Chapter 55 A Desperate Gamble

What Lao Tian did not know was that the outgoing Venice Film Festival President, Alberto Barbera, had already promoted Marco Mueller to be in charge of the entire selection process for the Venice Film Festival.

Clearly, Marco Mueller was receiving heavy responsibilities, becoming one of the figures second only to the festival president.

Perhaps he was even one of the candidates for the next president of the Venice Film Festival.

And indeed, that was how things unfolded: Marco Mueller became the president of the Venice Film Festival in 2004, served two consecutive terms until 2012, and then handed the presidency back to Alberto Barbera.

Well, the Italians are certainly adept at politics; no wonder they always manage to end up as winners in every major conflict.

Marco Mueller was among the first batch of Italian exchange students to come to China and spoke fluent Mandarin. Ever since he became a member of the Venice Film Festival selection committee in 1980, he had been sparing no effort in promoting domestic Chinese cinema.

He shared deep friendships with numerous directors of the Fifth and Sixth Generations, and after stepping down as the president of the Venice Film Festival, he relocated the center of his work and life to China.

He settled in Shanghai with his wife and daughter, becoming a specially appointed professor at a Shanghai university and the artistic director of its Film Art Research Center.

Marco Mueller's contribution to Chinese-language cinema has been immense. Over the years, Chinese-language films have won so many awards in Venice, and Marco Mueller deserves much of the credit.

He is even regarded as the primary promoter who systematically introduced Chinese cinema to the West.

In the future, he would also be honored by the State Council with the China-Italy Friendship Contribution Award.

Cao Yang vaguely recalled that during Marco Mueller's first four-year term—except for the very first year when he had just taken office and perhaps wasn't fully calling the shots yet—starting from his second year, he awarded the Golden Lion to Chinese filmmakers for three consecutive years, nearly causing public outrage in the West.

Jia Zhangke won his Golden Lion during this period.

No wonder Hou Keming had dropped subtle hints, advising Cao Yang to discuss the matter with Lao Tian.

"You probably didn't know, but he is now the head of film selection and the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, holding power second only to the festival president and the organizing committee chairman," Cao Yang explained to Lao Tian.

Now it was Lao Tian's turn to be shocked. In disbelief, he said, "Old Ma has become that powerful? I always thought he was just in charge of the Asian region, occasionally serving as the chairman of some two-bit film festival to pad his resume."

Then he muttered to himself, "No wonder when I called him this time to ask if he could find out who would be chosen as the jury president, he didn't hesitate at all and told me straight out that they might invite Nanni Moretti, who had just won the Cannes Palme d'Or."

With that, he slapped the table. "Don't worry, the quality of our film this time is very high, and with Old Ma on our side, we certainly won't return empty-handed. At the very least, we can haul back a Silver Lion."

Cao Yang took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his chest.

Before knowing that Lao Tian had this connection, his highest ambition, with the school's help, was to win a Grand Jury Prize or Best Director.

If Sony Pictures Classics and MK2 exerted a bit more effort for the sake of overseas box office, winning Best Actor in Venice shouldn't be much of a problem, and if Yu Feihong pulled a few strings of her own, she might even harbor ambitions for Best Actress.

To be honest, Cao Yang had never dared to dream of the Venice Golden Lion.

However, an opportunity had suddenly dropped from the sky.

Marco Mueller, this old friend of the Chinese people and the newly appointed artistic director of Venice, who would have thought he was a sworn brother to Lao Tian?

Cao Yang said softly to Lao Tian, almost as if talking to himself, "Sony Pictures Classics has people on the organizing committee, MK2 has ties with jury president Nanni Moretti, and the school can certainly pull a few more strings. If Marco Mueller, the third-most powerful figure at the festival, pushes a little harder too, Senior..."

Then Cao Yang clapped his hands. "Senior, when the film is submitted to Venice, I'll put you down as a producer as well!"

"You..."

Lao Tian opened his mouth, then finally sighed. Of course he understood what Cao Yang meant. What were the Golden Bear, the Golden Lion, and the Palme d'Or? They were awards for Best Film, where both the director and the producer went up on stage to accept the prize.

When Marco Mueller learned that Lao Tian was one of the producers of this film, could he afford not to put his full effort into helping?

Cao Yang had calculated this brilliantly.

But would Lao Tian refuse? Could he refuse?

That was a Golden Lion, the highest honor of Venice! It was the lifelong dream of countless directors. With this, calling oneself an artist would simply be a modest understatement.

"Aren't you afraid the higher-ups will give you trouble? I'm still on the banned directors list," Lao Tian reminded him with some lingering trepidation, feeling rather anxious and uncertain.

"Hey! If you were listed as a producer before the censorship review, to be honest, I wouldn't dare. I'd really be afraid of those people making trouble.

"But the film is already shot, isn't it? Once I get my hands on that award, will anyone still dare to say anything to me? On the surface, we haven't violated anything, and you aren't the director, just a producer."

"And what if we still don't win?"

Lao Tian asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid they'll give you trouble when you get back?"

"If we still don't win, then it truly is man proposing and heaven disposing. I've done everything humanly possible, and if we still don't win, it can only mean I'm not meant to cross paths with the Golden Lion."

Cao Yang picked up a large mouthful of food, chewing it noisily and vigorously. After swallowing, he picked up a beer bottle and drained it in one go.

He slammed the beer bottle back onto the table, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and declared fiercely, "If we don't win, so be it. But as long as they dare to give me trouble or block my censorship approval, I'll pack my bags and head straight to Hollywood to chase after Oscars!"

Following Cao Yang's lead, Lao Tian also downed a bottle of beer in one breath and wiped his mouth.

"Since you've made up your mind, let's do it! Don't worry, if they block your censorship because of this, I'll be your exclusive cinematographer. Wherever you go, I go!"

With that, Lao Tian stood up and started walking out.

Cao Yang hurriedly called out to him, "Where are you going?"

"To make a call."

Lao Tian waved a hand. "This matter brooks no delay; the earlier the better. An action taken a day earlier is a fraction more of a winning chance. I need to get Old Ma moving immediately, before anyone else manages to lock things down."

Watching Lao Tian leave, Cao Yang tried his best to calm himself down.

He had utilized every single connection he could mobilize to the absolute limit. The quality of the film was exceptional, and it dealt with a female-centric theme which tended to favor awards consideration. If he still couldn't pull it off after doing all this, then there truly was nothing more he could do.

With the connection to Marco Mueller now in play, Cao Yang knew he couldn't keep it under wraps; he had to coordinate with the school, Sony Pictures Classics, and the others. Only through sincere cooperation, joint strategy, and concerted effort could success be possible.

At the same time, this would instill confidence in Sony Pictures Classics and MK2, letting them know that the number three figure of Venice was pushing for the film as well. Only when they saw the possibility of success would they commit fully and exert their maximum effort.

When Hou Keming learned that Cao Yang intended to give Lao Tian a producer credit, he didn't blame Cao Yang at all; instead, his estimation of Cao Yang rose even higher.

This move was nothing short of brilliant!

If Tian Zhuangzhuang weren't credited as a producer, Marco Mueller would still help, but it would be hard to say how much effort he would put in.

Now, however, Tian Zhuangzhuang was also a producer. In the narrowest sense, the Best Film award honors both the producer and the director—a recognition that could be written into one's resume and widely accepted. Even if only for Tian Zhuangzhuang's sake, Marco Mueller would go all out to assist.

The timing was simply too perfect; such an opportunity could not be missed. If one were to hesitate and hold back now instead of fighting tooth and nail, then whatever future achievements awaited would amount to nothing much anyway.