The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 143: Wild History is Too Wild

A helpless, bitter smile appeared on Paperclip's refined face.

"Didn't you set them up?"

Jiang Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "You shouldn't be here at this time."

It's already this late, and "The Eunuch" has been in theaters for a month and its box office has already exceeded 400 million.

At this point, the paperclip is best off playing dead.

Although he had previously tried to facilitate such a dialogue, Jiang Zhiqiang was more aware than Paperclip that the situation was now quite different.

It is highly likely that Mark Müller sided with Shen Shandeng.

This trip, I'm afraid...
Upon hearing this, Paperclip sighed; he hadn't come of his own accord.

I had no choice but to come.

Three weeks have passed since that humiliating public statement was released, and Shen Shandeng's side has not responded at all; the public outcry has long since died down.

Coming back now would be tantamount to tearing the wound open again and personally delivering it to the opponent.

Moreover, they couldn't talk about "The Sinful Creation." Shen Shandeng's team made their demands very clear: they could only talk about "The Hidden Dragon and the Hidden Tiger" and "The Eunuch."

This is clearly meant to have him, the former visionary of period dramas, personally crown Shen Shandeng, the subversive, and personally acknowledge the end of the "Jiao Qian Hu Yin" route and the victory of the new narrative represented by "Du Gong".

For him personally, what real benefit is there besides a symbolic and humiliating display of generosity?

But he had no choice but to come.

Paperclip's golden partner, James Schamus, patiently persuaded him to be patient!
Now is the time to lie low.

First, satisfy Shen Shandeng and keep him calm.

First, minimize the negative impact of "The Creation" here and preserve the last vestige of the Chinese market.

I'll get my revenge another time!
They were subtly implying to him that giving the money here was considered foreign territory, and no matter what happened, it wouldn't be inside the country.

If you're outside, it doesn't count as giving money.

Paperclip understands the logic, but the feeling of humiliation lingers in his heart.

I felt a sense of powerlessness, as if I had no room to struggle.

So-called artistic pursuits amount to nothing in the face of the unreasonable iceberg of Western rules.

Although James Schamus was trying to persuade him, Paperclip knew very well that if he didn't agree, things probably wouldn't turn out well.

Paperclip and Jiang Zhiqiang exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thing in each other's eyes: helplessness.

Jiang Zhiqiang took a sip of his cold coffee and tried several times to remind Paperclip.

But I still can't bring myself to say it.

That dinner party was a taboo subject that couldn't be mentioned at all, and later Marco Müller specifically ordered him to keep quiet.

Moreover, looking back, that dinner party was, in a sense, his pledge of allegiance.

Once exposed, it will be difficult for him, a buyer of Western culture, to survive in Western society.

And that was indeed the case; he established contact with Shen Shandeng's team after that.

After Paperclip left, Jiang Zhiqiang walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

He looked out the window at the dazzling lights of Beijing and took a small sip.

There was no remorse on his face, only an almost cold calm.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Zhiqiang, Paperclip, with a heavy heart, met with Mark Müller.

The president of the Venice Film Festival is currently the key intermediary in his communication with Shen Shandeng's team.

To Paperclip's surprise, Müller was unusually warm and sympathetic.

The hand that gripped the paperclip tightly upon meeting was filled with empathetic indignation.

"Li! Seeing you like this, I just... sigh! That Shen Shandeng is too domineering and has no sense of rules! He's a scoundrel!"

Marco Müller doesn't need acting skills; his emotions come naturally.

Shen Shandeng could easily manipulate his opponent's hopes, making them willingly walk into a carefully laid trap, and even feel grateful for it.

This is a nightmare character.

Marco Müller's insightful opening remarks brought comfort to Paperclip's heart.

Marco Müller sat down, pulling on a paperclip, and began to pour out his grievances, bitterly recounting how Shen Shandeng had undermined industry consensus and trampled on artistic dignity.

It seems that Marco Müller was also one of his own who suffered greatly as a result.

After his tirade, Marco Müller lowered his voice and a mysterious expression appeared on his face.

"Li, don't worry! I won't let you suffer in this dialogue. I have done my best to mediate, and the dialogue will be co-chaired by me and Director Tian Lili from Beijing Film Academy."

"Think about it, there are four people on the field, including me and Director Tian. These are people who understand art and respect you! No matter how domineering Shen Shandeng is, would he go too far in front of us?"

Paperclip was relieved.

Shen Shandeng was careless. He had the advantage with three against one on the stage!
Paperclip's mind raced through a number of possible actions.

Mark Müller pressed on, saying, "At that time, I will seize the opportunity to steer the conversation toward 'artistic freedom' and 'the courage and responsibility to deal with complex historical subjects.'"

"Given the right opportunity, I will skillfully bring out the value and artistic pursuit of 'The Creation' to help you clear your name!"

"This meeting is backed by the Americans. This is not a compromise, but an opportunity to fight back and regain the right to speak on Shen Shandeng's home turf!"

Paperclip had vaguely sensed the power that compelled him to come.

After listening to Mark Müller's words, all the things that had been puzzling me became clear.

The paperclip seemed to see a sun in the endless darkness.

That's it!

Marco Müller did not abandon him, nor did the free world he believed in and practiced abandon him; it was helping him in another way!
Beneath Paperclip's refined face, his heart, almost frozen by humiliation and repression, has become burning hot again.

He even developed a bloodthirsty desire, wanting to use this conversation to wash away his stain.

Let Shen Shandeng see what true, indestructible artistic power really is!

Paperclip gripped Marco Müller's hand tightly, exclaiming excitedly, "Marco! Thank you so much! This time, it all depends on you!"

Marco Müller patted the back of his hand: "Don't worry, Lee! We're friends, and I'll always stand by art!"

We bid farewell to the paperclip, which was full of hope and even renewed fighting spirit.

The warmth and sympathy on Marco Müller's face vanished instantly. He closed the door, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

When the call connected, his tone changed, becoming calm.

"Old Ma, the prey has been caught in the net."

"Don't worry, everything is under Director Shen's control. I guarantee he'll 'voluntarily' step forward and perform this role well. It's my honor to be Director Shen's, uh, to be able to do this."

Ma Youde on the other end of the phone seemed to say something.

A smile spread across Müller's face, and he straightened up unconsciously, as if he had shed his burden.

Finally, this damn trip is coming to an end!
Shandeng Culture.

The atmosphere and the undercurrents in the outside world seemed like two different worlds, with only unwavering action.

The whiteboard in Shen Shandeng's office was covered with plot points from the movies "Lost in Thailand" and "Jiajing".

Shen Shandeng has just finished meeting with several domestic special effects teams.

It's true that Shen Shandeng has a studio when it comes to special effects, but he doesn't intend to keep it all to himself.

He prefers to be an industry chain integrator, someone who contracts out projects, rather than doing everything himself.

Back in his office, Shen Shandeng's secretary reported, "The official launch ceremony for the motion engineering projects with Beijing Sport University and China University of Petroleum received a positive response."

"We just finished the third script meeting for 'Lost in Thailand,' and we completed part of the script as expected. We have confirmed the schedules of Xu Zheng and Wang Baoqiang, and we are also in talks with other actors."

"For location shooting, the team also went to investigate, and communication with local officials required the boss to personally appear."

"Director Wu Jing has already begun working on the launch of the 'Jiajing' project, and he wants to start the production team quietly."

Shen Shandeng quickly dealt with his tasks, glanced at the storyboard sketches for the "Jiajing" project, and made annotations on them from time to time.

Ma Youde tiptoed in and waited for Shen Shandeng to finish his work before whispering, "Boss, Marco has sent a message."

"Boss, I really didn't expect things to go so smoothly. At first, I was worried that Paperclip would never agree to the conditions we set."

"And guess what happened? After Marco Müller and Smith communicated, Smith bypassed everyone else and went straight to James Schamus of Focus Features."

“Shams persuaded Paperclip almost without hesitation.”

“They were even more anxious than we were, wanting to get things done this weekend, but we insisted on putting it off until next week.”

Shen Shandeng put down his pen, showing no surprise on his face.

This is what it's like to be a dog.

They seem to have many choices, but in reality, they have no autonomy.

This incident might just be Smith trying to boost his KPIs and show that he has the public opinion under control.

The dog is about to die!

Ma Youde licked his slightly dry lips and said excitedly, "Is this how the Western system works? The efficiency is frightening, and the pace is terrifyingly synchronized!"

"It's just like...like a bottomless black box?"

Ma Youde felt a thrill of having glimpsed the deep-seated operating rules of the West.

Shen Shandeng's expression became even calmer.

In later years, many netizens were expecting the CCTV's "underworld filter" for the Victory Day parade, only to find that it wasn't applied this time, as if they had forgotten.

Have they really forgotten?

However, the underlying directive is consistent: to minimize the powerful deterrent effect displayed by Victory Day.

The West's level of self-awareness in this regard is unimaginable to Chinese people who have only seen the media's reverse self-awareness.

Shen Shandeng said, "This is not some kind of black box magic, but just a narrative bubble built with intelligence, guns, and cold interests."

"Over time, people will start to believe what is fake, and may even be afraid to face reality."

For individuals, this system is very powerful in some small countries.

But it couldn't bring any real power; it couldn't even conjure a single cannonball out of thin air.

Shen Shandeng looked at Ma Youde and reminded him, "Youde, this is just a minor path."

"They can affect emotions and ruin your mood, but they can't fundamentally change the material world."

"Using external forces to gain favorable conditions is fine, but we shouldn't get addicted to this sense of control. True strength lies in what we can continuously produce. Doing a good job with the '囧' word marketing and doing a good job with the 'Jiajing' project are more useful than ten paperclips."

"That's just Er Gouzi, a mongrel. We beat Er Gouzi when he misbehaves. So what if we beat him? Don't take it too seriously. Isn't it right for people to discipline Er Gouzi?"

Shen Shandeng spoke calmly, not taking it seriously at all. If it weren't for keeping the purebred foreign dogs like Smith in check, he wouldn't bother fighting this bastard.

Ma Youde immediately composed himself and said solemnly, "I understand, boss. I'll go and follow up right away."

What Shen Shandeng considered a small matter would be a major event in the film industry in 2007, or even more than a decade later.

Mongrel dogs, those are kept by foreigners!
Many people in this circle have never imagined such a scene.

Saturday, April 12.

A biting cold wind swept through the city of Tianjin.

On the set of "Nanjing! Nanjing!", the atmosphere was even more somber than the weather.

The heavy subject matter that has been filmed in recent days weighs heavily on the hearts of each lead actor.

Qin Lan, who had already joined the crew, sat in a corner of the rest area with a group of actors.

Gao Yuanyuan, wrapped in a military overcoat and holding a hot water cup, still carried a lingering heaviness on her face.

Liu Ye leaned against a pillar, gazing at the gray sky, smoking one cigarette after another.

Another area of ​​the film crew's work is the backstage rest area.

Excited conversations filled the air.

"what?"

"Shen Shandeng and Paperclip?"

"A dialogue between masters?!"

The news quickly spread throughout the film set.

Almost everyone instinctively pulled out their phones or crowded around their laptops.

When the keywords "Shen Shandeng," "Paperclip," and "Master Dialogue: From Costume Blockbusters to Historical Blockbusters" appeared prominently on the headlines of the entertainment sections of major portal websites, everyone gasped.

"My God, is this for real? Director Shen and Paperclip?"

"This title, 'From period drama to historical epic'? Doesn't that refer to 'The Hidden Dragon and the Hidden Tiger' and 'The Eunuch'?"

"The Grand Eunuch just put down 'The Sinful One,' and now he's about to have a dialogue with the 'Master'?

"I'm convinced! I'm absolutely convinced! Otherwise, how could Paperclip have agreed to such a headline!"

"Next Tuesday, at the Beijing Film Academy! That's the highest institution for film studies in mainland China! This is incredibly significant!"

The crew members were all talking at once.

The previous heavy depression was completely overwhelmed by this sudden and exciting news.

The success of Shen Shandeng's "The Eunuch" broke the ceiling for mainland production teams and directly elevated the status of mainland actors and production crews.

The title of this upcoming dialogue already exudes the air of a victor.

How could this not excite those practitioners in the industry who also yearn for recognition?
"What are you talking about? Crew members, don't use your phones!"

Only director Lu Chuan had an unusually complicated expression, showing no excitement whatsoever, and instructed the resident producer of China Film Group to handle the situation quickly.

Shen Shandeng was nearly ten years younger than him, yet he had already reached a height that he could not even imagine.

He could even have an "equal" conversation with the paperclip he was looking up at.

This disparity made him feel a wave of dizziness and a sense of insecurity.

He recalled his film "Nanjing," which he was currently filming, and deep down, for commercial reasons, he was trying to imitate "The Sin" by incorporating explicit content into a serious historical drama.

Lu Chuan walked to a relatively quiet corner, took a deep breath, and dialed Han Sanping's number.

"Chairman Han, this is Lu Chuan. I'm sorry to bother you. Is the conversation between Director Shen and Director Paperclip that was reported in the news true?" Lu Chuan asked expectantly.

Han Sanping, speaking calmly on the other end of the phone, confirmed, "Yes, it's true. The preparations at Beijing Film Academy are almost complete."

Han Sanping already knew about this news; he knew it from the moment the two sides made contact.

He also found a complete transcript of Shen Shandeng's interview on "Face to Face" and made several copies, because some leaders also needed to see it.

Upon receiving confirmation, Lu Chuan felt a mix of emotions: "Chairman Han, isn't Director Shen taking a bit too big a step? And what about Director Paperclip?"

"Shan Deng has his own methods for doing things."

Han Sanping interrupted him, saying, "Your task now is to film 'Nanjing' well. Don't think about those other things. Some things are pointless to think about unless you're in that position."

Lu Chuan's expression became even more complicated.

These words, unintentionally, pierced Lu Chuan's pitiful pride.

He comes from a wealthy family and, at a young age, has already taken charge of a massive production with an investment of 80 million, a time when he should be full of vigor and ambition.

But in front of Shen Shandeng, he couldn't even see the other's exhaust fumes, and even needed the senior to remind him in a tone that was almost like "you're not qualified".

After hanging up the phone, Lu Chuan looked at the staff who were still excitedly discussing things on set, and her mood became increasingly heavy.

His films have hit a roadblock. He tried to imitate Schindler's List, but the result was a hodgepodge, and the more he made them, the less right they felt.

However, due to the huge investment and pressure from all sides, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue.

A thought flashed through Lu Chuan's mind: Qin Lan seemed to know Shen Shandeng's girlfriend, Da Mimi.

Should we use this connection to ask that young "master" for advice on the challenges encountered during the filming of "Nanjing," such as how to deal with the pressure from public opinion and how to handle the film's plot?
But the thought was quickly suppressed by his strong sense of pride.

the other side.

Han Sanping walked to the window.

"I don't need his approval; the audience will crown me."

Han Sanping recalled what Shen Shandeng had once said.

Only now do I truly understand the confidence and domineering presence behind those words.

Shen Shandeng is using a completely new path he has created to crush all those paths that cater to art circles and international awards.

Compared to the greed of Hong Kong directors and the affectation of mainland directors, Shen Shandeng's talent is all the more precious.

With such a formidable general at our side, what great things cannot be accomplished?
Han Sanping felt a sense of joy in his chest.

Sunday.

"Assembly" concluded a series of intensive media interviews.

Feng Xiaogang returned to the lounge looking somewhat tired.

A staff member handed him several freshly printed entertainment newspapers, which he casually flipped through.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a headline news story. He paused for a few seconds, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

The voice was unpleasant, leaving Wang Zhonglei, who was standing nearby, completely baffled.

"My dear Director Feng, has he struck gold? Why is he so happy?"

Feng Xiaogang slapped the newspaper onto Wang Zhonglei's chest, pointed at the news article with his finger, and said with satisfaction, "Look! Take a good look! This is the high art we always admire!"

"Hahahaha! Paperclip! Master! 'The Sin'! The pinnacle of art! Bah!"

Wang Zhonglei was actually quite angry as he watched his actions; Little Cannon was becoming increasingly disrespectful.

Feng Xiaogang, however, was completely oblivious and extremely excited.

"Those self-proclaimed artists used to call me 'Old Feng' every day, calling my movies vulgar and saying they were just sketches, not good enough for serious films. It was like if I didn't make movies according to their standards and win a few foreign awards, they weren't real movies!"

"And now? The refined art they promoted, the internationally renowned directors they fawned over, have been trampled underfoot by a young director!"

"What's the title? A Dialogue Between Masters! Hahaha, that's the biggest joke ever!"

Wang Zhonglei watched the news with extremely mixed feelings.

Shen Shandeng's actions were tantamount to a powerful act of "god-killing".

This is not only a personal victory for Shen Shandeng, but also foreshadows a dramatic shift in the power structure and evaluation system of the domestic film industry.

Wang Zhonglei had to admit: "Shen Shandeng really hits the mark every time. One movie is a runaway success."

The news quickly spread throughout the "Assembly" crew, causing an earthquake-like shock.

No one expected that the biggest industry bombshell at the end of the year wouldn't be the release of Lunar New Year films, but rather this dialogue that hadn't even begun.

in the afternoon.

When Feng Xiaogang was interviewed by a major portal website, the reporter asked him, as usual, about his box office expectations for "Assembly".

Feng Xiaogang shoved the microphone to his lips and declared emphatically, "Assembly? A medium target: 300 million!"

The reporters at the scene were in an uproar, then became excited.

Shen Dapao sends out a small target, and you, Xiao Gangpao, not to be outdone, send out a medium target!
In 2007, a box office of over 100 million yuan in mainland China was considered a success, over 200 million yuan was considered a blockbuster, and the 400 million yuan of "The Eunuch" was a legend.

When Feng Xiaogang mentioned the target of 300 million yuan, his words, brimming with ambition and fervor, instantly ignited the entire interview room.

Xiao Gangpao simply felt that it wouldn't be right without some intensity; Shen Dapao's "The Eunuch" has been released for almost a month.

It's astonishing that they can still dominate the page and stir up controversy in this way.

This presence is fucking amazing!

Tuesday, October 12th.

Shen Shandeng went to work as usual.

Ma Youde came over to discuss the afternoon's dialogue activities.

Shen Shandeng sighed, "Speaking of which, it's been a while since I've been back to school, even though we live quite close by."

"It's because the burden of China's film industry falls on the shoulders of the bosses," Ma Youde said.

Shen Shandeng waved his hand.

Ma Youde recounted an amusing anecdote: "Boss, there's some gossip about Paperclip lately, do you want to hear it?"

Shen Shandeng looked at him: "Speak quickly if you have something to say."

"Isn't this paperclip's real name Anling? But everyone calls him Paperclip. There's a saying that goes, 'There are names that are called wrong, but nicknames that are called wrong.'"

"The nickname 'Paperclip' has a story behind it. This story doesn't originate from here; it came from Da Piao Liang."

"Speaking of which, back then, Paperclip's mother used a safety pin to prick TT in order to force her into marriage, but later her father refused to acknowledge her, and Big Pretty's side wouldn't allow an abortion. Plus, she was already quite far along in her pregnancy, so she had no choice but to give birth."

"But his mother hated this son, so she named him Clip, which means pin or paperclip."

Shen Shandeng hesitated: "Isn't that right?"

Ma Youde said, "I think it's very likely. Look at his famous Ghost Mother Trilogy, Ghost Hand, Ghost Banquet, and Male Thief and Female Prostitute. He has a strong sense of hatred. He both killed his mother and murdered his husband, which is reflected in many of his works."

"After reaching the pinnacle of his art, 'The Creation' is filled with even more self-hatred. It seems to fit perfectly."

Shen Shandeng was greatly shocked; this unofficial history was far too far-fetched.

(End of this chapter)