Chapter 63

The procedures for the three major European film festivals are actually quite similar; besides the main competition section, there are various other categories of awards, though these generally do not attract much attention.

The main competition section has those fixed awards, and the film festival's awards gala has no song and dance performances; if it weren't for these various other categories of awards to prop it up, the entire gala would likely be over in half an hour.

There is a seven-hour time difference between Venice and the domestic time; when the awards gala started, it was already two in the morning back home.

However, ever since the internet gradually became popular and surged, more and more young people have started staying up all night online, either playing games, watching movies and TV shows, or becoming obsessed with a new emerging chat software, QQ.

All three major web portals have editors working the night shift, just waiting for the results to come out of Venice to rush and update the news.

Last time, Sina Entertainment snatched up a huge wave of traffic, making the other two companies incredibly envious; this time, they absolutely cannot let Sina Entertainment take the lead again.

Today, there are also many people on the Tianya Community discussing and waiting; as the only remaining hope for Chinese-language cinema, many people want to know what award Cao Yang can win this time.

Moreover, the most active threads below are all predicting what awards Cao Yang might win.

"Let's make a prediction: without Li Xiaoran, the most likely thing for Cao Yang is to win the Best Screenplay award. Venice set up a special Best Screenplay award this year, and I reckon it's prepared for Cao Yang."

Below this post, there are many replies, and many people, after thinking about it carefully, feel it makes a lot of sense.

From the movie "Night on the Beach," one couldn't see how strong Cao Yang's directing ability was; many professionals online have said that the filming technique of this movie is too simple, and any professional student could do it, or even do it better.

But no one denies that the script for this movie is indeed well-written, so excluding the possibility of winning Best Director, only the specially set Best Screenplay award this year is the greatest possibility.

"Is this kind of special award of very low value?"

Someone asked below the post.

"The ones with low value are the special awards in other sections; in the main competition section, even if it is a special award, there is no such thing as low value."

"What about Best New Actor? Isn't the value of this non-permanent award quite high?"

Someone called "Industry Insider Number One" replied to argue.

For a moment, no one answered this question.

"Do you think it's possible that Cao Yang can only help Liu Ye win a Best Newcomer award? I feel this possibility is the greatest."

Industry Insider Number One posted again.

This time, someone answered very quickly.

"It's actually quite possible; the news released by Venice says that besides the special Best Screenplay, there is also a Best Newcomer award this year."

"I hope he doesn't win the Best Newcomer award; even Best Screenplay would be better than that."

"Why can't he win the Best Newcomer award? How awesome do you think Cao Yang is? He's just a student; if he hadn't met Li Xiaoran, he'd be nothing," Industry Insider Number One posted again.

"Heh, someone is feeling unbalanced again. Generally, people who say things like this are either students who don't know the height of the sky and the depth of the earth, or they are peers."

"Don't worry about what I do; the awards he wins just aren't convincing," Industry Insider Number One wrote.

"Not convincing? His movie alone had over 20 million in box office in the mainland; if you have the ability, go shoot a movie that can get 20 million in box office before you talk big."

"That's because of the bonus of Li Xiaoran winning the Berlin Best Actress award; without Li Xiaoran, who would go watch the movie?" Industry Insider Number One's tone was quite disdainful.

"Ha, why don't you mention that the movie was shot by Tian Zhuangzhuang? Some people just have this one bad trait: they can't stand others being better than them, but when they meet people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or abroad, they just know how to kneel and lick. I don't know what kind of psychology these people have."

"You don't know a damn thing; Director Tian wouldn't deign to shoot that kind of movie without any artistic value," Industry Insider Number One got anxious, as if his lungs had been poked.

"The main competition section is awarding prizes; the Best Newcomer award went to Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna from 'Y Tu Mamá También,' damn, and Liu Ye too!"

"No way, Liu Ye is really in it?"

"Industry Insider Number One was actually right; the Best Newcomer award went to Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, and Liu Ye, the three of them."

Industry Insider Number One replied: "I wasn't wrong, right? You don't understand the inside story here; it's a bit complicated to explain. It's normal that you aren't insiders and don't know.

Cao Yang is just a student; he doesn't have any directing skills. It's just because of certain reasons that they gave him a Best Newcomer consolation prize. Forget it, it's not convenient for me to reveal too much; it's easy to offend people. You just need to know he's lucky."

"Industry Insider Number One, tell us the inside story, we want to hear it."

"Tell us the inside story, we want to hear it." "Tell us the inside story, we want to hear it."

"Tell us the inside story, we want to hear it."

For a time, many people replied.

Industry Insider Number One posted: "Aren't you making things difficult for me? I really can't say this. You can ask about other things; if I can say it, I will tell you."

"Insider, can Cao Yang still win Best Screenplay?"

Industry Insider Number One's vanity was greatly satisfied, and he replied: "Impossible, the organizing committee wouldn't set up two special awards for him."

"Cao Yang's script is actually okay, why can't he win Best Screenplay?"

"Just like you said, his writing is okay, but where is Venice? It's one of the temples of art-house cinema. So many top insiders from around the world are gathered here, so many great directors and top screenwriters; Cao Yang is nothing in there. There are people everywhere who write better than him."

"The Best Screenplay award is out; it went to Alfonso Cuarón, the director and screenwriter of 'Y Tu Mamá También.' No Cao Yang."

"Haha, I told you, Cao Yang is just lucky to have met Li Xiaoran. Give me a Li Xiaoran, and I could also go to Berlin and Venice and bring back a few awards," Industry Insider Number One wrote smugly.

!

"Awesome, he really is an insider."

"Industry Insider Number One predicted it really accurately; can you tell us the inside story you mentioned earlier? We want to hear it."

"Want to hear it."

"Want to hear it."

"Don't make things difficult for me; I still have to work in this industry."

"It's almost time for Best Actress; doesn't anyone think highly of Yu Feihong? Insider, do you think Yu Feihong has a chance?" someone asked in a reply.

"Haha, stop joking. Do you yourself think Yu Feihong can win Best Actress? Her acting skills are only okay for the TV circle; she's not suitable for acting in movies," Industry Insider Number One replied.

"Isn't there news saying that Cao Yang is very good at coaching actors?"

"Hahaha, you're really funny. Do you believe that? Anyway, I don't."

"Do you believe that? Anyway, I don't."

"Do you believe that? Anyway, I don't."

"Do you believe that? Anyway, I don't."

"Haha, you guys are really interesting, although I don't believe it either."

"What if Yu Feihong wins Best Actress?" someone replied.

"Impossible. First, let me state that I really like Yu Feihong; she's beautiful and has temperament. Just like I said, she's okay acting in TV dramas, but acting in movies is really a struggle. And winning Best Actress? If she can win Best Actress, I'll take Cao Yang's surname."

Industry Insider Number One posted his reply with great certainty.

"Insider is right, her acting isn't that it can't reach the level of Best Actress, it's that it's still a few big... oh damn, damn, damn, damn, damn..."

The presenter responsible for awarding Best Actress first read out Sandra Ceccarelli for "Light of My Eyes," and then, before the audience could applaud, dragged out a long tone and added an "and..."

Cao Yang glanced at Yu Feihong and suddenly had a strong premonition. A tie? Another one for Yu Feihong?

"Faye Yu, 'The Empty Room'."

Yu Feihong covered her mouth in disbelief, her face full of surprise.

At this moment, everyone back home who got the news was even more shocked than Yu Feihong!

Under this hot post on the Tianya Community, there was complete silence.

One more update at twelve noon.

(End of chapter)