Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 540 I'm in class, you want to break up?

To some extent, Mr. Lu's words did not stray from the topic. This is the "founding of the nation" of the mainland film industry, and it is also a "despicable" act of using the corrupt Golden Horse Awards to put people down.

Political correctness is something you might as well criticize if you don't want to. It wasn't anything good to begin with, and it should have been swept into the dustbin of history long ago.

Mainland filmmakers don't necessarily have to fawn over those who don't appreciate their work; it's just that everyone needs to sell their films.

Among the three major Chinese-language awards, the Golden Rooster Awards tend to award double or multiple prizes, making it less authoritative. The Hong Kong Film Awards are a self-indulgent pastime for a small fishing village; you can't participate without Hong Kong directors, actors, and funding.

Originally, the Golden Horse Awards were the only major awards that newcomers to the industry, such as directors and actors, hoped to achieve instant fame. For example, Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang from the film industry rose to prominence through this award. Therefore, even if some people were scheming and unscrupulous, they had to hold their noses and participate in the awards in order to survive in the industry.

But in recent years, most of them have been filled with anger due to injustice.

If the Beiping Film Festival proposed by Boss Lu can actually be held, it will provide filmmakers with more options. However, as everyone knows, such cultural projects cannot be decided in just a few words.

It also depends on the type of film festival, the selection criteria, the organizer's strategy, etc. After all, everyone is there to sell films and win awards, not to play along with the organizers.

A brief interlude heightened the atmosphere, and the premiere of "The Founding of a Republic" soon began.

Wenjie also holds shares, and with Han Shanping's influence, this version has made many improvements to the plot flaws compared to the previous one.

For example, there is a widely criticized scene in the original film:

When our troops were at the gates of Beiping, a company commander mistook the city wall for a "landlord's mansion" and requested that it be "blown up with artillery".

This account seriously violates historical facts. First, Beiping was peacefully liberated, and our army surrounded it without attacking, aiming to protect the ancient capital's cultural relics. Second, our army had a tight command system and its soldiers were highly skilled in military affairs, making such a basic misjudgment impossible.

This version removes this absurd plot and instead portrays the organization's wise decision to protect the ancient capital's cultural relics. The story focuses more on showcasing the arduous negotiations for peaceful liberation and the power struggles among various forces, making the plot more logical and historically accurate.

The portrayal of the Kuomintang members is also more objective. For example, Lu Kuan's portrayal of Chiang Ching-kuo not only shows his passion and determination to fight corruption in Shanghai, but also his helplessness in being coerced by the corrupt government led by Kung and Chen, and reflects the class limitations of the Kuomintang.

Even though it's still largely a star-studded extravaganza, at least the plot is smoother.

When the scene of "Soong Mei-ling disciplining her son" was shown, the entire audience burst into laughter and applause.

When Chiang Ching-kuo was fighting corruption in Shanghai, he wanted to seize the Kong family's Yangzi Company and warehouse. Kong Lingkan, played by Huang Xiaoming, sought help from his aunt Soong Mei-ling, who then put pressure on Chiang Ching-kuo.

So everyone watched with curiosity as the once-powerful richest man in mainland China addressed Bingbing, who was coldly scolding him, as "Mother," creating a stark contrast between the character and the plot.

Coupled with the outstanding performances of the two actors, the drama is incredibly compelling.

Xiao Liu, sitting in the audience, whispered to the leading actress, "Isn't it a bit satisfying to be able to openly criticize him?"

"Of course! I deliberately did NG so many times!" Bingbing covered her mouth and chuckled, glancing cautiously at Boss Lu, who was separated from Xiao Liu by a window.

The latter smiled wryly, knowing that public figures inevitably entertain their fans, and the fan-made content for this clip is bound to go wild for a while.

He sat to his wife's left, leaning slightly closer to talk to Xiao Liu and Bingbing: "When is the filming of 'My Love from the Star' expected to wrap up? It seems that Teacher Xue still hasn't returned to Beijing."

"She's still busy in Hengdian. She's quite worried about it. Only Xiaoming and I came back to participate in the event." Bingbing asked doubtfully, "It's expected to be in mid-to-late November. After that, it's post-production."

"what happened?"

Liu Yifei understood immediately: "Didn't he just snatch a mobile phone company from someone else? He also poached a product manager from Tencent before that."

"They're looking for an opportunity to insert an advertisement."

Looking at his wife, whose intelligence had once again soared after childbirth, Boss Lu chuckled and teased, "You've even learned to answer questions first now."

"It depends on whether the company can make it in time. It's probably a bit difficult to get a mobile phone, but having a mobile app should be no problem."

"When you're doing post-production, you can just shoot a few more shots and cut them in. It's simple."

Bingbing joked, "No problem, but you have to pay up!"

Liu Yifei blinked: "Money? Our family is already in huge debts raising the child, and we also bought those lousy shares in Lianxiang. How about we pay it off first? My child's aunt?"

Bingbing covered her mouth and chuckled: "Even the richest family is this poor? Why don't you mortgage Youyou or Tiedan to me, and I'll sell everything I own to raise money for you?"

"Is that so? Then let's go with Tiedan!" Little Liu said with a smile. "He could make your house flood with urine, don't regret it later!"

Bingbing listened with envy: "Are you home tomorrow? I bought several more pretty little outfits. I'll go see the baby tomorrow."

"Come over for dinner tomorrow. I've invited Tian Tian, ​​Tang Yan, and Yao Beina. How about we have hot pot at home?"

Bingbing nodded: "I think it's a good idea. It would be nice to make a clear broth with some vegetables, beef, and mutton."

The washing machine listened to the two women's conversation in a half-hearted manner, but the topic would inevitably veer back to the children every few sentences.

A mother who complains a lot, but secretly brags about it in every word she says;

One of the aunts listened with delight, her eyes sparkling with envy, wishing she could see the child immediately.

It's just that Jing Tian wasn't sitting together, otherwise the surrounding seats would have turned into a nursery.

The premiere of "The Founding of a Republic" was a great success. On its opening day, the film grossed 4200 million yuan with an extremely high screening rate, setting a new record for the highest opening day box office for a domestic film. Including advance screenings, the film grossed over 1.8 million yuan in its first week. The phenomenal growth in box office figures, coupled with ticket subsidies, is astonishing.

In a triumphant phone call to Boss Lu, the man with the buzz cut gloated, jokingly saying that he was about to become the number one director in China and take the throne of the highest-grossing film in Chinese film history.

The latter ruthlessly discouraged him from cherishing his fleeting glory, because both "2012" and "Avatar" had the potential to break this record.

At the same time, moviegoers across the country showed unprecedented enthusiasm for watching "The Founding of a Republic." Whether it was ordinary viewers who bought tickets on their own initiative or group viewings organized by their workplaces, the cinemas were filled with a long-awaited spectacle.

With its star-studded cast of 172 celebrities and successful attempt at commercializing a patriotic theme, the film attracted audiences of all ages to the cinema. Many screenings were even sold out. Stimulated by ticket subsidies, the threshold for watching the film was further lowered, allowing more people to participate in this cultural consumption that combines historical education with entertainment.

However, Lu Kuan's disparaging remarks about the Golden Horse Awards that evening, made in an effort to promote the Beiping Film Festival, still sparked some discussion, ranging from mild appeals to heated arguments.

Zhu Yanping, who had previously conspired with Wu Yusen to use mainland actors to boost the status of Lin Chi-ling and others, was the first to speak out.

"Using the denigration of others to elevate oneself has never been a tradition in the Taiwanese film industry. The Golden Horse Awards' judging mechanism has always been independent of any regional stance. To question its fairness simply because an individual's work was not favored only exposes one's shallow understanding of film art. True filmmakers should let their works speak for themselves, rather than creating pointless disputes."

As the second producer and director to echo this sentiment, Dai Luren's stance and inclinations are common knowledge:

"I don't deny Director Lu Kuan's wealth and artistic genius, but have you forgotten that your first film, 'Whiplash,' was made possible by preferential policies obtained through a co-production between the two regions, which led to the start of your directing career?"

"I must commend the Golden Horse Awards for its consistent independence. If anyone is misled by this director who discards his tools after they've served their purpose and chooses not to attend the Golden Horse Awards, then it is their own loss."

Every director, artist, and writer on the island wants to attack him, especially a group of Golden Horse insiders who had a war of words with him a few years ago because of the Golden Horse Awards.

However, Lu Kuan, who had just made a splash in front of a national audience, ignored their interest and plunged into the filming of "Ball Lightning" right after the premiere, turning a deaf ear to everything else.

He's only putting up with these colonial remnants by elevating their status.

In this kind of clearly defined online battle, countless netizens on Weibo can directly attack and break down these people, conduct a righteous trial, and also give a good scolding to Nan Fang who is stirring things up from the sidelines. There is absolutely no need to pay attention to them.

But while Mr. Lu himself remains silent, there are plenty of righteous people speaking out for justice!
Whether justice is for the sake of profit or for the sake of genuine conscience, the matter should be judged by the actions, not the intentions.

For example, Hu Xijin, who has become the blogger with the most followers on Zhijie Video because of "Old Hu Doesn't Talk Nonsense", has also ushered in a broader space for development for himself due to his outstanding performance in the battle against Liu.

Although there is no explicit subordinate relationship, the tacit understanding between him and the "strongest post-80s generation in East Asia" is already quite strong.

Well... this title will be permanently transferred to someone else in 2012. Even if Lao Hu doesn't know it yet, he still wants to get involved in this kind of public discussion.

"Chinese-language films need a new benchmark, and the Beiping Film Festival is just the right time":
China's film industry is ushering in an unprecedented golden age. From the phenomenal box office success of "The Founding of a Republic" at 42 million yuan on its opening day to the industry's imminent breakthrough of 10 billion yuan in scale, the market has cast its vote of confidence in domestic content with real money.

However, an issue that cannot be ignored is whether the discourse power system of Chinese-language films has kept pace with the development of the industry.
The controversy surrounding the Golden Horse Awards did not begin today. From the wavering judging criteria to the double criticism of both commercial and art films, its "schizophrenic" judging logic has long exposed its core contradictions.

Wanting to claim artistic authority while being unable to escape the trap of regional protectionism, when a film's genre, subject matter, and even market performance are all hijacked by a pre-set "balance," the so-called "Chinese-language temple" becomes a joke of forcing one's feet to fit the shoes.

All great cultural platforms evolve driven by industry demands, not by clinging to the past to maintain their dignity. Hollywood's dominance of global film discourse is not due to the "artistic purity" of the Oscars, but rather the siphon effect of its trillion-dollar market.

The mission of the Beiping Film Festival is not simply to replace any other film, but to build a new home for Chinese-language films that is more open, more professional, and more integrated with the industry system. When Leonardo DiCaprio and others are willing to grace the red carpet of the East, and when Asian film distributors regard Beiping as an essential trading hub, the so-called "battle for legitimacy" will naturally come to an end.

As an ordinary movie fan, Lao Hu has to say:

Chinese filmmakers have long suffered from "pseudo-authorities"! Rather than compromising within the old system, they should work together to build a new benchmark that truly belongs to the industrial era. It is hoped that Director Lu Kuan can work with the Beiping Film Festival to bring new cultural projects and innovations to everyone!
The editorial wasn't particularly sharp, but Lao Hu cleverly praised and expressed his expectations for both Mr. Lu and the Beiping Film Festival, which garnered him a lot of goodwill.

Other industry insiders and emerging film critics, who have long been dissatisfied with the Golden Horse Awards' history of scandals and misconduct, have also joined the fray, having a great time.

But for Dai Luren, Zhu Yanping, and others, there was nothing they could do but talk nonsense.

There are many calls for the island authorities to seize the assets of Golden Harvest, but no one has dared to do such a blatant act of disrupting the economic order yet.

After all, Mr. Lu only limited the discussion to the field of film art, so what reason do you have to directly resort to administrative means?

There were also calls to boycott all of Wen Jie and Lu Kuan's films in the future, but they broke down in anger and deleted their Weibo posts in response to a comment from a mainland netizen: "Wolverine is also a film invested in by Mr. Lu, do you dare to boycott your American daddy?"

These people's accounts are very easy to recognize; you can tell just by looking at the traditional Chinese characters. They're the kind of people who appear on Weibo and disappear instantly.

Enraged, the fans immediately shouted "Damn it!" and decided to turn to Twitter to expose the true face of this richest man in mainland China and this beastly artist to the international community. However, after several organized posts and direct shouting of toxic slogans, their accounts were all banned without exception.

what?
Does the Promised Land of Freedom, Beauty, and Democracy no longer welcome us?

It wasn't until someone dug up Lu's past when he was starting an internet business in the United States that people realized that Steve Chen, the current CEO of Twitter, was his former partner.

Although Lu Kuan sold Mytube to Netflix and other companies, parting ways with his entrepreneurial partners, he should still have some influence and goodwill towards them.

Clearly, this incident of shouting on foreign websites and resulting in the permanent ban of the account was once again the work of that mainland Chinese director and capitalist!
Chiang Ching-kuo in the trenches!

Those who hate Boss Lu generally don't agree with Chiang Kai-shek's stance on national righteousness either, so this is a good opportunity to criticize him as well!
The bizarre and wonderful sights of this tiny island have amused mainland netizens. Lu Kuan has only fired a shot at the Golden Horse Awards to provoke the Beiping Film Festival for now; more strategies for combating island culture are still on the way.

After a commotion lasting for more than half a month, neither side spoke up anymore, and the news gradually faded away, serving as a small prelude.

Seemingly in order to capitalize on the buzz generated by Lu Kuan's appearance at the premiere of "The Founding of a Republic" for the Beiping Film Festival, the first preparatory symposium for the Beiping Film Festival was held at the municipal government early on September 30.

The timing is very reasonable. Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a day of national celebration. During the National Day holiday, artists and cultural workers across the country are celebrating the birthday of their motherland in their own ways.

For example, there's "The Founding of a Republic," whose box office continues to soar and is indeed heading towards 5 million as Lu Kuan predicted, or Zhang Yimou's "Turandot" at the Bird's Nest.

If positive and successful news emerges regarding the Beiping Film Festival during this period, it will naturally be a boon for Lao Cai, who is in charge of the overall work.

One of the reasons for choosing this time was that leaders with National Day duties, including Lu Kuan, were all at home, making it convenient for them to gather and discuss matters.

As the director of the Beiping Olympics who made a great contribution to the country, and because of his consistent stance, reputation, and contributions to society and the people, Lu Kuan was invited to attend the National Day reception at the Great Hall of the People on the evening of September 29.

On October 1st, I will also be invited to watch the military parade and patriotic mass parade from the viewing platform on the Tiananmen Rostrum.

Early on the morning of the 30th, a deep red banner was hung high on the stage in the city government's largest conference room.

Leader Liu stood below the gold-embossed "First Plenary Preparatory Meeting and Symposium of the Beiping Film Festival," his gray-blue suit perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle. His left hand lightly pressed his speech manuscript, while his right hand occasionally rose in rhythm with his speech.

“Beijing is not lacking in cultural heritage, but rather in a platform to transform that heritage into international influence. This film festival is not just icing on the cake, but rather the final piece of the puzzle in the capital’s cultural strategy.”

"Okay, since everyone's asking me to speak, I'll just throw out this much to get the ball rolling."

Leader Liu's demeanor was even more dignified than before, and the local and ministerial officials in charge of the preparations sat upright with their eyes fixed straight ahead.

"I would also like to set the tone for the following meeting: I hope our leaders will spend less time on grand pronouncements and more time giving advice and suggestions to the industry experts and artists present today."

"Next, I would like to invite Mayor Cai, who is in full charge of the preparations for this event on behalf of the city, to speak."

A chorus of applause erupted from the audience. The auditorium, which could accommodate more than 500 people, was packed with officials from the organizing committee who were qualified to participate in the discussion and listen in, as well as members of various industry associations and representatives of film companies.

Starting with China Film Group, companies such as Wenjie, Wuyue, LeTV Culture, Enlight Media, Wanda, Chengtian, and Xiaoma Benteng were all present, each contributing their efforts to the preparation of the Beiping Film Festival through free discussions and seminars.

Apart from Lu Kuan sitting with the leaders in the first row, Bingbing, Jia Yueting, Wang Changtian, Yu Dong, Wang Sicong, Wu Kebo, and others were all seated in the third and fourth rows on the right side of the stage.

Old Cai, full of vigor, went up on stage, first thanking Leader Liu for his instructions as usual, and then, following his lead, succinctly stated:
"The recent release of the 'Cultural Industry Revitalization Plan' is a strategic deployment by the state to build cultural soft power. It not only clarifies the cultural industry's position as a pillar industry of the national economy, but also sends an important signal that China is moving from a large cultural country to a strong cultural country."

"Sitting in the audience today are two directors of the Beijing Olympics, Mr. Lu Kuan and Mr. Zhang Yimou. The unprecedented grandeur of this day last year is still fresh in our minds. Countless Chinese people were moved to tears and cheered with pride, and countless foreign tourists and dignitaries praised it. This is our cultural confidence." "But the Olympics is, after all, a grand event that cannot be sought after. If we follow the country's top-level design and use a regular cultural program to maintain and enhance our cultural influence..."

"I think the Beiping Film Festival is undoubtedly the first choice."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the stage, his voice becoming a little more relaxed: "To be honest, I was very nervous before the organization entrusted me with this task, because I really know too little about the film industry. Therefore, I visited Principal Hui Jun of Beijing Film Academy, Comrade Lu Kuan of Wenjie, and many artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong to participate in this grand event."

“I was inspired a lot during this process. The positioning of the Beiping Film Festival is by no means ‘China’s Cannes’ or ‘Asia’s Berlin’, but rather to create a film event that is based in the local area, radiates across Asia, and faces the world.”

Old Cai concluded, “Everyone, revitalizing the cultural industry is not just a slogan, but an action. The success of the Beiping Film Festival is not only about the film industry, but also about the implementation of the national cultural strategy. I hope we can work together to make this project a new benchmark for China’s cultural undertakings!”

Wen Hua, Zhong Xuan, and Leader Liu each spoke for about 10 minutes, Lao Cai for 8 minutes, and then the heads of each line and the preparatory team took the stage to speak, all of which were kept under 6 minutes.

Today's preparatory meeting was set from the outset to separate art from commerce, and invited the truly dedicated participants and leaders in the industry to offer their suggestions.

The host's voice was clear and bright: "Next, please welcome Director Lu Kuan, the deputy head of the organizing committee of the Beiping Film Festival, to speak."

Unlike other evening events that often include a "please welcome with applause" greeting, the city government's female civil servants used precise and serious language, creating an atmosphere quite different from that of cultural and entertainment venues.

Mr. Lu, sitting in the first row, leisurely went on stage. In this formal setting, he put on his gold-rimmed glasses to look older. However, since getting married and having children, he has appeared much more mature to outsiders, and people generally overlook the fact that he is still two years away from being thirty.

It's said that when organizations evaluate male cadres, being married and having a stable family is a major plus.

"Alright, the leaders have succinctly explained the significance of the Beiping Film Festival, so I won't go into details." Lu Kuan didn't bring a script, as if he were just having a casual chat.

"In 1905, China's first film, 'Dingjun Mountain,' was produced at the Fengtai Photo Studio in Beiping. To this day, Beiping has gathered 80% of the country's film production companies and a large number of creative, production, management, and marketing talents. Its feature film production accounts for about half of the country's total, with more than 4000 million moviegoers annually and box office revenue approaching 20 billion yuan. These are the industry data I have obtained."

"As for myself, I graduated from Beijing Film Academy and Wenjie also started in Beiping. In the long-term development of the company, the government’s care, love and fair treatment have been very touching."

"Therefore, when the two leaders approached me one after another seeking advice and opinions, I did not hesitate to do so, and truly treated this matter as my own career."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mr. Lu quickly got to the point: "Both leaders just mentioned the revitalization of the cultural industry. To be honest, as someone in the industry, I am quite excited about it."

"By the end of the second quarter of this year, our GDP had surpassed Germany to become the world's third largest economy. However, the cultural trade deficit, represented by the film industry, is significant. The experience of Hollywood clearly shows that industrial development can drive cultural dissemination, which is an indisputable fact."

“I spoke with my father-in-law a few days ago. He is currently working as a cultural attaché in the United States and is also in charge of the Confucius Institute. Speaking behind closed doors today, we would like to say that our institute, as a vehicle for cultural promotion, is currently mainly limited to teaching Chinese and has limited involvement in in-depth cultural dissemination.”

"Even the breathtaking Beijing Olympics last year did not translate into sustainable cultural product exports; it remained largely at the level of publicity."

The words of the artist and the richest man in mainland China on stage are sobering and thought-provoking, concerning how the Beiping Film Festival can learn from the lessons and experiences of these two projects.

Boss Lu clearly saw today's preparatory meeting as a stage for brainwashing and unifying thoughts, since this was his first time co-managing a cultural project with the government and he didn't want any obstacles in the future.

In particular, he wanted to push the Beiping Film Festival away from its unrealistic A-list status and towards a more practical, commercially viable goal.

This is very different from the collaboration with Tangshan locals and China Film Group a few years ago on "Tangshan Earthquake". The annual film festival is a truly meticulous project, and spending two years in preparation is already considered extremely fast.

Boss Lu patiently guided him, saying, "Since the government has brought up industry, I'd like to state my views clearly and directly—"

"The Beiping Film Festival should not simply follow the crowd and become a superficial A-list film festival, hanging up an international label and then having few attendees. We should explore cultural projects in other categories that suit our national conditions."

A murmur of discussion quickly rose in the large conference room. Some of the important leaders present looked displeased, seemingly not satisfied with the tone set by such an influential figure as Lu Kuan.

Even today, it's just a discussion and symposium.

Liu and Cai, who were in the audience, had already anticipated this. These two representatives of the local will had actually been persuaded, but the preparation of the Beiping Film Festival was a top-level design and not their sole decision, especially given that the Cultural Industry Revitalization Law had just been introduced.

Everyone has their own standpoint and perspective. To others, this is a positive achievement. Even if you have extensive connections and authority, there are some things that a grassroots force like yours cannot interfere with.

To put it bluntly, this is a disconnect between performance-oriented goals and practical needs.

Adults need event scale, international exposure, and short-term economic data, which are obviously more credible from high-profile A-list film festivals.

Furthermore, Shanghai is classified as Category A, so it's inappropriate for me to be classified as Category B in Beijing.

A leader immediately laughed and said, "Director Lu, let me ask you a question. You said that Beiping should not follow the example of the three major film festivals. If you were in my shoes, would you take your best film to Europe or to this BCD-type film festival you mentioned?"

This is actually a tricky question; it's essentially using one's own weapon against oneself.

If you're not even willing to bring your own films to Beiping, then what's the point of talking about not making them Category A films for the good of the Beiping Film Festival?
If one says they are willing, such a lie is easily exposed, and it makes it seem like they are talking about principles while their hearts are only set on business.

Industry insiders like Zhang Huijun and Zhang Yimou, looking at Lu Kuan on stage, knew that such questions were not easy to answer. This was different from facing reporters, after all, it was a collaborative project between the private sector and the government.

Apart from the Pan-Asia Film Academy, which is a purely private institution, the entire organizing committee of the Beiping Film Festival consisted of government officials. Are they willing to relinquish their voice?
The right to speak is also a form of power!

Those shrewd individuals within the system are far more adept at setting traps than any reporter they've encountered before.

Only a few competitors, such as Wanda, Enlight Media, Orange Sky, and LeTV Culture, remained outwardly calm, but inwardly they were somewhat pleased.

It's true that an industry needs a leader, but this terrifyingly enhanced version of Boiling Sheep has really made it hard for the other sheep in the village to breathe.

He even strangled an old wolf until it howled like a ghost. Where can you reason with that?
Especially Wang Sicong, who was present today, had already received a notification from Lianxiang Damai.com. He recalled his father's angry expression as he rushed to the meeting to communicate before he came today, and now he felt somewhat indignant.

Of course, they secretly shared a common hatred for the enemy.

Only Bingbing remained calm and composed, still smiling as she watched the man she worshipped almost superstitiously continue to shine on another stage.

Lu Kuan wasn't surprised by the question and immediately laughed, "If it's appropriate, of course it would be in Beiping. Why not?"

"Let me share some data with the leaders. The world's largest film market is Cannes. Last year, about 3500 films were sold during the festival. Berlin is next with 700 films. Can you guess who's third?"

"Is it Venice? No, it's the Toronto International Film Festival, a C-level film festival in North America. Last year alone, more than 3000 buyers participated in the transactions. Our Beijing Film Academy's Director of the Directing Department, Professor Tian, ​​is preparing to bring 'The Wolf' to the festival this year."

Mr. Lu blasted a hair dryer at a certain leader: "Toronto's core function is clearly defined as film screenings and market transactions, not awards competition."

"They set up a 'Venture Capital Unit' and a 'Speed ​​Dating Session' to provide a financing platform for independent producers. The 'Platform Unit' added last year is a tribute to Jia Zhangke's work of the same name, and it also focuses on the incubation of art films."

"I've never really lacked funding for film production since my debut, otherwise Toronto would definitely be my first choice. The Big Three are artistically prestigious, but you have to survive first, right?"

He paused, looking at the group of people deep in thought and the increasingly grim-faced leader, and chose to speak his mind frankly without holding back any dignity.

"I know that the opinion of doing Category A is prevailing right now, but since the leadership has already set the tone today, I might as well pour some cold water on everyone's enthusiasm."

"If we were to make a Category A film, Beiping would first have to face a battle for premiere rights. Last year at Venice, Toronto even snatched away more than 20 films from the main competition. How much of the scraps can a new Category A film like Beiping get?"

"Secondly, there is the dilemma of the review standards. Everyone knows our situation. Many foreign films simply cannot pass the review at the University of Tokyo, let alone be screened. This is especially true for art films! But commercial films are different. If commercial films aimed at the global market want to sell, they cannot play with overly obvious elements of justice, gore, and violence."

"Finally, there's the cultural discount effect. When we organize art film festivals, the mainstream languages ​​are French, English, and Italian, never Chinese. Such film festivals are bound to be highbrow and have few followers, which completely fails to meet the current national standard of 'the spiritual and cultural needs that the people enjoy'!"

Boss Lu said with a stern expression, "I have already stated before that if the organization insists on doing Class A, the Wenjie system will do its utmost to contribute to the conference."

"But I also want to throw some cold water on everyone here in advance. If the Beiping Film Festival is ultimately classified as an A-list film, it will definitely be a second-rate A-list film."

He concluded, “Letting go of this obsession with empty fame allows us to focus more on pursuing substantial influence and industry-driving force. I believe that when we can build the Beiping Film Festival into an indispensable trading platform, creative source, and cultural event for filmmakers worldwide, the respect and recognition it receives will far exceed an empty title. This requires us to have courage, vision, and, more importantly, a down-to-earth determination to cultivate the market.”

"The foundation of an industry is the market, sustainable output and returns. Hollywood's experience has long proven that a strong film industry is the most effective and profound vehicle for cultural dissemination, naturally allowing global audiences to accept the values ​​and lifestyles behind it. Our film festival must become a fulcrum to leverage this industry and activate this market, rather than an ivory tower of self-admiration."

"That's all I have to say. Please forgive me if I offend anyone." Lu Kuan smiled and said a few polite words on the stage, but his sincerity seemed a little lacking.

Okay, thank you everyone.

The atmosphere inside was somewhat heavy, and the guests present were momentarily bewildered.

Many officials are not used to his direct approach; he deliberately avoided the middle ground and pointed out the lingering effects and drawbacks of Category A.

Some words spoken by administrative officials have a direct impact, such as ordering someone to stop drawing a painting or make changes as instructed.

However, some of the words spoken by Mr. Lu, a recognized industry expert and artistic giant, are, in some ways, more sobering than those from official sources.

Even the other competing film companies in the audience today cannot deny that many of their marketing strategies, ideas, and so-called industry insights are imitations of this expert.

At this high-profile preparatory meeting, which was also documented, Lu Kuan made his position clear:
Don't do Category A; doing Category A guarantees failure.

Even if some officials are dissatisfied, they dare not directly veto the proposal.

What if we really do get Category A, and then after one or two sessions it disappears from memory? Like the Beiping Film Festival in the previous life, will it have any trace of existence?

As for Mr. Lu himself, he has a personal agenda of linking the film festival with the Pan-Asian Film Academy. If he doesn't make a decisive move today, he will face endless obstacles in the future.

Moreover, out of respect for Liu and Cai, he couldn't just give up. So he decided to target the more upright individuals who weren't closely related to his industry, and slap their outdated thinking away first.

Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, for a time traveler, clinging to Old Cai's coattails in this industry is enough. If Uncle Jing's future path remains unchanged, he can still provide a lot of support.

The lines he laid for himself were thick enough and deeply rooted enough.

"Clap, clap, clap!" In the huge conference room, someone took the lead in clapping. When everyone saw that it was Leader Liu, regardless of the attitudes of the others who had been humiliated, everyone immediately followed suit and cooperated.

The applause was sporadic, like gears being forced to turn, their rhythm inconsistent but their movement unavoidable.

The officials sitting below the stage had different expressions; some were looking down at documents and pretending to be focused; others had smiles on their faces but their eyes were wandering.
Others simply remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, as if pondering how to process this sudden "direct confrontation."

The harmonious atmosphere of the official meeting was ultimately disrupted by the outspokenness of the private enterprises, resulting in an awkward situation.

However, it is undeniable that, given the current state of affairs, no one dares to risk failure and forcefully push for the implementation of Category A.

If we do fail, the meeting minutes will clearly show who is at fault.

Wang Sicong, dressed in a suit and tie, mechanically clapped while glancing around at the mostly expressionless private film entrepreneurs around him.

Yu Dong and Wang Changtian, who had formed an alliance two years ago and mainly dealt with Hong Kong film distribution, were whispering to each other. Wu Kebo of Chengtian and Da Gou Ge of Xiaoma Benteng were having a pleasant conversation. Fan Bingbing of Wuyue Culture had a rosy complexion, but she was watching Lu Kuan leave the stage with undiminished eyes.

Wang Sicong curled his lip, "Damn it, this Soong Mei-ling!"

Thinking of Da Tiantian, who had always been indifferent to him, and his father, who was probably discussing the resale of Damai.com shares with the evil axis and others, the second generation harbored even deeper resentment towards this billionaire who was not much older than him.

How come you get to have all the good things?
Just like in the previous life, the film festival organizing committee's goal is to launch the event no later than 2011, and such discussions and seminars will not produce results in just one or two sessions.

At 6 p.m., the symposium ended and everyone left. Wang Sicong glanced at Lu Kuan, who was shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the leaders, and left the room feeling rather bored.

"Hey Xiao Wang, are you free tonight? Want to get together? We've invited Mr. Jia from LeEco Culture." Fatty Yu Dong called out to him from behind, and Wang Changtian beside him also extended an invitation:
"We thought Mr. Lu was young enough, until we saw you today. Truly, new talents emerge in every generation!"

A sense of vigilance suddenly rose in Wang Sicong's heart, and without thinking, he blurted out a humble remark: "No, please! Ten of me can't even catch up to a hair of President Lu's head. You two bosses, don't flatter me to death! I'm just here to get by."

He looked at the two men whose expressions remained unmoved and smiled, "My father has a social engagement tonight, and I have to attend it. How about I treat you two next time?"

"Okay, goodbye then."

Jia Yueting had just exchanged pleasantries with several familiar leaders, one of whom was a fellow townsman from Xishan.

Feeling relaxed, he ran into Yu Dong and Wang Changtian as he went out. He whispered, "Hey? Didn't we say we'd call that kid from Wang Jianlin's family to find out some information?"

Yu Dong laughed and said, "He's gone. He's a cunning fellow, not even willing to eat the sugar coating, just like his father."

"Oh, okay." Old Jia always had a cheerful and honest face. "Being chased by these young people makes us feel like we're about to be buried. Is this another Lu Kuan incident?"

Wang Changtian silently shook his head. Like Yu Dong of Bernard, he rarely collaborated with the World Project, which was usually with China Film Group, or at most with Eagle King.

However, based on limited contact and hearsay, I was somewhat dismissive of the question raised by Jia Yueting.

Putting everything else aside, he's not even 30 yet! He's being invited to stand in Tiananmen Square to watch the National Day ceremony tomorrow, how can you compare to him?
That person's status and "fearsome reputation" were earned through real battles both domestically and internationally; these hothouse flowers can't compare.

Unaware that she was being talked about, the "greenhouse flower" left the municipal government and went to the Mei family banquet where Wang Jianlin and the others from Damai.cn were discussing matters.

The old chairman had just returned from the United States, barely recovered from his daughter's affairs, and the only theme of today's meal was:
They broke up.

(End of this chapter)