At the forum, Lu Yu was surprisingly the host. It was clear she had become incredibly popular in recent years.
However, whether she had been forewarned or not, Lu Yu today merely served as an intermediary, rarely interjecting with her own opinions.
She simply sat quietly on her small sofa, making Eric wonder if that style was truly her strategy? A publicity stunt, perhaps.
"The experiences of the past year or so have indeed shown me the disparity between the two sides; it's a tangible difference."
"It wasn't until I went to America that I suddenly realized film truly is an engineering project."
"It's a very systematic project, one could say it's interconnected, with each link fitting into the next."
"From actors, screenwriters, directors, producers, cinematographers, lighting technicians, sound engineers, prop masters, and special effects artists, talent is constantly being cultivated and injected into this industry."
Teng Huatao spoke, his hands rotating like wheels: "It's like a perfect system that no longer requires external intervention to operate on its own."
"A few of us observed and learned from companies like Mr. Cooper's MGM, Spielberg's DreamWorks, Peter Jackson's Weta Digital, and others."
"We hold a small internal meeting every week to exchange insights and are currently drafting a comprehensive theoretical article."
"After revision and refinement, it will be submitted, and we hope it can contribute a small effort to the development of our country's film industry."
Clap, clap, clap.
Lu Yu looked at him: "Director Teng, what genre of film are you most interested in?"
Teng Huatao smiled: "I used to make more romance-themed works, but after going to Hollywood, I've become more interested in science fiction."
Eric, who was drinking water, almost choked and quickly composed himself, maintaining a calm expression.
He thought, 'Come on, buddy, people should stick to what they're good at. Teng Huatao has directed excellent works like 'Wang Gui & Anna' and 'Love Is Not Blind'.'
'But one 'Shanghai Fortress' completely squandered his accumulated goodwill over many years, a piece of trash worthy of being recorded in China's film history.'
'The door that 'The Wandering Earth' so painstakingly opened, you kicked shut again. Don't mess around blindly.'
He didn't expect this guy to get even more animated as he spoke: "Especially Director Cooper's 'Inception,' I was deeply shaken after watching it."
"It's so brilliant; it's clearly a sci-fi movie, but the suspense is maximized, and the two elements are combined perfectly."
"So after watching it, I also thought that science fiction is actually very inclusive. Having a sci-fi shell, encompassing a love story inside, is not impossible."
Eric pinched his thigh hard, reminding himself not to laugh, not to laugh.
But, is that why you made 'Shanghai Fortress'?
I sent you there to learn, and after all that learning, did I indirectly close the door to Chinese science fiction?
Calming his emotions, he took over the conversation: "I think Director Teng Huatao has a point. What the outer shell is doesn't matter; the story inside is key."
"In America, there's a saying: a film company is a storytelling company. If the story is told well, the stock price naturally goes up."
"So how do you tell a good story? First, it needs to be complete and coherent, so people can understand it."
"As directors, we sometimes have an overflowing sense of artistry. There might be an unreasonable plot point, but for a certain metaphor or reason, we force it in."
"Sometimes there's also a very strong didactic tone, explaining the reason too clearly, like a patriarch."
"I think neither of these is good; we need to learn to restrain ourselves."
"Most audiences' lives are already difficult enough. When they go to the cinema to relax, do they like to be lectured?"
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Immediately, enthusiastic applause erupted below.
The audience was temporarily brought over from art schools like China Film Academy and Beijing Film Academy, almost all students, who are most resistant to being lectured.
Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, however, looked a bit uncomfortable, feeling that Eric's words were aimed at them.
'Hero' was criticized by many for its messy and incomprehensible plot.
'House of Flying Daggers' was also criticized for its nonsensical story; telling stories seemed to be his biggest weakness.
Chen Kaige, needless to say, didacticism almost always accompanied his films.
Feeling a little unconvinced, he retorted: "Director Cooper, have you seen 'Farewell My Concubine'?"
Eric nodded: "Of course, I know it's your work, and it's excellent."
"Do you think 'Farewell My Concubine' has a strong didactic tone?"
Eric understood; the other party was a bit unconvinced.
"Almost none. It's one of my favorite Chinese films, and it's quite a shame, actually."
"If I were to judge, I would definitely have given that year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film to 'Farewell My Concubine,' without any dispute."
Upon hearing this, Chen Kaige's face immediately broke into a smile. 'Farewell My Concubine' had elevated him to godhood; it was the pride of his life.
"However, the quality of a film is closely related to the director's spirit and various other factors. When a person is complacent and successful, they often unconsciously stand too high."
"And then, as I just said, when you stand high, you naturally always want to criticize others. I think it's a matter of mindset."
Unexpectedly, Eric's words took a sharp turn. This was clearly mocking him, and the smile on Chen Kaige's face instantly vanished.
He picked up the microphone, just about to retort, when Lu Yu quickly interjected to interrupt him.
"Director Cooper, why do you think Director Lee Ang was able to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film?"
Eric also didn't want to get entangled with Chen Kaige and spoke directly, shutting the other party up: "There are many reasons, and the story can only be considered one of them."
"I don't know if you've ever noticed something: compared to grand narratives, making a topic sound very advanced and mysterious,"
"the judges actually appreciate more focusing on an individual or a family, using a small-scale approach to present conflicts and contradictions or the sublimation of characters."
"'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' is exactly like that, and previous films like 'Kolya,' 'Antonia's Line,' and 'All About My Mother' are all similar."
"Instead of making the settings, props, and core themes incredibly grand, it's better to be a bit more down-to-earth."
"It feels like Director Cooper is talking about me," Zhang Yimou chuckled.
Eric waved his hand: "Don't worry about it. Compared to 'Hero,' the story of 'Inception' is told in a more fragmented way."
"I heard many people say they couldn't understand the narrative of 'Hero,' but they could understand the plot of 'Inception.' That's quite amazing."
Hahahahaha.
The students below burst into laughter. They felt a sense of camaraderie with Eric.
He dared to joke, dared to challenge people, and could even make fun of himself. He was humorous and a truly interesting person.
Eric glanced around and saw several familiar faces in the crowd.
There was Tong Liya, known as one of the four beauties back then, and Qiao Shan, the 'Great Sword God.'
However, they still had the fresh, youthful look of students. Some girls wore heavy makeup, but their skill was clearly questionable; it would have been better not to wear any.
After watching the show for a while, Feng Xiaogang also spoke up to make his presence known: "Director Cooper, how do you think Chinese commercial films can go global?"
"I have more experience with commercial films, and from my perspective, action films are the best genre to pursue."
"Kung fu, ever since Bruce Lee, has become a globally recognized calling card. Jackie Chan and Jet Li have made this calling card even louder."
"With such high-quality resources, why not use them?"
"Just as special effects blockbusters are Hollywood's label, horror films are Thailand's label, and realistic themes are Korea's label, you should also leverage your strengths."
"What do you think about comedy?" Feng Xiaogang asked again.
"Difficult. The language barrier is an insurmountable mountain, unless it's action comedy, but the essence of action comedy is still action."
"I've noticed that there seems to be a talent gap among China's kung fu stars, which is not a good sign."
"The market should give more opportunities to kung fu films, discover and cultivate more stars, and establish their own mark in the international market."
"Let the whole world come to China to learn how to make action films—that is how to go global."
The discussion on stage lasted for over an hour, then moved to the audience Q&A session.
People asked all sorts of random questions, and someone even asked Eric about his romantic life.
He simply said he was busy with work and didn't have the energy for such things, believing it or not.
He couldn't exactly say that their 'Fairy Sister' was his mistress and had been thoroughly explored, could he?
"Time's almost up. Last question. This student has been raising his hand for a long time. You, there."
A bespectacled young man stood up and asked in a clear voice: "Why do Chinese people need an Oscar?"
"Are our films not good without an Oscar? Can the value of our films and television not be realized without an Oscar?"
As soon as this question was raised, the venue fell silent.
Lu Yu was a bit flustered and quickly tried to say something to smooth things over. Everyone else also remained silent.
The Oscar issue is complex, but it's undeniable that it is indeed the most prestigious and highly watched award in the global film industry.
Ten years from now, the Oscars would be increasingly criticized, as politically correct factors like LGBT and black skin began to proliferate.
But at least in this year, its prestige was still very high. Otherwise, did they really think all these great Chinese directors were fools?
It's because after winning an Oscar, not only does one's industry status improve, but one also gains access to more high-quality resources.
It's just a shame that there are regulations here that directors cannot submit films privately; only one film can be selected by the authorities each year. But the Oscars actually have no such rule; you can submit a hundred films.
Yet, many times the selected films are quite perplexing, such as 'The Promise,' 'Xuanzang,' 'Miracle in Cell No. 7,' and 'Go Away Mr. Tumor.'
Honestly, isn't there anything better at home than these?
Some people believe it's a matter of discourse power. Once we become the world's strongest nation, the Oscars will be eager to hand them directly to us.
Haha, America has been a superpower for how many years? Have you seen their team win the World Cup?
The principle is the same. First, get your own house in order, especially the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards. Even AngelaBaby can easily win them—who believes that?!
'moonlight' winning was also unfair to 'la la land,' but at least it wasn't a bad film, just not outstanding enough.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit cold, and this question was directed at him.
Eric picked up the microphone: "That's a good question. You're asking why Chinese cinema needs to seek Oscar recognition, right?"
"Right!"
"Then let's rephrase it: it's not that Chinese cinema is pursuing Oscar recognition."
"Rather, Chinese cinema aims to conquer the Oscars. How does that sound?"
Whoa!
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
After a moment of stunned, the entire venue erupted in enthusiastic applause.
No wonder he was a big director and a rich man at such a young age. Look at his thinking ability, look at his reaction speed; he's truly not an ordinary person.
The bespectacled man wanted to ask a follow-up question, but Lu Yu, seeing this, quickly interrupted, announcing the end of the event ahead of time.
After a brief farewell, Eric was eager to leave; a treasure was waiting for him at the hotel.
But the more he tried to leave, the more he couldn't, surrounded by students who rushed up to him.
He had no choice but to sign autographs and take photos, finally breaking free after nearly half an hour of delays.
Ding!
He swiped open the room door, and as soon as he stepped inside, a soft body embraced him from behind.
A low whisper sounded beside his ear: "Come on! Come on! You lied to me, you scoundrel!"
"Why did you make me wait so long? You said you'd be back before ten."
Eric turned and embraced Judy: "Sorry, I was surrounded. I really wished I could grow wings and fly back to you."
Their eyes met, and they immediately kissed.
Kissing passionately and stripping off clothes, they were naked within seconds.
"I'll take a shower; there were a lot of people just now."
"Let's go together; I feel sticky too."
"You haven't showered yet?"
"I wanted to wait for you."
His earlobe was bitten, and Eric felt a slight sting: "My pleasure, madam."
He picked up Judy and walked into the bathroom. Water cascaded over them, washing away the bite marks on their bodies.
Judy tilted her head back, enjoying it all.
After returning from the old Chinese medicine doctor yesterday, the two had completely become a couple.
Experiencing reality for the first time made Judy incredibly excited, stating that toys were indeed just toys, and the real thing was much better.
She realized she had awakened too late. If they had tried it in college, they would surely have been together much earlier.
For the next day or so, Eric and Judy stayed in the hotel and didn't go out.
Eating, sleeping, and making love—it seemed as if life only consisted of these three things, as the two vented years of suppressed emotions.
As for the promised outing to see Beijing's famous historical sites...
They could stay there; who cared about that now?
After two days of intimacy, the group began their journey south.
First, they went to Tianjin for inspection, selected a plot of land close to the port, and quickly signed the contract.
Then they went to Shenzhen, where the process was the same.
Chen Xing had already completed the preliminary work. The local government eagerly awaited him, the big boss, to choose the land and sign.
Based on the scale of these two plots, the factories built there would accommodate at least 100,000 workers.
However, whether the production capacity would meet future needs was still unknown, as his ventures were expanding more and more.
Having completed these tasks, Eric boarded a plane back to America.