Chapter 393: The Award That Won't Be Absent

"...Following the double success of *Inception* in both box office and critical acclaim last year, Director Cao Yang’s new film, *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl*, has once again begun a global sweep, relying on its imaginative story and strong word-of-mouth.

As of this writing, this unique fantasy blockbuster has been in theaters for 24 days, grossing $340 million in North America, $420 million domestically, and $810 million globally, once again..."

Chen Kun closed the newspaper. Beside him, Hong Sao quickly took it, folded it neatly, and set it aside, unable to help but exclaim:

"Cao Yang is truly becoming more and more formidable. His previous film, *Inception*, made $900 million globally; this pirate film will likely push for $1 billion."

Afterward, she couldn't help but purse her lips, recalling those two days back in Los Angeles, "Baizhi"...

Chen Kun lit a cigarette. Hong Sao glanced at him, but still picked up an ashtray and pushed it in front of Old Chen.

"Cao Yang has also taken the wrong path..."

Old Chen said this, perhaps feeling that he himself was "deeply mired" in the whirlpool of commercial films and still struggling, making the remark feel somewhat inappropriate.

He paused, thinking that as Cao Yang’s senior fellow apprentice, saying such things wasn't entirely out of place.

"That kid Cao Yang has a very high sensitivity to art films and is skilled at cultivating actors. Now that he has plunged headfirst into Hollywood, focusing solely on making commercial films, it is a waste of his artistic talent.

He should honestly calm his heart and film some works with significant artistic value for the country and the people; only then would he not be failing his talent."

Hong Sao rarely contradicted Old Chen, but hearing his words now, she was somewhat unconvinced.

Didn't you, Old Chen, also film *The Promise*? Why not allow Cao Yang to film *Inception* and *The New Pirates of the Caribbean*?

Moreover, whether it was *Inception* or *The New Pirates of the Caribbean*, both were films that achieved success in both reputation and box office, at least compared to *The Promise*...

"Didn't Cao Yang also film an art-house movie domestically a while ago?"

Hong Sao did not directly refute Old Chen, but still spoke in a roundabout way.

"With Cao Yang's current influence, the fact that he still thinks about filming art-house movies means he hasn't forgotten his original intentions."

Old Chen directly snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray and said:

"I haven't paid much attention to that film of his; the title is *Manchester by the Sea*, right? Just hearing the name, it sounds like a romance film. Can such a film delve deeply into human nature? I still hold the same view: romance films do not belong to the category of art films."

Hong Sao had a mind to refute this.

However, Old Chen had been busy filming *Forever Enthralled* a while ago, and she had been eager to develop as a producer, so she had followed the crew the entire time, worrying about and learning the work of a producer down to the smallest detail, so she really didn't know the content of *Manchester by the Sea*.

"Romance films can also become classics; isn't *Titanic* that kind of film?"

After saying this, Hong Sao gave herself a pep talk in her heart: I am not refuting Old Chen; I am just stating a fact.

Didn't your *Forever Enthralled* also include quite a few romantic scenes?

Of course, Hong Sao didn't say this last part.

Regarding Hong Sao's "rebellion," Old Chen didn't say anything.

Although he was somewhat unconvinced that *Titanic* could become a classic film, he really couldn't bring himself to argue against it.

After all, this film wasn't just about high box office; it also swept the Oscars and numerous other awards. It was fine to disagree in his heart, but saying it out loud would be seen as arrogant.

"You can't just look at the box office for films; if you only look at the box office, you've gone down the wrong path."

Old Chen smacked his lips and emphasized: "Cao Yang still needs someone by his side to remind him at all times; otherwise, young people are most easily lost in the self-satisfaction of high box office returns, and from then on, they will never listen to anyone else's opinions."

"Oh, please!"

Hong Sao almost blurted it out, but such a thing was impossible to imagine.

She involuntarily thought of "Baizhi's" experience again and rubbed her legs together.

"Old Chen..."

After saying this, she looked at Chen Kun with her watery eyes; anyone could see what she meant.

"We have to change locations to continue filming tomorrow. It's been too tiring lately, and you've worked hard too; get some good rest."

Old Chen patted Hong Sao's hand. He didn't say a refusal, but the meaning was quite clear.

However, perhaps feeling that sitting like this wasn't quite right, he subconsciously wanted to find something to do as an excuse, so he went to the study and turned on the computer—well, pretending to handle some work matters.

Hong Sao looked at Old Chen's back and forced a smile, her expression somewhat unnatural.

She glanced at the bathroom, thinking about whether to go take a shower and relax, when she unexpectedly heard Old Chen let out an "Eh."

Hong Sao thought something had happened and hurried into the study, only to see Old Chen reading a news article on Sina Entertainment.

"...Due to the writers' strike, the 65th Golden Globe Awards did not hold an awards banquet, but instead held an unprecedented press conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

This year's Golden Globes had no red carpet, no awards ceremony, no banquet or party, only an awkward press conference where the host announced the list of all award winners.

It is worth mentioning that this year's Golden Globes were boycotted by the Screen Actors Guild; no stars were present, and not a single award winner attended.

According to informed sources, this Golden Globe Awards ceremony, which had no banquet or broadcast, suffered losses as high as $80 million, and that's not counting some potential losses.

The following is the list of winners for the 65th Golden Globe Awards..."

Hong Sao finally understood why the usually steady Old Chen was surprised.

This was the Golden Globe Awards; regardless of the authority of the awards, in terms of influence alone, it was considered the film award second only to the Oscars in the United States.

Didn't you see that the direct economic loss from not holding the awards banquet was as high as $80 million?

Such a highly influential Golden Globe Awards was ultimately forced to announce the list of winners in the form of a press conference due to the writers' strike; anyone would be surprised to see this.

"Weren't they saying a while ago that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was in talks with the Screen Actors Guild?"

Hong Sao recalled the news from a while ago and couldn't help but say.

Old Chen squinted his eyes without looking at the computer. He didn't pay attention to the list of winners below; relatively speaking, who won wasn't news—the fact that the Golden Globes were forced to be held in this format was the real global headline.

"Yeah, that means they didn't reach an agreement. Heh, the biggest problem now isn't the Golden Globes, but the Oscars in over a month. If they are still boycotted by the Screen Actors Guild then, there will be a real show to watch."

"No way?"

Hong Sao said in surprise: "Will the Screen Actors Guild boycott the Oscars too?"

"Nothing is impossible. Before today, who could have imagined that the Screen Actors Guild would actually boycott the Golden Globes to support the writers' strike?

I reckon that as long as the writers' strike continues, the Screen Actors Guild will dare to boycott the Oscars for their common interests as well. Just wait and see."

Old Chen took out another cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag, his heart truly filled with mixed emotions.

To be honest, Old Chen looked down on the Oscars and looked down on Hollywood commercial blockbusters.

In his heart, only the three major European film festivals, especially the Cannes Film Festival, were the halls of world art and the places where artists gathered.

While Hollywood and the Oscars were just some monsters and demons that only pursued profit.

Of course, Old Chen also admitted that he had once yearned for the bizarre and colorful Hollywood and had once wanted to go there to make a name for himself.

But there were his own reasons for that.

He had already won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and had originally wanted to pursue higher art, but he didn't expect that the three major European festivals had been going astray in recent years—they were actually catering to Hollywood, either openly or secretly!

Since the three major European festivals were all catering, Old Chen naturally wanted to see what was going on.

Although his foray into Hollywood failed, Old Chen considered himself to have seen through the essence of Hollywood, which is why he said they were just monsters and demons that only pursued profit.

But if one could really gain a foothold in Hollywood...

Thinking about how his first attempt at Hollywood ended in failure, Old Chen still felt somewhat melancholy.

"Eh?"

This time, the sound came from Hong Sao.

She used the mouse to scroll down the webpage, her small mouth opening in a round shape, and she couldn't help but raise her voice:

"*The Fault in Our Stars* won Best Picture, *The New Pirates of the Caribbean* won Best Original Score, and, and Tian Zhuangzhuang's *Pieta* won Best Foreign Language Film!"

"Cough, cough cough..."

Old Chen couldn't help but let out a series of coughs; Hong Sao's words caused him to be directly choked by his cigarette.