Squeezed among a bunch of Hollywood movies and masterpieces, this Chinese-language film was unsurprisingly met with a cold reception. Not counting less than 50% of the audience in the 500-person theater, the film only screened for about 15 minutes.
, Western reporters and audiences began to leave the venue one after another.
Western audiences are often accustomed to movies with a three-part structure. The opening fifteen minutes is usually the first paragraph of the opening. If this paragraph is not attractive, then there is no need to watch the rest. By the end of the movie, in the theater
There were less than a hundred spectators left, and they were basically Chinese spectators from domestic and Hong Kong media who came here for the show.
It was so good that at the press conference at 12 noon the next day, the crew of "Landscape of Love" was arranged by the organizer to follow Nicolas Cage's "Stickman". When He Xin entered the venue with Li Miaoxue, Lin Jiaxin and Zheng Yijian
At that time, in the packed press hall, Western reporters left one after another, and the scene was very embarrassing.
Fortunately, a few Western reporters were left behind in the end, and finally there was no ugly scene where the press conference was only filled with domestic media and Chinese movie fans.
However, a few Western reporters with obvious French accents obviously stayed because of He Xin. Their questions did not mention the film "Landscape of Love", but they were more curious about his other entry "Incense"
.
Originally, the poor duo of He Xin and Ning Hao had no money for publicity, so they just took this opportunity to talk about it and shamelessly promote it.
"Sorry, Director Li."
After the press conference, He Xin couldn't help but say hello to Li Miaoxue. After all, it would be a bit unethical to promote another one of his works at a press conference for someone else's work.
"It's okay, I've watched "Incense" and it was really good." Li Miaoxue said generously.
In fact, "Landscape of Love" being shortlisted for the main competition unit of this year's Venice Film Festival has been controversial from the beginning. When Li Miaoxue was interviewed by domestic and Hong Kong media just now, she made no secret of the commercial aspects of this film in addition to its artistic quality.
Characteristics. It’s just that this kind of movie with a slightly Hong Kong-style commercial character is not popular in Venice.
She even faced a question about whether she expected to win the award, and replied: "I think "Landscape of Love" will first participate in international film festivals and then be released on the market. This is a good film marketing strategy that can make movie fans pay attention to it all at once.
This movie can also help the film sell in markets outside of Chinese-speaking areas."
It is obvious that she came to the Venice Film Festival this time for publicity. Whether she wins or not will only depend on chance. In fact, whether it is an art film or a commercial film, in the final analysis, it has to be sold for money.
"Tomorrow I hope you can show your respect and come over to support us." He Xin then invited him with a shy face.
There is no way around it. Although the films shortlisted for the Upstream Competition are not as valued as the films shortlisted for the Main Competition, at least the organizers of "Incense" will premiere tomorrow and have arranged a theater with 300 seats.
To be honest, even so, He Xin was really worried that he would be left out. He had participated in film festivals many times, and he had witnessed many times the scene of only a single digit audience in a theater where there were hundreds of people who had shortlisted or screened movies.
Naturally, he became the target of media ridicule.
In fact, although "Landscape of Love" also encountered a cold reception this time, it was still lucky. Because the movie "Dreams of Argentina" starring Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson that premiered on the same day caused a great deal of excitement when it premiered.
controversy.
He Xin did not go to see the movie, but only learned from this morning's newspaper that the movie was set in the 1970s and 1980s. This was a special period in Argentina's history, when the political situation was in chaos, and Veron
The collapse of the government, the struggle of the working class, and the military dictatorship. Between 1976 and 1983, affected by political fluctuations, at least 30,000 people disappeared in various political movements.
However, the director added supernatural elements to this realistic film and gave the male protagonist a supernatural ability, which was considered a blasphemy to history. Many viewers left the show angrily at the premiere, and film critics even criticized the film.
There was strong dissatisfaction with the movie, with boos and calls being made, calling it a "shameless, dirty war."
"certainly!"
"I'm also looking forward to this work of yours!"
Li Miaoxue and Lin Jiaxin happily accepted his invitation.
Only Zheng Yijian said embarrassedly: "Axin, I'm sorry, I have to rush back to Hong Kong tomorrow morning, so..."
"It's okay, Brother Haonan!"
Although Cheng Yijian is very popular in Hong Kong, this is his first time to participate in such an international film festival. There were previous media reports that for this purpose, he even customized a 20,000 Hong Kong dollar dress in Hong Kong.
In fact, he was somewhat envious of He Xin. For example, during the movie premiere last night, some foreign fans shouted He Xin's name. Today, there were Western reporters who stayed specifically for He Xin, unlike him, who left the Chinese-speaking area.
No one knew him at all.
After attending the press conference, the hungry He Xin had just returned to the hotel where he was staying to prepare for dinner when he saw Hu Linyu, the translator from Xiaodouding who had been sent out to distribute leaflets in the morning, running in happily with a newspaper and shouting.
Saying: "Boss, good news! Good news!"
"What's the good news?" He Xin cheered up and asked hurriedly.
But when they saw Ning Hao and Sister Na coming in behind Xiao Douding, there was no joy on their faces. Instead, they had expressions of helplessness and sympathy.
Little Douding opened the newspaper in his hand, pointed to an article on the second page, and said, "That's it."
"You tell me, I can't understand it!"
"It's like this. The Iranian film "The First Letter" that was shortlisted for the Upstream Competition with us cannot be released tomorrow."
He Xin's eyes suddenly lit up. If it can't be released, it means there is one less competitor. But when he saw Ning Hao, he didn't show any joy. He quickly asked: "What's going on? Why can't it be released?"
Ning Hao didn't say anything, but just glanced at Xiaodouding. Xiaodouding snorted, pointed to the report in the newspaper and said: "This movie was banned by the Iranian government, saying that there was a plot in the movie that involved
The love between a gay boy and a Jewish girl is a big deal there. The copies of the film have been confiscated, and although there is no news that the director has been detained, according to the French producer of the film, he has recovered.
I haven’t heard from the director for a few days, so I’m very worried.”
The previous movie was banned and the copies were confiscated. He Xin was still secretly rejoicing, until he heard that there was no news about the director at the end. This shocked him immediately, and he also understood why Ning Hao and Sister Na had such expressions.
As an insider, he often hears people criticizing those so-called sixth-generation directors who criticize the domestic film censorship system. They often give the example of Iran being the country with the strictest film censorship in the world, but it does not hinder Iranian films.
It shines internationally. The implication is that you don’t blame the censorship system. Your so-called creations are restricted by censorship because your level is not enough.
He didn't feel anything before, but when he heard the news today, he was really frightened, or he felt a different kind of happiness in his heart.
Having made so many films that cannot be released in China, he sometimes complains about the censorship system in China. But looking back now, the most you can do in China is not to let you show it, and the more severe punishment is to ban the director, such as
Tianzhuangzhuang, Jiang Wen, and Chief Jia are like this, but if you still take secret photos underground or make nonsense internationally, nothing will be done to you. At least freedom of speech and personal safety are guaranteed.
At this moment, like Ning Hao and Sister Na, he felt sympathy and worry for the director who had no news so far. After all, everyone was eating from the same bowl, so it was inevitable that he would feel a bit sad.
"well!"
At this time, the translator Xiao Douding let out a long sigh, looked at the three of them, and said with disgust: "I hate cultural people like you the most. What are we here for? Aren't we just here to participate in the selection and sell films?
, now there is one less competitor, which of course should be a good thing, who are you showing this expression to?"
"Hey, Gu Yuewan, why are you so cold-blooded? I..."
"You what?"
Ning Hao's words were rudely interrupted by Xiao Douding's translator. She said with excitement: "He's just a foreign director. What's there to sympathize with? If you still have this cheap sympathy, you'd better care more about it."
Those children in the western part of our country who cannot go to school and even have problems with food and clothing..."
I almost forgot, this little Douding translator is also a senior travel companion. She often travels alone carrying a mountaineering bag that is almost taller than her. It is said that not only has she traveled all over the country, but she also often goes abroad, including some in Africa.
Or a place like South America, which is unpopular and full of adventure. She and her ex-boyfriend from the subtitle group broke up because of this.
In fact, regardless of how young she is, in terms of age, she is actually older than the three people here, and it looks like there are three of them. Logically, He Xin should respectfully call her sister! It’s just that she is thin and small, and
Born with a loli face, just like facing Zhou Xun, it is difficult to say the word sister.
Ning Hao opened his mouth and was about to refute, but was interrupted by Xiao Douding's translator with a wave of his hand, and continued: "And since the director is from that country, he should abide by the laws of that country. Of course, because of beliefs and customs,
Depending on the values, the laws of each country will certainly not be the same, but as long as you are in this country, the laws of this country are binding on you. Although I don’t know whether the movie made by the director is good or not, but
Based on what was written in the newspaper, it must be illegal in the local area.
The newspaper said that the French producer emphasized that the film transcends religion to explore love, which is just their Western values. I think the director just wanted to use his country's story to cater to Western values. To put it harshly,
He just wants to gain a position, so what's there to sympathize with?"
"..."
I have to say that the fierce remarks made by Xiaodouding's translator left the three of them speechless. If you think about it carefully, it does make sense. There are rules in everything you do. You can question the rules, but you have no ability to change them.
Before, we had to abide by the rules. To put it more seriously, if everyone didn't abide by the rules, wouldn't the world be in chaos?
Seeing that the three of them were speechless, translator Xiao Douding clapped the newspaper in his hand and said proudly: "Now think about it, is it good news that there is one less competitor?"
"Well……"
One more thing, Ning Hao had a verbal agreement with her before. In addition to the labor fee of 1,000 yuan per day, if the film sells well, there will also be additional bonuses. No wonder the translator Xiao Douding is so concerned.
"Xiao Hu, don't forget, we are in this Western society now, and as you just said, we have to abide by the rules here. Don't make any nonsense of what you just said!" He Xin suddenly said
Remembered and reminded.
"Tch, I'm not stupid!" Xiao Douding shook his head proudly.
The hotel they stayed in was designated by the organizing committee as a hotel for the film festival. Compared to the expensive Venice, the food was relatively affordable. Most of the time, it was in the form of a buffet, which cost more than 20 euros per person. Of course, the price
Compared with domestic prices, it is already sky-high, enough to pay for a meal in a buffet restaurant of a five-star hotel.
After Xiao Douding made an impassioned speech, he took Sister Na downstairs to eat. He Xin glanced at Ning Hao, who looked expectant, and without him having to ask, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "There's still no news.
"
The film festival is a magical place. On one side is the missionary ground of art, where masters hold press conferences to promote artistic concepts to the media and fans around the world. On the other side is the noisy vegetable market, where film dealers from more than a hundred countries
Products are sold here.
As a shortlisted film, He Xin and Ning Hao's Hong Kong Xing Hao film was also assigned a small booth in this wet market. In the past few days, Ning Hao, Sister Na, and Xiaodou Ding, the translator, were hanging out in the market all day long.
Posters were posted, trailers were played on a loop, and promotional brochures were distributed to film producers, a few tourists and media reporters around the world.
It sounds pitiful, but they are said to be the shabbiest booth in this market. There is no celebrity stand, no eye-catching props and decorations. Even the movie posters and promotional brochures were brought from China, and these printed materials were still produced by Ning Hao
It was kindly sponsored by an advertising company that I have worked with before on commercials.
After just a few days of busy work, the results are still zero, and the copyright of a single country has not been sold. He Xin was busy because he had to take care of the promotion of "Landscape of Love". Fortunately, he had made an agreement with Li Miaoxue in private.
, after holding the press conference at noon today, he will be busy with his own business.
Faced with Ning Hao's anxiety, He Xin could only comfort him based on his own experience: "Don't worry, wait until the premiere tomorrow is the time to do business. Otherwise, if people don't see what your work is like, who will?"
Are you here to buy a movie? The preliminary work is usually publicity."
To be honest, although he said this, He Xin still regarded MK2 as a life-saving straw at this time. As for their lack of contact, based on his experience of opening a grocery store in his previous life, he might want to stretch himself out, and it will be better when the time comes.
To lower the price; on the other hand, I am afraid that I also want to wait until the movie premieres to see the market response.
What He Xin is really worried about now is that if "Incense" is ignored like "Landscape of Love" and no one cares about it, if the other party gives up, this matter will be difficult to handle.