Chapter 738

February 24th, the Xitu'er Film Festival closed.

"In the Waves" did not win any awards.

However, because the word-of-mouth was polarized and the media discussion was relatively high, making it a film with strong topicality, before the closing ceremony, "In the Waves" had already sold distribution rights in seven countries including North America, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, and Brazil. Judging from the average selling price of films shortlisted for the Xitu'er Film Festival main competition unit, these places combined sold for at least 2 million US dollars.

This trip to Xitu'er had already broken even and made a profit based on overseas copyright revenue.

Director Wang Shuai reviewed this trip to Xitu'er on his social media platform, with one-third of the space dedicated to telling the story with Lu Yan He and sincerely expressing his gratitude.

At this time, everyone realized that several big names who came to the premiere of "In the Waves" were actually introduced to them by Lu Yan He the night before.

"This is truly helping Chinese cinema."

"He is so busy with his own awards season campaign, yet he still remembers to help 'In the Waves' stand on stage."

"Yeah, not only did he post updates on various social platforms to let more people know about this film, but he also specifically took the director and actors to meet his circle of friends and invited his friends to attend the premiere of 'In the Waves'."

"Think about it, in the first year or two when he just became famous, quite a few people said he was too much of a 'good guy'."

"'Good guy'? Who said that? Nonsense, he was very capable of roasting people from the very beginning, okay?"

"The ones he roasted were people like Yu Jiang who deserved to be roasted; they were the ones who provoked him first. Have you forgotten Lily Werton who attended the premiere of 'In the Waves' this time? Before, quite a few people said that Lily Werton wasn't enthusiastic about Lu Yan He at the time, and the fans even made a fuss for a while."

"Those who follow the Dao get much help; those who lose the Dao get little help."

"The problem is that Lu Yan He has always had people helping him since he wasn't very famous at the very beginning."

"Indeed, his luck as an actor is too good; right from the start, he was in dramas by directors of the level of Luo Yuzhong and Chen Lingling, and the first movie he acted in was Wang Zhong's film."

"Don't exaggerate too much; in the plays of Luo Yuzhong and Chen Lingling, Lu Yan He only played a supporting role, and when he acted in Wang Zhong's film, Wang Zhong hadn't won an award at Xitu'er yet; he was just a director with relatively high fame but far from his current status."

"For a newcomer, isn't such a resource good enough?"

"It is, but the problem is, you act as if Lu Yan He got everything he has today just because of luck. Why don't you go ask why Huang Kai, Ceng Qiao, and the three leads of 'Three Mountains' aren't doing as well as Lu Yan He?"

"Don't drag others down, don't invite trouble, Huang Kai and the others are just as good."

"That's not what I meant."

"Regardless of whether that's what you meant, be careful with your words and actions."

Domestically, on the internet, there was a heated discussion.

And Linghe announced a new film project at this time.

Another newcomer director, He Songyan, "There's a Strange Woman in the Building."

They also wrote directly in the official announcement: 1 million production budget, regardless of the results, the director films completely according to their own ideas, the company will not interfere, welcoming major talent agencies to contact and recommend actors.

Many people popped up: 1 million? To make a movie? What year is this? What kind of shoddy movie is this going to be?

Linghe's official Weibo replied: "The production budget for 'Home Alone' was less than 2 million US dollars, and now the global box office has exceeded 300 million US dollars. Cost has never been the standard for a good movie. Yan He once said: 'The production budget for a movie is how much you need to spend; don't spend money blindly just to pretend to be a blockbuster, and don't be stingy just to save budget.' Encouraging each other."

At this time, everyone realized that the production cost of "Home Alone" was so low.

A huge profit.

For a time, it grabbed everyone's attention.

Many people even discussed it, posting analysis threads: how much money Lu Yan He could make from one "Home Alone."

Lu Yan He's fans spoke bluntly: "However much money he makes, he earned it fair and square. If you want to make money, you can too; no one is stopping you. Don't be sour."

At the same time, the new work "Jiang Yan" by "Seventeen Layers" director Lian Bei started filming.

Yan Liang starred, with an all-star cast.

Behind the two titles of Producer and Executive Producer, both had Lu Yan He's name.

One project after another.

Some people laughed: "It feels like the entire entertainment industry will be contracted by Lu Yan He in the future."

Some said: "I actually hope the entertainment industry can be contracted by Lu Yan He. Looking at it now, there are still too few projects as good as Lu Yan He's, while there are a whole basket of projects worse than Lu Yan He's."

Some said: "I'd rather Lu Yan He have more projects. This way, excellent directors, screenwriters, and actors can be seen a bit more. Thank God, there are more and more young actors with good acting skills popping up. The IP I like finally doesn't have to be ruined by those connected people who just bare their teeth and glare."

Some refuted: "It's as if this is all Lu Yan He's credit."

Some said: "Who brought back the atmosphere of script reading? Who brought back the atmosphere of multiple rehearsals before filming? So many newcomers can emerge—whether it's Wang Dashan in 'Lost on Journey' or Liu Zi and He Jiang in 'My Own Swordsman'—aren't they all able to play the lead roles right from the start because of Lu Yan He's support? In every one of his projects, the selection of actors is through auditions. How long has it been since the entertainment industry really used auditions to pick actors?"

It was bustling with activity.

There were only a few days left until the Oscar ceremony.

Helena told Lu Yan He that the British Academy Film Awards upset, letting Uber Clark win the award, was because many people felt his momentum was too strong; he would have many opportunities to win awards in the future, but this year might be Uber Clark's most hopeful time.

Lu Yan He: "So ridiculous, this is just them finding a reason for themselves."

Helena hesitated for a moment and said: "I have the same opinion as you. Actually, I heard that many people don't really want to see you win the award."

"Because I am Chinese?"

"Because the height you have reached now is already a height that the young generation in Hollywood hasn't reached. And—the Oscars, you have to know, for the more popular, the more top-tier stars, they are actually the more demanding. It has always been like this."

Since she said so, Lu Yan He believed it.

After all, he knew that the Oscars indeed had this problem.

Those most popular stars in Hollywood, from Leonardo DiCaprio to Anne Hathaway, were all "resentful husbands and wives" for many years before they got their wish.

It can only be said that the box office explosion of "Home Alone" was a double-edged sword.

However, every single thing has two sides.

If there were no "Home Alone," he wouldn't necessarily be a sure winner of the award either.

The weakness of "Tropical Rain" lies in the fact that the box office is too low; it hasn't broken 9 million US dollars to this day.

It is the film with the lowest box office in the Best Supporting Actor category.

In short, it can only be like this.

Now there is nothing more he can do.

February 18th, Oscar ceremony.

Lu Yan He had already adjusted his mindset and was prepared not to win the award.

He mainly didn't want to have poor expression management if he didn't win, which wouldn't look good.

Not winning the award wouldn't affect his current "strength" and "popularity" in Hollywood.

Therefore, right now, posture is more important.

For this year's Oscars, Chen Bige was also invited to attend.

Obviously, her appearance at the Golden Globe Awards not only brought huge exposure and discussion to Lu Yan He but also brought the same heat to herself.

However, it was a pity that she was only invited to attend and would not go on stage.

This time, Chen Bige didn't have another "stunning" moment; she returned to her common red carpet style—simple and elegant.

Lu Yan He attended with the film crew.

Huang Feng, who had already started school, also asked for leave and walked the red carpet together.

Huang Feng's popularity was so high that it even overshadowed Lu Yan He.

Regarding this, Lu Yan He was not surprised at all.

To be honest, if Macaulay, the lead actor of "Home Alone," hadn't encountered his vampire parents and his various "self-destructive" behaviors, the influence of the "Home Alone" series would have been the second to push a child star to such a high position; the first was Shirley Temple.

It can be said that as the strongest child star in history, "Home Alone" can definitely be ranked in the top three.

On the red carpet, it was very extravagant, with eight hosts broadcasting live on-site.

They grabbed people randomly to answer questions, play small games, etc.

And this live broadcast was aimed at the global audience; the exposure was indeed hard for any other film and television activity to rival.

Lu Yan He and Huang Feng were the key targets to be "grabbed."

Especially Huang Feng.

Once a child with explosive popularity appears, it is simply an existence like a "heaven-sent star."

After finally walking through the red carpet and entering the backstage, it was bustling.

Jewelry and finery, fragrant clothes and shadows, celebrities gathered, glasses clinking.

When you suddenly walk into such an occasion, you might even have the illusion that all the big names in Hollywood are gathered here.

Huang Feng once again became a favorite.

Everyone—truly everyone—came to greet Huang Feng kindly and enthusiastically, touched his face, then squatted down to hug him for a photo. Their attitude of affection can only be said to confirm that humans indeed love "harmless" and "non-aggressive" cubs.

Lu Yan He also met many big names in such an occasion whom he hadn't seen throughout the long awards season.

True top-tier stars.

And each one expressed kindness and encouragement to him.

Actually, being able to have such an attitude is enough.

Lu Yan He also put his posture very much as a "junior," expressing his appreciation and worship as a fan to every big name, and vulgarly, like everyone else, expressed his hope for opportunities to cooperate in the future.

Everyone was chatting enthusiastically backstage.

"Home Alone" was actually a hot topic.

Although it was in the Oscar awards season, "Home Alone," which was not in the scope of this awards season, seemed to have been watched by everyone.

Of course, such a box office blockbuster film is bound to receive attention in Hollywood, which highly values box office.

For Hollywood, a bad box office is an original sin, especially for blockbusters.

For example, the film "Babylon" by the director of "Whiplash"—actually, whether it's the theme or the quality of filming, it is definitely the type the Oscars like. It actually performed quite well during the awards season and was a relatively hot film until the Golden Globe Awards. Then, the film was released on December 23rd, and the box office was not just a tragedy, but close to it, and then there was no then. Finally, it was only shortlisted for three technical awards at the Oscars.

Digressing.

Actually, it's just one meaning: if a film doesn't have a good box office, don't come to mix in the Oscars.

Oh, except for foreign language films.

The box office of foreign language films in the United States is basically not very good; "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a miracle.

And Huang Feng, as the first underage actor to be nominated in the Best Actor category at the Oscars in the last twenty years, was already unique because of this achievement, and then followed by the explosion of "Home Alone," becoming an overnight sensation in the United States.

Compared to him, Lu Yan He was just an ordinary Oscar-nominated actor.

Although the box office of "The Mist" wasn't much worse than "Home Alone," the influence was far apart.

As it continues to be released, "Home Alone" has the support of the Chinese Spring Festival box office. While the North American box office may not be able to break 300 million like the previous work, the total global box office may exceed the previous work, reaching over 500 million.

Although he had expected it, when he truly saw this scene happen, Lu Yan He was still very happy and breathed a sigh of relief.

And Huang Feng's future development seems to be much better than Macaulay's.

With Chen Ziyan and Lu Qingzhen watching, and going to school in China, well, at least drugs and such things will definitely not be encountered.

When the award ceremony officially started, Lu Yan He and Huang Feng's seats were arranged in the front row.

Chen Siqi and Huang Feng's mother sat next to them.

Huang Tianlin and Qin Shulan's seats were arranged in the second row, right behind them.

The seats of others were even further back.

Looking from below the stage, Lu Yan He realized that although the theater where the Oscar ceremony is held looks quite large on TV, it is not actually large in reality.

The host basically stood two or three meters away from them, very close.

And the first award the Oscars are presenting now is Best Supporting Actress.

There are some technical awards to be presented in the middle.

About one-third of the way through the ceremony, Best Supporting Actor will be presented.

Lu Yan He thinks this is also quite good.

No need to wait for a long time until the end to wait for the result of this award.

The host first gave an opening speech teasing everyone. When mentioning Lu Yan He, he used a very exaggerated tone to say that this year's Hollywood is a bit different; the most popular young person is a creator from China—as an actor, he can be nominated for an Oscar; as a screenwriter, he has five films, each with a global box office exceeding 100 million, totaling over 1 billion US dollars, and he is only twenty-five years old.

The whole room cheered.

In such an atmosphere, Lu Yan He could only show a flattered expression, indicating that he was a bit embarrassed by the praise.

And the atmosphere of joyful laughter began to spread with tension as the first group of presenters appeared.

When the name of the Best Supporting Actress winner was read out, the winner screamed on the spot and hugged the people around her fiercely.

It was not Qin Shulan.

Lu Yan He didn't know her, so he just applauded, offered sincere blessings, and turned to Qin Shulan and said: "We'll come again next time."

Qin Shulan smiled generously and applauded for the other party, saying okay.

Subsequently, his gaze met with Uber Clark's.

There were about four or five seats between him and him.

The look in Uber Clark's eyes when he looked at him was a bit complicated.

Lu Yan He nodded slightly to him in greeting.

Uber Clark didn't make any impolite gestures either, returning the nod in greeting.

The biggest competitors, up to now, still maintained a relatively peaceful way of fighting.

Everyone didn't use any underhanded tricks, just conducting their own public relations activities within the permitted scope.

Up to now, the probability of the two of them winning the award is basically fifty-fifty.

Lu Yan He's advantage lies in the fact that "Tropical Rain" is an Asian film, and the basic base of Asian-American voters is with him, while Uber Clark has other American actor nominees sharing the base votes. Besides that, Lu Yan He's public relations tour this awards season can be said to have "slaughtered" Uber Clark, and it is precisely because of the outstanding performance of the awards season PR tour that "Tropical Rain," a film that was not a "strong film" at the beginning, was able to finally break through and have the opportunity to fight and decide the outcome with other films.

Uber Clark's advantage lies in his local advantage in Hollywood, having been famous for many years, "having worked hard and achieved much," and the box office of the film he starred in is tens of millions of dollars higher than "Tropical Rain," which to some extent means that more voting judges have seen his performance than those who have seen Lu Yan He's. Coupled with the "strength" Lu Yan He showed in the later stage, some people think that Lu Yan He will have opportunities to win awards later, and this is just his first time breaking into the awards season, so the nomination is already a huge affirmation, while Uber Clark... has worked hard for this award for many years.

Lu