Chapter 17 Film Festival Red Carpet

Gu Wei did not attend the film exhibition of this year's Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers event in advance. "Tuya's Wedding" had already been released in China in the first half of the year, and the foreign copyright had also been sold. There was no need to continue selling the film. He only applied for various awards at the film festival, and Gu Wei was not in a hurry to go.

宁波栎社国际机场于1984年11月16日建成，1990年6月30日正式建成通航，定名为宁波栎社机场。

As soon as Gu Wei and his company employees got off the plane, they were discovered by reporters waiting at the airport exit, and he had to be interviewed again.

After getting on the special car prepared by the company, several people came to the hotel designated for the film festival. Near the evening, other members of the "Tuya Wedding" crew also arrived one after another.

The media was very efficient. As soon as Gu Wei and others checked into the hotel, the news had already appeared on major portals.

"The crew of "Tuya's Wedding" has arrived at the venue of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival."

"Director Gu said in the interview that he has calmed down and the most important thing is to participate."

"Brother Chen Kai, Stephen Chow, Anita Yuen and others have checked into the designated hotel for the film festival."

"Director Zhang Yimou and Director Jiang Wen were absent from this event."

...

Gu Wei saw the news in the hotel room and found out that many Hong Kong and Taiwan film stars participated in this film festival.

"Boss, someone from another film and television company contacted us and wants to invite you to dinner tonight."

Gu Wei, who was resting in the hotel room, received a call from his subordinate.

"Hmm..." Gu Wei thought for a moment and said, "Let's postpone it. Just say I have a dinner party with the crew tonight."

"Okay, boss."

A film festival is not just an awards ceremony, it is also a place for other film and television companies, filmmakers, directors and stars to network and find resources.

Checking the time, Gu Wei picked up his phone to contact Yu Nan and other crew members, and made an appointment to get together in the evening.

The venue was set at a specialty restaurant near the hotel, not the hotel's restaurant, mainly because Gu Wei wanted to try the local specialty cuisine.

"Director Gu."

"The director is here."

As he pushed open the door of the private room, Gu Wei heard the voices of the crew members greeting each other.

"Haha, I haven't seen you all for a while. How are you guys doing lately?"

After taking a look at the people present, Gu Wei, who was sitting in the main seat in the private room, said.

"Hey, it's okay, just busying around."

"Director Gu, I heard that your new movie has finished filming. When will it be released?"

Yu Nan next to her asked.

"Post-production editing has just begun and it is expected to be released around the Spring Festival."

"When the movie comes out, everyone please go to the cinema to support me."

Gu Wei said as if jokingly to everyone.

"No problem, Director."

"Then let's team up to watch it, haha."

Both the host and the guests enjoyed the meal very much. After the meal, others planned to go for KTV together, but Gu Wei made the excuse that he had other things to do and went straight back to the hotel.

In the hotel room, Gu Wei looked at the computer screen and browsed the shortlisted works and award ceremony process of this year's Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

Since 1992, the dual award ceremony of the Chinese Film Golden Rooster Awards and the Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards has been changed to the "China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival."

The Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award, also known as the "Golden Rooster Award" for short, was founded by the China Film Association in 1981 with the aim of rewarding outstanding films and commending outstanding filmmakers. It is the highest professional award in the Chinese film industry.

The Golden Rooster Awards will select films released in the current year of production, and will have awards for best feature film, documentary, science and education film, art film, opera film, best actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, best screenwriter, director, photography, art, music, recording, editing, stunts, costumes, makeup, props, etc.

The Hundred Flowers Awards for Popular Films, also known as the "Hundred Flowers Awards," was founded by the China Film Association in 1962. It is an annual mass award hosted by China's largest-circulation film publication, Popular Film. The Hundred Flowers Awards only represent the audience's views and evaluations of films, so it is also known as the "mass award."

The Hundred Flowers Awards are awarded by Popular Films, which distributes ballots and readers vote on them. The winner of each award is the one with the most votes.

This year is the 10th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which is held at the Ningbo Gymnasium in Zhejiang Province. All the crews, directors, stars and producers participating in the event will stay in the official hotel designated by the film festival, which is located near the gymnasium.

After reading the event schedule and media news reports, Gu Wei chose to rest early as he had to attend an official event early tomorrow morning.

.........

The next morning, the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival officially opened, and the atmosphere in the hotel became much more intense.

After attending the event, Gu Wei took a stroll and saw that the hotel was covered with movie posters of those who came to attend the event. The poster of "Tuya's Wedding" was also placed in the lobby.

People coming in and out of the hotel were all staff from various film crews, including cameramen and makeup artists, as well as some film producers who came to participate in the film exhibition. There were many reporters waiting outside the hotel, constantly taking pictures of the people coming in and out.

"Director Gu?"

Gu Wei heard someone calling him, turned around, and saw Zhang Guoli and Cao Ying walking up to him.

"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Cao, what are you two doing..."

Seeing the two of them, Gu Wei was still a little confused.

"Director Gu, Cao Ying and I are the hosts of tonight's award ceremony."

The three chatted in the hotel lobby for a while, and then saw a staff member coming over to remind Zhang Guoli of the time to go to the venue.

"Director Gu, I wish all your wishes come true tonight," Zhang Guoli sent his blessings in advance.

"Haha, then I would like to thank Teacher Zhang first."

Afterwards, Zhang Guoli and Cao Ying followed the staff to the hotel entrance and arrived at the award ceremony in advance.

"Teacher Zhang, was that Director Gu Wei just now?" Cao Ying asked as they walked out of the hotel.

"Yes, the youngest Golden Bear Award-winning director in the country."

"Director Gu looks so young."

Cao Ying sighed beside her.

It is always more difficult for female actors to participate in various film festivals than for male actors.

Just putting on makeup takes several hours, and there’s also the selection of dresses, matching of jewelry, and so on.

Starting from the morning, Yu Nan and the female crew members sat in the hotel's dressing room. They were not allowed to eat lunch because they had to maintain their figure and not show their belly for the red carpet in the evening.

In contrast, Gu Wei simply wore a suit and did not need to put on makeup. He did not rely on his looks to make a living. Gu Wei had a quick lunch at the restaurant to fill his stomach.

After lunch, I went to the dressing room to take another look, and it looked like it wouldn't get better for a while.

"Approximately how long will it take?"

He checked the time and asked the staff next to him.

"Director Gu, it will take about two and a half hours."

A staff member answered.

"Okay then. I'll go back to my room for a while. Call me when you're ready to leave."

Four p.m.

"Director Gu, we can get ready to go."

After receiving a call from the staff, Gu Wei left the room and walked towards the hotel lobby.

"Ding."

As soon as Gu Wei walked out of the elevator, he saw Brother Chen Kai and his group.

"Director Gu."

"Director Chen."

The two greeted each other and then parted ways. They had not been in touch since the last incident, and Gu Wei did not expect to meet them here.

Gu Wei pouted and asked the staff next to him, "There are so many people in the hall, what's going on?"

"Director Gu, this is the official arrangement for today's event. All celebrity guests will take the "celebrity motorcade" to the stadium and then enter the party venue."

A staff member answered.

“It’s pretty fancy.”

Gu Wei said casually.

At the hotel entrance, vehicles with the film festival logo were already in place.

"We can set off to the scene now," a staff member reminded.

As soon as I walked to the hotel entrance, I heard noisy shouts. A large number of reporters were holding cameras and taking pictures of the celebrity guests who came out. The scene was full of flashes.

Brother Chen Kai and his entourage got into the front car, and Gu Wei took Yu Nan into the back car.

About ten minutes later, when other stars and guests from the crew had boarded the car, it started slowly and drove towards the venue of the award ceremony.

The hotel was not too far from the stadium. Not long after getting on the bus, I could faintly hear the shouts of various fans, mostly the names of actors and stars.

I heard a lot of fans shouting Stephen Chow's name. Gu Wei is also his fan. I will find a chance to get to know him later.

As the vehicle slowly approached, we saw that both sides of the red carpet were crowded with fans and reporters, many of whom were holding cheering items.

When the car stopped, the on-site staff came over to open the door. Gu Wei got out first and then extended his hand to Yu Nan.

Other people also got out of the car and approached him.

The crew of "Tuya's Wedding" officially appeared on the red carpet of the closing ceremony.

The reporters and media on the scene flashed their cameras continuously, and several people smiled, then followed the etiquette lady to the waiting area.

After entering the waiting area, Gu Wei looked around and found Stephen Chow and others not far away.

There were too many people at the scene, so Gu Wei didn't feel comfortable going over to say hello directly. It was also the first time he met someone in person, and he was afraid that it would be awkward if he went over suddenly.

"Director Chen."

"Hello, Director Chen."

The treatment of the Palme d'Or directors was indeed the same, with greetings coming from all directions at the scene.

This was also the first time that Gu Wei appeared at a domestic film festival ceremony. Compared with Brother Chen Kai, he looked like a newcomer.

"Hello, Director Gu."

Ning Jing next to her spoke first and greeted Gu Wei with a smile.

"Hello, Teacher Ning."

The red carpet of the closing ceremony is in progress, and introductions from the host outside the venue can be heard from time to time.

"The crew of "Life and Death Decision" walking on the red carpet now, Director Yu Benzheng and the leading actors Wang Qingxiang and Liao Jingsheng..."

"Next is the crew of "Pretty Mom", Director Sun Zhou, Gong Li..."

...

"Director Chen Kai..."

"Stephen Chow, Anita Yuen..."

Gu Wei started chatting with Ning Jing until the staff reminded him, then he took Yu Nan and others to the red carpet.

“Coming here now is the crew of Tuya’s Wedding, which won the Golden Bear Award at the 2st Berlin International Film Festival in February this year.

Director Gu Wei is also the youngest director in China to win the Golden Bear Award.

Welcome Director Gu Wei, Yu Nan..."

Gu Wei, Yu Nan and others walked slowly on the red carpet, smiling the whole time and waving to the media and the audience from time to time.

After walking to the autograph wall and signing their names, the host stopped Gu Wei and others.

"Director Gu, as far as I know this is your first time participating in the Golden Rooster Awards. Do you have anything to say?"

“I hope that ‘Tuya’s Wedding’ will have some success tonight.”

When the host heard the answer, he gave his blessings as usual.

Several people then walked towards the venue.

...

(End of this chapter)