Chapter 195: Creating Momentum

"... The Romeo and Juliet of the East! The barriers and hatred of race make the people who love each other only able to die for love in the end...

Director Cao Yang, with a special perspective, completed a hymn advocating freedom, equality, personality liberation, and marriage autonomy."

Cao Yang looked at the film review of *Painted Skin* published in the festival catalog. This was written by Vincent, a very famous European film critic, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Are these viewpoints inconsistent with the content of the film?

Thinking carefully, there really is a bit of meaning in this regard.

Wang Sheng died for love, and Xiao Wei, in order to save Wang Sheng, also died for love. Isn't this right?

However, I really didn't consider advocating freedom, equality, personality liberation, and marriage autonomy in this film at the time.

But if you look closely, there is barely some meaning in this regard...

Forget it, let's keep reading.

"... When analyzing the plot in depth, one can further explore the metaphors, symbols, and themes in the film, which contain profound pondering on themes such as love, desire, and morality. The female lead's choices and decisions reflect the pursuit of self-worth and the true meaning of love..."

Cao Yang paused and thought about it. Don't say... bullshit, I have nothing better to do than to discuss love, desire, and morality in a commercial film.

"... The spirit put on a disguise, became a human, and fell in love with the male lead. The male lead refused the spirit on the grounds that he was married, and refused the spirit's courtship. He is not romantic...

This is a film with many metaphors. In the name of race, love, and hatred, it explores human nature.

The male lead does not accept the spirit and died for his wife, but before dying, he said to the spirit: I love you.

The spirit loves but cannot get, yet can unhesitatingly die for the male lead.

Human nature is so complex and changeable. Director Cao Yang explores this eternal theme through a fantasy film."

Cao Yang felt it was a bit too much. A commercial film I shot myself was interpreted by you like this. Is it a bit inappropriate?

Keep reading. Skipping those "over-interpreted" film critics, I finally saw a normal review.

"First of all, I respect Director Cao Yang very much. He is one of the people in the world most likely to become a great director because he is young enough and because he has achieved achievements that others find difficult to reach in a lifetime so far.

On the official website, this film is defined as a fantasy film exploring human nature. The content of the film is very exciting, at least for ordinary people.

As a professional film critic, I am a bit disappointed after watching it. I very, very much want to stand in front of Director Cao Yang and ask him face to face: why do you have to use commercial film techniques to shoot such a good subject?

We all know that Director Cao Yang is an art-house film director, but this time, he gave up the side he is best at, did not use this to explore the complexity and changeability of human nature, and did not give philosophical meaning to the love between men and women.

Could it be that Director Cao Yang wants to combine the fast pace of commercial films to carry out a reform and experiment of art-house films?

... I am waiting with full anticipation for Director Cao Yang to explore the eternal theme of human nature again with artistic techniques."

This article is a bit interesting.

Cao Yang wanted to laugh a bit. This article seems to be criticizing himself, but after thinking about it, isn't this endorsing the Venice official?

This film review gave the Venice official a step down and also blocked the mouths of opponents.

Experimental films, at any time, at any film festival, are worthy of a spot in the competition section!

"Combining the fast pace of commercial films to carry out the reform and experiment of art-house films, it is really well said."

Han Zong was also reading the comments in the festival catalog. He couldn't help but slap his thigh and said to Cao Yang beside him.

To be honest, after the film's premiere, Han Zong's heart was lifted, and he was very uneasy.

He was really afraid that the film reviews in the festival catalog would all be scolding *Painted Skin*.

Now it seems, did I overthink it? As a great art-house film director, as the film review said, Cao Yang really wanted to use the fast pace of commercial films to shoot an experimental film?

Subsequently, Han Zong thought of *District 9*.

As a co-production film where he personally served as the producer, Han Zong knew *District 9* very deeply.

Although this film is a science fiction film, its core is to reflect racial discrimination and racial segregation, and it is also an art-house film shot with the fast pace of a commercial film.

By comparison, *Painted Skin* might not be as obvious as *District 9*, but if this is Cao Yang's first exploratory film, it is really possible! Isn't it normal that the first film didn't reach a balance in some aspects?

"Junior brother, do you want to make a balance? This road is not easy to walk."

Han Zong looked at Cao Yang with a complex expression, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Young people really dare to think and do. The balance between artistry and commerciality is not so easy to master.

It is very easy to please neither side.

"Ah?"

Cao Yang looked at Han Zong in confusion, then reacted, and could only laugh, "I have made you laugh, senior brother."

What else can be said?

"No, junior brother, I admire you, really." Han Zong said seriously.

Cao Yang looked up at the sky and then changed the subject, "Senior brother, how are the talks with the Japanese and South Koreans going?"

Han Zong couldn't help but sigh again. He always felt that after he had a close relationship with Cao Yang, the number of times he sighed increased more and more.

At that time, Cao Yang called off the negotiations with the Japanese, and Han Zong still felt a bit regretful.

The Japanese had already quoted 4.5 million USD, which was almost half of the investment amount of *Painted Skin*.

!

But no one expected that Cao Yang would show his power at the Oscars, and both his fame and influence were much greater than before.

This made the overseas copyright fee for *Painted Skin* rise a lot.

Coupled with the fact that it was shortlisted for the Venice main competition section this time, more contact was made with China Film Group. Toho, one of the five major Japanese film companies, even offered 5 million USD.

But this time, because there were many competitors, Han Zong didn't agree.

He actually had a faint little expectation in his heart: if *Painted Skin* could receive an invitation from Venice, could the copyright fee increase?

Thinking of this, Han Zong couldn't help it anymore and asked Cao Yang in a low voice, "Junior brother, do you think there is still a possibility for us to receive an invitation from the Venice official?"

"Ha, senior brother, this is the second time you've asked. Didn't I say it's basically impossible, at most it's something like the St. Mark's Award and the Alfred Bauer Award."

"Sigh, I'm just seeing that there are so many praises in the festival catalog, so I had some thoughts."

Han Zong said a bit embarrassedly. People are always greedy and never satisfied.

Just at this time, Cao Yang's phone rang, and he pressed the answer button.

Han Zong saw Cao Yang stunned there after answering a call, his heart moved, and he couldn't help but thump wildly.

"Junior brother?"

"Senior brother, someone just told me that this year's Venice main competition section has retained the technical award set up two years ago."

Cao Yang couldn't help but want to complain. This face-slapping is too fast. He was still thinking about getting a non-competition consolation prize, but now it is estimated that he will win an award in the main competition section.

Thinking about it, Old Ma spent so much effort to create momentum and interpretation, definitely not for a consolation prize.

But is it just a technical award?

"Holy shit!"

Han Zong was stunned for a moment, then reacted, and beautiful language blurted out.

The full name of the technical award is the Best Technical Contribution Award. It is an award set up in the main competition section only the year before last. It continued last year, but I didn't expect it to be retained this year.

As long as it is an award in the main competition section, it is a Silver Lion!

Subsequently, Han Zong used a series of internationally common tone particles to express his excited heart.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 196 =====