Chapter 178: The Tough Zhang Yimou

Wu Yuchen was receiving congratulations from the guests in turn:

"Wu Dao, it really is worthy of being a Jin Xiong work, it was filmed so well!"

For these congratulations and compliments, Wu Yuchen naturally responded with a smile one by one.

A moment later, he saw Jiang Wen walk up, give Wu Yuchen a thumbs up, and say: "High!"

Wu Yuchen looked at Jiang Wen's appearance, didn't reply immediately, waited a moment, and then asked: "Anything else?"

Jiang Wen was stunned, then smiled and continued: "It's really high!"

Wu Yuchen said to Jiang Wen with a smile: "Director Jiang, I was just waiting for you to say the two words 'awesome' to me. I heard from Tarantino that you have spread our national essence to the international stage!"

Jiang Wen laughed loudly when he heard this. After he met Tarantino a few years ago, Tarantino learned the word "awesome" from him. Then Tarantino was very puzzled and asked him why China uses "awesome" to describe something cool and powerful. Then Jiang Wen gave him an answer that shocked him: "Because the cow's currency is very big!"

Since then, Tarantino returned to Hollywood and kept spreading the usage of "awesome".

Jiang Wen said with a smile in his thick voice: "It's not awesome that I spread 'awesome' to the international stage, Director Wu, it's truly awesome that you spread the film to the whole world!"

Wu Yuchen's smile became even brighter. The two words "awesome" still tasted more authentic when spoken from Jiang Wen's mouth!

At this time, Zhang Yimou walked over: "*Don't Fool Around* is indeed wonderful!"

Wu Yuchen immediately said modestly: "Zhang Shixiong, it's all following the path you walked~"

Zhang Yimou knew he was talking about the fact that he and Jiang Wen's *Red Sorghum* won the Jin Xiong 10 years ago. He smiled and shook his head:

"I really can't film this film of yours. Two years ago, Jiang Wen and I cooperated to film a black humor absurd comedy *Keep Cool*. It was the same style, but the content and depth were far worse than this *Don't Fool Around* of yours."

At this time, Jiang Wen chuckled and said: "I also benefited a lot today. I am currently filming *Devils on the Doorstep*, and I also plan to take the absurd comedy style. When the film comes out for the premiere, I invite you two to come and appreciate it!"

"Then I will wait for the good news~" Wu Yuchen said with a smile on his face, but internally he thought that there might not even be a premiere then. After all, it's hard for you to pass the review!

Wu Yuchen didn't intend to remind Jiang Wen of anything. Even if he said it, it would be completely useless. Jiang Wen is extremely individualistic and pays great attention to his desire for expression. He just wants to film what he wants to film. Even if he doesn't learn a lesson from *Devils on the Doorstep* this time, he will eventually be banned sooner or later.

Subsequently, Wu Yuchen turned his head and asked Zhang Yimou: "Zhang Shixiong, are your two films *Not One Less* and *The Road Home* both finished? Which film festival do you plan to send them to?"

He had reminded him once about the Zhang Weiping issue before, but he didn't know if Zhang Yimou didn't care or was fooled by Zhang Weiping. Now the two hadn't separated yet. Then Wu Yuchen couldn't mention this matter a second time. Everyone has their own karmic connection.

Zhang Yimou frowned when he heard this: "I originally planned to send *Not One Less* to Cannes and *The Road Home* to Venice, but now there are some problems communicating with Cannes."

"Oh, what's wrong?" Wu Yuchen and Jiang Wen were both curious.

"Gilles Jacob, the director of the Cannes Film Festival, thinks *Not One Less* has political propaganda and suspects it beautifies China's image. He wants me to withdraw it and replace it with *The Road Home* to compete. I have already negotiated back and forth with him several times..." Zhang Yimou said simply.

Wu Yuchen estimated that this negotiation was 90% unsuccessful because in his memory, *Not One Less* was sent to Venice, while *The Road Home* was sent to Berlin next year.

Wu Yuchen shook his head and said: "There are still many people in Europe and America who have stereotypes about our China, even the director of Cannes is like this. Zhang Shixiong, if it really doesn't work, consider changing the investment."

Zhang Yimou sighed when he heard this, his face a bit solemn, because if there was no other way, it was best not to have such things as temporarily withdrawing a film and switching to another one, which was very face-slapping.

As everyone knows, there is competition between the three major European film festivals.

In 1988, at the 38th Berlin Film Festival, Chen Kaige's *King of Children* was invited. It had already been sent to the Berlin Film Festival and was rumored to be favored by the film festival. As a result, the representative of Cannes also noticed Kaige's *King of Children* and sent an invitation to Kaige.

Kaige was extremely excited because Cannes' influence was greater than Berlin's. Then, in a moment of heat, he made the decision to withdraw *King of Children* from Berlin and switch to Cannes. This was very offensive at the time. The organizers of the Berlin Film Festival were very angry, so China urgently sent Zhang Yimou's *Red Sorghum* as a substitute.

Everyone knows what happened later. *Red Sorghum* won the Jin Xiong in one fell swoop, while Kaige's *King of Children* won the Golden Alarm Clock award at Cannes. Don't think this is a good award; the Golden Alarm Clock award means "the most boring and tedious film" of the film festival.

Comparing the two, Zhang Yimou was infinitely glorious, while Kaige was directly silenced. He didn't participate in the Berlin Film Festival for many years later because of this. Think about it, and you know that this must have had a significant impact on the relationship between Zhang Yimou and Kaige. Kaige had been competing with Zhang Yimou since then.

Well, the grievances between Zhang Yimou and Kaige are just that interesting.

And now, Zhang Yimou was also facing this problem: whether to withdraw the film from Cannes and switch to the other two. After congratulating Wu Yuchen and chatting for a few more words, Zhang Yimou left with his worries. Jiang Wen naturally rushed back to the *Devils on the Doorstep* crew to continue filming.

After the premiere of *Don't Fool Around*, various newspapers and magazines also launched comments on the film.

"*Don't Fool Around*: China's most profound black absurd comedy!"

"A farce with tears in laughter, a comedy sad to the bone!"

"*Don't Fool Around*, Wu Dao Yuchen's reflection on history and society."

"*Don't Fool Around*, a sad elegy for intellectuals!"

Undoubtedly, the story of *Don't Fool Around* was not lacking in depth and artistry. There were too many things to be excavated, and this just happened to fit the aesthetics of the literati who held the pen in this era. Plus the Jin Xiong halo, it had to be blown up!

Originally, after *Don't Fool Around* won the Jin Xiong and Best Actress, it had already attracted public attention. This time, there was another wave of spontaneous overwhelming publicity from the media, which really hung the curiosity high.

Coupled with the reputation Wu Yuchen had accumulated over the past two years, when *Don't Fool Around* was released that night, a large number of viewers poured into various cinemas to watch *Don't Fool Around*.

Think back to 1995, *In the Heat of the Sun* only won Best Actor and a Golden Lion nomination, which attracted viewers to pay for it. Even though many people felt confused after watching it, it eventually won 50 million at the box office. And this time, *Don't Fool Around* basically didn't have the situation where the audience couldn't understand it, and the dramatic tension was much fuller than *In the Heat of the Sun*.

Moreover, the character settings in *Don't Fool Around* easily made the audience empathize. Because whether it was the seemingly honest but hypocritical leader Principal Sun, the egoist Pei Kuishan who couldn't get love and turned against them, Zhou Tienan who was full of enthusiasm but only knew how to talk and had no ability, or Zhang Yiman who was full of romance and ideals but weak and incompetent, including the copper craftsman, Sun Jia, the special commissioner, etc., as long as you think carefully, there are always such people around anyone.

*Don't Fool Around* is absurd, but it is actually based on realism. Its extremely high completion and flesh-and-blood character settings can greatly mobilize the audience's viewing emotions. In this case, almost everyone will be impacted and have some insights after watching the film.

After the audience finished watching, there were already many discussions with their companions:

"Sigh, Zhang Yiman is really too miserable..."

"Let me tell you, our unit leader is exactly the same as this Principal Sun. Every day he calls on us to sacrifice and dedicate, but as a result, we all sacrificed and dedicated, and he got the benefits himself!"

"Zhou Tienan is really a coward, it would have been better to just shoot him dead with that shot!"

"You say it lightly, would you not be a coward if you really encountered this?"

"It really is worthy of being an international great director, really worthy of being a Jin Xiong film! This is filmed really powerfully!"

The high discussion degree of the audience after watching the film naturally further boosted the motivation of the media. Therefore, many newspapers further published in-depth analyses of the film *Don't Fool Around* to attract readers.

"*Don't Fool Around*: Did you really understand it?"

"Analysis of the historical background and the characters and events alluded to in *Don't Fool Around*."

"On the grass-gray snake line of *Don't Fool Around*."

"Symbolic meaning and human nature exploration of each character in *Don't Fool Around*."

"*Don't Fool Around*: The complexity of human nature, how can it be summarized by good and evil?"

Even after watching the film, teachers and students in universities have already begun to publish articles on *Don't Fool Around*:

"Exploration of the absurd aesthetics of *Don't Fool Around*."

"Comment on the artistic characteristics of *Don't Fool Around*."

"Philosophical speculation of *Don't Fool Around*."

At the turn of the century, the general environment was like this. A film with an interesting plot and depth, plus a major award, could cause comprehensive discussions in China.

Before, although Wu Yuchen's *My Brothers and Sisters* and *Ditto* had good box office results, there were actually many high-minded literati who looked down on them, just as films to pass the time. Even if Wu Yuchen had two films with over 100 million in Hollywood before, some people in China still felt that there was no artistry and connotation. The atmosphere at this time was like this. Many people didn't say it on their lips, but internally they still despised commercial films, and ideological content and depth were ranked first.

But this time *Don't Fool Around* was different. It caused comprehensive discussions from the general public to the media to the academic circle in China. The momentum was unmatched, and it truly planted an impression in the hearts of people at all levels in China: Wu Yuchen, a great director!

Some people even said he was not just the leader of the sixth-generation directors, but proposed that he was China's most influential director.

This was actually saying in disguise that Wu Yuchen was China's number one director. However, on one hand, considering Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou, and on the other hand, Wu Yuchen was ultimately too young. In the domestic environment of seniority, crowning him with the title of China's number one director would be very controversial.

So there was the description of "China's most influential," which no one could refute.

Under the full cooperation of China Film Group and Han Sanping for distribution, and under the fierce discussion of the media and the public, *Don't Fool Around* broke 100 million at the box office after being released for three weeks!

To be honest, Wu Yuchen didn't expect *Don't Fool Around* to have such a high box office. After all, the black absurd comedy style was actually niche. But the response caused by *Don't Fool Around* this time was indeed great. Think about how *In the Heat of the Sun* could exceed 50 million at that time, so it was reasonable for this box office to break 100 million.

Wu Yuchen didn't intend to pay attention to the subsequent box office. At this time, his attention was attracted by one thing: Zhang Yimou and Cannes broke up!

Before, Zhang Yimou said at the premiere of *Don't Fool Around* that he was communicating, but now it seems the communication failed. He directly issued a statement, or rather, an open letter to Gilles Jacob, the director of the Cannes Film Festival:

"Both of my films are about the theme of love.

*Not One Less* expresses our love for children and our concern for the current status and future of our nation's overall cultural quality.

*The Road Home* sings the truth and purity of love.

These are all emotions that mankind possesses and praises. However, it is puzzling that you accused the film on the grounds of 'politics.' This cannot but be said to be a political or cultural prejudice!

It is a pity that under this prejudice, my purpose of cherishing art in your festival has been shaken. My film can only withdraw from the Cannes Film Festival."

After this open letter similar to a statement was released, Wu Yuchen knew that Zhang Yimou and Cannes would probably have no fate in the future. It was no wonder that Zhang Yimou didn't participate in the Cannes Film Festival for more than ten years later.

It wasn't until 2014, when the current director Gilles Jacob, who had been in charge of the Cannes Film Festival for 37 years, retired, that Zhang Yimou brought *Coming Home* back to Cannes.

Wu Yuchen also immediately called Zhang Yimou, and the first sentence was: "Zhang Shixiong, one word, admire!"

It must be said that Zhang Yimou seems to be an honest person who is easy to bully in China, but he is very fierce when facing the outside. His attitude has always been very tough. He is worthy of being a national teacher!

Zhang Yimou said calmly: "This is nothing. Some principled issues cannot be conceded."

"Zhang Shixiong, this is only you. If it were many other people, they wouldn't insist on this principle."

Think about it, it was nothing more than replacing *Not One Less* with *The Road Home* to compete. Many directors would feel it didn't matter, but Zhang Yimou was tough against the big boss of the film festival. Few people could do it.

Subsequently, Wu Yuchen asked again: "Zhang Shixiong, what are your plans next?"

Zhang Yimou said with a smile: "Emir Kusturica, the president of the Venice Film Festival, personally called to invite me to Venice, so I plan to send *Not One Less* to Venice and *The Road Home* to Berlin next year."

"That's good, I just said that with Zhang Shixiong's talent, you don't need to worry. It's Cannes' loss that you left, and the other two are too late to win you over!" Wu Yuchen felt relieved when he heard this.

This time Zhang Yimou's *Not One Less* went to Venice and won the Golden Lion in one fell swoop. Wu Yuchen estimated that the president of Venice must have promised him something when winning over Zhang Yimou this time.

In fact, it can be seen from this that the three major film festivals are ultimately a game of circles. It's nothing more than seeing if your influence is big enough. Like a word from the director, it can determine the fate of your film or even promise you an award.

Films are really not about fighting and killing; they are all about human relationships!

After talking to Zhang Yimou on the phone, Wu Yuchen no longer worried about him.

Wu Yuchen was currently at Miracle Film and Television, flipping through to see if there were any reliable projects for investment in the company.

During this period, *Don't Fool Around* was undoubtedly popular on the big screen, but on the small screen, *Never Close Your Eyes* took over the baton of the ratings champion from *Yongzheng Dynasty*, making Lu Yi suddenly become a popular young actor.

To tell the truth, Lu Yi's appearance conditions are really good, but his acting skills can't keep up! For example, in *Young Justice Bao II*, which he took over from Zhou Jie, his acting skills were visibly one or two grades worse than Zhou Jie's.

Speaking of *Young Justice Bao*, Miracle Film and Television has already started preparations, and the male lead is set to be Zhou Jie. This matter also caused Seeing Qiongyao's unhappiness. He felt that letting Zhou Jie play Bao Zheng would ruin his future.

Hehe, who does Seeing Qiongyao think she is? Wu Yuchen doesn't bird her at all now. Anyway, Zhou Jie has made up his mind to play Bao Zheng, and Seeing Qiongyao can't stop him.

As for the female lead, Wu Yuchen originally asked Jiang Qinqin and Li Xiaoran if they were willing to play, but they were competing for Yu Jiaolong and didn't want to pay attention to a TV drama role at all.

In fact, Wu Yuchen wanted to tell Jiang Qinqin that you have no hope, but looking at her hard work, he thought it was better to forget it. And she didn't look down on TV dramas now, she was thinking about films.

Gao Yuanyuan didn't mind, so Wu Yuchen simply arranged the shooting time of this drama to July or August, and the summer vacation wouldn't delay Gao Yuanyuan's classes. Yuanyuan is still obedient, no need for him to worry!

Wu Yuchen flipped through some scripts submitted to him, and he really found some projects that could be invested in.

Outside Miracle Film and Television, three young men were walking inside. Speaking of which, the heights of the three were exactly in an arithmetic progression: one over 1.9 meters, one over 1.8 meters, and one 1.7 meters.

The short one of 1.7 meters scratched his head and said with a Shandong accent, somewhat embarrassed: "Director, why don't you change someone? I have never acted before, I'm afraid I'll mess it up for you later."

The tall Guan Hu looked down at this short man: "It's okay, your temperament is just right. Also, keep speaking in dialect later, don't speak Mandarin!"

"Ah? Then if it goes bad, you can't blame me!" The short Huang Bo came with a "don't say I didn't warn you."

Guan Hu waved his hand to let him rest assured. In fact, this kid was temporarily pulled by him, or more accurately, temporarily found by the male lead Gao Hu who had been set. Wu Yuchen suddenly called him and told him to bring the male lead over. Guan Hu, who hadn't found a suitable candidate, could only let Gao Hu bring this friend of his who looked like he had a decent temperament.

"Director, what should I do when I go in later?" Huang Bo looked up at Guan Hu.

"It should just be looking at your image. I'll answer if there's anything."

Huang Bo nodded repeatedly. He was still a bit nervous and excited about meeting the great director Wu Yuchen. After all, he was the most awesome director in China now!

Office, Wu Yuchen looked at the three people standing in front of him at this time: Guan Hu, Gao Hu, Huang Bo, and looked at the script in his hand, *Get on the Bus, Let's Go! *. He had really seen this film on the movie channel in his past life, and it was filmed quite well. However, he didn't invest in this film to make money, just to support young people in the circle!

It wouldn't be a loss. Just sell it to the movie channel for 500,000. This time it was just a whim to see these people.

Wu Yuchen opened the script and looked at Huang Bo and asked: "Are you from the countryside?"

"Ah?"

Huang Bo was stunned for a moment, remembering what Guan Hu told him that he was going to play a rural youth, so he smiled foolishly and said: "Yes, yes, I am from the countryside!"

Guan Hu gave him a thumbs up secretly.

But the next moment, Wu Yuchen looked at Huang Bo and shook his head: "Not like."

Guan Hu was stunned. This is not like? He saw at a glance that Huang Bo looked like a rural youth, so he pulled him over!

Wu Yuchen pointed at Huang Bo and said: "I don't think you look like a farmer, you look like an artist, a bit of a literary youth."

Guan Hu kept looking at Huang Bo. Before coming, he specifically changed him into clothes worn by farmers. How could there be any look of a literary youth?

As a result, Huang Bo couldn't hold it back when he heard it, and his face blossomed with a smile: "Director, you really have a good eye! No, I mean what you said is really nice!"

Then Wu Yuchen said with a smile: "How about this, you sing me a song. If you sing well, I will invest for you."

Guan Hu, Gao Hu, and Huang Bo looked at each other when they heard this. How could they not know that Huang Bo's identity had been exposed.

Huang Bo smiled at Wu Yuchen: "Wu Dao, have you seen my performance?"

After graduating from high school, Huang Bo chose to be a singer and had been performing in song halls before.

Wu Yuchen didn't answer the question and said with a smile: "I heard from Zhou Xun that she knew someone in a song hall before, and even wrote songs for Aaron Kwok and Faye Wong~"

Huang Bo suddenly felt a bit shy and scratched his head: "Wu Dao, Zhou Xun mentioned me to you? I thought she became a big star and forgot me..."

That's right, Huang Bo and Zhou Xun were in a song hall and knew each other a few years ago.

"How about this, you sing the song you wrote for Aaron Kwok to me." Wu Yuchen raised his hand with a smile.

Seeing that Guan Hu and Gao Hu didn't object, Huang Bo smiled and showed his teeth: "That's fine, I'll show my ugliness to Wu Dao!"

Huang Bo thought for a while, ran out to get a broom and came in. Wu Yuchen didn't stop him and watched him with great interest.

Only to see Huang Bo bending his knees, holding the broom as a microphone with one hand, and his body began to sway gradually. It was quite the style of Aaron Kwok when he sang and danced.

"In the corner of this world, there is a kingdom called loneliness

Inside there is a frozen soul, and a burning wild fire!"

While Huang Bo was singing, his head began to shake up and down constantly, swinging one by one. It had a very earthy and high-spirited energy.

Huang Bo was singing while holding a broom, jumping and dancing. Although his voice and singing were not bad, Wu Yuchen was still very happy watching it, tapping the script with his rhythm.

After the song was finished, Wu Yuchen waved his hand: "Just for this song of yours, invested!" ===== CHAPTER 179 =====