Chapter 490: Academy Members

In the afternoon, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei attended the press conference for *Breakup Buddies*, though they sat in the audience.

The main creative team, consisting only of Ning Hao, Xu Zheng, and Huang Bo, was present, but that was more than enough.

Facing a reporter's question: "What is the meaning of the four characters 'Xin Hua Lu Fang' (Breakup Buddies) in the movie title?"

Huang Bo, that guy, rolled his eyes and decisively threw Ning Hao under the bus:

"Director Ning actually explained this in the crew. He said:

'The heart has bloomed, and since there's nothing to be done at home, one can only find wild flowers on the road to release it.' I don't know if he was using himself as an example?"

Immediately after, Xu Zheng added another jab:

"I think what Huang Bo and I are acting out is Director Ning Hao's own story. This movie has another name—*Fatal Encounter*."

The promotional effect was excellent; the group of media reporters was in stitches.

As the executive producer and one of the production companies, Lin Nan was asked for his opinion on the film and his box office predictions.

Watching the exaggerated bowing gestures of the three on stage, Lin Nan naturally chose to talk them up.

"I think Ning Hao is too conservative. I told him to go for the New Year's slot or the Spring Festival slot. He's timid and chose the National Day slot instead. He'll definitely regret it by then!"

Hearing Lin Nan's answer, the crowd of reporters was incredibly excited.

Everyone could hear that Lin Dao was very optimistic about the film's box office!

Because commercial films by major directors scheduled for the New Year's or Spring Festival slots are all aiming for high box office numbers.

Without exception, these directors and production companies are full of confidence in their films and ambitious about the box office.

Liu Yifei stayed behind, preparing to watch the finished film in a while, while Lin Nan slipped away; he wanted to go over to *The Breakup Guru* to take a look.

It was such a coincidence that both movies chose to hold their press conferences in the afternoon.

Taking advantage of this Shanghai International Film Festival, *Ip Man 3* and *The Breakup Guru* were also holding alternative premiere ceremonies.

After this, these two films would no longer hold premiere ceremonies but would go straight to public release.

When he arrived at *The Breakup Guru*, a performance was happening on stage, and Lin Nan's eyes nearly fell to the ground.

He saw the film's cast of actresses all squatting on the side, clutching their stomachs and laughing.

And Deng Chao was wearing tight leather pants, black silk stockings, and high heels, with heavy makeup, posing and dancing a pole dance—he was really putting in the effort!

"My goosebumps."

Lin Nan sat down next to Wang Changtian and said, shivering.

"Is this promotional effect okay? He's just that open to playing around, haha..."

This wasn't just being "open to playing around"; it was awesome to the extreme! If *Keep Running* didn't pick him, what would it even be called?

"By the way, won't the media report this as vulgar performance?"

Lin Nan joked. Fortunately, Liu Yifei hadn't followed him; it was too eye-searing.

"How could they? We're all acquaintances; there's no one who doesn't know the score.

After the Shanghai Film Festival ends, *Keep Running* will start recording. Should we hold a press conference?" Wang Changtian asked.

"No need to be so proactive. Focus the promotion before it airs. As for the media's paparazzi photos and reports, as long as it doesn't affect the recording, we'll ignore it."

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Wang Changtian nodded in thought.

"Hmm, that's a good idea. *Keep Running* carries its own heat. The recording of the first season being elusive will create a sense of freshness and stir up the audience's curiosity. After it airs, the audience will be even more surprised and feel a sense of achievement!"

Listening to Lao Wang's analysis, Lin Nan was a bit dumbfounded.

He had just said it casually; he hadn't thought that much about it. After all, the first season definitely had to rely on content to conquer the audience. How did it get dragged into promotional strategy? He was a bit speechless.

Lin Nan had originally said he wouldn't favor one over the other and would stay here for a while too.

But after less than ten minutes, his eyes couldn't take it anymore.

Deng Chao, that guy, was actually changing outfits for the performance. Of course, he was still wearing women's clothing. For his directorial debut, he really went all out!

Liu Yifei was watching the movie, and Lin Nan was too lazy to go back, so he went to stroll around the exhibition area alone.

Occasions like the Shanghai International Film Festival are also great places for newcomers in the industry to get some face time.

One by one, they are led around by their companies to take a lap, then find some industry seniors or big names to take a photo with.

After that, once the press release is sent out, besides stabilizing their existing fan base, their status can be raised quite a bit.

And look, Lin Nan saw from afar quite a few first-tier industry figures taking photos with three kids.

It seemed to be that thing that suddenly got hyped up last year, what was it, The Fighting Boys?

I heard that by relying on a few cover songs, they won quite a few awards in less than a year and accumulated a large number of fans. One can only say the operations of the company behind them are very professional!

"Oh my, it's really not easy. I've been at the film festival for three days, and I've finally seen the shadow of the great Lin Dao."

Lin Nan had just picked up the brochure for the Sino-French co-production *The Nightingale*, starring Li Baotian, and hadn't even flipped two pages when he heard a teasing voice from behind him.

He turned his head and saw Zhu Yawen walking over from afar, wearing sunglasses and a plaid shirt, looking like a repressed playboy. Behind him, he was still followed by that soft and cute assistant girl from before.

"Why are you acting so effeminate?" Lin Nan joked.

"Do you know how to talk? Brother here is what's called a walking hormone, masculine charm!"

"Hehe, I want to vomit. It's even more goosebump-inducing than the pole dance Deng Chao performed live just now."

"Pfft, you don't know how to appreciate it. By the way, where's Yifei? How come I don't see her?" Zhu Yawen looked left and right and asked.

Lin Nan raised his finger and pointed in a direction, "There, at the *Breakup Buddies* press conference site. She should be watching the movie right now."

After speaking, Lin Nan suddenly realized, "Why did you run to the film festival? I didn't notice you had a film here?"

"So Luo Jin is right; the friendship has faded, and the classmate bond has also faded."

Zhu Yawen spread his hands, making the assistant behind him laugh.

"Stop talking nonsense, speak quickly."

"Promoting a new movie, holding a launch press conference, starting filming at the end of the month."

Immediately after, Zhu Yawen started talking; he had taken a movie from Bona.

The movie is called *Bride Wars*, a remake of the Hollywood movie *Bride Wars*.

"Ni Ni is okay, but Yang Ying? And it's a dual-lead!" Lin Nan frowned and said with disdain.

"Who cares, as long as the pay is enough. Besides, the one acting opposite me is Ni Ni, not the one from the Cult Leader's house." Zhu Yawen said with an indifferent attitude.

"Don't be too happy too early. Even if it's not an opposite role, you still have to act together, right? Let you experience Brother Hua's feelings." Lin Nan laughed maliciously.

"Keep your voice down. I just saw the Cult Leader and his lady earlier. Haha..."

Speaking of Yang Ying's "eye drops," that is truly a joke that has endured in the industry.

Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen strolled around the exhibition area.

Quite a few artists in the industry greeted them after seeing them, and many joked that Lin Nan had dumped Liu Yifei again.

"Jointly produced by Happy Mahua and Lin Nan Pictures, with Happy Mahua as the producer, the comedy film *Goodbye Mr. Loser* has finished casting recently."

"The main cast list for *Goodbye Mr. Loser* is as follows: Shen Teng, Ma Li, Wang Zhi, Tian Yu, Yin Zheng... Happy Mahua stated that the film will start filming as early as early July."

The news was brushed for a day, and people in the industry were once again attracted by this small company invested in by Lin Nan.

This unremarkable, star-dim cast list made more than half of the film industry feel a bit of schadenfreude.

"Lin Dao is afraid he's going to fall into a pit this time."

"A bad movie, no doubt, no need to guess!"

In the evening, when Lin Nan and Liu Yifei were taking a walk outside, Yue Jun's call also came through.

"Lin Dao, Director Lu Yang contacted me today. *Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield* has officially entered the wrap-up stage.

In addition, Director Zheng Xiaolong also sent word that the production of *Red Sorghum* has been completely finished."

Hearing Yue Jun's last sentence, Lin Nan immediately perked up.

"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei shook Lin Nan's hand and asked.

"*Red Sorghum* is done."

After answering Miss Liu, Lin Nan put his phone to his ear and instructed: "Contact Tudou, business-to-business. Also, invite major satellite TV stations to hold a screening."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

"Let's go, let's go back. It's just right to talk to Xun-ge'er; her Jiu'er is done. Both versions of Jiu'er are here at the film festival."

Liu Yifei pulled Lin Nan's hand and said with a smile.

Isn't that so? The TV version is Zhou Xun, and the movie version is Teacher Gong Li.

"Then let's go back to the hotel."

After dinner, Miss Liu snuggled in Lin Nan's arms, talking on voice chat with Zhou Xun, making plans for where to play tomorrow.

Lin Nan just held Liu Yifei like this, quietly enjoying the peace of life, as if the world and time had stopped at this moment.

But this state of Lin Nan's didn't last long before it was interrupted by an overseas call from Tang Mu.

He picked up his phone and walked to the living room in a very bad mood.

Liu Yifei even blinked at him, mouthing: "Come back quickly and be my backrest."

"Tang Mu, can't you finish the serious business all at once? The last call was only a week ago."

"Dear boss, don't be so angry. I called early in the morning, but I have good news for you."

Hearing this, Lin Nan immediately took a deep breath, "Then hurry up and say it, it's night here, I'm going to sleep."

"Lin, I heard a rumor. In this year's proposed invitation list for the Academy, there might be your name."

"What?"

Lin Nan was a bit confused and didn't react.

"The screening ceremony for *Manchester by the Sea* just ended yesterday, and I heard it from some Academy members.

They said that in this year's proposed invitation list for new Academy members, there might be you. Lin, you are within the scope of consideration, and the probability is not small."

At this point, Lin Nan finally understood; it turned out he was talking about Oscar judges!

"I might be invited to become an Academy member..."

"Yes, if you ask me, it should have been like this long ago. You've won big awards at all three major film festivals. One Golden Lion, one Jury Grand Prize, and two Best Director Silver Bear trophies.

The reason why the probability is not small this time is because *The Invisible Guest* not only won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress at the beginning of the year, but also raked in 230 million USD in high box office in North America..."

Tang Mu became more and more excited as he spoke, giving people the feeling that it was as if he was about to become an Oscar judge himself!

"You also said it's a probability, not a certainty. What are you so excited about?"

Lin Nan said speechlessly. Among his acquaintances, there were already three Oscar Academy members: Li An, Teacher Gong Li, and Zhang Ziyi.

Li An and Teacher Gong Li, those were Oscar judge statuses obtained through strength and international awards.

And Zhang Ziyi entered Hollywood's vision relying on *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, and after that, she frequently got face time in foreign language films, brushing out her Oscar Academy member status, and at the same time, she also brushed out the title of "International Zhang" for herself.

After all, at that time, in Hollywood's eyes, Teacher Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi represented the mainland to a certain extent.

But to be honest, Zhang Ziyi's water content was too high; she didn't even have a single Best Actress award from an international A-list film festival!

After analyzing the three of them—Li An, Teacher Gong Li, and Zhang Ziyi—Lin Nan suddenly became a little excited.

It seems Tang Mu was right; his chance was indeed not small!

"Lin, are you still listening?"

"Yes, I am."

Lin Nan responded, then instructed: "For this matter, do our best and leave the rest to fate."

"Hmm? What does this mean? I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand. Whether my name is there or not, just wait for the result. Don't hold too much hope; keep a normal heart." Lin Nan saw it very clearly and said lightly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 491 =====