After the video interview, Ye Zhou forcefully tugged at the tuft of stubborn hair on his forehead that had embarrassed him. He wanted to vent his frustration, but he was unaware that this action made him appear even more foolish.
At the same time, at the film festival award ceremony venue, Director Sang, supported by his assistant, headed towards the auditorium. The organizer, an old friend of Director Sang, noticed his unusually joyful demeanor and couldn’t help but tease him.
“Huaining, what made you so happy? From the moment you stepped out of the car until now, the smile on your face hasn’t faded.” The organizer was partly teasing his old friend and partly genuinely curious.
Director Sang had a good temperament, treating everyone with courtesy and grace. However, it was rare to see him beaming as he was today; even when receiving awards, his memory couldn’t recall him being this delighted.
So, the organizer was genuinely curious about what kind of good news could make his usually stoic, unruffled old friend so overjoyed.
Director Sang wasn’t offended by his teasing; instead, his smile remained unwavering as he shook his head and replied, “These young people nowadays, at such a tender age, possess profound insights. Their future is bright and promising.”
“What could be more gratifying than an old man like me being able to personally carve a rough gem in the twilight years of his life?”
His words only piqued the organizer’s curiosity further. After so many years of friendship, he was well-acquainted with Sang Huaining’s character. Over the years, Director Feng Hai was perhaps the only junior to receive such high praise from him.
This director had already become a prominent figure in the industry. Even before turning forty, he had amassed numerous awards, outperforming many of his senior peers who had struggled in the industry for years.
Director Sang, a national treasure-level veteran director, had an undoubtedly sharp eye for talent. Those recognized by him were bound to possess unique strengths.
Consequently, in the eyes of many industry insiders, those favored by Director Sang were akin to rising stars.
Rather than attempting to curry favor with them after they had risen to prominence, it was more advantageous to establish good relationships and connections while they were still relatively unknown.
Providing assistance to a director who is still an unknown newcomer is both an investment and a favor. Excellent directors’ favors are very valuable, whether they bring benefits or fame, or even directly bring awards, which are common occurrences.
However, attempting to establish connections after a director had gained a certain level of fame would be considered an exchange of interests. To persuade the director to cater to one’s wishes, one would undoubtedly need to offer appropriate compensation, whether monetary or otherwise. Evidently, the former approach was preferable.
The benefits of maintaining a good relationship with a talented director were invaluable, far beyond what mere words could describe.
Upon realizing this, the organizer’s expression immediately changed.
His face was filled with bewilderment, his eyes flashing with seriousness. He stopped in his tracks and said to the other staff members beside him, “You all go ahead, the director and I will be there shortly.”
After the staff had left, the organizer led Sang to a secluded corner and looked at him expectantly. “Lao Sang, be honest with me. This time, who is this young talent you’ve taken a liking to? What kind of films does he specialize in? How old is he? Has he signed with a company? What works does he have? We’re old acquaintances; you can’t hide this from me!”
Director Sang could easily discern his intentions but didn’t rush to dismiss him. Instead, he shook his head with a wry smile. “Old friend, with all these questions, I really don’t know how to answer you.”
Upon hearing Director Sang’s words, the organizer’s face flushed slightly. He cleared his throat, attempting to conceal his embarrassment. “I simply trust your eye for talent; someone you’ve recognized is bound to be exceptional!”
Director Sang shook his head hopelessly but didn’t beat around the bush, responding candidly instead. “He’s a very talented young man, with a remarkably active mind and solid fundamentals. Although not exceptionally outstanding, he should already be among the best of his peers.”
“As for his works…” Director Sang paused for a moment, then patted his head and smiled, “He’s quite prolific; you may have even seen some of his work before.”
The organizer was taken aback, and his curiosity about the person Director Sang valued grew even stronger. “If I’ve seen his work, then he shouldn’t be… a newcomer, right?”
This statement wasn’t unfounded. Director Sang and the organizer were old classmates; after graduation, Director Sang became a director, while the organizer, after a few setbacks, transitioned to the behind-the-scenes side of the industry.
Despite his shift, he still had a solid foundation, and his work required him to interact with all kinds of films. Their film festival had strict screening criteria, and given his current position as the head, any film that reached him would have gone through multiple rounds of selection.
While works by emerging directors weren’t unheard of, they were few and far between. The film industry tended to value experience, and although some exceptionally talented newcomers did exist, theory and practice were entirely different matters.
Filmmaking wasn’t child’s play; a single production could involve dozens or even hundreds of people. The skills required of a director extended far beyond what textbooks could teach; experience was paramount. Where did experience come from? It could only be gained through continuous practice in actual productions.
Given these demanding requirements, it was truly rare for a young director to have their name featured at the film festival organizer’s level at such a young age.
Director Sang smiled but remained silent, leaving the organizer to guess and agonize over who had caught his eye. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out who had caught Director Sang’s eye.
Exasperated, the organizer glanced at his watch and said, “The ceremony is about to start. Lao Sang, quit tormenting me and just tell me already.”
Indeed, time was running short. Director Sang’s earlier video interview with Ye Zhou had already consumed a considerable amount of time, and now, with their banter, there were less than fifteen minutes left before the award ceremony. Director Sang decided to cut to the chase.
“Do you remember the film we discussed a couple of years ago? The one you praised for its textbook marketing strategy.”
Upon hearing this, the organizer pondered for a moment before recalling the film in question. It had left quite an impact on him, primarily due to its overwhelming and mind-boggling marketing campaign, making it nearly impossible to forget.
“‘A Farce’?” the organizer asked.
Sang smiled and nodded in affirmation, “Yes.”
It was now the organizer’s turn to be dumbfounded, his mind drawing a blank. He had considered various possibilities, but the director of ‘A Farce’ was the last person he had expected.
Disbelievingly, he exclaimed, “Ye… Ye Zhou??”
After receiving Director Sang’s confirmation, he fell silent for a long while.
The organizer’s intense reaction was understandable. Ye Zhou and his works sparked immense controversy within the industry—so much so that even those who hadn’t seen his films could offer opinions on them.
Just as his films often polarized audience opinions, Ye Zhou’s abilities as a director were also subject to extreme polarization and divided views within the industry, with both praise and criticism.
Those who admired his style considered Ye Zhou a genius, capable of delivering surprises no matter the genre or the magnitude of the shift between projects.
Additionally, he seemed to possess an inexhaustible supply of good fortune and a sharp, clear mind. His marketing strategies for his recent three films caused a significant stir within the industry.
His tactics of turning tables, strategic withdrawals, and going with the flow were executed so smoothly that they were seen as nothing short of brilliant.
Furthermore, he was like a treasure trove, a quintessential gifted and ever-growing director. With each new work, one could clearly see his progress from the previous one. He seemed to have no limits, making people unable to help but anticipate what new tricks he would come up with next and how far he could go.
Those who agreed with and supported him were optimistic about his promising future, but the opposition and resistance against him were equally substantial.
The academic circles, in particular, rejected everything about Ye Zhou, from his works to his character, asserting that his success stemmed not from exceptional talent but mere luck and crowd-pleasing gimmicks.
These individuals believed in a thick barrier separating quality films from inferior ones, allowing for the discernment and filtering of good from bad. They used superior works to drive out inferior ones and purify the film environment.
Ye Zhou’s emergence and the success of his films undoubtedly constituted repeated assaults on that barrier. They viewed his works as encroaching on the market and squeezing out the survival space for quality films, with inferior works driving out superior ones.
In essence, Ye Zhou had become an exceptionally controversial figure within the industry, unprecedented in many years.
As a respected figure in the industry, with an impeccable reputation throughout his career, it seemed unwise for Director Sang to tarnish his name for the sake of such a divisive director.
“This…” The organizer fell silent for a prolonged moment, seemingly unsure of how to proceed.
Although he admired Ye Zhou’s audacity and resourcefulness, his decades-long friendship with Sang Huaining made him hesitant to watch his friend plunge into a potential pitfall.
After carefully considering his words, he cleared his throat and said, “Huaining, Ye Zhou is indeed an innovative director, but…”
The organizer trailed off, realizing he didn’t know how to explain the complex dynamics to his old friend.
Though he didn’t voice his concerns, Director Sang understood them nonetheless.
Director Sang shook his head with a light laugh, “Others may not comprehend, but can you and I not discern whether Xiao Ye is all bark and no bite or if he truly has substance?”
“With such filming techniques, tackling three completely different genres in three films, could you maintain such consistency?”
“If there’s any fault to find with him, it’s merely that his brilliance shines too brightly, evoking envy and jealousy from others.”
“But what fault is there in that? If one possesses such ability, why conceal it? If one has reached such heights, why feign incompetence? The fault lies not with him but with those who cannot accept youthful brilliance.”
Director Sang sighed, his gaze drifting into the distance as his expression became pensive. After a long pause, he spoke again, slowly.
“I… I am already old, and my body is no longer what it used to be. I had planned to retire to my hometown after completing that film, but Shaohua sought me out. After five years, he came to me.”
“This film, I wish to make not just for Shaohua and her husband but also…”
“Nevermind, forget I said anything.” Director Sang closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, the wistfulness had been replaced by resolve.
The organizer was aware of the situation and Director Sang’s physical condition. If it weren’t so urgent for him to find assistance to complete the film, he would not have resorted to such measures.
Taking a deep breath, the organizer put his arm around Director Sang’s shoulder. “Alright, if you believe he is capable, then he must be.”
“You know I’ve always trusted your judgment.”
“If you need any help, just say the word, and I won’t utter a single objection.”
At that moment, the opening music for the award ceremony started playing in the auditorium. The organizer patted Director Sang’s shoulder and straightened his clothes.
“So, may everything go smoothly for you both!”
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