Chapter 841: This is not my son!!

*Don't Stop the Camera! * has been in theaters for over half a month, and the fierce discussions surrounding it are only intensifying.

Supporters and detractors alike have found their respective battlegrounds in public opinion to voice their views.

"Don't just argue for the sake of arguing! Can't you watch the movie properly before saying anything?!"

"I couldn't even get past the beginning; you expect us to keep watching?"

"The concept and creativity of this film are incredibly novel! It's a step forward in film history!"

"I don't deny that Naoki Nagayama's previous films were well-made, but this one is a failure! I won't accept any counter-arguments!"

"........"

Gradually, the commentary has drifted away from the film itself, beginning to escalate toward the director and the production company.

"Can we stop the mindless fawning over Naoki Nagayama? He's just a young man; you're going to blow him up to the heavens!"

"I advise the mindless haters: your mental state is absolutely unhealthy!"

"Heh~ It must be the paid internet trolls hired by Naoki Nagayama!"

"......."

The arguments in newspapers large and small are coming one after another, and they are even starting to link up, almost feeling like the internet forums of the future.

And because Naoki Nagayama is not in Tokyo, the Shuyou team lacks a core leader, meaning their counter-offensive hasn't been able to stand up, and public opinion has begun to tilt:

*Don't Stop the Camera! * is a failed work; Naoki Nagayama's attempt was unsuccessful; the young man took too big a step...

Ma Sai now comes to the studio early every morning, looking at the collected newspapers and discussions, and discussing countermeasures with the distribution department.

"Lin Sang, can't we invite more reporters to help?"

Lin Quan is a bit nervous: "Ma Sai, actually we've already asked almost all our channels... but it's a bit strange. It seems the voices trashing *Don't Stop the Camera! * have suddenly increased in the last little while!"

"Have you checked for a specific reason?"

"I've asked several editors of newspapers that published negative pieces about us, and they were all evasive. Some claimed righteously that it was the audience's true feelings, but others said someone had asked their company to run these reports..."

"But when I asked who exactly, they wouldn't say..."

Ma Sai rubs his temples, feeling a bit of pressure:

"It looks like one party took the lead, and then the other guys started circling like hyenas!"

It's not just Toei in the entertainment industry that is jealous of Shuyou. Seeing that public opinion is unfavorable to Shuyou Films, many are happy to take a kick at them.

"Ma Sai, should we continue to hire people?"

Lin Quan asks. They are currently spending a sum of money almost every day to hire trolls to express support in the media...

After all, the absolute number of people spontaneously supporting *Don't Stop the Camera! * isn't that high... most of the audience just watches the movie silently.

"Hmm, we can't skimp on this... at least for the first month of the premiere, we must keep it up. And... there will be a turning point soon!" Ma Sai nods and says, then looks at Lu Mian, "Lu Mian-kun... there's something I need you to handle."

"Hai?"

Lu Mian is startled.

"Please give your orders!"

"This matter must be kept secret..."

Ma Sai rubs his hands, appearing somewhat excited.

"Go and secretly invite a dozen or so reporters we have good relations with. I have some news here, and I hope they prepare in advance..."

"???"

Lin Quan, however, seems to have thought of something. He looks at Ma Sai in surprise.

"Ma Sai, could it be that Naoki-san...??"

"Can't say, can't say..."

Ma Sai shakes his head. The official awards for Cannes haven't been announced yet! He just received vague news from the lobbyists he bribed, so he's just preparing in advance.

And at this very moment, in the editorial office of *Movie News*, a large group of people is still working overtime for the latest issue of *Kinema Junpo*.

"Editor-in-Chief Maruyama... these are the color proofs for the different covers!" An editor brings the latest color print styles to Editor-in-Chief Maruyama.

"Oh?"

Maruyama takes a look. Two different covers: one is the official poster for the Cannes Film Festival, and the other is a photo of Naoki Nagayama and his group walking the red carpet.

"Both are fine..." Maruyama nods, "In the end, it depends on whether we actually win an award!"

In any case, it's a special feature for the Cannes Film Festival. The other films in the main competition have already been analyzed, and the articles have been written. The only thing to worry about is whether *Kikujiro's Summer* will actually win.

"Editor-in-Chief Maruyama, the content other than the cover article has all been proofread..."

"Mm-hmm... I know~"

The cover article is written by the editor-in-chief himself. He wrote articles in two directions... which one to use in the end naturally depends on the final result.

"It's 20:00 now..." Maruyama checks the time, "It should be afternoon in Cannes... the closing ceremony should have already started... the awards ceremony should have results around dawn..."

He says somewhat excitedly to the people still working overtime in the office:

"Other newspapers have printing time constraints and won't start typesetting until tomorrow morning at the earliest... but we, *Kinema Junpo*, must deliver the results to the readers' eyes as soon as possible!"

Because it's a special supplementary issue, the content is much less than a regular issue, but it's also much faster to print...

Magazines in this era aren't as refined as they are later. Because the printing plant they always cooperate with is also working overtime, as long as it's on the machine, it can be printed overnight.

Time passes second by second, and the whole office is a bit nervous...

Until Maruyama's phone suddenly rings... and then a smile appears on Maruyama's face~

The weather in Cannes in May is always so bright, as if specifically to welcome the arrival of the international film festival.

After the opening ceremony, Naoki Nagayama's group strolled between various screening halls, invited to watch different films in the main competition, accepting photos and interviews from the organizers, and chatting with fans from Japan along the way...

And at the film exhibition, they negotiated many film distribution intentions with film distributors from other countries... for example, Shuyou screening films in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The mainland isn't possible for the time being; it won't start opening up until after the 90s~

When the day of the closing ceremony arrived, Naoki Nagayama, Yin Tang, and others still arrived early at the Lumière Grand Theater, waiting for the final awards ceremony.

"Naoki-san, why do you seem not nervous at all?" Tian Huizi asks, looking at Naoki Nagayama who is bowing his head in thought, "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm afraid I'll forget my lines..."

"?"

"The acceptance speech, I worked so hard to come up with it these days!" Naoki Nagayama says righteously, "What if I forget it after going on stage!"

"......"

Seeing that both Naoki Nagayama and Yin Tang seem to have everything under control, Tian Huizi seems to understand something.

The selection results are already decided before they are announced, so those who should know naturally knew long ago; this is common both domestically and abroad.

In fact, how much of the excitement and tears of the winners seen by outsiders at entertainment industry awards ceremonies is real, and how much is just acting?

You have to know, most of the people present are top-tier actors with first-class acting skills... the kind who can control their tears to fall within a second!

As time passed, more and more people entered the venue. The front rows were seated with those who had hopes of winning, while the back half of the large venue was filled with paying audience members.

The stage lights came on, the bustling discussions gradually stopped, and the 38th Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony officially began!

It's just... the host guest on stage was speaking French... actually, apart from the translators and guides, few people in the audience understood...

"Welcome the chairman of the jury for this Cannes Film Festival to the stage..."

After the host's words rang out, Miloš Forman, wearing sunglasses, walked onto the stage and greeted everyone.

"It is a great honor to stand on the stage of the Cannes Film Festival. Next, please allow me to introduce the members of this jury... Edwin Zbonek... Francis Veber... Jorge Amado Neto..."

One name after another appeared, and then the nine-member jury walked to the front of the stage and sat in the jury seats next to them.

"......."

"First, the first award to be presented today is the Caméra d'Or (Best First Feature Film)... Let us congratulate *Oriana*!!!"

"........"

The awards on stage proceeded step by step, while the people off stage were all sorts.

Naoki Nagayama was still reciting his lines and clapping from time to time, Yin Tang was sitting upright following the crowd, Tian Huizi had a smile on her face and was clapping from time to time, and Takeshi Kitano's expression looked like he was about to fall asleep... he couldn't tell at all that he was pretending to understand something he didn't; he really is a good actor!

Even the youngest, Naoto Fujiki, had a small face and clapped and stopped along with the others.

He couldn't understand what was being said on stage at all, only remembering the previous words: whatever Naoki Nagayama did, he would follow.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed quietly... after the song performance on stage, the final moment had arrived!

Miloš Forman stood on the podium and said to the microphone with great emotion:

"Film is the art of light... countless brilliant rays of light bring everyone together here... to participate in this grand event of the film industry..."

"So, the most dazzling light this year... the winner of the Palme d'Or —"

He paused for a moment, lifted his glasses, and scanned the faces of the audience below, discovering the few Eastern faces present.

"*Kikujiro's Summer*!!"

Amidst a burst of intense applause, under the guidance of the guide, the camera was aimed at Naoki Nagayama's group!!

"Naoki-san, we won!" Even though he knew in advance, Yin Tang's hands were still trembling. He stood up excitedly and gave Naoki Nagayama a hug, "We won!"

"Hai hai hai, I know... but, let go of me first..." Naoki Nagayama says helplessly, "We still have to go on stage to receive the award!"

"Ah... Sumimasen!"

The two's quiet Japanese exchange wasn't heard by others. After Naoki Nagayama let go of Yin Tang, he gently hugged Tian Huizi, then hugged Naoto Fujiki, and only then did he walk toward the podium with big strides.

Exclamations came from behind. Naoki Nagayama still thought it was the cheers of the crowd... until he walked to the middle of the stage and turned to face the crowd below, his leg bumped into a small body...

"???!!!"

Naoki Nagayama looks at Naoto Fujiki, who has a panicked look in his eyes but is still holding onto the corner of his clothes, his face full of confusion... How did he follow him up?!

(At this time, Naoto Fujiki, who is so scared he wants to go to the bathroom: Dad told me to just follow Naoki-san in everything!)

Looking down at the audience, Yin Tang is also full of surprise, Takeshi Kitano has a look of watching the fun, and Tian Huizi is a bit panicked; she has already stepped out of her seat, looking like she wanted to chase but didn't catch up...

"......."

There is no time to think too much. Naoki Nagayama can only take Naoto Fujiki's hand and walk to the side of the award presenter, Miloš Forman.

"Congratulations... Mr. Naoki Nagayama..." The transliteration of the name makes Miloš Forman a bit tongue-tied, "Congratulations on winning the Palme d'Or!"

"Thank you!"

The base of the pyramid is inlaid with a pure gold eighteen-leaf palm leaf. This is what the Palme d'Or trophy looks like today. It can't be held in one hand, so it's placed in a double-door box.

Naoki Nagayama pulls Naoto Fujiki to the front of the podium, hands the Palme d'Or box to him to hold, and then smiles somewhat awkwardly at the microphone:

"This is not my son~"

This is the first sentence of the acceptance speech of the 38th Palme d'Or winner... instantly causing laughter on and off the stage.

"This is the most outstanding actor in *Kikujiro's Summer*! Naoto Fujiki! Without him, there would be no Palme d'Or!"

So the applause from the audience began to become enthusiastic, paying tribute to this actor in the film industry~

Naoki Nagayama presses down with his hand and takes a deep breath. Next, it's time for the real acceptance speech...

"Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get! (By Forrest Gump...)"

"Actually, when I just went on stage, I didn't know Naoto-kun would follow me up... This is a wonderful accident!"

Naoki Nagayama looks at the audience below and talks eloquently. At this very moment, the most outstanding screenwriters of the next few decades are behind him, providing him with the lines for his acceptance speech!

"I like that everything is unknown when I wake up in the morning, not knowing who I will meet or what kind of ending there will be.

It's like I never thought I could stand in this grand event of the film industry now, standing in front of all these outstanding people and talking eloquently..."

"A long time ago, I had a dream..."

"Film gave me such an opportunity; it gave everyone the opportunity to realize their dreams..."

"My father once said, don't easily speak out your ideals, don't give others the opportunity to mock you.

If you have a dream in your heart that you want to realize, then please go and complete it step by step. When you have completed your ideal, tell the world: 'I did it!'"

"Today, I can finally say this sentence myself!"

"I did it!!!"

In just a few minutes, Naoki Nagayama made it sound like a speech... The powerful incitement made everyone who understood English start to applaud...

The people present were either film directors, film producers, or veteran actors. Even the audience members were film enthusiasts... Everyone had some research on movie lines.

At this moment, they seemed to see countless classic movie scenes flashing before their eyes in a trance. In every scene, Naoki Nagayama was telling profound lines with full emotion...

Every sentence could make a movie!!!

When Naoki Nagayama waved his hand to signal to the crowd, the whole venue was invigorated, and the applause was thunderous~

This scene was recorded completely by the camera!!!

Yin Tang was even more dumbfounded, and even Takeshi Kitano kept clapping:

"Although I didn't understand anything... but Naoki-san said it really well!"

"......." ===== CHAPTER 842 =====