Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 101 International Film Festival

After posting on Weibo, Chen Shouzhe stopped looking at it. He thought it best to leave the insults to cultured people.

Chen Shouzhe only knows how to curse his mother; he doesn't know anything else. They forced him into this situation, so we can only ask Master Wen for help.

That evening, after pinning the post to the top, Chen turned off his phone and ignored all phone calls.

The post quickly went viral on Weibo. At first, I couldn't understand it, but after reading it a few more times, I realized that it was so satisfying to insult people without using any vulgar language.

"I now have a feeling that Chen Shouzhe wrote 'Journey to the West,' which is going to get me in the most trouble."

"I feel that reading is still useful. At least you won't keep swearing like that. It feels so good to swear like that. I should learn some."

"Those old codgers, they're just sitting around doing nothing, a bunch of old guys who've been left behind by the times."

"They're just taking advantage of their age; well done. We won't tolerate them at all."

"A stagnant pool, pshaw."

"I've already saved it, but I feel like this post will be gone."

"Quickly take a screenshot and learn how cultured people curse."

The post went viral on Weibo, and people in the film and television industry saw it too. After reading it, many directors who had previously had their films rejected by censors immediately reposted it and gave it a thumbs up.

"I could not write such a good poem."

"They have made their mark in history, and people have written poems about them."

"Chen is here with someone; I'd like to ask him for a drink."

"I admire you."

There are many people leaving comments in the film and television industry, but some people don't dare to show their faces. If someone does, their comments will stagnate.

And those old men, prompted by those around them, clicked on Chen Shouzhe's Weibo, and after reading it twice, several of them were almost driven mad with anger.

Just as Feng Xiaogang said, their names will be recorded in history, this poem will be passed down, and these people will all be included in the encyclopedia.

"Quickly delete the posts you made before, and also delete his Weibo account."

"That little bastard, he's dead, he's dead. Cut off his movie, don't let it be released."

"Old Lu went to the hospital? Is it serious?"

Many people didn't sleep well that night. Chen Shou got up early. It was already June, and the weather was getting hotter and hotter, but it was full of vitality. He got up early to go for a run.

As it happened, a car happened to pass by.

"Director Chen?"

The driver lowered the car door.

Good morning, Aunt Liu.

Looking at the polite and courteous director in front of her, Liu Xiaoqian had no idea how rampant he had been on Weibo the day before.

Yesterday she also read the legendary poem. If it were her, she wouldn't be able to stand it either. It's a good poem, but the insults are too harsh.

Didn't you say that my gods, ghosts, and demons are feudal remnants?

Then you are stagnant water, you represent the remnants of the feudal era.

A group of elderly men in their fifties, sixties, and seventies reportedly had several hospitalized last night. The news is spreading like wildfire across the internet, and Weibo is also making a big fuss, keeping it trending on Weibo.

This morning when I woke up, this poem was everywhere; it's considered the pinnacle of insults.

"What are you going to do so early?" Chen Shou asked.

"I need to go buy some things. Yifei is going to the Shanghai Film Festival in a couple of days," Liu Xiaoqian said.

"The Last War?" Chen Shou asked, as if something had occurred to him.

"Yes, Director Chen knows too?"

"I've heard about it from Hollywood," Chen Shou nodded.

Liu Xiaoqian then remembered that Chen Shouzhe was very famous in Hollywood, far surpassing many big directors in China.

After "2012", many co-productions emerged in China, including "The Last War". The cast was quite large, and the main investor was Liu Yifei's godfather. However, according to Chen Shouzhe, this film was not well received in Hollywood. They found some washed-up international stars, plus Liu Yifei, and then filmed it.

"See you at the international film festival," Chen Shou said.

Is Director Chen going too?

"The Shanghai Film Studio has extended an invitation; the film will premiere as the opening film at an international film festival," Chen Shouzhe said.

"I see, that's great, see you in Shanghai then." Liu Xiaoqian nodded.

After finishing his run, Auntie prepared breakfast, and Chen Shou casually glanced at the news.

Sure enough, his poem had over 60,000 comments, over 100,000 shares, and over 300,000 likes. Chen Shou hadn't expected it to be so powerful; no wonder he was getting so many missed calls and a bunch of unfamiliar numbers. He didn't answer any of the numbers without a contact name.

Chen Shouzhe picked out a few important targets and fought back, one of which was his master, Yu Qian.

I didn't say anything, just told him to be more careful in the future and not to be so impulsive.

Another call came from Zhang Hongsheng, who also said he was too impulsive, but he was right to scold him. He had disliked them for a long time, so he made him delete the message.

Chen Shou smiled. He neither caused trouble nor was he afraid of trouble. If anyone dared to cause trouble, they would have to see how much power they had.

Sure enough, the Film Bureau started to exert its influence. A group of old men went to Zhang Hongsheng to request a re-approval of Chen Shouzhe's film "The Martian".

"Gentlemen, bringing personal feelings into your work? What do you take this place for? Do you own the Film Bureau? Or are you just used to being lawless?" Zhang Hongsheng slammed his fist on the table.

"Zhang Hongsheng, what do you mean?" asked an old man who was almost sixty.

“What do you mean? What do you mean? We’ve already let the previous scripts go, and now you want to bring up a movie that’s already been approved and review it again? You’ve got a bit too much power. Do you think the Film Bureau is yours? I’ve already told Director Tong that if you want to keep doing this, then keep doing it; if you don’t want to, then get out,” Zhang Hongsheng said.

"You, you, Zhang Hongsheng, how dare you say such a thing?"

“I am the director of the Film Bureau. Why can’t I say that Chen Shouzhe wrote a poem for you yesterday? You are really a stagnant pool, beyond saving.”

Everyone was waiting for news and watching the spectacle; the power of that poem continued to ferment, but eventually faded with the passage of time.

This disappointed many onlookers who wanted to continue watching, but it ended like this.

The Shanghai International Film Festival opened on the 14th, and it was announced that the opening film would be Chen Shouzhe's sci-fi blockbuster "The Martian," which will be released next month. This news surprised many people, as they did not expect Chen Shouzhe to attend a film festival. This was his first time attending such a film festival.

In an interview, Gong Li, who served as the jury chair, happily expressed that she was honored that her first science fiction film, in which she participated, would premiere at the film festival.

On the 14th, Chen Shouzhe arrived in Shanghai and walked the red carpet with his crew. Gong Li was the only one who didn't come; she was a member of the judging panel and would leave at the very end.

Liu Yifei, being the only woman, walked with the four men and was surrounded by them.

"Brother Xiaoming, did I steal your things?" Chen Shou asked Huang Xiaoming.

"No, no, how could I dare to snatch something that Director Chen has his eye on?" Huang Xiaoming hurriedly said.

"I didn't expect it to be what you wanted. I would have given it to you if I had known. I thought it was from Huayi. It's fine if you take things from Huayi. I'm sorry for accidentally hurting you. Please apologize to Yang Ying for me," Chen Shou said.

"Director Chen, you're too kind. If I had known it was Director Chen who needed it, I wouldn't have had any objections." Huang Xiaoming maintained his smile.

The others watched the two curiously, wondering what they were talking about.

Liu Yifei peeked out. She was going to walk twice more, to another movie, which was a co-production with an international star, so she was scheduled to walk at the back.

When it was Chen Shou's turn, it was almost the end. As the five of them walked down the red carpet, loud cheers erupted from both sides, especially from Liu Yifei, who was mostly her fans.

After signing his name on the red carpet, when the host wanted to ask him more questions, Chen Shou said there wasn't enough time and he would give an interview at the premiere.

Chen Shouzhe rarely comes to Shanghai. Apart from coming to Shanghai for commercial performances in the past, the only other time was when he approached Shanghai Film Group to seek investment in 10, but he didn't receive a single penny.

When he arrived at Shanghai Film Studio's premises, Ren Zhonglun was waiting for him inside the venue.

"Director Chen, you've really angered those people." Hearing Ren Zhonglun say this, the people next to him quietly moved a little further away, not wanting to get splattered with blood.

"Chairman Ren, what's so infuriating? I didn't say anything. Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation," Chen Shou said with a light laugh.

"Do you need my help with your script?" Ren Zhonglun asked in a low voice.

"No need. If it doesn't pass censorship, we just won't film it. In fact, I'd rather they didn't pass censorship," Chen Shou said with a sneer.

Ren Zhonglun carefully examined Chen Shouzhe and felt that Chen Shouzhe was really cunning.

Public opinion is slowly fading away, and netizens have limited memories. New news emerges every day, but as long as Chen Shouzhe's script doesn't pass censorship, he keeps "Dead Water" hanging, making it hard for others to forget about it.

"The show on Blueberry TV is all set. Is it for that newcomer named Reba?" Ren Zhonglun changed the subject.

"Thank you very much, Chairman Ren. It was definitely prepared for her, and she is a graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy." Chen Shou said with a smile.

"We shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders." Ren Zhonglun smiled.

The two remained silent, and once Gong Li and the others entered, it signified the official start of the Shanghai International Film Festival.

As the opening film of the film festival, "The Martian" was screened on the second day, and only once.

Many people came to the event, both from China and abroad.

Domestic audiences are mainly there to see how Chen Shouzhe's 400 million yuan sci-fi film turns out, while international audiences are drawn by Chen Shouzhe's reputation and also want to see what the quality of Chinese sci-fi films is like.

Chen Shouzhe's international fame mainly comes from two disaster films and one soft science fiction film. Commercial film directors are destined to be unpopular at film festivals because their films sell well and are even criticized for lacking soul.

However, Shanghai broke with tradition this time and used Chen Shouzhe's film as the opening film, which surprised many people. Some even felt that it was a condition for Chen Shouzhe to participate in the international film festival.

Don't overestimate them. On the surface, they all look down on commercial film directors, but if they can get high box office returns, they wouldn't mind becoming commercial film directors themselves.

(End of this chapter)