Chapter 339: Scheming for Fame and Fortune

February 17, 2007.

Today is a special day—the Lunar New Year's Eve. Tomorrow is the Spring Festival.

For the Berlin Film Festival, and for the films that entered the main competition, it is also a very important day. Tomorrow is the last day of the Berlin Film Festival.

The awards ceremony will also be held tomorrow.

The filmmakers who entered the main competition are anxious today, full of anticipation. Everyone wants to receive the notification to stay.

Receiving the notification means they will definitely win an award tomorrow.

Until 12:00 PM, Wang Quanan hadn't received any notification.

He couldn't sit still.

He was as anxious now as he had been confident before.

Wang Quanan made six or seven calls before finally learning from a vice-chairman of the film festival organizing committee that his *Tuya's Marriage* had been personally rejected by festival president Dieter Kosslick.

This vice-chairman was an important connection for Western Film Studio and had always had a good relationship with them.

Wang Quanan learned from him that *Tuya's Marriage* originally had hope of winning an award; quite a few people within the festival officials supported it, and the jury also thought highly of it.

Unfortunately, festival president Dieter Kosslick might not have thought so; he did not support *Tuya's Marriage* winning the Jin Xiong.

At this moment, Wang Quanan felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He held his phone, stunned for a long time, before finally saying angrily:

"Can Dieter Kosslick violate democracy? Can Dieter Kosslick cover the sky with one hand? How could he do this!"

"Wang, calm down. Dieter's power is immense, larger than you can imagine. This is an old tradition of the Berlin Film Festival; I don't want to comment on it."

The vice-chairman of the organizing committee was silent for a moment. Could Dieter Kosslick's power be anything but immense?

He is the Berlin Film Festival president, the artistic director, the organizing committee chairman, the investment director, the selection committee chairman...

He is the boss of every institution within the film festival that has any significant power. You tell me if his power is immense!

"Wang, there is definitely no chance this time. Next time. You are still young, and there will be many opportunities in the future..."

Wang Quanan could no longer hear what was being said on the phone. His eyes lost focus for a moment, and he looked dazed.

Afterward, Wang Quanan jolted, seemingly reacting. He interrupted the other party with anxious, burning impatience, asking urgently, "Mr. Chairman, what about other awards? Is there still a chance now?"

The other party was silent for another moment before saying:

"I heard Dieter say that aside from the Jin Xiong, the choice for all other awards is entirely in the hands of the jury. In other words, it is entirely in the hands of that alumnus of yours, entirely in the hands of that world-class director."

The truth was that Dieter Kosslick, fearing that some people would not know "what's good for them" and interfere with the awards, had once warned these high-level officials not to interfere with Cao Yang's selection results.

"You should have sought him out earlier. You are alumni. Given that the film quality is quite good, he could likely have given you a decent award. Unfortunately, it is too late now; those important awards have definitely already been decided."

In Wang Quanan's mind, the classic scene from Zhou Zhou Xingxing suddenly appeared: Once, a chance for a Berlin Best Actress award was placed before me, but I didn't cherish it. Only until I lost it did I regret it...

At this moment, Wang Quanan truly wanted to slap himself. A Berlin Best Actress award—that is a Berlin Best Actress award. Within the film and television circle, being able to produce a Berlin Best Actress is actually not much worse than winning a Jin Xiong.

He was now extremely regretful.

It wasn't regret for not fighting for the Berlin Best Actress award for his girlfriend, but regret for missing the opportunity to produce a Berlin Best Actress.

This sentence was a bit convoluted, but it was the most truthful thought in his heart.

After smoking half a pack of cigarettes in a row, Wang Quanan finally thought of an opportunity that was currently a "dead horse being treated as a live one" for him.

He first called Cao Yang, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he said, "Cao Dao, I have failed you, failed the Beijing Film Academy, and failed Chinese cinema. I shouldn't have been so ambitious, I shouldn't have held onto luck. I was wrong."

"I already called Teacher Ma Ma Jingwu just now and made a profound self-reflection to the old gentleman. I also told him about your help and kindness toward me. It was my own muddle-headedness; I didn't recognize reality..."

Cao Yang frowned and hung up the phone.

He had just finished attending the premiere of the film *The Others*, which was jointly filmed by Germany, France, and Argentina. It told the story of a male lead experiencing a period of life using the identity of another person who had just passed away.

This film was a bit dull, but it was actually an art film that truly dug into "human nature" and didn't involve too much political correctness.

"Let film return to its essence."

This was the slogan Cao Yang had set for this year's festival selection. Dieter Kosslick had also tacitly agreed without raising objections, and even, to support Cao Yang, had shouted this slogan at the film festival.

The reason Cao Yang set this slogan was to reduce the influence of "political correctness"—your political correctness is not my political correctness.

The film *The Others* was relatively in line with this.

After hanging up on Wang Quanan, Cao Yang thought for a bit, not quite grasping his meaning.

From Wang Quanan's words, one could understand that he already knew *Tuya's Marriage* wouldn't win the Jin Xiong. So, what was this apology and repentance for?

Was it to build a good relationship with him?

"Ma Ma Jingwu..."

If one didn't know, one might feel this old gentleman didn't have the fame of Cui Cui Xinqin, the head teacher of the 96 Star Class. But those who knew the inside story knew that Ma Ma Jingwu was not simple at all.

Ma Ma Jingwu was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy in 1956, becoming a student in the first undergraduate acting class.

He graduated in 1960 and stayed to teach, having successively served as the head instructor for the 78 acting teacher training class and the 87 undergraduate acting class.

After the students of the 78 acting teacher training class graduated, they produced two relatively famous teachers: one named Liu Zhizi, the other named Cui Cui Xinqin.

That's right, Ma Ma Jingwu was Cui Cui Xinqin's teacher.

And the 87 undergraduate acting class taught by Ma Ma Jingwu also produced quite a few stars, such as Zhang Jiayi, Liu Yijun, Zhang Zijian, Xing Minshan, Kong Lin, Qian Yanqiu, Hu Xiaoguang, etc.

Of course, among them was Wang Quanan. Wang Quanan was also a student of the 87 undergraduate acting class.

Additionally, the 78 acting undergraduate class, aside from the teacher training class, also had a 78 acting undergraduate class; Ma Ma Jingwu had also taught their acting classes.

And this 78 acting undergraduate class had relatively famous people like Zhang Fengyi, Zhang Tielin, Xie Yuan, Zhou Liqing, Fang Shu, Liu Jia, Shen Danping, etc.

It could be said that Ma Ma Jingwu's status in the acting department was very high, and he was considered a figure who had students all over the film and television circle.

Cao Yang pondered Wang Quanan's meaning, feeling that he couldn't quite understand Wang Quanan's intent for the time being.

Wang Quanan mentioned on the phone that he had called Teacher Ma Ma Jingwu and also talked about his help. In other words, Wang Quanan had told Ma Ma Jingwu that he could help him maneuver for the Berlin Best Actress award.

Once Ma Ma Jingwu knew about this, it was equivalent to all the leaders in the school who should know, knowing about it.

"Should this be considered a show of goodwill?"

Cao Yang couldn't help but think.

Wang Quanan's meaning in calling Ma Ma Jingwu was that he had helped him, but he wasn't willing to just take the Berlin Best Actress award, choosing instead to push for the Jin Xiong.

Now he had failed.

If no one exposed this matter, on the surface, surely no one would dare to criticize Cao Yang, but in secret?

Would someone mutter, "You, a world-class director with international influence, you, a jury president, actually didn't fight for any award for a student who graduated from your own school?"

You are still the face of the Beijing Film Academy.

Many people think you have already become the spiritual leader of the Beijing Film Academy.

And that's it?

Can't even handle an award?

Now, with Wang Quanan's phone call to Ma Ma Jingwu, no one would criticize Cao Yang, saving him quite a bit of trouble.

Was he trying to curry favor with him for the sake of the future?

There was too little information; Cao Yang had no way of knowing Wang Quanan's full purpose for doing this for the time being.

By evening, Cao Yang understood Wang Quanan's purpose for doing this.

In the hotel room, Cao Yang looked at Yu Nan, frowning.

"Didn't you say on the phone that you and Wang Quanan were going back to the country and came to say goodbye to me? Where is Wang Quanan?"

If they didn't receive the notification to stay, then staying was meaningless; most film crews would choose to return to the country.

Cao Yang thought Wang Quanan and the others would also choose to return to the country. Since Yu Nan had called to say she was coming to say goodbye, as an alumnus of the Beijing Film Academy, he certainly had to give her that face.

But the result? Only Yu Nan came; Wang Quanan was not there!

What kind of situation was this?

Cao Yang's tone was a bit poor. Are you two trying to play a "honey trap" on me?

Or did I misjudge you, and you came to find me behind Wang Quanan's back to play a "two-timing" game?

Although such things were quite common in the film and television circle, you are Yu Nan, and my impression of you is still quite good.

It's not that I have my eyes on you, but you almost never market yourself, never hype yourself, your acting is quite good, and you have no scandals. For a female actress, these are already very rare "noble" qualities.

Please don't make me misjudge you, Yu Nan.

"I'm sorry, Cao Dao. I lied to you."

After Yu Nan entered, she didn't have any extra movements, just stood at the door, head down, looking very dejected.

"What exactly is going on?" Cao Yang asked.

Yu Nan was silent for a while. Just as Cao Yang was getting a bit impatient, she pursed her lips and said:

"I'm sorry, Cao Dao. Actually, it was... it was Wang Quanan who asked me to come, but he instructed me to say that I came behind his back."

After saying this, Yu Nan seemed to let out a sigh of relief, as if she had put down a burden. Her tone became much calmer.

"He said that if he came to beg you, because he had previously rejected your kindness, the effect would definitely be poor. So he let me come to beg you, and told me not to say it was his idea, just to say I came on my own."

"He said that since you were previously willing to give me the Berlin Best Actress award, you must have had a good impression of me, so he let me beg you to see if you could give *Tuya's Marriage* a significant award."

"He also knew that the significant awards might already be decided, so if there was no other way, he told me to settle for second best and beg you to give a Special Jury Prize."

After saying this, Yu Nan lowered her head again. Even now, she couldn't understand that the person who made her do this was actually the boyfriend she had followed for eight years!

Even if one took a hundred steps back, letting a woman go beg a man late at night, and the person making the woman do this was still the woman's boyfriend...

Is there really no problem with doing this?

Yu Nan was still a bit dazed even now.

Before she came, she had already made up her mind; this was the last thing she would do for Wang Quanan, to repay him for his care over these eight years.

Since entering the entertainment industry in her junior year, she had seen the bizarre and various unimaginable things in the industry.

To be honest, she had always been grateful to Wang Quanan.

If it weren't for Wang Quanan bringing her into the circle, if it weren't for Wang Quanan's care for her, she felt that with her personality, she would have long since been unable to survive in the entertainment industry.

Cao Yang finally understood Wang Quanan's purpose for saying those things on the phone today.

Was this to first leave a good impression of having already yielded, and then have Yu Nan add fuel to the fire at night, so it would be easier to get him to grant a Special Jury Prize?

The Special Jury Prize is also called the Jury Prize; it is the consolation-type award Cao Yang let Li Yu choose.

Li Yu chose to fulfill Jiang Jiang Yiyan and didn't choose this Jury Prize.

Of course, in Cao Yang's view, this was a consolation-type award. Although it lacked one word compared to the Grand Jury Prize, the weight of the award was completely incomparable.

However, for Wang Quanan, who already knew he couldn't win any awards, if he couldn't win other significant awards, this Jury Prize was the best choice.

The Jury Prize also comes with a Silver Bear. For those domestically who don't understand this award, aside from the Jin Xiong, the remaining Silver Bears are all similar awards.

After all, this is an award from the Berlin Film Festival, one of the European Big Three; the gold content is still very high, and it is still very easy to "make a fuss" about.

When the time comes, calling this award a Special Jury Prize will still sound very high-end.

"What are your thoughts?"

Cao Yang felt a bit emotional. This was the reason he had always been unwilling to be the jury president of the European Big Three film festivals.

Previously, the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival had invited Cao Yang more than once, but he hadn't agreed.

If it weren't to build a good relationship with the Berlin Film Festival so he would have a chance to win the Jin Xiong and become the fourth Grand Slam director in the world, he wouldn't have accepted this damn jury president position for anything.

"I've said everything I needed to say, and the words have been delivered. The rest has nothing to do with me."

Yu Nan said softly.

Nothing to do with you?

Cao Yang heard another meaning.

It seemed the relationship between the two was coming to an end.

Sigh, fame and fortune.

From the moment Wang Quanan impatiently chose to want the Jin Xiong, it was estimated that the two could never return to the past.

That's fine, too. Recognizing it early is a good thing; it's much better than waiting two years until she's pregnant, only to be cheated on and abandoned by him.

This could be considered a blessing in disguise.

"There is no Jury Prize this year."

Cao Yang directly refused.

If you wanted this award, you could have just said so directly, but you schemed against me in secret and still want an award?

Dream on!

"Okay, Cao Dao. I will tell him. Thank you."

Yu Nan bowed to Cao Yang.

Damn!

What are you doing?

Cao Yang hurriedly went over to support Yu Nan, smiling bitterly, "Although we are from different departments, you can be considered my senior. What are you doing?"

Yu Nan smiled unnaturally and said, "In any case, thank you."

After speaking, she opened the door and left.

Thank me for what?

Thank me for originally wanting to give you the Berlin Best Actress award?

Thank me for letting you see the man you've been in love with for eight years clearly?

Thank me for not making things difficult for you?

Hmm?

Cao Yang suddenly reacted.

Was she really thanking him for not making things difficult for her?

Did Wang Quanan really have that kind of intention?

Damn!

Forget it, don't think about it. This kind of thing cannot withstand scrutiny.

February 18, 2007. This day is the Spring Festival, and also the last day of the 57th Berlin Film Festival. The awards ceremony will be held in the evening.

The *Lost in Beijing* crew received the notification to stay, and the entire crew cheered. Regardless, being notified to stay meant they could at least win an award.

After Yu Nan went back yesterday, she didn't mention that Cao Yang had directly refused, but instead told Wang Quanan that this year's awards had all been decided and there was no way to add a Special Jury Prize.

After hearing this, Wang Quanan was silent for a long time, and finally, he slapped his thigh in frustration.

He waited another whole day on the 18th, but no miracle appeared; no one notified him to stay.

Moreover, he also learned the news that the *Lost in Beijing* crew had been invited to stay, which made him even more annoyed.

He didn't know who to blame.

This matter certainly couldn't be blamed on Cao Yang. Cao Yang had clearly told him he could let *Tuya's Marriage* win the Berlin Best Actress award; it was he who had voluntarily given it up.

Of course, he wouldn't blame himself either.

That was the Berlin Jin Xiong. Let alone having a 60-70% chance, even if there was a 30% chance, he might have dared to give it a fight.

A Berlin Jin Xiong could allow him to directly "ascend," becoming one of the best directors in the country.

Didn't you see that Jia Jia Zhangke just won the Venice Golden Lion last year, and this year he could become the principal of the Berlin Film Festival Talent Campus?

A Jin Xiong was enough to gain both fame and fortune.

Wang Quanan also noticed Yu Nan's state was wrong, but he didn't care, only thinking Yu Nan was also dejected because he missed out on the Jin Xiong.

Buy tickets, return to the country.

He didn't want to stay in this godforsaken place for even one more day.

For this Berlin Film Festival, Dieter Kosslick indeed kept his word and didn't interfere with Cao Yang's choices.

Even though Cao Yang clearly informed Dieter Kosslick that he wouldn't consider European political correctness and would only care about the film's quality, Dieter Kosslick didn't say anything.

Perhaps Dieter Kosslick was also unwilling to echo European and American political correctness and let those World War II films depicting the suffering of Jews and the cruelty of Germans win awards.

Before, there was no way, but now Cao Yang was the one choosing—with Cao Yang's immense influence, what could his small Berlin Film Festival do?

Perhaps this was just going with the flow.

In the selection of award-winning films, Cao Yang gave the Grand Jury Prize to the apolitical biographical film *La Vie en Rose*.

The film tells the legendary, ups-and-downs 47-year life of the French chanson singer Édith Piaf.

Moreover, he also gave the Berlin Best Actress award to the lead actress of *La Vie en Rose*, Marion Cotillard.

Cao Yang remembered that Marion Cotillard also won the Oscar for Best Actress next year because of this film.

The Best Director award went to the director of *Yella*, Christian Petzold. This film was considered an experimental film.

Fine, whether it's a biographical film or an experimental film, to Cao Yang, it's all "politically correct," because he has made biographical films, and most of the films he is making now still carry the label of experimental film.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 340 =====