Global Film Emperor

Chapter 147 Monster Zhuang Yu
There were still voices at the scene, but they were not loud. The younger generation did not dare to speak. Only the popular artists and senior figures in the industry chatted, while everyone else sat upright with their hands on their stomachs.

When the time came, the huge red curtain was drawn back, revealing a beautiful stage. A group of artists performed on stage, and screams from fans came from the second floor behind them. The second floor was filled with more than three thousand audience members.

Lu Ze glanced back and saw a girl clinging to the railing, shouting loudly. He turned his head and saw the camera moving horizontally. Lu Ze clapped his hands in celebration, and the scene was filled with singing and dancing.

After the song and dance performance ended, the backup dancers left the stage, while the performers who had sung on stage went down, chatted with the audience for a few words, and then returned to their seats.

The three hosts on stage are familiar faces to everyone. The male host, Liu Hongliang, is 47 years old this year. He started as a host and later became an actor, which was also quite successful.

The female host, Song Sha, is 35 years old this year. She is a folk singer who later transitioned into acting. She had a good career in the past few years, but she has taken on fewer roles in recent years. However, everyone understands that she is truly taking time to reflect and grow.

Meng Ge, a 30-year-old female host, is a beautiful host on CCTV6, though she is not exactly a household name.

"Good evening, fellow citizens of Guangzhou and fellow film artists!"

The three people's blessings sparked applause from the audience, and everyone in the room clapped, creating a very enthusiastic atmosphere from the start.

"Distinguished guests, viewers both in the stadium and watching on television, good evening! We are broadcasting live from the Guangzhou Municipal Fitness Center for the 49th Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the China Film Association, and the Guangzhou Municipal Government. I am Meng Ge, your host from CCTV Movie Channel. Good evening, everyone."

We certainly couldn't get to the point right away. First, the youngest host, Meng Ge, introduced herself, followed by the two other hosts.

Liu Hongliang also told a few jokes. Jokes for this kind of occasion can't be too frivolous, so the jokes weren't too funny. He mainly talked about the winners from previous years. Because they were people in the industry, it increased the sense of identification among the guests, so the laughter in the room was genuine.

Next came the introduction of this year's Golden Rooster Awards jury. The three hosts left the stage, the stage went dark, and the names and photos of the jury members appeared on the screen. These people may be little known to outsiders, but they are all big names in the industry.

Then the judges came on stage, lined up in a row. They were all quite old. A group of female emcees dressed like chili peppers came on stage and, amidst the host's praise, presented the judges with their honorary medals.

After the awards ceremony, everyone left the stage, and the screen started playing a promotional video praising Guangzhou again, telling everyone how important the city is to the development of film. After the video finished, the country's top folk music ensembles began to perform, creating an increasingly grand atmosphere.

After the band left the stage, pop singers came on and performed a medley. Lu Ze stared wide-eyed, not because the performances on stage were particularly captivating, but because he found it a bit boring. He let his mind wander, his eyes fixed on the stage.

Unfortunately, the camera captured Lu Ze's expression, and the director's lips twitched at Lu Ze's blank look. He quickly notified the other cameramen to cut to the next shot.

However, this scene was still noticed by viewers on television and the internet. The careless might not have noticed it, but the observant, especially those who paid special attention to Lu Ze, saw it.
"This kid! What are you daydreaming about at a time like this? Can't you just watch the performance properly?"

With the TV on at home, Li Yumei slapped her thigh, somewhat annoyed. No one knows a son better than his mother. Lu Ze had this habit since he was a child, even when he found things boring. It was one thing in normal times, but how could he dare to daydream in such an important occasion?

Although Lu Weiguo wasn't a talkative man, he was particularly happy that his son was on TV. Li Yumei hadn't cooked anything special today, and he'd already drunk two glasses of baijiu. Now, slightly tipsy, he watched TV and, seeing Lu Ze's behavior, didn't know how to comment on him. He could only silently eat a pear.

"I captured Lu Ze's expression, hahaha, a fresh set of memes is born! Lu Ze: I am a heartless killer like a pigeon, hahaha."

"The person who took the meme, are you a devil?"

"That meme, 'Are you a devil?' Remember to share it with me."

Lu Ze was oblivious to his mother's slight dissatisfaction or the silly comments from netizens, remaining lost in thought until the awards ceremony officially began.

"Chen Xi, who won the Best Supporting Actress award at the China Golden Rooster Awards, is nominated for her role in 'Fragrance of Flowers'."

Each person's name was mentioned, followed by a roughly 20-second clip from the movie. At this point, Lu Ze finally snapped out of his daze, looked up, and saw that the acting was decent, but the character's values ​​were very skewed. He watched until the clip ended.

"Guo Yuchen in 'Jianghu', Bai Yudie in 'Dawn', and Zhang Min in 'Reunion'."

After the film excerpts from the four nominees were played, the two presenters on stage made some awkward jokes, then tore open the envelopes in their hands. I don't know why they liked to play suspense so much, always taking long pauses to speak.

"The winner of the Best Supporting Actress award at the 49th Golden Rooster Awards is... Bai Yudie from 'Dawn'!"

The first award was announced, and since it had nothing to do with Lu Ze, he remained calm. He clapped, watching Bai Yudie jump up from her seat, burst into tears, and stumble onto the stage, offering her endless thanks. Next was Best Supporting Actor, an award snatched away by the supporting actor from "Flower Fragrance." The "Flower Fragrance" team secured their first victory. While the entire team congratulated the supporting actor, Lu Ze remained unfazed; it had nothing to do with him anyway.

But then, an award related to Lu Ze and his group came along!

"The following films received nominations for the Best Directorial Debut/Female Film Award at the China Golden Rooster Awards: *Welcoming Spring* (Zhang Lei), *A Daughter at Eighteen* (Zhao Ye), *Tea Bowl* (Sun Jibo), and *The Story of a Pickpocket* (Wang Shukai)."

“Hello Mr. Tree, Zhuang Yu”.

“I always dream of my dad, wearing a black overcoat, looking for my brother everywhere. My brother was arrested by the police station in 86 for being a hooligan, and my dad hung him from a tree and beat him. In the process, he accidentally strangled my brother to death.”

This is a classic shot, filled with a repressive and eerie atmosphere. The camera turns to Zhuang Yu and Lu Ze beside him. Zhuang Yu is very calm, smiles and nods slightly at the camera, and then pats Lu Ze on the shoulder.

Lu Ze was now sweating for Zhuang Yu, not out of nervousness, but because he hoped Zhuang Yu could win the award. He looked toward the stage, where a well-known Chinese singer and a female author opened the envelope and began to speak.

"The Best Directorial Debut Award for 'Hello Mr. Tree' goes to Zhuang Yu for 'Hello Mr. Tree'! Congratulations!"

"Took it!"

Zhuang Yu could also see a hint of excitement. His first film had been recognized. Even if he lost everything, it would be worth it, let alone make a small profit! For him, money was nothing compared to his achievements.

He stood up, and Lu Ze and Wang Zhen also stood up. The three of them hugged each other gently and whispered congratulations in his ear. Zhuang Yu nodded with a smile and went up on stage.

"Judges' comments: 'Hello Mr. Tree' is a darkly melodramatic rural film that exposes the various bad habits that still exist in the new countryside, while also offering enlightenment to the audience. It is hoped that the audience can discover this ugliness and try to change it."

After shaking hands with the people around him, Zhuang Yu went up on stage. Lu Ze suddenly felt that the man's already refined and gentlemanly temperament had become even more pronounced. After the award certificate and trophy, the presenter came down from the stage and handed the microphone to Zhuang Yu.

"First of all, I would like to thank the organizers and every judge. Thank you."

He went on stage and bowed, and applause rang out from below the stage. Zhuang Yu's temperament captivated many viewers, and no one could deny that he was a very charismatic and handsome man.

“I was born in the city, but grew up in the countryside. I still yearn for rural life, but I also despise some of the customs in the countryside. I couldn’t change them until I became a photographer. I started to try to change them, but it’s difficult. I can’t do it alone. So, film is my only choice. Now that the film is finished, it may have some effect. That’s my wish. In the future, I hope I can still make films like this, not for achievement or honor, but only for a better tomorrow. Thank you.”

Applause erupted, and he greeted each guest once again before calmly stepping off the stage and returning to his seat. Lu Ze glanced at the trophy on the table, which was gleaming.

Following a song and dance performance, numerous awards were presented, including Best Educational Film, Best Children's Film, Best Opera Film (nomination), Best Animated Film, Best Music, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Recording, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Screenplay (Original/Adapted).

It's worth mentioning that the Best Editing and Best Music awards were both won by the "Fragrance of Flowers" production team.

But the most amazing thing is yet to come!

Zhuang Yu won two nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Screenplay! In just over an hour, Zhuang Yu had already run onto the stage three times, and even ran out of words for his acceptance speech.

"A monster!"

This is not only the sentiment expressed by netizens, but also by every guest present. This is a historic moment for the Golden Rooster Awards, one that may not be the last, but is certainly unprecedented. It is also a milestone for Zhuang Yu personally, and will have a crucial impact on his future.

And then comes the Best Actress nomination!

"The nominees for Best Actress at the China Golden Rooster Awards are: Kong Wen for Dawn, Zhang Jing for The Lonely, and Jiang Wanyi for Fragrance."

"Hello Mr. Tree, by Wang Zhen!"

(End of this chapter)