Chapter 754: Poaching

When Huang Kai was running the roadshow for *Hit the Nail on the Head*, he was asked on the spot what he thought about the director of *Cloud Dragon Action*'s statement.

Huang Kai said: "Except for a very few actors, most so-called stars, including me, really don't carry the box office."

The scene was in an uproar.

Someone continued to ask: "Then why don't you carry the box office, but you can get such a high salary?"

Huang Kai said bluntly again: "Stars don't carry the box office, but stars have popularity and can bring attention to the movie, just like why everyone came to the roadshow today. And besides stars, what I value more is the identity of an actor. Every time I choose a play, I believe that I can definitely bring something to this movie that only I, Huang Kai, can bring."

"Finally, I also want to say one thing. Many times, everyone thinks that the actor's salary is very high, but in the film industry, to be honest, taking me as an example, for the same time, if I shoot a TV drama, the salary can be one zero more than if I shoot a movie. The salary for shooting a movie is far from as high as everyone imagines."

"I'm not saying that the actor's salary is not high. I admit that our industry is an industry that has occupied the dividends of the era, including our actor's salary, but it is not as high as everyone imagines. I even know many actors who insist on artistic standards, put the identity of stars far behind, and put the identity of actors far in front, so they seem to have various halos, but they actually live a very ordinary life."

Huang Kai's words caused a huge uproar.

One of the most sensitive sentences is that his salary for shooting TV dramas is one zero more than that for shooting movies.

This even made many people in the industry accuse him of deliberately provoking the audience's hatred of the rich in the film and television circle.

Besides this, more people care about what Huang Kai's salary for starring in *Hit the Nail on the Head* is.

This is always the most concerning thing.

However, even if Huang Kai wants to say it, the film party will not let him say it.

This kind of thing is privacy, secret.

An ordinary person is not very willing to tell others their salary, let alone a public figure who is already highly concerned.

Suddenly, Huang Kai fell into a public opinion crisis.

Many people seem to feel that Huang Kai "has taken all the advantages and wants to pick himself clean."

The industry is also dissatisfied with Huang Kai's move.

Huang Kai didn't respond to anything. After communicating with the film party, he decided to withdraw from the promotion of this movie.

Waiting until May 5th, the May Day file ended.

*Hit the Nail on the Head* finished the May Day file with a box office of 320 million, and the total box office is expected to reach 600 million, ranking second in the May Day file movies.

From the data, this movie can be said to have achieved success.

However, many people think that if it weren't for the controversy caused by Huang Kai, the box office of this movie could be higher.

Later, some people went down to take the opportunity to step on Huang Kai.

Various black materials were spread, and there were rumors that Huang Kai was blocked by the industry, saying that several projects in contact with Huang Kai were ruined, and so on.

Such a statement, coupled with Huang Kai's withdrawal from the promotion of *Hit the Nail on the Head*, seemed to have become a fact.

Lu Yan He landed in Hexi, which was the local afternoon time.

The sun was shining brightly.

More than twenty fans came to the airport, holding his movie posters to pick him up.

Several media outlets also came.

For actors who did not have starring films shortlisted for the main competition unit this year, this lineup is indeed very large.

Lu Yan He signed for several fans, took photos, and got into the car arranged by the film festival official to pick him up.

As soon as Wang Biao got into the car, he said to Lu Yan He: "Little Brother Lu, several foreign media also reported on Huang Kai's recent controversy today. Just now, Sister Ziyan sent me a message, reminding that this time at the Hexi Film Festival, maybe some foreign media will ask you to express your views on this matter."

Lu Yan He sighed when he heard this.

Wang Biao said with a smile: "Sister Ziyan has also prepared some relevant answer calibers for you. If you feel annoyed, I will ask the host to help block it then."

Lu Yan He: "Mainly I don't want to answer, and I can't tell the 100% truth when answering."

Wang Biao: "The most critical thing is that no matter what we answer, it will be made a fuss about by a group of people with intentions."

"Hmm," Lu Yan He said, "Saying more is useless, that's probably the feeling."

Wang Biao: "Even so, it still has to be said."

Lu Yan He laughed.

"That's right."

Wang Biao: "Can't let those who talk nonsense occupy the main position of public opinion."

Lu Yan He: "You are really getting better and better."

Wang Biao: "Every day by your side, influenced by you."

Lu Yan He turned to think that when Wang Biao started to be his assistant, he was not yet eighteen, and now he is actually just over twenty.

However, because he entered society to work early, he has a kind of ease and confidence while still being young and energetic—in popular terms, it is the feeling of an old oil stick.

Thinking that it was not only himself who was so old-fashioned every day, Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief, and there was a little comfort in the bottom of his heart.

Of course, Lu Yan He ignored who made Wang Biao "old rivers and lakes" so early.

Originally, Lu Yan He thought that he only needed to attend the screening and promotional activities of two movies when he came to the Hexi Film Festival this time, just to occupy a stage. As a result, as soon as he arrived at the hotel, Evan Galdi, the editor-in-chief of *Hexi Film*, came to invite him to attend a dinner he organized.

Evan Galdi said he had several producers and directors who wanted to meet him.

Lu Yan He was already in Hexi, so it was impossible not to accept such an invitation.

As a result, when he went, he found, wow! They are all movie celebrities.

It is also true, the dinner organized by the editor-in-chief of *Hexi Film*, the guests cannot be ordinary.

For Lu Yan He, it has been a long time since he won the Oscar.

But for the film industry, this matter has just passed, and it can even be said to be close at hand.

Lu Yan He, who should have been proud of winning the award, had no public movement except for participating in several promotional activities for *Buried* in April.

There were no celebration activities, nor did he become a top celebrity in major activities.

Mysterious.

Calm.

Such actors always make people look at them highly—

No way, in the vanity fair, the least lacking is fame and fortune, and the scarcest thing is to dare to be separated from fame and fortune.

For example, Daniel Day-Lewis.

After Lu Yan He took his seat, he first chatted with everyone, introduced each other, and then everyone's topics focused on Lu Yan He's later arrangements.

Two directors took the initiative to propose that they wanted to cooperate with him on a script.

Lu Yan He had to say, look at the script later, and if it is suitable, he will definitely act.

All night, Lu Yan He became the well-deserved protagonist of this dinner.

After everyone dispersed, Lu Yan He was left alone by Evan Galdi.

Evan Galdi invited him to visit his study and collection room.

About ten minutes later, another person came.

It was Wu Yang, the artistic director of the Hexi Film Festival.

Lu Yan He's old acquaintance.

After Evan Galdi waited for him to come, he smiled and said, go get them something to drink, and left under the pretext.

After he left, Wu Yang made an invitation to Lu Yan He.

"We hope to invite you to serve as the chairman of the selection committee for the main competition unit of next year's Hexi Film Festival."

Lu Yan He was stunned, "Ah?"

The biggest difference between the Hexi Film Festival and several other top international film festivals is that its competition results are voted by the invited audience of the film festival, rather than decided by a jury composed of seven or eight people under normal circumstances.

However, the Hexi Film Festival has a selection committee every year. As the name suggests, this is an agency that decides which films are shortlisted for the main competition unit.

Under normal circumstances, this power is in the hands of the artistic director.

Wu Yang actually wanted to hand this power to him?

"The responsibility of this job is too great, and it requires watching a lot of films. I may not have so much time."

Lu Yan He's first reaction was to refuse.

Although this job must be very honorable, and it can further bless his influence in the world film industry.

However, it is too tiring.

Chairman of the selection committee? How many films does this have to watch?

Wu Yang said: "Yan He, the Hexi Film Festival has always been funded by the Hexi official, but this year we have received a notice that starting next year, Hexi will no longer provide funds for the Hexi Film Festival. We must face the challenge of commercialization, which requires us to further improve the influence of the Hexi Film Festival."

Lu Yan He frowned for a moment and asked: "What does this have to do with inviting me to be the chairman of the selection committee?"

Wu Yang said: "We have contacted several sponsors with strength to sponsor our Hexi Film Festival in Asia, but the results of the contact are not very good. The requirements put forward by each party are what we cannot accept. They want to control this film festival."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Lu Yan He didn't feel strange about what Wu Yang said.

In fact, from the perspective of sponsors who have the strength to sponsor the Hexi Film Festival, it is normal for them to have such actions.

They are not doing charity. If there is no benefit, just sponsoring a so-called top international film festival?

To be honest, how much exposure or benefit can such sponsorship bring to their brand?

It's not that there is none, but compared to the sponsorship funds needed by a film festival, it is probably a loss-making business.

Speaking of this, Lu Yan He still couldn't understand what this had to do with Wu Yang suddenly inviting him to be the chairman of the selection committee.

Wu Yang said: "Among some sponsors with strength we contacted, your Shijin Group in China proposed that if Chinese filmmakers can be deeply involved in the Hexi Film Festival, they can consider becoming one of the sponsors."

"Deeply involved?" Lu Yan He asked, "What does the deep involvement they mentioned mean?"

"For example, positions with titles and real power, or the qualification for the main competition unit," Wu Yang said, "You know, the latter conditions, we definitely cannot agree. If you can buy a place in the main competition unit with money, this will fundamentally shake our Hexi Film Festival."

Lu Yan He felt embarrassed for no reason at this moment.

Even if Shijin proposed such a practice, from the perspective of capital, it is understandable.

But as a Chinese filmmaker, facing capital from his own country, putting forward such "insulting to film" and "insulting to film festival" conditions, Lu Yan He really felt uncomfortable.

"I understand," Lu Yan He said, "Director Wu, how much funding do you need to hold the Hexi Film Festival every year?"

"Generally, it is between 15 million USD and 20 million USD," Wu Yang said.

Lu Yan He said: "Then have you ever considered, if Hexi no longer provides official support for the Hexi Film Festival, is it necessary for the Hexi Film Festival to continue to be held in Hexi?"

Wu Yang was stunned.

Lu Yan He said: "How much city popularity exposure has the Hexi Film Festival brought to Hexi every year? Before and after the film festival, how many audiences came, and how much local economy was driven? Not to mention, a world-famous film festival activity, held every year, what is the significance of this city of Hexi? You have contacted so many powerful sponsors, why did they put forward many conditions? Because they don't want to suffer, right?"

Wu Yang: "... However, the Hexi Film Festival has been held in Hexi since its birth."

"The achievement of the Hexi Film Festival is built on filmmakers, media, and audiences from all over the world, not this place of Hexi," Lu Yan He said bluntly.

Wu Yang showed hesitation.

"What role can finding me to be the chairman of the selection committee play? It treats the symptoms but not the root cause," Lu Yan He said, "The Hexi Film Festival is a very valuable film festival. If it needs help, I believe all filmmakers are willing to contribute their strength. However, if it cannot operate normally, we can help once, twice, and then?"

Wu Yang: "If the Hexi Film Festival is not held in Hexi, then—"

"I am not saying that as a Chinese filmmaker, I will tell you now that there are many cities in China that can hold this film festival, but—" Lu Yan He said, "Just like the Olympic Games, does it need to be held in Greece all the time? It is already a global festival, so why can't the Hexi Film Festival refer to it?"

Wu Yang was stunned.

Lu Yan He said: "I understand, this of course has a transition period and needs a lot of adjustments. I am just giving an example. However, I can say that if you are willing to change the venue, no matter which place it is placed in, I believe there are filmmakers you are familiar with and capable who are willing to bridge the gap for you locally. And, with the influence of the Hexi Film Festival, I believe many cities are willing to hold it. If you need time to plan this matter, you can bring the Hexi Film Festival to China first. You know, we also have a little experience in doing international film critic film festival activities, and the relationship with many city governments is also very good. There is only one premise, of course, this is also the reason why Chinese filmmakers are always willing to participate in the Hexi Film Festival, this premise is very simple, respect China. As long as you do this, you can feel at home in China." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 755 =====