Chapter 128

With "Purple Butterfly" selected for the Cannes main competition section, International Zhang was very excited.

She had particularly high expectations for "Purple Butterfly."

Now the so-called Four Great Qingyi: Li Xiaoran, Berlin Best Actress; Yu Feihong, Venice Best Actress; Gao Yuanyuan, Cannes Best Actress; International Zhang... Box Office Best Actress.

Her current press releases bragged about box office when compared to the Great Qingyi, and bragged about acting and awards when compared to the Great Huadan.

Her box office was indeed impressive now, whether it was the previous "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" with over 200 million USD globally, or "Hero" with 250 million in the mainland alone, or "Rush Hour 2" which she starred in, with nearly 350 million USD globally.

It's just that, without a major award, it was always a big heart disease of hers. Although the press release said she had the highest box office, the other three were all international best actresses. Who didn't have a best actress award was embarrassed; she couldn't keep saying she was a Hundred Flowers Best Actress, right?

After "Purple Butterfly" was shortlisted for the Cannes main competition section, International Zhang couldn't help but think: as long as she won the Cannes Best Actress, she could definitely suppress the other three Great Qingyi in one fell swoop. After all, by then, she would have both awards and box office.

She would definitely be the number one female star in the country.

Learning that Cao Yang's film had entered the Cannes main competition section, Old Tian was quite surprised. At that time, because of the male lead issue of this biographical film, it caused such a big stir, and he had also called Cao Yang and advised him to come back if it didn't work out.

In Old Tian's mind, Cao Yang being able to rewrite the script and finish shooting the film was already a remarkable thing. How could he have imagined that it would actually be selected for the Cannes main competition section?

"You kid are capable. I thought this film would just be like that; I didn't expect you to actually squeeze into Cannes."

Old Tian called Cao Yang and said with a smile: "Not bad, kid. Being able to enter the main competition section is a victory."

Cao Yang couldn't help but reply: "It's a pity; I should have waited to go to Venice. Maybe Old Ma could have gotten me a San Marco Award too."

The San Marco Award, Old Tian's "Spring in a Small Town" won it in Venice last year. Hmm, it was of a comforting nature, but it was better than nothing.

Don't look at it as being of a comforting nature; with this award, selling the film could at least sell for a few hundred thousand more.

"Get lost, get lost."

Old Tian scolded him with a smile and then asked: "When do you plan to go to Cannes? With the state of things outside now, if it's really not possible, don't go. It's too dangerous."

"There's still almost a month until the film festival opens. It might be better by then. Don't worry, I won't push myself."

After Cao Yang finished speaking, he remembered another thing, so he said to Old Tian: "The documentary you're preparing to make, stop it too. Wait until the situation improves after a while."

After hanging up Old Tian's phone, Cao Yang continued to write the script.

In the blink of an eye, there was one week left until the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. Cao Yang should set off; if it weren't for the epidemic outside, he would have gone to Cannes long ago.

Bellman had already been in Cannes for more than two months. If he, the director, didn't show up, it would really be a bit unjustifiable.

"Be careful. I've searched for a lot of relevant news. In France, they are now avoiding the Chinese as if they were avoiding a plague; it's very unfriendly."

Before leaving, Dong Xuan was reluctant to part and once again instructed Cao Yang to pay attention.

Cao Yang gently patted Dong Xuan's head with his hand and said with a smile: "I know. You've said it many times; you're almost becoming a nagging old woman."

"Ah? Have I become old?"

Dong Xuan exclaimed and hurriedly took out her makeup mirror to look.

Cao Yang laughed softly. You really know how to grab keywords.

Kissing Dong Xuan on the forehead, Cao Yang said to her: "Alright, go back. It's still not safe outside."

As usual, he flew to Nice first. The Cannes Film Festival organizing committee arranged a reception car in Nice, which would take Cao Yang directly to the hotel. This time he was still staying at the Carlton Hotel; this seemed to be the official partner hotel of the Cannes Film Festival, and many stars stayed here.

After resting for a night, Bellman came over.

"The situation this time is a bit unexpected. According to internal news, our biggest competitor is an American film called 'Elephant,' which is adapted from the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in the suburbs of Denver, USA."

"Adapted from a true story?"

Cao Yang sighed. It sounded like something the French liked. Although saying it this way was a bit inhumane, they indeed liked to watch the Americans make a fool of themselves.

Thinking about it this way, the Gallic Rooster should be quite happy this year. Two competitive American films were both types they liked (to watch the joke of). If they gave the Palme d'Or to an American film this year, it wouldn't be a loss.

"How are your results for these two months? The French won't play a double-yolk egg again and give it to two American films, right?"

Cao Yang joked. He knew this was impossible. If it were other awards, such as Best Director or the Grand Prix, they might be able to play a double-yolk egg and give it to two American films.

The Palme d'Or playing a double-yolk egg was possible, but both being American films was a bit impossible.

"How is that possible?"

!

Bellman spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps one for Best Director, one for the Palme d'Or, who knows? By the way, there is someone I think you should go see; it should be able to have some effect."

"Who? Spielberg?"

Cao Yang thought, could Bellman be talking about this big director? As a member of the jury, other awards were fine, but he couldn't influence the attribution of the Palme d'Or.

"No, no, no, not Spielberg. Depp should go see him more, not us."

Bellman didn't keep him in suspense and said directly: "Do you know who the jury president is this year? French director Patrice Chéreau."

"It's him? Then I should indeed go see him."

Cao Yang was a bit dazed. He had gotten to know this director at the Berlin Film Festival. At that time, he won the Grand Prix, and the one who won the Berlin Golden Bear was Patrice Chéreau.

Later, when he was attacking the Golden Lion in Venice, he had gathered with famous European art-house directors many times during those two months, and Patrice Chéreau was there several times.

As the jury president, he already had the qualifications to influence the attribution of the Palme d'Or.

Besides Patrice Chéreau, Cao Yang also had to go see Marin Karmitz, the founder of mk2.

This old guy held an art-house theater chain that made people love and hate it. In France, he was definitely one of the people art-house directors were least willing to offend. He had a very good relationship with Cannes, especially the higher-ups; several of them were old friends.

And there was Luc Godard, a senior member of the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee, who was responsible for the relevant matters during the film festival every year.

These were all people who could have a say in the attribution of the Palme d'Or.

Sometimes when the competition was evenly matched on the field, off-field factors became a key link. It depended on who could pull in more helpers, and whoever had a higher possibility of winning.

He also had to make an appointment with Jiang Wen. He was a member of this year's Cannes jury. Everyone was one of their own when abroad, so they still had to gather.

At the same time, Cao Yang couldn't help but think: at the beginning, he wanted to operate awards by relying on the school's resources and connections. Now, with his potential power in the European Big Three, he should also have slowly become the school's resource and connection, right?

(End of chapter)