Chapter 95: The Little Lotus Just Shows Its Sharp Tip

The Western way of thinking is indeed different from that of the East.

Fine, never mind who is right or wrong, as long as you are happy, Cao Yang certainly won't go to the trouble of correcting them.

Hou Ke felt that what the two foreigners said was good, so he had to write it down quickly; when the film was released, he would find someone to post it online to prevent malicious people from saying the film was anti-this or anti-that—once a big label was slapped on, it would be disgusting.

Hmm, I'll arrange for a reporter to interview them later, and then release it when the film is screened.

Perhaps few people know Marin Karmitz, but Nanni Moretti just won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, so what he says still carries a lot of authority.

Right, let's do it that way.

The group went to have a meal together, and then Cao Yang found the people from Sony Pictures Classics and mk2 to ask them how this film would fare at Cannes.

Clearly, mk2 had more say in this regard; after discussing it, they all agreed that Cannes was worth a shot, and they also wanted to let Cao Yang witness their power at Cannes.

Finally, Marin Karmitz told Cao Yang that the Palme d'Or might be very difficult, as it required special timing, but there was a very high chance of competing for other awards.

Cao Yang hesitated for a moment, then firmly told Marin Karmitz, "Actress, I want Best Actress. If possible, please have Mr. Karmitz put in the effort in this regard; even if we have to give up other awards, it doesn't matter."

Marin Karmitz looked at Cao Yang and then nodded in agreement.

He knew very well why Cao Yang wanted Best Actress; just think, if three films could respectively produce a Best Actress from Berlin, Venice, and Cannes, that would be fucking more impressive than winning the top prize at all three major festivals.

Such an achievement is unique even in today's film industry.

The most crucial thing is that, by watching the film, the lead actress's performance is absolutely qualified to win Best Actress.

Since she is qualified, then it can be maneuvered.

Someone with the same thought was Belman from Sony Pictures Classics.

Unlike the few European guys who split their energy to think about religious allegories, he came straight for the lead actress's performance; he had never forgotten the advice he gave Cao Yang in Venice.

Now it seems that Cao Yang had completely taken his advice to heart; the lead actress's performance was definitely worth a Best Actress award.

He wanted Gao Yuanyuan to win Best Actress at the three major European festivals even more than Cao Yang did; once they collaborated in Hollywood, they would be unstoppable.

A director who can produce Best Actresses from the three major European festivals with three films is a collaborator that all actresses in Hollywood would fight for.

Therefore, he solemnly promised Cao Yang that he would use all the power of Sony Pictures Classics, and even use all the personal connections he could, to ensure that the Cannes Best Actress award was secured.

With these promises, Cao Yang made up his mind: then let's go to Cannes!

Consequently, Hou Ke began to get busy again, constantly calling to urge the film's censorship process.

Otherwise, he was afraid that the censorship committee members would see the film involved religion and wouldn't want to stick their necks out, preferring to wait for others to give their opinions first.

Even if the story was set in Xiangjiang, this possibility could not be ruled out.

If they dragged it out for three or five months, there would be no point in attending Cannes.

Under Hou Ke's tireless urging, he even went to visit a few old guys specifically several times; the film took a month and a half, but finally received its "ID card."

The 55th Cannes Film Festival opened on May 15th, and on April 12th, the list of films entering the main competition section was announced.

Then, the domestic media was shocked once again.

Cao Yang's new film, *Secret Sunshine*, was prominently on the list.

At the same time, Jia Zhangke's *Unknown Pleasures* also entered the main competition section.

However, because Jia Zhangke's previous film *Xiao Wu* had participated in a film festival in violation of regulations, he was banned from directing for five years; *Unknown Pleasures* was filmed during his ban, so it certainly couldn't pass censorship.

Jia Zhangke was in tears; Zhang Yimou had so many films participate in festivals in violation of regulations, and which one wasn't more intense than *Xiao Wu*? Why did he have no issues at all, while I get the "banned from directing" package...

I refuse to accept this!

If you don't accept it, fight! He once again participated in a film festival in violation of regulations.

Cao Yang's film was participating in the Cannes Film Festival through official channels, so the media could certainly report on it freely.

"Director Cao sets out again, this time the target is France."

"After taking home two Silver Bears in Berlin and two Silver Lions and one Golden Lion in Venice, Director Cao's target this time is Cannes."

"Famous director Cao Yang's film *Secret Sunshine* enters the main competition section of the 55th Cannes Film Festival, with hopes of winning a major award."

Even the hot posts on the Tianya community were joking in nature.

Under the question "Who will be the next Best Actress at the three major European festivals?", the previous answers had been all over the place, but the recent ones were all: Gao Yuanyuan, Gao Yuanyuan, Gao Yuanyuan...

Dong Xuan was also browsing this post, and it would be a lie to say she wasn't envious of Gao Yuanyuan.

A few days ago, after Cao Yang finished exercising with her, he touched her tender buds, and the two had chatted about this film.

According to Cao Yang, he hadn't planned on making this film at first; the reason this film existed was to promote someone, specifically aiming for the Cannes Best Actress award.

Dong Xuan's eyes had lit up when she heard that; listen to how domineering that sounded. In other words, whichever actress Cao Yang wanted to promote, he could truly make it happen.

!

Dong Xuan secretly regretted that if she had figured it out sooner and taken action earlier, maybe this role would have been hers.

Where was she worse than Gao Yuanyuan?

Although her own front wasn't very prominent, Gao Yuanyuan wasn't much better off.

The key was that her own little lotus was just showing its sharp tip, standing out for being both pink and tender.

Moreover, she had a background in dance; how could Gao Yuanyuan compare to her in terms of waist flexibility?

Sigh, how wonderful it would be if the answers below were all about Dong Xuan.

Cao Yang said he wouldn't be making Chinese-language films for a while and was going to Hollywood to make a film to see how things went; it would be nice if she could just play a bit part in a film Cao Yang made in Hollywood.

Dong Xuan made a decision; she remembered what Cao Yang said last time when his hands were supporting her waist from behind: if it were twin tails...

Pfft, pervert.

By the way, Cao Yang said he would come over tonight.

Subsequently, Dong Xuan began searching online for what kind of twin tails looked better...

After the film entered the main competition section of the Cannes Film Festival, Cao Yang felt temporarily relaxed.

He remembered very clearly that from April of the year 2000, when he started thinking about what script to write to move Old Situ, until now, it had been exactly two years.

In two years, he had made three films, achieved accomplishments he wouldn't have dared to imagine in his previous life, and had become one of the three major directors in the mainland today; it really felt like a dream.

Sometimes he also felt he was too rushed, even a bit eager for quick success; why couldn't he be like other directors, one film a year, or even two films every three years?

Wouldn't it be nice to relax for a while after finishing a film?

Wouldn't it be nice to find a few more beautiful actresses to guide them in their acting?

Cao Yang had actually thought about such a life, but he always had a sense of unease in his heart, fearing that he would wake up from a dream, and even more afraid that as time passed, good films would become fewer and fewer—this was certain.

Why are comic book films so popular in Hollywood?

First, this model is simple to profit from; sequels and related series films come with their own publicity, and risks are infinitely reduced.

Second, Hollywood films lack innovation and are seriously homogenized, making it difficult to bring freshness and surprises to the audience; most importantly, there are uncontrollable risks.

Capital, of course, wants to make money more securely.

So Cao Yang wanted to leave behind enough classics before this situation occurred, to forge a golden body, and not live this second life in vain.

(End of chapter)