I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

Chapter 170 168《SECRET》，XUXIN

Chapter 170 168. "SECRET", XUXIN

One good thing about today's Internet age is that as long as you are willing to spend money on the trailer, you can log on to the major portals anytime, anywhere. The title is bold and shocking, attracting netizens to click in and watch.

After the two-minute video was played, Jay Chou's fans were the first to get excited.

Although it's not as exaggerated as picking out details frame by frame, I have to admit that this trailer, which is full of Korean drama style, was easily labeled with the most basic label of "campus love, magic, love". At the same time, the smell of a bloody drama is too strong, and it is full of Korean style.

Although Jay Chou disdains the so-called Korean Wave.

But in this film, he also had to compromise.

Because this is just a trailer, there is no need to go online, it is meaningless.

He has another edition that will be broadcast next month, and Xu Xin’s third edition will be broadcast in June.

It'll be fine if you don't watch it then, for now it's enough to have a gimmick.

On April 7th, Yang Mi had already gone to Wanwan, and Xu Xin also set off back to Shenmu.

The steel structure entered the site and returned as the "coordinator" of the project team, the construction party, and the contractor.

Before going back, I had prepared a month-long Olympic plan report and submitted it again.

Waiting for approval.

And, unlike last time, this time the creative team is full of confidence in this plan.

And on April 8th, which happened to be the Qingming Festival, Xu Xin was finally able to visit his mother's grave in a down-to-earth manner.

After visiting the grave, he walked into the construction site holding a safety helmet.

The construction period must be accelerated.

It has to be fast and good.

…

People often say on the Internet that French people have a very laid-back temperament.

In fact, this is also true.

At least, that's what Liu Momo thinks.

The Italians are nothing compared to them.

We can obviously start working time around 9 o'clock, but we don't see anyone until 10 o'clock. And after 10 o'clock, we haven't talked much about anything before entering the pleasant lunch time.

It took more than an hour to finish lunch, take a rest, and work for a while at three or four in the afternoon, and the day passed.

Sometimes it's really hard to understand.

It was just like she was sitting in the Cannes Film Association hall filled with media at this moment, waiting for the slow spokesperson in front of her to announce the first batch of Cannes film selections this year.

Brother, can you hurry up?

What about such ink marks?

She came here mainly for "The Man from London". The film was submitted for review this year, and this morning is when the first batch of shortlists were announced.

At this moment, Pierre, the association spokesman in front of the microphone, finally opened the envelope, put on his reading glasses, and pointed his mouth at the microphone:

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The weather is nice today, isn't it?"

Hearing his words, the reporters and distribution agents in the audience burst into laughter.

But not including Liu Momo.

She actually knew what these people were laughing at.

The spokesman, Pierre Manoux, lived in England in his early years, and the French did not have the habit of meeting and greeting the weather. But as a Frenchman who had lived in the UK, he uttered this somewhat old joke...

It directly made many people laugh.

It's a pity...Liu Momo really doesn't know what's so funny about such a contrasting joke.

If you have the time, you might as well read the list earlier.

And Pierre Manoux really followed her wishes. After a joke, he said directly:

"After being reviewed by so many outstanding filmmakers, today, the list of nominations for the competition section of the 60th Cannes Film Festival finally appeared... So let us save time and start announcing the shortlist."

There was some commotion among the reporters.

As usual, the shortlist did not do anything fancy, but followed Cannes' formal procedures, starting with the most important main competition unit.

"List of competition films, opening film: "Blueberry Nights", Wang Jiawei..."

After the words automatically translated into Chinese in Liu Momo's mind, no one present was surprised.

The King of Sunglasses is a regular customer.

An old friend of the French.

The French particularly appreciated his film art, and Cannes gave him high courtesy in almost every film.

Then, ignoring the reporters who were writing down notes in their notebooks, Pierre Manoux continued:

"The Old Mistress, Catherine Breillat..."Song of Love", "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"..."

One name after another was read out, and Liu Momo's heart lifted up in his throat every time he read one.

one by one.

One after another.

finally……

"The Man from London, Béla Tarr."

"YES!"

When it came to the eighteenth name, Liu Momo instinctively dug into his fist, feeling relieved.

Yeah.

How could such a good story not make it into the main unit?

"call……"

After feeling comfortable for a moment, her mind began to spin rapidly, and she began to calculate how to maximize the benefits of this film.

After all, more than 10 million, almost all of her belongings were tied up in it. Now that the film has entered the main competition of Cannes, she is more or less at a loss.

If nothing else, getting your money back... isn't that difficult, right?

As long as this film makes back its money, coupled with the release of "Once" in March, the film's box office in Ireland will be very good, and it has already exceeded 3 million US dollars. For a film with a budget of less than 150,000 US dollars, it can be said to be a big hit.

There are still many countries to be released one after another, and the box office will only be higher.

However, the success of this film does not actually prove its strength. Although at first glance, the box office of a film with a price of 150,000 yuan has exceeded 3 million. No matter how outsiders look at it, it is a bloody profit.

But in fact, to use a saying in the investment circle, "You can never make money beyond your knowledge."

That's just the way it is.

Because when Liu Momo saw this script in Vivendi, he just thought it was a very suitable film for the DVD route, and there was almost no possibility of success at the box office.

Therefore, the popularity of "Once" reminded her of another saying in the investment circle.

It's not the so-called "we need to be friends with time", but "talent is worthless in the face of luck".

The movie that I had originally hoped to release on DVD suddenly became inexplicably popular at the box office, and even the songs in it began to be sung.

But Liu Momo didn't feel that this was his own credit.

Because this goes against her future judgment of the film.

Anyone who has been exposed to investment knows that people who also work in an investment company and have projects that have ups and downs will never be as stable as those who seek to win. Although each investment is not large, those who are stable and lose less money are more popular. .

It’s not that investment firms are short-sighted, it’s that they know better than anyone how slim these chances of getting rich are.

For a normal person, it would be a big deal if he encounters one in his lifetime.

Luck can bless everyone.

But luck will not always favor one person.

Therefore, it cannot be included in the consideration of personal performance.

Liu Momo thinks so too.

Even though "Once" made money, it made money beyond its own knowledge.

Investment is successful.

But equally, as an investor, she cannot be said to have failed, but her performance cannot be said to be perfect.

However, with "The Man," it seems like she had the right vision.

Recognition from Cannes is equivalent to a European benchmark.

Next, all you need to do is contact the theater chain and let it pass the box office inspection.

Thinking of this, she breathed out again.

And thought his mission was over.

Although, she also helped her boss choose a domestic movie.

But let’s be honest…

Jay Chou...

do you like it?

Of course I do.

Who doesn't like his songs?

But if you were acting in a movie...

Thinking of this, she shook her head slightly.

She likes Xu Xin's style of boss and this friend very much.

Can……

Jay Chou~

She has already watched "The Golden Jacket" and the previous "Initial D".

Was the other party's acting skills recognized by Cannes?

Not to mention as a practitioner, even as a fan, she found it impossible.

Not to mention, she has also watched this movie.

Admit it, the boss’s photos are beautiful.

wrong. It's not appropriate to say it's beautiful... She likes the entire film, whether it's the tone, the style, or the rhythm.

But again...

Jay Chou...

Although she couldn't be a judge at Cannes herself, from an audience's perspective, the actor's acting skills felt to her to be superficial and did not immerse her in the story.

Even sometimes, when Jay Chou is not talking or is giving long shots, she will really be immersed in the movie's... melodious piano, as soothing and comfortable rhythm as flowing water, but every time Jay Chou appears, she will feel... A very inconsistent feeling.

Story, is it a good story?

no doubt.

The boss took great photos and it looks really comfortable.

But to say a thousand words is ten thousand...

Jay Chou...

Therefore, she had a pessimistic attitude towards this movie from the beginning.

until……

""SECRET", director: XUXIN~"

"...?"

Liu Momo was instantly excited.

His eyes focused on Pierre Manu.

He... what did he just say?

What stage are we at now?

Liu Momo, who had been distracted by thinking about his "Man" just now, was stunned for a moment, and then after he came to his senses, he immediately politely asked the colleague next to him:

"Excuse me, what is the competition unit now?"

"...?"

The other party looked at the young oriental girl in surprise and said politely:

"Secondary competition unit."

"...Second-level competition unit!?"

Liu Momo was stunned and asked again:

"A kind of unit?"

"...?"

The other party gave Liu Momo a strange look.

This person...why doesn't he understand anything?

In addition to the main competition for best director, film, male and female actresses, etc... the others are of course secondary competition units. Of course "a" is too.

Don’t you even understand this?

Does Liu Momo understand?

Of course she understands.

It is precisely because I understand that I am surprised.

You know, after the film "The Untold Secret" was sent for review, this was where she regretted it.

The boss obviously did a good job, but he was let down by the male and female protagonists.

If this movie had two good actors, and it would be more literary without pursuing box office, it would definitely be a hit with this script and rhythm.

That's why the exclamation "Jay Chou" came about.

But now the movie has entered a new era! ?

Who are the judges this year?

The level is so high?

Just pick out the actors and watch the movie itself?

Did you directly discover the boss’s shining point?

She was completely shocked.

You know... In fact, many people have a misunderstanding. They think that the main competition unit of Cannes, the so-called best actor, best actress, and best director awards are the highest.

EMMMM……

how to say.

It can be understood this way.

For actors, the titles of Cannes Best Actor and Best Actress are very valuable.

First of all, let’s talk about the simplest truth. Those who can win these titles are those who have defeated one film after another and conquered round after round of judges with their acting skills.

How can it not be awesome?

But in fact... whether it is Cannes, the three major film festivals, or even other film festivals, there has always been a point of contention in the industry and among some knowledgeable people.

That is, which one is more valuable, the so-called "General A" in the main competition unit or the "Second Category, B-level" awards in a category like Cannes, Venice Horizon, and Golden Bear Teddy.

Because of their different focuses, the general A level is like "comprehensive consideration", while the "B level" is selected by relatively "inclusive" and "professional" professional filmmakers.

Some people say that the best comprehensive product is the best.

But some people say that those with strong professionalism have the highest gold content.

This debate has been going on for decades, and there is no clear distinction for the time being.

However, there is a very clear understanding in the industry that for actors, the General A Award is the highest honor for their career. But for directors, B-level awards are more valuable.

For example, Cannes, for a director, a kind of attention is better than an A-level, no matter whether he wins an award or not, because the film needs to be sold, if the film produced by your director will not be recognized by the distribution company in the industry, the film will not be sold or will not sell well. , if you waste investors’ money, it means failure.

It has nothing to do with artistry, business is business. It has to be distinguished from art!

But for an actor, winning an award is better than being shortlisted but not receiving an award. After all, he actually won the title of Best Actor and Best Actress, which is a huge improvement to his popularity. Just like for an actor, being on one of the three major judges is certainly not as good as being an A-level actor and winning Best Actor and Best Actress.

As far as directors are concerned, Category B awards require higher personal level, talent, control, and artistic level.

Is Liu Momo surprised that "The Untold Secret" was not shortlisted for the main competition?

Not surprised at all.

If it were shortlisted, Liu Momo would be surprised and even start to doubt the value of Cannes...

Not to mention, the idea itself is outrageous.

How dare you think that?

Is this movie shortlisted for the main section of Cannes?

What are you daydreaming about?

Can I be shortlisted for Category B Award? Although she didn’t know yet whether it was a kind of unit or a golden camera with a more generous and relaxed environment for newcomers... But she was shortlisted for the B category award. At this moment, she already wanted to call the boss awesome.

Because what does this mean?

It shows that the boss’s movie was recognized by fucking professional filmmakers!

Yeah.

Don't look at the male and female protagonists, just look at the rhythm, script, and shots of the entire movie...

My Boss’s film debut is really surprising.

There is no green, mature batch at all!

The movie "The Untold Secret" is really excellent in terms of its rhythm and the lighting and shadows it shot!

You guys are so discerning!

What a discerning person!

Thinking of this, she immediately took out her mobile phone and sent a message to Xu Xin.

"Xu Xin, I'm a finalist! You're a finalist!"

boss……

Wow!

So next...

The so-called "scheduled screening" of a fixed theater at a fixed time is definitely a no-brainer. Even if the boss is shortlisted for Category B, then according to the rhythm of Cannes, it is impossible to give a scheduled screening.

But a screening.

That is, carousel.

That……

Do we need to make some connections and arrange the time in a more friendly manner?

What about distribution?

Being shortlisted itself represents strength. What did Boss say about overseas distribution?

Did you say anything?

Maybe not.

That……

A series of unexpected but logical operational plans began to float in her mind.

…

Did Xu Xin see the message?

No.

The time difference in France is 6 hours behind that of China, and it is almost 5pm now.

He is having a meeting with people from Panasonic, Panasonic's partners, people from Shenzhen Hi-Tech, and people from Yanjing Urban Construction.

Let’s talk about the installation of embedded parts.

Panasonic's current factory is in Shenzhen, so the production and assembly of LED screens first eliminates the trouble of traveling across the ocean, and the construction period is guaranteed. In addition, a transaction method of "produce a batch and bring a batch over" was also negotiated.

Get a batch of goods, pass the quality inspection, and make money.

The coal bosses' style of handing over money and delivering goods has also been witnessed by people at Panasonic and Hi-tech.

From the completion of the bidding to the acceleration of production, the first batch of LED screens have now begun the technical inspection process. The grid structure at the construction site is also in operation around the clock, and the progress has been rapid.

The progress is fast and the work is busy.

Xu Xin didn't care about his cell phone at all.

Naturally, I didn’t know that I had been shortlisted for the Cannes Category B Award.

But he also didn't know... At around 5 o'clock in the evening, the meeting was still listening to the progress of the steel structure report, and when it was decided to find a way to conduct strength tests at the same time after installing the embedded parts tomorrow... The French side had already completed the first The list of the first round of the competition was announced, and at the same time, numerous national media also sent the shortlists back to China for publication.

online...

A bit fried.

…

Baidu Tieba - Cannes Film Festival Bar.

Rows of subjects urged and inquired.

"Why don't you come out yet? All the flowers have faded."

"Does anyone know the news? Is Jiang Wen on board?"

"If Jiang Wen can't catch up, then this session will be worthless."

""Blueberry Nights" is a film by Wang Jiawei, but it is also a French film and has nothing to do with us."

"If anyone knows that Wang Jiawei's film is going to win an award, does the award count as belonging to our country? Come and explain."

"Will Hou Hsiao-hsien's "The Red Balloon" be shortlisted?"

"Did Jiang Wen pass the review? I'm so anxious."

“The French work too slowly”

Behind each topic post, there is an anxious netizen waiting.

There's no way, it happens every year.

Just as Zhang Yimou said, after the heated discussion of the fifth generation of directors gradually receded, the depth of China that once amazed the world has gradually come to an end.

People are all suffering from aesthetic fatigue.

In the 1990s, the fifth-generation directors went to the three major universities to stir up troubles. Many directors created the idea that as long as the subject matter is "little people, changing times, struggle, and darkness", then they can go to the three major universities for a walk. illusion.

This is also true.

Everything has its pros and cons. It can be said that the works of directors in the 1990s have contributed a lot to Westerners' prejudice against China.

A film that doesn't have some darkness seems to be uncomfortable.

As a result, the film was dark, and it was not allowed to be released in China. After it was banned, they said it restricted the freedom of artistic creation.

But no one has thought about it. When people all over the world are striving for a better life, is the thing you took that looks like the third grandson just for art, or is it just a fabrication made up by countless ancestors who have worked hard? A troublemaker for a bright future that comes from hard work.

However, I am not ashamed but proud to be there.

Comparing one by one, you have been banned? Dude, I was banned from two movies. Hey, that’s how awesome you are. But I know someone who has been banned for three movies, so I called him over and let’s have dinner today.

That virtue is the same as the anti-vulgarity expert in Guo Degang's cross talk.

Movies do need creative freedom.

good.

But for the same reason, if it is deliberately distorted, it would not be an exaggeration to call it a traitor's behavior in the past.

However, this group of people who are banned in China and have not disgusted their own people have successfully left a stereotype on Europeans, and at the same time blocked the retreat of those fifth-generation directors who are really exploring the changes of the times. .

Europeans are not stupid either.

It will also cause aesthetic fatigue.

It's just like Lin Zhengying made zombie-themed movies popular, but within a week Xiangjiang Film released hundreds of shoddy junk movies about Maoshan Taoist priests fighting zombies.

After carving up the cake of the changing times, Chinese cinema has indeed begun to decline in Europe since the turn of the millennium.

Although there are occasional splashes, they are not important awards.

I didn’t think it was anything when I first looked at it, but I felt that some people who like movies are common in the world’s culture. After going through this period, they have become like the posts posted by these netizens today.

Every year, I look forward to seeing something new, but what I see every year... feels like it's out of the world I'm familiar with.

Count forward.

There was no harvest at the 59th Cannes.

In the 58th session, Wang Xiaoshuai's film "Green Red" was recognized by the jury and won the jury award, but the story was the same old thing.

Seeing that her parents, who were just like the old Manchus in the feudal era, killed their daughter's dreams, forced her daughter Qinghong to separate from her lover Xiaogen, and then Qinghong rebelled against her parents, leaving a tragedy in the end.

How is it?

Does it look familiar?

Remove the modern background and put the background of the Republic of China. If you say it sounds good, it is a family story about the conflict between the family elders and the heirs, but if it sounds bad, it is like "Red Sorghum" + "Raise the Red Lantern" + "Raise the Red Lantern" Any combination of the spirit of "Ju Dou" will do.

Especially the shooting technique is still gloomy, dark and obscure...

It’s like if you don’t do this, you won’t be able to make movies.

It’s true that movies need profound elements, but Chinese movies can’t only have profound elements, right?

Going forward, Wang Jiawei——"2046".

If nothing else, just ask those who praised this movie how good it is, how many of them really understand the metaphors in "2046", and how many of them are just following the trend, in order to give themselves the title of literary celebrity, and they are ignorant. Do you conscientiously say that it looks good?

Movies...the most essential thing is to tell a good story, right?

Even South Korea, which originally imitated Chinese movies, has begun to transform in recent years. Why do Chinese people still hold on to it?

Moving forward, Lou Ye's spy film "Purple Butterfly".

Still no splash, just shortlisted, no award at all.

Going further, "Ren Xiaoyao", one of Jia Zhangke's "Hometown Trilogy"...

Regarding these themes, no matter how you look at them, they don’t look like movies made for the audience. They look more like things that are deliberately made to make people incomprehensible to win awards or for other reasons.

With the rise of the Internet, a large number of netizens have poured into the Internet and talked loudly on the Internet. When discussing movies, someone will always talk about the golden age of Chinese movies, such as "Red Sorghum" and "Farewell My Concubine".

Why do we often talk about these? Because they first told everyone a story and perfectly integrated their own spirit into the story.

Because I have been brilliant, I want to continue to be brilliant.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve watched this award-winning movie, whether you like it or not, as long as you can win an award, it’s a great movie.

No matter how old faces can go to Cannes or the third generation, I don’t think about why only these familiar faces go there every year, unlike other countries where some people pop up every year with refreshing ideas. s work……

Don't think about anything.

Get a prize for the sake of getting a prize.

If Wang Jiawei is available, choose Wang Jiawei; if Wang Jiawei is not available, choose Jia Zhangke.

If there is no one, look at whose name looks like a Chinese... After checking the information, it turns out that he is a Korean...

Of course, there are a number of people who really like movies and are knowledgeable about them.

But people who really understand movies will not pay special attention to who has entered the finals at this time.

Even though they had paid attention before, they were paying attention to the movie, not this list.

The most you can do is see which director has been shortlisted, and take it for granted because you recognize the other person's ability, and then worry about whether the film made by the other person can be released in China, that's all.

Therefore, the reason why we say frying pan is very simple.

Those who place their hopes on one person and ask repeatedly whether they have been shortlisted or not are not interested in movies, but are directly aiming to win awards. It cannot be said that it is contrary to the movie itself, but it can only be said that their utilitarianism towards movies is definitely greater than their love for movies.

However, they may not feel safe when a short man selects a general with only Wang Jiawei.

Therefore, all hopes are pinned on Jiang Wen's already highly hyped movie - "The Sun Also Rises", which has just completed post-production in France and it is not yet known whether he will have time to be selected to participate in the exhibition.

At this moment, the owner of the Cannes Film Bar finally got the list of this year’s Cannes and posted a pinned post:

"The 60th Cannes Nomination List"

One minute after the post was posted, the number of views immediately exceeded 300.

In two minutes, it broke 700.

Three minutes later...

A post appeared on the post bar, which made some people who had not had time to read it feel a little baffled, but at the same time it was in line with everyone's understanding:

"Are you kidding me?"

And the name of this post is:

""The Untold Secret"? Is Jay Chou worthy of going to Cannes?"

The content of the post is not yet known.

But after refreshing the page, more related topics popped up.

"Isn't Jay Chou a singer? Why did he go to Cannes?"

"Reprinted: The first trailer of "The Secret That Cannot Be Told." Idol drama style? Cannes??"

“Has Cannes been taken over by Jay Chou’s crazy fans?”

"Is this list correct? Jay Chou? Cannes? Where's Jiang Wen? Where's "The Sun Also Rises"?"

"??? What did I see? "The Secret That Can't Be Told"?"

"Is it possible that Cannes got it wrong?"

"Okay, now Cannes' selection criteria are no longer a secret that cannot be told."