Chapter 550: Cannes Opens, Undercurrents
“Director Han of China Film Group is compensating you, which is very unusual… I have been dealing with them for more than ten years, and this is definitely not a good thing.”

“There is no good without reason.” Li Mingyang agreed.

“So you can’t follow his plan, you have to follow your own plan.”

This……

Li Mingyang didn’t expect that Li Meijin was very resistant to Zuoshandiao and confronted him directly.

“let me consider it.”

Li Meijin wanted to say something but stopped herself from pushing Li Mingyang. She sighed and left.

Click!

After seeing Li Meijin off, Li Mingyang came to the desk and picked up the draft of “Miss”.

Suddenly I felt very irritated.

“Nothing good happens without a reason…”

Zuoshandiao suddenly repaid Yide with resentment and took good care of him.

In all likelihood, it was a warning to the Hong Kong circle, and gave him the share that belonged to the Hong Kong circle.

As a pioneer who goes against the Hong Kong circle, this time he is the one who benefits from the conflict between the two sides.

The infighting in the Hong Kong circle is a benefit to themselves.

Using Chinese and Korean resources to jointly produce award-winning films is like putting shackles on him. Don’t forget your roots.

In fact, no one will lose out from this plan.

He made a movie in Korea that won three awards in Europe.

South Korea won one of the top three European awards, and China gained one of the top three European directors.

He became one of the three greatest directors in Europe.

This is a win-win-win plan, and no one loses out.

Moreover, once the award is successful, it can also be regarded as a great achievement of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea and the exchange of films between China and South Korea.

The historical significance is full!

As for the future ban on Korean culture…it wasn’t done by CJ, it was by Lotte!

You can even turn around and rob Lotte!
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable Li Mingyang felt.

Li Meijin is the godmother of Korean Wave! She is a smart person!
Why not?
Whether or not she can win an Oscar depends on Li Mei Jin.

By the way…why is Li Mei Jin so nice to me?
Li Mingyang tapped his fingers on the table, unable to figure it out.

But it doesn’t matter, we’re just using each other.

……

April 2012, 5.
The 65th Cannes Film Festival opened in the southern French coastal town of Cannes local time.

Chinese-language films continued to decline at Cannes this year, missing out on the main competition unit. Only Lou Ye’s “Floating City” was shortlisted for the “Un Certain Regard” unit.

Even so, it was widely publicized in China, but there was little news about his being shortlisted for Cannes with New World.

Although no Chinese-language films were shortlisted for the main competition unit, it did not affect the stars’ pursuit and flocking to Cannes.

As a frequent visitor to Cannes, Fan Binbin came here just like he was going to a market.

She first rushed to the airport in a hospital gown with vertical stripes, and then showed off her “porcelain costume” on the red carpet in a Tang Dynasty style outfit.

Some people said that the red carpet host mistook a Japanese star for a Japanese star. It is actually normal that he has walked the Cannes red carpet for three consecutive years but is still not recognized.

In the eyes of European and American media, Fan Binbin is just an internet celebrity who paid for a ticket to get in.

When the time came, the security guards started to chase people away.

The Cannes red carpet is the most commercial film festival red carpet in Europe.

Usually there are several options: official invitation, brand requirements, and purchasing tickets at one’s own expense.

Fan Binbin used to walk the red carpet at his own expense, gained fame, and became a high-end luxury ambassador, then the brands paid for him. But he is different from others.

Fan Binbin has very high requirements for her red carpet work. Her team is responsible for all the pictures, which is more laborious than shooting a movie. She has a large team just for the shooting, including costume designers, stylists, makeup artists, nail artists, styling assistants, photographers, photography assistants, public relations…

After taking the photos, they need to be edited, and there are several big companies involved in this process.

Behind the red carpet queen of the domestic entertainment industry is a huge team that is so outstanding that it leaves one speechless.

Fan Binbin showed off her carefully prepared Chinese porcelain dress on the opening red carpet.

But this year, the person who is more talked about than Fan Bingbing is the “hotshot” Yang Mi.

First he refused to leave the red carpet and was forcibly driven away by the security guards, then he raised his middle finger in dissatisfaction.

It’s all intentional, deliberate hype.

Yang Mi has a great talent for hype.

Fan Binbin walked the red carpet at the invitation of the brand to endorse the commercial brand.

Yang Mi bought her own ticket to walk the red carpet.

Li Mingyang walked the red carpet because he was officially invited by Cannes thanks to New World.

The treatment is naturally different for an official invitation.

Security cleared the area and there was plenty of time.

Photographers from major media outlets, who were almost dozing off, suddenly perked up and moved at the news, flashes flashing.

Both of Li Mingyang’s arms were used, Li Meijin on the left and Li Bingbing on the right.

As the two female protagonists of New World, Li Bingbing and Sun Li were surprisingly consistent in making sarcastic remarks about Fan Binbin when they were interviewed by the host.

Li Bingbing: “I think as long as you dress appropriately, it’s fine. You don’t need to dress too exaggerated or weird.”

Sun Li: “Personally, I prefer to dress in a more conventional way.”

When we walked into the opening dinner venue, it was very crowded, a bit like a company’s annual meeting. There were more people standing than sitting, and it was packed with people.

Li Mingyang was very excited as it was his first time to be shortlisted for the main competition unit of Cannes, especially since he was still young.

Even the arrogant foreign filmmakers looked at him differently and came over to chat with him.

Although they were speaking English, Li Mingyang couldn’t understand what they were saying eight out of ten times.

Even English has dialects, and is spoken very fast, so you can only understand the general idea.

However, among these people, the one Li Mingyang listened to the most was monkey.

Some even say they’ll strangle you to death monkey.

Li Mingyang was very unhappy when he heard this, but he did not get angry. Instead, he smiled calmly.

After the dinner, Li Mei Jin went to sell films, and others had their own arrangements. In addition to the red carpet, Cannes has many off-site activities.

The crowd dispersed at the door.

It was late at night and everyone was asleep. Li Mingyang looked at the beach in the distance, gave up the idea of ​​going back to the hotel, and walked towards the beach.

Next to the beach in Cannes, there is an avenue, which, like other avenues in Cannes, is also lined with palm trees.

Palm trees are so ubiquitous in Cannes that they have become a standard feature of the place.

However, palm trees at night look completely different than they do during the day.

There is a street lamp between each tree. When it is lit, it seems to cover the palm trees with a layer of faint light. The entire coastal road looks particularly quiet under the dim shade of the trees.

There are a lot of people on the beach and it is very lively.

Walking eastward along the beach, Li Mingyang arrived at the Old Port of Cannes, which was full of private yachts. Although not as large as the Old Port of Marseille, it was still spectacular.

Li Mingyang sat on the ground, watching the ebb and flow of the tide under the moonlight, but thinking about what happened a few days ago.

How to convince Lee Mi-jin to co-produce a film between China and South Korea and compete for awards together?

Although Li Meijin did not say it explicitly, her attitude was surprisingly firm. She was unwilling to cooperate with China Film.

This made Li Mingyang think of the time when Zuoshandiao first proposed a Sino-Korean co-production, he chose Lotte, not South Korea’s leading film company CJ Entertainment.

China Film Group and CJ don’t get along?

That doesn’t make sense. CJ has the most Korean movies showing in domestic theaters.

“Zuoshandiao and Li Meijin have a good relationship, and both companies are leaders. If they work together, both will benefit, but if they separate, both will suffer. Why do they insist on not cooperating?”

Li Mingyang was stuck in a dead end again.

When it was past eleven o’clock, Li Mingyang simply patted his butt, ran back to the hotel, changed into a set of sportswear, and took a taxi to the airport back to Korea.

After the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, there will be ten days of film screenings, where movie fans from all over the world can choose their favorite movies according to their preferences.

These ten days are not just for watching movies.

There are also various cocktail parties, media meetings, movie premieres, official market forums, press conferences…

very busy.

However, Li Mingyang had no plans to attend the event as he had not yet finished his goodbye post-production.

Of course, you don’t have to attend other events, but you must attend the premiere of New World.

However, the premiere of New World is scheduled for the 24th, which is still a long time.

Ten minutes later, Li Mingyang arrived at the Nisket Island Airport. When he arrived, he gave Li Meijin a message, telling her that he was going back to Korea and would come back for the premiere.

Soon, Li Meijin replied and said it was no problem.

There were many celebrities who had the same plan as him, and the VIP lounge was crowded.

Li Mingyang put on his hood, sat in the empty seat in the corner, folded his arms, lowered his head and dozed off, continuing to think about how to convince Li Meijin.

To be honest, Li Meijin treated him really well.

He can do whatever he wants in Korea, all thanks to Li Mei Jin.

Koreans don’t follow the rules! It’s really a rip-off!

Suddenly, a very special mint scent came from the left, which then turned into a pleasant rose scent.

Li Mingyang opened his eyes and looked sideways, only to see a familiar-looking woman in sunglasses, wearing a red cheongsam, with a curvy figure and a graceful mature temperament.

It’s like a sweet and juicy peach, making you want to take a bite.

“My dear Director Chen, please stop being confused. Tell me why it is impossible for New World to win the award?”

“We’ll talk about it when we get back, we’ll talk about it when we get back.”

“What do you mean we should talk about it when we get back? Just tell me now.” Chen Hong said coquettishly.

Chen Kaizi looked around and said in a low voice: “The New World is actually an action movie.”

“Nonsense, how could an action movie be shortlisted for Cannes!” Chen Hong said unhappily, feeling that her husband was just being perfunctory.

New World was shortlisted for Cannes, and China Film Group organized a screening. Chen Kaizi, the only director from the mainland who has won the Palme d’Or, was invited to watch the film. “New World is a very subversive gangster action movie that copied many movies. This guy can really copy, and he copied with his own characteristics.” Chen Kaizi exclaimed sincerely.

“So that’s good? Then why can’t you win the award?”

“Again, it’s an action movie, a realistic and violent action movie.”

“How is that possible! There is no precedent for an action film to be shortlisted for the main competition unit!”

“CJ’s Li Meijin is one of DreamWorks’ major shareholders. As long as she wants, any movie can be shortlisted.”

“Is CJ so powerful? Why haven’t I heard you talk about him?” Chen Hong asked in surprise.

“It’s easy to be shortlisted but hard to win, otherwise how could there be so many places?”

Chen Hong nodded, feeling relieved. If Li Mingyang won the Palme d’Or, her status as a man would be in jeopardy.

The only one and the only two are two concepts.

At this time, Chen Hong received a phone call, said “hmm” a few times and hung up.

“We received a message saying that we can’t get the subsidy. Why can he get it but we can’t?” Chen Hong complained.

Chen Kaizi stared blankly and said, “No one can get that… forget it.”

“Boss Han is old and his eyes are blurry. He didn’t give us money but gave it to him. He doesn’t need money!”

“This kind of subsidy used to be ours, but now it’s given to him, and it’s approved by multiple departments… There’s something fishy going on here, so don’t get involved.”

“Always is tied to Huayi, Li Mingyang is tied to Guangxian, and Zhang Yimou is flirting with LeTV. We also need to find a company. The previous approach can’t make much money anymore. Everyone is playing the stock market.” said Chen Hong.

“Don’t worry, wait until the search is released.”

“The cucumber dishes were cold by then.”

“You are just too impatient. We have a lot of capital and can wait.”

“You are just too slow. Look at Li Mingyang. He has made billions in just a few years. I don’t care. When you return to China, you can socialize with me.”

“When you reach the end of the water, sit and watch the clouds rise…” The poet recited a poem and said calmly: “Don’t fight for the success of the moment, we can wait. Now is the most chaotic time, so as not to bring disaster upon ourselves.”

“Don’t bother with your poetry and songs. Aren’t you ashamed enough?”

Chen Kaizi smiled innocently, his dazed eyes suddenly brightened, “Do you know why Zuoshandiao suddenly treated him well?”

“It’s because I got slapped in the face at the Academy Awards, and it’s disgusting to others.”

Chen Hong’s idea coincides with Li Mingyang’s.

But Chen Kaizi gave another reason, which made Li Mingyang’s hair stand on end.

Chen Kaizi actually knew about the China-Korea co-production and helped him to get into the top three in Europe.

“China-Korea co-production is a very favorable thing for winning awards. Li Mingyang is obsessed with the big prize, so he will definitely agree. But no matter whether this thing succeeds or not, even if he wins the Palme d’Or, it doesn’t matter. He has gained the name, but in reality he is a Korean. From now on, he is no longer a pure Tokyo University filmmaker.”

“So what? He’s from Dongda University, that’s enough.” Chen Hong rolled her eyes and retorted.

Chen Kaizi smiled and didn’t explain further.

Given the current international situation, it is harder than climbing to the sky for Tokyo University to win one of the three major European awards, not even Zhang Yimou can do it.

Going for the award in a roundabout way is not justified and the future criticism will be enough to drown Li Mingyang.

In terms of awards, Li An is even better than Zhang Yimou, having won the Oscars for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film.

An Oscar for Best Director is enough to overshadow Zhang Yimou for the rest of his life.

But so what? It’s neither right nor justifiable.

A Taiwanese is in Hollywood, making Hollywood movies and winning awards. What’s there to brag about?

Winning an award requires the right time, place and people; none of them can be missing.

Why didn’t he win the three major domestic awards? It’s because Li Mingyang is well-qualified no matter what award he wins.

There are too many twists and turns in the awards.

“Brother Kai, do you think it would be easier for Li Mingyang to win the award if he changed his nationality?”

Chen Kaizi looked at his wife Chen Hong in surprise, “What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Nationality is the foundation of your life. What’s the point of changing your nationality and winning an Oscar? How is this different from being a traitor?”

“I’m just saying… can he really win an Oscar?”

“He’s only 23…”

……

Late night in Cannes.

Li Mingyang ran wildly on the street, passed through the busy streets, and came to the green mountain path.

All the past events flashed back in my mind wildly.

Chen Kaige’s unintentional words made him suddenly enlightened.

Winning an award requires the right time, right place and right people!
Brother Kaizi has a very clear mind.

Isn’t Zuoshandiao sober? He is more sober than anyone else!

He took the wrong road.

In Korea, winning awards proves nothing except fame, and there is more criticism than honor.

Purity is more important than awards!

After running for an unknown amount of time, Li Mingyang finally arrived at a stone staircase leading to the top of the mountain.

After standing with his hands on his hips and looking at the top of the mountain for a while, Li Mingyang sat down on the stone steps, gasping for breath.

He hasn’t felt this tired in a long time, ever since he drew the Rukawa Kaede experience card.

The light salty sea breeze hits my face.

Li Mingyang was in a state of confusion and indecision.

With Korea as a springboard, he was able to win the top three European titles as a Tokyo University student, as well as the coveted Oscar.

Parasite is one of his favorite movies and he could just copy it without breaking a sweat!
The east wind has arrived, the time, the place and the people are all right!

It’s almost within reach!

Want to give up?

Li Mingyang didn’t want to give up from the bottom of his heart, so why should he give up?

There is something that Zuoshandiao said that is very true: even if he went abroad, he was still dancing in shackles.

If there are no shackles, then you can’t be called a pure Dongda filmmaker!

He used the stick as a springboard, and the one with the highest ceiling was Li An.

Lao Mouzi is really a smart guy!
Eastern films that play host to grand narratives in Hollywood have not been able to let go and have always been shackled.

Li An was once in shackles, and there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

But later on, I let myself go, had a gay relationship, and quit smoking.

Li Mingyang wanted to find someone to talk to, and the most direct way was to find Zuo Shandiao.

Just when I was about to press the dial button.

Li Mingyang gave up.

He ran faster and faster, rushed back to the hotel and knocked on Li Meijin’s door.

Li Mei Jin’s assistant opened the door. Li Mei Jin was in the living room of the suite. Li Mei Jin was wiping the sweat off her body while waiting for her.

More than ten minutes later, Li Meijin came out of the bedroom in casual clothes. She seemed to be still sleepy. She sat on the sofa in a daze, holding her forehead.

It was not until her assistant handed her a cup of coffee and she drank it that she regained her strong woman’s aura.

“President Li, let’s get straight to the point. Give me a reason why you refuse to work with China Film Group.”

Li Meijin fell into silence for a long time before she spoke: “Do you know why I gave up CGV?”

“Give up? Isn’t that just suppression? It’s normal. Just wait for a while.”

Li Meijin raised her hand and waved, and the subordinates around her left the room one after another.

When there were only two people in the living room, Li Meijin suddenly said in Chinese: “From the beginning of the year to now, CGV has not obtained a new address for building a store. Its development has stagnated. Many film sources cannot be obtained, and even the most basic income cannot be guaranteed… The competition in the cinemas of Dongda is more brutal than the movies themselves. I don’t want to get involved anymore.”

“You can speak Chinese!”

“Don’t you know Korean?”

“Really not.”

Li Meijin always thought that Li Mingyang knew Korean, but he was just pretending to be deaf and dumb like herself. “In my opinion, among all the directors in Dongda, none of them is as good as you. They are all flowers in the greenhouse, while you are a beast that survives the fittest.”

“Dongda has a large market and many talents, and new beasts will always emerge,” said Li Mingyang.

“Maybe, but you are always the most special…Don’t care too much about awards, it’s easy to lose yourself. Not every award-winning movie can be recognized, and not all movies are worthy of an Oscar. The process of reaching the top is the most wonderful, and it is the most inspiring motivation for you to move forward.”

It’s easy to say, but you were more excited than anyone else when Parasite won an Oscar!
Li Meijin stood up and patted Li Mingyang on the shoulder. “You have the thinking of a capitalist and the talent of a director, but you are too sharp, which will make you feel constrained and hesitant…”

This is Li Mingyang’s biggest worry now. He knows the future situation and there are too many pitfalls, so he looks ahead and behind, thinks three steps ahead, and looks for the best route.

“Don’t think about other things, just focus on making the movies you want to make, and leave the rest to me. President Han of China Film Group won’t be here long, but Li Meijin of CJ will always be here.”

Li Mei Jin said so much, but still didn’t say why China and South Korea didn’t co-produce.

“Thank you.” Li Mingyang hesitated for a while, but continued to ask, “If Zuoshandiao steps down, will CJ cooperate with China Film Group to make award-winning movies?”

“You really want to know why?”

“I don’t know why, but I can’t sleep or eat well.”

Li Meijin paced in the living room with her hands behind her back for a long time. Li Mingyang was wondering, is it really that difficult to answer?
Li Meijin suddenly stopped and said earnestly: “China and South Korea are co-producing to compete with the top three in Europe, challenging the hegemony of Hollywood movies…”

In an instant, the curtain of war in future generations emerged in Li Mingyang’s mind.

Hollywood hegemony, the three major influences in Europe, the vast market of the East, and the highly developed entertainment industry in South Korea!
The live-action movies about Little Days are basically finished. The niche movies of India are only India’s. The combination of China and South Korea will be the largest film complex in Asia and the world’s largest box office.

The three major European companies do not want to continue being puppets of Hollywood. They have to sit at the table and eat. Cooperation is the best solution!

And his winning of the award means the establishment of this alliance.

No matter whether it works or not, it’s definitely a good idea to give it a try.

After all, as an action commercial film, although New World has power, humanity, and the law of the jungle, it was shortlisted for Cannes! It’s really outrageous!
Li Mingyang suddenly understood why Li Meijin was unwilling, Li Meijin was from Hollywood!
Li Meijin looked at Li Mingyang’s sudden realization and nodded in appreciation, then sighed, “As long as President Han of China Film Group is on stage, he can protect you. But if he steps down, who can protect you?”

“I’ve never been afraid of them.” Li Mingyang said in a deep voice.

“No, you are not facing domestic pressure, but pressure from Hollywood…You have grown to where you are today because Hollywood condones you. Once they think you are harmful…There is one thing you should be clear about, many of the big sponsors of Dongda Media are foreign capital.”

I know this very well, public relations costs.

The global media has been corrupted by American capital!
……

(End of this chapter)