Chapter 197: This is an Experimental Film

Cao Yang stood up, ready to go to the stage to receive the award.

When this Best Technical Contribution Award was established the year before last, it was to recognize cinematography.

But since last year, it has gradually shifted to recognizing the overall technology of the film, such as cinematography, special effects, editing, art, etc., all included.

So it is usually the director who goes on stage to receive the award, because whether it is domestic or European, it is a director-centered system, not Hollywood's producer-centered system.

Han Zong looked even more excited than Cao Yang. He hugged Cao Yang, "You kid are good. I didn't expect you to have such great ambition, actually making an experimental film..."

Cao Yang's smile stiffened for a few seconds, then recovered. I didn't expect it either!

I damn well only thought about making some big scenes at the time, and then put a little effort into the actors' acting, didn't even think about adding acting experience...

If I had known this was an experimental film, I would have added acting experience to all the leads no matter what!

Subsequently, Li Xiaoran and Gao Yuanyuan also stood up. The two looked at each other and focused their eyes on Cao Yang.

It seemed they were waiting to hug and congratulate Cao Yang, but neither was willing to take the initiative, both wanting to see who Cao Yang would hug first.

At this point, Cao Yang didn't care about their little thoughts anymore.

He directly reached out and hugged both of them, and before the two could react, he let go and walked towards the stage.

The award presenter handed the Silver Lion to Cao Yang, saying words of congratulations.

Cao Yang and Hayao Miyazaki yielded to each other. Since Cao Yang's name was read first, and *Painted Skin* was played first on the big screen, Cao Yang gave his acceptance speech first.

Looking at the Silver Lion in his hand, Cao Yang was very calm and said with a smile: "Thank you to the Venice Film Festival, thank you to the organizing committee, thank you to the jury. I am very happy to be able to win this award.

Venice is my lucky place. I won the first highest Golden Lion award of my life here, which is a moment I will always remember."

Thinking about it, Cao Yang still said helplessly: "This film is one of my... a new idea, an experimental film. Thank you to Venice for the recognition. It seems I didn't fail completely."

The guests below responded with kind laughter.

Han Zong said in his heart, "Sure enough, it's an experimental film. Young people really dare to think and do."

"Finally, thank you to my alma mater, Beijing Film Academy, thank you to all the members of the film crew, thank you to the Youth Film Studio and China Film Group. Thank you everyone."

Coming down from the stage, Cao Yang handed the Silver Lion in his hand to Han Zong, who was looking at it eagerly. You are the actual helmsman of China Film Group, is it necessary?

It's just a technical award, not a Golden Lion, what's there to be excited about.

"Senior brother, as a director and producer, haven't you won an award at the three major European festivals?"

Cao Yang asked softly with some confusion.

The hand Han Zong was holding the Silver Lion clearly paused, and he looked at Cao Yang with resentment.

Is this bastard kid doing this on purpose?

You think the country is like you, winning awards as easily as drinking water. This is the three major European festivals!

Since Han Zong knew that Cao Yang's film was not a pure commercial film, the filter seemed to have returned, and he felt that the three major European festivals were okay again.

"Junior brother, what's next for us..."

While Hayao Miyazaki was finishing his acceptance speech and everyone was applauding, Han Zong asked softly again.

Cao Yang understood Han Zong's meaning, but this time he didn't dare to draw a conclusion easily.

Old Ma put in so much effort, it seems that after the awards ceremony, there is still something to ask for. Could it be that a double-yolk Best Technical Contribution Award is enough to dismiss it?

If this film is counted as an "experimental film," what award is most likely to be won?

The highest award, the Golden Lion, is definitely impossible.

As for the rest, it depends on Old Ma's courage and sincerity. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but how to tell Old Han?

Cao Yang smiled mysteriously at Han Zong, everything is understood, figure it out yourself.

Han Zong nodded thoughtfully, seeming to understand.

Holy shit, Old Han, what do you mean?

Sigh, forget it, let's wait for the awards.

Next, the award presenter went on stage and announced the Best Actress Award.

This Venice Film Festival had neither Best Screenplay nor Jury Prize.

For Best Actress, Cao Yang still had some thoughts.

Li Xiaoran's acting is good, and Gao Yuanyuan also has a breakthrough performance. If you look at the performance alone, either of them can win this award.

Unfortunately, their performance, without the addition of acting experience, cannot crush other actors in one fell swoop, at most it's a tie.

Li Xiaoran and Gao Yuanyuan also became nervous.

Although they have both won Best Actress, who doesn't want to win a few more?

The two subconsciously walked hand in hand, waiting for the award presenter to announce tonight's lucky actress.

"... The winner is Imelda Staunton, *Vera Drake*."

Fine, neither won.

The camera swept over, and the two had to keep smiling. The hands they wanted to shake off were held tighter by each other.

When the camera turned to other actresses, Li Xiaoran kept smiling, looking straight ahead, but the voice in her mouth reached Gao Yuanyuan's ears. "Fox spirit, you were nervous just now, you hurt my hand. You still care about the award, don't pretend to be indifferent all day long, what are you pretending for."

Gao Yuanyuan grabbed Li Xiaoran's hand and used force, and seeing Li Xiaoran frown, she felt relieved.

Through these days of competition, she finally understood that Li Xiaoran is not a fuel-efficient lamp. She is sharp-tongued, speaks sarcastically, and she is not an opponent at all.

So, she also has her own strategy to deal with it.

"Heh, it's like you don't care. It's a pity, if you had won this Venice Best Actress, maybe your endorsement fee would catch up with mine. It's a pity, it's a pity..."

Li Xiaoran took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. The fox spirit is good at pretending. Clearly sharp-tongued and sarcastic, yet pretending to be a little white flower. Bah, disgusting!

Regarding the endorsement fee, this is what Li Xiaoran cannot understand the most.

She just couldn't figure out why she won Best Actress much earlier than Gao Yuanyuan, but why did this fox spirit become the darling of the advertising world as soon as she won Best Actress, and the endorsement fee is still the highest in the country!

That's not all, those big brands are very fond of her, one by one asking for her, which is speechless.

Is it just because the Cannes Best Actress is unique?

However, the saddest one is probably International Zhang, haha, International Zhang had several intended endorsements, all snatched away by the fox spirit.

Why isn't the one snatching International Zhang me?

Hmph, it's all Cao Yang's fault, angry, don't want to talk, and secretly used force on her hand.

The two were as close as sisters on the surface, but no one knew that they were competing with each other at the moment.

!

Next is Best Actor, it's Duan Yihong and Chen Kun's turn to be nervous.

Unfortunately, without the addition of acting experience, and not working towards this aspect, it is basically difficult to win a big award.

Cao Yang didn't expect that he shot an "experimental film," and didn't prepare in advance at all.

Best Actor was won by Javier Bardem for *The Sea Inside*.

The award presenter went on stage, and the next step was to announce the Best Director.

Cao Yang didn't know who could win this award. If he remembered correctly, the Best Director of this session should have been Kim Ki-duk, Old Monster Kim.

The film for which Old Monster Kim won this award is *3-Iron*!

Unfortunately, this film had already been shot by Cao Yang, so he didn't see Old Monster Kim this time.

Cao Yang couldn't help but think, I don't know which dog-day person will be lucky enough to win this award.

He also wanted to win the Venice Best Director, but thinking about his commercial film, although it was interpreted in a way he didn't recognize, experimental film winning Best Director... it is justifiable... right?

Yes, yes, justifiable!

Experimental film is the easiest to win Best Director. This is to reward the director's spirit of innovation.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible.

Cao Yang couldn't help but look forward to it, and secretly began to ponder the acceptance speech.

"Junior brother, I thought about it carefully, and feel that this Best Director, you really have a possibility. No matter which film festival in the world, they all like experimental films with a spirit of innovation."

Han Zong touched Cao Yang with his arm, looked up at the award presenter who was still talking on the stage, and couldn't help but whisper.

"... This is an experimental film. The director used a fast-paced editing method rarely seen in art-house films, wanting to achieve a balance of story, vision, and art..."

Listening to the award presenter's words on the stage, Cao Yang tried hard to maintain a calm smile, so as not to be captured by the camera with an inappropriate expression.

He didn't answer Han Zong, but just complained silently in his heart: Boss, although the guy on the stage is long-winded, anyone can hear his meaning, right?

It's only a step away from naming names.

"... The winner of the Best Director of the 61st Venice Film Festival is Cao Yang, *Painted Skin*!"

Clatter clatter clatter...

The guests were very face-giving, one by one smiling and applauding hard, looking at Cao Yang who stood up.

Although Cao Yang was already prepared, at this moment, the boots landed, and he was still a bit trance-like for a while.

Could it be that I remembered it wrong, and the purpose of shooting this film was indeed to achieve a balance of story, vision, and art?

Then he quickly shook off this absurd idea.

Damn, there is no place to reason in this world. As long as an authoritative person starts, a commercial film is interpreted in various ways, and finally becomes an experimental film, and can even win Venice Best Director!

However, thinking that Americans can hold a bag of laundry powder and say it is a weapon of mass destruction, and then start beating Iraq, it seems this result is also acceptable.

At least in my *Painted Skin*, human nature was really explored.

"Junior brother, it's really you! I knew it, I knew it, you made it, you made it!"

Han Zong hugged Cao Yang, looking a bit excited. He had been excited too many times today.

Sigh, it's probably because the psychological ups and downs are too big.

Having a sense of gap is indeed easier to get excited. As a traditional domestic director, it may be that he feels his "sacred" Venice Film Festival has returned.

I hope Han Zong's feeling can be maintained for a longer time.

In the previous life, when Old Ma served as the chairman of the Venice Film Festival, in the four years of the first session, except for the first year, which is this year, he gave the Golden Lion to Chinese people for three consecutive years. I hope Han Zong didn't have any bad thoughts.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 198 =====