Chapter 861 Berlin, Zhang Zifang

It is said that Heidenberg, the current Chancellor of Germany who was elected in 2001, together with one of his sons and two daughters, are die-hard fans of the Four Great Beauties and Liao Liao.

During the China World Cup, Heidenberg and his wife, who went to China to attend the opening ceremony and paid a state visit to China, were very active in showing the three records that he and his wife carried with them to media reporters. The first album released by the Beauty Band that year, "Fake Monk".

During the World Cup, this incident became one of the most talked about music stories in the Chinese music scene.

Because Heidenberg is a German and does not speak Chinese, and "Fake Monk" is an authentic Chinese rock album, and it is also the debut work of the Four Great Beauties. Of course, the most important thing is that it is a Prime Minister. !

Therefore, this incident made many people in the country feel very honorable and stylish.

But to be honest, whether Heidenberg is a fan of his own, and whether he really likes "Fake Monk" so much that he can't get tired of listening to "False Monk" so much that he has to take it with him when visiting abroad... This estimate is still debatable.

Politicians, of course!

But this incident alone can reflect a problem.

That is, for the Western society at that time, expressing their love for Li Qian, Liao Liao and the Four Great Beauties, to send a signal of friendship and goodwill to the entire Chinese society, is what they think is a very appropriate way-in their In the eyes of, or in the eyes of the entire Western society, Li Qian, Liao Liao, and the Four Great Beauties have, to some extent, become one of the representative figures of China in the world.

This function is probably a bit similar to that in another time and space where foreign presidents put on a show to learn how to play table tennis, or publicly praised the spirit of the Chinese women's volleyball team, or shook hands and took photos with Jackie Chan...

Not necessarily the same, but probably similar!

Therefore, for the arrival of Li Qian, a top superstar in the international music scene, the Berlin Film Festival officials and the Berlin city government have paid a certain amount of attention. Prior to this, they had contacted here in a tactful manner, saying that they could award Li Qian and Liao Liao with certificates of honorary residents of Berlin.

They can even get a marriage registration certificate in the city of Berlin if the two want to!

Li Qian refused without hesitation!

It seems that they have worked hard to understand China's marriage system and the marriage conditions of Li Qian and Liao Liao, but...doesn't this add to the confusion?

If the boss Liao Liao is fired, then Zhou Mo, He Runqing, and Xie Bing all need marriage certificates, what should we do?

Is it possible to run around the world as an honorary resident?

So, just decline it!

But even so, the photo of Li Qian and Qin Jingjing walking into the theater where the exhibited films were shown together occupied a considerable place in the entertainment sections of many newspapers across Germany the next day.

Of course, James McCullough, a British film master who is also considered to be one of the most outstanding film masters in Europe since the 1970s, and Yue Shu, a top superstar from Hollywood who was the most popular in the world at the time, accounted for the most. Ya Chris's.

After five years of dormancy, the former came to Berlin this year with his new work, a masterpiece of eroticism "Golden Palace", or translated into "Golden House".

The latter's "Mission: Impossible" sold over 600 million US dollars worldwide this year, making him the world's top actor, and so far, the first Hollywood actor to be recognized as worth 20 million US dollars. He came to Berlin to stand on stage for a work invested by his film company. The name of the film is "Heart of Gold", and the director is said to be a very talented newcomer. This film was also selected as the main competition unit of this Berlin Film Festival.

Li Qian has always kept a low profile, and it is the same when he comes to Berlin to participate in the film festival.

In fact, if he wanted to make some news in Berlin, it would be very simple. If he made frequent high-profile appearances, or if he brought Liao Liao and Rose Power to help him stand on the platform, the news enthusiasm would definitely rise immediately.

but none.

Except at the beginning of the film festival, he definitely needed to show his face to show that he had come. At other times, he mostly just turned around to watch movies, and under the introduction of John Dess, he had some not-so-heavy social activities. Then I just quietly waited for the day when "Red Sorghum" will be screened.

Of course, although he seldom goes to the US, he still has friends after all. What's more, even if he doesn't know someone well, Liao Liao does. At this time, whenever he comes to Berlin, he probably wants to say hello and chat.

No matter how low-key Li Qian is, it is impossible to refuse this.

For example, Joshua Chris.

Then, the photos of the two chatting, laughing, and embracing each other's shoulders when they parted in a cafe on the streets of Berlin were photographed by local media reporters and appeared in the evening paper of the day.

But in fact, what Li Qian valued more was another meeting.

The famous talented female director in China, Zhang Zifang.

Her films are very popular in the three major European film festivals, and everyone welcomes her to participate in the exhibition, but what makes people speechless is that she has come here four or five times, and each time she came back empty-handed. It's just a consolation prize, and last year's "Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan" also failed to achieve a breakthrough in the awards.

But this year when she received an invitation, she still came with her new movie, "The Promise".

The only two films that came to China to participate in the Berlin Film Festival this year were "Red Sorghum" and "The Promise". Although the two were not familiar with each other when they were in China, they were just acquaintances, but when they came to a foreign country, they also became "" "Foreigners", but all of a sudden they seem a lot closer.

In the morning, Li Qian went to see a French film that was exhibiting. The sex scene lasted half an hour, but the woman sitting next to him was not his own woman. Li Qian had no choice but to drink a few cups of coffee to suppress his anger.

Then, at noon, I rushed to the appointed restaurant and met Zhang Zifang for a chat. It turned out that Zhang Zifang also went to see the movie in the morning, so the two laughed at each other tacitly.

No one dares to make that kind of film in China, and there is no need to make it—you make it, let alone release it, as soon as the relevant government departments hear about it, they usually arrest people directly.

So, whether you talk about art or pornography, anyway, even domestic filmmakers who are more respectful of European literary and artistic films, under the influence of the domestic system for many years, the vast majority of people are not interested in the so-called film masters in Europe. This set of so-called art is actually not very interesting.

On the contrary, there are some literary films that wander around the red line, have lust, but focus on human nature, or focus on love. Not to mention in Europe, in fact, many people like it in China.

In 1998, Zhou Yanghua's Dongfang Media's Dongfang Cinemas wholesaled a batch of films from the award-winning films of the three major European film festivals. As a result, an Italian literary and artistic romance film was at best a few omissions. It's just a camera lens, but the main selling point is actually love. It actually took more than 13 million at the box office in China, which made Dongfang Media very proud and publicized it everywhere.

It is said that at that time, they bought the Chinese screening rights of 11 movies, and Oriental Media only spent 1.7 million US dollars, equivalent to less than 3.5 million RMB!

The two each ordered their own food, and while sitting and waiting, they first chatted a little about Berlin, then talked a little about each other's activities in the morning, looked at each other and laughed a little, then complimented each other a little bit, and the food was served.

After eating, the real conversation begins.

Moreover, this was the first time that Li Qian had a serious chat with the most famous female director in China.

She should have just turned 40 years old this year, but she is already an old director with more than a dozen works. When we met in Berlin at this time, she was as elegant as ever, dressed plainly, spoke softly, and ate. He also swallowed slowly, and every move carried a kind of elegance and tranquility unique to a mature southern girl.

Talking to her feels good.

Just a little resentment.

After all, she has come to the Berlin Film Festival alone. This is the third time, but the first time she returned empty-handed, and the second time she was given a consolation award. Considering the inertia and continuity of her film themes , and the way of expression has not made too much progress that is too much to boast about, so it is very likely that this time, it is still difficult for her to achieve any exciting gains.

In this case, the individual will have resentment.

Facing Li Qian, she shook her head helplessly, with a bitter smile on her face, and said, "I'm bored! I'm bored too! If you don't give me anything this time, I really don't want to come in the future!"

Li Qian laughed when he heard this, "Really willing? Your film still has a market in Europe. If you don't come to the film festival, I'm afraid you will lose a lot of money!"

Zhang Zifang shook her head helplessly, "Less less, we are old friends for many years, I will make this trip less, even if it is less, it won't hurt me too much!"

Li Qian nodded upon hearing this.

The three major film festivals in Europe, to put it bluntly, are of course a grand event for human beings to exchange film art, but it has to be admitted that under such a grand event, under the banner of such an art, there is a huge Business interests are running around.

To put it bluntly, the three major film festivals in Europe are not only a stage for art, but also a stage for directors to show their film talents, but at the same time, they are also a stage for distributors and producers to wrestle with each other, and they are a big market!

Come to participate in the exhibition, someone has seen it, and if you have a certain reputation, it is very likely that you will be picked up by a publisher in a certain country. The price may not be high, hundreds of thousands? Even only a few hundred thousand?

But size is always money. Anyway, you can’t sell it by yourself. But by taking advantage of the opportunity of the film festival, everyone gets together, and this business path will work.

And if you can win awards at film festivals, especially important awards, and give film distributors in various countries a good publicity gimmick, then needless to say, you will definitely get hundreds of thousands of dollars. Going around and selling them, adding up the odds and ends, usually can bring a lot of money into the account.

Like Zhang Zifang, her "Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan" was released in China last year, and it was already the highest box office in her history. It was only about 68 million, less than 70 million. Various countries in Europe sold copyrights, and sold more than a dozen copies. Although they were all bought out and released, it was said that the money in the end was more than 6 million U.S. dollars—equivalent to 12 to 3 million Chinese yuan!

Moreover, this is pure profit!

But last summer, many movies with a box office of over 100 million were basically unable to sell in Europe!

Like Li Qian's "My Sassy Girl", although it is very popular in the East, but in Europe, it was only introduced by a rich man in Singapore, and sold the screening rights in the UK, and... only 300,000 pounds!

"Once Upon a Time" became a hit in China, landed in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and created a lot of box office myths, but when it came to Europe and the United States, it was very unacceptable, and it was all bought out and sold with a hammer, and it didn't sell for much money.

So, speaking of individuals alone, because Li Qian is the lead singer of a famous band, he is also more famous than Zhang Zifang in Europe, but when it comes to film works, Zhang Zifang's current word-of-mouth and popularity in the European film distribution circle and art criticism circle are second to none. Li Qian is several blocks away!

Drinking the German version of Indian black tea in bags after dinner, Zhang Zifang felt a little emotional, "Actually, our domestic films have made quite a lot of artistic achievements in the past 20 or 30 years, but there is no way, we don't have the right to speak. The Yangcheng Film Festival held by our country, if it hadn’t been rich in prize money, or it would have helped to enter the Chinese film market, it would have been obsolete long ago! Foreign films are not willing to participate, and even domestic film directors are not willing to go Participate in the exhibition! In fact, the current three major film festivals in Europe, I think, are also in decline! The Oscars in the United States are really in full swing!"

"However, even these three old stores that are declining day by day have a much higher discourse power in the world, especially in the criticism of film art, than we do in China! Whether your films are good or not is up to you It doesn’t matter what the country says, even if it’s all agreed, when it comes to the world, people don’t recognize it, you have to come over and ask the masters in Europe to have a look, and if you approve it, you can be famous in the world! "

"The reality is so helpless! You have nothing to do!"

"Also, don't watch the TV news shouting loudly. It is said that China and many European countries are very close politically and have frequent economic interactions. It seems that everyone has a good relationship, but in fact, I don't know anything else. I know, at least in terms of movies, it is really difficult for Chinese filmmakers to win awards!"

Speaking of this, she spoke with melancholy, and said helplessly: "If you want to win awards and become famous here, either you already have a huge popularity and excellent reputation among European folks, or you are a member of this film festival from the very beginning. It’s just a direct director who has been selected and cultivated, otherwise, there are big distributors behind you, otherwise, it will be very difficult!"

"Of course, if you have the skills of Master Qin Wei and Qin, you can insist that all the judges have nothing to say with your works, and make them feel that not voting for you is a crime and a blasphemy of art. It's another matter! In fact, although the three major European film festivals have declined, and they are indeed a little dirty from time to time, their ethics in this regard have always been good!"

"But after so many years, there are only two people in Asia, and there is only one Qin Wei in our country, which frightened the judges of that Venice Film Festival! Besides, even Du Weiyun came, only It could be a consolation prize at Cannes!"

Speaking of this, she looked at Li Qian, covered her mouth and laughed suddenly, and stared at Li Qian who was listening and thinking, and after a long time, she finally finished laughing, and said softly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Forgot that you broke up with Qin Wei before, and never communicated with each other again, so you shouldn't praise him like that in front of you!"

Li Qian shrugged helplessly and smiled wryly.

The letter of severance has really become a well-known stalk in China.

But even if the relationship has been severed, Li Qian still has to admit that the reason why Qin Wei's name is so strong, and why his status in the domestic film, art, and entertainment circles is so lofty, in the final analysis, he led With "Red Light District" to fight in Europe, the men really have real skills!

He won the Golden Lion Award and Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in one fell swoop that year, and his reputation is by no means in vain!

***

I'm a little weak, and I can't shout no matter how much I shout in the past few days. Do you really have no monthly pass in your hand?

Look through your pocket again, Dao Yigeng asks you for a few monthly tickets for live support!