552: Chapter 552 World Premiere

Inside the screening hall of the Venice Film Festival, 1,100 audience members were packed together, waiting for the screening of the opening film, "la la land."

Lin Chuyan scanned the crowd; among the sea of Western faces, the figures of Director Qi Kai and Ouyang Xi stood out remarkably.

They were likely the only two Chinese faces Lin Chuyan could recognize. Director Qi Kai's "the dragon lantern chronicle" was set to appear in the special screenings at Venice, so he had managed to snag a ticket for the opening film.

After taking his seat, Director Qi Kai remained silent, hands tightly clasped. He wasn't playing with his phone, but staring fixedly at the pitch-black giant screen ahead—he was dying to know what Lin Chuyan's film was like!

As a director of a film in the Spring Festival Movie Season, his resolve was firm.

Years ago, when "assassination" lost to "burning life," he had scoffed, believing the opponent had relied purely on marketing, and that the failure was due to his own lead actor, Feng Liqian, not stepping up, rather than his film being inferior.

He was equally confident about "the dragon lantern chronicle" this time; even if he had to go head-to-head with Lin Chuyan's "la la land" later, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit intimidated. Yet, at this moment, "la la land" occupied the most dazzling position at the film festival... It was unbelievable.

Lin Chuyan had truly won based on the quality of the film, and for the first time, Director Qi Kai's resolve wavered.

Beside him, Ouyang Xi was truly lacking in social awareness: "Director Qi, I'm a bit excited. I wonder how good this film has to be to be recognized by this group of foreigners."

Director Qi Kai: "... Watch the movie quietly."

As soon as he finished speaking, the lights in the screening hall dimmed, and the venue quickly fell silent. The next second, the screen suddenly lit up, and the black-and-white opening credits came into view.

The originally colorful dynamic logos of the film production companies were now presented in black and white.

First to appear was the logo of Yanyu Film—the silhouettes of a man and a woman dancing gracefully under a streetlamp, kissing affectionately. The light followed their figures and then shone behind them, revealing four large characters: Yanyu Film.

Ouyang Xi laughed as soon as he saw this: Brother Chuyan had really engraved the words "showing off affection" into his bones; it was so damned affectionate! This was truly sweet to the point of overflowing from the screen.

And when the dynamic logo of Lionsgate appeared, ambient sounds could be heard faintly in the background. Was that... a car horn honking?

As the opening ended, the screen switched from black and white to color, and a honk from near and far instantly transported the audience into the world of the film.

First, a stirring symphony played, followed immediately by the static of a car radio changing stations. The low voice of a weather reporter came through: "Southern California has welcomed another clear and hot day. The temperature in downtown Los Angeles today is 29 degrees, and it will cool down to..."

The camera swooped down from the azure sky of Los Angeles, skimming over the congested traffic. From the car radios of every vehicle, music of different styles poured out—classical, jazz, rap; various melodies intertwined, appearing quite chaotic, as if paving the way for the music to come?

Just then, the first song of "la la land," "Another Day Of Sun," began to play. The light Piano notes were like a lively stream, establishing the warm and bright tone of the song. The drumbeat that followed added a rich jazz flair, instantly grabbing the audience's ears.

Many in the audience were already swaying their heads to the rhythm.

Immediately after, this 5-minute fake Long take that Lin Chuyan had filmed a hundred times finally appeared before a global audience for the first time.

A Black girl in a yellow polka-dot dress was the first to push open her car door, instantly lighting up the sea of cars.

Following her singing and dancing, the doors of the surrounding cars opened one after another, and the people stuck on the road joined this grand song-and-dance party.

A white office worker jumped nimbly onto a car roof, while a Black hip-hop guy made a dazzling entrance with a beautiful backflip.

Everyone was dancing, everyone's movements were unique, yet they were surprisingly unified.

At the 3-and-a-half-minute mark, just when the audience thought the song and dance were about to end, a Latino guy in a white shirt suddenly lifted the rear door of a truck—there was a band hidden inside! The interlude of "Another Day Of Sun" began, and the crowd instantly boiled over, dancing wildly around the band, pushing the atmosphere of the scene to a climax.

It was brilliant.

Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that the song and dance were still ongoing, many people in the audience would have wanted to applaud!

However, this wasn't the end. Looking further, Director Qi Kai didn't even know what to say; everything before his eyes was overwhelming. Street dance, acrobatics, skateboarding, bicycles, and other elements appeared one by one. This bold and innovative form of expression was a realm he had never stepped into, nor even considered.

But at this moment, he had to admit that this Long take song-and-dance sequence... was indeed brilliantly choreographed and possessed great aesthetic value from every angle.

One could only say that the things young people made were just different. This was a full song's duration of dancing... Bold, too bold.

As all the dancers stood on the car roofs in unison and jumped down, closing the car doors in perfect time, the song and dance ended perfectly, and the title "la la land" finally appeared on the screen.

And I don't know who started it—

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

In an instant, enthusiastic applause erupted in the auditorium!

Yes, the earliest applause in the history of the Venice Film Festival had occurred!

Some applauded for the wonderful song and dance, some cheered for the director's musical taste, some were conquered by the Long take and color coordination, and some were simply entertained...

The Long take continued to advance, and the male lead, played by Lin Chuyan, appeared. He sat in his car, listening to the music he had composed over and over again. The camera extended forward, and the female lead, played by Ruan Xingyu, also appeared on screen. She was practicing her Lines diligently, and the professions of the two were clearly shown in this simple scene.

The film slowly unfolded the story with the chance encounters between the male and female leads as the thread.

The first time, he honked his horn wildly behind her, and she gave him the middle finger without hesitation;

The second time, she witnessed his musical talent in a bar and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, but was ignored by him;

The third time, he was forced to perform tacky songs in a party band and became a joke to her;

The fourth time, he helped her out of a predicament; the repeated encounters quietly planted the seeds of love in their hearts;

The fifth time, he specifically came to the cafe where she worked, and their meeting was no longer a coincidence.

On the hilltop, the two danced a romantic tap dance; in daily chats, an ambiguous atmosphere permeated; in the cinema, they shyly held hands; in the planetarium, they kissed affectionately...

Let's just say, these two were really not shy at all, with all kinds of face-to-face flirting, kissing, and hugging.

Ouyang Xi had a doting smile on his face; ever since Lin and Ruan appeared, the corners of his mouth hadn't come down—usually, he didn't feel much when watching fake couples filming, but when encountering such a real couple, it was truly unstoppable. The sweetness was too off the charts; fans who shipped the Lin-Ruan CP would definitely love this movie to death!

However, the plot took a sharp turn, and the two began to quarrel and break up. Ouyang Xi's smile instantly disappeared: No way, don't break up!

Unfortunately, this movie was determined to break hearts.

The love between two independent individuals, where no one had to cater to the other. Life was not just about love, but also about the dreams they each pursued.

Five years later, the female lead had achieved success and become a famous actress, and the male lead had also realized his dream and opened a jazz bar.

By chance, she walked into the bar he opened.

Things were different, and she had a new partner by her side now.

So, he played the last Piano piece for her.

Amidst the melodious Piano music, a fantasy sequence appeared: they returned to the past and kissed fiercely during their second encounter—if time could turn back, if they were destined to love each other, then let them return to that night they met. He would definitely hold her and kiss her at that moment, instead of just passing by.

In this other life trajectory in the fantasy, they loved each other, supported each other, walked into the hall of marriage together, and welcomed new life...

The more beautiful the fantasy, the crueler the reality seemed.

The audience was immersed in the plot, deeply stung by Lin Chuyan's "heart-breaking" plot.

In the bar, he spent the ideal life that belonged to the two of them during this performance. He didn't want to end this dream, so he hesitated to play the last note of this Piano piece.

However, the audience below, unaware of the situation, had already started applauding.

It turned out that everything was just a dream within the music. The music faded, and the dream ended.

In the final scene of the film, she got up and left the bar, stopping at the door with a look of struggle on her face.

If, what if, just like in the fantasy, she turned around and rushed to him now, what would the ending be?

She looked back at him, and he also looked up and stared at her.

Tears sparkled in their eyes, but they gently tugged at the corners of their mouths, smiling.

He nodded to her, and she turned and left.

From then on, each was well.

Do not regret that we could not grow old together, in dreams we spent many an autumn.

The movie ended.

Amidst the poignant and moving background music of "la la land," Ouyang Xi was in tears.