Chapter 250: Three Directors Confronted
Boss Yang seemed to see that Liu Zhou still had some grudges against Jiang Wen, and his tone was quite firm. He sighed slightly in his heart and stopped trying to persuade him.

Seeing him like this, Liu Zhou couldn't help but smile and asked:

"Boss Yang, when did you become so close to Jiang Wen?"

“I have recently worked with Jiang Wen and found him to be a very talented person. I just admire him more.

Before attending the Academy Awards, he told me that there were some misunderstandings between him and me, and wanted me to be a go-between to resolve the misunderstandings between you.

But now it seems that you, Mr. Liu, don’t have that intention. In that case, I will reply to him directly later.”

"That won't be hard for you, will it?"

"What's so difficult about this? He's just a director with some talent." Boss Yang said with a smile.

Boss Yang can still tell who is more important between Liu Zhou and Jiang Wen.

What's more, I'm just a middleman, and it doesn't mean I can definitely help him get it done.

Moreover, even if he agreed to be the middleman for him, it would be considered as giving him a lot of face. Liu Zhou is no ordinary person now.

"Haha, actually I don't quite understand. My Senior Brother Jiang is well-known for not fearing power and being very arrogant. He even had a very bad relationship with the Central Academy of Drama because of some things.

Why do I suddenly ask you to be my mediator and help me sort out the misunderstanding that happened several years ago?"

Before Boss Yang could speak, Han Shanping on the side suddenly said:
"Liu Zhou, do you underestimate your current status and influence? Go and see who in the entertainment industry dares to ignore your existence.

Not to mention Jiang Wen, didn’t the Wang brothers also take the initiative to bow their heads and settle their grudge with you?

In the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, no one can make money without doing anything!"

"Haha, it seems so."

The movies directed by Jiang Wen are great, and the impression he left on the public is also great, but as a member of an interest group, he is not great to everyone.

He may be a big shot to most people in the entertainment industry, but to the real entertainment capital, he is just a worker.

"Mr. Yang, you and Jiang Wen collaborated on his movie 'The Sun Also Rises', right?" Han Shanping asked.

"That's right, but I read his script and I don't understand it. I feel like it will flop."

It turned out to be this movie, and it really seemed to be a flop in the end.

This movie is the most incomprehensible of all Jiang Wen's movies. Many people say it is a bad movie, while many marketing accounts also claim it to be a classic art film.

But this movie is just like "The Promise". Not many people can understand it even after ten or twenty years, and it didn't make much of a splash.

That only means that this is a movie that Jiang Wen made for his own pleasure.

After all, he had been banned from directing for five years. Once he was allowed to do so, he was probably itching to make a movie. He crammed too many ideas into one movie and made a movie that he considered a classic.

Liu Zhou has always believed that a movie must first be understandable to the public before it can be a good movie.

"Mr. Yang, don't worry. Even if this movie fails, Jiang Wen will definitely compensate you with his next movie." Liu Zhou said with a smile.

"Let's hope so. Let's see if his film can win an award at an overseas film festival. That way the copyright will be easier to sell."

Hearing Boss Yang's words, Liu Zhou's heart was moved, and then asked:

"Which overseas film festival is Jiang Wen going to attend?"

"It should be Venice. His movie was just finished and is currently in post-production. He will definitely not be able to make it to Cannes. He probably won't be interested in other film festivals either."

At this time, Han Shanping glanced at Liu Zhou and said:

"Liu Zhou, I remember your art film should also be participating in the Venice Film Festival, right?"

"Yes, Cannes opens in mid-May, the registration deadline has passed, and the post-production of my film has not been completed yet."

"Haha, Mr. Liu, you just said that you and Jiang Wen had no intersection, but now you have one.

The fact that you two great mainland directors are competing together in Venice will definitely make this year's Venice Film Festival unprecedentedly popular in China."

"In fact, there's more than that. Hollywood director Li An's Lust, Caution will also participate in this year's Venice. They announced it a long time ago," Liu Zhou continued.

"That's even more exciting. The showdown between the three major directors makes me want to go and watch it live, haha!"

"It's really good to watch. Even in the major domestic film awards, it's rare to see the top three directors competing on the same stage." Han Shanping also said with a smile.

"It's too early to be happy now. It would be embarrassing if we fail to be shortlisted for the main competition unit."

"How is that possible? With the fame you three have now, as long as the movie isn't too bad or too commercial, it will definitely be nominated."

"I hope so."

Liu Zhou said this, but in fact he was very confident about being shortlisted.

In fact, each of the three major European film festivals will generally be more lenient in reviewing the works of well-known directors or actors in order to gain popularity and exposure.

Sometimes we even ask some well-known directors to exhibit their films one or two years in advance.

For example, Li An's "Lust, Caution" had already made an appointment to participate in the Venice International Film Festival.

Because two years ago, "Brokeback Mountain" directed by Li An won the Golden Lion in Venice.

Historically, this year's Golden Lion Award was won by Li An.

Having said that, Liu Zhou is also confident in his work. The outcome of this head-on collision is still unknown.

Besides, Liu Zhou’s reputation is not only in China, but he also has some fame in the world film industry.

Although Liu Zhou makes commercial films in China, some of his films also have good box office performance overseas.

For example, My Sassy Girl is a huge hit in Asia, The Piano Tuner is also popular in Europe and America. The martial arts film Swords of Legends also has a great influence, riding on the trend of overseas fascination with Chinese martial arts films.

Of course the most important one is "Source Code" filmed by Liu Zhou in Hollywood.

Hollywood is the center of world cinema. Liu Zhou became famous in Hollywood with "Source Code", and his fame also spread to the European film scene.

Perhaps Liu Zhou is not as well-known overseas as Li An, but the difference is not that big.

Therefore, there is no need to worry about being shortlisted for the main competition unit. Even when the final awards are given, the judges will consider the quality of the film more than other things.

"What are you guys talking about that makes you laugh so happily?"

Suddenly, a voice sounded in the ears of the three people.

The three of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time, and it turned out that Zhang Weiping and Zhang Yimou were walking over.

After their collaboration on "Red Cliff", the few of them were familiar with each other, so the two of them sat down directly next to them.

After a brief greeting, Boss Yang also briefly mentioned that Liu Zhou might attend the Venice International Film Festival with Jiang Wen and Li An.

When Zhang Yimou heard this, his expression changed. He glanced at Liu Zhou but said nothing.

"Mr. Liu, I don't understand why you suddenly want to make art films. Aren't you making commercial films just fine?"

"Mr. Zhang, you've never filmed before and want to give it a try?"

"It seems that you are just like Yimou. Deep down, you value art films the most. But it would be interesting to see the three of you big directors fighting, haha!"

"You make it sound like the Golden Lion is definitely ours. It would be embarrassing if none of our three films win."

"Awards are really hard to predict, especially for overseas film festivals. But I think you can ask Yimou, Mr. Liu. He should know a lot about overseas film festivals."

"Of course, the number of awards Director Zhang has won is almost half of the number of awards domestic directors have won overseas."

Facing Liu Zhou's gaze, Zhang Yimou smiled and said:

"There is no secret, the most important thing is the quality of the film."

"Well, as expected of a great director, he brags without leaving any trace."

"Hahaha……"

Hearing Liu Zhou's words, several people couldn't help but laugh.

Zhang Yimou was stunned for a moment at first, then he reacted and couldn't help but smile.

"Mr. Zhang, when is Director Zhang's Curse of the Golden Flower scheduled to be released?" Liu Zhou asked.

Zhang Weiping put away his smile, pondered for a while and said:
“I heard from Yimou that the film will take about a month to wrap up, so it may not be released in time for the summer season.

But now the Olympic Games opening ceremony team has more and more things to do, so the plan is to release it during the National Day holiday."

"Are you sure? Don't default on the payment and disrupt my company's arrangements."

At this time, Han Shanping and Boss Yang also looked at Zhang Weiping, waiting for his answer. After all, their company's movies did not want to encounter Zhang Yimou's blockbuster.

"It's confirmed. It will be during the National Day holiday."

"Okay, as long as there's a definite show time."

It would be better if it was released during the National Day holiday, then it would be easier to arrange Golden Harvest’s several films this year.

In fact, for blockbusters now, the release date will not have much impact.

What's more, it is Zhang Yimou's new film. In this life, because of his directing of the project "Red Cliff", his influence and appeal have increased significantly.

With Zhang Weiping's promotional methods, even if the movie is released during the National Day holiday, it can still make a sensation across the country.

At this time, Zhang Yimou approached Liu Zhou and asked in a low voice:

"Director Liu, are you really planning to attend the Venice Film Festival this year?"

"Yes what's the matter?"

"In fact, the president of the Venice International Film Festival, Mark Mueller, recently invited me to serve as a judge for this year's festival."

"What? So you'll be in Venice this year, too?"

"If there are no accidents, it should be."

"If you were there, the popularity of the Venice Film Festival in China would have exploded!"

Liu Zhou then reacted and asked:

"Director Zhang, isn't it against the rules for you to tell me that you're a judge?"

Zhang Yimou replied with a smile:

"It is a bit against the rules, but the news should be announced soon. However, I will not be partial when the time comes. Everything will be based on the quality of the film."

"No problem! I'm confident in my movie this time."

"Then I'll also take a good look at Director Liu's first art film."

Zhang Yimou is a member of the jury of this year's Venice Film Festival, which is also good news for Liu Zhou.

Liu Zhou didn't ask him to support him, but if his film was on par with another one, then it would depend more on the subjective factors of the judges.

(End of this chapter)