Chapter 439: Can't Be Gentle

The place they were staying was a suite provided by the film production base; since the area was desolate and there weren't any hotels, the lodging had been built in advance.

It was right inside the film base—later there would be staff dormitories, and places for the actors to rest, that sort of thing.

Building a place like this didn't cost much.

Late at night in the suite, on a soft white bed, Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian lay under one blanket, talking about private matters.

"What do you call it?" Liu Tianxian looked at him.

Fang Hong leaned close to her ear and teased softly, "Lie down properly, I'll teach you."

"Get lost, can you be serious for once?" Liu Tianxian caught on instantly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Being serious means finding a voice dubber—you don't need to do it yourself, just showing your face is enough." Fang Hong held her shoulders, signaling her to lie down.

"Isn't that a bit off?" Liu Tianxian said.

"What's wrong with it? Voice dubbing for film and TV is perfectly normal. Your voice is too cutesy—if it carries no emotion, it'll feel a bit jarring." Fang Hong said.

"Is my voice cutesy?" Liu Tianxian seemed unaware of what her own voice sounded like.

She thought of herself as a tough girl, so wild.

So many people really don't know what their own voice sounds like in other people's ears.

"I'm being serious, it really is." Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian fell silent—seemed it really was true. She wasn't opposed to finding a voice dubber; as long as the work could be completed, it was fine. When she acted, she generally just followed arrangements.

Only if it went too much against her wishes would she raise any demands or suggestions.

"Then what do you think I should change?" Liu Tianxian had already lain down, turning on her side to move closer.

"Your breath is too short, your sentences aren't connected—you need some targeted training." Fang Hong stretched out his arm.

"I've trained before too, but the progress didn't seem that big." Liu Tianxian took the chance to rest her head on his arm.

The two were very close now, so close that Fang Hong could see her flawless face, not a single pore.

"Find a professional teacher. You definitely can't figure it out on your own—they have techniques, they have theory."

Fang Hong held out one finger and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, then said, "Yutu has so many voice-dubbing teachers, including ones who specialize in this. The techniques good actors use for delivering lines—you can ask them for advice too."

"Oh." Liu Tianxian nodded.

She usually figured things out on her own, comprehended them herself, and rarely asked anyone for guidance—this was related to how, in her past shoots, directors had brushed things off perfunctorily.

Ordinary directors don't have the time to grind an actor—because they have to rush the schedule. Grinding an actor is the privilege of a great director.

The two spoke softly. Before, they had always chatted on the phone; now that they were together, they still had plenty to talk about.

Fang Hong said softly, "The two of us…"

Liu Tianxian of course understood what he meant. Her phoenix eyes looked at him: "But it's not convenient for me today."

"What's wrong?" Fang Hong was puzzled.

"I'm on my period." Liu Tianxian leaned close to his ear, a faint blush on her face.

"What a coincidence?" Fang Hong was dumbfounded.

"Yeah!" Liu Tianxian's gaze shimmered like water.

"Sigh, why do girls even get their period? I just don't get it." Fang Hong let out a sigh.

How on earth do girls have this period thing?

"I don't get it either."

Liu Tianxian complained along with him, then asked, "What do we do?"

"What can we do? Just endure it!" Fang Hong shook his head.

"Can you hold it in? Won't it drive you crazy?" Liu Tianxian placed her hand on his chest, gently stroking.

"Holding it in too long will definitely drive me crazy, but it's fine—I've held it in for several years now, I'm used to it." Fang Hong said.

"Hey, I ask you, what happens to you boys when you hold it in too long?" Liu Tianxian's eyes were curious.

"I don't know, anyway it can't be good." Fang Hong said.

"Oh, is that so." Liu Tianxian murmured thoughtfully.

"So my body's not healthy, it's all your fault." Fang Hong tapped her nose—her nose was very high and straight, like a camel's hump.

"How is it my fault? You're not weak at all, you're plenty strong, okay?" Liu Tianxian patted his chest.

"Really?" Fang Hong was surprised.

"Mm, yes." Liu Tianxian was shyly bashful.

Anyway, except for the first time, the rest had been pretty normal.

Hearing this affirmative answer seemed to give Fang Hong confidence—he had thought he wasn't strong, and had even felt a bit inferior about it.

"Ah, what a pity—such a strong me, and nowhere to use it." Fang Hong tilted his head back and sighed.

Liu Tianxian rolled her eyes—one little compliment and he's already putting on an act, acting like crazy, shouldn't have praised him at all.

"Tricked you, I didn't come." She said softly.

"What?!" Fang Hong's face suddenly appeared right in front of hers, inches away.

"I said, I tricked you, I didn't get my period." Liu Tianxian patted his face.

"Hehehe, you little liar, how dare you trick me—I'm going to punish you properly." Fang Hong got all clingy and kissed toward her soft, tender neck.

"Hehe, you have to be gentle, okay?" Liu Tianxian tilted her head up slightly, her expression carrying a hint of enjoyment.

"Too damn awesome, can't be gentle."

"."

On February 16th, the day of the Berlin Film Festival awards ceremony, Yutu Investment's "Black Coal, Thin Ice" swept both the Best Actor Award and the Best Film Award in one go.

Director Diao Yinan, holding the Berlin Golden Bear, said on Berlin's dazzling stage: "Tonight, this film's honor belongs to me, to our most excellent team, to Yutu, to everything!"

This film was invested in and produced by Yutu Investment; they didn't interfere with his creative work, giving him a great deal of autonomy.

Liao Fan also became China's first Berlin Film Festival Best Actor.

When the news and photos made their way back home, many people were quite astonished — no one had expected this obscure film to win the Berlin Golden Bear.

And it was produced by Yutu Investment — Yutu has changed its ways, going artistic. For such a big event, a wave of publicity was of course inevitable, and for Chinese-language cinema this counts as a grand occasion.

"The first Chinese Berlin Film Festival Best Actor is born!"

"Black Coal, Thin Ice wins the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear, Liao Fan crowned Berlin Film Festival Best Actor!"

"Produced by Yutu, Black Coal, Thin Ice wins the Berlin Golden Bear!"

"."

News like this appeared on the front pages of major mainstream outlets — Guancha. cn, China. com. cn, People's Daily Online, China Film Network, and others.

Of course self-media quickly followed suit, and for a time the hype was stoked to a fever pitch.

The well-known overseas magazine The Hollywood Reporter commented: "Full of innovative spirit, a tribute to classic Hollywood noir."

"We have long admired director Diao Yinan's incredible talent, and in this latest film he has made an entirely new attempt," said Werner, Chairman of Fortissimo Film Company.

This man is one of the world's leading film distributors, with agencies across Ouzhou, the Americas, and the Middle East.

The distribution rights for Black Coal, Thin Ice have already been sold to over twenty countries, including the United States, France, and Germany.

The rights fees brought in as much as fifty million US dollars, equivalent to 350 million.

And the film itself cost less than twenty million to produce — meaning that just from selling global rights, Yutu had already recouped its costs and turned a hefty profit.

Sometimes art-house films really do make more money than commercial ones, but for an art-house film to win awards, to reap any reward, is far too difficult.

That's competing against the whole world — it's fierce.

And making art-house films is exhausting on the spirit and mind — every detail has to be fussed over, and most importantly you need a good script.

And Diao Yinan spent over a decade polishing the script for Black Coal, Thin Ice — there's just no comparison, very few people have that kind of patience.

Black Coal, Thin Ice winning the award made the film hugely popular at home for a time; after all, with official media helping to publicize it, the principal creators also took the opportunity to return to China.

And after returning, another news item appeared on China Radio Network.

"Black Coal, Thin Ice returns in glory from Berlin, Yutu throws a celebration!"

The article stated that Yutu Chairman Fang Hong, President Chen Zhixi, well-known actress Liu Tianxian, and Tokyo Best Actor Wang Jingchun were all present to offer congratulations.

Also in attendance at the celebration were Liao Fan's industry friends Ma Ke, Teng Huatao and others; Jiang Wen, Zhou Xun, Feng Shaofeng, Zhang Hanyu, Li Chen and others sent their blessings remotely via video.

After all, it was the first film to win such a major award — of course it had to be done in grand style.

A celebration means eating and drinking — inside the luxurious banquet hall, cups clinked merrily, and everyone seemed to be chatting and laughing in high spirits.

Here Liu Tianxian met many powerhouse actors and directors, all figures from the artistic side of the film and television world.

Mingling with these people, she wondered whether she might soak up some of that good fortune and win Best Actress herself.

"Tianxian, Principal." Liao Fan greeted them.

He had a mature face, with a little moustache at the corner of his lip.

"Congratulations." Fang Hong gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"I have to thank the Principal for investing in us — otherwise this film wouldn't exist." Liao Fan knew how to talk.

"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with me — it's all thanks to you yourselves." Fang Hong was modest.

The three exchanged smiles, and Liu Tianxian suggested: "Let's take a photo together."

"Sure." Liao Fan nodded.

He had heard that Liu Tianxian was the Principal's lover, so he treated her quite courteously.

Many celebrities and cultural figures who had never had any connection with Liu Tianxian had, through Fang Hong, now established some connection — and Liu Tianxian herself was naturally a sociable person.

In the past she simply had no way in; now Fang Hong had opened many doors for her.

The three stood together — of course Liao Fan in the middle, the other two on either side, all smiling — and a photographer took a picture of them.

This photo was posted by Liu Tianxian on her Weibo, with the caption: "Looking forward to more excitement, good night!"

Needless to say, a flood of comments followed below.

"Wow! The goddess is in a photo with the Berlin Film Festival Best Actor!"

"Tianxian has such great connections with people."

"Why is the Principal there? Principal, get lost, don't touch my goddess."

"My Xianxian now gets along with everyone — who was it that said before she had no connections? Come out and eat your words."

"."

People often said she was difficult, that she had poor connections in the industry, was hard to get along with — that was all paid-for publicity drafts, all sorts of malicious misinterpretations.

But that's all in the past now — the current Principal is someone no one can afford to offend.

Those competitors who secretly buy publicity drafts to smear her, let them be — as long as it doesn't stir up too much public opinion, it's fine.

Of course there are also trending topics being suppressed — Xia Jie and the old man's romance is being hyped into a frenzy.

Anyway, whenever Liu Tianxian is around, Xia Jie is bound to come looking for relevance — it's the usual.

Liu Tianxian is very magnanimous, and Fang Hong is very magnanimous too!

Black Coal, Thin Ice was scheduled for release on March 21st — one month later.

How much it would earn at the box office was unknown; one could only say they'd do their best, because the domestic version was a cut one, not quite the same as what was shown at the Berlin Film Festival.

It might leave people disappointed.

But that doesn't matter — as long as it wins awards, it returns in glory, laying the foundation for Yutu's cultural depth, and giving Yutu a wash of the mercenary taint, lending it a sense of responsibility.

In future, when anyone curses Yutu for being money-grubbing, they can be hit back with this.

With this foundation in place, Cao Baoping also took the opportunity to bring out the script he had been polishing for a long time — The Dead End — and cooperate with Yutu.

In this collaboration, his casting choices would not be interfered with, but a Producer still had to be assigned — Zheng Jianfeng served as Producer.

That meant auditing the accounts, controlling costs — there was no way the money could be spent however the other party pleased, without anyone keeping watch.

Zheng Jianfeng is a newly promoted Producer at Yutu, formerly an assistant director to Chen Musheng, Chen Kexin, Tang Jili, and Fang Long.

Later he went to Wanda and produced films like *Mojin: The Lost Legend* and *Go Away Mr. Tumor*, but thanks to Fang Hong's butterfly effect, the man ended up coming to him.

One can only say it was a matter of timing and fate!

(End of chapter)