Chapter 59: A Different Way to Grab Attention
That night, Miss Liu had a QQ video call with Li Chen.
She told him about Chen Jingfei's plan to host her coming-of-age ceremony at the State Guesthouse and the signing with Sony.
She also mentioned that Liu Xiaoli intended to release "the flowers of farewell" simultaneously on that day.
Starting tomorrow, Miss Liu would be busy again.
Endorsements and announcements had piled up.
Even so, these were carefully selected by Liu Xiaoli.
She didn't accept every endorsement offer.
Actually, Li Chen had already heard about these things without Miss Liu needing to tell him.
Currently, there were no less than ten companies trying to sign Liu Yifei.
Huayi Brothers, Tangren Media, Bona Film Group, and Hairun Media from the mainland all had this idea.
Li Chen didn't interfere with these matters.
Liu Xiaoli was not foolish; Miss Liu's current momentum was truly unique.
She had signed with Sony in the music industry, was backed by Li Chen in the film industry, and had Chen Jingfei standing behind her.
It could be said she was perfectly at ease.
These companies wanting to sign Liu Yifei were merely attracted by her current super high popularity and potential.
There were practically none that could genuinely help her career.
During the May Day holiday, a major scandal broke, shocking the entertainment industry.
Photos of Li Bingbing and Zhu Xiaotian kissing passionately in a hotel were exposed by Hong Kong Island, finally confirming the rumors.
When Yang Siwei saw this news, she was in a meeting with several of her subordinates.
She was also shocked and somewhat disbelieving.
Was this still Bingbing Jie (Sister Bingbing) who had given her a Patek Philippe?
She was too uninhibited, not at all inferior to the 'floating mandarin ducks' photos of the other Bingbing.
Yang Siwei's distraction was interrupted by the phone ringing; she picked it up, and it was her boss calling her.
Originally, Li Chen hadn't planned to take Yang Siwei to Cannes.
But now that Song Gou had been dealt with, he probably wouldn't cause trouble again for a short time.
So, the hidden danger for Miss Liu should be temporarily resolved.
Upon hearing that her boss wanted to take her to Cannes, Yang Siwei immediately became overjoyed.
She had long wanted to experience it.
Yang Siwei smiled somewhat mysteriously: "Boss, what do you think of Bingbing Jie (Sister Bingbing)'s photos?"
Li Chen gave Yang Siwei an annoyed look: "I look with my eyes!"
"Are you too idle? You should brush up on your English recently."
"Once we're abroad, you'll be my personal assistant and translator!"
Yang Siwei wondered: "Boss, you don't speak English?"
Li Chen retorted: "If I do, I can't hire a translator?"
Uh, Yang Siwei was speechless; the boss was indeed the boss!
The capitalist's exploitation was fully evident in her.
The day before departing for Cannes, Li Chen submitted the script for lost in thailand for review.
Since Li Chen opened a Sina blog at the invitation of Cao Guowei.
Not long after, Liu Yifei, Tang Yan, Zhou Xun, Li Bingbing, and Fan Bingbing successively opened Sina blogs.
Following them, Zhang Ziyi, Huang Xiaoming, Yang Mi, and others also opened theirs.
General Manager Cao joked that Li Chen's presence saved him at least 5 million in publicity fees.
Yang Siwei now also had a bit of fame, so she naturally wouldn't be left out.
Before boarding the plane, Yang Siwei posted a still from shoplifters on her blog.
Accompanying message: Departing.
Destination: Cannes!
Among those following Yang Siwei's blog, Li Xue was the first to reply.
"Siwei, I want to go too, sister."
"Looking forward to presenting an award to Director Li."
"Siwei, sister still needs an agent."
"Siwei, does Director Li need a companion on the red carpet? Sister can ask Director Chen for leave."
Liu Yifei, looking at Yang Siwei's blog, also left an indignant message.
"Go, Siwei! Do your job well!"
On the plane, the first-class cabin was filled with the cast members of shoplifters.
The oldest was Lu Zhong, but Li Xuejian was the one whose health was not so good.
Li Chen sincerely said: "Thank you both teachers for your strong support; if you need anything, just tell Siwei."
"Don't be polite with her."
Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Director Li, you're too polite. I'm fine, but Xue Jian…"
Li Xuejian waved his hand and said with a hoarse laugh: "I'm fine, Ms. Lu, don't worry."
"To be nominated for the Cannes Film Festival at my age and compete for the Golden Palm, I definitely have to support Director Li."
Yang Siwei said with a smile: "If both teachers need anything, just come to me."
"Before coming, the boss already said."
"Once we're abroad, both teachers are my bosses."
Everyone was laughing and cheerful.
Guan Xiaotong, traveling abroad for the first time in her life, had eyes full of wonder.
Yang Siwei remembered another matter.
She frowned and said: "Boss, do you think the shanghai dreams crew is really out of money? Or…"
Mei Ting and Wan Qian, who were nearby, also looked at Li Chen.
They had all heard that the shanghai dreams crew, due to lack of funds, did not plan to attend the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony red carpet.
Yang Siwei certainly didn't believe Wang Xiaoshuai's excuse.
In her opinion, this was also a form of publicity, but it was too extreme and too undignified.
It was a loss of face for Chinese filmmakers.
Li Chen didn't want to say more: "I'm not familiar with him. Why don't you ask him yourself when you see him in Cannes?"
Yang Siwei smiled and said: "No way, I'm glad my boss isn't him!"
"I heard that even the actors' costumes were self-prepared, but my boss is generous."
"With a wave of his hand, everyone gets a custom-made outfit."
Mei Ting smiled and said: "Siwei is right. Working with Director Li, there's only one feeling: awesome."
"Isn't that right, Xiao Tong?" Mei Ting said, putting her arm around Guan Xiaotong who was sitting next to her.
Guan Xiaotong smiled happily and said crisply: "Yes!"
Li Chen shook his head and didn't say much.
Sina Entertainment News
"shoplifters" has already departed for Cannes today.
It is reported that the Wuji crew will depart from Beijing the day after tomorrow.
Several main actors from Hong Kong Island and Japan have also departed from their respective locations recently.
Although both Li Chen and Wang Xiaoshuai were nominated for the main competition unit this time.
Industry insiders, however, generally do not believe either of them can win an award.
Including Han Sanping.
That's why Han Sanping focused all his attention on the Wuji castle promotion event.
After all, this Cannes Film Festival could be described with eight characters: a gathering of masters and renowned directors.
Wim Wenders, Dardenne Brothers, Jim Jarmusch, David Cronenberg, Michael Haneke.
It was considered the highest quality lineup of films in a decade.
Compared to these masters and renowned directors, Li Chen and Wang Xiaoshuai appeared even more insignificant.
Especially Li Chen, a newcomer to the big three.
Two years ago, he was unknown, and his age and experience didn't even qualify him as a junior.
There were many people waiting to see him fail.
The plane landed in France, this romantic country.
Li Chen had a feeling that Cannes might be his lucky place.
It is well known that if the Oscar is an old man in his eighties.
Then the Cannes Film Festival is a menopausal housewife.
Trying to take her pulse is harder than climbing to heaven.
Almost no media outlet that dares to predict the Oscar has the courage to be presumptuous in front of Cannes.
Getting even one of Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, or Best Screenplay would be an incredible achievement.
Let alone the Golden Palm and the Grand Jury Prize.
Often, films unanimously praised by the local media end up winning nothing.
Upon arriving at the local hotel, they spent two days adjusting to the time difference.
Han Sanping also arrived with the Wuji crew.
Following closely, Big Brother Long's Myth crew, and Stephen Chow's Kung Fu, also successively appeared in Cannes.
On the day of the opening ceremony, Li Chen led his family members, looking refreshed, onto the red carpet.
The family members' outfits also had their own unique characteristics.
Li Chen, walking on the very edge, wore a black stand-collar Chinese tunic suit with a buzz cut, thick eyebrows, and phoenix eyes, which was very striking.
Next to him, Li Xuejian wore a navy blue Chinese tunic suit, exuding elegance and composure.
Xie Miao wore a small suit dress, while Guan Xiaotong wore a princess dress.
The two children held hands, like a pair of golden boy and jade girl.
Lu Zhong wore a lake-blue cheongsam, looking grand and at ease.
Mei Ting and Wan Qian chose a dress and a suit, respectively.
Although the crew didn't have any big-name stars.
The media still generously aimed their cameras at this Cannes newcomer, who gathered characters of all ages.
"Director Li, look this way."
Li Chen and the crew turned their heads and saw a Sina Entertainment reporter.
He smiled and said: "Take good pictures, otherwise I'll have to settle accounts with your General Manager Cao."
The Sina reporter smiled and said: "No problem."
A photograph of shoplifters was thus captured.
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