Chapter 20: Big Red Banner

February 19th, Monday.

Early in the morning, the reluctant office workers rushed to catch the bus and stepped on the clock, starting their daily work routine.

"Is it true? Sina Entertainment is just making it up, right? This is too exaggerated."

Wang Mei opened her computer, looked at the news headline pushed by Sina Entertainment on the webpage, and muttered.

Clicking in, a row of big headlines appeared immediately:

"New Cao Dao Yang Blitzes Berlin, Wins Two Major Awards"

"The 51st Berlin International Film Festival, Cao Yang Becomes the Biggest Winner"

"Li Xiaoran Crowned Berlin Best Actress, Becomes the First Person from the Mainland"

"Young Cao Dao Yang Wins Jury Grand Prix"

"On the Beach at Night Alone Captures Two Silver Bears"

In the cracks of the big headlines, there was also a line of small print:

"Wang Xiaoshuai Wins Berlin Film Festival Best Director"

With pictures and truth, and text descriptions, Wang Mei shouted in surprise, "Everyone, look, a young director named Cao Yang went crazy at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday."

The little sisters nearby heard this and immediately got spirited, stretching their heads over directly, shouting fussily, "My God, did someone die at the Berlin Film Festival?"

"Wow, this director is so awesome, he promoted a Berlin Best Actress."

"Jury Grand Prix? What's that? Never heard of it."

"You don't understand this; Zhang Yimou is powerful, right? What he won last year was the Berlin Film Festival Jury Grand Prix."

"Wow, amazing, amazing."

"Who is Li Xiaoran? Seems like she has no fame."

"Best Actress, Berlin Best Actress, amazing, amazing; is this the first time someone from the country has won Berlin Best Actress?"

"First time from the mainland."

"Is the Berlin Film Festival very powerful? How does it compare to the Golden Rooster?"

"This Berlin Best Actress is more powerful; it's the first time from the mainland; only Gong Li has won a Venice Best Actress once, and then there's this one named Li Xiaoran."

"This sister is so beautiful, 'On the Beach at Night Alone', the movie name is a bit strange; I'll go see it when it's released."

"Call me when you go."

"Let's go together, let's go together."

Similar things happened all over the country; Sina Entertainment used big headlines and exclusive, most comprehensive reporting to suppress other portal websites, and the click traffic flew up on the spot.

Editor-in-Chief Hu was so happy he couldn't find north.

Huang Lei returned from an overnight stay early in the morning; he had classes this morning and had to come back to teach.

Walking to the gate of the Beijing Film Academy, he saw several student union members busy hanging a banner and couldn't help but be curious.

"What day is it today? Why hang this?"

"Teacher Huang......"

"Teacher Huang......" "Teacher Huang......"

Several students greeted him quickly, and one of the staff members explained with a smile, "Director... Cao, Cao Dao's film won two Silver Bears in Berlin; the school asked us to hang this up early in the morning to celebrate."

Huang Lei was a bit stunned for a moment; which Cao Dao has such a big face that the school would hang a banner for him just for two Silver Bears?

Although winning two Silver Bears at once is very awesome, it's not a Golden Bear, Golden Lion, or Palme d'Or; even if he is an alumnus, there's no need to celebrate with such fanfare, right?

Huang Lei went through his mind, and there are no very famous directors named Cao? Could it be that kid Cao Baoping filmed a movie secretly? He hadn't heard any relevant news.

Besides, could he have that ability? This is winning two Silver Bears at once.

Forget it, he couldn't remember; Huang Lei was just about to ask when he saw a big banner already hung up.

Main text: Warmly congratulate our school's Directing Department student Cao Dao Yang for winning two Silver Bears.

Small print: Practice film "On the Beach at Night Alone" won the 51st Berlin Film Festival Jury Grand Prix and Best Actress Award.

Student? Cao Yang?

Holy crap!

Huang Lei's brain heated up, and he had an impression.

Cao Yang!

He remembered, that junior student in the Directing Department who wanted to film a movie with wild imagination and even went to his office wanting him to invite Rene Liu.

!

How could Rene Liu take on a student's practice film, but the other party seemed to be Situ's student, and that is Situ; the student can be ignored, but Situ's face must be given.

He seemed to have specifically gone to the Directing Department to explain to Situ that Rene Liu had no schedule, and then ignored the matter.

Huang Lei slapped his thigh, foolish, why didn't he think of replying to the main person at the time, even if it was just to make a phone call and say it tactfully.

It's over; he had made a decision on his own and refused first, and then told it to Rene Liu as a joke; Rene Liu smiled and didn't take it to heart.

But the key is that he won an award; that's a Berlin Best Actress, a rare existence in the entire Chinese-language circle.

With Rene Liu's current status, if she won the Berlin Best Actress again, she would immediately be like Gong Li or Maggie Cheung, her status would rise, and she would become one of the top-tier actors in the Chinese-language circle.

Rene Liu must hate him to death.

Huang Lei felt so regretful; once an opportunity was placed in front of him, but he didn't cherish it; that was the temptation of two Silver Bears......

No wonder they would hang a banner; this is a student in school; let alone two Silver Bears, even if there was only one, they would definitely hang a banner.

A junior student winning a Silver Bear, the effect of this on the display of the school's teaching achievements is simply boundless. For the school leaders...... tsk tsk!

Huang Lei thought, the school is still conservative, the banner is still hung too little; if he were the principal, he would hang it all the way to the gate of the Central Academy of Drama, let them see what is called talent cultivation!

Depressed all the way, Huang Lei arrived at the Acting Department office; unexpectedly, it was even livelier inside, with a large group of Acting Department teachers arguing and not knowing what they were doing.

Huang Lei rubbed his face with both hands, squeezed out a smile, and walked into the office with a light and breezy appearance.

"Teacher Huang is here; you tell me, should Old Wang treat us? Two Silver Bears, what a great qualification this is."

"Hmm?"

Huang Lei was stunned; why are they talking about two Silver Bears again? What is Wang Jinsong treating?

"Treat, treat, I'll treat, tonight, let's find a good place, I'll treat! Teacher Huang, don't forget to come too."

The smile on Wang Jinsong's mouth couldn't be suppressed, waving his hand with an indifferent expression, "It's nothing, I just made a guest appearance as a supporting role, didn't have many scenes, just a little bit, at most contributed a little bit, the two Silver Bears have little to do with me, Cao Dao is still the powerful one, young and promising, haha......"

Huang Lei's eyes went black, the squeezed-out smile froze on his face, and he only felt breathing difficulties, his chest feeling a bit uncomfortable.

He remembered, when Cao Yang came to the office, Wang Jinsong opened his mouth and said he supported it, instructing Cao Yang that if the role was suitable, he must prioritize students from the school's Acting Department; he was also there, so he definitely had to follow suit.

Wang Jinsong, that old kid, even joked about whether he could leave a role for him. He almost opened his mouth too, but was afraid Cao Yang would climb up the pole, so he didn't.

Who would have thought that Wang Jinsong actually went; not acting like a person, not acting like a person!

Two Silver Bears, if this were written into a resume......

Huang Lei wished he could slap his own mouth; once an opportunity was placed in front of him again, two Silver Bears were posturing in front of him, but he still turned a blind eye and didn't cherish it; that is a glorious resume that can enter the file, promotion and salary increase, all of it is damn useful.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 21 =====