: "Lou, welcome."

Mr. Lu asked in surprise, "Does Time magazine still have the tradition of greeting invitees at the door?"

"No, this is a personal courtesy on my part, and the photographer was also arranged by me personally. I want to document this in my personal interviewing career."

Lu Kuan smiled without saying a word. He had already spoken with the reporter, Elliott, and knew that he was far from being as amiable as he appeared on the surface.

Elliott, 57, is a graduate of Oxford University and was formerly the Washington bureau chief for The Economist, focusing on reporting on US-China relations.

Last year, he planned "China Century," which presented China's transformation from multiple dimensions, including economy, culture, and environmental protection, sparking international discussion.

Therefore, today's interview is not only propaganda, but also a form of confrontation.

These top journalists from the West have always adhered to the principle that even if their reporting cannot avoid the University of Tokyo, they will still intervene through their narrative propositions and value systems.

It's like the prosecution and defense in court, where there's cooperation based on upholding legal justice, but also heated debates from different perspectives.

The respondents need the magazine's publicity, and the magazine needs the respondents' material, but due to their different positions, they can reach a cooperation within a limited conflict.

Elliott smiled and said, "I witnessed the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, which was a great masterpiece of human art, so I recommended you as the cover person of the year for 2008."

"To my surprise, the magazine agreed, which is unusual for them. In the past, this decision would not be made until at least the end of the year."

Lu Kuan smiled and said, "Let me guess, is it because I participated in the legislation of the official 'Film Promotion Law' that the six major Hollywood studios hired a lobbying team to work on your behalf, trying to bring me into the Western camp and make me Hollywood's spokesperson in China?"

Elliott was taken aback. How could this Chinese man be even more straightforward than himself?

"The road, that problem..."

"Just kidding, don't mind it, haha." Lu Kuan patted Elliott's arm, and the two entered the Time magazine headquarters together.

At this moment, the Chinese youth, whose so-called "joke" had already alerted Eliot, knew that their arrival here was a confluence of personal and national destiny.

He represents not only himself, but also the probing and interpretations of the University of Tokyo by Western journalists through him.

The sounds of camera shutters clicking and equipment being adjusted came from behind, and the hustle and bustle of Sixth Avenue was cut off for a moment.

112 years ago, Li Hongzhang walked down the street behind him with his queue in his hair, and the camera captured the hunched back of the Qing Empire in its twilight years.

Today, his shoes are grinding against the same marble slab, with the lingering warmth of the Bird's Nest fireworks behind him and the backbone forged by five thousand years of civilization.

Eliot, with great gentlemanly manners, led him through the corridors adorned with portraits of famous figures: Einstein's disheveled hair, Churchill's cigar, and the designer's composure.

Those faces that once defined the century are now silently watching yet another visitor from the East.

At this moment, the time traveler felt a surge of excitement, a desire to witness and become part of history.

Upon entering the interview room, which had a distinct Time magazine style, Lu Kuan's eyes were immediately drawn to the three-sided, floor-to-ceiling oak bookshelves.

These bookshelves are not ordinary decorations. The bookshelf on the left neatly displays the annual bound volumes of Time magazine since its founding in 1923, with the gold-embossed spines gleaming under the spotlights.

On the right is a collection of interviews with past Person of the Year winners, and the bookshelf directly opposite the door displays a collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning works written by Time magazine reporters.

Interspersed among the shelves are replicas of autographed photos of award recipients, from Hemingway to Kissinger, forming a 20th-century history forged under the spotlight.

Of course, this is 20th-century history from a Western perspective.

"Lu, please have a seat!"

"Thank you."

Eliot was pleased with his wandering gaze, believing that few could ignore the awe-inspiring and magnificent history represented by these books.

Especially since its founding in 1923, the world has undergone tremendous changes in the past 80 years.

The interview area featured a chieftain chair designed by Danish designer Finn Juhl and a matching walnut coffee table. Once seated, Elliott began:

"Lu, you're a great director, why don't you give us some pointers on today's camera positions?"

Boss Lu glanced back at the Sony HDW-F900 camera set up in the corner. The lighting, microphone array sound effects, and other aspects around it were all very precise and professional.

"Perfect, we can begin."

Elliot nodded: "Okay, let's begin."

“I’ve seen your interview on Larry King Live. His style is very imaginative, but we will have a main storyline.”

“In my design, the main theme is the expression of Chinese artists, whom you represent, in the tides of the times. We hope to understand China through you, is that alright?”

"can."

Eliot laughed and said, "Since we're talking about the cover story of the year, let's start with your 'Sky of History' from the beginning of the year."

"This film went through many twists and turns, both online and on your filming set. It faced a lot of protests from opponents along the way, but it ultimately shone brightly in Berlin and won applause at the Oscars."

“In fact, we also noticed that the UN Human Rights Council was established in October 2007, just as you were filming this movie.”

"To date, the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Mechanism has begun its first review of the University of Tokyo."

"And coincidentally, throughout this process, you, the director of the University of Tokyo, have been committed to presenting a positive image through means such as 'The Sky of History' and the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which has in fact created a public opinion confrontation against the above-mentioned review and attracted widespread attention from the international community."

"Is this at the behest of the government? What is your opinion, or how do you defend yourself, on the recent 'red label' that the media has given you?"

This isn't about getting straight to the point; it's about getting to the heart of the matter.

Even though Lu Kuan had fully anticipated the difficulty of today's interview, he still didn't expect it to start from such a tricky angle.

Eliot's international perspective is beyond doubt; he is adept at connecting seemingly unrelated news materials to form his own arguments.

There has been little discussion about this review in China, but it has been heavily publicized by the media in the West, and the reasons are self-evident.

Lu Kuan could easily gloss over the issue by saying he doesn't participate in politics, but if he did that, almost all the topics today would have to be ignored.

He and the reporter were in a state of cooperative confrontation; passive confrontation would be pointless.

"Mr. Elliott, may I ask what year you were born?"

"1951."

“Oh, then I’m not so curious about the question you just raised.” Lu Kuan laughed. “In 1947, the Truman Doctrine was introduced in the United States, and the Cold War began.”

"During the 70s and 80s, when you graduated from university and your career was on track, the confrontation between NATO and the Warsaw Pact reached its climax, so I can understand it very well—"

"Your question just now was clearly influenced by Cold War thinking, wasn't it?"

Eliot involuntarily sat up straight: "I have reservations about that. The Cold War was a relationship between politics and politics. Today we are talking about the relationship between art and politics."

“Okay, just as you said, it’s about the relationship between art and politics.” The young director smiled and said, “Schindler’s List was released in 1993, the same year that Krishnamurti proposed the NATO expansion plan.”

"Could I argue that the United States is establishing moral superiority by championing anti-war and human rights in the cultural sphere in order to support its expansion in Central and Eastern Europe?"

"According to your deduction, the essence of NATO's eastward expansion is not the expansion of civilizational projects, but the erosion of other countries' security space in the name of freedom and democracy."

Elliott shook his head seriously: "I don't think it has any significant connection."

“Me too, that was just my fabrication,” Mr. Lu laughed. “I endorse the American Dream and I am living it. I love many aspects of this country, and I have huge investments in the United States.”

"You can go and see for yourselves whether I took a single penny I earned in the United States with me."

"Similarly, as you said, my claim that I am using my artwork to support the authorities' international political actions is unfounded speculation."

Elliott adjusted his glasses: "But from 'Tangshan' and 'Sky' to the Olympic opening ceremony, there are many military and official elements, as well as your embellishment of their image."

"Take the awe-inspiring drumming and singing at the opening ceremony, for example. More than 2000 performers were all soldiers. What was the consideration behind this?"

"For artistic reasons," Lu Kuan said calmly, "My next film will be a science fiction film, which includes scenes involving aircraft carriers. In fact, I hope to communicate with the US military to provide filming convenience within reasonable limits."

"Look, my movie also has shots of American soldiers, what's the difference?"

Elliott exclaimed in surprise, "Lu, are you serious?"

He is a global political and economic expert, but that doesn't mean he knows everything, such as the details of film production.

In capitalist countries like the United States, the military has a dedicated "Office of Entertainment and Media," which reports to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

The production crew can rent various equipment and receive military training as long as they pay. The F22 and base scenes in "Iron Man" were filmed on location, with rental fees of approximately $100 million per hour.

Other examples include the training scenes in the award-winning film "The Hurt Locker" and the scenes in "Transformers 2" where Humvees, tanks, and B-1B bombers annihilate the Decepticons; these are all of a similar nature.

"Of course it's true. The movie is still in preparation and we haven't chosen a filming location yet. We will contact the Pentagon as soon as possible to see if we can reach an agreement."

Here he subtly made a witty remark and also found an opening.

This entertainment media office isn't so subservient to anyone who provides the most benefits. They also review scripts to ensure they align with US military values, and there can be no allegations of defamation. Furthermore, they rigorously scrutinize footage to prevent military leaks.

In "Ball Lightning," the enemy aircraft carrier is the invading force, and in the end, Lin Yun takes it with him and they perish together. Whether the Pentagon will approve it is still uncertain.

Elliott sighed inwardly. Two questions had been answered, yet he still couldn't refute them.

He linked the United Nations Security Council with "The Sky of History," while Lu Kuan linked "Schindler's List" with "NATO expansion to the east."
He said that in the movie, Mr. Lu was always dedicated to promoting the official power of Dongda University, but then he turned around and wanted to talk to the Pentagon about cooperation, and even brought the "global police" into the movie.

This exploration and investigation from this angle can only be temporarily shelved.

“Lu, you are a great artist. You embody cultural elements from both China and the United States, and many people regard you as an international citizen.”

"In the public eye, you speak fluent English and never need a translator. You have also achieved financial freedom in the United States, where you own property and start a company."

"But at the same time, you also have close ties with the University of Tokyo's culture and authorities, especially after you were appointed to the opening ceremony and the Film Promotion Act."

"Please talk about your cultural belonging and identity. Do you have any biases? If you were to use Peking Opera and Hollywood to represent Chinese and Western cultures respectively, which would you prefer?"

"I like them all. The wealth of world civilization is created by humankind together. From a cultural and artistic perspective, I am happy to exchange ideas with artists from other countries."

“In my past films, Chinese culture has always been dominant because I am an artist rooted in my own country.” “But you can also see the influence of the French New Wave in the long takes of Tangshan.”

"The polyphonic montage in the opening ceremony came from the former Soviet Union, the final composition in 'Exotic Land' came from Van Gogh's 'Starry Night', and the scene of the setting sun over the Yangtze River in 'Sky' is a color contrast from the Venetian school of painting, as well as the music by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto."

Boss Lu casually rambled on, "From an artistic point of view, it's really hard for me to say which one I prefer; rather, it's more accurate to say which one I'm better at."

Elliott seemed to have anticipated this, and said calmly, "It's obvious that the creative environment in Hollywood is much more relaxed than in your country. To this day, Tokyo University doesn't even have a rating system."

"As you said, from an artistic point of view, do you have any plans to immigrate to the United States? After all, you still have such a large business here. My whole family are Netflix DVD users."

Lu Kuan shook his head: "No."

"Why? Didn't you say you also identify with American culture and the American Dream?"

“I don’t like Western food.” Boss Lu offered a non-answer: “In fact, I’ve hardly ever had any decent meals when I travel abroad. It’s a personal problem that I can’t overcome.”

Elliott said helplessly, "Can't a wealthy man like you even bring a few skilled chefs with you?"

“You can bring your own chef, but you can’t replicate the raw materials,” Lu Kuan explained with a smile. “If Mr. Elliott visits China, I’ll take you to sample some local delicacies, and you’ll probably understand.”

Elliott said helplessly, "This reason doesn't convince me, Lu. I'm sorry to see that you haven't shown what you call an identification with American culture."

"Let me give you an example. There is a very common dish in Cantonese cuisine in China called 'Steamed Grouper'. Grouper is the same as 'Leopard Coral Grouper' in the United States."

"In more refined restaurants in China, diners want to see live fish being killed and cooked on the spot, with the fish being steamed while its nerves are still alive."

"But my fiancée and I were disappointed on our last trip to New York because, according to your Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, all slaughtering must be done in certified professional facilities, so we left disappointed."

Some states and regions in the United States have strict food safety regulations. Because the slaughtering of live fish involves the handling of blood and internal organs, it is easy for pathogens such as Salmonella to grow, and it is listed as a "high-risk process". Unauthorized slaughtering and cooking of fish in business premises violates the "physical separation between processing area and dining area" clause, and only frozen raw materials can be used.

“Elliott, I’ve heard it said that good food is the umbilical cord of civilization.”

"I appreciate Western art and culture, but I don't have much desire to taste cattle being electrocuted in slaughterhouses or tomatoes being boiled in containers and then served on the table."

By this point in the interview, even the over-fifty-year-old Elliott couldn't help but get a little frustrated.

This young man is even more slick than the politicians on K Street.

His fundamental purpose was not to deliberately make things difficult for Lu Kuan, but to find a breakthrough in the confrontation and discover some new topics about him, Dongda University, and culture for writing and fermentation.

So far, Elliott has not been able to shake the image of Lu Kuan as a global citizen that he had previously cultivated for himself, and all his attempts are still just circling outside the defensive barrier.

Using this not-so-small excuse to express his "ugly refusal" of becoming a U.S. citizen will neither anger the American public nor remove the label attached to him.

Western society places great emphasis on personal emotional experiences. So what if I want to eat some food from my hometown?
"Lu, speaking of your fiancée Yi Fei, we understand that she also lived in New York for quite some time, right?"

"Yes, about four or five years."

Elliott smiled and said, "Why did she renounce her American citizenship before she turned 18? It must have been after she met you, right? Was she influenced by you?"

Before Mr. Lu could answer, a Western reporter chimed in, "She probably doesn't like Western food either, does she?"

Lu Kuan denied it without hesitation: "No, she can eat a lot, she has a very good appetite."

Liu Xiaolv: ?

“She was only 15 or 6 years old when she renounced her citizenship. It was obviously a decision made by her guardian, but it should have nothing to do with the so-called Sino-US position.”

"Because her mother, Ms. Liu Xiaoli, is a Chinese American, her decision to renounce her citizenship was likely only for the sake of her daughter's career development."

Elliott glanced expressionlessly at the most difficult interviewee of his career so far and decided to interrupt the flow.

"Lee, get Lu a refill of his coffee."

"Yes, sir."

About five minutes later, the Time magazine reporter changed direction and decided to start with his business empire.

“Lu, you have considerable influence over public opinion in China and must have witnessed a lot of suffering at the grassroots level. Why haven’t you explored artistic themes in your films like other Chinese directors have, and created works with realistic themes?”

"Different directors have different perspectives. We can't all explore the dark side, nor can we all blindly praise and flatter."

"I have a film produced by a domestic film company that will be released during the Spring Festival. It tells the story of a journey during the snowstorm in southern China at the beginning of the year. It is a way of integrating natural disasters into the narrative of a commercial film, which is also a perspective."

Lu Kuan explained, "What I discover in all my works is the brilliance of humanity and hope."

"In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, there is the Flying Tigers supported by the US military. In Another World, all of humanity joins hands to fight against natural disasters and upheavals. Even in a more confrontational subject like The Sky, we invited Ken Watanabe and Ryuichi Sakamoto to participate in the creation."

"One of my views is that art does not defend politics, but only serves as evidence of civilization."

In the video, Mr. Lu speaks eloquently, appearing as a global citizen wearing glasses that seem to believe in a world of universal harmony.

He still clung to universal values ​​such as art, civilization, and humanity in his answers, avoiding falling into political vortexes and traps.

Even in his eloquent speech at the Berlin Film Festival, his arguments remained focused on the universal values ​​of good and evil, and his judgment of the Japanese invaders was solely based on a nationalist perspective.

Elliott pressed further: "You portray Chinese culture as something beautiful, but you don't seem to have explored American culture much?"

"Of course!" Boss Lu said confidently, "We have already started negotiating with major film companies to reclaim Marvel's superheroes by paying them in advance according to the original terms."

"Currently, the plan is to introduce core characters through 5-6 standalone films, such as Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, starting from Iron Man between 2008 and 2012."

"In the next phase, we will bring together superheroes by linking works and create a complete worldview through event linkage, which I call the Marvel Universe."

Elliott felt as if he had swallowed a fly.

Why are there so many troops stationed in every direction of our attack?
If the interviews fail to create any breakthroughs, then this issue of Time magazine will only become a mouthpiece and propaganda tool for Mr. Lu, and no valuable or in-depth topics will emerge.

Lu Kuan continued to speak eloquently: "As the Chinese saying goes, 'Listen to their words and observe their actions.'"

"I introduced Hollywood's concept of film industrialization to China, and I also promoted the essence of traditional Chinese culture to the world."

"Domestically, we have the largest film company and a top-ranked internet media company. Internationally, we are steadfast partners with Miramax, Lionsgate, and Disney."

"As Ms. Iris, an American of Chinese descent, said, there is a deep foundation of exchanges between the people of China and the United States. We do not need to think about issues with a Cold War mentality of either/or. Art and culture are common issues for all mankind."

Open the door! Free trade!

Open the door! Cultural export!

This should have been the position held by the United States, but for some reason, it sounded perfectly natural coming from the mouth of the wealthy Chinese man in front of me, because that's exactly what he did, going with the tide of history.

Elliott took a sip of coffee with a sigh; the once mellow aroma now tasted bitter.

This was one of the few failed interviews of his career, especially considering all the preparation he had done.

He linked the topic to politics, while Boss Lu anchored it in universal values ​​of art, civilization, and humanity;
He creates a binary stance on China and the US, while the latter creates a narrative of a bridge between two cultures, ironically suggesting that he is thinking in the Cold War.

They constantly use food as a gimmick to deconstruct life, leaving him absolutely no room to express himself.

Even though he did some research on the connection between the timeline of "The Sky of History" and human rights issues, the change of nationality of Lu Kuan's girlfriend Liu Yifei, and the fact that his works never reflected on the reality of Dongda University.

But that's clearly far from enough.

Elliott gave up, and after a few promotional questions, the two-hour interview ended.

He saw the interviewee to the door, and the two stood in the lobby.

“Lu, I have a feeling that you will soon shine even brighter on the world stage.”

"Really? I appreciate your kind words, but we Chinese like to talk about making a fortune quietly, and I prefer that kind of feeling."

The gray-haired Elliott smiled and shook his head, asking him to sign the interview transcript as a memento, as was customary, and then politely saw him off.

This Western journalist's stance is not one of outright opposition to Tokyo University; it's just that, as journalists, they have to uncover in-depth content.

Whether one is pro-China or anti-China, it's essentially a professional requirement.

But this did not diminish his admiration for true artists. After witnessing the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, no one could help but be awestruck by such technological aesthetics that were, in fact, ahead of their time.

Because drones with this level of technology and presentation are simply products of a different era.

The revolving door slowly revealed Lu Kuan's silhouette, as the New York twilight gilded the glass curtain wall of Manhattan.

As Elliott watched him walk toward the car, he vaguely saw the neon lights of Broadway flowing along the silhouette of that man in a suit.

It's like being coated with an oriental glaze, or like the last ray of light cast by Western civilization.

To Eliot, who had experienced the Cold War and was familiar with the history of anti-Chinese sentiment in the West, this spotlight remained on his back, much like the conspicuous queue of Li Hongzhang more than a hundred years ago.

Now, it seems that this braid is about to be ripped off by countless Chinese youths just like the one in front of us.

. . .

Eliot worked through the night to finish the article, but he did not make any malicious speculations or extensions about the interview content.

It wasn't that he didn't want to; if there was even the slightest opportunity to make a big deal out of this, to use the richest man in Tokyo to criticize politics, he would never let such an opportunity pass.

However, Mr. Lu does have channels to voice his opinions in North America, and he cannot over-process the interview results.

What should I do?
Praise and kill.

There shouldn't be any problem with me praising you and Chinese culture, right?

In fact, the first page of Time magazine in 2007 was about the University of Tokyo, and the title of that issue was: The University of Tokyo, the beginning of a new dynasty.

According to Elliott, a veteran journalist with decades of experience in journalism, even such material still has room for development.

You guys talk about military threats and economic threats, I talk about cultural threats!

This is yet another new topic, and it will resonate even more deeply with people after the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics!

As for the person involved, Lu Kuan was not too worried about how Time magazine and Elliott would handle the wording regarding his position.

Objectively speaking, what is his image and reputation both domestically and internationally?

To say that he was an artist with a Westernized mindset is nonsense.

From "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" to the end of the Olympic opening ceremony, the patriotism and collectivism conveyed in all the works are beyond doubt.

However, it is not entirely accurate to call him a great power chauvinist or a nationalist.

Don't forget, he was the first director in China to "advocate" the industrialization of Hollywood films, and Wenjie was the first company to reach an agreement with the six major Hollywood studios.

Wenjie helped Disney digest its surplus films through the film distribution policy. In "Iron Man," which just finished its run last month, he was also the "guide" who led Marvel to knock on the door.

Even if Western journalists and politicians doubt his stance, they will find it extremely difficult to deny such facts.

Given his current position as director of the Film Promotion Act Advisory Committee, the Big Six and the Motion Picture Association of America will only further recognize his status as a global citizen, hoping to influence film policies in the blue ocean market through his influence.

Young directors are like balance masters walking a tightrope between Eastern and Western civilizations, holding the Analects of Confucius in their left hand and the Bible in their right, using commercial personas to enhance their deceptiveness and transforming industrial layouts into cultural buffer zones.

He is doing everything he can to postpone American scrutiny of his ideology, in order to buy more room for future maneuvering.

Amidst the blurring of reality and illusion, no one can truly discern the time traveler's true nature.

After the interview, Lu Kuan did not immediately fly to Los Angeles to meet with Liu Yifei. Instead, he met with Paulson in a very inconspicuous trading room to discuss the financial crisis that was about to reach its climax.

Old Bao! I want to eat fish!

(End of this chapter)