Chapter 28: Producing Two Best Actors!

"Sister Tao, the director is calling for you. He wants you to re-shoot that last take."

Just then, the script supervisor ran over and said.

"Okay."

Liu Tao nodded and said to Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei, "I'm going to film first. Let's chat when I'm free."

Watching Liu Tao leave, Liu Xiaoli's face darkened. She whispered to Liu Yifei, "Daughter, stay away from women like that in the future. She is not a good woman."

"Mom, is there some misunderstanding? I feel like Teacher Liu Tao is quite a nice person," Liu Yifei said, her beautiful large eyes blinking.

"Nice? Many people in the crew saw her sneaking into Hu Jun's tent the night before last. This woman is no good," Liu Xiaoli said crossly.

There was one more thing she hadn't told her daughter: that night, Liu Tao had even made loud noises that kept the people nearby awake, and she was one of them.

Because the crew was filming in the mountains, everyone stayed in tents at night, which meant there was absolutely no soundproofing.

The next day, although the crew members knew about the situation between the two, they could only turn a blind eye.

Liu Xiaoli despised Liu Tao even more because of this; Hu Jun was a married man.

Such behavior was highly immoral.

Liu Yifei was still young and didn't understand these things; her innocent eyes were filled with curiosity.

...

After the Best Actress award was presented, it was time for Best Actor.

As nominees, Zheng Guolin and Fu Dalong were the most nervous.

Having two nominees for Best Actor from a single film showed just how classic the movie was.

But if neither of them won, it would be quite embarrassing.

"The winner of the Best Actor award at the 61st Venice Film Festival is Linguozheng and Longdafu for *The Great Tang Dynasty: Origins*."

Zheng Guolin's mouth hung open as he stared blankly at the big screen.

Fu Dalong was the same, feeling as if he had fallen into a dream.

At that moment, the screen behind the podium began to play a sequence of footage, showing constant cuts between Yang Guang and Li Shimin.

[A grand head, who shall behead it?]

[I am Yang Guang, the Son of Heaven of the Great Sui, revered by all people, with the four seas in submission.]

[The magnificent mountains and rivers are mine to roam; all living souls under heaven are within my grasp.]

[The death of an Emperor follows the law; how can a blade be used! Bring me the poisoned wine!]

[With a sigh, I stroke my long sword; seeking to save the world, I seek no fame. The banners and lightning rise in confusion, the sun and feathers move the heavens in solemnity. Ten thousand cavalry gather in the fields, five camps are stationed upon the plains. Climbing the mountain, I brandish the martial baton; backing against the river, I unleash the divine troops. In the past, weapons clashed; now, the universe is at peace.]

On the screen, Yang Guang and Li Shimin took turns delivering their lines with such intensity that it hardly seemed like acting.

Although the Westerners couldn't quite understand the words—since even Chinese people might struggle with classical Chinese—the actors' performances conquered them.

They could perceive the majesty of the two emperors through the two characters.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Amidst the thunderous applause, Fu Dalong and Zheng Guolin stood up in excitement.

A few months ago, they were just minor actors, receiving roles as supporting characters that they had to fight hard to secure.

Now, they were standing in one of the three major European film festivals—Venice—as Best Actors. Had there been anything more exciting than this?

Before yesterday, they wouldn't have even dared to dream of being crowned kings in Venice.

Fu Dalong was the first to snap out of it. He leaned over his seat, grabbed Cheng Sheng's hand, and said excitedly, "Director Cheng, thank you so much. Without you, I wouldn't have won this award."

"Director Cheng, thank you."

Zheng Guolin also walked over, expressing his gratitude to Cheng Sheng immediately.

Afterward, the two shook hands with the crew members and offered their thanks before walking toward the podium.

Watching their backs, Cheng Sheng felt a bit surreal. According to another memory, the Best Actor this year should have been Javier Bardem for *Death in Venice*.

He hadn't expected it to be Zheng Guolin and Fu Dalong, and a "double yolk" at that.

It was likely rare even among the three major European festivals for a single film to produce two Best Actors.

The moment Zheng Guolin and Fu Dalong won, the domestic internet exploded.

On the set of *Lotus Lantern*.

Jiao Enjun's eyes widened in shock. "They won Best Actor just like that? And it's a double win?"

"Director Cheng is truly incredible. He produced two Best Actors with a single film," Director Chang said excitedly.

As a director, Cheng Sheng, this newcomer, was absolutely someone he envied and wanted to learn from.

Who wouldn't want their own film to produce a Best Actor? That wasn't just the success of an actor, but the success of the director.

"I wonder when Director Cheng will film his next movie. I want to audition," said Cao Jun, who played the protagonist in *Lotus Lantern*.

Hearing this, the others' minds began to race.

Director Cheng Sheng's ability was now beyond doubt. If they could act in his films, it would surely catapult them to stardom. If they could then participate in one of the three major European festivals and win Best Actor or Best Actress, their lives would be invincible.

At the China-Mongolia border.

The set of *Green Grassland*.

Ning Hao, the director of this film, was in a state of great distress.

*Green Grassland* was a low-budget drama that was nearly finished filming, but the investors were unable to provide sufficient funds. This had caused filming to halt, and he couldn't even pay the staff or cover some of the equipment rental fees.

As it stood, it was impossible to finish the movie unless he could find more funding.

"Damn it, this is going to kill me."

Ning Hao felt extremely unwilling. After all, *Green Grassland* was a project he had worked so hard to put together, and he wanted to take it to the Berlin Film Festival next year.

With things going like this, *Green Grassland* might never see the light of day.

"F***, I'm so jealous of Cheng Sheng. I had to beg and plead for just a tiny bit of investment, and now my investors are pulling out. Meanwhile, Cheng Sheng pulled in a hundred million in one night. It's just not fair."

"Dammit, if I had known, I would have followed Cheng Sheng's lead and gone to the coal boss."

Thinking about the hundred million Cheng Sheng had secured, Ning Hao felt an indescribable envy.

But it was too late to go looking for a coal boss for investment now.

"No, I can't give up easily. Even if I have to pour in all my savings, I have to finish this movie," Ning Hao muttered to himself, gritting his teeth.

"Haozi."

Just then, Ning Hao's girlfriend, Xing Aina, walked over.

"What did the investors say?" Ning Hao turned to ask.

"They're gone," Xing Aina said, shaking her head helplessly.

"Forget it, don't go begging them. We'll do it ourselves," Ning Hao said.

Xing Aina nodded and said, "Have you seen the news? Cheng Sheng's movie just produced two Best Actors at Venice."

"What?"

Ning Hao was startled, nearly jumping up. He grabbed his girlfriend's arm and asked, "Really?"

"Yes, it's already spreading all over the domestic internet," Xing Aina said.

Hearing this, Ning Hao hurriedly pulled out his phone to check. When he opened the webpage, he found that the headlines were all news about Cheng Sheng's film winning awards.

(End of Chapter)