The sun crossed Erlang's legs and sat on top of the white clouds.

A lot of times I get distracted, occasionally I think of work, and I shine some sunshine on the earth.

It's like the common people on this side of France, and it doesn't do things properly.

It's normal for trains to be late, planes to be delayed, and buses to be less frequent.

If you order takeout, it's not surprising that it will be delivered the next day.

Regarding this, the French people have long been accustomed to it, they don't care, and even a lot of movies have been released to ridicule themselves.

The situation in the news media in France is similar, with irregular work, often missing things and inaccurate information.

In the French media world, there is only one group of people who are more special, they are more rigorous than the French Salary Society, and they are called the most volatile group of people in France, and they are the relevant staff of the "Film Handbook".

On this planet, Cinema Handbook is the world's number one film magazine.

Magazines such as "Sight and Sound", "Empire", "International Screen", "Film Review" and many others always lack some temperament compared to the film manual.

For example, "Sight and Sound" should sell more than "Movie Manual" in the world, but in the hearts of industry insiders, "Film Manual" is the world's number one film magazine, and the reason for this should be that "Movie Manual" is more pure, this is a magazine founded and maintained by a group of people who really love movies.

In order to maintain the high quality of the Cinema Handbook, these editors from Europe rolled up.

Watching movies all year round, day and night are reversed, and it is normal to work overtime to write.

But even if you are so tired and tired, "Cinema Handbook" is still the most desirable place to work in the hearts of all young people who love movies in the whole of Europe.

Fifty-two-year-old Leo. Carax used to work in the Movie Handbook.

At the age of eighteen, he was working as a handyman at the Motion Picture Handbook, helping an editor find information.

It was a very important time in his life, and he was crazy about absorbing film-related knowledge.

When he was twenty years old, he made his first short film.

At the age of twenty-three, he made his first feature-length film.

Since then, Leao has become a representative of the post-French New Wave and a famous director in France.

Despite the drastic changes in his status, Leo still likes to go to the headquarters of the Cinémathèque to chat with the editors, find inspiration, and learn about the development of cinema in the world today.

On this morning, in the warm sunshine, Leo grabbed two spring breezes and strode into the headquarters building of the "Movie Manual".

He wasn't looking for inspiration or old friends, but for Stephen, the editor-in-chief of the Film Handbook. Delome discussed something.

Soon after, in the editor-in-chief's office, Leo saw Steven. Delorme.

Leo. Carax is an all-rounder, he is not only a director, but also a screenwriter, cinematographer, actor.

He is not tall, but his face is quite handsome, and he has dyed his hair white today, and he looks much younger than his actual age.

At this time, I was wearing a casual suit and looked very comfortable.

And Steven. Delome is obviously not as dashing as Leo, he sits in an office chair all year round, works more and exercises less, he is about the same age as Leo, but looks a generation older.

He is also dressed very formally, and you can tell that he is a person of integrity when you look at it.

"My friend, Jacob said you had something to convey, what is it?"

Delome asked the secretary to pour Leo coffee, and when the secretary left, he asked.

Leo smiled, and then said, "Jacob asked you to arrange an interview with our film upstart - Lee." ”

Delome knew that the "Lee" Leo was talking about was the Chinese director who had just won the Cannes Palme d'Or.

He nodded, "No problem, that's as it should be." ”

Lee Shengyao won the Palme d'Or, and "Filmbook", as the world's No. 1 film magazine, interviewed the young director who set the record in Cannes, which was the right thing to do.

Leo picked up the coffee in both hands, lowered his head and took a sip, then said without looking up, "Jacob has one more thing. ”

"What's the matter?"

Leo's attitude made Delholm much more solemn, although Jacob was his respected predecessor and Leo was his good friend, he had always been very strict with the "Film Manual".

"Jacob wants the cover of June's issue to be Lee."

Hearing this, Delome instantly frowned.

"Friend, this is very important, and I can't decide it alone."

Just as Time magazine covers are an honor, Movie Handbooks are monthly and the covers are just as important.

The cover of each issue is either a respected director in the industry, or an actor who fits the theme of "The Film Manual", or a movie promotion.

It can be said that no one, whether it is a director or an actor, will refuse to be the cover character of "The Movie Handbook".

Many people have wanted to bribe Drom, or other editors at the magazine, to be on the cover of the Movie Handbook.

Without exception, all failed.

With the addition of Delorme, the editor-in-chief, there are a total of nine editors of the "Film Handbook", and the cover character of each issue is voted on by a show of hands by the nine editors.

Delholm wasn't lying when he said it wasn't for him alone.

Leo, an old acquaintance, naturally knew how the Movie Manual worked, and he put down his coffee cup and continued, "I have four reasons. ”

"Oh, you support Lee too?"

"Yes, I went to Cannes for this edition of the festival, I watched almost all the popular films, and I'm sure 'Parasite' is the best film of the year, and Lee deserves the Palme d'Or."

Delome nodded, not answering.

Leao continued: "Parasite won the Palme d'Or and Lee broke the record at the Cannes Film Festival, making him the first director ever to win the Palme d'Or twice.

That's the first point, and I feel it's incumbent upon the Cinema Handbook to promote him. ”

Delholm picked up his pen and wrote a line.

Leo continued: "The second point, this is Jacob's request, and he says that there will be a reward in the future. ”

Jacob is the president of the Cannes Film Festival, and he wants to train direct directors, and he is willing to give Lee Shengyao more honors, which is a normal operation.

Delome was able to understand that.

Leao continued: "I watched 'Parasite' in Cannes, it's a great film, it's the perfect balance between business and art, and I think his films, which are very mature and have few shortcomings.

Moreover, the threshold for viewing his movies is very low, and ordinary adults can understand it, and his movies can make ordinary audiences feel the charm of movies. ”

When Delholm heard this, he picked up his pen and wrote down Leo's words.

"On a final note, the Cinema Handbook needs fresh blood, and since we're already looking for people all over Europe who love film, why ignore Asia? That's a talent pool. ”

The Cinémathèque was just beginning, and it was only French film lovers as editors, and then it expanded to the whole of Europe and continued to develop outward, which is actually the general trend.

The Cinémathèque of the last century was only available in French and English.

At the beginning of this century, Le Monde acquired the "Film Handbook", and in order to increase sales and adapt to the post-millennium market, "The Film Handbook" began to establish an official website, distribute electronic versions, and also sell them in London, New York, Los Angeles and other places.

A few years later, the British publishing house Feiden acquired the Film Handbook and began to add Spanish and Portuguese editions.

It is not impossible to publish a Chinese version in the future.

Hearing this, Delholm was silent for a moment, "We're sure to interview Lee, and as for whether he can be the cover of the magazine, we need to discuss." ”

He knew his editors, and these people were people who appreciated purely literary films.

Whether it is "1937" or "Parasite", Lee Shengyao has found a balance between business and literature.

Perhaps many ordinary fans feel that it is very rare for Lee Shengyao to be like this, and appreciate such an attitude.

In the eyes of the editors of the "Film Handbook", Li Shengyao is still not literary enough, and the film is not artistic enough.

It is not an easy task to get the editors under him to recognize Lee Shengyao.

Leo sighed, "Delome, we should look for more ways out, not only to consider artistry and film innovation, but also to consider how to enhance the influence of literary films and expand the market." ”

In his early years, Leo believed that the artistry of film was the most important, but as he became a great director, he felt more and more that film needed to find a new path in order to maintain its influence in many entertainments.

The reason why he is optimistic about Lee Shengyao is because he has seen some news about Lee Shengyao and knows that Lee Shengyao's commercial films are very successful, and he hopes that Li Shengyao can give some inspiration and some suggestions to literary film directors all over the world.

……

After Lee Shengyao participated in the Cannes Film Festival, his schedule was quite tight.

He first signed a contract with Raymond Pictures, and the copyright of "Parasite" on the African continent was sold to Raymond for three million US dollars.

In addition, Raymond Sales will also hold a personal film exhibition for Li Shengyao.

He then went on to participate in interviews with Cannes TV, France 2, France Salary, and CCTV.

CCTV's interview team was originally based in London, covering the preparations for the London Olympics at all times.

Because Lee Shengyao won the Palme d'Or twice, he immediately arranged for these people to go to Paris, and then conduct interviews.

After the interview, the reporter told Li Shengyao that some pictures of this interview would be broadcast on the news network.

Being able to be on the news network is not a simple thing, and it represents the recognition of the above.

Lee Shengyao was in a very good mood and received an interview invitation from "Film Handbook" and immediately agreed.

He naturally knows the place of the Movie Handbook in the industry.

"Cinema Handbook" and "Sight & Sound" have now become the benchmark for film jury in the industry.

Whether a film has a high historical status or not, just look at the rankings of "Cinema Handbook" and "Sight and Sound".

After the millennium, the number one movie is "In the Mood for Love" by the King of Sunglasses, this movie ranked tenth in the entire film history at the beginning, and then continued to rise, and when Li Shengyao crossed, "Seeing and Hearing" was one of the top 100 in film history, and "In the Mood for Love" was already ranked fifth.

"Parasite" is naturally inferior to "In the Mood for Love", in his previous life, he ranked second in the year and did not enter the top 100 film history.

In 2012, except for "Love", which was relatively good, other movies were not very good, and now Lee Shengyao has produced "Parasite" in advance, and he may be able to rank first in the year.

In the afternoon, it was overcast and it looked like it was going to rain.

The streets of Paris are full of travelers, noisy and noisy.

Li Shengyao took his assistant and rushed to the headquarters building of "Film Manual" by car.

Moments later, he met with the editors who were led by Dråm, and the host of the interview, Leo Murphy. Carax.

Leo is not a professional presenter, he plays more of a role as a conversationalist.

Five minutes later, Lee and Leo sat across from each other, with a small round table between the two of them, and two glasses of water were placed on the table.

"Lee, can you adapt to the environment in Paris?"

"I'm not used to it, it's much worse than expected, and I'm a little disappointed."

Paris is full of thieves, there is shit everywhere, and urine, which already stinks in Europe.

Asian travellers are also very interested in Paris.

Leo clapped his hands, "Very well, Lee, you didn't compliment us, that's right, the city is in decline, it's like a movie, the films of France are in decline, the films of the whole world are in decline." ”

Not only the photographers, but also the stenographers, but also the nine editors of the "Film Handbook" came over.

Dråm wanted Lee to be on the cover of June, just as he had predicted.

Other editors have said that Lee's films are not literary enough.

However, everyone is willing to be a candidate for Lee to be the cover character of the June issue.

They also had a few previous candidates, namely Regadas in "Willows", Tim Burton in "Dark Shadows", and Michael in "Love". Haneke, and the superhero movie collection "The Avengers".

There are no absolute advantages to these options, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

At this time, when they heard that Lee Shengyao was coming, the editors came to watch, wanting to see Lee Shengyao, who had won two consecutive Palme d'Or.

To be honest, as a group of editors who often sit in the office and pull films late at night, they have an ordinary appearance and average figure, and in terms of appearance, there are no bright spots.

When they saw Li Shengyao for the first time, they didn't feel very good.

Too young, too handsome, looks like an idol star.

This is the natural rejection of handsome guys by ugly guys.

Li Shengyao didn't know what the editors were thinking, and when he heard Leo's words, he nodded, "Yes, movies are declining, whether it is in terms of technical innovation or plot narration, they are regressing. ”

Fast food culture has taken the world by storm, and Hollywood movies are becoming less and less nutritious, although the box office continues to record records.

But as far as the development of movies is concerned, it has slowed down a lot after the millennium, that is, a "In the Mood for Love" is awesome enough.

The two of them complained for a while about the current commercial films.

Leo glanced at the onlookers, who knew how to please them, and asked, "Do you know the founding spirit of the Cinémathèque?"

"André Bazin wanted the Handbook to be a highly intervening, critical magazine with a clear position."

The so-called criticism is mainly to find faults.

Regarding this, Li Shengyao has always admired it.

In 2022, "Movie Manual" has changed bosses again, and this time there are several producers among the new bosses, and when these producers were interviewed by reporters, they directly expressed their hope that "Movie Manual" would be more moderate and fashionable.

This sentence directly annoyed the editors, mainly Delome, a total of nine editors, seven resigned, leaving only two.

Li Shengyao did not hesitate to say the spirit of the founding of the "Film Handbook", which made the onlookers have a good impression of him.

"And what do you think of the red wave that used to be?"

There was a red wave in France for a while, and the Cinémathèque was equally affected.

At that time, montage was called Soviet/joint montage, and due to ideological opposition, it was not much recognized by Western European cultural circles, who considered montage to be a mental control imposed on the audience.

During the Red Wave in France, French filmmakers, especially filmologists based on the Handbook of Cinema, such as Truffaut and Godard, believed that montage could transcend the true meaning of the image itself, and that montage was a very important means of photography, which could be perfectly integrated with realism.

This argument made filmmakers in Western Europe and Hollywood embrace montage, and since then, montage has taken the world by storm.

"I think it was a very important stage, the Soviet/Joint Film Art had an interesting collision with the film concept of Western Europe, and produced a very brilliant chemical reaction, which deeply influenced the development of world cinema, and filmmakers all over the world should understand that period of history, just like Truffaut, Godard's predecessors, they verified and innovated in the field of film."

Li Shengyao made a small slap of "Film Manual", which made the onlookers feel better.

Leo nodded, and then talked to Lee about "1937" and "Parasite".

The two of them chatted for half an hour, and then Leo asked: "Lee, I noticed that your two films that won the Palme d'Or are both commercial and artistic, is this what you are deliberately pursuing?" ”

Lee Shengyao nodded, "Yes, this is the direction in which I make films, and I hope that my films can be seen by more people and understood by ordinary audiences."

Instead of raising the threshold for viewing movies, make some movies that ordinary audiences can't understand.

Under this premise, try to add some thinking to guide the audience to think. ”

"In your mind, what is the difference between literary films and commercial films?"

Li Shengyao thought for a while, "In addition to the difference in the plot setting, I think another point is the audience's reaction, the audience watches literary films and watches themselves, and the audience watches commercial films and watches others."

We see ourselves and think.

When we see others, we will be high up, and we will be distant.

This is an important difference between literary films and commercial films. ”

In fact, it's just another way to put it, in the final analysis, literary films and commercial films are different in terms of subject matter, production, and different effects.

Leo nodded, and then asked the question he wanted to know the most.

"Li, what do you think of the future of literary films?"

The entire office was quiet, and the editors and staff all looked at Li Shengyao.

It's raining outside, and the rain is dripping on the glass, which is the footsteps of late spring.

Although the weather is warmer, spring is leaving.

Li Shengyao thought for a moment, and then said: "With the rapid development of communication networks, the communication effect of traditional media is getting weaker and weaker, and there are more and more channels for individuals to express their voices, and the audience will have more choices.

If it is a good literary film, it is actually easier to get a higher box office and be recognized by more people.

When I say good literary films, I mean literary films that ordinary audiences can understand.

Generally speaking, literary films can be divided into commercial literary films, as well as art films.

The viewing threshold for art films is relatively high, and the threshold for commercial literary films is much lower.

I think it's a matter of choice, and it all depends on the meaning of the creator.

There is no high or low for commercial literary and artistic films, and they should all be developed.

Personally, I am optimistic, I think that the development of communication networks has brought audiences around the world closer to each other, and when there are good movies, it is easier for people with similar hobbies to get relevant information.

So I'm optimistic about the development of literary films. ”

……

Lee left the Filmbook headquarters shortly after.

Leo followed and left.

Nine screenwriters, led by Drome, gathered and said, "Let's vote by a show of hands, who's on the cover of June?"

Tim Burton, Michael. Haneke, Regadas, and Lee Shengyao were voted on one by one.

It was Lee Shengyao's turn and got seven votes.

Through the interview just now, the editors realized that although Lee Shengyao is young, he is a director who understands the development of "Film Manual" very well and has feelings for literary films.

Such people deserve to be wooed.

Jacob wants to praise Lee Shengyao, and they also want to praise such a young director.

After all, such a young director is too rare, and more encouragement should be given.

In recent years, both commercial films and literary films have almost stagnated, and at this time, there is a greater need for people who are willing to stick to it.

As long as Lee Shengyao does not make purely commercial films, they are willing to accept him.

(End of chapter)