Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 539 Chiang Ching-kuo's Second Attack on Kinmen and Matsu

Old Han has been riding high these past few years.

Since "A Home Away" swept the globe and replaced "Titanic" as the highest-grossing film in Chinese film history, his deep connection with Wenjie has brought him great benefits in terms of both investment returns and Zhengzhi Capital.

Of course, there were also some box office flops like "The Promise" and "Red Cliff" that were a thorn in the side, but ultimately, Xiaopingtou's hedging operations mitigated these losses.

For him, Wenjie is all about large-cap blue-chip stocks. He can hold a large position and then occasionally try his luck with small-cap stocks, acting as a daredevil to chase limit-up stocks.

Just now, during an interview with reporters, Lao Han proudly pointed out that the domestic box office had surpassed 55 billion yuan by mid-September:
"This is the result of the joint efforts of all filmmakers. As the industry leader, China Film Group should not only be a pioneer but also a service provider, and cooperate well with outstanding private film companies such as Wenjie, Wuyue, Chengtian, LeTV Culture, and Bona Fiber Optics."

要说小平头这一世的确是赶上好时候了，刚刚过去的6-8月的暑期档有诸如《变形金刚2》、《特种部队》、《冰川时代3》、《哈利波特6》以及北美问界的漫威第二部《金刚狼》等十多部影片上映，三个月光外片的总票房就高达18亿多，相较上一世增长30%左右。

What is the reason?

The ticket subsidy war between Wenjie and Damai.cn.

More strictly speaking, it was Damai.cn's ticket subsidies that were self-indulgent. Wenjie, because of Emei Peak's "cunning", kept its defenses tight and maintained reasonable investment, and then took the opportunity to reap the rewards of victory.

As soon as Lu Kuan and his wife entered the venue, they were greeted by stares from all directions. Bingbing, Jing Tian, ​​and others who had walked the red carpet ahead of them greeted them with smiles.

Others naturally wanted to come and say hello to get acquainted, but they knew to let those in the first tier of relationships go first, so as not to offend anyone.

Old Han seemed to disregard his status in the industry, walking over with Zhang Yimou and Zhang Heping, both smiling broadly.

"Comrade Xiao Jiang is here!" Surrounded by familiar faces, even the short-haired man couldn't resist teasing him: "How's the anti-corruption campaign in Shanghai going lately?"

This statement has a double meaning, referring both to Chiang Ching-kuo's tumultuous past in Shanghai during the Republic of China era depicted in the film and to alluding to the recent downfall of another former chairman from Shanghai.

Everyone laughed when they heard this, except for Da Tiantian, who was slightly confused. She whispered a few words to Xiao Liu before she suddenly realized what was going on.

So that's what happened. No wonder my uncle scolded my cousins ​​at home those few days, as if they were all hopeless cases.

People are most afraid of comparison, especially with such a monster.

However, Uncle Jing was comparing things from one perspective, while Jing Tian's mother and aunt were comparing things from another angle, both regarding when Jing Tian would meet such an excellent and suitable partner.

Or was it that this one encounter ruined her life, causing Da Tian Tian's horizons to be endlessly broadened, thus delaying her future?

Boss Lu laughed and said, "If you're going to tease me, then I should congratulate you on your promotion, boss, right? It's pretty much settled, isn't it?"

"Hey! Why are you saying this!" The crew-cut guy suppressed his joy and looked at his younger brother with a reproachful expression. Of course, it was best for someone else to tell this kind of story, so Zhang Heping casually played the straight man:
"Deputy Director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, member of the archives team." The director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre smiled and said, "Taking this step is like entering the inner sanctum; there's a vast world ahead, and much to be accomplished!"

The position of chairman of China Film Group is the foundation of real power, and it is impossible for him to relinquish it. The position of deputy director is actually not too bad, after all, he is not the only one, and his ranking is not too high.

However, his status as a member of the latter group truly opened up a path for his future advancement in the broadcasting and television industry. Considering that Lao Han is only 56 years old and has reached this level in this life, it is not an exaggeration for Zhang Heping to say that he has great potential in the future.

After all, his position as chairman of China Film Group Corporation is already the pinnacle among state-owned enterprises in the film industry, and the "ceiling" for his future development largely depends on more complex political factors, interpersonal balance, and opportunities of the times.

However, a person who possesses both commercial success in state-owned enterprises and management experience in government departments has theoretically broad career development prospects.

Domestic films in 2009 probably won't break 10 billion yuan, but the wave of 10 billion and 20 billion yuan will inevitably come in the future, which may push Xiaopingtou to break through the institutional constraints of the previous era.

Han Shanping got back to the point: "Xiao Lu, if I may borrow your golden words, what are your box office projections for 'The Founding of a Republic'?"

After a few seconds of contemplation, Lu Kuan, combining the opening figures of the two films with the current booming infrastructure development of the domestic film industry and the subsidies from the two ticketing companies, made a very bold prediction.

"We're aiming for 5 million. In short, the Wenjie system fully supports us without hesitation."

Zhang Heping laughed and said, "Old Han was already nagging about it before you even arrived. He didn't believe us when we told him, but he wouldn't feel at ease until he heard it from you!"

The man with the crew cut replied matter-of-factly, "Of course! The richest man's words carry a lot of weight. Besides, Wenjie has also invested, so they'll definitely be on our side aiming for 5 million!"

A domestic film that grosses 5 million yuan will once again break the domestic box office record. Han Dehua, who holds the titles of director and producer, will also leave a significant mark, providing irrefutable performance endorsement for his new appointment.

After chatting for a while, Liu Yifei went to socialize with acquaintances. Zhang Yimou pulled Lu Kuan aside and whispered something to him: "How's 'Ball Lightning' going?"

"We need to meet the deadline for the Cannes premiere and film sales next year, so right now we're filming while simultaneously creating the special effects we can to see how they turn out. If all goes well..."

Boss Lu pondered for a few seconds: "It would be great if we could finish filming before November. The subsequent organization and handover of materials, the improvement of 3D assets, and the simulation and calculation of special effects will take at least half a year, so the time is still quite tight."

"Our only advantage is that our Previs (dynamic pre-visualization) retouching is done on the spot. During the actual shooting, the matching degree of the virtual lens has been adjusted according to the picture. The camera movement trajectory and the character's movement have been corrected once."

The film is expected to be released globally during the summer season from June to August. This is to create a time gap with "Avatar", to avoid competing with the numerous Lunar New Year films released by Wenjie and Wuyue this year, and to avoid conflicts with their own screening schedules. This period is also a global peak season for movies.

Zhang Yimou nodded silently. He had never made a science fiction film, and frankly, his understanding of advanced technology was only so-so.

If it weren't for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, which introduced cutting-edge international technologies such as drones, Barco water screens, and LED upgrades through Lu Kuan, many domestic directors would have been completely unaware of it.

Just as the West brought the shock of advanced firearms to Eastern countries through its powerful ships and cannons in modern times, the promotion of special effects in the film industry usually begins with the invasion of blockbusters, such as "Avatar" and "2012", which will be released in China in December.

"Some movies burn money, some movies burn time, science fiction is really burning money and time." Zhang Yimou sighed, feeling that it was hard to say anything more.

Lu Kuan didn't play any tricks on this senior alumnus and asked directly with a smile, "Director Zhang, what's with all the back and forth between us? Tell me quickly!"

Zhang Yimou's face broke into deep wrinkles with a smile: "One is to send you and Yi Fei an invitation to the opera 'Turandot' at the Bird's Nest on October 6th. I've incorporated some of the technological elements from our opening ceremony to invite you to 'see the show'."

"Do you have time? Filming is really..."

“Great! I’m giving the crew two days off every month so I can go home and see my kids. Unless there are special circumstances, I’ll definitely come to support them.”

Zhang Yimou first directed the opera "Turandot" in Florence, Italy in 1997, and in 1998 he released the Forbidden City Imperial Ancestral Temple version, which amazed the world with its real-life setting and Eastern aesthetics.

This Bird's Nest version is his third major innovation on the same play after 11 years. It aims to break through the limitations of traditional stage and combine the modernity of the Olympic venue. It will use sound, light and electricity technology to present scenes such as palaces, execution grounds and water towns in Jiangnan. It will replace the realistic set of the Temple of Heaven version with abstract images to highlight the "modernity".

Just as Liu Yifei spent last year at the Beijing People's Art Theatre reflecting on her own experiences, it is also a form of reflection for directors to adjust their artistic perspectives through large-scale events such as the Olympic Games opening ceremony and the opera "Turandot".

This time, Zhang Yimou decided to hold the event at the Bird's Nest, firstly in response to the national call to address the issue of sustainable use of the venues after the Olympics;
Secondly, as an important cultural event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, it has the dual significance of national celebration and international cultural display.

"Secondly, I also wanted to get your opinion," Zhang Yimou said thoughtfully. "I've focused most of my energy on 'Turandot' in the first half of this year, and I've been thinking about the subject matter for my next film these past few months..."

"I'd like to extract the scene from 'The Sky of History' where Minnie Vautrin protects the female students and elaborate on it in the script. What do you think?"

"Yan Geling has a novel called The Flowers of War. She also referenced The Occupation of Nanjing and Iris Chang's The Nanjing Massacre. I think it has great potential for adaptation."

Zhang Yimou pondered for a moment and said, "The female students in Minnie Vautrin's diary are symbols of purity and the hope of the nation. But it is precisely those women of the night, despised by the world, who step forward at the critical moment of life and death and die in their place."

"The beauty of Yan Geling's original work lies in the fact that she does not simply portray prostitutes as heroes. They are afraid of death, they are calculating, and some even want to take the opportunity to escape. But it is precisely this real human struggle that makes their final sacrifice all the more precious."

He looked at his junior brother with anticipation, still very eager to gain his approval and assistance.

Zhang Yimou is acutely aware of his own shortcomings:
First, the script was terrible; second, it was heavily influenced by Zhang Weiping's off-screen influence.

It was one thing before, but just like Liu Yifei's "love at first sight with Yang Guo ruined her life," after the unprecedented freedom, openness, and ease of creation in "Under the Hawthorn Tree," Zhang Yimou seems to have become a bit addicted.

After all these years, this is what making a movie really looks like!

If Lu Kuan thought the project was good, even if he took less of his director's fee and gave up a portion of his share to Wenjie to be listed as a producer, Zhang Weiping wouldn't dare to say a word now, even if he had ten times the courage.

This reveals Zhang Yimou's weakness: he lacks both the courage and the attitude to break with Zhang Weiping, yet as a director, he desperately craves a comfortable creative environment.

Of course, even if Wen Jie wasn't interested, he still wanted to talk to Lu Kuan about the script adaptation. He wasn't worried that the latter wouldn't know about this history, because Yan Geling's novel was mainly based on the works of Iris Chang.

“I see, that works too.” Boss Lu pretended to think, not expecting that after Zhang Yimou’s timeline was disrupted by him through “Under the Hawthorn Tree”, it would return with “The Sky of History”.

Zhang Yimou's interest in "The Flowers of War" began before the Olympics. After handling the opening ceremony during the day, he would discuss the script with screenwriter Liu Heng at night and purchase the copyright of Yan Geling's novel in the same year.

In this life, the emergence of "The Sky of History," a film destined to be remembered in film history, further inspired him to explore the joys and sorrows, humanity, and patriotism of ordinary people against the backdrop of such historical events.

"How about this, I'll take some time these next couple of days to look through Yan Geling's original novel, and you can send me the script that Liu Heng and the others revised." Lu Kuan didn't object to having another big director like Zhang Yimou make a film of this kind.

In fact, the treatment of "The Sky of History" in this life abroad is the same as that of "The Flowers of War" in the previous life. Both were subjected to a lot of insults and belittlement from public intellectuals and media bought by the Japanese right wing. It's just that the former has a bigger voice and attracts more hatred.

Zhang Yimou laughed and said, "Don't force yourself. Focus on your own film first. If you can't figure it out, just suggest a few key points and have Liu Heng and the others polish them up."

He got straight to the point: "If you're willing to invest, then invest. If not, I'll definitely give you a stake in this part of the script, because the intellectual property value is too high."

“You’re really trying to be fair with me, is it really necessary!” Boss Lu said, laughing and crying at the same time. “You know me, I’ll make this kind of movie even if it loses money. Besides, the narrative that focuses on ordinary people is more compelling and commercially stronger than ‘The Sky of History’.”

"What China lacks right now is a director of your caliber who focuses on national narratives. What we have too many are so-called sober and independent artists like Lu Chuan who are just seeking fame and fortune, and who don't know anything."

Lu Kuan stated definitively, "If you're determined to film this, the first thing I'll do is ask Iris Chang to be your consultant; I'm sure she'd be very willing."

"Secondly, Wuyue Culture is not suitable for serious themes right now. We should ask Jie Investment or Lao Han for his opinion. Zhang Weiping, don't worry, he'll be well-behaved."

Zhang Yimou was overjoyed: "Hahaha! Then I'll take it seriously!"

Actually, Lu Kuan had a third point he didn't mention. For the sake of the film's popularity, he even considered asking Leonardo DiCaprio to replace Christian Bale in the role of the male lead, but he had to carefully consider factors such as salary and cost-effectiveness.

Even if art films can negotiate lower prices, the final price still depends on the overall investment.

The two brothers finalized the matter in just a few words, based on the trust built up over their long-term relationship. Lu Kuan knew he wouldn't swindle investors' money; as long as he kept Zhang Weiping, that idiot, in check, and without external interference, Zhang Yimou's bottom line was still quite high.

Regardless of whether this kind of subject matter is profitable or not, it's a good thing if more directors pay attention to it and make films about it.

The huge success of "The Sky of History" suggests that if another film like "The Flowers of War" can reinforce Westerners' memories of the truth about war, the benefits beyond propaganda will be significant, and it will also encourage more directors from China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to pay attention to this subject.

After all, it can capture historical and artistic depth, and there's a proven track record of profitability from previous works, so why not?

The on-site interviews and other activities for "The Founding of a Republic" quickly began, and interestingly, the two camps of our party and "Chiang Kai-shek bandits" appeared separately for interviews. Boss Lu, Zhang Guoli (Chiang Kai-shek), Fan Bingbing (Soong Mei-ling), Huang Xiaoming (Kong Lingkan) and others took the stage together, and the movie fans who came to the scene cheered.

"Hello everyone, I am Zhang Guoli, who plays Chiang Kai-shek. This time I have scenes with Director Lu, Bingbing and others, and I really enjoyed the performance."

Bingbing continued: "Hello movie fans, I am Fan Bingbing, who plays Soong Mei-ling. Um... I should be the first person who can make Director Lu call me 'Mother' on screen, right? I also had a lot of fun."

The audience burst into laughter, and the camera then focused on Liu Yifei, who was clapping. She was all smiles, having come here to promote the film, since it was her own business after all.

With a 30% investment share, the film's total investment was less than 4000 million yuan. If it really achieves the estimated box office of 5 million yuan, Wenjie will be able to make a fortune from distribution, marketing, theaters, and box office revenue sharing.

Huang Xiaoming wasn't as greasy today: "I play the role of Kong Lingkan. I'm honored to work with several excellent actors, including Director Lu, Bingbing, and Teacher Guoli. This is my first time playing a historical figure, and I hope to gain everyone's recognition and affirmation!"

Lu Kuan was naturally arranged to be the last act, and he did attract the most attention, although some of his popularity was due to his wife.

"Let me start with a small complaint. My ideal role was Comrade Li Yinqiao, the guardian of a great man, but General Manager Han said I didn't look like a revolutionary soldier, and that I looked like a spoiled brat..."

The audience laughed, applauded, and cheered. The guests knew this was a self-deprecating joke, implying that the couple was providing material and creating hype for reporters' articles. It just goes to show how many paparazzi and reporters the couple had supported in the Chinese entertainment industry over the years.

Boss Lu laughed and said, "I think it's a good idea. Everyone knows that we had a falling out with the Golden Horse Awards many years ago, and Xiao Liu even refused the award back then. Since then, we haven't taken any films to Taiwan." (Chapter 138)
"I was thinking, next time I'll change into a Zhongshan suit and dress up as Chiang Kai-shek, maybe the executive committee members behind the Golden Horse Awards will bow down in worship?"

"Hahaha! Well said!"

"Director Lu, go be the frog's dad!"

The applause from the audience was even louder this time, with countless jeers and whistles. The guests all shook their heads with smiles, thinking to themselves that only this person would dare to say something so recklessly.

Since 2002, the Golden Horse Awards have been embroiled in numerous scandals based on underlying ethical issues. Two years ago, it was revealed that Chen Jieyan, a female accountant dispatched by a department in Taiwan Province, embezzled nearly NT$2000 million of public funds from the conference, which was astonishing.

In recent years, with the ever-changing regional situation, mainland film crews have often been met with indifference, as not all directors are like Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou, whose films have the ability to compete for international awards.

Among the three major Chinese-language film festivals, the Golden Horse Awards significantly enhance a director's reputation and status, making it difficult for many mainland film crews to participate, even considering the political climate, at least for the sake of selling their films.

If the timeline hadn't changed, this situation would have continued until 2019, when decisive action was taken to regulate the situation due to a director's offensive remarks the previous year.

The applause and laughter that erupted from the audience instantly created a sea of ​​exhilarating joy. When Lu Kuan playfully revealed the dark side of the Golden Horse Awards, every filmmaker present felt a sense of exhilaration at breaking taboos.

After all, not everyone has the confidence to say such things.

Even if the island's film market is in decline, Chinese-language films can still bring in at least 10 to 20 million yuan in box office revenue. Moreover, this kind of "arrogance" will inevitably bring resistance and opposition from relevant departments. If the matter escalates seriously, a ban is inevitable.

But does this kind of ban have any deterrent effect on Boss Lu?
The core market for Wenjie Films is the booming mainland China market, while Lu Kuan's own films are based in both the mainland China and North American markets. The system itself also has a great deal of autonomy over the industry chain.

If the Golden Horse Awards and the Ministry of Culture really want to ban domestic films, that's one thing, but would you dare to ban co-productions with American backers like Disney, Miramax, or Lionsgate?
For example, "Wolverine" during the recent summer season took in the equivalent of more than 3200 million RMB in the Taiwan film market, which has been completely colonized by Hollywood, ranking only behind a few imported films such as "Transformers".

Perhaps the only potential obstacle is the cinema assets in Taiwan that Wenjie acquired when it first acquired Golden Harvest.

Around 2004, Golden Harvest was the major shareholder of Warner Village Cinemas, the largest cinema chain in the Bay Area. This chain operated nine cinemas and 87 theaters in the Bay Area, representing approximately 33% of the market share. (Chapter 245)
Mr. Lu's half-serious and half-joking remarks on stage, which are currently limited to the Golden Horse Awards themselves, have entertained movie fans and provided entertainment for guests, but those with a discerning eye are already trying to figure out his intentions.

For example, Liu Yifei, Han Shanping, Zhang Yimou, and Zhang Heping in the audience, and Fan Bingbing and Zhang Guoli on stage.

Only those who are truly capable can speak with purpose; who has ever seen him spout nonsense?

There must be a deeper meaning behind this.

However, this profound meaning was revealed without any foreshadowing during the subsequent interview.

Reporters asked Zhang Guoli, Bingbing, Lu Kuan, and others questions related to "The Founding of a Republic," which was also part of the film's promotional efforts.

Zhang Guoli was asked how to portray Chiang Kai-shek's later years, especially the historical details of the "currency reform";

Bingbing was asked to share behind-the-scenes stories of Soong Mei-ling's parliamentary speech, emphasizing her international perspective;
Even now, when reporters from the *Beiping Evening News* still remember Mr. Lu's arrogant attitude towards the Golden Horse Awards, they think he was either trying to stir up trouble or asking questions out of genuine interest.
"Director Lu, your 'sharp critique' of the Golden Horse Awards about five or six years ago left a deep impression on us. At that time, you almost single-handedly stood up against the public opinion of the directors who supported the Golden Horse Awards and people in Taiwan. What are your thoughts on it now?"

Mr. Lu laughed and said, "Today's topic is 'The Founding of a Republic,' and my answer to this question is common knowledge. There's no need to take up the interview time of other colleagues present. Let's change the topic!"

"Tell us about it!" A chorus of discontent erupted from the audience. "If Director Lu talks about something worth 10 yuan, we'll each buy another movie ticket!"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Right? I'll remember that. If you want to see another movie tomorrow, leave a comment under my Weibo post with the ticket number and I'll reimburse you."

The audience burst into laughter, and instantly cheered and responded enthusiastically; after all, who doesn't want to watch a show?

Especially those kinds of satisfying stories and dramas where an art tycoon or the richest man in mainland China angrily confronts a biased system.

Old Han glanced at the young director on stage with a half-smile, then suddenly sneered and slapped his thigh. Seeing this, Zhang Heping nudged his old partner.

"What do you mean?"

The man with the crew cut chuckled in a low voice, "It's nothing, that kid's up to no good again. No wonder all the leaders like him so much, heh!"

Before Han Shanping could even react, Liu Yifei, who knew the inside story better, had already guessed what her husband, who liked to manipulate public opinion, was going to do.

"How should one say things that might offend someone?" Lu Kuan laughed and said, "It's best if other people say them. That's what you all think, right?"

After making a joke, he immediately became serious and said, "Director Hou Xiaoxian, the lifetime advisor of the Golden Horse Awards, is my friend. Although we haven't been in touch much in recent years, we always call each other to ask for our opinions and suggestions whenever we have a new project."

"But he is him, and the Golden Horse Awards are the Golden Horse Awards. The problem with the Golden Horse Awards has never been just about a positive stance, but rather about the self-degradation of artistic standards."

"Six years ago, we refused to accept the award because they used the fig leaf of 'regional balance' to cover up the jury's systemic bias against the University of Tokyo's film program."

Lu Kuan bluntly stated without any reservations: "The so-called 'Hall of Fame of Chinese-language Cinema' has even the most basic system for judging genre films broken down. It demands auteurship from commercial films while demanding market performance from auteur films. This kind of schizophrenic judging logic is essentially an artistic hegemony packaged with cultural localism."

"When an award needs to rely on geopolitics to maintain its authority, it has already betrayed the art of film. Instead of getting hung up on the Golden Horse Awards' attitude, we should ask ourselves why we entrust the discourse power of Chinese-language films to a bonsai tree whose basic judging rules are full of colonial-era remnants?"

As Mr. Lu listened to the cheers and applause that were already rising from the audience, his true intentions gradually became clear: "What Chinese-language films need is a truly open platform for exchange, not regional protectionism under the guise of art. If the Golden Horse Awards cannot embrace the diversity of Chinese-language films with a broader mind, then it will lose not only the participation of mainland filmmakers, but also a departure from the overall trend of the development of Chinese-language films."

He paused for a moment: "In fact, many of us in the industry, including officials from Wenhua, have already realized this. The domestic film market will break 10 billion yuan in just three years. In the Chinese-language film market across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, who truly has the market power now? Undoubtedly, it is the Mainland market."

"But we are currently lacking a film festival and award criteria with a pan-Asian perspective, which is a real pity. The 'superstructure' of the film industry cannot be adapted to the 'economic base'."

"In view of this, I shouldn't be the one to announce this news. But I'll take this opportunity, on this joyous occasion, to give you a little spoiler."

"Currently, the Pan-Asian Film Academy is in talks with the official organizers of the Beiping Film Festival to launch the 'Beiping Film Festival' project within two years, which will have influence in Asia and even internationally, and create a truly authoritative international film festival that includes, but is not limited to, Chinese-language films."

A murmur of discussion immediately arose from the audience, with ordinary movie fans showing excitement, especially after hearing the young director on stage speak of international vision and his criticism of the Golden Horse Awards.

Lu Kuan knows how to provide and create sensational stories for reporters, and he understands what ordinary moviegoers and audiences are interested in besides his scathing critique of the Golden Horse Awards—

"Please stay tuned for official announcements regarding all other details. As an advisor and member of the organizing committee, I can assure you that for the first Beiping Film Festival, Wenjie will leverage its connections and resources in the domestic and international film industry to invite foreign guests on a scale comparable to that of Hollywood."

"You'll find all the household names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and more, plus superstars from China, Japan, South Korea, and Europe. Stay tuned!"

"Okay, that's all. Now, please let Jin Wei continue hosting today's premiere."

The audience below the stage was almost going crazy over this news. Did he know what he was saying?

A film festival with a guest list comparable to Hollywood?
But the fact that this person said it so openly makes it seem like one has no choice but to believe it.

Jin Wei was the first to react, smiling as he walked to the center of the stage: "Thank you, Director Lu, for the wonderful spoilers! You've really whetted our appetites. Now, let's invite..."

At this moment, Zhang Heping and others in the audience instantly understood Lu Kuan's intention and Han Shanping's earlier exclamation with a smile. This was a very obvious "return of favor"!

It's obvious to anyone with eyes to see that Wen Jie was "taking advantage of a situation" by using his artistic status, voice, and influence to give the market face in the Beiping Film Festival.

For Leader Liu and Lao Cai, in such positions, economic development and social stability go without saying. What other aspect could greatly enhance their standing?
Cultural development and international influence.

There are some things that people within the system can't say, but putting aside the fact that the Beijing Film Festival has reached the standards and influence of the top three in Europe, even if it has temporarily surpassed the Golden Horse Awards, wouldn't that be a great achievement for them?

Given the Golden Horse Awards' stance and inclinations, the fact that a project with cultural influence capable of "correcting wrongs" has been created under their leadership has garnered immense praise and attention.

Lu Kuan's involvement and his creation of the Beiping Film Festival as a "cultural landmark" have effectively filled the strategic gap in Beiping's cultural soft power as a political center.

If Liu and Cai can facilitate the creation of a cultural project with international influence during their terms of office, the positive impact of their achievements will be no less than that of introducing a multi-billion-dollar industrial project.

It is entirely conceivable that when international superstars like Leonardo DiCaprio walk the red carpet and wave to Chinese audiences, they are essentially using familiar Western celebrity symbols to convey the rise of the Eastern cultural discourse system.

This strategy of "beating you with your rules" is more easily accepted by the international community than directly promoting culture abroad, yet it can achieve the same effect of demonstrating the superiority of the system.

With Liu's beauty and personality, how could fans not love her?
Boss Lu's keen insight into the ways of the world and his mastery of human relationships made it difficult for like-minded "comrades" like Han Shanping, Leader Liu, and Lao Cai not to genuinely want to cooperate.

However, what Han Shanping and others present at the scene could not yet see was that after the time travelers had finished tidying up the old lands and rivers such as Lianxiang and Huayi, before officially setting sail for a cultural expedition, they had the idea of ​​carrying out preliminary cultural transformation of Hong Kong and Taiwan, which have always been rebellious.

(End of this chapter)