How did I become famous?

Chapter 111 Great Onmyoji Fang Bie

The Venice Film Festival is one of the three major film festivals in Europe.

Founded in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is the world's oldest film festival and the world's first international film festival.

Please search for the rest yourself.

In short, the Venice Film Festival places more emphasis on innovation.

It encourages filmmakers to make films with novel forms and unique techniques.

Even if a film has flaws, as long as it is innovative enough, the Venice Film Festival will not hesitate to send out that gold-embossed invitation.

Of course, there is another way.

That is spending money.

Actually, the invitations from the three major organizations were quite rigorous.

Either they have works that have been invited to participate, or the organizers' various brands invite their own spokespeople or partners.

You have neither a portfolio nor an invitation from a brand, yet you still want to walk the red carpet.

What should we do then?

Spend money.

The price is clearly marked: 9,000 euros for a private room, which is roughly equivalent to 100,000 yuan in Chinese banknotes.

There were official photographers taking pictures, but access to the red carpet was only possible from the side.

Since you can spend money, you can naturally spend even more money.

Enjoy VIP pricing: a flat rate of 13,000 euros, no bargaining!

If you purchase the VIP service, you can walk the red carpet like an invited guest, and the photographer and makeup artist will be provided by the company, saving you from spending unnecessary money.

Tell me honestly, is that true or not!

As for whether the three major powers will feel ashamed?

Making money is nothing to be ashamed of!

And they earned their money standing up!

The red carpet tonight was once again dazzling with stars.

But Fang didn't recognize any of them, so he didn't stop and led the crew into the building, ignoring even when domestic reporters called out to him, "Director Fang, look over here."

However, he stopped briefly on the way.

Because he saw an Eastern face.

It was a girl.

Average figure, average temperament, but decent looks.

Fang looked familiar.

After thinking for a long time, he finally realized that this girl was that obscure internet celebrity who posts cosplay photos on Weibo every day!

This girl has been paying attention to her for a while now.

Of course, it's the smaller version.

Tsk, although I was mentally prepared, the world after removing the PS armor is indeed very realistic.

But I never expected that this girl was actually a hidden rich and beautiful woman!

The reason Fang didn't think about it from the perspective of a "sponsor" was because he didn't believe anyone would be willing to sponsor 100,000 yuan to let someone walk the red carpet after seeing them in person.

It wasn't that he was making malicious speculations; it's just that no normal person would do that.

Of course, we can't rule out the possibility of liking unconventional contestants.

He didn't linger on the red carpet, but inside the venue he spotted a familiar figure.

Director Zhang Luo, he's here too.

Fang Bie immediately went over to greet him: "Uncle Zhang, you're really not being fair! You were coming to Venice without even telling me? We could have traveled together."

Then they could be surrounded by gangsters together, or they could be immersed in the stench of the sewers on the canals of Venice.

Zhang Luo's smile was somewhat forced: "It's not that I feel it's...inappropriate."

He had told Fang Bie before that he didn't like those guys in China, and he even encouraged Fang Bie, saying that he was the next generation's leader.

However, not long ago he went to tell Fang that he wouldn't be able to attend the Golden Phoenix Awards in China this time.

Besides Xu Kuangfu, Zhang Luo's company was also among the parties who agreed to the proposal.

Actually, his company has no real grudge against Fang Bie. Even if he was scammed before, it just means that Wu Kai's character wasn't strong enough and he wasn't as capable as Fang Bie.

You have to accept the consequences of your bet; it's no big deal.

But Wu Kai has a high chance of winning the Golden Phoenix Award this time, and coincidentally Xu Kuangfu proposed to exclude Fang Bie.

They readily agreed.

Anyway, if Fang Bie wants to retaliate later, Xu Kuangfu will be the first to take the blame. What does it have to do with them?

So when Zhang Luo went to find Fang Bie, he was so ashamed that he had nowhere to put his face. If it weren't for his former senior brother, who was also Wu Kai's father-in-law, asking him for help, Fang Bie not paying attention, and receiving an invitation from Venice, he would never have had the face to see Fang Bie again in his life.

Even so, he came to Venice secretly this time, his purpose being to avoid Fang Bie.

In the end, he still couldn't dodge it.

Fang laughed: "Uncle Zhang, I already said I didn't mind. I was originally thinking about how to refuse if I were invited to the Golden Bird Award, but you've actually helped me out."

Zhang Luo sighed, "Xiao Fang, you're exceptionally talented and approachable. If only Wu Kai were half as sensible as you. But you can't blame him; it's his own fault for being stuck with such a..."

"What kind of trouble have I gotten myself into?"

"It's nothing," Zhang Luo waved his hand. "It's other people's business, and as an outsider, I shouldn't say too much."

He glanced at Liu Mang almost imperceptibly.

Liu Mang didn't notice, but Fang Bie did.

But he didn't say anything.

"Uncle Zhang, are you here to run for office too?"

"I don't even have a film, what am I even participating in?" Seeing that the matter had been brought up and Fang Bie's expression hadn't changed, Zhang Luo resumed his usual cursing and swearing. "If I weren't avoiding the Golden Phoenix Awards, I wouldn't be here."

Originally, there was a spot for Zhang Luo among the judges for this year's Golden Phoenix Awards.

He already felt guilty towards Fang Bie, and he couldn't be bothered to go and participate in the selection with those guys he hated.

So he secretly contacted a friend of the organizer and asked the friend's brand to send him an invitation to his company.

He then used this as an excuse to sneak off to Venice.

As a result, they managed to avoid the mess in China, but they couldn't escape the differences here.

Upon entering the venue, a buffet is currently underway.

Fang Bie and the others had almost finished eating, so Liu Mang and the others wandered around aimlessly, while Su Mulin stayed with Fang Bie and followed Zhang Luo to a corner to chat.

"Xiao Fang, are you confident about winning the Silver Lion this time?"

The Venice Film Festival has a wide range of awards.

The highest award is the Golden Lion, but it is given to the best feature film.

The Silver Lion is the second-highest award after the Gold Lion.

This award is usually given to the best director and the best short film.

Fang Bie certainly wasn't confident about winning the award.

"Uncle Zhang, you're a regular customer of Venice. Venice prefers innovative films."

"You created the new category of 'superhero movies,' isn't that innovation?"

Fang Bie laughed and said, "But compared to commercially produced films, I prefer experimental, independent films here."

This is also why Fang Bie isn't particularly fond of the Venice Film Festival.

Sometimes, you can win the Golden Lion Award simply because of a novel shooting angle or technique.

But the plot of this movie may be completely incomprehensible.

Just like the slogan proclaimed by the Venice Film Festival—"Film serves serious art."

Fang Bie couldn't help but use his sarcastic skills again: "Who knows what kind of weird movie won the award? Anyway, I guess most people wouldn't understand it."

Just like the Chinese film "X-Ring" which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in my previous life.

So what's the plot of the movie?

Anyway, Fang Bie isn't quite sure.

But he remembers some scenes in it very clearly.

When chatting online, most netizens shared the same impression of him.

Of course, this is definitely not the case on websites like Douban and Zhihu.

"I see."

Zhang Luo murmured something.

He was a little touched.

In fact, people who make movies are just like people who write novels.

They all have their own inner world, but what they show outwardly is the side they wear a mask on.

In fact, most of them are introverted but have sensitive minds.

To put it bluntly, it's because I overthink things.

Of course, you can also interpret it as being secretly passionate.

Therefore, Zhang Luo did not show it.

He felt that Fang Bie's trip to Venice was actually to save face for Zhang Luo.

Because Zhang Luo had previously told him that he hadn't been nominated for the Golden Phoenix Award in China, Fang Bie gave him face and made up an excuse to come to Venice.

This was also to prevent him from feeling guilty and blaming himself.

Fang Bie frankly stated his true intentions: "Actually, I just wanted to give my crew an excuse to go on a publicly funded trip since they've been working on two movies back-to-back."

"You don't need to say anything, I understand." Zhang Luo gave him a complicated look.

it is more than words.

He decided to go back and find an opportunity to make amends.

"?_?"

Fang didn't understand what he had figured out, but that didn't stop them from continuing their chat.

But we need to find a topic to talk about.

Zhang Luo is currently indulging in self-pity, while Su Mulin is a man of few words.

Perhaps she felt she couldn't steal the limelight from others when they were out in public?

If Fang Bie doesn't find a topic to talk about, the atmosphere will probably become awkward.

He glanced at the woman beside Zhang Luo who had been smiling and watching them talk, and asked, "Director Zhang, aren't you going to introduce her? Who is this?"

The woman's eye twitched, and she almost pulled out crow's feet.

She extended her hand: "Director Fang, you really have a bad memory. We met at the Oscars last time."

Zhang Luo's female companion was none other than the award-winning actress Yang Yu.

She gave an interview the day before yesterday, and yesterday morning she accompanied Zhang Luo to Venice to try and get on the red carpet.

There's no way around it; even award-winning actresses need buzz these days.

However, the fact that Fang Bie didn't remember her made her words a little sarcastic.

But who is Fang Bie?

He's a great Onmyoji!

The kind with professional titles!

He's never been afraid of anyone when it comes to being sarcastic or unsettling!

So he reached out and touched Yang Yu's hand briefly before letting go, a smile still on his face: "I'm sorry, Ms. Yang Siyu, I have face blindness. Unless someone is exceptionally beautiful, exceptionally ugly, or has a very distinctive appearance, I really can't recognize most people."

I didn't provoke you, yet you dare to provoke me?

When you were being interviewed in China, you tried to ride on my coattails without me even questioning you. And now you dare to play dirty tricks on me?

He genuinely doesn't remember what the actress looks like.

The main problem is that her makeup is almost like a disguise.

Moreover, because it was done by an official Venice makeup artist, Fang Bie didn't recognize her at first.

Besides, is a woman in her early thirties worth remembering by someone on our side?

You're not my two-dimensional wives.

Although he judges his anime/manga characters by their art style.

If the art style is the same, then look at the hairstyle and hair color.

Yang Yu was furious, but she didn't dare show it.

First, she also had to curry favor with Zhang Luo, who had a very good relationship with Fang Bie.

second

Fang Bie is now a big-name director, so even if they don't work together, she wouldn't dare offend him.

Zhang Luo sensed something was wrong, and he smiled and smoothed things over: "Xiao Fang, did you know that the Venice Film Festival was actually being broadcast live in China this year as well?"

"Oh?" Fang Bie raised an eyebrow. "Then I wonder which senior commentator will be providing the commentary this time?"

"Who would dare to commentate now?" Zhang Luo grinned wickedly. "That old man Xu Kuangfu got a lot of flak for being sarcastic about you last time. Now his movie is a flop, and you weren't even nominated for the Golden Phoenix Awards, which he was the chief judge for. If he dares to commentate on a film festival with you in it again, he'll probably be bombarded with criticism by your 59e fans until he shuts up."

Fang Bie's face showed regret: "Alas, what a pity."

Unfortunately, he will never be able to see Xu Kuangfu on screen again after he goes back.

People might not believe it, but Xu Kuangfu was actually one of his idols.

He particularly admired the other person's ability to make bad movies.

That was absolutely awful!

This is a skill that Fang Bie has not yet mastered.

After chatting about pointless topics for a while, the awards ceremony was about to begin.

I can't hold on any longer, the days ahead will be even longer.

(End of this chapter)