Chapter 244 255 [When the time comes, heaven and earth will work together]

On the other side, after Bell hung up the phone with the editor-in-chief, he called directly to Doral Murray, the current president of Time Warner.

“Do you think this is an opportunity to enter the Chinese market?” Doral Mori frowned, skeptical of Bell’s words.

When reporting on a Chinese director, even if he has won three European awards, there is no need to promote him so hard, right?

“President Murray, you have never dealt with Chinese people, but I have dealt with Chinese people. They care a lot about how the outside world evaluates them. If we can use this Chinese director as a springboard, we are likely to win the favor of the general public in China towards our Time Warner.”

At this point, Bell said quietly: “Murdoch’s News Corporation is now trying to enter the Chinese market with great fanfare!”

Dolar Murray’s face grew slightly solemn, for he knew that his old rival Murdoch had begun trying to use Hong Kong as a springboard to enter the Chinese market.

As early as 1985, when Murdoch first came to China, he presented 50 films produced by Fox Film Group to CCTV. This was his first contact with the Chinese market.

Last year, Murdoch’s News Corporation officially began its layout.

Murdoch’s News Corporation not only acquired 64% of the shares of the satellite TV station STAR TV from Hong Kong’s Li Huanggua, but also stopped the famous British BBC TV programs after taking control of the satellite TV station, just because the BBC once broadcast a documentary attacking China.

Any normal person can see that this is Murdoch Group trying to show goodwill to China, with the intention of allowing its own News Corporation to enter China’s huge market of 10 billion people.

Time Warner is now the world’s largest media empire, but in the final analysis, it is thanks to the merger of Time Group and Warner Bros. Group in 1990 to create New Times Warner, which has led to the current situation.

But you have to know that the News Corporation created by Murdoch should not be underestimated. If we rely solely on Time Group and Warner Group, there is no way to fight it one-on-one.

“President Mori, you should have heard that the Chinese government has loosened its grip on imported films. I heard from my colleagues in Asia that the Chinese film department is already drafting relevant documents. If nothing unexpected happens, our American films will be able to enter the Chinese market this year.”

“This is a country with a population of 10 billion. Even if the total box office of their film market is not high now, it is because there are few screens. When it develops in the future, it will be too late for us to enter.”

“I think it is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity to make Time Warner take the lead over other media companies and actively invest in the Chinese market at the first opportunity. Only in this way can we be the first to enjoy the fruits of victory when the fruits are borne!”

Although Bell is only the editor-in-chief of Time magazine, he has very high vision, otherwise he would not be able to hold this position.

In addition, Time magazine is a media that reports on various major events around the world, so Bell has a certain understanding of the international situation, the policies of various countries, and the development of various countries.

Bell has been paying attention to the Chinese market since the beginning of China’s reform and opening up. The vigorous development in recent years and the rapid changes in the film and television industry and the media industry have given Bell hope for Time magazine to enter China.

But unlike Murdoch’s hard-line approach, Bell has been waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity for Time magazine or Time Warner to enter the Chinese market.

Bale originally thought that this opportunity would come when China decided to introduce foreign films, but now it seems that it can be planned in advance.

Start with this Chinese director, and then find a way to get the first American film to be screened in the Chinese market.

In this way, Time Warner can enter the Chinese market step by step.

“Well, you’re right Bell, this is indeed a good opportunity.”

Doral Mori pondered, “Then do it boldly. If you want Time Warner to continue to prosper, you must take over the Chinese market. It is a virgin land, just like Columbus who discovered the New World. But you still have to control public opinion as much as possible.”

“I understand, President Mori!” Bell seemed to be thinking about something. It seemed that President Mori did not want to create a god for the Chinese. In fact, he did not quite agree with this point, because the god created by public opinion was the easiest to defeat. Once there was a little failure, it would directly lead to Jiang Lang’s exhaustion.

But it’s normal if you think about it, a created God is still a God.

Fortunately, this Chinese director has only achieved remarkable results in the field of art films. Although the box office of his commercial films is also good, it is far behind Spielberg and others. In the United States, where success or failure is determined by box office, this Chinese director cannot make any waves.

The time difference between Berlin, Germany and Yanjing is 6 hours, or 6 hours behind.

It was already nine o’clock in the evening in Berlin, but around three o’clock in the afternoon in Yanjing.

So when Lee Yi-su won the Golden Bear Award, Xinhua News Agency reporters immediately sent the news back to China, and along with the article was a photo of Lee Yi-su holding up the Golden Bear Award.

As soon as the news came back to China, newspapers large and small across the country were all in an uproar!
Li Yishu actually won the Golden Bear Award, completing China’s unprecedented grand slam of three golds at the three major European film festivals!

“This Lee Yi-seok is amazing. He actually won the Golden Bear Award. I thought he definitely wouldn’t win it.”

“Who said it wasn’t? I didn’t expect Li Yishu to get it. It’s incredible.”

“He is the fourth director in the world to win three major awards, and the first director in China to win three major awards. Wow, this really brings glory to the country.”

“He is not only the first director in China, but also the first director in Asia to win three major awards. In all the years, there have only been four directors who won the awards. The first three won the awards many years apart. Although Lee Yi-su also won the awards one year apart, she won three major awards in four years, three times in three battles. This is much more impressive than the first three.”

“He’s only 24 years old. When I was his age, I was just starting to work.”

“A genius, a well-deserved genius, who won three Golden Globes for his art films and made top ten global box office hits for his commercial films.”

“…”

The Yanjing Xinhua News Agency office was in a state of excitement, with staff members excitedly discussing the impact and value of Li Yishu’s award. The editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency scolded, “Enough, what are you still talking about? Send the news to all the major newspapers!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone dispersed immediately and began to call and send faxes to newspapers in various provinces and cities.

At present, there is only one relatively comprehensive foreign news agency in China, the Xinhua News Agency, which is not only responsible for collecting international news, but also has the task of sending news to major domestic newspapers.

The Yanjing Evening News was the first to receive the news. Upon learning that director Li Yishu had successfully won the Berlin Golden Bear Award and completed the triple gold grand slam, the editor-in-chief of the Yanjing Evening News immediately contacted the printing factory and asked them not to rush to print the evening edition.

Instead, he immediately asked someone to typeset the article and photos sent by Xinhua News Agency, and then rushed them to the printing factory, just to tell the general readers this good news as soon as possible.

The Yanjing Evening News was the first to modify its newspaper section, but it was definitely not the last, as almost most cities in the country have their own evening newspapers.

Around 5pm.

After work, Ni Ping returned to the family dormitory building of the Beijing Film Studio. When she opened the door, she saw Brother Chen Kai writing furiously. She knew without even looking that he was still revising the script of “The Emperor and the Assassin”.

Ever since the investment was obtained, Brother Chen Kai was dissatisfied with the script written by Wang Peigong and prepared to revise the script himself. It had been several days since then and Ni Ping did not dare to disturb him. She put down the items in her hands, picked up the vegetable basket and went outside to prepare dinner.

After Ni Ping left, Chen Kai finished writing the last word. Looking at the contents of the script, he smiled with satisfaction: “Sure enough, it is more appropriate if I make my own changes. If you want to film Qin Shi Huang, you have to follow my script. You don’t have to change a single word!”

“Huh? Ni Ping is back?” Brother Chen Kai stood up and stretched. Suddenly, he noticed something on the shoe cabinet at the door. He guessed that it might be Ni Ping who came back. When he was about to go out to check, he saw a few newspapers in the shoe cabinet.

“Li Yishu spent 4 years, won battles and finally won the triple gold grand slam!”

The bold black title pierced Chen Kai’s heart. He hurried over and picked it up. Below the title, there was a color photo. It was a photo of Lee Yi-su holding the Golden Bear Award.

Although he has never won the Golden Bear Award, Brother Chen Kai still knows the shape of the Golden Bear Award. Looking at the trophy on it, Brother Chen Kai just felt dizzy.

Really won the Golden Bear? He actually won it!!
A few days ago, when Chen Kai was leading a group of people to prepare for the filming, he discussed with others that the probability of Li Yishu winning the award was basically zero.

The three major European film festivals have been showing favor to Chinese directors in recent years, starting with Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum. At first, no one took it seriously, thinking that they just had the talent.

But as more and more awards were given out, last year’s Berlin Film Festival even had a double yolk. Although Zhang Yimou was on the jury, everyone gradually realized that these three major European film festivals also have their own social customs.

It is certainly possible to give awards based on personal connections, but as for winning the triple gold grand slam, none of Brother Chen Kai and his friends are optimistic. Apart from envy and jealousy, the main reason is that Lee Yi-su is too young. If he wins the Golden Bear Award and becomes a triple gold director, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face of a group of European and American film directors?

But who knew that she actually won the Golden Bear Award, making Lee Yi-su a triple gold grand slam winner!

“I’m so angry!!”

Brother Chen Kai was so angry that his teeth were itching. He was jealous that Li Yishu became a three-award-winning director because he had not won a gold award at any of the three major European film festivals so far.

Hiss, hiss—

In a flash, Brother Chen Kai tore the newspaper into pieces, then ran back to the table angrily, picked up the phone and called his good friend Gu Changwei, asking him to get ready as the national auditions would begin tomorrow.

Brother Chen Kai originally planned to hold auditions across the country in March, once the crew had almost completed preparations. But now that this incident has happened, he doesn’t want Li Yishu to continue to enjoy the limelight.

The impact of the evening paper that afternoon was ultimately short-lived, after all, not everyone likes to read the evening paper.

However, the evening’s “News Broadcast” did bring a little shock to the Chinese people.

“Today at around 3 o’clock Yanjing time, our outstanding young director Li Yishu won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival with the film “Central Station” with unanimous recognition from the jury…”

“So far, Lee Yi-su has won the Venice Golden Lion, Cannes Golden Palm, and Berlin Golden Bear, becoming the fourth director in the world to win the three awards, and the first director in Asia to achieve this honor…”

“Director Lee Ye-su’s film talent has been recognized by the three major European film festivals and movie fans around the world, which marks that my country’s film industry has officially stepped onto the international stage…”

“…”

The 90s was the time when China was most actively embracing the world. Until joining the WTO in the millennium, China’s recognition of the European and American world was extremely positive.

Because if we want to develop our economy now, we must integrate into the world.

Today, Lee Yi-su has won three awards at the European Film Festival and achieved the achievement of being the first Asian to win the triple gold grand slam. He also appeared on the “News Broadcast” for more than three minutes. From the Golden Lion Award he started with, to the Palme d’Or and now the Golden Bear Award, his popularity in the country has directly reached its peak.

In other words, there is no channel for private public opinion in the country now. If it were in the era of Weibo, Li Yishu would have already become a god.

All of this was accompanied by the three major sections of Time magazine in Europe, Asia, and the United States. At the same time, on Monday, February 2, the latest issue of Time magazine published the moment when Lee Yi-su achieved the triple gold grand slam. Her personal influence can be said to have exploded around the world.

Li Yishu, who was far away in the UK and was preparing to visit Li Anban, was also surprised to learn that he was the front-page news of the three major sections of Time magazine, including the European, Asian and American editions.

Originally, Li Yishu was thinking that it had been almost a month since Maria interviewed her, and it seemed like she was preparing for some big news.

But after winning three gold medals, I really have a feeling that “when the time comes, heaven and earth are on our side”!
(End of this chapter)