Chapter 114

September 7, 2002, Venice, Aman Canal Hotel.

"Lu, this is Harvey."

"Harvey, this is the excellent young director Seeing Lu Kuan."

Quentin is boasting about *Whiplash* with spit flying, and his hands are also moving involuntarily.

After all, he has Italian blood; he can't speak without moving his hands.

"You should have gone with me to see that film the other day; it's definitely a masterpiece."

"Oh, haha, Venice added a screening for Lu yesterday, and I watched it."

Seeing Lu Kuan and Quentin are still waiting for his follow-up, but didn't expect this dead fat pig with hair all over his face to just pick up the whiskey and take a sip, and stop talking.

Three days have passed since the premiere of *Whiplash*; the film's reputation has exploded, and the audience requested Venice to add a few screenings.

"Your catalog rating doesn't seem high, does it?"

Boss Lu's heart sinks.

He asked Quentin to introduce his staunch ally Harvey to talk about overseas copyright, and he had already thought that he would use the catalog rating to talk about things before coming.

The Venice Film Festival catalog is a daily publication, recording the viewing schedule, film introductions, filmmaker interviews, and in-depth analysis of films during the film festival.

Why is *Whiplash*'s audience popularity very good, but the catalog rating is very low?

Because the right to speak for the catalog rating is in the hands of senior Italian media and film critics.

A few days ago, the statement made by Seeing Lu Kuan when actively accepting interviews that *Whiplash* is a fusion of art film and Hollywood spirit was rampant.

Although it did not receive public praise from the chairman of this conference, Deharden, film critics have already launched a fierce attack on him.

"A nondescript music film"

"A fascist film that uglifies the image of teachers"

"Film garbage with no technique, no lens, no connotation"

Venice's senior film critics hold high the slogan of anti-Hollywood; how could they give *Whiplash* a high score in the catalog rating?

The catalog is on a 5-point scale, currently rated 2.3.

Boss Lu of course knows the nature of this Jewish businessman, and is not in a hurry to defend himself.

"You can wait a while; perhaps the situation will be clearer after the awards ceremony ends."

Harvey looks sarcastic: "Oriental boy, you wouldn't be naive enough to think that your film can win any big awards, would you?"

Boss Lu pouts at him, looking indifferent.

Harvey hates secretly in his heart; of course, he has taken a fancy to *Whiplash*, and even feels that the male actor who played the fascist teacher has hope of competing for an Oscar award.

This is a masterpiece without a doubt!

He started by making art films, but they were the kind of European art films with soft pornography.

But in this music art film, he even saw the shadow of commercial films and thriller films; this is a box office value that general art films do not have.

"How about this, 500,000 US dollars, I can reluctantly take it to North America."

"Kid, I advise you, it's very difficult for new directors to start; don't think too much."

Seeing Lu Kuan sneers disdainfully; he is not afraid of offending Harvey.

Jews are the most pragmatic; as long as you have value to him, he can tolerate your temper no matter how big it is.

Boss Lu suddenly changes the subject: "Harvey, you are Jewish, you should believe in Judaism, right?"

The white-skinned pig looks sincere: "Of course, we are all the chosen people of God, of course we believe in Yahweh who blesses us."

Yahweh is Jehovah; the sayings of Judaism and Christianity are different.

Seeing Lu Kuan sneers: "There are 'no adultery' and 'no coveting others' possessions' in the Ten Commandments of Moses; has Mr. Harvey achieved them?"

The white-skinned pig suddenly throws the wine glass to the ground and rebukes this Chinese little director who has no sense of proportion.

"What do you mean?! Is this the politeness of you Chinese?"

Quentin is a bit dumbfounded; he originally thought that today would be a banquet where both host and guest were happy, Seeing Lu Kuan sold a good price, and Harvey bought a good film.

This? This?

It can only be said that Quentin, your heart is not dirty enough to keep up with the thinking of these two dog things.

Boss Lu looks down on the strong-outside-but-weak-inside Jewish old fox: "Harvey, let's speak clearly, you know the value of *Whiplash* better than I do; is 500,000 trying to insult me?"

Harvey does not give an inch: "You are an unknown little director; it's already very good that Miramax can make you famous in North America; you still want to push your luck?"

"We have a proverb in Judaism."

"Contentment is a heaven-sent wealth, luxury is an artificial poverty; kid, I think you should apologize to me now."

Boss Lu laughs: "Judaism? Judaism only has a history of 3,000 years; do you know what I believe in?"

Harvey says disdainfully: "You Chinese, besides Marx, what else do you believe in?"

Boss Lu sighs long; the god-stick business hasn't been online for a long time, and he is a bit rusty.

He dips some wine with his index finger and quickly draws a god-descending spirit talisman on the table.

"I believe in the oldest Taoism in China; it existed before you Jews were born."

This is bragging; the serious Taoism was formed in the 2nd century AD, with a history of no more than 2,000 years.

But tracing back to the origin, it may really be far more than that.

"Harvey, this is a Taoist spirit talisman; before the water mark of this spirit talisman dries, I can see through the little secrets in your heart; do you believe it or not?"

"Hahahaha! Interesting Oriental, you make me can't help but laugh!"

"The last time I saw such an interesting Chinese person was that investor Zhang of *Hero*!"

Boss Lu's eyes light up: "Good! Since you mentioned Zhang Weiping, I will talk about you and *Hero*."

Harvey rolls his eyes and looks at his watch.

If this kid doesn't loosen his tone, he is thinking about whether he can slightly raise the price.

Quentin is a die-hard China fan and Kung Fu fan; he even wants to play the White-browed Taoist of Wudang Mountain in his *Kill Bill*.

At this time, looking at the supernatural, magnificent, and simple talisman with strong religious mystery, he feels awe.

"Lu! Please explain it to us; I'm really too curious!"

He is afraid that the sea breeze will blow the spirit talisman dry, so he carefully stands to the side and surrounds the talisman with his wide palms.

Boss Lu chuckles in his heart; this guy is really a weirdo.

"Harvey, you should have talked to New Pictures about the overseas copyright of *Hero*, right?"

The white-skinned pig responds noncommittally, signaling him to continue.

"Wait a moment, I'll perform a magic."

Harvey:???

Quentin:!!!

I saw Master Lu with his left hand outside and right hand inside, both palms facing inward, left thumb pinching the child pattern of the right hand, right thumb pinching the noon pattern of the right hand and embracing.

In an instant, he suddenly opens his eyes again.

"Harvey, your psychological price for *Hero* should be around 20 million, and you want to buy out their overseas distribution rights, because you are very optimistic about the box office performance of this film in North America!"

In the previous life, *Hero* invested 30 million US dollars, and the North American agency rights were bought out by Harvey for 21 million US dollars, later the box office was 130 million US dollars.

This business made Harvey fat and oily, and Zhang Weiping's intestines were about to turn green with regret.

Quentin screams: "Lu, do it again, I didn't see clearly."

Harvey:...

Seeing Lu Kuan:...

"You are the ancient snake Satan!"

Harvey exclaims as he stands up, looking at the seemingly harmless Chinese young director in disbelief.

Or a Taoist priest.

Boss Lu stands up leisurely and lights a cigarette coolly.

"Harvey, before the awards ceremony of the film festival ends, I will not talk to you about the overseas copyright of *Whiplash*."

"But I think you can prepare the money first; I have great confidence in myself."

A wisp of smoke drifts by, as if indicating the mysterious religion of the ancient Eastern country, disappearing in front of Harvey's eyes.

When Master Lu used the profound religious heritage of ancient China to output to the Jewish white-skinned pig, Lu Taro was drinking with Wang Xiaolei in the room with annoyance.

"Little Wang Zong, I really don't understand."

Wang Xiaolei glances at him silently.

A scholar is useless; once something happens and he is hit, he only knows how to complain.

"Why can Gong Li and Takeshi Kitano and these people all go to stand for him, and that Quentin, the shameless Hollywood sex maniac!"

No way, *The Missing Gun* is produced by Yanda Huayi; he himself doesn't have such great malice towards Seeing Lu Kuan, it's just that it's a matter of interest, so he has to target him.

*The Missing Gun*'s domestic box office profit is 7 million, which is considered pretty good for the investor, but overseas copyright is also a piece of fat meat that must be eaten.

Some people will ask, *The Missing Gun* entered the "Upstream" unit, and *Whiplash* is the main competition unit; does this also exist as a competitive relationship?

Of course it exists.

In 2002, especially in 2002 when Chinese commercial films represented by *Hero* had not yet completely made a name for themselves, it was very difficult for domestic films to sell copyright overseas.

After 1993, the state stipulated that various film studios could trade copyright with overseas agents by themselves.

Huo Jianqi's *Postmen in the Mountains* was sold by Xiaoxiang Film Studio to the Japanese agent Kazuo Fukasawa.

This film was screened in Japan for a long time and had a box office income of 400-500 million yen, while the selling price was only 70,000-80,000 US dollars.

There are countless examples of suffering losses like this, so domestic art films seeking to participate in overseas film festivals and sell films have become an important way.

But for most foreign film buyers, the quotas for Asian and even Chinese films in their hands are limited.

Now *Whiplash* is so fierce, its popularity at home and abroad is chasing *The Missing Gun*, which is of course not good news for Yanda Huayi.

Wang Xiaolei laughs: "Old Lu, don't be anxious; he Seeing Lu Kuan has some talent, but this is his first time participating in an overseas film festival, and I don't think he necessarily knows many things."

Lu Chuan seems to have grabbed a straw: "Little Wang Zong, what do you mean?"

"His catalog rating is not high now; I have already asked several domestic media to publicize this matter."

"In addition, there is a lively scene to watch on the square today; I think it can be made into an article."

Lu Chuan's eyes light up: "You mean 'Give me back my money'?"

"Haha, that's right."

"He Seeing Lu Kuan is here for the first time; he was slow to realize when his poster position was occupied before; I don't think he knows much about this matter either."

The Venice Film Festival has an unwritten small tradition: a spontaneous audience protest movement called "Give me back my money", which is already in its fifth year this year.

It was initially ten large billboards set up by a well-known Italian film website outside the main venue of the film festival, the casino.

Encouraging audience members who think they have been deceived to write down their thoughts in the most vicious language, spraying the films they hate.

The website will select the three worst films of the day before the end of the screening every day and give the submitting audience a bonus equivalent to the ticket price of 20 euros.

Lu Chuan says shyly: "Little Wang Zong, is this not very good?"

"It's a fact that their catalog rating is low, but to openly go and write black material... this..."

Wang Xiaolei is speechless looking at this bespectacled man who took advantage and acted like a good boy.

Who doesn't know who! Don't pretend with me!

"Director Lu! You are from a scholarly family, your literary talent is brilliant; this task is yours! Write it out and I will have someone translate it and go paste it!"

Wang Xiaolei waved his hand and made a decision; looking back, he saw Lu Chuan writing furiously.

This grandson.

Beijing, Ruicheng Center, Zhang Jian's residence.

Ruicheng Center is the current Liangmaqiao Four Seasons Family; it was more than 20,000 in 2002, and it is already more than 100,000 20 years later.

Zhang Ruoyun is surfing the internet in the bedroom after taking a shower, the interface constantly switching between blogs, Tianya, and Maopu, very happy.

He is now Seeing Lu Kuan's strongest mouthpiece, specifically catching black fans and spraying them.

Look, a Venice front-line report from the entertainment section of Tianya has entered his range.

Title: *Whiplash* catalog rating far from meeting the standard, on-site audience protests and demands a refund

Below is a concise text explanation about the catalog rating of *Whiplash* that is gradually going down and the on-site pictures of the "Give me back my money" movement.

In this day and age, having pictures and truth is no different from a solid hammer.

Once the post was issued, it built a high building; swarming in were countless fans of Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi, who were naturally Seeing Lu Kuan's number one black fans.

【Only for Tingfeng】: This is self-inflicted and cannot live; the eyes of foreign audiences are bright, and they can see that this is a person who fishes for fame.

【Handsome Crown East and West】: Agree with the first floor's point of view; I don't know where this person got the confidence to go abroad to lose face.

Zhang Ruoyun decisively starts spraying.

【Chasing Dreams Red Child】: Foreigners are your father? If they say *Whiplash* is not good, it's not good? The film of your father's dog-shit notes didn't even enter Venice; where did you get the face to mock Seeing Lu Kuan?

He really wants to say that Seeing Lu Kuan's film is the best, but at this time, facing the overwhelming decline of the whole network, he also has no idea.

After all, this is just a high school student, and he doesn't have enough vision and knowledge to firm up his cognition.

After all, that is Venice, and Seeing Lu Kuan is just a Beidian student who is about to enroll and is a few years older than him.

【Unparalleled】: Really speechless, this Seeing Lu Kuan caused my Brother Jielun to lose face too; I really don't know why he went to act in his film.

Zhang Ruoyun is anxious; shouldn't this be a friendly army? How did he defect before the battle? Want to step on Seeing Lu Kuan to save Jielun?

He clicks on the blog network again; here it is still calm; Zhang Ruoyun keenly perceives that among the websites, only the blog network has the lowest malice towards Seeing Lu Kuan.

Only a few so-called film critics posted articles attacking *Whiplash*; in fact, they might not have even watched the film yet.

They are just imperial film critics hired with money.

These people will sooner or later become big colonialists like public intellectuals, listening to whoever gives money.

Only Mei Yanfang, Zhou Xun, Zhang Jizhong, and others posted articles to support as always, wishing *Whiplash* a good result.

The real blow to the reputation and popularity of *Whiplash* in the mainland is a director face-to-face column of Sina Entertainment.

Famous directors such as Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige looked forward to the 8 participating films and directors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong at this film festival from the perspective of professional film directors in the program.

When talking about Seeing Lu Kuan and *Whiplash*, Director Chen Kaige expressed his decline in a calm tone.

He believes that this is a film that has both art and commerce, and is not like anything.

Young director Seeing Lu Kuan's creative thinking has serious defects and cannot perfectly combine the plot between the two.

The little steel cannon on the side is dumbfounded.

I took the money, you old Chen, with thick eyebrows and big eyes and a prominent family background, also do this?

Hey! This person is just looking for compensation here after being rejected by the young Seeing Lu Kuan at the Beijing Film Studio.

He won't get used to such a "shameless person" like Seeing Lu Kuan!

(End of chapter)