Chapter 60: Star-Studded Premiere
Sina Entertainment News
Yesterday, the entire cast of shoplifters made a stunning appearance on the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony red carpet.
The fusion of Chinese and Western attire perfectly showcased the inclusive style of shoplifters.
Director Li Chen and the lead actors Ms. Lu and Li Xuejian, both respected masters,
all appeared on the red carpet in traditional Chinese Zhongshan suits and Qipaos, representing Chinese characteristics.
They received unanimous praise from the local media.
Another mainland film in the main competition unit, shanghai dreams, was absent from the opening ceremony red carpet.
Reporters called Director Wang Xiaoshuai of shanghai dreams.
Director Wang Xiaoshuai frankly stated that lack of funds was only one aspect.
More importantly, the opening ceremony was not important; it should be left to those who want to show off.
When Yang Siwei saw this news, she immediately became furious.
Netizens joked,
“They really lacked a few days' rent money, embarrassing themselves even abroad.”
“shanghai dreams shines at Cannes by not attending the opening ceremony red carpet!”
“A bizarre director, bizarre reasons. I’ve never heard of not attending because of lack of money in my entire life.”
“Boss, do you think this Wang Xiaoshuai speaks without thinking?”
“You don’t attend, and then you criticize the crews who do.” Yang Siwei fumed, her face red with anger.
Li Chen also felt uncomfortable, but out of consideration for Ms. Lu and Li Xuejian being present,
he held back: “Forget it, don’t mind them.”
To quibble now would simply be to make a joke for foreigners.
They hadn't even won an award yet, and the Chinese were already fighting among themselves!
The next day, films in the non-competition unit began to be screened.
The first one was Scarlett Johansson's "Match Point."
Li Chen's crew also received an invitation to the Premiere.
However, Li Chen didn't go. If he had, Old Han would probably have torn him apart.
He would rather go to the Premiere of a non-competition film than attend the Wuji promotion conference.
In the evening, during the Wuji promotion conference, Han Sanping called him, asking him to come over.
Li Chen then had a reason to refuse.
Besides, everyone going was a film distributor, what would he do there?
No matter what Han Sanping said, he didn't budge.
Li Chen told Yang Siwei to inform everyone to rest well today.
To get enough rest to be ready for the shoplifters Premiere held on the 15th.
He didn't care how Han Sanping arranged things.
Li Chen used all the connections he could this time.
Yang Shoucheng helped him contact the Southeast Asian and European film distributors who had purchased the new world copyright.
Big Brother Long's company, already backed by Emperor Entertainment Group, would naturally come to show support.
This included Warner and Paramount, who had previously been in contact with Li Chen, as well as CJ and Toho.
As for the Chinese directors and film company bosses who came to Cannes, with Han Sanping present, no one would dare to disrespect him.
Early on the 15th.
Han Sanping gathered everyone from shoplifters.
The brilliant success of the Wuji promotion conference
finally allowed Han Sanping to focus on shoplifters without any pressure.
Chen Kaige and his wife also gained both fame and fortune.
The Chairman of the Cannes Film Festival personally received Chen Kaige.
Chen Hong also relaxed and strolled along the beach.
Domestic media interviewed Chen Hong.
According to her, Wuji set a new record for Chinese films going global.
Therefore, even if shoplifters didn't win, Li Chen guessed Han Sanping wouldn't care.
With an investment of 20 million, as long as it entered the Main Competition unit, losing money was impossible.
“Ms. Lu, Xue Jian, today won’t be easy. You two need to be mentally prepared.” Han Sanping said with a smile.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the crew members, Han Sanping left first.
“Shall we set off too? It will be hard work for you two masters today.” Li Chen also said spiritedly.
“Then let’s go. This old body of mine will walk the red carpet one more time, eh?” Ms. Lu joked with a smile.
Li Chen also smiled back, “Teacher Lu, I’m afraid besides this time, you’ll have to walk it one more time.”
“Director Li is right. There’s also the closing ceremony red carpet. We will definitely win an award.” Mei Ting interjected.
shoplifters was the focus of the day.
From the morning's film screening and promotion conference to the midday press conference,
and then to the afternoon's media interviews and the evening's red carpet Premiere, it was a packed schedule.
At the promotion reception, the unanimous optimism of various film distributors, especially those from Southeast Asia, for shoplifters, brought Han Sanping some unexpected joy.
Many important figures also attended the reception.
These included the chairmen of the Berlin and Venice film festivals and the editor-in-chief of Time Magazine.
They were all amazed by Li Chen's youth.
Li Chen wondered if he was overthinking it, but he felt the editor-in-chief of Time Magazine looked at him as if he had seen his beloved!
In the group photos, Li Chen's young East Asian face stood out, drawing more attention.
After the film finished, Li Chen and Han Sanping, as the producers, were surrounded by film distributors.
Local and domestic media rushed to gather material.
A Sina reporter excitedly told a colleague: “Director Li’s promotion conference can’t compare to Wuji’s in scale.”
“But the number of film distributors and their enthusiasm are not at all inferior to Wuji!”
After finally escaping the distributors' entanglement, Han Sanping said cheerfully: “You always surprise people, kid.”
“From now on, you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll go talk to them.”
The main creators were also beaming with joy. Although they wouldn't get a single penny from the transactions with the distributors,
being favored by most distributors certainly indicated the film's broad appeal, didn't it?
Li Chen was also happy, but he didn't agree with Han Sanping's statement.
“Han Dong, let’s wait. No need to rush the transaction.”
Han Sanping was a little surprised, raising an eyebrow and glancing at Li Chen, saying: “You want to wait for the results?”
Li Chen didn't hide it, nodding: “If we can win an award, the price won’t be what it is now.”
Han Sanping certainly knew this, but could they win an award?
“You need to think it through. If you don’t win an award in the end, the distributors’ shares will be almost full.”
“At that time, the price will definitely be pushed down!”
In Han Sanping’s opinion, with people bidding now, it was the best time to make a deal.
If they waited until the awards ceremony, no one would dare to gamble, especially with a newcomer like Li Chen.
No one could accurately predict the pulse of the Cannes Film Festival.
Li Chen said earnestly: “I’ve thought it through, Han Dong.”
“Listen to me. At most, we’ll earn a little less, but we won’t lose money.”
“But if there’s an award, then it’s both fame and fortune. This deal is not a loss!”
Han Sanping was silent for a moment before saying: “Alright, I didn’t realize you had such big ambitions, kid!”
Li Chen laughed loudly: “Han Dong, a soldier who doesn’t want to be a general is not a good soldier.”
Moreover, in Li Chen's heart, now was indeed not the best time to close the deal.
At the midday press conference, facing media interviews,
Li Chen spoke with ease and composure, showing no sign of a newcomer's nervousness or excitement.
“Director Li Chen, the promotion conference held this morning received a strong response, and film distributors are unanimously optimistic about shoplifters.”
“But it seems that as of now, there hasn’t been a single transaction. Can you explain why?”
A French reporter asked the first question in English.
Li Chen replied with a smile in Chinese: “The reason is very simple. Having entered the Main Competition, who doesn’t want the Golden Palm?”
“I don’t want my film to devalue itself before competing with excellent films from all over the world.”
“Making an early transaction is not clearly telling the world that the Golden Palm is hopeless, is it?”
Real-time news from shoplifters’ promotion conference and press conference was sent back to China that evening.
Netizens praised it one after another.
“Director Li is magnanimous. Compared to the face of the Chinese people, he doesn’t lack that bit of money.”
“Unlike some people who act like they haven’t seen money in eight lifetimes! Even the room fee has become an excuse for not attending the opening ceremony.”
Wang Xiaoshuai, seeing these comments, felt as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly.
Soon it was time for the evening Premiere. After a day of fermentation and Han Sanping's efforts,
it was surprising that
the Premiere of shoplifters was even more star-studded than the opening ceremony red carpet.
Han Sanping had spoken, and all insiders in Cannes came to show their support.
Stephen Chow, Jackie Chan, Chen Kaige and his wife, Wang Zhonglei, Zhang Ziyi, and others all appeared at the Premiere.
Scarlett Johansson, in her prime and fiery youth, also appeared with the "Match Point" crew.
Other crews from the Main Competition unit also ‘came by reputation’.
Chinese and foreign big names gathered at the scene.
Everyone wanted to see what was so special about shoplifters, which had been the talk of the day.
Please continue reading, everyone.
