independent filmmaker

Xie Lansheng received a call from Berlin at the end of January.During the month of waiting, they did fine cutting and light distribution, shortening the initial cut from four hours to two hours.

Xie Lansheng's feelings about "participating in the competition" are quite complicated.In all fairness, Xie Lansheng has not been a very strong person in the past twenty years, he is immersed in his inner world.He has also always been in favor of "Where there is no literature first, martial arts second", because to put it bluntly, "whether you like a movie or not" is subjective and emotional, and has a lot to do with thoughts, aesthetics and other things.Moreover, no matter how high-profile the competition is, it is inherently vulgar, vain and very utilitarian—the major directors are constantly building up momentum to win the audience to like them, so that the organizing committee of the film festival pays attention and throws laurels.If you think about it, if no one cares about the award-winning film in the end, the film festival will not go on, but this will make it even more vulgar. The taste of the public has never been a good friend of artistic innovation.Xie Lansheng remained in awe of the public's preferences from the beginning to the end, but he couldn't be flattering.From these perspectives, "winning an award" is not a good thing. Many directors never take part in the competition, and even state in the contract that "it cannot be used for competition". Film festivals without competition seem to be more pure.

But, people are really very complicated.As long as you pay some cost, you will always expect results, and you are unwilling to do useless work.Moreover, if you participate in the competition, you will definitely be affected by the surrounding competitive atmosphere and become a vulgar animal. You want to be recognized by everyone, you want to reap the envy of your peers, you want to get an award back and get a good return.It is very contradictory to tell myself not to care, and care uncontrollably at the same time. Maybe, not going to the competition is really a more appropriate way.

This time, Xie Lansheng's main purpose was to be brought to China by pirates, and he kept convincing himself that the purpose of participating in the competition was to be seen by others, which didn't seem so vulgar.

Therefore, when he received a call from the organizing committee from Berlin, the main thoughts in his heart were still joy and joy.

On the phone, the person over there asked, "Is it director Xie Lansheng himself?"

Xie Lansheng responded with a feeling: "Yes!"

The old voice said: "I am Ares Schrder, the chairman of the Berlin Film Festival. We would like to invite your film "Consummation" to the main competition section of the film festival. Would you like to?" The directors of these film festivals in Berlin and Cannes change every year. Is a well-known big director, this year it is the turn of Ares Schrder.

Xie Lansheng said: "My honor."

Then, Ares Schrder said the same words as other directors of the film festival: "Then we will send a formal invitation letter, please bring it. Also, please keep the content of the call confidential until the list is announced."

"Ok."

Chairman Ares Schrder has a gentle attitude, and continues: "The opening date of the Berlin International Film Festival is February 2th, and the closing date is February 15th. Director Xie, congratulations, "Consummation" has been selected as the opening film of the film festival. At that time, I believe that major media in various countries will report on the content of the film.”

"..."

Hearing this, Lan Sheng felt a "thump" in his heart and fell down.

It’s over.

It's out of play.

He knew that, basically, it was impossible for the opening film of the film festival to win the grand prize, so he could only run with him.

Because it was too early.Twelve days later, the judges had already forgotten everything they had seen on the first day.

He was just an independent director with no connections and couldn't operate, so he was thrown to the first day.The most powerful marketing company will make the finale of the film, that is, the Saturday and Sunday before the end of the show-when the event is at its climax and the atmosphere is at its peak, the lesser marketing company will get Thursday, Sunday, and Sunday. Fifth, those companies that are a little bit more can also get Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and those who appear on the first day can be said to have given up. These producers and directors basically only want to show off.On the first day, countless bosses have not arrived yet.

Again, the film competition is to operate.The Organizing Committee of the Berlin Film Festival requires the international premiere of the film, otherwise the film can only go to the sub-competition unit. To put it simply, major film festivals such as Oscar have more to say in this regard-the director has to participate in a major competition from Toronto. Car Film Festival, invited the media to hold a press conference, and then released it to stir up the atmosphere, and then went to the "outpost" to win the Golden Globe Award, the Best Director Award from the Directors Guild of America, the American Film Critics Award, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Award ...not busy and haven't sung for half a year.

Xie Lansheng felt aggrieved again.

He is a film director, why should he be like this.

Without a large amount of financial support, can it only be "cast into the cold palace"?

The Olympic group appearance depends on the results of the preliminaries.

Xie Lansheng also knows very well that the film festival needs to establish a good relationship with big companies and get more films, but he has been fighting alone and it is really unavoidable that he will be wronged.

On the surface, Xie Lansheng and Chairman Ares Schrder still said very politely: "Thank you, thank the organizing committee for trusting this film, I will work hard to do a good job in the post-production, and show up on time with "Consummation"."

"Well," AresSchrder said again: "By the way, movies must have English and German bilingual subtitles, did you know that?"

Xie Lansheng said, "I understand."

"There are still some technical specifications, and someone will contact you again. "Consummation" will get at least five seats at the opening ceremony, as well as the closing ceremony. The organizing committee will reimburse you for transportation and accommodation for one person."

"No," Xie Lansheng said with a wry smile, "we only need one person to go, so we don't need five seats. The leading actor will go to Germany, and I will stay in China."

AresSchrder was a little puzzled: "Why didn't you participate?"

"I..." Xie Lansheng hesitated for a while, and finally said tactfully, "My passport has not been approved."

"Hmm..." Ares Schrder said with a smile, half understanding, "Then, we'll wait here for him to appear."

"Thank you, he looks forward to meeting you too."

"it is good."

Putting down the phone, Xie Lansheng thought about it, and then called Yu Qianzi, Xinye, Liu Yao, Qi Yong, Cen Chen and others to talk about this matter, saying that they should have gotten nothing, and there is no opening film in history. Can win big prizes.

Xie Lansheng could tell that Yu Qianzi, Qi Yong, and Cen Chen were all quite disappointed, only Xinye and Liu Yao comforted him and said it was okay.

…………

Anyway, the movie still has to be done seriously.

After the sound mixing was over, ABCLAB helped Lan Sheng adjust the light distribution again, and then engraved the German text on the film.German is also translated by Xin Ye, which is Xin Ye's second foreign language - if Chinese is also considered a "foreign language", it is his first foreign language.

The copy seemed to be still wet when it was rinsed out at the end, so Xin Ye directly picked it up and boarded the plane to Germany.

It was already February 2th.

Xin Ye only had four days to prepare.

He needs to contact the media and public relations to invite film critics, arrange media interviews and other activities that can build momentum, conduct technical reviews, ensure a smooth screening, and... In short, Xinye has very little time left.

But Xie Lansheng inexplicably believes that Xinye can do everything well.That man is very powerful.

After Xie Lansheng confirmed that Xin Ye had taken away the final copy, he reported the good news of "fixed" to everyone one by one.

He first called the heroine Liu Yao.

Liu Yao asked: "Is it definitely over this time?"

"Well," said Xie Lansheng, who still had this bit of confidence, "it's all done."

"Will there be any need for reshoots?"

Xie Lansheng smiled: "No. Liu Yao, what are you doing, what are you talking about today. Where are you going for vacation?"

Liu Yao smiled: "Almost."

"Don't worry." Xie Lansheng said, "The filming of "Consummation" has been completed. Art always has regrets, and movies are one of them. If you sew every day, you will never finish it in your life. There is no need. The filming of "Consummation" So far, it’s done, I can see people.”

"Okay." Liu Yao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and said, "That's great."

"Well," Xie Lansheng also said, "that's great."

…………

After notifying everyone, Xie Lansheng was not idle.

In fact, since the official announcement of the film list on February 2, Xie Lansheng has been receiving congratulatory calls from old acquaintances.

He received three more calls that day, and the last one was called by a colleague from the Xiaoxiang factory. He was not a roommate, but also a director. He had a good relationship with Xie Lansheng.

As usual, the two finished their formalities, and the other party chatted about their mutual acquaintance: "By the way, Xie Lansheng, did you know that Director Li Xian is married again. No one has ever seen his ex-wife. The two have been separated for a long time, and their relationship is not good, so they divorced. gone."

Xie Lansheng: "..."

"This wife is so beautiful. Director Li Xian said a few days ago that his wife is pregnant! The obstetrician and gynecologist they both know just saw it."

"..." Xie Lansheng said, "Congratulations."

"Well, Director Li really has four happy occasions. One is getting married, the other is having a son, the third is having a daughter, and the fourth is..."

Xie Lansheng just perfunctory: "Yes."

Then the topic came to other people, and the two chatted for half an hour.

By the time he finally said goodbye, Xie Lansheng was exhausted.This colleague was a top talker when he was in Xiaoxiang, and he kept talking to everyone, Xie Lansheng was quite afraid of him.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Xie Lansheng put down the phone, he heard the ringing again.

"No way..." Xie Lansheng was tired from socializing, and sat staring at the phone a few days ago, hesitating for a long time before answering, hoping this time it would be straightforward, he said, "Hello?"

"Thank you, Director!!!" Assistant Director Yu Qianzi's voice came in a panic, "What were you doing just now?! How did you get through the phone?!"

"Huh?" Xie Lansheng said, "Just now my friend came to congratulate me."

"Congratulations!"

Xie Lansheng: "???"

"Director Xie... Director Xie..." Yu Qianzi's questioning voice became helpless in an instant, and he said, "There is something very bad...you must calm down."

Xie Lansheng straightened his waist and asked, "What happened?"

Yu Qianzi's voice was hoarse: "Liu Yao... committed suicide."

"??!!!"

As soon as these words came out, Lan Sheng was stunned, and all the sounds around him disappeared in an instant.

Liu Yao... committed suicide?

Xie Lansheng listened hard to what happened next.

Liu Yao committed suicide at home.She put on makeup and lay on the bed, she was absolutely gorgeous and incomparable.And Liu Yao's father, who didn't care about her, happened to be there on something, and found out everything.

"Director Xie," Yu Qianzi said, "Liu Yao left two suicide notes, one is for her friend, and the other... is for you."

"yes."

Xie Lansheng was still dazed, thinking, Liu Yao always said that he had come out, but it turned out that she had never come out.

The author has something to say: Everyone seems to have guessed Liu Yao's ending...