Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 7 Winning the Prize
"Hello, Director Hua, is it...about the Venice Film Festival?" Shi Lei asked nervously.

Hua Shihong smiled and said, "Haha, you have been waiting for my call for a long time! Seeing that you are so anxious, I will not tease you anymore. Congratulations, your film "Empty Room" has been shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Venice Film Festival. You should get ready and go to Venice in a few days."

"Nice!" Shi Lei jumped up happily.

The chairman of the jury at the 02 Venice Film Festival was Gong Li, who was from the Central Academy of Drama. I was not familiar with Gong Li, but they were from the same country. As long as his film "Empty Room" was not bad, it would definitely win a prize as long as it entered the main competition unit.

This is also one of the reasons why he chose to make the movie in 02.

"Director, can you arrange for someone with experience to guide me? We have no experience in participating in film festivals!"

"That's no problem. Qingying Studio has also invested in it. I'll arrange for a few people to take you there."

"Thank you, Director. Thank you, Director. I will inform the crew of the good news." Shi Lei expressed his gratitude repeatedly. It would be more stable if Qingying Studio was willing to send people to go with them.

Hua Shihong was also very happy. As the head of the directing department, he was proud to see Shi Lei win the award.

He could think of what Shi Lei could think of, and he not only thought about it, but also started to do something.

First he called Gong Li to chat about some family matters, and then he asked about Shi Lei's opponent.

Among the 21 films shortlisted for the main competition unit, two are from my country, one is "Empty Room" directed by Shi Lei, and the other is "Beautiful Time" directed by Wanwan.

He had inquired and found out that "Beautiful Time" was a gangster pursuit film. Gong Li was from mainland China and was not interested in gangster pursuits, so he was not very competitive.

It is basically certain that Shi Lei's "Empty Room" will win an award. As for which award it will win, it depends on whether Gong Li is supportive!
He decided to focus on attacking Gong Li.

Shi Lei informed the female lead Zhou Xun, the male lead Zhang Songwen, the second male lead Wang Jinsong, the assistant director Fang Kelong, and the photographer Ning Hao of the news one by one.

Everyone was very happy. They had contributed to the film and they were proud of it.

Zhou Xun and Zhang Songwen's eyes were shining, burning with desire.

Shi Lei hesitated for a moment, and finally informed Dong Xuan of the news and asked her if she would like to go to the Venice Film Festival together.

He was impressed by the Snow Goddess Dragon biting her hair.

Dong Xuan did not reply immediately, but remained silent for half a minute before giving the answer that she would go.

Shi Lei nodded with satisfaction. After being shortlisted for the main competition unit, he, a student of the directing department, was finally respected.

On August 8, the crew arrived at the famous water city of Venice.

The group finally arrived at this famous water city in northeastern Italy.

This was Shi Lei's first time in Venice. Even though he was mentally prepared, his eyes lit up when he saw the water city.

The entire city is located on 118 small islands, connected by 177 large and small rivers and various beam bridges.

There are no streets, only waterways.

A group of people came to the hotel by boat.

In the water city, one has to take a boat to do business, or even to attend the opening ceremony of a film festival. One can step into the water and play with the water with one's feet outstretched. Unfortunately, there is urban sewage in it, and he is not an Indian, so it is better not to touch it if possible. Who knows if he will get some skin disease.

They arrived a few days early, and although Shi Lei was so anxious that he couldn't sleep, he still patiently led the crew to tour Venice.

On August 8, after attending the opening ceremony at Lido Island, Shi Lei's "Empty Room" was scheduled to premiere the next day.

Before the premiere, Shi Lei and other members of the crew went around the film festival to watch films in other main competition units.

"Empty Room" premiere.

From the entire crew, only Zhou Xun had appeared in Europe, and the rest were newcomers, but the seats were still half full.

They are mainly journalists and film critics. They are professionals and will not miss any film shortlisted for the main competition unit.

As the film began, the entire theater fell silent.

Wait until the movie is over.

Applause broke out, this is the professionalism of journalists and film critics!

Shi Lei couldn't tell whether the film was popular or not, so he could only wait for the reviews! Alas, the audiences of other crews were close to full, but his room was only half full... This was the consequence of not being famous.

Most people would first watch a movie directed by a director or starring in one of the three major films, rather than a movie by a new crew like Shi Lei.

The main creative staff went up and the reporters who had been waiting for a long time began to interview.

"Director Shi, are you aiming for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival this time?"

"Shi, do you think you can get the Golden Lion and create a miracle?"

"Director Shi Lei, do you think you can beat "Beautiful Time" and win the Golden Lion this time?"

"Um?"

Beautiful Time?
Hearing this question, Shi Lei couldn't help but glance at the reporter with a Taiwanese accent.

Hey, this reporter with a Taiwanese accent wants to laugh at him!

This is normal. People in Taiwan and Hong Kong now have a special sense of superiority over the mainland. They feel that mainland movies are ten times worse than theirs, and the abilities of directors and actors are also ten times worse than theirs!
But why was "Beautiful Time" so confident that it could win the Golden Lion Award? He remembered that "Beautiful Time" did not win any awards.

Yes, because of Gong Li, but why do you Taiwanese people think Gong Li will support you?

I didn't support you in my previous life, and I will support you even less in this life with his "Empty Room".

Retracting his gaze, Shi Lei answered the main questions he had heard one by one, "It's a lie to say that you don't want to win the Golden Lion. Who wouldn't want to win the highest award? To get the recognition of the judges."

If you say you want it, the judges may not give it to you. If you say you don’t want it, then goodbye, the judges really won’t give you the prize.

You don't even want it, but you're still trying to please me. Why should I give it to you?
Shi Lei was fully prepared for these questions. He did not ask for perfect answers, but he tried not to offend anyone. He did not have the capital to offend anyone at the moment.

Over the next few days, Shi Lei stayed in the screening hall of "Empty Room", and time passed day by day until the day before the closing ceremony.

Shi Lei received a call from the organizing committee, asking the crew of "Empty Room" to attend the closing ceremony.

"Looks like there's a prize!" Shi Lei told the news to Zhang Songwen next door first.

"I think it will be the Golden Lion." Zhang Songwen raised his eyebrows.

"Benefit you with good words (Benefit you with good words)." The two said this at the same time, and the next second, they looked at each other and laughed out loud together.

The next day, the crew dressed up carefully and walked on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival.

Shi Lei's female companion is Dong Xuan. Originally, his female companion should have been Zhou Xun, but Zhang Songwen made many promises to him, so he took the initiative to change his female companion.

Shi Lei didn't mind this. He had no desire for Zhou Xun, but was more interested in Dong Xuan.

This is the Snow Goddess Dragon!

In order to dress up for the event, Dong Xuan borrowed 100,000 yuan from him and rented a backless black evening dress.

Walking on the red carpet, Shi Lei was extremely nervous. He was about to decide his starting point. It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Lei didn't know how he walked the red carpet.

After entering the closing ceremony venue, I no longer had the mind to look at who was around or which stars there were. I just quietly looked at the podium.

"What's wrong with you?" Dong Xuan also noticed Shi Lei's abnormality and comforted him, "Director Shi, you will definitely win the Golden Lion Award."

"I hope so!" Shi Lei shook hands. Things had come to this point and it was no longer subject to human will.

As awards were handed out one after another, he became more and more nervous, and couldn't help but hold Dong Xuan's hand a little tighter.

"Who won the Silver Lion Award for Best Director at the 59th Venice Film Festival?"

"Empty Room, Shi Lei."

"Clap, clap, clap." Applause broke out as the awards were announced.

Shi Lei's heart skipped a beat, then began pounding like a drum, and he stood up excitedly.

(End of this chapter)