Chapter 266: Cannes, Marching Into The “international”
“You’ve already submitted it? Has the result come out? Selected?”
On the other end of the phone, the leader’s thoughts instantly scattered with Chi Ye’s suggestion, and only after a long pause did he ask.
《Influenza》 wrapped up just before this year’s Golden Rooster Awards, nearly four months have passed since then, and this year’s Cannes submissions started at the end of August.
By the timeline, if Chi Ye had the idea back then, the result should be out by now.
Sure enough, Chi Ye nodded upon hearing this: “It should be out in the next few days.”
“Any confidence?”
The leader frowned.
Cannes Film Festival, one of Europe’s Top Three Film Festivals, is fiercer in this world than in another, widely regarded by the global film industry and movie fans as the most influential, important, and top-tier film festival in the world.
It is the annual grand event of the international film industry, the ultimate hall for global filmmakers, producers, distributors, media, stars, and movie fans.
Being selected and award-winning is one of the highest honors in the industry; for example, Jiang Cheng’s father Jiang Kaige is one of the few directors in internal entertainment circle to have won the Palme d’Or, which started his lifelong career proving 《Farewell My Concubine》 wasn’t directed by him at the time…
Besides, several of the biggest shots with the highest star power in the Chinese film industry have all shone brightly at Europe’s Top Three Film Festivals; as long as you gain some fame there, it’s basically a disparate ascension achievement in internal entertainment circle.
Countless big shots and red carpet stars have shamelessly stood there delaying time just to ride on Cannes red carpet for a Cannes admission ticket.
At the same time, it is one of the world’s most important film trading platforms, the focus of global media and industry, where countless films secure international distribution, pre-sale, and financing deals with huge transaction amounts.
In plain terms, Train to Busan on Earth exploded globally directly because of Cannes, selling copyright to over a hundred countries overnight, especially big explosion in Asia region, with the lead actor and director directly reaching the top.
With such exaggerated exposure and benefits, is Cannes that easy to get selected for?
Every year, the global film industry submits thousands of world-class high-quality blockbusters fitting various sections, but each Cannes section selects only 4-5 films.
This probability is not exaggerated even at one in a thousand; it’s like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses crossing a single log bridge, embodied here.
—After all, Cannes is different from other film festivals; many in the film circle have loose selection conditions, but at Cannes, selection itself means ultimate recognition + global high exposure.
The latter is crucial because it instantly “elevates status” for the entire film; practically, it expands from one country to global earnings, saving countless publicity and distribution marketing costs in between…
In short, getting selected is already a success.
Can 《Influenza》 get selected?
“You definitely have no hope for the main competition section, and you wouldn’t submit there, right?”
The leader quickly ran through the sections suitable for 《Influenza》 in his mind and concluded: “You submitted to the Midnight Screenings section?”
Chi Ye nodded: “This is the most suitable.”
Although 《Influenza》 has a bit of “artistic” flavor throughout and in the second ending submitted, at its core, it remains an industrialized film with predominantly commercial attributes.
So, among Cannes sections, only the Midnight Screenings section is most suitable for 《Influenza》.
At the same time, this section has the best reception and treatment for commercial films at Cannes Film Festival.
In fact, compared to the other two major film festivals, Cannes has the best overall attitude toward commercial films; historically, many big explosion commercial films emerged from Cannes’ Midnight Screenings section, which was specially created by Cannes for commercial films.
As for the main competition section competing for Palme d’Or… unless Chi Ye just wants to show face as an accompanying runner and play an insignificant role, otherwise, don’t submit… because it will 100% not win, nor get anything else.
“You sure know how to pick.”
The leader now understood everything and couldn’t help shaking his head: “Influenza》 does have a high selection probability in this section, and if adding your 《Xing Ni》《Big Shot》《Girl》 trilogy’s influence in Southeast Asia region… the success probability will be even higher.”
“With these works as foundation, it’s time to go to the next level.”
Chi Ye said straightforwardly: “What do you think of this route?”
The leader fell silent.
Cannes is the most friendly to commercial films among all top film festivals, and also the most friendly to films from Asia region like （Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan）.
Since that’s the case…
“We can do it, I’ll give you certain support; this time, go all out, let them see Influenza》’s performance.”
Chi Ye listened to the leader’s “passionate” tone and was a bit dumbfounded: “Why… why suddenly so confident?”
The leader paused, then said emotionally: “Because I’ve seen Influenza》… I know how good its quality is.”
Chi Ye: “……Then I won’t boast about it myself; we’ll talk when we meet later.”
“Good.”
After finishing, Chi Ye hung up and noticed the gaze from the person beside him, stunned for a moment, then smiled: “Prepare well; this time, ‘advance’ into the international film industry.”
“……Got it, President Chi.”
……
Two days later.
News that 《Influenza》 cannot release in this Spring Festival Slot due to technical adjustments and other reasons gradually spread, spread by various rivals and even the Influenza》 film producer itself.
As this news spread wider and fermented more, Influenza》 inevitably topped the hot search list.
To note, Influenza》 started marketing very early, possibly tracing back to shortly after 《Xing Ni》 aired, plus during this time, Chi Ye’s personal unreleased/upcoming works were continuously pulled out by marketing accounts to ride on popularity.
—Movie fans and bystanders paying attention and having expectations for Influenza》 movie are not few.
Yes, movie fans and bystanders, not fans.
Because from start to finish in Influenza》’s promotion and marketing, #doomsday# #zombie# #disaster# and other key tags were prioritized; in other words, this is the first industrialized superb blockbuster in internal entertainment circle film history.
Especially this stimulating genre excites countless movie audiences and movie fans who could only seek such topics overseas before.
Even ordinary bystanders develop movie viewing desire after seeing Influenza》’s poster and synopsis—protagonist is Chi Ye, Girl not only elevated Sister Shang to national white moonlight, is Chi Ye not also the “male version” national white moonlight?
So, as the news spread wider, Influenza》 film producer kept silent until a day later, official announcement Weibo post: 【Due to irresistible reasons, 《Influenza》 will temporarily enter technical adjustment phase; brief parting is for better reunion, let’s wait together for that day’s arrival.】
Official Weibo comment section instantly exploded.
「???」
「Wasn’t it first day of Lunar New Year as promised? After 《Girl》, I’ve been waiting for this movie to renew my life!」
「Film producer, you better know your place, schedule it quick, don’t cause trouble!」
「”Technical adjustment” key point, domestic review system never disappoints, heh.」
「Don’t curse official Weibo, it said review didn’t pass; by the time we see the movie, it’ll probably be castrated version after N cuts.」
「Isn’t GD a bit ridiculous? Didn’t they say script already passed review? How did issues arise after filming?」
「With this review, I get why domestic hasn’t had good movies; even good ones can’t release, who bothers making good ones? All make bad movies and take the money.」
「Not good!! Ye Zi invested so much in this play, no release means huge loss?」
「Sister Ning acted so well, not letting it release?!」
「Haha, Sheng Ning’s fans crack me up; they started popping champagne at halftime when licking this big promise, now good good, just can’t stand Chi Ye.」
The “war” in 《Influenza》 official Weibo comment section quickly spread to entire Weibo square, hot word sections, and platforms like Douyin, Xiaohongshu, etc.
Thus, half a day later, almost everyone inside and outside the circle knew Influenza》 failed before starting and died early, fell under review’s iron hoof before even releasing.
“Throwing hats in celebration”.
“Ha, good good, Big Brother’s power is real; say sensitive, and it is!”
“It was sensitive to begin with; this topic was banned before, him filming it means someone opened a back door.”
“First time this comfy in years, must party tonight, get some small artist, let’s have fun…”
In a Beijing Circle chat group.
Circle members led by Director Lu and Director Feng were in high spirits in the group; every circle has its background, but for the hardest background, it’s undoubtedly Beijing Circle under the imperial city root.
Though current Beijing Circle is not what it was, it doesn’t hinder their ancestral wide connections; if Chi Ye “doesn’t err”, it’s fine, like changing the topic, they really can’t do anything.
But precisely, Influenza》’s topic is sensitive; anyone seeing it knows it won’t pass.
Then, with the original shareholder speaking, it indeed won’t pass.
“Old Lu, this hit really nicely; Influenza》 can’t release, Chi Ye at least loses this amount.”
In the evening, Wang Youli excitedly video called Director Lu, gesturing with hands: “This also counts as avenging Yingying for you.”
“Tch, this ain’t nothing.”
Director Lu now also full of spring breeze and swift horses; last time 《Kunlun Mountains》 was stepped on by Chi Ye, originally upon learning Influenza》 scheduling Spring Festival Slot, no matter what he said, he was somewhat uneasy inside.
But now good, Chi Ye directly gone, what to worry about?
No matter his investment, you gotta release first.
From actual interests, his happiness has another more important reason—《749 Bureau》 also markets as domestic industrialized blockbuster.
Simply put, this Spring Festival Slot looks like heroes competing, intense competition, but Shen Bin and Ma Li’s usual comedy movie, Han Han also racing topic, Chen Sicheng maining his specialty suspense.
Only 《749 Bureau》, like 《Influenza》, invested heavily in special effects and funds as industrialized blockbuster.
In Spring Festival Slot competition, only 《Influenza》 is 《749 Bureau》’s opponent—at least Director Lu thinks so; he feels he respects Chi Ye… because 《Big Shot》 and 《Girl》’s performance is indeed good.
Since both labeled industrialized, they’ll definitely be compared; Director Lu now has some PTSD, no matter how confident, facing Chi Ye always fears the other “playing dirty”.
This is why their circle pushed so hard this time—not possibly just simply “avenging” Xu Yingying…
“Now Influenza》 confirmed no release, needs ‘technical adjustment’, then this Spring Festival Slot industrialized blockbuster is just ours alone; all market meat is ours… gotta give Big Brother more dividends.”
“No problem, should give, must give.”
“Uh… I mean, since you said avenging Yingying makes you happy, this money… comes from you?”
“Ah?”
“…”
……
“Chi Ye pulled out of Spring Festival Slot this time, what do you think?”
On the other side, in a certain film crew.
Guoshi’s film crew just broke, female lead Li Qian touching up makeup, the professional wimp beside curiously asked.
“What to think… lose money view.”
Li Qian’s uncle smoking, laughed: “Sheng Ning is the miserable one; she probably wanted to use this movie for a comeback, now good, life gone; I said long ago don’t worship Chi Ye, you all refuted me before.”
“…Speaking of, what will Sheng Ning side do this time? She only shot one 《Influenza》 this year.”
Someone curious: “Will she bow to Beijing Circle? This time Ke Ying personally stepped in… energy a bit scary.”
“Don’t know if she’ll yield, but after this, Beijing Circle sweeps away decline; drama circle’s top streamer peanuts probably kneel and lick again.”
“Hey, in this entertainment industry, few have smooth sailing…”
“…”
……
Beijing Circle’s proactive strike this time indeed hit Chi Ye’s “vital point”, because before this, their circle was repeatedly embarrassed by Chi Ye alone; circle insiders didn’t speak, but secretly increasingly felt Beijing Circle perhaps not as “important” as thought.
But after this incident, Ke Ying stepping in woke everyone up.
—Like Ke Ying, Beijing Circle has several; though they long stopped playing this circle, like Xu Yingying this time crying in the past, who dares guarantee the always righteousness-valuing “big brothers” will stand by?
They don’t need to do anything, just casually say something to create N troubles for you.
Even Chi Ye’s strong “background” can only endure when caught with “handle” first.
Sheng Ning’s choice this time seems like becoming a clown; the always desperate warrior her, this time gambled in vain.
Hard work filming Influenza》 for so long, rare year focusing solely on one movie, result… seems not as solid as shooting several TV series.
What will she do?
