novellhall Chapter 324 has garnered significant attention.
Chapter 324 has garnered significant attention.
Chapter 323 Receives Much Attention (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Three days later, in Berlin, Germany.
The arrival gate at Tegel International Airport.
Media and fans gathered at the scene to wait.
The hatch opened.
Jackie Chan was the first to descend the gangway.
Wearing a simple black suit, he stood tall and raised his hand to greet the camera.
The sound of camera shutters nearly blew the airport roof off.
Following closely behind was Chen Xun, dressed in a dark gray custom-made coat, and next to him was Xin Zhilei, who was wearing a velvet dress and exuding a powerful aura.
Director Yang Chao, holding the main cast's credentials and with his hands still trembling slightly, came down last.
No one expected that the most eye-catching Chinese-speaking faces at this year's Berlin Film Festival would appear together in such a group.
European media cameras were frantically crowding forward.
Jackie Chan is an Eastern legend known to everyone in the European film industry!
What's strange is that the creative team around him is clearly the same team behind "Crosscurrent," the only Chinese-language film in the main competition.
A niche art film managed to get Jackie Chan to appear and support it.
This spectacle propelled "Crosscurrent," which had previously received little attention in the main competition, to the front page of Berlin's local entertainment media overnight.
"My God, my legs were so weak just now!"
Once inside the car arranged by the organizing committee, Yang Chao finally let out a long sigh of relief, clutching his chest.
Looking at Chen Xun beside her, she couldn't hide the gratitude in her eyes: "When we went through security just now, several people from European publishers came over to hand me their business cards. I wouldn't have dared to dream of that before."
Chen Xun smiled and looked at Jackie Chan, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him: "It's because of Big Brother's respect."
"You're a real gem, kid!"
Jackie Chan opened his eyes, patted him on the shoulder, and said frankly, "I haven't seen your film that won the Golden Bear yet. This is a good opportunity for me to watch it properly."
These words struck a chord with Yang Chao.
The car drove into the hotel officially designated by the film festival.
Yang Chao practically ran back to his suite and brought over the laptop he had prepared beforehand.
Along with the 4K video source he had copied in advance, he looked at Jackie Chan with a slightly flustered expression, rubbing his hands together: "Brother, is now a convenient time? The video is two hours long, it won't take up too much of your time."
"What's inconvenient about it!"
Jackie Chan readily agreed, casually draped his coat over the sofa, pulled up a chair, and sat down at the coffee table: "I've been wanting to see for a long time what kind of script Chen Xun would turn down several commercial films for."
The curtains in the hotel suite were slowly drawn, shutting out the hustle and bustle and lights of Potsdamer Platz outside the window.
The laptop screen lights up.
As the opening credits of "Crosscurrent" slowly appear, the deep horn of a ship comes through the headphones, instantly pulling you into the ever-flowing Yangtze River.
Yang Chao sat next to him, his palms clenched so tightly they were sweaty, and he would steal glances at Jackie Chan's reaction every now and then.
Xin Zhilei sat upright, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her skirt.
Only Chen Xun leaned back on the sofa, his expression calm.
He knew all too well the significance of this film.
That was the result of his and his entire team's three months of hard work on the Yangtze River, during which they scorched their skin, lost over ten kilograms of flesh, and painstakingly worked their way up.
On the screen, the river is shrouded in mist.
Chen Xun, who plays Gao Chun, appears on screen.
He was wearing faded work clothes, his face bearing rough red marks from the river wind, a cigarette between his fingers, leaning against the railing of an old cargo ship, gazing at the rolling eastward-flowing river.
He was filled with a sense of destiny.
Those were two people who were completely cut off from Peter Quill.
One is Star-Lord, a carefree gambler who uses jokes to mask his inner unease.
One is a boat captain trapped in the Yangtze River, searching for his lover and the truth along the waterway, bound by the past and his obsession.
Jackie Chan sat up straight without even realizing it.
The water glass he was holding was put down ten minutes into the film and he never touched it again.
My eyes were glued to the screen.
Watching Gao Chun travel upstream along the Yangtze River, he meets and part ways with An Lu, played by Xin Zhilei, at various docks.
The two actors, with the most restrained performances, portrayed the most turbulent tug-of-war of fate.
Xin Zhilei's performance also impressed him.
On the screen, Anlu stands on the riverbank, wearing a plain cloth dress. The wind blows her hair, and her eyes are filled with the tenacity of wild grass.
She didn't have many lines, but with just a glance or a turn, she perfectly portrayed a woman adrift in the times.
Without any deliberate performance or exaggerated emotional outbursts, it silently overflows the audience's hearts like the Yangtze River.
During the two-hour film, not a single person in the room spoke.
Until the end credits slowly rose and the screen went dark.
The curtains were drawn back.
The cool evening light of Berlin streamed in and fell on the group of people; the room remained so quiet that they could hear each other breathing.
Jackie Chan slowly took off his headphones and let out a long breath.
He first looked at Yang Chao, his tone filled with undisguised praise: "Director Yang, you're amazing."
"This is not a simple art film; it is a poem made for the Yangtze River, a truly spirited Chinese-language film."
Yang Chao's eyes instantly reddened.
This sentence moved him more than any of the pre-release press releases.
Immediately afterwards, Jackie Chan turned to look at Chen Xun, his admiration deepening, even with a hint of surprise.
"Kid, I really underestimated you before."
He spoke seriously.
"When I saw you play Star-Lord on the Marvel set, I only thought you were uninhibited, talented, and able to steadily carry my scenes. But after watching Gao Chun today, I realized that you are more than just talented."
"Star-Lord and Gao Chun are two completely opposite characters, yet you managed to bring both to life without any hint of mixing up the roles."
Jackie Chan's tone was filled with emotion: "It's not difficult to play an extroverted character, but it's difficult to rein it in, to make the audience forget that you are Chen Xun and only remember that you are Gao Chun."
Chen Xun smiled and was about to speak when Yang Chao added, "Brother Cheng, you have no idea how much Chen Xun sacrificed for this role."
"He lived on the boat every day while filming; at that time, he truly embodied Gao Chun!"
"very good!"
Jackie Chan listened and expressed his approval.
He then looked at Xin Zhilei beside him, smiled and nodded: "I was wondering before why you insisted on recommending a domestic actress for the 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' project. There are so many actresses auditioning in Hollywood, but you just had to pick her."
"I understand now after reading this!"
"The character Anlu has an indomitable spirit in her eyes, as well as a calm demeanor. She can control her emotions with ease and shows no stage fright whatsoever."
"Hollywood has no shortage of beautiful Asian faces, but it lacks actresses who are distinctive, powerful, and capable of holding their own on the big screen."
Jackie Chan said with certainty, "You have a good eye; she definitely has potential!"
Upon hearing this, Xin Zhilei quickly stood up and bowed slightly, her tone filled with gratitude: "Thank you for your recognition, Brother Cheng, and thank you for the opportunity, Brother Chen Xun."
Jackie Chan waved his hand, looked at Chen Xun again, and patted him heavily on the shoulder: "Too many young actors nowadays are trapped in the vicious cycle of popularity. They either lose their acting skills after making commercial films, or they cling to the self-indulgent world of art films and refuse to be grounded."
"But you're different. You can carry a lead role in a Hollywood A-list production, hold your own in a commercial film, and still calmly spend months crafting a niche art film!"
"The future of Chinese-language films depends on young people like you who can both go out and put down roots."
The moment those words were spoken, several attribute orbs fell from Jackie Chan's body:
[Master-level understanding of filmmaking +18]
[Cross-genre performance adaptability +20]
[Aesthetic appreciation of cinematic language and narrative understanding +11]
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat. Without the slightest hesitation, he silently chanted in his mind, "Absorb it all!"
All the attribute orbs instantly transformed into streams of light, rushing into his body.
Countless insights into the underlying logic of filmmaking, masterful acting techniques, character development skills hidden in the details and folds of art films, and the symbiotic relationship between camera work and performance that Jackie Chan has gleaned from making films for half a century flooded into his mind.
Previously, his understanding of acting had always been two parallel lines.
One is the extroversion and tension of commercial films, and the other is the introversion and empathy of art films.
But at this moment, these two parallel lines were completely connected.
He finally understood that the best performance is never about the technique of letting go or holding back, but about the perfect harmony between the actor and the role.
Whether the character is laughing and raging in the vast universe or silently drifting in the mighty Yangtze River, he can accurately grasp the character's soul essence, making the audience completely forget the actor himself and follow the character's fate, sharing their joys and sorrows.
The progress bar for the "streets deserted" level finally crawled forward with difficulty.
[Streets deserted +1%, currently 94%]
-
Potsdamer Platz was already completely ignited by the neon lights and frenzy of the film festival.
The red carpet, which stretched for 100 meters, was lined with cameras and microphones from global media.
Outside the barriers, crowds of film fans from all over Europe gathered, their screams and camera shutters nearly lifting the Berlin sky.
This is the opening ceremony of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.
As one of the three major European film festivals, its annual highlights naturally attract the attention of the global film industry.
This year's film festival has garnered even more attention due to the presence of jury president Meryl Streep.
This legendary actress, who has won three Academy Awards, appeared with a jury that has garnered attention from all over Europe:
Film industry giants such as the Coen brothers, Isabelle Huppert, and Daniel Brühl were all present, making the red carpet a dazzling spectacle.
Even before the festival opened, The Guardian had already set the tone for this year's film festival.
This will be a women-led Berlin.
In the main competition, the proportion of works by female directors reached a record high, and the prediction that the two major awards, Best Director and Best Actress, would both be won by women had already been widely circulated in the industry.
In such a star-studded lineup, the only Chinese-language film nominated for the main competition, "Crosscurrent," finds itself in a somewhat delicate position.
Prior to this, this art film, imbued with exquisite Eastern aesthetics, had only garnered praise at a small number of industry screenings.
In its early review, The Hollywood Reporter described it as "like a flowing oriental poem, using images to depict the destiny and romance of the Yangtze River," acknowledging the film's artistic value, but only within a niche arthouse film circle.
In Berlin, a city teeming with Hollywood stars and renowned European directors, this Chinese-language film has consistently received limited attention from the mainstream media.
Until a black official limousine slowly came to a stop at the entrance to the red carpet.
The commotion at the scene suddenly came to a standstill for a moment.
The car door opened the next second.
Jackie Chan, dressed in a black handmade suit, was the first to step out of the car.
The entire red carpet area was instantly ignited!
A deafening scream pierced the sky. Cameras that were originally aimed at the middle of the red carpet suddenly turned around in unison, and the sound of shutters exploded like a dense drumbeat.
Fans outside the barriers surged forward, holding up their support signs high and chanting "Jackie Chan" in both Chinese and English. Many European spectators even jumped up in excitement.
A top global kung fu superstar with extremely high popularity in the European film industry.
His appearance brought the opening red carpet of this year's Berlin Film Festival to its first real climax.
What followed was an even more exciting scene that drove the media and fans at the scene wild.
Chen Xun, dressed in a sharply tailored matte black suit, followed Jackie Chan out of the car.
He wasn't wearing a tie; his collar was slightly open. He had delicate features, a tall and straight posture, and an aura of calm composure, yet he also possessed the unique sharpness of a young actor.
With his left hand gently supporting Xin Zhilei, who was wearing a dark fishtail dress, he gestured slightly to the camera with his right hand, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room without the slightest hint of stage fright.
Walking at the back was Director Yang Chao, dressed in a suit and tie. He couldn't hide his high spirits, and even the smile lines at the corners of his eyes were full of light.
The moment the four stood side by side at the starting point of the red carpet, the excitement in Potsdamer Platz reached its peak.
The photographers who were originally stationed at their fixed positions all pushed forward, almost handing their microphones to the photographers.
Outside the barriers, besides Jackie Chan's fans, there were also quite a few young Europeans holding up posters of Star-Lord's helmet and calling out Chen Xun's name in broken Chinese.
The fame of "Guardians of the Galaxy" has already spread all over the world, and this Chinese actor, who landed the lead role in a Hollywood A-list production, already has a high level of public interest.
His appearance alongside Jackie Chan at the Berlin Film Festival has directly excited global media.
"Jackie Chan! Look here!"
"Chen Xun! Peter Quill!"
"Crosscurrent crew, please look at the camera!"
Shouts in a mix of Chinese and English rose and fell.
The originally planned pace of the red carpet procession was completely disrupted.
Jackie Chan remained calm and gentle throughout, occasionally stopping to sign autographs for fans outside the barriers and flashing his signature smile at the camera.
Chen Xun maintained a proper demeanor throughout.
Occasionally, she would turn to the side to help Xin Zhilei lift her skirt, her eyes firm as she faced the camera, showing no sign of being overwhelmed by the fervor of the crowd.
Yang Chao walked on the outside, bowing repeatedly to the camera. Anyone could see the director's excitement and pride at that moment.
It took them nearly twenty minutes to walk the short 100-meter red carpet to reach the autograph wall.
For those who come to crash the red carpet, they'd love to walk even slower, or even fake a fall to attract media attention.
Chen Xun only wanted it to end quickly.
The camera flash almost blinded him!
The sound of camera shutters didn't stop until the four people finished signing their names and turned to walk into the cinema.
The opening reception at the main venue of the Berlin Film Palace was already a gathering of celebrities.
The light from the crystal chandelier spilled among the elegantly dressed figures, as filmmakers, artists, and media professionals, holding champagne glasses, chatted in small groups.
Meryl Streep was talking to the Coen brothers, dressed in a simple white suit, exuding an elegant yet powerful aura.
As the chair of this year's jury, she was undoubtedly the focus of the entire event.
When Meryl Streep saw Jackie Chan and his entourage walk in, her eyes lit up, and she immediately greeted them with a smile and gave Jackie Chan a warm hug.
"I never expected to see you in Berlin!"
Meryl's tone was full of surprise. The two had known each other for many years and had met several times at the Oscars, so they were already old acquaintances: "I thought you were filming a new movie in Hollywood."
"Come support our Chinese-language films, and also support you, the jury chairperson."
Jackie Chan chuckled and patted her shoulder, then turned to introduce the people behind him: "Meryl, let me introduce you. This is Yang Chao, the director of 'Crosscurrent,' Xin Zhilei, the female lead, and Chen Xun, the male lead of the film, who is also my co-star in my new movie."
Meryl's gaze fell on Chen Xun, and she smiled as she extended her hand, her eyes filled with admiration: "I know you, Chen. Marvel's casting has sparked quite a bit of discussion in Hollywood. Everyone is curious about who will be able to land the role of Star-Lord."
"It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Streep."
Chen Xun reached out and shook her hand, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Your works are a textbook for countless actors."
The Coen brothers, who were standing nearby, also came over and greeted Jackie Chan warmly.
They have always admired Jackie Chan's cinematic aesthetics and had a very pleasant conversation.
Other members of the jury, including Isabelle Huppert and Daniel Bruch, also gathered around.
Suddenly, the core jury of this year's Berlin Film Festival gathered around the creators of "Crosscurrent".
The Italian female judge, holding a glass of champagne, smiled and said jokingly, "I must say, Jack and Chen, your arrival has stolen a lot of our thunder."
The surrounding judges all laughed.
She swirled her wine glass and continued, "From the very beginning, we were determined to make this year's Berlin Film Festival a completely female-led event, with all the focus on female creators."
"As soon as you two arrived, half of the world's media cameras were focused on you, and even the discussion on social media platforms doubled."
"We've benefited from your fame, allowing this film festival to reach a wider audience."
These words elicited even louder laughter from the audience.
Jackie Chan quickly waved his hand with a smile, saying humbly, "You wouldn't dare say that. The Berlin Film Festival is a mecca for filmmakers worldwide, and it's an honor for us to be here."
"The fact that a Chinese-language film can be nominated for the main competition is the greatest recognition for the creators. I'm just here to be a cheerleader captain."
Chen Xun smiled and said, "Being able to stand here is already an unexpected joy for our entire team, and it is an honor for 'Crosscurrent' to receive the attention of the judging panel."
Meryl smiled and smoothed things over: "In any case, it's Berlin's good fortune to have such excellent films and filmmakers. I can't wait to see this poem from the East on the big screen."