Chapter 347: Old Yu, Come Up

The Principal's arrogant posture and words truly let everyone present witness his strength.

He simply didn't regard anyone in the entertainment industry; no matter how big your star status, how big your boss, in his eyes all beings are equal.

The foreigners at the scene didn't know what was going on, just watched the show.

This matter gave Jade Rabbit's artists a kind of unspoken confidence; those who weren't from Jade Rabbit didn't have that much confidence.

"Looks like the Principal's movie Now You See Me is going to release during the summer window." Xiao Wang General Manager's gaze fixed on the back of the Principal's head in front.

Releasing propaganda at this time basically means summer window.

"No matter when he releases, we'll take Shen Du Long Wang and give him an empty cannon, give him a taste of his own medicine." Xiao Wang General Manager still remembered the Principal giving him an empty cannon, what a good memory.

Xu Laoguai sat to one side, didn't speak.

Shen Du Long Wang was independently invested in and distributed by Huayi, his share was very small, he didn't have much say in other matters.

There were no other investors either, even China Film Group didn't participate, the market is free and open now, it doesn't matter whether China Film Group participates or not.

Moreover this is an IP Movie, with Xu Laoguai's brand name, it's enough to give the Principal an empty cannon.

Not to mention scaring him, at least make him spend more money.

Anyway there are so many movies in the summer window, let them all feel pressure, let them all fight like dogs biting dogs.

Fang Hong didn't know Huayi was also going to give him an empty cannon, even if he knew he wouldn't care, this movie was his push into the International Market.

He had already talked it over with Universal's boss Donna, to help promote it internationally.

Pure popcorn flick, no ideological issues, the bank-robbing plot isn't even dark, crime movies are all like this.

So those small domestic pickings, he didn't care at all, he had been thinking about pushing into the International Market, if he didn't push into the International Market, the follow-up Best Special Effects movies wouldn't have a way to recoup.

The domestic market is still too small right now!

Soon the Shanghai Film Festival awards ceremony began, the lights on site suddenly dimmed, the first performance was a projection show.

The kind of black-and-white projection, projecting many classic film scenes.

Although the Shanghai International Film Festival doesn't have much authority, the stage has a sense of class, it's very gorgeous, more gorgeous than the Golden Rooster Awards and Golden Horse Awards, this is Shanghai after all.

It's just that the atmosphere on site seemed quite quiet and solemn, there were no fans or audience, that down-to-earth feeling.

This edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival was broadcast live, on Dragon TV and Movie Channel, two channels live.

The hosts on stage were Cao Kefan and Chen Rong, they came up and first said a bunch of linking lines, announced the leaders' names, plus Chinese-English translation, the audience on site clapped "pa pa".

The leaders were seated in scattered positions, surrounded by many foreigners and international friends, as well as some celebrities whose names were unknown, Yu Xian was also in that area.

Yu Xian looked at the stage, still in that cool pose with his hand on the bridge of his nose, seeming out of place with the people around him, Tang Yan was no longer by his side, she had gone to another seat.

Liu Tianxian looked around the venue, her hand shielding beside her face: "Feeling better now?"

"What's there for me to feel bad about, the ones who should feel bad are them, running into me is their bad luck." Fang Hong was still arrogant.

"Yes yes yes." Liu Tianxian didn't argue with him, went along with his temper, holding his hand.

Fang Hong took the opportunity to interlock their fingers, held them up for comparison: "Why is your hand so slender? And so white."

"A girl's hand is slender to begin with, the white is because I take care of it, when I have time I'll take care of yours too." Liu Tianxian looked at his dark hands.

Normally looking it was fine, didn't feel that dark, compared with hers it looked dark.

"If my hands, like yours, were painted with sparkly nail polish, would they look good too?" Fang Hong looked at her glittering nails.

"Sure, another day I'll paint yours for you." Liu Tianxian squinted and smiled, feeling it would be very fun.

Wanted to see what this man would look like with painted nails.

The two were just bored, the Golden Goblet Film Awards had already begun being presented on stage.

All the nominated films from around the world were playing on the big screen behind, anyway 99% of the movies were unheard of, unwatched.

The first award presented was the Artistic Achievement Award, presented by Zhao Yazhi and a foreigner.

"Zhao Yazhi is still so dignified and elegant."

Fang Hong looked at the stage and sighed, then said: "Hey, how do you think she maintains herself?"

"Rich, of course, her monthly maintenance fee is no less than 200,000, think about it, at her age, 200,000 back then was still very valuable."

Liu Tianxian knew the industry well, then said: "But that's secondary, you still have to eat well, drink well, have a good mindset, no worries no pressure, then you'll look young."

To put it bluntly, you need good family conditions, without conditions, talking more is useless.

"I worry about things every day, will I age really fast in the future?" Fang Hong touched his own face.

Liu Tianxian turned her head and glanced at him: "What are you, a man, afraid of, who's looking at you."

"How could no one be looking, maybe some young girl has taken a fancy to me." Fang Hong laughed.

"Then go find a young girl, go ahead, no one's stopping you." Liu Tianxian's tone was unfriendly.

Fang Hong leaned close to her shoulder, grinning cheekily: "Aren't you a young girl, a pretty and young young girl."

"Look at you." Liu Tianxian pressed her lips together and smiled.

The award was being presented on stage, the winner was a young Russian, the acceptance speech was in Russian or English, couldn't tell, couldn't understand, and it went on for quite a while.

After that was Best Cinematography, presented by two old men and an old lady, still the domestic-foreign male-female pairing.

The winner was a Swede.

After that Best Screenplay was presented, two foreigners presented, the winner was also a Swede, anyway no one recognized them, all seemed not very famous.

Truly famous superstars basically wouldn't come.

When presenting Best Actress, the presenters became Zhang Yuan and Liang Jing, the winner was a shock, a 10-year-old young girl Li Xinqiao, a Malaysian, who beat out domestic and foreign actresses with "Unbeatable" and won Best Actress.

By rights the female lead of this movie should have been Mei Ting. When this result came out, the audience watching the live broadcast immediately exploded online.

"Holy shit, what's going on?"

"The female lead should be Mei Ting, right? Although I haven't seen this movie, the ranking of star status is like that, supposedly she played her daughter."

"That's a bit shocking."

"The Shanghai Film Festival is just entertainment, don't take it seriously."

"We'll see how the acting is once the film is released."

"The film festival has its premiere today. The little girl acts cute in the film—it's actually fine, acting is a matter of personal taste."

"."

*Unbeatable* hasn't been released yet, but there will be a premiere—that's the festival rule. Since it hasn't been released, the audience doesn't know what the film is about, but some people at the festival do.

This award immediately stirred up a great deal of controversy, and online media published the news right away.

"The 16th Shanghai Film Festival stages 'Thunder Rolling'" — NetEase Entertainment.

"10-year-old Best Actress at Shanghai Film Festival sparks controversy; *Unbeatable* celebrates early, suspected foul play!" — iQiyi Video.

The media and Wangyi were in an uproar. China News Service even pointed out: "Li Xinqiao won Best Actress for *Unbeatable* in an upset, becoming the youngest Best Actress in the history of the Golden Goblet Award.

Yet this drew a wave of criticism: 'A 10-year-old Best Actress—where does that leave the established actresses?'"

Because it was being broadcast live, the controversy was already beginning to ferment. No one responded, but the awards ceremony continued.

Of course the guests on site all showed varying degrees of surprise and astonishment, but then they remembered this was the Shanghai Film Festival and let it go.

How to put it about this film festival—it's supposed to be China's only A-class film festival, yet it's run so poorly that it doesn't even come close to the prestige of Asia's Big Three: Xianggang Guoji Dianyingjie, Fushan Guoji Dianyingjie, Dongjing Guoji Dianyingjie.

Here's a little tidbit: the Shanghai Film Festival was once harshly criticized by senior officials of the International Federation of Film Producers—unfit to be a qualified A-class "international film festival"!

All A-class film festivals internationally require the recognition and approval of the International Federation of Film Producers, and the Shanghai Film Festival is no exception.

Think about how displeased the senior officials of the International Federation of Film Producers are with the Shanghai Film Festival, yet they have no choice but to let it run—there are unspeakable factors at play here.

Fang Hong appeared very calm; domestic film festivals all have this or that problem.

Anyway, Jade Rabbit's films have entered the Shanghai Film Festival and never once been shortlisted—even *The Partner* wasn't shortlisted. Probably because they're too commercial and not artistic enough, who knows.

That's just how it is, it's already a fait accompli. The media and Wangyi just questioned it and took a jab at the Shanghai Film Festival's authority—nothing else matters.

Things will go on as they always do.

Next was the Best Actor award, presented by Yu Nan and Ning Hao. Zhazha Hui won for *Unbeatable*—this was a Bona fully-financed film.

Both Best Actor and Best Actress went to this film, which made Yu Pangzi unable to hide his smile.

Fang Hong even suspected there might be some backroom deal, but the film really was well-made, so there was nothing to say.

"Thanks to the boss, Mr. Yu, thanks to the director, thanks to the creative team of the crew." Zhazha Hui said a bunch of thank-yous on stage.

He even specially thanked Yu Pangzi, which made Yu Pangzi very pleased with himself.

Then came the Best Director award, presented by Mo Wenwei and Keanu Reeves. The two even used the stage to promote that piece of junk *Tai Chi Hero*.

A China-US co-production—wonder if it even got a release in the United States?

It did—110 theaters in North America, opening-week box office of $刀, per-theater average of $555. That's what happens when a co-production hires a Hollywood superstar—utterly dismal.

Not even as good as Liu Tianxian's *Lucy 1*!

The Best Director went to a Russian director for *Police Corruption*; his previous artistic achievement was also this film.

This edition's Best Film Award also went to this film.

After this award was presented, it was time for the Special Jury Prize.

At this moment a staff member came to call him. Fang Hong whispered a few words to Liu Tianxian, then bent down and walked toward the backstage.

"Next we will announce the Shanghai International Film Festival Jury Grand Prix. The presenter of this award is a famous film director who has led the new generation trend of Chinese cinema and made Chinese films more vibrant. Let us welcome Mr. Fang Hong."

Following the announcement by the two hosts, the big screen at the back parted from both sides, stirring music rang out, and Fang Hong appeared on stage holding an envelope.

He then walked to the side of the stage, stood still in front of the standing microphone, facing film industry figures from home and abroad.

"Why is it that everyone else comes up to present in pairs, one man and one woman, while I'm up here alone? That's not fair." Fang Hong deliberately complained.

"We couldn't find a beauty on short notice, so you'll just have to make do presenting alone." Host Cao Kefan answered with a smile.

This guy smiles just like the Maitreya Buddha.

"No problem, I can accept it as long as it's not a beauty—as long as it's a woman, I don't mind."

Fang Hong's words drew loud laughter from the celebrities in the guest seats, and a burst of laughter rang out on site.

The previous awards had a rather heavy atmosphere, but now it felt a bit more relaxed—of course some people couldn't laugh, feeling annoyed just seeing him.

Liu Tianxian gazed at the man on stage, her eyes gentle and bright, a faint smile on her face, her expression tender.

The others also wore varied expressions—admiration, a higher regard, indifference—each different.

Yu Xian was still his usual self.

"Alright, let's reveal the grand prize. Hope it's a beauty, otherwise it's too monotonous for me standing up here alone." Fang Hong picked up the envelope.

The guests on stage laughed again.

"Wow!" Fang Hong suddenly cried out, drawing the attention of all the guests on site.

"Incredible, incredible—the winner is really incredible." Fang Hong put on a very exaggerated expression.

This made people curious—who on earth was the winner?

"Lao Yu, come on up." Fang Hong beckoned.

(End of chapter)