Chapter 345: Capturing the Lion, My Girl

Many film festivals around the world have special commemorative awards.

For example, the Alfred Bauer Silver Bear in Berlin was established to commemorate the first chairman of the film festival.

Venice is no exception, and the award currently being presented is just such a special one.

"The winner of the Marcello Mastroianni Best Newcomer Award is: Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido for *Himizu*, congratulations!"

This award was established to commemorate the outstanding Italian actor, Marcello Mastroianni.

This actor was nominated for the Oscar Best Actor three times and was an extremely prominent actor in the world of cinema during the sixties and seventies.

This award is also known as the Best Newcomer Award, aimed at supporting young actors; the encouragement it provides is greater than the honor itself.

Corresponding to this is the Luigi De Laurentiis Award, also known as the Best New Director Award, which was presented to the emerging Italian director, Guido Lombardi.

Soon, the awards ceremony entered the Main Competition Section.

"Brother." Yifei clearly began to feel nervous at this moment.

"Yifei, relax."

Wei Jin reached back and held the girl's slightly sweaty little hand; he was still quite confident about this trip to Venice.

The European Big Three all have their own festival dailies; Venice has four major dailies, which are the International Daily, the Italian Daily, the ICS Daily, and the Chinese-language Daily.

These dailies release a special issue every day during the film festival to summarize and evaluate the films screened the previous day.

Like the Cannes Film Festival, the scoring for the Venice dailies is out of a maximum of 4 points, and generally, anything over 3 points is considered a high score.

And the score for *Whiplash* was as high as 3.1, which could be considered top-tier among the 24 films shortlisted for the Main Competition Section this year.

Although being invited to attend the closing ceremony did not guarantee whether it would be an acting award or a directing award, Wei Jin believed that his contribution to this film was certainly greater than that of the two actors.

After the winner finished their acceptance speech, the presenter walked back onto the stage.

"The winner of the Best Screenplay Award is: Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou for *Alps*, congratulations!"

Applause erupted at the scene; the next award to be presented would be the Best Actress Award.

Wei Jin clearly felt the *A Simple Life* crew across the aisle begin to get nervous; both Ms. Luo Lan and Qin Hailu were qualified to compete for this award.

Even Xiao Taohong from the *People Mountain People Sea* crew directly in front began to look solemn; although it was hard for her to have a chance based on her screen time, what if? The tense atmosphere did not last long, and as the presenter unfolded the envelope, the suspense was finally revealed.

"The winner of the Volpi Cup for Best Actress is: Luo Lan for *A Simple Life*, congratulations!"

With a boom, all the Chinese filmmakers present stood up and applauded. This was the first major award won by a Chinese film so far today, and the winner was an old artist over 70 years old, who deserved this respect.

One could see that Ms. Luo Lan's aged face was already flushed, and Xu Anhua, Liu Tianwang, Qin Hailu, and others from the crew all hugged her.

Wei Jin was also very happy; after all, it was a film produced by Golden Harvest, and winning such a major award would bring significant benefits.

Previously, the copyright sale for *A Simple Life* had not gone smoothly. Wei Jin had told Xu Anhua not to worry; now that it had won an award, its value would likely increase greatly.

As Ms. Luo Lan went up to the stage to deliver her acceptance speech, it was now Bai Yu and Wang Jinsong's turn to get nervous.

Wei Jin clearly felt the smiles on their faces stiffen, and their legs beneath their suits began to tremble slightly.

He glanced at Liu Tianwang not far to his right and Chen Jianbing diagonally in front; the expressions on both their faces were also very serious.

For actors, the European Big Three and the Oscar Best Actor are absolutely supreme honors.

"The winner of the Volpi Cup for Best Actor is: Michael Fassbender for *Shame*, congratulations!"

As the presenter's voice echoed in the venue, it was visible to the naked eye that the spirit of Bai Yu and Wang Jinsong began to deflate.

However, the two adjusted quickly; Bai Yu was still a student after all, perhaps he hadn't held much hope to begin with, and Wang Jinsong was an old artist with much stronger psychological resilience.

At this moment, it was Yifei whose face began to show excitement; the palm of the hand she held Wei Jin's with became increasingly sweaty and gripped tighter.

Because this meant that Wei Jin was very likely to take home one of the Best Director, Jury Grand Prize, or Golden Lion awards! After all, inviting a crew to attend the closing ceremony usually meant there was an award, otherwise, it would be too offensive.

Likewise, the rest of the *People Mountain People Sea* crew also realized this and looked at their director in unison.

At this time, the male actor's speech on stage had ended, and the awards ceremony continued; the three most important awards were about to be revealed.

"The winner of the Silver Lion for Best Director is: Cai Shangjun for *People Mountain People Sea*, congratulations!"

Not him!

Wei Jin's previously calm heart rippled; could it be that his first attempt at the Venice Golden Lion was going to succeed?

Withdrawing his thoughts, Wei Jin stood up and applauded.

"Director Cai, congratulations!"

"Thank you, thank you."

It was clear that Cai Shangjun was very happy; after hugging everyone in the crew one by one, he walked onto the stage.

After a brief speech, Cai Shangjun walked back to his seat holding the Silver Lion trophy. At this moment on stage, the presenter was already opening the envelope with the list for the next award.

Yifei's face was already flushed, and her little hands were gripping Wei Jin's arm tightly.

"The winner of the Silver Lion Jury Grand Prize is: Emanuele Crialese for *Terraferma*..."

With a boom, Wei Jin's brain stalled a bit; only the Golden Lion was left. Could it be that he was really going to achieve the Grand Slam? Or would the Venice officials not give him a single award, offending him completely?

All the Chinese film crews at the scene also focused their attention on Wei Jin. Was the fourth European Three Major Film Festivals Grand Slam in history about to be born? — Unfortunately, the presenter could not hear the thoughts of everyone at the scene, and he continued.

"... and, Wei Jin for *Whiplash*, congratulations to both!"

The voice resounding through the empty Film Palace left everyone in the hall stunned.

"The Jury Grand Prize has produced a tie?"

Liu Tianwang muttered to himself, then realized what happened and stood up to applaud.

Other guests in the venue also reacted and applauded in unison; regardless, the Silver Lion Jury Grand Prize was worth congratulating.

"Brother, congratulations, you won the Jury Grand Prize on your first try; next time, you will definitely be able to."

Although she felt a bit disappointed compared to just now, Yifei immediately became happy again; the Silver Lion was not something just anyone could win.

Bai Yu and Wang Jinsong also stood up to offer their congratulations, and people from the *A Simple Life* and *People Mountain People Sea* crews also spoke up to congratulate him. "Thank you, everyone."

Wei Jin smiled, stood up, hugged everyone in his crew one by one, then straightened the hem of his suit, and walked toward the stage with confident strides.

"Director Wei is getting closer and closer to the Grand Slam; it's truly hard to imagine he is only 28 years old..."

Xu Anhua had a smile on her face, but her tone was somewhat emotional; Wei Jin was truly too young. Although he hadn't completed the Grand Slam feat this time, what about in a few more years?

"Indeed, Director Wei is like a miracle, always able to bring people constant surprises."

Liu Tianwang, Qin Hailu, and the others also wore smiles; they considered themselves to have a good relationship with Wei Jin and were genuinely happy for their friend.

After the previous winner finished their speech, Wei Jin embraced the award presenter—a director, screenwriter, and Producer from North America, Todd Haynes—and took the Silver Lion trophy from his hands.

By this moment, Wei Jin's state of mind was as calm as an ancient well.

"Praise Venice!"

Wei Jin held the Silver Lion trophy above his head with one hand, his gaze sweeping across the venue as he began his first Venice acceptance speech.

"I have been active since 2003. In these 8 years, I have attended many film festivals, but this is my first time at the Venice Film Festival. I thank the festival and the Pingshutuan for their recognition! Perhaps everyone knows that I have already completed the journey of the Palme d'Or and the Golden Bear, and I am urgently looking forward to becoming the fourth filmmaker in history to achieve the Grand Slam.

Although I couldn't achieve it this time, just as the philosophy expressed in *Whiplash* goes, if it is merely passion, then let go and do it, do it to the best of your ability, regardless of anything else!

I will be like the protagonist and persist with this dream; the Golden Lion trophy is my next goal!"

Wei Jin's words caused thunderous applause to erupt at the scene. Having won the Silver Lion Jury Grand Prize on his first visit to Venice, the Grand Slam might truly not be far off for him.

"Thank you to all the crew members. Lao Chen, you are an excellent Producer. From Berlin onwards, we have supported each other all the way. Thank you for these years."

Chen Zhiming, who was nearing the age of knowing one's destiny, recalled the scenes since he first met Wei Jin, and his eyes welled up with emotion. He knew he wasn't a qualified manager; at best, he was just a loyal executor.

"Thank you to Bai Yu and Wang Jinsong for your exquisite performances, which made the film even more vivid. I have also learned a lot from you both.

Thank you to my mentor Tian Zhuangzhuang, who is always guiding my direction; thank you to my alma mater, Beijing Film Academy, for cultivating me; thank you to my motherland for upholding a peaceful and prosperous age, allowing filmmakers like us to create without distractions.

Additionally, I must thank Crystal. Although your screen time in the film was very little, there is no doubt, You are my girl!"

Wei Jin's double entendre caused a burst of whistles and good-natured laughter from the audience, and Liu Yifei's pretty face turned red all the way to her ears.

She really hadn't expected Wei Jin to be so bold, but her heart was filled with sweetness, and the beautiful eyes she cast toward the center of the stage seemed as if they were about to drip water.

"Finally, thank you Venice, praise Venice. See you next time, I will capture the Golden Lion! Thank you!"

Back in her seat, the young girl hugged Wei Jin tightly, as if she wanted to vent all the surging emotions in her heart.

After a good while, Liu Yifei happily took the little lion, playing with it in her hands. As for who the Golden Lion award was given to, she didn't care at all—by the time the awards ceremony ended, it was already late at night in Venice.

In domestic time, it was exactly morning.

Beijing Film Academy reacted the fastest. After all, with teacher Wang Jinsong at the scene, they received the news and immediately hung up a prepared banner: "Warmly congratulate our school's 2002 Director Department outstanding graduate Wei Jin for winning the 68th Venice International Film Festival Silver Lion Jury Grand Prize!"

Thanks to the development of the internet, global news synchronization is now very efficient.

A large amount of news from the film festival was transmitted back almost simultaneously, not much slower than Beijing Film Academy.

"Venice Film Festival, Chinese-language films show their brilliance; three out of five, capturing three Silver Lion awards!"

"77-year-old Hong Kong actress Luo Lan, with *A Simple Life*, captured the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, becoming the oldest Venice Best Actress in history!"

"Up-and-coming director Cai Shangjun, with *People Mountain People Sea*, captured the Venice Best Director Silver Bear!"

Although there were many reports on other Chinese-language films, the one receiving the most media attention and importance was still Wei Jin's news; the headlines were almost all about him.

"*Whiplash* captures the Silver Lion Jury Grand Prize, Director Wei Jin becomes the youngest Silver Lion director in the country."

"Great director Wei Jin misses out on the Golden Lion, the Grand Slam journey is not yet complete!"

"28-year-old Wei Jin: I am still young, I'll come back next time!"

"At the awards ceremony, Wei Jin expresses love to Liu Yifei; the two may have good news approaching!"

While netizens offered their blessings, they also began to discuss it heatedly.

Fairy Rising into the Sky: "It's such a pity, it was just a little bit off, the Grand Slam..."

Cherry Blossom Dream: "Chinese-language films are awesome! Best Actress, Best Director, Jury Grand Prize; they almost swept this Venice."

Silent Rain Life: "Wei Jin is really awesome, he even captured Liu Yifei. The European Big Three plus the Oscar, he really did treat them all equally."

I Am Blue Tooth: "Sob sob sob, even though I was mentally prepared, but, my Ling'er..."

Avoiding Overtime: "If it's Wei Jin, I'm willing to let go. Ling'er, Xiao Long Nu, Miss Wang, Lu Xueqi, I wish you happiness, sob sob sob~~~~" — At the awards banquet, several film crews from the country gathered together, and Jia Kezhang, as the jury chair for the Horizon Unit, also came over to join everyone.

So many Chinese people gathered at a film festival closing banquet was truly spectacular.

"Director Wei, you have rich experience in international film festivals, tell me, where did I lose?"

Liu Tianwang had regret in his eyes; he also had pursuits regarding awards.

"Hua Ge, things like film festivals can't be explained. You enter with strength and win with luck; no one has absolute certainty..."

Liu Tianwang fell silent upon hearing this. He had always hoped to prove his acting skills and change the public's impression of him from a Heavenly King to an actor. This time should have been his best chance, what a pity. But then he thought of how Wei Jin had personally helped someone win the Berlin Film Festival Best Actor, and Liu Tianwang's eyes lit up as he said sincerely:

"Director Wei, if you start another award-chasing film and have a suitable role, please definitely consider me. I am willing to take 0 salary."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Yifei, Bai Yu, Qin Hailu, and the others were stunned.

You have to know, Liu Tianwang's salary is not low; according to current market rates, 15 million is the starting price.

Wei Jin also didn't expect Liu Tianwang to be so determined; it seemed this failure made him very sad.

"Don't worry, Hua Ge, if there is a role suitable for you, I will definitely prioritize it."

Wei Jin wasn't bluffing; he really did have a few scripts in his mind suitable for Liu Tianwang, but he still needed to find a qualified tool person.

After the banquet ended, Liu Yifei couldn't wait to pull Wei Jin back to the hotel, offering her perfect body, passionate as fire.

That night, Wei Jin opened up all three paths, tasting the full flavor of the celestial fairy. (End of chapter)