Hollywood Domination Chapter 230: I can’t bear to let the child catch the wolf
Different from the Oscars, which have strict voting procedures, the format of the Venice Film Festival is more casual than the Golden Globes. The design is also very flexible. In addition to the three Golden Lions (Best Film, Best Actor and Actress) that must be selected for the main competition unit and have the highest gold content, there is also a Silver Lion Award - which is decided by the jury and not awarded every year. , ad hoc miscellaneous awards and small unit awards, it can be said that this kind of award has a strong color of personal success. In the public imagination, the voting process is not like writing down the ballots and then casting the votes to decide the world. On the contrary, it is more like Everyone sits down and has a tea party, and then divides the pork in the discussion. People will not be surprised if there are more than 7 judges present at the symposium, because the consolation nature of some awards is so obvious that it looks like Is someone saying, 'Ah, she won't get the Golden Lion, but she did a good job after all, so can we give her a special award? ’
Of course, as one of the three major film festivals, the Venice Film Festival maintains its credibility, certainly not because they are keen on sharing pork. On the contrary, objectively speaking, on an international scale, its gold content is even slightly higher than that of the Golden Globe Awards, because there are more than 90 judges for the Golden Globe Awards, but the members are fixed, and they are open to bribery and public relations. There have been several scandals, and every year the Venice Film Festival invites masters from all over the world. Whether it is a director or an actor, they have already achieved fame, and there are very few bargaining chips that can make them feel excited. Moreover, this is an international competition after all. Although the films selected for the competition unit all want to win awards, it is still very difficult to get seven judges from foreign countries to vote for, and even if there are judges who vote for their own films, they can only get one Tickets don't do much.
At the same time, film journalists and film critics from all over the world gathered in Venice will also make their own comments and votes on the participating films, which makes it very difficult to operate in the dark. , The judges will not share the good pork with you. After all, this is different from the Oscars. The Oscars vote anonymously, and the membership status is kept secret. Voting favors hurts Oscar's reputation and has nothing to do with me. However, the jury in Venice is transparent, and if poor works and actors are selected, it is the reputation of the judges who will be damaged, at least their taste will be doubted.
So, the awards at the Venice Film Festival will only compete among a few top works with sufficient strength. There are many elements that determine who wins the award, including connections and tastes, which is relatively fair. After all, these factors have nothing to do with the quality itself. The winner is either lucky and the work suits the taste of the judges, or the judges are willing to give you this award because the judges have a lot of contacts. After all, for an art that is difficult to quantify and score, it is a very vague proposition who is more qualified to win the award. , and there is no certain correct answer.
The masters who are qualified to be invited to Venice as judges are all ups and downs for decades. The veterans who have been killed in the Grand Prix must have seen the limitations of the awards quite clearly. Their way of thinking They have also adapted to such a model full of contradictions and conflicts between fairness and unfairness. For them, ensuring that the best movie they recognize is not the most important thing. The most important thing is to ensure that all relatively best actors This is why the Venice Film Festival sets up miscellaneous awards and tries to 'split pork'. On the one hand, these awards will stimulate the enthusiasm of the country where the film is located to continue to participate in the Venice Film Festival and maintain its influence. On the other hand, it is also an encouragement for excellent works. As for the situation of fighting for the works that they are optimistic about, loudly and quietly, they rarely appear in the jury meeting, and everyone expresses their opinions through translation more leisurely, more like a tea party, or even Some people seldom speak out for their own country’s films. For example, director Zhang, although Jiang Wen’s "The Sun Also Rises" also participated in the election, but he does not plan to canvass for it: They are all experts, so whether the film is good or not We all know, it’s really a good movie, seeing you sitting here, you must be sure, it’s not up to standard, and you’re a shame to speak for him, it’s all mixed up, don’t need to ask anyone, why put a piece down The old face went to solicit votes for a colleague who has no interest in you, just because they are all Chinese? Besides, you may not be able to win the prize if you promote it.
Of course, this is also related to his disapproval of "The Sun Also Rises". Although some characters greeted them through various channels, Director Zhang just laughed: The discussion process must be confidential. Favors belong to nothing. No matter what you say at the meeting, you can use a perfunctory statement after the meeting-"I tried my best, but it didn't work." It’s not high, it’s not a favorite to win the award at all, and the six judges shook their heads at him. Whether you push it or not doesn’t affect the result, it’s better to spend more energy on the person who can win the award with a push, no matter Whether to start from his own aesthetics or his own interests, these are more attractive choices for him. In terms of his own aesthetics, he really likes the girl's performance and progress in the two films. This is a director's purest and most professional appreciation of actors, and it is also his professional choice.
If you want to be a judge, you must be a good judge. It is only natural to choose actors with the most potential and the highest level. Secondly, in terms of self-interest, Jennifer Jefferson can speak fluent Chinese and has a very good temper. Director Zhang It can also be seen that she is very optimistic about the Chinese market, which means that there may be opportunities for cooperation in the future, whether it is to invite the team of this double actress to give advice on the film's public relations skills for the Olympic Games or even some small experience talks, or directly Inviting her to cooperate with some new films and try to transform to internationalization is a road that can be taken broadly. He has no reason not to support Jennifer and continue to deepen this good relationship.
"Cate Blanchett is a more elegant choice," Emmanuel Criales from Italy said in not-so-standard English, and the translator immediately conveyed his words to Director Zhang, "She is more suitable for Venice than Jennifer Jefferson. That girl is excellent, but her time to rise is too short. She can wait."
"If we had to choose a Hollywood girl, I would choose Jennifer Jefferson." The French female director Catherine Brea immediately confronted and talked directly to Emmanuel, "The relationship between her and Kate Acting, who's better? I don't know, because Kate's time is so short that she doesn't get a chance to expose her shortcomings, while Jennifer's character is more complete, and she explodes into a role in the limited time. Complicated characters, if we can't talk about movies about movies, then maybe we shouldn't be sitting here at all."
"The reason why you are sitting here is because you didn't talk about the film." Emmanuel was a little unhappy, he knocked on the table, "Otherwise, what we are discussing is not to give the Golden Lion Award to Brad Pitt's business, Liang's performance in "Lust, Caution" deserves the award."
When it comes to this point, all the judges have a look of unnaturalness on their faces-although they also want to look at the candidate films from a fair perspective, but this does not mean that they can be absolutely fair. Being invited to participate in the Venice Film Festival is an honor for anyone, and the result of receiving this honor is that you have to return the favor given to you by the Venice Film Festival in the selection. Mark Muller has recruited many Hollywood films to participate in the selection this time. The red carpet in Venice hasn’t been this lively for a long time, and Hollywood’s great help is in exchange for Mark’s clear request: in the awards, he hopes that the judges will pay more attention to Venice’s discrimination against Hollywood over the years, but try to keep Venice multinational. A collection of traditions.
"Lust, Caution" is a high-quality Chinese-language film produced by a Hollywood director. Under this idea, it won the Golden Lion Award naturally. "The Sun" has no competition in front of him. And according to Venice’s tradition of sharing pork—or trying to take care of as many good works as possible, “The Sun” is tantamount to withdrawing from the selection of the main competition unit awards. And the Silver Lion Award for the best film must be distributed to European countries, including the local Italian film industry, which must be appeased, after all, it is a landlord. The next best actor, Mark strongly hinted at Brad Pitt, the biggest Hollywood actor who came to Venice this time, and also the most commercial choice, mainly because his new movie premiered in Venice, it can be said It was enough face, so the more competitive Daniel Day-Lewis could only get the Silver Bear Award.
In the choice of the best actress, Marco did not designate a candidate, and the judges rebounded after Brad Pitt, and they were unwilling to choose Jennifer, who had a high commercial value and brought a lot of exposure to Venice. Jefferson, apart from Director Zhang and Catherine, most people are actually in favor of the Italian: If you must choose, it is better to choose Cate Blanchett. After all, she is still an Australian and can give the most important three Big golden lions often bring some international colors.
Seeing that the major awards are almost settled, Cate Blanchett seems to be winning in an all-round way. Except for Catherine, who is still a little unconvinced, several judges have expressions of approval for Emmanuel. Director Zhang knew that if he didn’t speak again, Jennifer would be doomed to nothing. The Silver Bear Award is reserved for faction balance. If Kate from Hollywood is chosen, then the Silver Bear Award can only be set up for European In the film industry, it is impossible to give the Hollywood department an American Jennifer.
"If we must choose a big Hollywood name." Director Zhang, who has always been thoughtful, spoke for the first time at the discussion meeting. He spoke slowly to the translator, leaving enough time for the other party to think , "Is it true that only Brad Pitt can be chosen? This will be laughed at, the feeling of the inside story is too obvious."
When selecting the best film before, Director Zhang did not speak too much for Ang Lee, nor did he strive for pork awards for his own country's films like the judges. There is also an unused 'Highly Recommended' vote, which makes his opinion highly valued. After all, none of the judges can overbearingly recommend this and that. It is an unwritten tacit understanding for each to support one.
And his words did make the faces of several judges show uncomfortable expressions: "Death of the Sharpshooter" is a very good movie, but Brad Pitt's performance is better than Daniel Day's. -Lewis, that's a complete joke.
"Are you saying to leave the male golden lion to Daniel?" The translator quickly brought the Italian's opinion, and the other party was also looking at Director Zhang in confusion, "I'm afraid this is not in line with Marco's guidance. , you must know that Daniel declined the invitation from Venice..."
This is also one of the reasons why Daniel was the first to be eliminated from the Golden Lion competition. He didn't even come to the opening ceremony. Mark Muller couldn't possibly like him too much.
"What I mean is very simple," Director Zhang still said slowly, "The Hollywood big names who came here this time, ah, those box office superstars who can act, aren't they just Brad Pitt alone? ? "Death of the Sharpshooter" can win ad hoc awards, and the Golden Lion Award is a weighty award. No matter how you choose, you can't be too guilty. Is this the truth? Is it true that no one can choose except Brad? Brad Didn't De just come to the opening ceremony? He didn't come to the award ceremony, so it's the same if you choose him or Daniel?"
"Cate Blanchett is not coming either, and there are not many people in Hollywood staying to participate in the award presentation—" He pursed his lips and threw a bombshell, "But Jennifer Jay Ferson is different. She told me that she was going to present the awards, so she came from New Zealand on a private plane, and then went back after the participation. She didn’t talk about how well he played. I think she should pay attention to her spirit. Awarded."
Several judges looked at each other, and no one spoke first. After a while, Emmanuel coughed.
"We should call Marco," he said softly, "Yes, we should call Marco..."
#
"The best actor is——"
Withdrawing his rambling thoughts, Director Zhang also stopped thinking about the endless calculations about the awards, as well as the laborious communication through several translations. He calmly watched the stage and calculated the time to go home in his heart: There is only one year until the Olympics, and there will be rehearsals next month, and there are a lot of things to do—
After a dramatic pause, the presenter uttered a name that everyone was familiar with. "Daniel Day-Lewis!"
'Wow—', warm applause immediately resounded through the awards hall, and the film critics and enthusiastic movie fans who came to the award ceremony expressed their affirmation of this choice with their applause, "Michael Clayton" During the Venice Film Festival, it was screened 8 times, and the attendance rate of each time was 100%. With his outstanding performance, coupled with his outstanding resume and the blood of the family of the European Poet Laureate, Venice chose him to present the Golden Lion Award, which is of course expected by everyone.
A slender and beautiful figure rose up from not far away, and Jennifer Jefferson stepped out of her seat gracefully, apparently going forward to accept the award instead of Daniel, which was also an expected choice, because "Michael. Clayton" crew came to her alone. Tonight, she has been carefully decorated, making her look even more beautiful and moving, and the elegant expression of joy is even more generous and decent, making her more outstanding as if she was born in a noble family—her eyes seem to be aimlessly scanning After passing through a row of guests, she landed on Director Zhang. Those green eyes that seemed to be talking blinked slightly, adding a hint of cryptic doubt to her expression. Others see the clues.
A hint of urchin-like joy flashed in Director Zhang's heart: There was no clear reminder beforehand, because this matter really couldn't be put on the stage, and because he was not suitable for too much contact with candidates, but although there were many considerations in doing so, But seeing Jennifer's complicated reaction, he still had a happy feeling as if the prank had succeeded.
He nodded slightly invisibly as a reply to Jennifer, and the eyes of this beautiful blonde girl lit up, the smile on her lips deepened immediately, and she also nodded slightly at him: Obviously, She already understood what Director Zhang meant and expressed her gratitude.
Leaning back comfortably, Director Zhang no longer focused on the venue, anyway, he couldn't understand what everyone was saying-letting these birdsong blow his face like a breeze, he again Thinking about his own little books: this time he completely sacrificed "The Sun", and didn't even get a single miscellaneous item, so he might have to complain when he returns to China, but it doesn't matter, Wei Ping will definitely understand, what did he say? I can't bear to let my children not be caught by wolves. What about big Hollywood stars? If you don't spend a lot of money, can this way be established? Not to mention the opening ceremony of the Olympics in front of him. After the opening ceremony, he wanted to hire a first-class foreign actor for the project he had been thinking about for a long time, and try to make an impact in Hollywood...
He was gradually immersed in his own thoughts, only to vaguely hear some familiar and unfamiliar syllables: Best Actress, Golden Lion Award, and a familiar name - Jennifer, Jennifer Jeff Mori...