Chapter 67: Simple Expectations

After the closing ceremony, every award-winning film has an award-winning press conference, which is officially held and can also be called a press conference.

Each crew holds it separately, not all together.

The press conference is held at the Venice Film Festival press center. The format is very simple: a long table with nameplates and microphones on it, and a few simple chairs behind it, just like the setup for a meeting at a village primary school.

Cao Yang attended with Yu Feihong and Liu Ye.

When the time came, the host reminded them it was time to go on stage.

Cao Yang sat down in front of the nameplate with his name on it, then placed the Golden Lion next to his nameplate.

Yu Feihong sat on Cao Yang's right and placed her Silver Lion next to her nameplate.

Liu Ye sat on Cao Yang's left and placed his Silver Lion next to his nameplate.

Good heavens, even experienced reporters rarely encounter this kind of battle.

However, it's not without precedent. There are several films that have won the Golden Lion and also won Best Actress at the same time.

The earliest was the 13th Venice Film Festival in 1948, Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet," also known as "Prince of Revenge," which won both the Golden Lion and the Venice Best Actress award.

Then there was the 49th Venice Film Festival in 1992, where National Master Zhang Yimou, with "The Story of Qiu Ju," not only won the Golden Lion but also helped Gong Li win the Venice Best Actress award.

Then the following year, the 50th Venice Film Festival, Krzysztof Kieślowski's "Three Colors: Blue," also won the Golden Lion and Best Actress. Moreover, this year's Golden Lion was also a double-yolk egg; the other film that won the Golden Lion was "Short Cuts."

Cannes and Berlin are no exception; they also have several films that won the top prize while also winning Best Actress.

As for "Empty Room" winning the Golden Lion, Best Actress, and Best Newcomer, in fact, when statistics are done in the future, it might only be classified as Venice Golden Lion + Best Actress.

Special awards have no human rights...

The press conference began. In fact, most of the time, the host was the one asking questions. The host received the reporters' questions in advance, and if they felt there was no problem, they would ask on their behalf. Finally, there might be time for reporters to ask questions, or there might not be; there is no fixed pattern.

Thinking about this kind of press conference completely controlled by the host, one knows there won't be any explosive questions. Let Cao Yang talk about his impressions, feelings, and gains from the Venice Film Festival, etc.

Then talk about whether they encountered any difficulties during the filming process. Even the most "out of line" questions were about attitudes towards domestic violence and the topic of gender equality.

Three questions were asked to Yu Feihong: had she ever thought she could win an award, her feelings about winning, and then talk about the film's female lead. There were no out-of-line questions.

Liu Ye's side was even simpler; they just asked him about his feelings about winning, and that was it.

Liu Ye expressed that he was very hurt; the same style of Silver Lion, but the treatment was different.

After the host finished interviewing, they habitually asked Cao Yang if he wanted to accept questions from reporters.

Cao Yang looked at the group of reporters and saw a familiar logo, so he gave a reporter from a major domestic media outlet a chance to ask a question, and also gave Sina Entertainment a chance.

"Cao Dao, hello, I am a reporter from Xinhua News Agency, Xu Yanghui. First of all, congratulations to Cao Dao for winning the Venice Film Festival Best Film Golden Lion Award. Could you briefly talk about how you think Chinese cinema can gain more recognition from the world?"

Cao Yang wanted to scratch his head. As expected of a reporter from the xx agency, shouldn't you go interview the National Master and the great poet Chen for such macro questions?

Oh, I have a Golden Lion award now too, so I have the qualifications to be asked, right?

Truly worthy of being a reporter from Xinhua News Agency, you asked the right person.

In fact, the answer is very simple: when your national strength is strong to a certain extent, you will start to engage in cultural export, and film will naturally be able to go out as a "vanguard" and be recognized by more countries. But this can be said in private; saying this in public is quite inappropriate. Even if it's right, it becomes wrong, and you will definitely be labeled. Of course, you can't answer like that.

"There are many different cultural backgrounds and perspectives in the world. Film art can break down cultural barriers. A good work must have the director's personal style and also tell the story well."

"The long historical accumulation of Chinese civilization is the biggest advantage of Chinese-language cinema. Chinese-language cinema opened up its reputation in the international film scene very early. With the continuous progress of film technology, the future of Chinese-language cinema is limitless."

"Before this, we should cultivate more professional film talents, develop the film market in an orderly manner, be inclusive, and develop art films and industrial films together. Only then can Chinese cinema gain more recognition from the world."

"Cao Dao, hello, I am a reporter from Sina Entertainment. 'Empty Room' not only won the Golden Lion but also won two Silver Lions. What do these mean to you?"

Compared to Xinhua News Agency, Sina Entertainment's questions were much easier to answer, and no matter how you answered, you wouldn't be wrong.

"I am very happy to be here. My Italian friends are very enthusiastic towards me. Golden Lion or Silver Lion, they are all encouragement for me, allowing me to re-summarize myself."

"There is an old Chinese saying, 'Live and learn.' So I still need to continue learning, continue to pursue advanced studies at Beijing Film Academy. Beijing Film Academy is a very good place to learn, where I can learn the world's most cutting-edge film technology and knowledge."

Well, Cao Yang couldn't help but advertise for Beijing Film Academy again.

After the award-winning press conference ended, tonight's closing ceremony and awards gala could be considered over for Cao Yang.

However, he still had to stay in Venice for a few more days. He had to gather with the connections he made at the party, Old Ma, Sony Classics, mk2, etc., and attend a few cocktail parties. He couldn't just ignore them after winning the Golden Lion, right?

!

The next day, even though those who should have known already knew, Cao Yang still called Old Situ, called Hou Keming, called Xie Xiaojing, also called Xie Fei, and called Boss Han of China Film Group.

Finally, no longer suppressing his emotions, he called his parents.

"Dad, where's Mom?"

"Nothing, everything is fine, Venice is okay, are you guys okay?"

"Hmm, well, I'm participating in a film festival, right? Guess what award I won?"

"Yes, won an award again, and three at once."

"Venice's top award, yes, Golden Lion, a golden lion, with two wings inserted, it looks okay."

"Let me tell you, Chen Kaige, you know him, right? My achievement now is no worse than his, haha, your son is also a big director!"

"Okay, okay, humble, not proud, work hard, I will, I know, I know."

"I can only go back in a few days. I won the Golden Lion, so I definitely have to socialize. No drinking, no one here forces drinking, don't worry."

"I will, the public security here is okay, I don't go out at night, hmm, okay, got it."

"Okay, hung up."

What is the greatest expectation parents have for their children?

When you were a child, they might still be full of unrealistic fantasies about you. By the time you gradually grow up, the fantasies have basically been shattered.

Only peace, peace, and more peace remain. It would be best to have a skill to support yourself. If there is another small achievement, that is the most perfect.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 68 =====