Chapter 818: He Even Got Caught Up in This

"When Wei Chang first appeared on social networks, he registered an account without hiding his identity; back then, he was a troll who attacked everything."

"But if you ask how serious this matter is, I think we don't need to elevate it to such a height, do we? Who hasn't said some mindless words in the past?"

"Moreover, calling it an insult to national heroes, in reality, he was unclear about the situation and got the photos mixed up, using a photo of a national hero on a traitor. If we don't bring up this matter, the other things dug up are just those of a common internet troll."

"Regarding this matter, I truly believe it is nothing big."

……

"The problem now isn't whether you think it's nothing big, but whether this matter will affect the Film Bureau's decision to submit Storm Calmer No. 1 for this year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film."

"The film has actually already left theaters, so it won't affect the box office; for foreign audiences, this matter won't produce any impact either. The biggest problem lies here."

"Wei Chang's things from over twenty years ago could be dug up; this must have been done on purpose, right?"

"Let's not worry about whether it was done on purpose for now. The problem now is, Wei Chang, how exactly should this be handled? If he isn't removed from the list, under such a scandal, the film will very likely be ruined."

"If he is removed from the list, will the matter of submitting for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film be saved?"

"Without this attitude, can it be saved?"

……

There was indeed someone behind this matter "stirring up trouble."

Because of the heat surrounding this matter, Long Yan had wanted to suppress it all along, but could not suppress it.

Lu Yanhe actually had not the slightest connection to this matter, but as the lead actor of this film and the most popular person, he would inevitably be dragged into it; there was no way around it.

Mainly, coincidentally, the film Storm Calmer No. 1 was a film with revolutionary predecessors as its protagonists.

Chen Ziyan said to Lu Yanhe, "Once the reporters catch an opportunity, they will definitely ask you about your attitude toward Wei Chang's matter. Have you thought about what to do?"

Lu Yanhe shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"Then don't answer," Chen Ziyan said. "You do not know Wei Chang, nor do you know what kind of person he is. Whether you support him or condemn him, you don't know if more trouble will appear in the future. The best way is to stay away from him."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"That's right, I think so too. What kind of person he actually is, whether it's a misunderstanding, a hot-blooded youth from back then, an unintentional mistake, or whatever, is actually something Long Yan needs to solve. I am just an actor in Storm Calmer No. 1."

"As for this matter—" Chen Ziyan hesitated for a moment and said, "this matter was likely leaked by Zhang Yuezhen's side. She wants to eliminate Storm Calmer No. 1 as a rival and has not given up on her idea of having The Pianist replace Storm Calmer No. 1 for submission to this year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film."

Lu Yanhe frowned.

"Playing such dirty tricks."

"Mm." Chen Ziyan nodded and said, "Long Yan knows about this matter too; it just depends on whether Long Yan intends to counterattack."

Lu Yanhe: "Will Long Yan? In your understanding."

Chen Ziyan shook her head. "Not necessarily. Wei Chang has a very good relationship with Huang Tai; she can be said to be her confidante within Long Yan. Huang Tai is currently doing her best to protect him. If Huang Tai does not want this matter to continue generating waves, I actually think that even if Long Yan finds a place to counterattack The Pianist, they will only use it privately to threaten the other party and will not bring it to the table to declare war directly."

Lu Yanhe pondered for a moment.

"If that's the case, then we will bring it to the table."

"Have you thought it through?"

"Mm." Lu Yanhe nodded. "If Huang Tai wants to protect Wei Chang, she can sacrifice the more prominent achievements Storm Calmer No. 1 could have originally achieved, but on what grounds should Storm Calmer No. 1, which everyone worked hard to film, be sacrificed?"

Liu Bigo let out a cold laugh.

"I filmed Storm Calmer No. 1 for so long, went to Venice, and sold nearly 200 million US dollars in global box office. As a result, it is not worth as much as Wei Chang's weight within your Long Yan. You can't even make him stand up and apologize or express an attitude. Do you still expect your company to produce my next film?"

Huang Tai's expression was very grim.

She said, "Now Storm Calmer No. 1 has already left theaters domestically. If this matter continues to escalate, what will be affected is its broadcast on video websites and other channels. The interests involved are huge. We have chosen a solution to settle the matter quietly. Do you hope to see Storm Calmer No. 1 banned domestically and unwatchable forever because of this matter?"

Liu Bigo: "Does Huang Tai actually care about the subsequent interests of Storm Calmer No. 1? I thought you were not countering because you were doing your best to protect Wei Chang. Clearly, it could represent China to compete for this year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film; once nominated, that would also be an extremely rare achievement, yet you give no attitude, letting this matter be swept under the rug. With such an incident, I estimate Storm Calmer No. 1 won't even get the qualification for submission to the Academy Awards."

Huang Tai: "Bigo, I know that having such an incident happen is hard for you to accept; we all find it hard to accept. Storm Calmer No. 1 is also a Long Yan film; we also hope it achieves greater success—"

"Because the things Wei Chang did in the past cannot be refuted; they are all established facts, so we can only remain silent and let the heat of this matter pass." Liu Bigo laughed. "Anyway, Storm Calmer No. 1 will definitely be affected, so rather than letting Wei Chang be sacrificed again, it is better to protect him once, keep him in your own hands. After that, he will follow you even more loyally, right?"

Huang Tai frowned.

"You are too paranoid."

"I worked hard to film a movie, watching it almost represent Chinese cinema to win an Academy Award, but it can't happen because of his problems. Do you say I'm not paranoid? He doesn't even apologize publicly, and you still want to keep him in Long Yan, letting him continue as a producer to help you control the crew. If it were you, could you swallow this anger?"

Liu Bigo's attitude was just short of slamming the table to express his anger.

Huang Zhongjing sighed.

"Bigo, I fully understand your anger; I am angry too. But since the matter has already happened, what we can do now is to eliminate the impact as much as possible."

"How to eliminate it? You protected Wei Chang this time; in the future, whenever he appears in any film, he will be a mine." Liu Bigo said. "With your attitude toward Wei Chang, what if a second or third Wei Chang appears in my future films?"

Huang Zhongjing and Huang Tai fell silent.

Seeing this, Liu Bigo also fell silent.

After a while, Liu Bigo finally spoke.

"Mr. Huang, Huang Tai, I can indeed thank you for everything I have today. Without you, I probably couldn't have become a film director so quickly or achieved the success I have now."

"However, with Late Spring winning an award in Venice, I feel our differences are growing more and more. I have always hoped we could find some common ground and make films both sides are willing to do. However, I frequently feel that your hope for me is to be an executor of your will; no matter what kind of film I want to make, it must meet your standards."

"Of course, because I became a film director entirely relying on Long Yan and relying on your cultivation, so even though Fake Death Won't Work was not the kind of film I wanted to make, I still did it. Now it makes me a bit regretful, because it seems my cooperation has created an illusion in you that I can actually be persuaded and arranged. My dissatisfaction and unhappiness will not truly make you value my attitude."

Huang Zhongjing immediately said, "Bigo, we are absolutely not like that. If we did not respect you, we would not have encouraged and supported you so quickly to establish your own film production company."

"Yes, but even after I established my own film production company, what kind of film to make and how to make the film, you would still arrange people like Wei Chang to interfere." Liu Bigo said. "Many filming plans for Storm Calmer No. 1 were originally rejected simply because there were more cost-saving filming methods, even though following my filming plan would not have exceeded the budget."

Huang Tai said, "At that time, none of us could determine whether Storm Calmer No. 1 could achieve good box office results; it was filmed as an art film—"

"Yes, even after Late Spring, Fake Death Won't Work, and Dragon Gate Inn all achieved box office success, I still couldn't bring you confidence in the box office because I am an auteur director, not a pure commercial film director." Liu Bigo said, staring at Huang Tai.

Huang Tai was speechless for a moment.

"These things have actually passed already. As a director, I filmed four films for Long Yan. Regarding honors, all four films were nominated for the Main Competition Unit of the four major international film festivals, and three films won awards. Regarding box office, the global box office of the four films combined exceeded 800 million US dollars. Regarding Long Yan's cultivation of me, I have a clear conscience." Liu Bigo said. "If Wei Chang can remain safe and sound, acting as if nothing happened, despite causing such an impact on Storm Calmer No. 1, I can only say I am very disappointed. I, including everything the entire crew of Storm Calmer No. 1 has paid, feel it has not been respected."

He stood up.

"That is all I want to say."

He left the conference room without looking back.

Several members of Liu Bige's team hurriedly followed.

The others—including Huang Zhongjing and Huang Tai—remained in their original seats, their expressions far from pleasant.

"Liu Bige has long wanted to strike out on his own; he's deliberately making a fuss over this," someone said.

Huang Zhongjing glanced at Huang Tai.

Huang Tai said, "Liu Bige is furious right now; I understand his temper. I'll go talk to him again later."

"His next film, 'Unmet,' has already begun pre-production," someone said. "Liu Bige was already dissatisfied with our casting of Zhou Rushuang during pre-production; should we continue to insist on it now?"

Huang Tai: "We'll discuss this after I've spoken with him. I don't want a single word of what happened in this conference room today to leak out."

Everyone fell silent, maintaining their quiet.

Although it was said that nothing should leak out, the matter eventually, after winding its way around, reached Lu Yanhe's ears.

When Liu Bige clashed with Long Yan like this, Lu Yanhe felt no surprise at all.

This scene was bound to happen eventually. It was a thought Lu Yanhe had formed long ago.

He did not deny that Long Yan was a very powerful and excellent film company, but they were not suitable for true film creators.

The so-called "true film creators" referred to those who had their own ideas and convictions regarding creation. They could create for the market, but at the conclusion, there must be a place where their names could be written, rather than having that name erased, turning the work into a craft item without an author's name.

He had such thoughts because Lu Yanhe increasingly felt that Long Yan was more like an assembly-line factory.

Zhang Yuezhen felt that this time it should be a sure thing.

"The matter of Wei Chang is solid proof, not slander, but it just so happened that we dug it up at this moment."

She said this to Chen Pinhe with a smile.

Chen Pinhe asked, "What is the Film Bureau's position? Are they definitely giving up on 'Storm Calmer No. 1'?"

"I don't know yet," Zhang Yuezhen shook her head. "They are like an iron bucket over there; no news can be obtained. However, with a producer of a film exposing such a problem, such a huge scandal, the Film Bureau surely cannot turn a blind eye."

"It's hard to say how far the power behind Lu Yanhe can go."

"This is a matter of public opinion. If they really still choose 'Storm Calmer No. 1' in the end, it will definitely cause a great deal of criticism and controversy," Zhang Yuezhen smiled. "Isn't that also a good thing?"

Chen Pinhe: "I'm just afraid things won't develop that way in the end."

Zhang Yuezhen: "Unless Long Yan sacrifices Wei Chang right now, fires him, and removes his name from the film; only then could they slightly appease the public."

Chen Pinhe: "Why wouldn't Long Yan sacrifice Wei Chang?"

"A confidant; in other words, someone who also holds the boss's leverage," Zhang Yuezhen said. "Otherwise, removing Wei Chang would be the quickest way to cut through the tangle; why wouldn't Long Yan choose to do that?"

"Heh."

"'The Pianist' will be released in North America in early October," Zhang Yuezhen said. "Neuron will handle your public relations during the awards season."

Chen Pinhe nodded.

Zhang Yuezhen: "If 'The Pianist' is ultimately selected as China's submission for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, your public relations advantage will increase."

Chen Pinhe: "This year, Lu Yanhe and Wen Shengming are also campaigning for acting awards. They are both Chinese actors; I expect competition will arise among us few. They won't allow too many Chinese faces to occupy the slots."

"Yes, but 'The Pianist' is your solo performance, while 'Storm Calmer No. 1' has dual male leads; it's not even certain who will be submitted as lead and who as supporting," Zhang Yuezhen said. "If Lu Yanhe submits himself as lead and Wen Shengming as supporting, there will be plenty to discuss then."

Chen Pinhe: "Doesn't Wen Shengming have his own ideas?"

"Even if he has ideas, they are useless. The North American distributor for 'Storm Calmer No. 1' is Green Valley, and the public relations firm is the one Lu Yanhe has long cooperated with; Wen Shengming has no connections overseas," Zhang Yuezhen suddenly changed her expression. "This is actually a good opportunity to drive a wedge between Lu Yanhe and Wen Shengming."

Chen Pinhe: "Hmm?"

"What if I introduce a public relations firm to Wen Shengming?" Zhang Yuezhen said. "Wouldn't Wen Shengming want to increase his chances of ultimately receiving an Academy Award nomination?"

Chen Pinhe: "Even if you go to him, he may not believe you; after all, I am also a competitor with him this year."

Zhang Yuezhen: "Regardless, we can plant a thorn between him and Lu Yanhe."

Zhang Yuezhen's lips curved upward.

"As for when this thorn will take effect, who knows?"

September 14, the Toronto Film Festival concluded.

Lu Yanhe and Wen Shengming, as award presenters, presented the Best Actress award for this edition.

The winner was an Italian actress.

At the subsequent party, Lu Yanhe got to know every winning crew and filmmaker, exchanging brief words.

Under his introduction, Wen Shengming also conversed happily with filmmakers from all over the world.

"Believe me, I very much hope to have the opportunity to participate in your film; regardless of what kind of role, I would be delighted to come," Lu Yanhe very readily expressed his willingness to cooperate with the olive branch extended by Bernd Lehmann, the German director who won Best Director this year.

Bernd Lehmann himself was a fairly famous director in Germany.

Although he had not yet joined the ranks of world-class directors.

He asked, "Did you come to the Toronto Film Festival this time to promote 'Storm Calmer No. 1'?"

"Yes," Lu Yanhe frankly admitted. "This is a Chinese-language film, but we hope it will also perform well during the North American awards season. Therefore, Wen Shengming and I must make a great effort to let people in the film industry know about this film and then go see it."

Bernd Lehmann said, "That's a pity; it has basically already finished its run in North America and Europe. I've been busy with the post-production of 'Levani' and haven't seen the film 'Storm Calmer No. 1' yet."

Lu Yanhe said, "'Storm Calmer No. 1' will be re-released in Europe and America in October. If you wish, I would also be very happy to send you a DVD; of course, it will be a version not yet publicly released, which can only be viewed by you personally and cannot be transferred to others."

"Then you and Wen Shengming sign it, and I will certainly collect it," Bernd Lehmann said.

"Alright," Lu Yanhe nodded with a smile.

During the awards season, public relations activities mean no one can be overlooked.

Because you never know which person will like your film and then be willing to use their own influence to support it.

And you never know that perhaps a single sentence from someone, saying "this film deserves attention," could allow it to smoothly enter the view of some judges.

September 19, Darren Wilson finally brought good news.

The most popular American sitcom, "Mr. Donovan," was willing to add a Chinese character in the next episode, with Wen Shengming guest-starring as the lead for that episode.

Being able to add a guest-starring lead role in the most popular American sitcom requires a lot of work.

Darren Wilson was still impressive.

Lu Yanhe did not know whether he had persuaded the production company to change a originally planned guest-starring role to a Chinese character, or whether he had "magically" added a Chinese character into the original script; in any case, the final result was that Darren Wilson had achieved it.

Before this, Wen Shengming had never participated in the filming of an American TV series—to be precise, he had never participated in the filming of any foreign film or television drama.

Lu Yanhe actually also vaguely worried whether Wen Shengming's acting style could blend with this series, or if it would be out of place and become very awkward.

But wanting to quickly open up fame—and to do so in a "standing" manner—this was the fastest way.

Wen Shengming was specially invited by the *Mr. Donovan* production team as a guest star under the title of "Chinese Legendary Best Actor."

When the audience saw such a title, they would immediately look up to Wen Shengming.

Lu Yanhe immediately reacted.

For the new season of *Friends*, why not create an episode of "guest starring" for Wen Shengming as well?

The broadcast time of *Friends* happened to coincide with the North American awards season.

Lu Yanhe was somewhat worried: what if Teacher Wen Shengming was unwilling to guest star in so many sitcoms?

Unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke, Wen Shengming nodded and agreed.

Lu Yanhe was surprised.

Wen Shengming instead said, "You are doing this to help me maintain exposure and open up fame during the North American awards season. I am only older and of a senior generation, but my temper and pride are not that great. You are helping me; how could I not understand?"

Hearing these words, Lu Yanhe felt incredibly comfortable inside.

At the end of September, Lu Yanhe was about to prepare to join the crew to film the movie *The Boat*.

Before this, Lu Yanhe had also gone to the Emmy Awards ceremony.

He had no works nominated, including *Friends* (for some reason, the Emmys were very unwelcoming to it and had never really given it nominations).

However, the Emmys also placed great importance on Lu Yanhe; every year for the past few years, they had invited him to attend and serve as an award presenter.

This time, to create a presence and boost exposure, Lu Yanhe went.

As a result, he ran into Chen Pinhe there.

Chen Pinhe had actually also been invited to serve as an award presenter.

Although the series *Death Stranding* had not brought him any award nominations, the increase in fame was real and substantial.

Someone at the scene even suggested taking a group photo of the two of them.

Just as Lu Yanhe was thinking about how to politely refuse, Chen Pinhe had already been called away by someone.

Lu Yanhe also turned and left.

Subsequently, Chen Pinhe's studio official Weibo account posted some group photos, and Lu Yanhe's studio did as well.

Many people asked in the comments section below why the two Chinese Best Actors had not taken a photo together.

Then, many people explained to that person that the two had long had a conflict and that now "one king does not meet another king."

After that, because the two attended the same event without any encounter and without any group photo, it suddenly sparked a discussion among the general public regarding which of the two films, *The Pianist* or *Storm Calmer No. 1*, would represent Chinese cinema to be submitted for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

The discussion grew even more intense.

It just happened that *The Pianist* was released on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The box office for that day directly defeated a host of commercial films, taking the box office champion of the day with 27.9 million. (End of this chapter)