noveldepot Chapter 77 Waiting for an opportunity
Chapter 77 Waiting for an opportunity
This year at Venice, "Brokeback Mountain" will win the heavy golden lion in an almost overwhelming manner.
What followed was a sweep of the entire awards season, culminating in the Oscar for Best Director, which firmly established Li An as one of Hollywood's most prominent directors.
But Lin Ruiyang also remembers that behind that movie carnival belonging to a minority group around the world was the shocking tragedy of Brokeback Mountain losing to Crash in the Oscar race for Best Picture.
That was the last and most stubborn counterattack by the conservative forces in Hollywood.
And he now stands at a juncture in this historical trajectory.
"If the searchlights see 'Brokeback Mountain' reach the top of Venice, then the concerns about 'Dallas Buyers Club' will probably be completely dispelled." A shrewd glint flashed in Lin Ruiyang's eyes.
Los Angeles, across the ocean.
Anne Hathaway had just finished a styling meeting and was holding a newly printed schedule of brand events in Venice, while her assistant was organizing a list of dress brands next to her.
"Annie, Valentino is willing to lend you their haute couture, but they hope you'll mention the brand name more often during your red carpet interviews."
Anne nodded, but she was clearly distracted.
She looked down and glanced at the text message Lin Ruiyang had sent her.
"Golden Lion Award..." she read it softly.
The female assistant beside her couldn't help but say, "Annie, have you been too stressed lately?"
"Maybe."
At that moment, the conference room door was pushed open again, and another team agent strode in.
"Annie, the director wants you to be available in mid-September."
Why?
"Brokeback Mountain is preparing to head straight to Toronto after Venice to launch its first round of award campaigning in North America."
At this point, the agent paused, then added meaningfully, "Focus Features has already decided on it as their flagship film for this year."
Anne's eyes flickered slightly.
As a Hollywood actress, she certainly understood what those words meant.
As Universal's top award-winning label, once they determine their annual core, it means a public relations budget of tens of millions of dollars, countless top magazine covers, and a steady stream of custom-made DVDs sent to the Academy judges.
It was a giant publicity vehicle specially built for the Oscar statuette. And she, Anne Hathaway, was sitting in the passenger seat of this vehicle.
"I understand." Annie took a deep breath and put her phone away.
"I will fully cooperate with all the publicity efforts during this period."
The agent was very satisfied with her attitude; at least she didn't complain about the necessary and tedious procedures.
This year, the competition for resources within Focus Features has been exceptionally fierce.
Besides *Brokeback Mountain*, several other projects, including *Jarhead* and *Pride and Prejudice*, are vying for marketing and distribution budgets. However, there's now a subtle shift in the company's leadership.
The reason is simple: the leading position in internal screenings and the upcoming trip to Venice.
If Brokeback Mountain does indeed win the Golden Lion as predicted by the industry, it will no longer be just an ordinary art film, but will become the dark horse of this year's awards season that gives a voice to minority groups.
In Hollywood, no one would refuse to stand on the side of the winner.
The urgent international long-distance call shattered the tranquility of Yanjing in the early morning.
Lin Ruiyang glanced at the caller ID, answered the phone, and Roger Saglan relayed the searchlight's internal feedback back.
Pete Rice's attitude is not as enthusiastic as Lin Ruiyang had anticipated, and Searchlight's internal assessment of homosexual themes remains "high risk".
Even though "Brokeback Mountain" was shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival's main competition, and even though Focus Features has begun to allocate resources to it, most people's judgments on this track are still hanging in the air, waiting for a final result.
After all, in Hollywood, everyone remembers the embarrassing situation of Brokeback Mountain being rejected by several major studios during its preparation. Li An took the script to six companies, but none of them were willing to take it on. Focus Features was the last one.
The film has been shortlisted for Venice, but whether it will win an award, whether the judges will approve, and whether mainstream audiences will accept it... Before the film's premiere, no one dares to give a definite answer to these questions.
On the other end of the phone, Roger's tone revealed a typical New York anxiety:
"Lin, it's clear from Pete's words that he's worried that if 'Brokeback Mountain' is only nominated but doesn't win an award, then all the hype surrounding the subject matter will be just a castle in the air."
He said that if your film "Dallas Buyers Club" insists on being evaluated and approved at this critical juncture, it will be difficult for the board of directors on Searchlight to sign it off during the internal risk control phase.
"They feel that the current trend in subject matter is too sensitive. They even hinted that if it's a script that deals with more acute and marginalized living conditions, they are not willing to invest a single penny this year unless it has the backing of a phenomenal blockbuster."
Lin Ruiyang was not surprised at all after hearing this. He thought that enduring humiliation for the time being was not unacceptable.
"Roger, tell Pete to lock that internal risk assessment report in a drawer. I don't need them to sign it now."
They want insurance, they want to see a fully market-proven answer before they dare to make a move, but this is precisely where their six major brands are slow to react.
Focus Features has already staked everything on "Brokeback Mountain." If that Golden Lion actually wins, what do you think will happen to Hollywood's production landscape?
Roger pondered for a moment on the other end of the phone, clearly understanding the unspoken meaning in Lin Ruiyang's words:
"You mean, once Venice wins, this high-risk theme will be instantly transformed into a highly commercially valuable tool for winning awards?"
"It's not just whitewashing, it's a complete logical reconstruction." A cold smile appeared on Lin Ruiyang's lips.
"All the doubts right now are based on the unknown. Once the results from Venice are out, plus the operation of Focus Features' entire marketing and distribution arsenal, we'll see."
"At that time, the searchlights won't need any risk control reports; they'll come to us themselves and ask when we're going to turn them on."
"Lin, are you really sure Li An can win?" Roger couldn't help but ask.
"This is Li An's do-or-die battle, otherwise he will be out of the game, and he has no shortcomings in artistic expression when making this kind of film."
"Tell the people at Spotlight Entertainment not to waste their energy on how to reject us, but to keep an eye on Focus Features' marketing strategy. That's the benchmark we need to follow in the future."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Ruiyang placed it back on the table. He knew very well that the current situation was a delicate game of strategy.
Hollywood's big studios are always hesitant and indecisive; they remain cautious cowards until they see tangible recognition.
But as soon as Venice opens its gates, these so-called risk control concerns will instantly turn into investment competition.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, at the Focus Features headquarters building.
The air in the meeting room was so tense it felt like you could wring water out of it.
The marketing director for "Brokeback Mountain" was pointing a laser pointer at a projector's projection chart, passionately addressing a group of executives:
"Once we win in Venice, Toronto will be our main battleground. We will completely control the narrative of this awards season and take the lead. Those theater chains that are still watching will have to give up their best screening rooms for us."
The CEO, seated at the head of the table, nodded, his gaze sweeping over a thick stack of documents on the table, including reports from industry insiders questioning the profitability of the "Brokeback Mountain" theme.
"Questions still exist; many people feel we've invested too much," the CEO said indifferently.
"But that's the game in Hollywood. As a non-Big Six company, if you want to win, you have to bet the entire company's resources to create a current hot trend."