Chapter 111

On the morning of September 4, 2002, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Lu Kuan, and others arrived at the Film Palace together to attend the screening of *The Missing Gun*.

There would be three Chinese-language films screened today; in the morning, *The Missing Gun* and *The Drummer*, and in the afternoon, *Small Town Spring*.

Regardless of any previous friction, they were all compatriots abroad, so everyone still had to maintain a decent facade.

It wasn't just Tian Zhuangzhuang and Lu Kuan; Chinese-language filmmakers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong had all come together.

Jiang Wen was absent, so Taro had become the big boss.

He stood on the stage of the cinema hall, chatting leisurely with reporters and fans, carrying the air of an established director.

"Teacher Tian! You've come!"

Lu Chuan was no fool; he had always held Tian Zhuangzhuang in high regard, a figure with such seniority, capability, and prominent connections in the upper echelons of the film circle.

Lu Kuan felt disdain at his sycophantic appearance and quietly teased Liu Yifei beside him.

"Little Liu, look how fawning this guy is; he's just one step away from bowing and scraping to Teacher Tian."

"Lu Kuan."

Liu Yifei hesitated for a few seconds.

"Hmm?"

"Actually, when you're with Teacher Tian, you're even more fawning than him..."

The young director was watching the two exchange pleasantries jokingly, and upon hearing this, he was furious.

Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharp blade!

"Nonsense! My feelings for Teacher Tian are those of a student's admiration, unlike this grandson!"

The young girl had always been at a disadvantage in their conversations, and this time she finally got to see Boss Lu lose his composure.

She covered her mouth and chuckled: "That's right, he's the grandson, and Teacher Tian is the grandfather, so it is indeed a student's admiration; you are of the same generation!"

"I! You!"

Boss Lu was left speechless.

"Little Liu, you don't seem to be working very hard on your morning exercises lately; let's extend them by half an hour starting tomorrow."

Liu Yifei: "..."

Chinese-language filmmakers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong exchanged greetings, and the film was about to start, but Lu Chuan's expression grew increasingly anxious.

"Boss Wang, Chairwoman Gong Li, she?"

Wang Xiaolei's expression wasn't very good either: "Something came up and delayed her; she probably can't make it. Her assistant answered the phone."

Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei in the first row exchanged a smile.

Lu Kuan was laughing at how Taro was quite good at leveraging influence, knowing to pull Gong Li over to bolster the scene.

Liu Yifei was laughing at how Lu Kuan was just an upgraded version of Lu Chuan, far more calculating and far more decisive in his actions.

On the first day of the Venice Film Festival, he had already won Gong Li's favor and invited her to attend the premiere of *The Drummer*.

Grandson Lu and Grandson Lu were still a level apart!

The audience wasn't full, missing about a third, but for a Chinese-language film, it should be considered a pretty good turnout.

Yesterday, Hong Kong director Chen Guo's *Public Toilet* wasn't even half full, and by the time the film was halfway through, almost everyone had left, which was truly painful.

Lu Chuan sighed and signaled the staff to start the screening.

Lu Kuan had watched *The Missing Gun* many times in his previous life.

To be blunt, the whole film was filled with typical Jiang Wen-style black humor and absurdity, exactly the same as the "Jiang flavor" in *Let the Bullets Fly*.

It would be strange if Lu Chuan hadn't been hollowed out by Jiang Wen.

The audience watched the dual subtitles, some understanding and some not, gasping in engagement during the scenes of Ma Shan chasing the killer, and whispering to each other in the eerie atmosphere when the station chief asked Ma Shan, "Were you at home the night before?"

Lu Chuan kept looking back at the audience's reaction, feeling happy about the viewers' engagement.

Catching a glimpse of Lu Kuan, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and others watching the film intently out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but feel proud.

Filmmakers ultimately have to rely on their work to speak; what's the point of winning a verbal battle?

As Ma Shan walked shakily along the railroad tracks, the film's visuals blurred intensely, and the entire film ended.

The Venice audience had a relatively high quality of film appreciation; they only started applauding and stood up to leave once the credits appeared and the lights came on.

Lu Chuan walked onto the stage and bowed; this was the creator's gratitude for the audience's support.

Two female reporters were interviewing Lu Chuan in front of the cinema hall, and Lu Kuan couldn't just leave without saying a word, so he struck up a conversation with Zhang Zuoji beside him.

"Director Zhang, I watched your film yesterday; it's a great drama!"

Lu Kuan offered some commercial flattery.

Zhang Zuoji's *The Best of Times* was the only Taiwanese film to enter the main competition unit and was also highly anticipated.

"Not at all, Director Lu, I'm looking forward to your film later," Zhang Zuoji laughed.

Lu Kuan laughed: "I'll give you a heads-up in advance, Director Zhang; I'm young and have a strong sense of pride, so please be merciful with your words after you watch it."

Liu Yifei watched his hypocritical pleasantries from the side, thinking to herself, you don't have a strong sense of pride, you have a strong sense of vengeance!

"What 'merciful with your words'?"

Lu Chuan walked over with a face full of smiles; the audience's support and recognition allowed him to face Lu Kuan with the posture of a victor.

As for the slight sarcasm from before, there was no need to dwell on it, otherwise, wouldn't it just confirm those malicious and unreasonable speculations from the rumor-mongers?

Zhang Zuoji complimented: "Director Lu, the film is wonderful; I heard it has already reached over 9 million in box office, right?"

"Haha, the cost was 2 million, so for now, it can only be called a small profit; let's see if we can have some breakthroughs in overseas copyright this time!"

Lu Kuan watched Lu Chuan looking smug and satisfied, and watched him show off with composure, as if watching a monkey show.

Lu Chuan's mouth was almost stretching to his ears, and he boasted again to the domestic media that had rushed over.

Looking at the seemingly harmless Boss Lu on the side, he didn't forget to add: "Everyone, let's not waste time here; shall we move to the next room and take a look at Director Lu's masterpiece?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang also called out to Lu Kuan: "Little Lu, let's go over and prepare first."

With half an hour left until the premiere of *The Drummer*, the crew members arrived early to prepare to welcome the audience; this was etiquette and convention.

Han Lu from Sina and Xie Xiao from *Southern* also arrived at the cinema hall early and greeted Lu Kuan.

"Director Lu, it's finally your home court; answer a few questions for me!"

Lu Kuan had a good impression of this female reporter from a competing unit, so he nodded and agreed with a smile.

"May I ask what your expectations are for your film's transactions and awards?"

Lu Kuan spoke the truth: "There have been some contacts regarding overseas copyright; the actual transaction situation might have to wait until the award results are announced."

"As for the awards, I don't have too much extravagant hope."

"*Whiplash* is not an art film in the pure sense; looking at the narrative structure and lens language, it carries elements of Hollywood films."

The two reporters didn't have much of a reaction, but Zhang Zuoji, Chen Guo, and even Lu Chuan on the scene were stunned.

What is this? Suicide? Declaring war on Venice?

As mentioned earlier, Venice is the vanguard against Hollywood in the film camp.

A film festival has its own selection tone; you, Lu Kuan, as a director of a film in the main competition unit, openly declare your Hollywood inclination.

This can be completely understood as a provocation against the traditional philosophy of the Venice jury.

Is he really that stupid?

Liu Yifei and Tian Zhuangzhuang had accompanied Lu Kuan to see Gong Li on the first day.

On their way back, Lu Kuan had expressed his thoughts on this year's Venice jury team and award tendencies.

The slogan of the Venice Film Festival before and after 2002 was anti-Hollywood; why was only this year called "Accepting Diversity"?

Lu Kuan, who was sharper than a monkey after sticking on fur, wouldn't do such a stupid thing; his target was the chairman of this year's film festival, Deharden!

How does a young director's first film win the Three Golds?

Is it by transmigrating into the 2002 acting class of Beidian, copying a script, gathering a few famous actors, having capital rush to invest, having Han Shanping bow down, and then becoming famous overnight?

It can be said that this is a matter where favorable timing, geographical convenience, and human harmony are all indispensable.

First, the content of *Whiplash* is solid enough, the core actor Feng Yuanzheng has superb strength, and the film's quality is recognized by the jury.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to agree to his request to delay the submission of the film.

Secondly, this time a Chinese actor is the chairman of the jury, which is an absolute benefit under the elite award system.

In the final tug-of-war and stalemate in voting, as long as the film's quality passes, she can have the courage and determination to make the final decision!

There is no need to doubt this; it can be seen from the fact that she openly tore into Adjani in 1997 to get the Best Actor award for Liang Chaowei.

Finally, this is also the purpose of Boss Lu's speech to the media just now.

Didn't you, Deharden, want to talk about "Accepting Diversity"?

Didn't you invite the most Hollywood films in history to participate in the screening?

Didn't you put up posters of Hollywood superstars in the best positions outside the Film Palace and invite them to walk the red carpet?

I will now catch this olive branch of yours and openly echo you from afar; let's see if you take the bait!

This German who once headed the Berlin Film Festival for more than 20 years is also a paranoid; Lu Kuan believes that he has influence over the jury's decision.

Besides these, the rest depends on the results of Boss Lu's crazy rubbing of film screenings these days.

For example, the support and platforming of a group of big names.

Lu Chuan and Wang Xiaolei were whispering together, then feigned comfort to the serious-looking Lu Kuan.

"Director Lu, don't be anxious; it's like this when Chinese films participate in exhibitions abroad; there were only two-thirds of the audience in the hall for *The Missing Gun* just now."

He looked around at the deserted scene, feeling a bit of smugness about kicking someone while they were down, but it wasn't easy to show it too obviously.

It's just a pity that he was slapped in the face instantly...

The first to arrive was Gong Li.

"Chairwoman Gong, welcome!"

She was wearing a black silk dress with cutouts today, her temperament elegant and noble, and standing with Lu Kuan in a crisp suit, one couldn't tell the age difference at all.

The two followed the local customs and performed a cheek-kissing greeting.

Even though the distance between the two wasn't close, Lu Kuan still fully felt the charm of the mature woman, the warm and soft touch fleeting.

"Little Lu, do more interviews these days and build up some momentum for yourself."

Boss Lu understood the whisper in his ear from Gong Li, nodded excitedly, and gentlemanly supported her arm to invite her to take her seat.

Gong Li seemed particularly close to him, gently patted the back of his hand, signaling him to continue his reception work.

"Lu Kuan-san! I came uninvited!"

Takeshi Kitano entered the venue like a yakuza boss, bringing his studio's suit-wearing staff, followed by a large group of fans and reporters.

"China has an old saying."

Boss Lu listened to his broken Chinese with a headache, not knowing if the next sentence was "Those who know the times are heroes."

"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant lands!"

"Lu Kuan-san, I hope to enjoy your masterpiece here today!"

Reporters picked up their cameras one after another to record the hug between the two Asian directors, and Gong Li on the side also walked over friendly to greet them.

This kid actually has such connections?

Gong Li smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Takeshi Kitano; both were iconic figures of Asian cinema.

"Mr. Takeshi Kitano, have you and Director Lu Kuan known each other for a long time?"

"No, no, no, we only became friends across generations in the hotel room last night!"

Gong Li glanced at Boss Lu with a strange look; how could such a handsome young man play this game?

"That! Sister Gong Li, Director Takeshi Kitano means that we drank too much in the room yesterday, and Teacher Tian was there too!"

"Not bad, not bad, I really appreciate Lu Kuan-san's drinking capacity! I'm also looking forward to his film today!"

The crowd looked up and down, only the reporter friends disappointedly crossed out the line "Takeshi Kitano has an affair with a certain Asian male director" in their notebooks.

Tian Zhuangzhuang watched the increasing number of audience members pouring into the cinema hall with great joy, and chatted with Takeshi Kitano for a few more sentences.

Lu Chuan, however, felt inexplicably angry; he didn't expect this kid's skill in flattery to be so strong that Gong Li and Takeshi Kitano were both willing to build momentum for him!

Wang Xiaolei was a calculating person; watching the intimate appearance of Gong Li and Lu Kuan, he was already secretly guessing if there was something going on between the dog man and woman.

Old grass and young cow?

"Little Lu, ready to start?"

Lu Kuan checked his watch; the cinema hall was basically almost full, the interviews were almost done, and it was about time to start the screening.

"Wait another two minutes."

Liu Yifei wondered: "The audience is going to protest; who are we waiting for?"

Suddenly, a tall, fat white man burst in from the entrance; it was none other than the number one foot-fetishist in Hollywood who had just landed by plane today!

"Lu! You actually made it into the main competition unit! Awesome!"

He met Lu Kuan at the Beijing Film Studio in June and quite appreciated the latter's film creativity and talent, after which the two had several drinking sessions in Sanlitun.

As for whether Boss Lu took him to Heaven on Earth to mess around, that's not for outsiders to know.

The traffic brought by Quentin was huge; this film genius was the focus wherever he went.

"Quentin, very welcome; I almost thought you wouldn't make it."

"Harvey from Miramax was just dragging me to talk about film matters; it's really a headache."

Boss Lu chuckled in his heart; Harvey was probably complaining that his filming progress in Beijing was too slow and the costs were seriously over budget!

The audience filed in, crowding the corridors and aisles until they were packed.

Lu Kuan invited Quentin to take his seat and walked to the front of the stage to prepare for his speech.

"Very welcome to everyone's arrival; I am a new director, but I am very lucky to have the dedication of the entire crew team, the support of excellent actors, and the help of seniors who care for me, which is why this film was born."

"I won't take up any more of everyone's time; I wish you all a wonderful 120 minutes! Thank you!"

The applause was sparse; the audience was looking forward to what kind of magic this new Asian director had that could make so many big names in the film industry stand up for him.

The film started quickly; after the dragon mark, it entered a burst of dense drum sounds; as the saying goes, hear the sound before seeing the person, accompanied by the drum sounds, it introduced the gradient picture.

(End of chapter)