Chapter 312: Whimsical

Venice, September 3rd, 21:45 local time. Amidst the anticipation of numerous foreign media outlets and international film distributors, *The Banquet* began its first screening in Venice.

The Palalido hall, which can accommodate around 700 people, reached a 70% occupancy rate—not bad at all.

You could call Feng Xiaogang a big-mouth, or you could call him arrogant; he actually has quite a few shortcomings, but there is one thing: he is a smart man.

In Europe, Feng Xiaogang still clearly knows who the film's selling point is.

For this exhibition, aside from Ge You, who didn't come due to his "fear of flying," Li Xiaoran and Wu Yanzu arrived one after the other.

However, in the external advertising and promotion, Feng Xiaogang didn't hesitate to place Li Xiaoran in the center position, and almost all the posters featured Li Xiaoran.

Although Li Xiaoran is a Berlin Film Festival Best Actress winner, in the European art circle, the media and distributors still highly recognize her.

Many people today came specifically for her.

As a "good friend" of Feng Xiaogang, Cao Yang naturally came as well.

However, this type of exhibition unit is equivalent to a screening session; its purpose is promotion and sales, so there was no need to hold a red carpet. Even if they had, not many guests would have come—the time was too late.

When "golden sentences" like "Our vast nation is based on integrity," "You are the Empress, the mother of the world, yet you kick off your quilt while sleeping," and "Even if everyone abandons him, I will not; love will not" appeared, Cao Yang felt a bit awkward.

At the same time, he felt Li Xiaoran's hand, which she was secretly holding, trembling slightly.

"Very funny, right?"

Li Xiaoran said softly.

"It is a little."

Cao Yang suppressed his laughter and said.

A costume epic billed as a combination of *Hamlet*, Feng Xiaogang had indeed successfully managed to make the film "neither fish nor fowl."

"Look, the foreigners didn't laugh out loud because the translation used the simplest words; it definitely couldn't achieve the precision of the Chinese, and they can't understand it either.

During the preview screenings in Guangzhou and Shanghai, there was laughter at every showing, which really infuriated Director Feng, and he even lashed out at reporters because of it."

Li Xiaoran explained softly.

When the film ended, the applause was not enthusiastic, and the media's reaction was somewhat lukewarm.

"Are you not disappointed?" Cao Yang asked.

Li Xiaoran had already stood up, preparing to go to the stage with Feng Xiaogang and the others to accept interviews.

She rolled her eyes at Cao Yang and said softly:

"Big brother, this is a commercial film. Don't listen to how well Director Feng brags—adapting *Hamlet*, drawing from real ancient stories, wanting to make it a Chinese opera—it's essentially just a commercial film.

This is Venice, the temple of art films; it would be strange if these media and reporters gave an enthusiastic reaction."

Fine, as long as you can see it that way.

The next day, in the local media reports, *The Banquet* was described as a rather mediocre film; the story was told clearly, but it lacked brilliance.

Furthermore, most critics believed that the film was overly Westernized, making the mix with the ancient Chinese background quite strange; if the ancient Chinese background were removed, one wouldn't even be able to tell it was a Chinese film.

The only highlight was Li Xiaoran's performance; the media believed Li Xiaoran completely brought out the aura of an "Empress," making people feel as if they were seeing Elizabeth and Catherine II.

Clearly, Li Xiaoran was very happy with the media's praise for her, so she truly transformed into a noble queen, galloping across the battlefield, wanting to conquer Cao Yang.

Alas, in the end, she would always fall short, instead being counter-attacked by Cao Yang, left disarmed and panting, able only to beg for mercy weakly.

Li Xiaoran only stayed in Venice for three days before returning to the country with Feng Xiaogang and the others. They still had to go to Chang'an to attend preview screenings and promote the film; they would be very busy next.

On the 6th, David Lynch's new film *Inland Empire* premiered at the film festival. Many people attended, including the Venice Film Festival chairman, the organizing committee chairman, the artistic director, and everyone from the jury.

Of course, Cao Yang came too; he stayed specifically for this day to present the award to David Lynch.

Additionally, quite a few directors and stars came. Cao Yang even saw Jia Zhangke and Liu Jie, who came over to greet Cao Yang.

Both of them are considered part of the Beijing Film Academy circle. Although one graduated from the cinematography department and the other from the literature department, as graduates of the Beijing Film Academy who both became directors, their relationship with Cao Yang seemed quite close.

Before the film premiere, Marco Müller spoke first, praising David Lynch's contribution to world cinema and announcing the awarding of the Venice Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to David Lynch.

Then Cao Yang took the stage to present the Golden Lion and the certificate to David Lynch.

It was clearly visible that David Lynch was very moved, holding Cao Yang's hand and saying thank you repeatedly.

Cao Yang felt some emotion; Old Ma really tried his best for the Venice Film Festival, using various tactics, single-mindedly wanting to increase the influence of the Venice Film Festival.

David Lynch is only sixty years old this year, and he is also the youngest Lifetime Achievement Award winner in the history of the Venice Film Festival.

After all, there are only so many influential directors, especially Hollywood directors. If you want to give a Lifetime Achievement Award, you can't give it to a commercial film director, right? Nor can you give it to those independent filmmakers without much influence, right?

Therefore, this requires "snatching" people.

Old Ma is considered fast at making his move.

Since he came, he definitely had to finish watching David Lynch's new film *Inland Empire*. This is the first film he has shot in five years. According to Lynch, he spent over three years on this film from conception to shooting.

Cao Yang and the guests who came were all a bit expectant, wanting to see what kind of earth-shattering masterpiece David Lynch had come up with after spending over three years.

And then, everyone was stunned.

A full three hours—to describe it in one sentence, it was incomprehensible!

Anyway, Cao Yang didn't understand it.

Three hours, a stream-of-consciousness film; do you know how hard these three hours were to endure?

When the film finally finished, very enthusiastic applause erupted in the hall.

Cao Yang felt that this applause didn't seem to be for David Lynch, but rather as if they were cheering that the film had finally finished.

It was just like the words of the female lead, Laura Dern, when interviewed by the media afterward, which were the most representative.

Laura Dern stated: "In fact, I cannot be sure what *Inland Empire* is actually about, and I don't know who I am playing at all. I still don't know now, and only after watching the film for the first time in Venice did I understand what I was actually doing."

Fine, perhaps this is art.

Afterward, Cao Yang took Jia Zhangke and Liu Jie out for a meal together.

From the conversation, it was clear that Jia Zhangke was quite confident about winning an award in the main competition section, while Liu Jie, in the Horizons section, was a bit unconfident, constantly humbly saying that being able to come to Venice was already very remarkable.

Liu Jie is from the cinematography department; he came to Venice alone this time. After all, it's an unimportant award like the Horizons section, not the main competition section, so there was no need for too many people to come.

Before he independently directed films, he always hung around with Wang Xiaoshuai, serving as Wang Xiaoshuai's cinematographer.

For the films directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, *The Days*, *So Close to Paradise*, and *Beijing Bicycle*, the cinematographer was Liu Jie.

After the meal, Liu Jie left first. Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment and whispered to Cao Yang: "Cao Dao, is there any hope for the Horizons section award?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said to him: "The competition for this award isn't big. I'll find someone to ask; it shouldn't be a problem."

Liu Jie revealed a sincere smile and held Cao Yang's hand: "Cao Dao, thank you for your trouble."

"We're our own people; it's only right."

After Liu Jie left, Jia Zhangke smiled and said: "Cao Dao, shall we walk?"

"Okay."

The two walked for a stretch without speaking, and when they reached a street corner, they turned back with great tacit understanding.

"Mr. Marco told me that the hope is very high this time, but he asked me to be a bit low-key."

Jia Zhangke spoke first.

"The money he transferred to your company in Hong Kong was discovered by people with ulterior motives. He might be afraid that this matter will become the focus of public opinion."

Cao Yang didn't hide it and said directly.

In his previous life, after Jia Zhangke won the Golden Lion, he wasn't low-key.

*Still Life* was in the same release slot as *Curse of the Golden Flower*. During a lecture at Peking University, Old Jia said, "People now only know gold, they don't know good people..."

Furthermore, he said some things in different settings that satirized *Curse of the Golden Flower*.

His actions annoyed the producer of *Curse of the Golden Flower*, Zhang Weiping.

Zhang Dazuiba started lashing out in front of the media, directly pointing out the source of the filming funds for *Still Life*, which included an investment from Venice Film Festival chairman Marco Müller.

Old Jia got anxious immediately and hurriedly denied it.

However, what he denied wasn't the source of the funds, but rather said that his winning the Golden Lion had nothing to do with Marco Müller; the decision-making power for the award lay with the jury, not the Venice Film Festival chairman. "You Zhang Dazuiba don't understand, so stop spouting nonsense."

At the time, Marco Müller was in the country, and when the media wanted to interview him to ask for his opinion, he directly refused to be interviewed.

In short, several people were very passive at the time, including Zhang Dazuiba.

Marco Müller is the Venice Film Festival chairman, and he is truly biased toward Chinese films; one could even say he made a very great contribution to Chinese films moving toward Europe and the world.

This was only one aspect.

On the other hand, Zhang Dazuiba denied Jia Zhangke's Golden Lion, meaning that the Golden Lion was "illegitimate" and not authoritative, which was equivalent to denying the authority of the Venice Film Festival.

This was a major event; it was equivalent to negating all the awards won at the Venice Film Festival. One must know that Old Mouzi also has a Golden Lion in his hands.

Therefore, when the media interviewed Zhang Dazuiba, he flatly denied what he had said before, lying through his teeth, saying he had never said those things and that it was all the media taking things out of context and reporting randomly.

"I understand."

Jia Zhangke was silent for a moment, neither denying nor defending himself.

Everyone is their own people; if he were to explain or defend himself, Cao Yang definitely wouldn't care about this matter.

"If *Still Life* wins a big award, look at the release slot when the time comes and choose carefully. There's no need to collide with blockbusters. The domestic market cannot accommodate two films with explosive box office at the same time."

Cao Yang said again.

"Okay, I understand."

Jia Zhangke nodded, then hesitated for a moment, but still said: "Cao Dao, do you think Mr. Marco can decide, decide the ownership of the big award alone?"

I thought you were really sitting firmly on the fishing platform; I didn't expect the confidence you showed was just a paper tiger.

Cao Yang patted Jia Zhangke on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Before Old Ma became the Venice Film Festival chairman, he worked in Venice from a selector all the way to artistic director for decades, and he had long since taken root here."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to start supporting Chinese-language films from the second year after becoming chairman, just like last year, giving the film festival's opening film and closing film all to Chinese-language films.

This year, he also let so many Chinese-language films be shortlisted for various units.

He even dared to give the Golden Lion to Chinese people for three consecutive years.

If there wasn't a certain foundation and depth, how could this be achieved?

Jia Zhangke stopped talking. It wasn't until they reached the intersection where they came from that he solemnly said to Cao Yang: "Thank you, Cao Dao."

The matters here in Venice were considered finished, so there was no need for Cao Yang to stay here.

He greeted Marco Müller, and although Old Ma tried his best to persuade him to stay and attend the closing ceremony, Cao Yang refused. He had promised Old Hou to go back and attend the Beijing Film Academy's opening ceremony, otherwise, it would be too late.

Returning to Beijing, Cao Yang rested for a day, and the next day he went to the Beijing Film Academy to find Old Hou to ask how he should arrange things.

In Old Hou's office, Cao Yang saw that Old Hou was a bit unhappy.

"What's wrong, Dean Hou? Looking so worried."

Old Hou cheered up, smiled, and waved his hand: "It's not a matter in our field; talking about it just adds to the annoyance."

Cao Yang became even more curious: "The more you say that, the more curious I become. Tell me about it; let me hear what's going on."

Since Cao Yang wanted to hear it, Old Hou simply explained it briefly.

He went to a meeting at the Ministry of Education yesterday and saw several university presidents in the aerospace field filled with righteous indignation. After inquiring, he learned what was going on.

In March 2002, those 15 member states of the EU got together and held a meeting, announcing that they wanted to do something big—launch the Galileo project!

To put it bluntly, they wanted to develop a satellite navigation system themselves and stop always using the Americans' GPS.

After the Galileo project was launched, our country was also quite interested. After all, having one more navigation system means one more guarantee; no one wants to always be held by the throat by others. The "Yinhe" incident was a warning from the past.

On September 18, 2004, representatives from both China and Europe signed a cooperation agreement, and immediately in October, both sides signed several more specific agreements.

According to the agreement, our country was to invest 230 million Euros to participate in the construction of the Galileo project and possess 20% ownership and 100% usage rights of the Galileo system.

By 2006, which is this year, the EU side suddenly changed their tune!

They started finding various excuses to refuse to provide key technologies, also saying they were worried that we would use these technologies to develop our own navigation system.

Our country naturally wouldn't stand for it; that wasn't what was said when the agreement was signed! But the EU side ignored it completely, unilaterally tore up the cooperation agreement, and excluded our country from the Galileo project.

One must know that when the EU launched the Galileo project, they didn't have the money, which is why they pulled us in.

To put it bluntly, they never intended to cooperate with us sincerely from the beginning; they just wanted to freeload, using our funds to develop their navigation.

Cao Yang was also extremely angry after hearing this. These people in the EU were clearly bullying others; they only set this trap because they saw our desire to develop a navigation system.

But as Old Hou said, this is not a matter in our field, and there's no way to help even if one is anxious.

Do you expect a filmmaker to be able to develop the key technology for a navigation system out of thin air?

Huh?

Cao Yang had a sudden whim: I wonder if I were to shoot a film, for example, *Gravity*, and set it so that rescuing the female lead requires satellite positioning.

If the person directing this matter is an expert in navigation satellites, and I guest-star as this expert, adding a few immersive experiences, would I temporarily become an expert in navigation satellites?

When the time comes, taking advantage of the memory, writing out the key points and saying they were obtained through other channels—wouldn't that be another layer of protection?

Is this a bit whimsical?

Forget it, it really is a bit whimsical.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 313 =====