Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 647 Toronto and Venice: Have they lost all their backbone?
The aftershocks of the news about the new release date for "Interstellar" have not yet subsided.

However, it's not just the film production companies that are eyeing Wu Chen's movies.
After Interstellar officially took over the Thanksgiving season, major Hollywood studios either changed their release dates or withdrew from the market, and these actions have been completed one after another.

Wu Chen's schedule in Los Angeles did not stop as a result.

He had just finished discussing future ideas for The Conjuring universe with James Wan in a coffee shop.

This horror film series, with the core concept provided by him and directed by James Wan himself, will officially launch next year.

James Wan prepared a lot of script material for this project, and many seemingly insignificant details were foreshadowing for subsequent sequels and spin-offs.

"Come and support me at the premiere of 'Interstellar'." After finishing their business, Wu Chen stood up with a smile and extended the invitation.

"Of course!"

James Wan immediately agreed, with a genuine smile on his face.

He knew, of course, that the phrase "to support him" was a gesture of respect from Wu Chen.

Given Wu Chen's current status in Hollywood, coupled with Universal Pictures' resources, they certainly don't need another top director or superstar like him.

The fact that a movie's release date can be changed can disrupt all of Hollywood's plans for the second half of the year, demonstrating its undeniable influence.

Just as Wu Chen was preparing to return to his Beverly Hills residence, David Lyndon's call came at the perfect time.

“Wu, an old friend of mine wants to see you tomorrow. He just flew in from Toronto, and I think you'll be interested.”

“Toronto?” Wu Chen was stunned for a moment on the other end of the phone, then a name instantly popped into his mind, “Pierce Handlin?”

“You reacted quickly,” David Lyndon laughed on the other end of the phone. “Interested in meeting?”

The other party was the chairman of the Toronto International Film Festival, and he even went so far as to send a message through David Lyndon. Wu Chen obviously had to give him face.

"Okay, then tomorrow afternoon."

Wu Chen planned to finish the battle quickly.

The following afternoon, in a meeting room at Universal Pictures headquarters, Wu Chen met this pivotal figure in the international film festival system.

Pierce Handling didn't engage in much small talk. After David Lyndon introduced them, he went straight to the point and extended an invitation in earnest terms.
Hopefully, Wu Chen's new film, "The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life," will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Toronto International Film Festival this September.

With Berlin and Cannes over, the eyes of filmmakers worldwide are now focused on Venice and Toronto for the fall season.

In recent years, Toronto has been gaining momentum thanks to its huge market size and its precise positioning as an "Oscar precursor," constantly competing with the long-established Venice Film Festival for the best film sources.

Wu Chen's new film is undoubtedly their ultimate target this year.

Wu Chen's impressive resume alone is enough to justify their investment.

While Pierce Handling was still in Los Angeles, he was making a great effort to invite Wu Chen.

In the New Pictures Film Studio office in Beijing, Zhang Weiping's brows were furrowed tightly.

The release date of "Interstellar" in November made him feel an unprecedented sense of unease.

To be honest, it would be fine if it were any other Hollywood blockbuster;

But can a 3D blockbuster like Interstellar really unleash its full box office potential in just one month?
That's very risky!

At least in his view, it was extremely risky.

A significant portion of the audience will choose to gradually go to the cinema on subsequent weekends.

The release date for "The Flowers of War" is mid-December.

This is undoubtedly a huge potential threat to him, who was hoping to recoup his investment or even make a fortune from this movie.

It's worth noting that he signed a loan agreement worth hundreds of millions of yuan for this movie.

If this results in a loss, how many times would it take to exploit Zhang Yimou to recoup the losses?
"No, we have to think of something."

The fear of losing money is the best stimulant.

Zhang Weiping's mind started racing at that moment.

At that moment, Zhang Yimou received a phone call and had just returned to his office.

"Yimou, forget about all those other things! Right now, nothing is more important than the 'Flowers of War' project!"

Upon seeing him, Zhang Weiping immediately spoke with displeasure.

"Interstellar is almost a month away from our release date, so it won't have much of an impact."

Zhang Yimou sighed and slowly said, "No! I have to find a way to make 'The Flowers of War' more profitable at the box office!"

Zhang Weiping immediately retorted, then, as if remembering something, he couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Who was looking for you just now? And they were speaking English?"

"Marco Müller".

"He."

Zhang Weiping pursed his lips slightly, his tone full of disdain and sourness.

"Then it's definitely not someone looking for you, it's probably someone looking for Wu Chen, right? I don't know what's so great about Wu Chen, everyone's rushing to invite him."

That night, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

Wu Chengang and Liu Yifei had just finished their sweet transoceanic phone call when Zhang Yimou called.

Venice.

Wu Chen was not surprised at all after hearing the message relayed by Zhang Yimou.

After all, the people in Toronto had just contacted him today, so it was only natural that Marco Müller, the president of the Venice Film Festival, would reach out to him through Zhang Yimou.

Moreover, the other party had contacted him once before through Zhang Yimou regarding the project "Black Peony".

"I'll try my best, senior. It depends on the later progress. If all goes well, I should be able to make it to Venice at the end of August."

"Mr. Marco Müller doesn't need to make a special trip; it would be nice to meet in Venice if there's a chance."

Wu Chen replied.

Toronto has been enjoying great success and has a huge market influence in recent years;

But the three major film festivals are still the three major film festivals, and their status in the pantheon of art cannot be easily replaced.

Moreover, the film "The Warmest 30 Days of My Life" may not be favored by the judges at Toronto, who tend to prefer plot conflicts and topical issues.

But for Venice, it is a perfect fit.

It's a story about time, about love, and about how an ordinary man uses his superpowers to correct and experience the beauty of ordinary life.

It has no earth-shattering dramatic conflicts, nor any grand social critique;
What remains are simply the poetic details of life, and a gentle, slightly melancholic, yet ultimately incredibly warm romance.

This unique artistic temperament is remarkably similar to the languid, romantic, and slightly melancholic style of Venice.

However, the one who is suffering the most right now is Lu Xun, who is far away in Xiangshan Film and Television City.

He delayed things quite a bit regarding the production of "The Last Supper," but he didn't miss a single piece of the gossip and reports circulating in the industry.

Today I saw a comedy film "technically" postponed due to "Interstellar," and tomorrow I'll see a romance film hastily moved up its release date for "better market performance."
He was furious.

"They're all a bunch of useless trash! A movie that hasn't even been released yet has scared them like this! Where's their backbone?! Have they lost all their backbone?"

Lu Xun sat in his director's chair, muttering to himself.

Just then, his phone rang, and the caller ID showed "Qin Hong".

As soon as he answered the phone, he heard the CEO of Xingmei roar with suppressed anger on the other end.

He was absolutely furious!

He must have lost his mind back then. For the sake of his father, Lu Tianming, he sided with Lu Xun, a guy who was all talk and no action.

These days, I don't know what this idiot is doing, the production schedule is almost completely stalled, and all day long it's either about overspending here or asking for more money there.

"Lu Xun!" Qin Hong's voice sounded like it was spitting fire from the phone.

"I'm asking you, can you still make this movie?!"

"If you can't film, then get out of here! Do you even know how many shareholders proposed withdrawing their investment from your project at the group's senior management meeting this afternoon?!"

"I was so blind! I invested money in you because of your dad! And what do you do? You take my money and live like a king on the film set?"

Progress is as slow as a snail, but spending money is faster than anyone else!
Last week you told me you wanted to spend extra money to buy some special German-imported lens, and what happened?

I sent someone to the set, and there your assistant was taking photos of the actress with that lens! Do you think I'm stupid, or an ATM?!
I'm telling you this! If you don't produce any useful footage by the end of this month, you're fired!

"Your father's influence with me has already run out!"

(End of this chapter)