Chapter 49: Youth Has Its Advantages

The atmosphere in the venue was a little strange.

The leaders were nodding, thinking about something.

The directors below hadn't expected Lin Nan to be so bold — worthy of a young man.

A few big directors looked at Lin Nan with smiles on their faces, while some of the older members of the association were not pleased.

The roll-call speeches continued. Lin Nan sat there, thinking that what he'd just said had been rather tactful, hadn't it?

"You really dare to say that. The Golden Rooster at year's end — is your 'Return to Dust' still going?"

Ning Hao leaned over and said a word.

That reminded Lin Nan. "Going, of course I'm going. I've already won the Silver Bear — shouldn't it be the Golden Rooster jury who have the hard time?"

Ning Hao thought about it and realized that was indeed the case. "It's only because you won the Silver Bear, plus your age, that you can be so brazen."

"Enough talk, let's listen to the others." Lin Nan cut Ning Hao off.

Being young really does have its advantages — no matter how harsh the truth you speak, the consequences won't be too severe.

Lunch was settled at the canteen here. As they say, it's a government canteen — cuisines from Tiannanhaibei are all available, the taste and presentation are no worse than outside hotels, take whatever you want to eat. I heard the cooks are all on the establishment.

The afternoon session ended. Wang Wang Xiaoshuai came over specifically to chat with Lin Nan and the other person. "Green Red" was going to be released domestically in early June. Having learned the lesson from "Peacock," Wang Wang Xiaoshuai was preparing to hold a premiere and invited the two to attend.

"No problem."

"Goodbye, two directors." Gao Gao Yuanyuan waved proactively.

Once the people had walked far away, Ning Hao sighed. "I really want to film this kind of subject matter too."

Ning Hao's old habits had flared up again.

"Stop looking, Zhou Zhou Zhiruo has walked far away." Lin Nan deliberately led him astray.

"Who's looking, don't talk nonsense. I was just speaking from the heart — drama films, realistic subject matter still have to take the film festival awards route."

In the distance, Boss Han caught up. "You kid really have a big mouth today, daring to say anything."

"Boss Han, but I wasn't wrong, was I? Look at those judges — how many of them actually make films? They're all so old already, yet still clinging to their seats…"

"Alright, alright, that's just our situation. We have to give the old-timers some face. Change will definitely come, but it has to be gradual."

It'll probably take many, many years, Lin Nan silently complained in his heart.

At this moment, someone from Shanghai Film came over. "Boss Han, Lin Dao, Director Ning."

"Lin Dao, would you find time to make a trip to the film festival? Boss Ren kept urging me to tell you about this — after all, our Shanghai Film is the host…"

"The Magic City Film Festival?"

Han Han Sanping was stunned for a moment, then caught on.

"I don't have a work, why would I go? Hasn't Ning Hao already agreed to bring people?"

Ning Hao stood to one side without speaking. Although he was the director of "Stone," he could tell that others cared a lot about whether Lin Nan could attend.

"If you're not going, then don't. Lin Nan still has to prepare for the release of 'Return to Dust' in those few days next month."

At this moment, Han Han Sanping stepped in and said a word, saving Lin Nan from the awkwardness.

China Film was in charge of the publicity and distribution for "Return to Dust" — it was Han Han Sanping who had negotiated it in Berlin, so naturally he wanted Lin Nan to focus on that.

"Yes, I'm really sorry. As you heard, I genuinely have work arrangements."

Lin Nan took the opportunity to add a sentence.

The film festival from the 11th to the 19th, honestly speaking, wouldn't affect the publicity for "Return to Dust," but Han Han Sanping had already found an excuse for him, so he just used it.

The Shanghai Film people had no choice but to leave.

"Old Ren must feel bad inside — even you won't go, hahaha." Han Han Sanping laughed.

"Just look at this year's jury lineup and competing works and you'll know — if I went, I'd purely be setting the stage for others."

Lin Nan had another sentence he didn't say: they call it an international film festival over there, but the scale really isn't big. He didn't want to go and be a cheerleader for others. If it were next year, he might consider going to have a look around.

The many attendees left one after another. Ning Hao went back to his studio and dropped Lin Nan off at school on the way.

"Can't you just buy a car?"

Ning Hao complained the whole way — he'd never seen someone with Lin Nan's old-fogy mentality: no house, no car.

"When I marry a wife in the future, I'll use hers." Lin Nan said it glibly.

"Pull the other one — you don't even have a girlfriend, and you're talking about a wife. Besides, your skin is way too thick."

Ning Hao wore a face of utter disbelief.

……

In March, the TV drama "World's Number One" — supervised, written, and produced by Wang Jing — premiered with high ratings. Everyone sighed that Wang Jing was indeed Wang Jing — he could handle films and do TV dramas well.

In the past two days, "Little Fish and Hua Wuque," personally directed by Wang Jing, premiered, and even more people flocked to it. Nicholas Tse, Dicky Cheung, Yuan Quan, Fan Bingbing… just looking at the lineup filled the audience with anticipation.

Students at the Film Academy also followed dramas. Lin Nan heard quite a few girls talking about Yang Xue from the Class of '99, their words full of envy. That was Jiang Wang Yuyan — the female lead and the villain running through the whole drama. Even though Fan Li Bingbing and Yuan Quan were in it, they were all supporting roles.

According to Liu Liu Yifei, her mother and the others were contacting people at Sony, wanting to produce the Mandarin and Japanese albums together.

Lin Nan had to admit that at this stage, the pop music over there was indeed very impressive. Many singers from Hong Kong Island had cooperated with them, and Sony's strength was also top-tier in the industry.

"It'll probably take a year — good songs also need time to be created."

Liu Liu Yifei told Lin Nan the reply from Sony.

"During this period, you're not taking any dramas?"

"Mom and godfather said I won't take TV dramas from now on. If there's a film, I could take a look."

Liu Liu Yifei said, and even winked at Lin Nan.

"Heh, don't look at me like that. I can't just pull out a script that suits you right now."

Lin Nan spread his hands.

At Liu Liu Yifei's age, having only acted in four TV dramas, it was hard to find a suitable film for her to lead. Unless she took a supporting role — but some realistic subject matter, she might not be able to handle.

"Don't forget what you promised me."

Liu Liu Yifei crossed her arms over her chest, and with those words, she seemed oddly fierce yet cute.

"I won't forget. When the time's right, I'll definitely ask you to play the lead." Lin Nan smiled.

"That's more like it."

……

On June 2nd, Lin Nan and Ning Hao were invited to attend the domestic premiere of *Qing Hong*.

Many films are released each year, but very few achieve ideal box office results, especially realistic drama films like *Qing Hong*—it gained some confidence only because it won the Jury Grand Prize; *Yin Ru Chen Yan* was the same.

*Qing Hong* has little time left; Zhou Dong's *Initial D* is coming soon, and fan power cannot be ignored.

Many directors came to support Wang Wang Xiaoshuai; most were long-time practitioners of drama and realistic-themed films. Lin Nan and Ning Hao felt awkward among them, mainly due to age mismatch—everyone around them was around forty, or even older.

Without lingering, Lin Nan and Ning Hao left immediately after the event ended.

"Commercial premieres are much livelier," Ning Hao complained.

"Yeah, I was thinking maybe *Yin Ru Chen Yan* shouldn't have a premiere at all."

Realistic-themed films tend to be heavy; holding a banquet after watching them feels jarring, but it suits commercial films perfectly.

The premiere of *Qing Hong* attracted only old-school media, mostly state-run outlets; the atmosphere was conventional, even dull, so Lin Nan and Ning Hao found it unbearable.

"Not having one's fine too—just focus on promotion. After all, it's your film that won the Silver Bear. Wow, once it releases, it'll be pure profit."

"Haha, true enough."

In fact, audiences still disliked watching such heavy films in theaters; *Qing Hong* earned only a few hundred thousand on its opening day.

Media outlets had already paired *Qing Hong* with *Kong Que* in reports—both won Jury Grand Prizes at Cannes and Berlin, and both had shockingly low box office numbers.

Pressure mounted on Lin Nan: with nearly a month left until *Yin Ru Chen Yan*'s release, could he break the low-box-office curse of *Qing Hong* and *Kong Que*?

Han Han Sanping contacted Lin Nan, asking whether he should make a public statement to kickstart promotion.

He acted immediately—Lin Nan accepted the interview.

"I know most audiences enjoy family-friendly films that uplift the spirit. Realistic-themed films rarely achieve that—they tell stories of life, mostly filled with regret and suffering. But they are authentic and sincere; what touches the heart is often the bitterness and hardship of everyday life…"

The script provided by China Film Group was good; Lin Nan made minor revisions and used it as-is.

*Yin Ru Chen Yan* differs from *Qing Hong* and *Kong Que*—it's even more painful, even harder. Lin Nan only hoped he wouldn't be criticized, but the word-of-mouth shouldn't be bad.

Lionsgate's efficiency was impressive—only a month and a half had passed, and *The Silence* was nearly finished.

"James, you're not lying to me, are you?"

Lin Nan asked Wen Zairen. Though he had prepared himself, hearing it was nearly done still felt unbelievable.

"Lin Dao Nan, your script is excellent—we made no changes, and the shoot went very smoothly. You know, as long as the prop team is solid, films like this naturally move fast. Next, we'll complete post-production as quickly as possible; when the final cut's ready, you'll need to come over and review it…"

"Understood. I'll definitely come."

From Wen Zairen's tone, post-production would focus entirely on June, with plans to finish it this month.

And from Lionsgate's intentions, once post-production was done, they'd release it immediately—that's why they contacted Lin Nan; the moment of truth was approaching.

Ning Hao took the crew ahead to Shanghai; everyone was filled with anticipation. *Stone* had such strong box office and reputation—wouldn't *Yin Ru Chen Yan* have a high chance of winning awards too?

Promotion for *Initial D* was fully underway—a film starring the hottest singer of the past two years, Zhou Jielun, alongside a Hong Kong cast, with no shortage of buzz.

*Qing Hong* had earned well from its Cannes rights sales, but after *Initial D*'s promotion launched, its box office became even more dismal—so far, it had barely reached two million.

"*Shi Tou* just finished its run; when *Yin Ru Chen Yan* releases, you can ride its momentum. You have an advantage over Director Wang Wang Xiaoshuai and Director Chang Wei."

China Film Group was already preparing for *Yin Ru Chen Yan*'s release; leveraging *Shi Tou*'s momentum made perfect sense.

Director Han was still worried whether *Initial D* would impact *Yin Ru Chen Yan*—China Film Group's promotional budget was tied to box office revenue shares.

"No problem. There's a twelve-day gap between them. Their promotion focuses entirely on Zhou Jielun, but even the biggest fanbase can't sustain box office like that forever—by July, its box office should have plateaued."