Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 718 Invitation, Vote Now!

Chapter 718 Invitation, Vote Now!
The afternoon chase and playful fighting ended with Liu Yifei's "surrender".

Wu Chen held her in his arms with great satisfaction, looking at her flushed face and slightly disheveled hair from the exercise, feeling very happy.

Liu Yifei glanced at the still bright afternoon sunlight outside the window, and her cheeks felt even hotter.

"It's all your fault"

She gently scolded him, then stretched out her slender fingers and lightly pinched the soft flesh of his waist.

"It hurts."

Wu Chen gasped dramatically, displaying superb acting skills.

"You're the best at pretending."

As Liu Yifei said this, the force in her hands was so light that it was like tickling, clearly unwilling to use any force.

Wu Chen lowered his head and kissed her smooth forehead before lazily getting up from the sofa and stretching.

He casually turned on the stereo in the living room, and a familiar melody instantly filled the entire room.

Inside was Jay Chou's newly released album, "Exclamation Mark".

Accompanied by the roar of a sports car engine, that signature, indistinct singing style, mixed with electronic music, filled the entire living room.
Just as Wu Chen was enjoying a rare moment of leisure, the battle for the Lunar New Year film season had reached a fever pitch.

Zhang Weiping, who was "backstabbed" by Yu Dong by lowering prices, couldn't sit still after he retorted.

After all, that's a hundred million dollar investment.
He first tried to back down by making a phone call to Zhang Yi.

"Yi, do we really need to go this far?"

Zhang Weiping's tone softened slightly, as he thought Zhang Yi was relatively easy to coax. However, upon hearing the tough attitude on the phone, he couldn't help himself.

"Let me tell you, Zhang Yi! This matter is not that simple!"
And besides, you're not taking any of those actors with you! They're all signed with New Pictures! It's your fault for letting them down!

He angrily hung up the phone, paced back and forth in his office, and after thinking for a long time, finally decided to hold a high-profile press conference.

The event was titled "Appreciation Meeting on the Artistic Quality of 'The Flowers of War'".

In reality, it was yet another indirect attack on Bona and Yu Dong.

At the press conference, Zhang Weiping, contrary to his usual demeanor, expressed deep remorse and indignation.

"Our film, 'The Flowers of War,' is a film with integrity and passion!"
We raised ticket prices because we've poured our hearts and souls into it! We hired the best actors and used the best team! This is out of respect for art!

"Unlike some movies that only resort to underhanded tactics like price cuts and promotions, which is an insult to cinema!"
This is a deception of the audience! They are selling art cheaply!

Wu Chen came across the video of this press conference on Weibo.

He almost spat out the water in his mouth when he saw Zhang Weiping in the video, looking so indignant and dedicated to art.

Zhang Weiping was getting a little anxious.

Killing eight hundred enemies, self-defeating one thousand.

By doing this, they have essentially put themselves in opposition to all cinemas and ordinary viewers.

You are noble and you are amazing.

If you want to watch high-quality movies, you have to pay a high price.

Nobody is willing to buy into this logic.

Perhaps having Zhang Yimou himself say something would have some effect.

You, Zhang Weiping, a businessman reeking of money, talking about artistic integrity here only makes people laugh.

The domestic political scene is in turmoil.

But this did not affect Interstellar's box office performance worldwide.

After experiencing a dramatic rebound during the Thanksgiving holiday season, the North American box office figures for Interstellar's second week have been officially released.

The total for the seven days of the second week was $2.05 million!
This figure is even higher than the opening weekend box office of many blockbuster films.

After two weeks in theaters, the cumulative box office in North America has officially reached $3.83 million!
This achievement also propelled it past Spider-Man 3, placing it among the top fifteen highest-grossing films in North American film history.

Furthermore, it became the fastest non-sequel film in box office history to surpass $3 million.

Although global box office figures have not yet been precisely updated, everyone knows that after this terrifying second week, Interstellar's global cumulative box office will only approach the billion-dollar mark.

At this point, movie fans and media worldwide unanimously believed that Interstellar was highly likely to break its third weekend record.
It will also become the eleventh film in history to surpass one billion US dollars at the box office.

It's important to understand that a billion-dollar movie represents more than just huge profits.

It is more than just a cultural symbol; it is a universally accepted hard currency, something that production companies, directors, and actors can boast about for the next decade.

The popularity of "Interstellar" is like a fire in the dead of winter, spreading across the globe. Berlin, Germany.

Outside the cinema in Potsdamer Platz, a biting wind was blowing.

But the huge poster on the exterior wall of the cinema, featuring Cooper in a spacesuit gazing at the stars, still attracts countless passersby to stop and look.

Meanwhile, in the meeting room of the Berlin Film Festival organizing committee, a discussion about the next film festival is underway.

The most important issue, of course, is the selection of the chairperson for the 62nd jury.

Being the president of the jury at one of the three major film festivals is more than just an honorary title.

It represents a filmmaker whose artistic status and influence in the global film industry have reached the very top of the pyramid.

The members of the organizing committee sat around a long table, their expressions solemn.

“I nominate Mike Lee. He just received the Venice Lifetime Achievement Award, and his qualifications and reputation are more than sufficient,” an older committee member said first.

"What about the Dardenne brothers? They are regulars at Cannes, and their style is a good fit for Berlin."

"I think we should consider Wu."

A slightly youthful voice suddenly rang out, breaking the dull atmosphere.

All eyes were on the spokesperson.

"Wu?"

"Yes, Wu Chen."

“I agree,” another female committee member immediately chimed in. “To be honest, I think Wu is very suitable.”

Both his international influence and his current global blockbuster, *Interstellar*, prove that he is the most talked-about director in the world right now.

“But he’s too young, not even thirty!” someone immediately objected. “If we invite him, he will be the youngest jury president in the history of the three major film festivals.”

Will this cause criticism from the outside world? Will they think we are not rigorous enough?

I disagree with your view.

The young man who first made the suggestion argued his case logically.

"I believe that his youth is precisely his greatest advantage!"

Furthermore, Sophia Loren was only 31 years old when she served as the president of the Cannes jury. Is Wu's current experience inferior to hers back then?
He's won more than one of the three major awards.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we must acknowledge a fact," a committee member who had been silent until now slowly began to speak.

Cannes has its star power and commerce. Venice has its art and tradition.

Berlin is caught in the middle, and its situation has become increasingly awkward in recent years.

We need innovation, we need to break with convention, and we need to inject new vitality into this somewhat stagnant film festival.

Wu Chen's three major awards and international box office success are enough to make him suitable for any role, and I believe he is the kind of person who can bring new vitality.

Everyone was silent.

Everyone knows he's telling the truth.

Dieter Kosslick, the film festival president, sat in the main seat, listening to the discussion and lightly tapping his fingers on the table.

Wu Chen's qualifications are absolutely beyond question.

He has won awards at Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

He even won two Oscars for Best Director.

The only "problem" is that he is not yet thirty years old.
"Everyone, let's cast our vote."

After a long pause, Dieter Koslick finally spoke.

I support it.

"I object. We can be more cautious and wait a few years."

The voting results came out quickly.

Dieter Koslick looked at the statistics and nodded.