Chapter 31: Boundless Glory

As one of the judges, Scarlett had spent a few days hanging out with people like Zeng Li. She had picked up a few phrases of Chinese and could understand part of what Cheng Sheng was saying.

Knowing he was thanking her, Scarlett said in Chinese, "Cheng, you're welcome."

However, amidst the thunderous applause, Cheng Sheng did not hear her words.

"To be able to film my first movie, I must thank them. It was they who invested one hundred million to allow me to make this great film."

Cheng Sheng gave the coal bosses plenty of face, pointing his finger at the coal bosses standing behind him as he spoke.

The lovely coal bosses raised both hands high. Seeing the camera turn toward them, they shouted in unison, "Family, don't we look badass?"

*Pfft!*

The crew members standing nearby couldn't help but burst into laughter.

These coal bosses were truly something else.

To not forget to send a remote greeting to their relatives back home in an occasion like this—they were truly the first.

The camera lingered on the coal bosses for three to five seconds before turning back to Cheng Sheng.

"Before filming this movie, everyone on the outside doubted whether I could do a good job. They all said I was unreliable. But my teachers at school and Principal Xu Xiaozhong supported me wholeheartedly, allowing the entire faculty and student body to help complete this great film. Every young character you see in the movie is basically a student from the school; their acting is absolutely worthy of recognition."

The judging panel likely noticed Cheng Sheng speaking Chinese, so they quickly brought in translators to translate his words simultaneously for the guests present.

Upon hearing this, the entire audience wore expressions of shock.

They were all played by students?

How was that possible?

All the guests present had seen *The Great Tang Dynasty—Origins*. Regardless of the plot, the acting of every character in the film was definitely not simple; it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say they deserved Best Actor awards.

And now you're telling us they are students?

What kind of school could produce such formidable students?

Even the USC School of Dramatic Arts didn't have the strength to teach so many talented students.

How did China's Central Academy of Drama (CAD) do it?

In an instant, all the guests became interested in CAD.

If they truly were taught by CAD, then this school would likely be the most powerful film and television academy in the world.

This made some young artists feel restless, wondering if they should go to CAD to study abroad for a year.

If they possessed the strength of those students in the movie after graduation, it would be well worth it.

"This is my first personal film, and there are many people I deserve to thank: my parents, my relatives, my fellow villagers, and everyone in the crew... I love Chinese history, which is why I film historical pieces. I originally thought that by recreating history, no one would like it, but seeing your reaction makes me realize that Chinese history can go abroad and can be loved by people all over the world."

*Clap, clap, clap!*

The applause rose like a tide.

Holding up the Golden Lion in his hand, Cheng Sheng made his final summary: "Lastly, I want to thank CAD once more. It makes me proud to be a student of CAD."

Well!

Cheng Sheng couldn't resist giving CAD another round of advertising, though one wondered what people would think upon hearing it.

However, it was likely that anyone who watched Cheng Sheng's acceptance speech at the Venice Film Festival would become interested in CAD!

Principal Xu Xiaozhong had supported him so much—not only helping him find soldiers to act in the film but also helping him contact Third Master Han and helping his film pass censorship, and so on.

Cheng Sheng was a person who understood gratitude. Helping to advertise the school was something he ought to do.

He hoped the school would step up this time; he had advertised CAD all the way to Venice.

The whole world was watching!

Having finished speaking, Cheng Sheng casually carried the Golden Lion and walked down from the award podium, followed by the crew members.

As he walked down, the applause in the venue never ceased.

CCTV reporters captured everything on site, thinking that as soon as the film festival ended, they would release this news immediately.

After the awards, the film festival was technically over, but they couldn't leave immediately because there was a press conference waiting for the winners.

Cheng Sheng, Zheng Guolin, Fu Dalong, and Su Chang were interviewed together.

The reporters invited by the film festival were reliable and did not ask any out-of-line questions.

After answering the reporters' questions, Cheng Sheng's group returned to their hotel.

"Brother Cheng, we owe you one this time."

Just as Cheng Sheng was about to return to his room, he was called over by the coal bosses.

Standing on that award podium just now had been the most glorious moment of their lives.

Even when they had made a lot of money in the past, nothing had made them as excited and moved as today.

This was bringing honor to their ancestors!

And they had even flexed in front of foreigners.

In the past, they wouldn't have even dared to dream of it.

Cheng Sheng exchanged a few pleasantries with the coal bosses, then used the excuse of being too tired to be released by the enthusiastic men and returned to his room.

Because he was attending the awards ceremony, Cheng Sheng's phone had been turned off.

When he turned it back on, his phone began to ring incessantly.

Since there was no live broadcast in China, anyone wanting to know news about the Venice Film Festival basically had to rely on the radio.

Unless one was specifically following the film festival, one would definitely not notice the situation.

Most people in the industry were also completely unaware.

However, after the awards ceremony ended, CCTV reporters had already sent the news back to China, and the news was quickly released online domestically.

Tonight, the entertainment industry would likely be unable to sleep.

As soon as major entertainment reporters obtained the news from the Venice Film Festival, they worked overtime through the night.

They released their news drafts immediately and then reposted the list of winners sent back by CCTV.

When the news spread that Su Chang, Zheng Guolin, Fu Dalong, and Cheng Sheng had all won awards, the entire entertainment industry was in an uproar.

In particular, the fact that Cheng Sheng won the Golden Lion, combined with clips of his acceptance speech appearing online, immediately made them the front-page headlines of all major websites.

Principal Xu Xiaozhong had been listening to the Venice Film Festival the entire time.

While he was happy that Su Chang, Zheng Guolin, and Fu Dalong had won, he didn't care much because it had nothing to do with CAD—after all, those three had no connection to the school.

But Cheng Sheng winning Best Film was different.

Cheng Sheng was a student trained by CAD, and he was still a student there.

Under this dual identity, it was a matter of great honor for CAD.

Especially Cheng Sheng's acceptance speech, which had essentially advertised CAD to the entire world.

CAD was winning.

It was making its name known globally!

Cheng Sheng's sense of gratitude made Xu Xiaozhong feel very relieved.

If a school nurtured students and those students did not understand gratitude, how were they any different from ungrateful wolves?

It was worth all the effort he had spent helping him.

While being happy, Xu Xiaozhong ignored whether teachers and students were resting late at night and immediately called people over to go to an advertising company near CAD to order banners and expedite their production.

(End of Chapter)