Chapter 621 Winning glory for the country


    Jack Valenti seemed to be in slow motion on purpose.


    It took him a few seconds to open the envelope, glance at it, and hand it to his partner, who also looked at it and pushed it back. Jack Valenti did not hesitate this time and directly announced: "The winner of the Best Foreign Language Film is-"


    ""Life is Beautiful" from China!"


    "Whoosh!"


    Applause erupted in an instant, and everyone present turned their attention to the area where the Chinese people were. You may not have seen the film, but you must have heard about its content.


    In the past, mentioning World War II and concentration camps was the exclusive preserve of the Jews. Who would have expected that China would also come?


    "We won an award!"


    Liu Zhigu stood up the moment the results were announced, and Li Wenhua and Yan Shunkai stood up one after another. They had more overseas experience and gradually adapted to this open expression, and hugged each other excitedly.


    "Certain!"


    "Call Darling!"


    Chen Qi had already hugged Gong Xue with a smile. Gong Xue hugged him tightly, but then let go after a second: "Hurry up, go!"


    "Let''s go together!"


    "Come up quickly!"


    Liu Zhigu also gave him a push. They all knew who was the biggest contributor to "Life is Beautiful" and they didn''t want a bunch of people standing on the stage in a mess without speaking anyway. Chen Qi then left his seat and walked onto the stage for the second time tonight.


    He is an investor, producer, and screenwriter, so he is certainly qualified to receive this award as a representative.


    A group of foreigners looked at him again. Not many people can make a second appearance at the Oscars. Someone whispered: "Wow, is this Chinese really a producer?"


    "It looks like it should be."


    "How old is he? Is he 30 years old?"


    "I heard he''s only 24 years old!"


    "Oh my God!"


    Foreigners exclaimed: What are Hollywood stars doing at the age of 24? They are still playing small roles, eating bananas, lying on red sofas, or working as nannies for men.


    It''s over! The United States and the Soviet Union lagged behind in research on special functions, but the Chinese were ahead!


    For things like this, it would be better to say that Chen Qi has oriental magic, which would be more convincing to them.


    "Congratulations, young man!"


    "Thanks!"


    Chen Qi took the trophy from Jack Valenti. It weighed 3.9 kilograms, almost 8 pounds, which was very heavy. He stood in front of the microphone again, looked at the most elite filmmakers in Hollywood below, and said:


    "China is going global, and Chinese films are also going global. Thanks to the Oscars for giving Chinese films a stage to show off.


    The old and the young are intersecting. In recent years, we have organized many activities together. We get to know each other through music, drama, sports, and of course movies.


    There are bound to be some barriers when watching a foreign language film, but human nature is common, war and grief, struggle and greatness, the destruction of beautiful things and the dawn of hope. "Life is Beautiful" tells such a story.


    We collected a lot of information to make this film. From the pages of history to this stage, we walked through a very difficult road. We were supported by a belief. It seemed that the victims in the concentration camp left their last words. : ''Be a witness to my murder, tell the world how I died, please remember! ’


    Thank you to the academy, to the production team of "Beautiful Life", to all my colleagues and friends, and to everyone! Thanks! "


    "Whoosh!"


    "Whoosh!"


    The applause was more enthusiastic than before, but there was no big scene of standing ovation. After all, the weight was not enough. But some filmmakers and company executives were enlightened. They felt that this Chinese person was relatable and completely different from their stereotype of China.


    What stereotype?


    Backward, poor, rigid, but capable of fighting. What is Chen Qi like? Young, handsome, foreign-style, and speaking American English, it is obvious that he can unite the battle.


    When he returned to his seat, the trophy was passed around again. Several people compared it and found that there was no difference. There was only a number engraved on the base, which represented the serial number of the trophy.


    There was a lot of work involved in the Oscars in later generations. For example, after the stars received their awards, they would first go backstage, where several old American craftsmen would hand-carve the names of the winners on a piece of gold foil.


    Not yet.


    After the awards ceremony, the organizer will mail the winner a souvenir with your name engraved on it to prove that you won this Oscar.


    Moreover, the Academy stipulates that the Oscar trophy cannot be mortgaged or sold. If the winner dies, the Academy can recycle it for $1. But no one pays attention to them, and some valuable trophies on the market are often auctioned off.


    For example, Michael Jackson spent $1.5 million to buy the Best Picture trophy for "Gone with the Wind."


    …


    San Francisco.


    There are now less than 1 million Chinese in the United States, but as China continues to open up, this number is increasing rapidly. This year alone, as many as 50,000 people have immigrated from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.


    At this moment, all the Chinese families watching TV all exclaimed "OH!"


    It was mixed with confusion and disbelief, and maybe also joy, and then came the accents from all over the world, mostly from the Lingnan area.


    "Damn it! Chinese people can win Oscars too!"


    "Who is this handsome guy?"


    "I don''t know, but I recognize his wife, and I rented the "Tai Chi" video."


    "You bastard! Learn better. Mainlanders can win awards in the United States. You have to study hard, otherwise you will have to open a restaurant like me!"


    …


    Washington, Embassy in the United States.


    Several low-level officials were also watching TV. When Chen Qi won the screenplay award, everyone was surprised. When Chen Qi won the best foreign language film, they already ran to report.


    China does not yet have a consulate in Los Angeles. It only has a consulate in San Francisco, and the embassy is far away on the East Coast. There is no need to mobilize an army if the award is not confirmed, but it will be different if it is won.


    Still two awards!


    "When will the delegation return?"


    "Say it''s No. 11!"


    "It''s not too late, let''s go to Los Angeles immediately!"


    The embassy must have an attitude towards this kind of thing. Of course, the ambassador will not come forward. A cultural counselor will be in charge. Counselors are usually at the deputy department or bureau level, or full-time positions, and Liu Zhigu is at the department or bureau level. The two are equivalent.


    The leaders have arrangements, and the junior staff are excited to discuss them.


    One of them was in his early 30s and looked polite.


    He was stationed in Washington only last year and kept saying: "I have seen every movie produced by Oriental Company. When I came to the United States, I thought I would never see it. I never thought they could distribute it here and even win an Oscar!"


    "Yeah, who would have thought that I could win an award?"


    "That''s Oscar! It''s a pity that I can''t meet him this time. I will definitely meet him if I have the opportunity in the future. I heard that Comrade Chen Qi is only in his 20s. He is a genius!"


    Those who are stationed abroad have a higher level of filter for Oscars, and they naturally have a high regard for those who can win Oscars.


    (End of chapter)