Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 32 So you're making us cover for you?!
Xie Xiaojing appreciated the short film "Car 44" but didn't think too much about it, since a short film is just a short film and it's impossible for it to be shown in theaters.

Xie Xiaojing looked at Wu Yuchen, wanting to hear what he would say next.

"I want to submit 'Car 44' to the Berlin Film Festival to compete for the short film award," Wu Yuchen said directly, without keeping anyone in suspense.

"Berlin..." Xie Xiaojing was slightly dazed.

They really overlooked the short film competition. In fact, short films have never been given much attention in China in the past, and have only been used as a tool to train students.

Meanwhile, Xie Xiaojing was also thinking to herself, had any Chinese-language films ever won short film awards abroad before?
He thought for a while and seemed to have actually found such a clue in his mind.

In 1982, at what was then called the West Berlin International Film Festival, China's "Three Monks" won the Silver Bear for Best Short Film.

But "Three Monks" is an animated film!
This was created by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and has nothing to do with these filmmakers, so nobody in the industry mentions it.

For more than a decade afterward, no Chinese-language films were submitted for judging, to the point that he really overlooked the short film award.

"Short film competition..."

Xie Xiaojing murmured to herself, then sighed.

"This might not work."

Shooting short films in China does not require reporting or approval, but if you want to submit them to international awards, it's a different story; you'll need to go through the higher authorities' review process.

However, Xie Xiaojing thought about the content of the short film "Car 44" and realized it might not pass muster.

Wu Yuchen nodded; in fact, he had expected this.

It was 1995, and the review system was not yet fully established; many aspects were still unclear.

You might say it was strict, but it was much more lenient than it would be one or two decades later. You could see a lot of films with explicit content in the 90s, and both the dialogue and the content far exceeded what later generations could imagine.

But if you say it's lenient, that's not true. As long as it involves international image issues, even if it's just a possibility, it will be scrutinized down to the smallest detail.

At this point, "Car 44" would likely be labeled as a vilification of the Chinese people.

This short film won many international awards in 2001, but it was banned in China. However, it was released ten years later because the social situation had changed so much that even acts of bravery were no longer encouraged. Banning it again would be meaningless.

But now Wu Yuchen is facing this problem. He wasn't in a hurry, and calmly said:

“Teacher, this is what I’m thinking. I won’t go through the official submission channels; I’ll send it over privately in my own name.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Xiaojing immediately frowned and raised her voice:

"How can you do that? Don't you know you might be punished for doing this?"

In severe cases, it could even be...

Even your future is ruined!

Wu Yuchen was certainly aware of the risks, but since it concerned the funding for his next film, taking some risks was worthwhile.

And although there are risks, they are not that great.

Wu Yuchen asked Xie Xiaojing:
"Teacher, I know you care about me."

Let me ask you a question first: which has a greater impact, a short film or a feature film?

“Of course it has to be a feature film!” Xie Xiaojing blurted out.

Everyone knows this problem; short films simply can't be shown in theaters!

Wu Yuchen smiled and then further analyzed: "Last year, 'To Live' won so many awards internationally and had such a great influence. After returning to China, the film was banned, but Zhang Yimou was still fine, wasn't he? He came back and continued to film 'Shanghai Triad'."

I know I can't compare to Senior Brother Zhang, but I only have a short film that won't even be released. Its influence and reach are nowhere near the level of "To Live".

If I don't win the award, then forget about it; the higher-ups won't care about me at all.

If I win any awards and get asked about it when I get back to China, I'll just obediently admit my mistake and say I didn't know anything about it since I just started school.

If the school is willing to put in a good word for me, then I think, out of respect for the school, the higher-ups will at most give me a few words of criticism and education.

Xie Xiaojing opened her mouth upon hearing this. Well, that makes sense!
Short films have too little influence; they can't be shown in theaters, and they won't be released on DVD, so they've never been taken seriously in China.

Afterwards, Jingying took Wu Yuchen to apologize. The child had just started school and didn't understand things. At most, he would write a self-criticism and be educated, and then the matter would be basically over.

Xie Xiaojing suddenly realized something and looked at the student sitting opposite her in astonishment. This kid had planned this all along!

He couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Is this a freshman? This guy is way too shrewd!"

Xie Xiaojing couldn't help but point at Wu Yuchen and laugh as she scolded him:

"Well, so that's why you invited us teachers to watch your movie. You're here to cover for you!"

Wu Yuchen smiled sheepishly:
"Teacher, how can this be!"
I just felt that as a student of Beijing Film Academy, such a united and friendly family like ours would definitely not abandon me!

Xie Xiaojing shook her head gently and sighed, "I really regret calling you here today!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen immediately picked up his teacup and respectfully said, "Thank you, teacher! Thank you, school!"

Wu Yuchen could easily tell that Xie Xiaojing's silence meant she tacitly agreed.

"Wu Yuchen, from now on you stay at school quietly and don't cause any more trouble!"

"How could that be? Teacher, look how enthusiastic I am in class!"

After Wu Yuchen left, Xie Xiaojing felt a little tired. This freshman was talented, but also too opinionated. She guessed he would cause trouble at the Beijing Film Academy for the next few years.

He then thought of "Car 44," a short film with nothing particularly outrageous, which Beijing Film Studio could handle.

However, he still needed to inform Dean Hou about this matter.

After leaving Xie Xiaojing's house, Wu Yuchen felt refreshed, and the sky seemed much bluer.

This time, I got almost all the benefits I could get!

This is the advantage of having an organization backing you; otherwise, where would you get these resources? Who would endorse you or speak on your behalf?

Wu Yuchen had thought this through from the beginning. All the underground directors who were banned made feature films; none of them were banned because of short films.

Moreover, his short film contains absolutely no reactionary content.

If you're talking about realism, it can't compare to "To Live"!

As for your question about why Zhang Yimou won an award for "To Live" without any problems, while Jiang Wen was banned for five years after winning an award for "Devils on the Doorstep," and there's still no definitive answer decades later, while the final interpretation rests with them, they've never bothered to offer any explanation!

Anyway, his "Carriage 44" has absolutely nothing to do with politics.

Therefore, the risk is not high, and it's worth taking the risk.

New author, new book, please support! Please turn to the next page and add it to your reading list!


(End of this chapter)