Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 680 Does your face hurt?

"news."

After hanging up the phone, Wu Chen learned about some of the current comments from Liu Yifei.

"Hmph! They've gone too far! How could they do this?"

Liu Yifei sat on the sofa, pouting as she looked at the comments about "getting preferential treatment" and "being praised to death," like an angry hamster.

Wu Chen's expression remained unchanged.

He reached out and gently touched Liu Yifei's cheeks, which were puffed up with anger, and said with a smile:

"It's no big deal. Since ancient times, only mediocre people are not envied."

"So what you mean is..." Liu Yifei looked up at him.

“That’s right.” Wu Chen nodded seriously. “You’re a genius.”

"Pfft."

Liu Yifei was amused by his appearance and burst out laughing. She stretched out her little fist and punched his shoulder in annoyance.

"Ugh! You're joking!"

Although she said that, most of her anger had dissipated.

As the online debate intensified, Zhang Yi was surrounded by reporters at a business event, who pressed her for her opinion on the matter.

"I have seen the relevant reports," Zhang Yimou said seriously to the camera.

"I think this is a good thing. It shows that our domestic film industry and film technology are making rapid progress."

Wu Chen's attempt in "1939" is very valuable and technically very difficult.

As for youth, that's not the issue. As the ancients said, "There is a sequence to learning, each with their own expertise, and those who are accomplished are our teachers." In the art of film, whoever can create good films and innovate is worthy of our study.

Zhang Yimou's strong support naturally carries weight.

However, the film association itself was very uncomfortable and was full of complaints.

"Two traitors"

"Zhang Yi and Wu Chen are definitely in cahoots now!"

"."

While domestic public opinion was still in a state of flux, a senior reporter from The Hollywood Reporter in Los Angeles also keenly noticed this news from China.

He immediately contacted a friend of his who taught at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

The following day, a report from the authoritative film media outlet across the ocean—The Hollywood Reporter—was like pouring boiling oil on a raging fire.

"A New Wave in the East: Wu Chen's Cinematic Language is Becoming a New Darling of Top Film Schools Worldwide"

This in-depth report, written by veteran journalist Scott Roxborough, confirms with extremely detailed writing that the USC School of Cinematic Arts has not only included "1939" in the syllabus for its "Advanced Cinematography" seminar in the fall semester;
The professors who taught the course gave it extremely high praise:

"Wu's 'pseudo-long take,' which utilizes digital technology and CG effects to achieve the effect, is groundbreaking in both aesthetics and technology."

We believe its educational value is no less than that of Alexander Sokolov's *The Russian Ark*, or Alfonso Cuarón's attempt in *Children of Men*.

The report further revealed that several of the world's top film schools, including New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, the Paris National School of Imaging and Sound in France, and the London Film School in the UK, have included this shooting technique in their latest cinematography teaching programs.

The moment this report was published, public opinion in China instantly reversed. Those who had previously questioned the "backdoor" approach or the "overpraise to kill" vanished without a trace.

"Holy crap! Damn it, I knew the Beijing Film Academy wouldn't mess around like that. After all, it's one of the world's top art schools."
Photography is our flagship program; how could we possibly mess around with you!

"Hahahaha! Isn't that a slap in the face? I'm asking you, doesn't your face hurt? You said he got in through connections at the film academy? Does that mean all the top film academies in the world give Wu Chen special treatment?"

"The film and television industry should be researching the latest technologies. If we don't learn the new and good ones, are we supposed to learn the old ones? In this light, it's no wonder that the Beijing Film Academy ranks so high and is at the forefront!"

"Where's the Golden Rooster Awards' Weibo account? Why aren't they saying anything? And why did that film critic who retweeted it delete their post too? Come out and keep jumping around!"

"."

This puts the Golden Rooster Awards in a very awkward position.
Inside a quiet office in the headquarters building.

The secretary was reporting the Film Association's complaint to Tong Gang.
The report detailed how Wu Chen "openly led the boycott of the Golden Rooster Awards," causing this year's awards to "almost come to a standstill," and vehemently accused him of his "evil deeds."
"The Film Association hopes that we can step in and 'seriously deal with' Director Wu Chen to 'set the record straight'."

After listening, Tong Gang remained expressionless, simply asking calmly:
Have you seen the report about Wu Chen's films being included in foreign film school textbooks?

"I've seen it, sir," the secretary replied immediately. "I've also looked into it from another angle, and the situation is basically true."

The main focus is on analyzing his cinematography techniques in "1939." Other aspects are not covered in foreign textbooks, though film school materials do include a little bit.

"That's good too, at least it's not bad."

A smile appeared on Tong Gang's face.

He pondered for a moment, then said to his secretary, "Call Wu Chen later."

"Okay, leader."

"On the phone, please congratulate him on behalf of me and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Congratulate him on winning the award at Venice and on his work being selected as a teaching case by film schools at home and abroad."

This has brought honor to Chinese cinema.

"Then, you can talk to him about the Golden Rooster Awards." Tong Gang's tone became somewhat meaningful.

"As for that 'small and medium budget award,' just ask him, from the perspective of an internationally renowned director, how he thinks it should be changed to be more reasonable and fair."

"Let him give us some feedback to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles."

After the secretary turned around, her expression was very strange.

They had already drafted the suggestions, and the solution was actually quite simple. However, he felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood the leader's deeper meaning.

When Wu Chen received the call, he was having dinner at home with Liu Yifei.

He didn't really appreciate the congratulations before, but the subsequent request for advice made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Director Wu, please be bold and say it. The bureau also had a document to submit."

Upon hearing this, Wu Chen understood the meaning perfectly and immediately began to speak.

"I think the key issue is not the level of cost."

The key is to give all types of films a fair chance to compete. My suggestion is that the 'low-budget films' category can be retained, but it shouldn't be completely separated from the individual award selections.

In other words, all submitted films, regardless of budget, should be eligible to compete for all individual awards, including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

(End of this chapter)