Chapter 1098: Consolation Gifts; Miss Liu Has Company!

"The Capital International Film Festival opened already? What, it's already opened?"

On the morning of the 16th, when the sun was high in the sky, Lin Nan finally woke up in a daze.

Then he heard about the opening of the Beijing Film Festival — apparently the opening ceremony red carpet had taken place last night.

"Of course it's already opened. You've just been a bit too invested in the post-production of *Hua Mulan* lately."

Bare-faced Liu Liu Yifei curled up on the single sofa, holding a copy of *Psychology* in her hands, and teased with a smile.

"Mm, seems like I was a bit too focused, didn't notice the film festival stuff outside at all, but it doesn't matter.

Think about it — the Beijing Film Festival, the Changchun Film Festival, the Pingyao International Film Festival, and the Silk Road International Film Festival… these four domestic international film festivals actually don't have much real weight to them, they're just an industry awards event, you can completely ignore them.

As for those awards, if anyone wants them, to be fair, I think I could easily help take care of it, hahaha…"

Lin Nan affirmed matter-of-factly, and laughed. Of course, he naturally wouldn't actually do such a thing.

"Lin Dao, you as the boss should give your employee a call to check in on her." Liu Liu Yifei laughed and changed the subject, reminding Lin Nan.

"What's up?"

"Over at the company, only Especially Reba attended the opening ceremony red carpet alone last night, and she also performed ballet in the evening.

But when she was leaving after the performance, because the stage was being raised and lowered, she missed her footing, and after falling, she tumbled forward down several steps…"

"Although her studio already posted on Weibo that she's fine, saying it was just a minor scrape, in reality it might be a bit serious. Especially Reba fractured a bone, she'll need to rest for one or two months."

"Good lord, she really is unlucky!" Hearing Liu Liu Yifei say this, Lin Nan couldn't help but laugh — how careless do you have to be?

"Alright, then let her rest properly for a few months. As for the check-in, I'll trouble you, Producer Liu, this boss's wife, to go on my behalf — what do you say?" Lin Nan raised an eyebrow at Liu Liu Yifei.

"But I already called this morning." Miss Liu playfully puffed out her cheeks, laughing and shaking her head.

"Considering she's injured, give her a consolation gift, and you pass it along." Lin Dao Da began shaking his head with hidden meaning in his words.

Sure enough, the incomparably sharp Liu Liu Qianqian reacted instantly: "A film or a TV series?"

"Yue Jun got the first draft of the script for *Like a Flowing River 2* yesterday afternoon, and a new female lead has been added. This character will continue into the third installment, until the series concludes."

"That really is a good resource — this is a premium series! Roughly when does it start shooting?" Liu Liu Yifei nodded and pressed for details.

She still cared quite a bit about her little sister, after all, Especially Reba

always cheerfully called her "Liu Yifei-Zhou Jie, Liu Yifei-Zhou Jie," and had been doing so for so many years now.

"We'll negotiate the share split in the middle of the year, it probably won't start shooting until the end of the year."

"Alright, leave it to me." Nodding, Liu Liu Yifei, this boss's wife and big sister, decisively took on the task.

"Liu Qianqian, can I discuss something with you?" Suddenly, Lin Nan shifted the topic, his gaze focusing on the book in Liu Liu Yifei's hands.

"Discuss what?" This time, Miss Liu clearly hadn't guessed what her big director was thinking.

"Can you not read books like this?"

"Why? I think it's pretty good, and it helps with acting skills too."

"But you reading psychology books — that puts a lot of pressure on me!"

"Huh?" Liu Liu Qianqian instinctively exclaimed in surprise, then a look of sudden realization spread across her face, her smile growing more and more mischievous, and she said:

"Since you put it that way, then I won't read it… is impossible! Not only will I read it, I'll read more and learn more, hehehe."

"You, that's a bit against common sense, isn't it?"

"What common sense?"

"Isn't it always said that pregnancy makes you dumb for three years?" Lin Nan muttered, his voice getting smaller and smaller.

"Lin Nan, I'm giving you a chance to reorganize your words — please say that again."

A certain someone's fair, smooth face broke into a cold smile, snorting as she cast a sidelong glance at her big director.

……

While Lin Dao Da was still being "interrogated" with soft knives at home, over at the company, Yue Jun was receiving Huo Huo Wenxi.

The latter had come to attend the Beijing Film Festival, and had also stopped by Lin Nan Pictures to pay a visit and maintain relations.

The day before yesterday, the Hong Kong Island Golden Image Awards had once again quietly held this year's award ceremony;

As expected, the mainland film circle indeed drew no attention, and the internet didn't stir up any waves at all. Only because mainland netizens' attitudes had long since changed. Hong Kong Island? Hong Kong films? Heh heh!

To put it bluntly and bare-facedly, the Hong Kong Island Golden Image Awards — once the second of the three major Chinese-language film awards — now can't even compare to the buzz of an event like the Beijing Film Festival.

"Congratulations to Emperor Entertainment's *Project Gutenberg* for taking 7 awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Seems like it's still the biggest winner, right?"

"So what if they took 7 awards? The Hong Kong Island market is getting smaller and smaller, and our survival space in the mainland market is also constantly shrinking, being compressed; the mainland film market is clearly growing stronger, growing at a rapid pace…"

Huo Huo Wenxi shook his head helplessly, even his smile was bitter.

Hearing these words, Yue Jun felt embarrassed to pick up the thread, so he simply laughed and said:

"I remember back at the beginning of March, Lin Dao was chatting with us about the topic of how the Hong Kong Island film

market could save itself; or rather, how to save itself and die a little slower, at the very least preserving the spark…"

"What method?" Hearing this, Huo Huo Wenxi immediately perked up, the whole person becoming slightly excited.

"Two very simple operations." Yue Jun, in the spirit of casual hosting chat, began joking with Huo Huo Wenxi.

"Director Yue, just say it directly, don't beat around the bush."

"First, it's the same old issue — completely revise the Golden Image Awards' selection rules.

I can tell you clearly, the Golden Horse Awards are about to die, the Golden Image Awards can completely dig at the roots and replace the Golden Horse Awards' commercial attributes and positioning;

Make major changes to the film selection rules, open up film selection and awards to the entire Chinese-language film world, rather than forever only being open to Hong Kong Island films.

The market was already small, and without reform and opening up, it's just like inbreeding — of course it dies faster and faster, right?

Second, replace the people on the Golden Image Awards committee — at least replace half of them, with senior film industry professionals from the mainland: directors, producers, actors, or screenwriters. Definitely don't go looking for those parasites from the associations who never participate in actual filmmaking.

You have to be clear: the last valuable thing left in the Hong Kong Island film circle is that Golden Image Award — its historical heritage and the little remaining fame and appeal it has.

Share it out, and only then can you find a way out of death and into life, and only then will large amounts of film and television capital be willing to play with the Hong Kong circle. Because you've put chips on the table — awards are resources too. In fact, this kind of reform will very likely make the Golden Image Awards even more glorious!"

Huo Huo Wenxi's eyes only brightened for a moment, then the whole person deflated like a punctured ball, even more dejected than before.

She sighed and shook her head. "Impossible. They'd rather let Hong Kong cinema and the Golden Image Awards die together than choose to change and reform!

Director Yue, we've known each other for many years, so I'll just come out and say it. You know, because of special historical reasons, a lot of veteran artists, more or less, have all…"

Huo Huo Wenxi started to speak, then hesitated, and in the end still didn't say it.

They've controlled the Golden Image Awards for so many years—how could they possibly accept mainland filmmakers seizing power? They absolutely will not hand it over on a silver platter, even if it means destroying it with their own hands.

"We're just chatting and joking, don't take it to heart. Just treat everything I just said as wind passing by your ear.

As for Chairman Yang's wanting to cooperate, it really is bad timing. In the short term, the company genuinely doesn't have any projects—you're surely aware of this situation too.

Lin Dao and Director Lu are both busy with post-production, Director Guo is on vacation, and Director Li Yang just wrapped The Captain right before stepping into the tribute film crew…

Yue Jun smiled with an easy, breezy air. That's right—Huo Huo Wenxi hadn't come today simply to drop by on her way and pay a visit, to keep in touch. She was here to seek project cooperation.

However, Lin Nan Pictures' collaborations with Western Film and Shanghai Film had already been tacitly agreed to end, let alone Hong Kong's Emperor Entertainment Group? At this point, it was naturally even more impossible.

Approaching noon, Yue Jun personally walked Huo Huo Wenxi out of the company's first floor.

The former politely invited her to lunch, and the latter just as politely declined—everything by the book.

"Recently, the environment over there isn't all that good, you know—sinister winds blowing left and right…" Yue Jun watched Huo Huo Wenxi's car merge onto the main road, muttering to himself.

……

The 16th, the 17th—another two days flashed by in an instant.

On the morning of the 18th, the Film Academy, taking the lead among the many art institutions, was the first to publicly post this year's arts examination admission list.

Exactly as the entire industry had predicted, Director Chen's younger son was confirmed admitted to the Performance Department's undergraduate program at the Performance Academy with the excellent result of third place.

The industry once again admired Chen Hong's wisdom—she didn't take first place, didn't try to hype up some "arts-exam top scorer" like several child-star examinees before her, didn't build a persona for her son.

Think about it—these days, the "academic genius" persona in the film and TV industry is basically all poisoned; actors and artists who build this kind of persona will sooner or later die of the poison.

At the same time, another blockbuster officially announced its entry into the summer slate at the box office.

That is, the China-Russia co-production starring Jackie Chan, with Ma Li playing the second female lead, The Mystery of the Dragon Seal, scheduled for August 16th.

"In Ma Li's own words, her image in this film isn't all that great—a visible 'swimming ring' around the belly, purely a clown-type supporting female character…"

"And that's only because when she took The Mystery of the Dragon Seal, she only had one film with proven results to her name—Goodbye Mr. Loser.

If it were now, and you asked China Film and Yaolai Pictures to try again—how could they possibly give some Beijing-circle nobody like Yao Xingtong the second female lead? What third-tier artist is that?"

As he spoke, Lin Nan himself laughed, and Yan Fei on the other end of the line was laughing nonstop too; you could tell he completely agreed with this take.

"Anyway, Ma Li is 'warning' everyone at the company one by one, forbidding anyone from making fun of her after the film is released…"

Glancing at the time, Lin Nan didn't plan to let Yan Fei keep building up to it—the latter clearly had something else to say, but was too embarrassed to bring it up.

"If you have something to say, just say it. What on earth is it? You make a phone call and still beat around the bush." Lin Nan urged with a smile.

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Lin Dao. Just two sentences in, and you've already 'sniffed it out,' ha ha…"

"Then hurry up, I'm about to get off work any minute now.

Who knows, in a bit Producer Liu might call, then find out I'm on a call, and finally in his heart start badmouthing that nuisance of a person."

Lin Nan said it as a playful joke with great interest. Sure enough, not only did the other end of the line laugh, but even Lu Yang beside him and the other employees all started laughing along.

"It's like this, Lin Dao—do you still remember the film we invested in, Mr. Donkey?"

"Of course I remember, a pretty good absurdist comedy. So it's got something to do with Mr. Donkey?"

"No, it's the original director-partner from Mr. Donkey—they have another small-to-mid-budget artsy comedy-romance film that needs money, so they came to the company.

We took a look. The script is, as always, pretty good, but the problem is also, as always, the same old problem—it probably won't find favor with the box-office market…"

"You already said the script's good, then invest.

Make commercial comedy films to earn money, and at the same time support good artsy films—as long as the amount isn't too big, we can invest.

So what, this time you're thinking of having Lin Nan Pictures join in too?" Lin Nan first gave an affirmative response, then asked with a smile.

"The company side does want Lin Nan Pictures to join in, but there are some issues that might be an obstacle—please take a look…" Yan Fei finally opened his mouth hesitantly.

"What issues?"

"Their film wants to chase awards. They don't dare hope for foreign awards—what they're aiming at is domestic…"

Hearing this, Lin Nan immediately understood what "obstacle" Yan Fei was talking about. What domestic award is there? First and foremost, the Golden Rooster!

"Then I can only say thank you to you—let Happy Happy Mahua invest on its own." Lin Nan said casually.

"This…" Yan Fei hemmed and hawed for a few seconds, and could only accept it with regret. As for this outcome, it was actually within their expectations.

"Lin Dao, the film will be greenlit and start casting at the beginning of next month—would you like to recommend some actors over…"

Seeing that the other party was persistent and well-intentioned, Lin Nan could only play along: "Then keep it short right now—briefly describe the script outline and character settings."

"Okay, this film, Half a Comedy, goes like this—its main cast is one woman and two men…"

Lin Dao Da was at the company listening to the script outline of Half a Comedy, while Liu Liu Yifei, far away at home, hadn't even thought to call him to ask what he wanted for lunch.

Because Miss Liu was at this moment full of excitement, holding her phone and teasing Tang Yan.

"How could you guys be so careless—something like this got caught by reporters? And is what the paparazzi online are guessing and reporting true or not?"

"I just felt a bit unwell, and then my dad insisted on driving me to the hospital. When Luo Jin found out, he also rushed over anxiously from the set. We really didn't think that much about it.

Anyway, the paparazzi only caught photos of us going into the hospital—they don't know what's going on, so they can only guess wildly…"

"So? Is it really true? Tell me already!" Liu Liu Yifei's curiosity was practically up to her throat, excitedly pressing for an answer.

"Pricked my finger, took a bit of blood for testing. The doctor said it's been a little over ten days, not yet half a month… In short, we won't be responding to those news reports outside."

"Oh my, you've got a buddy now." At this moment, Liu Liu Yifei no longer held back her emotions at all and let it all show.

Sure enough, Tang Yan on the other end of the line was immediately stunned, then exclaimed: "You too?"

"Hehe, three months earlier than you."

……