Chapter 58: Defeat Hollywood

Time came to mid-August, and the National Master's "Hero" announced the start of filming, attracting countless attention for a time.

This is the film with the largest investment in China so far, 30 million US dollars, which is 248 million. It is simply unimaginable in China at the beginning of the century.

This is also the first "industrial film" that the National Master claimed to have shot himself.

Regrettably, Li Xiaoran finally lost to the international chapter. The National Master still compromised and chose the international chapter, who was more famous in the US.

No way, the pressure to recoup the film is too great, and it can only rely on the US market.

Last month, Li Xiaoran called Cao Yang and said this news. It didn't sound like she was too sad.

She said the National Master talked to her personally, told her the difficulties, and promised that for the next film, the first choice would definitely be her.

Next film?

The National Master's next film should be "House of Flying Daggers." It's really a coincidence. If Li Xiaoran wants to act at that time, the biggest competitor is estimated to be the international chapter.

This matter is still too far away. Who knows what will happen during this period.

Until the film festival was about to open, Marco Muller only said there was hope, but there was still no definite news.

On August 29, the Venice Film Festival opened. Liu Ye and Yu Feihong arrived in Venice one day early. At the same time, on the same day, Wu Qihua from Xiangjiang and his agent also arrived.

As a big supporting role that runs through the whole play, in fact, with his plot, in the case of no Best Supporting Actor award at the European Big Three, he can apply for Best Actor.

The day before the opening ceremony, everyone had a meal together.

Wu Qihua's agent was very enthusiastic, thanking Cao Yang incessantly for giving his artist a chance, and expressed that from now on, as long as Cao Yang says a word, no matter what role, they will be on call.

After returning to the hotel not long after, Yu Feihong came to Cao Yang's room.

At first, both were very serious. After all, they hadn't seen each other for so long, and they couldn't just go to bed as soon as they met.

Then, after chatting for a few sentences, I don't know who took the initiative, but they quickly hugged together, and their clothes became less and less—they are all adult men and women, what else can they do when they meet? This way is the easiest to break the estrangement of not seeing each other for a period of time.

On August 29, the 58th Venice International Film Festival kicked off on the beautiful Lido Island in Italy.

The processes of the European Big Three are almost the same. On the day the film festival opens, stars and guests will walk the red carpet. This is the customary opening method and ceremony of the film festival, and it is also the focus of media and audience attention.

How to judge the influence of a film festival?

Just count the "stars" on the opening day. The more stars and the bigger the names, the higher the attention of the film festival, and the greater the influence of the film festival.

On this point, at the beginning of the century, the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival tried different paths.

Although the Cannes Film Festival still focuses on art films, it does not exclude commercial films, or directly say it does not exclude the invasion of Hollywood, selectively accepting some, and will occasionally give awards to Hollywood films.

The Venice Film Festival is just the opposite. It is famous for innovation and radicalism, excluding commercial films and excluding Hollywood films—almost all Venice Film Festival chairmen are very disgusted with Hollywood.

Then, it will still give awards to Hollywood films from time to time. Italians play this set very skillfully.

This session is even more outrageous, shouting an unexpected slogan—"Defeat Hollywood Imperialism!"

This sentence actually became the main theme of this film festival.

But ironically, this year's Venice attracted a large number of Hollywood stars, from Nicole Kidman to Helen Hunt.

There is also Spielberg who brought his "A. I." here, Woody Allen also brought his new work "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," John Carpenter brought "Ghosts of Mars," and so on.

With these big names, almost all the hotels on Lido Island were full, forcing the organizers to rent a cruise ship to make up the numbers.

So while Italians were shouting to defeat Hollywood, they were also letting Hollywood films enter different competition units. Why exactly? This time, among the twenty films entered in the main competition unit, Hollywood occupied four.

Alejandro Amenábar's "The Others."

Larry Clark's "Bully."

Richard Linklater's "Waking Life."

Alfonso Cuarón's "Y Tu Mamá También."

It's really fucking outrageous, but thinking this is Italy, it's relieved. Maybe people are playing a big game.

Although Cao Yang just won two Silver Bears in Berlin and has some popularity in Europe, compared to these global stars from Hollywood, his popularity is a bit worse.

What made Cao Yang even more speechless was that I don't know which smart person arranged the appearance of the "Empty Room" crew behind "The Others."

Who is the lead of "The Others"? Nicole Kidman!

At the beginning of February this year, she and Tom Cruise announced their divorce, causing a sensational effect, and the news was reported for several months.

Then, after the song and dance romance film "Moulin Rouge!" she starred in was released in May, suddenly there was very little news about her divorce from Tom Cruise.

It can be considered as consuming Tom Cruise again.

!

On the red carpet, the media were attracted by Nicole Kidman.

Cao Yang and the others stepped on the red carpet, and the camera was given pitifully little, walking a cold red carpet again.

The good news is that several domestic media came this time.

Finally, after shooting Nicole Kidman, they could incidentally shoot Cao Yang and the others, which is better than nothing.

This year's Venice opening film is Milcho Manchevski's "Dust," which did not enter the main competition unit.

It should be that this film has the strength to enter the main competition unit, but the twenty films in the main competition unit are full, so compensate and use it as the opening film.

After walking the red carpet, Old Tian found him.

"What's wrong?"

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian's expression and knew there must be something.

Old Tian pulled Cao Yang to a corner where no one was, and whispered: "This time Venice has opened a new Contemporary Cinema unit, right? The Best Film of that unit can also give a Golden Lion. Old Ma asked if you want to take that."

Cao Yang was silent. The Contemporary Cinema unit is a competition unit newly opened this year, promoted by Venice Film Festival Chairman Alberto Barbera.

The original intention was to improve the competitiveness of the Venice Film Festival, and at the same time leave a mark that belongs only to him before retiring.

It's a pity that the idea is good, but it can't get everyone's recognition. This unit will be cancelled next year, and it didn't even splash a splash.

"Doesn't this unit have separately nominated films? And we didn't enter that unit. I heard that those are all eliminated from the main competition unit." Cao Yang said tactfully.

"If you want to win the Best Film of that unit, they have ways. You don't need to worry about this. As long as you are willing, you can win the Best Film of the Contemporary Cinema unit, which is also a Golden Lion." Old Tian said.

"So, Barbera has already compromised?"

"Probably."

"Then why the fuck should I go to that bullshit unit? Even if I win a Golden Lion, it's not the main competition unit, and it has no influence at all. Who recognizes it outside?"

Cao Yang smiled and made up his mind, "Since he has compromised, then bet on it. Is he compromising to the end, or insisting on his own opinion?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 59 =====