Chapter 1851 1853 [Oscar]
While Xiang Nan was traveling with Cong Shan in the United States, the fifty-ninth Academy Awards ceremony opened.
Many of the films that Xiang Nan participated in were nominated, but most of them were nominated for technical awards.
For example, "Die Hard 3" was shortlisted for best audio; "Ghostbusters 2" was shortlisted for best sound editing and best visual effects; "East Town Witches" was shortlisted for best makeup, etc.
Only "Cinema Paradise" is good, and it was shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language Film Award.
But Xiang Nan did not go to the Oscars. Because he has never been too enthusiastic about winning or not winning awards. It's best to win an award, and it doesn't matter if you don't get an award.
Anyway, most of his films are commercial films, focusing on entertainment rather than artistry.
Because Xiang Nan knows that even if he wins a hundred awards, but the movie doesn’t sell well, he won’t be able to stay in Hollywood.
On the contrary, even if he doesn’t win a prize and is scolded as a bad movie every day, as long as the movie makes money, those movie companies will rush to use him.
So he had already looked away.
Instead of going to the Oscars and sitting empty-handed all night, it would be better to travel with Cong Shan.
Therefore, he didn't go to the Oscars, but enjoyed the sunshine and beach with Cong Shan in Miami.
…
"Ning Wei, the Oscars are so important, are you really not going?" Cong Shan asked curiously.
"What's there to go for?" Xiang Nan curled his lips, "I tell you, don't take these awards too seriously. Even if you advertise fair awards, there are tricks behind them."
The shady scenes of the Oscar awards ceremony have long been exposed. In Xiang Nan's eyes, there is no glory at all.
The only valuable thing is that after winning the award, the movie can sell more money, the actors can get more film appointments, and the technicians can take more orders...
None of this mattered to him.
Tens of millions of dollars are just a small amount of money to him. His income from trading stocks in a day is more than this amount. And his salary is already among the top in Hollywood.
Of course, he doesn't like to receive a salary, and directly follows the box office dividends. A movie earns tens of millions of dollars. There is no other filmmaker in Hollywood like him.
Therefore, the Oscar awards ceremony is naturally not attractive to him.
"Then if you don't show face, will those people be happy?" Cong Shan asked again worriedly.
"So what if you're unhappy? They're not monolithic, some hate me and some like me." Xiang Nan laughed, "As long as there are enough people who like me, I don't have to be afraid. In fact, those who like me, Still in the majority."
Oscar judges also have to eat, and Xiang Nan is the one who provides the rice bowl. With so many movies every year, making so much money, and supporting so many people, who dares to give him face easily?
It’s like Harvey Weinstein, who has done so many bad things. But because he is a big boss and can make so many people popular, people in the circle still cater to him.
Even he was exposed to scandals before, but under the pressure of many interest groups, those news were actually suppressed by public relations, allowing him to get away with it for many years.
Compared to Xiang Nan, this is nothing at all.
"Ning Wei, you are really amazing." Cong Shan said admiringly.
So many domestic filmmakers are dreaming of Oscars, Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film Festival awards. They toss and turn, and can't sleep at night.
In comparison, Xiang Nan dismissed this award. At the realm level, it is so much higher than them.
…
"Ning Wei, look, you invested in "Paradise Cinema" and won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film." Cong Shan suddenly pointed to the news in the newspaper.
These years, she has been learning English.
Before she was invited by Xiang Nan to come to the United States to play, but she stayed for a week, and she couldn't understand the words clearly, she looked like a little fool. After returning, she began to study English hard.
Not only did I buy a full set of English textbooks, but I also hired a tutor for tutoring. After several years of hard work, I dare not say how good my speech is, at least the basic conversation is fine, and I can make do with reading newspapers and news.
Xiang Nan glanced at it, and saw that "Paradise Cinema" had indeed won the Best Foreign Language Film. For him, this is a good thing. Although he didn't care about this movie other than investment, he still deserves a share of the credit.
"Okay, yes." Xiang Nan nodded in satisfaction.
Before he won the Cannes Palme d'Or, the Berlin Golden Bear, and the Silver Bear, and now he has even won the best foreign language film. Seeing how they dare to say that he doesn't understand art, he has no chance of winning an award.
…
In April, "Rain Man" was officially released.
This literary film starring Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and Kim Cattrall tells the story of someone with autism.
Although this movie is a literary film, the production cost is as high as 25 million US dollars.
Mainly because Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and Kim Cattrall are all big stars, so the salary is nearly tens of millions of dollars.
However, the acting skills of the three are all good, especially Dustin Hoffman's acting skills are simply superb, and it is amazing to play an autistic patient so vividly.
And this touching movie finally won the love of the audience. The North American box office is as high as 170 million US dollars.
This movie also won the love of film critics and was named the most touching movie of the year by the "New York Times". The "Washington Post" also commented that this movie is the best example of the combination of business and art.
Suddenly, Xiang Nan's reputation reversed. From a producer who only knew how to make commercial films, he became a perfect producer with both business and art.
For Xiang Nan, this is of course a good thing.
In fact, no one is not greedy for fame.
Spielberg was so successful. In the 1980s, he made art films such as "The Purple", "Empire of the Sun", and "Forever" to balance his commercial attributes, so as not to be labeled as a major commercial film director.
Xiang Nan is no exception.
…
In May, the Cannes Film Festival opened.
Zhang Yimou was going to take "Ju Dou" to the competition, and Xiang Nan also went with Cong Shan.
It is very exciting that top Hollywood producers come to Cannes.
Especially Xiang Nan's career has been too successful in the past few years, and his luck for winning prizes seems to have awakened. The Berlin Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and even the Oscars have won awards, which has made filmmakers all over the world pay more and more attention to him.
Especially those artists who are pursuing career breakthroughs, as well as producers and directors who are looking for financial support, they have to surround Xiang Nan like bees.
They want Xiang Nan to invest in their film, or to involve them in a film Xiang Nan produces. But Xiang Nan is not a philanthropist. To most filmmakers, he can only say sorry.
After all, many projects, in his opinion, are not commercial or artistic, and are just a piece of shit.
But it’s no wonder that the Cannes Film Festival has always advertised its artistry. The more obscure the plot and the less human-speaking, the more popular it is here.
Therefore, the participation of "Ju Dou" in the exhibition is exactly the appetite of the judges.
(end of this chapter)