"Hello, Director Rosenberg."
"Hello, Mr. Han."
Just after passing the red carpet and entering the VIP waiting area, someone approached. The two had formally met yesterday. Duke lightly shook hands with the man nicknamed "Zuoshandiao," a gesture neither overly casual nor excessively enthusiastic. Duke valued etiquette and knew how to balance formality.
After shaking hands, Zuoshandiao took the initiative to introduce the other guests present. Many of these were individuals Duke once admired from afar. Seeing them now greeting him courteously evoked mixed feelings.
However, the past felt distant. With Duke's personality, there was no chance of excessive sentimentality. He approached this event, like Hollywood premieres or red carpet appearances, with his usual demeanor.
Compared to the directors and producers, the actors who approached later were much warmer.
These actors were far from naïve. They understood that truly breaking into Hollywood was unlikely. For individuals like Ms. Zhang, who struggled to enter Hollywood, the goal was to elevate their status and demand upon returning to the domestic market. In this industry, "export for domestic resale" had great potential.
Unfortunately, until the local theater chains developed further, Duke had no intention of casting Asian actors in significant roles. Even certain villain roles would face challenges due to approval processes. Casting someone local in something like The Dark Knight would have risked censorship issues.
As for pushing local actors and filmmakers into Hollywood or the global market, Duke wasn't foolish enough to forget his current role.
Moreover, a country's cinematic dominance on the global stage was never determined solely by the films themselves.
Over the next twenty or so minutes, Duke couldn't remember how many people he greeted. Unlike on the red carpet, where he spoke Mandarin with fans, in this formal setting, he conversed exclusively in polite and fluent English, maintaining necessary boundaries.
Showcasing Mandarin required the right context. Displaying linguistic skill to these experienced individuals wouldn't win their favor. No matter how fluent his Mandarin might be, to people like Zuoshandiao, Duke would always remain an outsider.
Identity and position often dictate behavior, words, and attitudes in different situations.
If Zuoshandiao could raise Duke's box office revenue share by 50%, Duke wouldn't hesitate to speak Mandarin for several days straight. However, such a notion was absurd. Not only did Zuoshandiao lack such authority, but Duke wasn't naïve enough to entertain the possibility.
Hollywood's box office split was part of the U.S.-China WTO agreement. Not even ten Zuoshandiaos combined could alter this.
Thinking Zuoshandiao or the China Film Group could decide such matters would require extraordinary ignorance.
After greeting members of the festival's jury, Duke moved to the interview area as prearranged to speak with the festival's media partners.
"Director Rosenberg..."
The female reporter across from him seemed genuinely excited, not faking it. "I'm thrilled to meet you."
Like most professionals in his industry, Duke adopted a different persona for the media. Smiling, he replied, "I'm pleased to meet you too."
The reporter beamed with delight. "You… you understand Mandarin?"
"I have no problem listening to or speaking it," Duke said, his peripheral vision catching the surprised expressions of nearby journalists. However, he paid no mind. The world has no shortage of linguistic talents, including many foreigners fluent in Mandarin. The journalists' surprise stemmed more from Duke's fame and stature than his language skills.
The experienced reporters quickly recovered their composure, their astonishment fleeting. But the female reporter pressed on. "When did you learn Mandarin?"
"A long time ago—over ten years," Duke replied. "I took Mandarin as an elective in school. I have some talent for languages."
Duke knew what to say to present himself favorably. "I'm very fond of Eastern culture and history. I've studied it and read some classic works."
"Could you share which ones?" the reporter asked eagerly.
Smiling, Duke answered, "For example, The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Have you seen The Rock?"
"I've watched all your movies," she admitted with an embarrassed smile. Some of his films hadn't been officially released, and she had watched pirated versions.
"Do you recall the scene where Mason walks out of prison? There's an English copy of The Art of War in his cell," Duke explained. "That's one of my favorite books, so I included it in the film."
"So, you're a fan of Chinese culture?"
The female reporter's words prompted a slight nod from Duke. "I admire this country's culture."
"Would you consider making a film with a Chinese theme in the future?" another reporter asked.
"It's possible," Duke said. "However, my schedule is fully booked for the next few years. I'd also need the right story and script."
This reporter suddenly veered off-topic. "Director Rosenberg, there are rumors about domestic political issues in the U.S.—"
"Apologies…" Duke interrupted immediately, gesturing toward the entrance of the cinema. "Mr. Han is waving at me."
Without giving the reporter a chance to finish, Duke headed toward the cinema entrance, avoiding sensitive questions.
Some questions have no satisfactory answer. The best approach is not to hear or respond, as even silence could cause complications.
"What were they trying to ask?"
Tina Fey, who had followed Duke into the interview area, whispered as they walked.
"Political issues," Duke replied quietly.
Tina nodded in understanding.
She, too, understood that while movies are entertainment products, they have always been influenced by politics and never separate from it.
At the film festival's opening ceremony, despite being an Oscar-winning director, Duke wasn't the main attraction. The jury and the opening film shared the spotlight, attracting media and audience attention. Duke had no desire or need to overshadow them.
Given his global status in the film industry, there was no necessity to seek attention on such occasions.
Later, Duke entered the main theater of Shanghai Cinema to watch the opening film, accompanied by staff from the China Film Group.
The opening film was relatively unfamiliar—a movie titled Self-Amusement, starring Zun Long, who had won an Obie Award on Broadway, and Taiwanese singer Coco Lee. For a country transitioning to commercial cinema, the film's quality disappointed many in the audience, including Duke.
Simply put, the title aptly described the production—a project for the crew's self-amusement.
The opening film was mediocre.
However, for a nation whose film industry had only recently begun to marketize, the effort was commendable.
Anyone familiar with the industry knows that success requires more than excellent scripts, directors, or crews. Movies have become an industry, dependent on countless upstream and downstream businesses.
Without developing a comprehensive industrial chain, relying on a few films or directors to lead a national cinema to dominate global markets is impossible.
The journey is arduous, but many here recognize the potential and future of the market, with the industry moving in a positive direction.
Like Hollywood, building a film industry takes time. How many years did it take for Hollywood to surpass European cinema and become the world's movie factory?
The foundation of a thriving film industry includes theater chains. After the opening ceremony, Duke returned to his hotel and met Warner Bros.'China representative, Phil, who seemed to have been waiting for him.
"Here's the situation, Duke," Phil said directly upon entering the suite's sitting room. "The Chinese side wants to know if you could film a movie here in the next few years."
"Film in China?" Duke frowned.
Batman's stories primarily unfold in the fictional Gotham City, with external scenes often portraying villains. Shooting in China wouldn't fit and might risk censorship.
After thinking for a moment, Duke said, "Maybe in the future when the opportunity arises."
"What's happening?" Duke asked, looking at Phil.
"The China Film Group wants deeper cooperation with us," Phil explained candidly. "They aim to co-invest with Warner in developing the theater market here and seek our support in film resources."
By "film resources," Phil referred to production elements rather than finished films.
"What's the company's stance?" Duke inquired.
"The group sees great potential in this market," Phil replied. "They want closer collaboration, especially with you, Duke. Your works have unmatched influence here and are Warner's ace for promotion."
Duke shrugged, saying nothing more.
The market here was still in its early stages, not yet entering rapid growth. Duke understood that his films wouldn't yield substantial returns for now. This was merely an investment in the future.
...
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