Chapter 267 To cooperate and not to recruit security
The awards in the Upstream section are naturally not as important as the main competition section, but the fact that "Incense" won two awards still attracted the attention of many filmmakers and media.
Compared with the previous mentality of worrying about gains and losses, after receiving the two prizes in the upstream competition unit, He Xin and Ning Hao started to watch the fun with relaxed expressions.
Among the other three awards in the Upstream section, the Best Actress award was awarded to Scarlett Johansson, the heroine of "Lost in Translation". He Xin was naturally familiar with this woman. The widowed sister who was only 19 years old at this time was far from as good as later generations.
There are many kinds of amorous feelings, and she still looks very young.
The Best Director was won by Michael Saul, the director of the Italian film "The Melancholy of Schulz". The San Marco Award for Best Film was awarded to the Armenian film "Lemon Vodka".
The highlight of the awards ceremony was naturally the announcement of the main competition awards in the second half. Hollywood star Sean Penn, who had been highly popular before, got his wish and won the Best Actor; Best Actress was awarded to German actress Katja Lehmann.
Japanese veteran Takeshi Kitano and the Lebanese film "Kite" won the only two Silver Lions for Best Director and Jury Prize respectively.
The Golden Lion Award was undoubtedly won by the Russian film "Return".
The Chinese-language film "Unbroken", which also received an invitation to the closing ceremony, failed to produce any results. However, compared to the crew of "Landscape of Love" who left home in despair, Tsai Ming-liang did not return empty-handed, at least before the award ceremony.
Won an off-site professional film critic FIPRESCI Award.
At this point, the 60th Venice International Film Festival comes to an end.
But the work of the reporters is far from over. When the award-winning crew walked out of the theater, they were surrounded by groups of reporters. He Xin, Ning Hao, and Xiaoduding, the translator, were no exception. There were even more reporters surrounding them.
Looking around, apart from most of the faces from the East, there are also quite a few Western reporters.
A total of three Chinese-language films were shortlisted for this expedition. Compared with the two Hong Kong and Taiwan films shortlisted for the main competition, "Incense", which is also a Hong Kong film in name, did not attract many people at first. On the one hand, "Incense" was only shortlisted.
The Upstream Competition section encourages young directors. This is somewhat similar to the Youth Forum of the Berlin Film Festival.
On the other hand, the name Ning Hao is really unfamiliar to people. If the lead actor He Xin hadn't attracted some attention, maybe no one would have noticed it at all.
But it happened that such a work won the Special Attention Award and the Best Actor Award in the Upstream Competition Unit. Compared with "Landscape of Love" and Tsai Ming-liang's "The Landscape of Love", it was not even an encouragement award.
What a Film Critics Award, this is a real honor.
The mainland media are very excited because He Xin and Ning Hao are both actors and directors from the mainland; the Hong Kong media are also very excited because this is a Hong Kong movie after all; only the Wanwan media has a sour taste in even the questions they ask.
.
After the award ceremony, the organizer held a reception, and the three of them went over to show their faces, mainly to say hello to the organizing committee and the jury of the Upstream unit, and to express their gratitude. After all, they gave "Incense"
》He Xin and Ning Hao were both grateful for such a great honor.
Then he hurried back to the hotel where he was staying, called Sister Na who was left behind, and celebrated grandly at the small restaurant that he often frequented.
In the early hours of the morning, He Xin sat on the bed. Although he had been very restrained during the celebration, he still drank a lot in the cheerful mood and atmosphere, but at least this time there was no fragment for Ning Hao to carry back. But he
I didn't dare to lie down immediately because my head was still dizzy, so I was afraid of feeling nauseated if I lay down immediately.
"Bang!"
Ning Hao walked out of the bathroom naked with only a bath towel tied around his waist. When he saw He Xin leaning on the bed like an old monk, he asked, "Are you feeling better?"
He Xin slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the tall, round-waisted body in front of him, with a protruding lower abdomen before he turned thirty, and said, "It's okay, just take it easy."
"Hi!"
Ning Hao sighed, lying on the bed with all four limbs in the air and looking at the ceiling. He chuckled and said, "It feels like a dream. I never thought that I, Ning Hao, would stand on the podium at the Venice Film Festival."
"Tch, you kid even secretly prepared your acceptance speech, why don't you act like a good boy just to get an advantage!" He Xin glanced at him and snorted coldly.
"Hey, I'm prepared for any trouble!"
"Hey, have you thought about what you want to do with the money once you get it?" He Xin asked.
MK2 was very happy. The contract was signed and the buyout fee of 350,000 euros was paid on the spot. He Xin had mentioned it to Ning Hao before and asked him how to proceed with the filming of "Green Grass"?
If "Green Grass" still makes as much money as "Incense", and if it continues to follow the same operating model as "Incense", he won't be able to take advantage of Ning Hao anymore. After all, there is no suitable role for him in this movie, and he won't be able to make it.
What force. Of course, movies are also very risky projects, and his participation can also help Ning Hao share part of the investment risks. But Ning Hao still needs to weigh the specific operations, but he still has to say some things up front.
"Tsk!"
Ning Hao pursed his lips and looked at He Xin with his small eyes. He showed an honest smile just like when he tricked him into filming "Incense". He looked very embarrassed and said, "I've discussed this with Nana too."
, what she means is that since we have established a company, we will follow the company’s formal path, I don’t know what your opinion is?”
He Xin was happy when he heard this and said with a smile: "If you follow the company's formal path, aren't you afraid that I will take advantage?"
Ning Hao hurriedly waved his hands and said: "Don't say that! The film industry is too risky. I can only say it was a fluke this time. In fact, Nana and I were worried about whether "Green Grass" would be a flop.
Stay with you!"
"No, just because you helped me win the Best Actor this time, I will give my full support to your film."
"It's only a matter of time before you win the Best Actor Award for your acting skills. Besides, you've already been the Golden Horse Best Actor. There's just something I want to discuss with you."
"What's the matter?"
"After we go back this time, can we share some of the profit first? Not much, just half a million, thirty for you and twenty for me. The main reason is that I am still a little famine here. Since the film won the award and sold a
It’s a good price, and I can’t justify not returning it to others.”
"That's no problem. Even if you don't say it, I'm going to bring it up. I don't think it's half a million. Let's just divide the change and leave two million in the account for you to use for filming." He Xin said.
Three hundred and fifty thousand euros, equivalent to about three million yuan, leaves about 27.8 million after tax.
Then, he added: "Oh, by the way, there is something I want to tell you. Last time when I was filming in Yunnan, Yu Dong, the boss of Bona Culture, came to visit and talked to me about this.
He seemed to be very interested in cooperating with us, and of course he did not rule out soliciting. I thought that if possible, we could talk to him about the book "Green Grass". I thought about it.
On the one hand, we can take less risks and save some money. If this fails, we still have capital to make a comeback; on the other hand, Bona has strong distribution capabilities. By cooperating with them, "Green Grass" can be fully cooperated in the country. You
What do you think?"
Ning Hao's eyes suddenly lit up and he said quickly: "Of course that's good! But let's just cooperate and just recruit."
There is no director who does not want his film to be released in China. Those so-called underground directors are forced to move overseas simply because their films cannot pass the censorship.
"Green Grass" and "Incense" are completely different. There is almost nothing illegal in the current script. On the contrary, it is full of positive energy.
He Xin nodded. He actually meant the same thing as Ning Hao. Forget about recruiting, cooperation is still possible.
He smiled and said: "Then we will talk to him later, and we can also make a co-production like "Infernal Affairs 3"."
The so-called co-production refers to the fact that not long ago, on the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, the Mainland and Hong Kong signed CEPA, the "Closer Economic and Trade Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong." Among them, film cooperation between the two places is an important one.
"Infernal Affairs 3" co-produced by Hong Kong Asia Pacific and Tianjin Film Studio is a masterpiece that reflects this agreement. Not only did Hong Kong send a strong lineup such as Tony Leung, Andy Lau, and Lai Min, but the mainland also had Chen Daoming and his younger brother Huang Zhizhong join.
The media began to promote it as soon as the project was approved, and it is said that it will be released by the end of the year.
He Xin had seen this film in his previous life. At that time, it was just for fun. I always thought it was not as good as the first film. But looking back now, I realized that it was entirely the difference in the acting methods of the actors in the two places that made Director Chen and Huang Zhizhong stand out.
The acting in this film seemed very abrupt and out of place.
"That's right!" Ning Hao also clapped his hands and said excitedly. Winning the award this time suddenly made this guy's self-confidence skyrocketing.
At this time, He Xin's cell phone suddenly rang. He Xin picked it up and saw that it was Hao Rong's phone number. It was already two o'clock in the morning in Italy, because daylight saving time was implemented here, which was six hours behind the country.
It was exactly eight o'clock in the morning. He Xin estimated that Hao Rong must have gotten the news and called him immediately to congratulate him.
When He Xin picked up the phone, he was still mumbling that Brother Hao must have been too excited. It was a good thing that he hadn't slept yet, otherwise his good dreams would have been interrupted.
As soon as he answered the phone, Hao Rong on the other end of the phone asked: "Xiao He, have you won the Venice Best Actor?"
"No!" He Xin was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said: "We were shortlisted for the Upstream category. I just won the best actor in this category. The best actor is Sean Penn."
"Don't you have another film called "Landscape of Love" that was also shortlisted for the main competition?"
"Forget it, this movie didn't even make a single profit."
"So "Incense" won the award?"
"That's right, not only did he win the Best Actor Award, but he also won the Special Attention Award. We went against the trend of five awards and we won two." He Xin said with a proud look on his face.
Hao Rong on the other end of the phone breathed a sigh of relief and said thankfully: "Thankfully I didn't rush to report to the dean, otherwise it would have been a mistake, but it's not bad that you can get the Best Actor Award in the Upstream Unit."
,congratulations!"
"Thank you!" Then, He Xin asked curiously: "Brother Hao, who did you hear that I won the best actor award?"
"Who else can I listen to? I can only listen to it online!"
Although he was overjoyed, Teacher Hao’s tone was inevitably a bit depressing. If He Xin could really be crowned the Venice Best Actor this time, then I, Hao, would have one, um, no, two Venice Best Actor students. It’s just that Xia Yu won the award that year.
At that time, I had not yet entered school. Not only did this not make me famous, but it also meant that I was borrowing money.
"You can't spread nonsense on the Internet, right?" He Xin's first thought was to make headlines and deliberately attract attention.
Sure enough, right after that, I heard a voice coming from the phone: "Fuck!"
Then Hao Rong said angrily: "The big title is He Xin, Best Actor, and two exclamation points. It is only mentioned in the following content that you won the Best Actor in the Upstream Competition."
After listening to Teacher Hao cursing and complaining, and saying a few sincere congratulations, after hanging up the phone, He Xin quickly called his girlfriend again.
Don't look at what he said at the award ceremony in a very sensational way, saying that his girlfriend's acceptance of his love was the greatest meaning of his life in this world. If it weren't for Hao Rong's phone call to remind him, he would be talking to Ning Hao right now.
In the excitement of chatting, I had long forgotten about announcing the good news to my girlfriend.
Then Ning Hao, who was in the bed next door, heard a series of disgusting words.
"Hey, okay, why did it take you so long to answer the phone?"
"Oh, I didn't go to bed until early in the morning. Then why didn't you call me after you saw the news on the Internet?"
"Oh, you're afraid of disturbing me! Okay, you are so considerate!"
"Of course I am as considerate as you. I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I waited until now. I thought it was almost time for you to get up, and then I dared to call you. In the end, I still woke you up. I'm sorry..."
Hearing this, Ning Hao suddenly made a "hiss" sound, and goosebumps appeared all over his body.
As a result, the guy on the bed next door actually glared at him, and then continued: "Thank you! We are flying tomorrow, oh no, it should be this afternoon. Of course I will fly directly to you! Don't you miss me?
?”
"It will probably arrive at noon tomorrow."
"Come to pick me up, okay... um, okay, bye!"
…
In early September, the daytime temperature in Shanghai still reaches over 30 degrees, but compared to the hottest months of July and August, it is much cooler at night, and there is basically no need to turn on the air conditioner when sleeping.
In Room 1208 of a hotel-style apartment next to the Shanghai Film Studio, the range hood next to the doorway was humming.
A stream of white steam emerged from the small hole in the lid of the large casserole placed on the fire, and you could smell a strong aroma when you walked closer.
Wash three-year-old free-range egg-laying duck, drain out the water, and then add ginger, scallions, rice wine, astragalus, wolfberry, and Codonopsis pilosula, bring to a boil over high heat, and simmer over low heat.
He Xin stood by the pool, tearing and cutting the soaked flat bamboo shoots into sections, peeling the newly marketed local red-stem taro and soaking it in water for later use.
After finishing these tasks, he quickly poured some vinegar on his hands and washed them, because taro mucus can irritate the skin and vinegar can neutralize it.
The weather was quite pleasant today, but he didn't turn on the air conditioner in the house. He went to the bathroom, washed his hands again with hand sanitizer, wiped his face, and finally had some rest.
Sitting in the small living room with only about ten square meters, looking at the cramped kitchen operating space next to the corridor, I couldn't help but sigh: "The house is still too small!"
When flying from Venice to Rome and transferring, He Xin took two flights with Ning Hao and the others. They flew directly to Beijing, while He Xin took the flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport alone.
On the evening of the day he arrived, he received a call from Ning Hao, saying that he was surrounded by reporters as soon as he got off the plane at the Capital Airport. Although it sounded like he was complaining, his tone was obviously very rude.
Then he didn't forget to remind him not to stay in Shanghai for too long, as he was still craning his neck in the capital waiting for the spoils!
Speaking of dividing the spoils, the total fraction was calculated to be 780,000. He Xin accounted for 60% and could get more than 460,000. In addition, the salary for "Beauty Grass" has already been paid, which adds up to another 1 million less.
This does not include the remuneration from "Chinese Style Divorce" and "Landscape of Love" that were settled in the first half of the year. However, he used both of these sums in full to buy the small courtyard he had originally spotted on Yushan Road.
It’s funny to say that the owner of that small yard refused to lower the price for 600,000 yuan. However, due to the outbreak of infectious diseases, domestic housing prices fell, especially the experts who pessimistically criticized the domestic real estate market during that period.
There are many politicians in the world who preach the theory of China's collapse. The house owner saw that the situation was not good, and finally found a buyer, so he quickly wanted to sell it.
When He Xin left Qingdao, he had entrusted Cheng Ma with full authority for this matter. Cheng Ma also worked hard and lowered the price to 450,000 yuan to close the deal.
With the small million in his hands now, He Xin originally planned to buy Moutai stocks, but now looking at this small apartment, he began to wonder whether he should also buy an apartment in Shanghai.
With the fusion of the two memories, Yuan Hexin has always had the obsession to return to his father's hometown in the future. And this obsession seems to have become a responsibility for He Xin now.
To be honest, Beijing and Shanghai are both first-tier cities. If you have to choose, there is no doubt that Shanghai, which is close to the seaside, is more livable than the smoggy Beijing.
Moreover, when he went out to buy groceries in the morning, he saw a property opening on Xingen Road, which is closer to the Xujiahui business district. He casually asked, and the price started at 13,000.
It sounded expensive at first, but he knew in his heart that there might not be that store after passing this village. The Xujiahui business district is one of the most prime areas in Shanghai. In a few years, the house prices here will at least increase.