Cheng Baodong snorted again, and said with a half-smile, “Oh, not really. Compared with Mr. Tao, it really is the case of the back waves of the Yangtze River pushing the front waves, and the front waves dying on the shore.”

Tao Mu smiled and said, “Director Cheng really likes to joke.”

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The production team of “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood” noticed Tao Mu as early as when Tao Mu entered the hall. Only that there were too many people chatting around Tao Mu, so they didn’t come over. Hearing Cheng Baodong’s remarks, Director Zhou Hong immediately laughed: “Director Cheng made one movie and one TV series last year. The box office of the movie exceeded 700 million yuan, and the TV series was also successfully shortlisted for the Lingxiao Award for Best Director and Best Feature TV Series. If the front waves died on the shore, how could anyone else live?”

As soon as these words came out, the people around immediately burst out laughing. They all teased Cheng Baodong for deliberately saying these words to sour others.

Cheng Baodong was flattered by everyone, and his expression instantly softened. He waved his hand with a smile, and said very reservedly: “No, really. Compared with CEO Tao’s momentum, I could only be regarded as struggling with a lingering breath, just trying my best to maintain.”

Before he finished speaking, he heard someone behind him say, “Young people today are indeed really amazing.”

Everyone turned around and saw the SARFT leader and several judges of the jury standing not far away. The crowd greeted each other.

The leader from SARFT nodded and continued: “There has always been a voice in our Chinese entertainment circle, that SARFT does not encourage young people, does not encourage creation, and imposes too many restrictions on everyone. Some people joke that creating film and television dramas in China is just like dancing with shackles. There are too many rules and regulations, making it impossible for everyone to give full play to their talents and abilities. We at SARFT listen to all voices. Therefore, this time, the Lingxiao Award would be reformed and the award for the best newcomer was launched. This is to encourage more young people, so that they can put more energy on the work itself. At the same time, it also encourages entertainment practitioners to focus on the works themselves. Just like the shortlisted “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood” this time, even if the Second Sino-Japanese War is an old theme, as long as you spend your time on the script, you can make a unique classic. Rather than always thinking about grandstanding and shooting some cutting-edge themes to please the international film festival. In a word, although we SARFT do not encourage old wine filling new bottles, but the use of old bottles holding new wines is definitely encouraged.”

After this long talk, don’t know how many people have been slapped in the face. Cheng Baodong’s expression also changed slightly. Because he had complained in previous interviews that SARFT limited the subject matter of shooting. Just because another director sent an unreviewed film to a foreign film festival for exhibition without the permission of SARFT. SARFT did not allow the award-winning film to be released in China. And the director of the film was also given a severe punishment of being banned from directing films.

Cheng Baodong sympathized with the other’s plight and he couldn’t help complaining a few words during an interview. But he didn’t expect that at this moment, someone would use such a way to respond back.

Tao Mu, who was standing on the side, did not speak. In fact, this situation involving the power struggle between the two sides was not something that he, a young rookie who had debuted for less than two years, could get involved.

Zhou Hong, the director of “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood”, was also an old veteran of the circle, well-informed and experienced. For fear that Tao Mu was young and impetuous, getting a big head after being praised by the leaders. Not knowing the severity, unable to distinguish the situation, and then say something rashly to offend people who shouldn’t be offended. He quickly changed the topic with a smile: “Speaking of which, Tao Mu, you have endured hardship in the army this time. Look at this darkened skin and lpss of weight, those fans of yours must feeling quite distressed?”

“Old Zhou, you say this because you don’t understand those little girls at all.” Zhan Bin, the hero of “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood”, said with a smile: “You didn’t see those little girls shouting from both sides when he walked the red carpet, I nearly went deaf.”

“It’s called sex appeal now! Handsome!” Zhan Bin patted Tao Mu on the shoulder. Feeling Tao Mu’s tight muscles, he couldn’t help squeezing: “You trained well.”

Tao Mu smiled awkwardly, which fit the image of a fresh face 20-year-old young man, and said reservedly: “It’s okay. Compared with those special forces, it’s far worse.”

The crowd laughed when they heard the words. The chairman of the jury of the Lingxiao Award pointed at Tao Mu and said with a smile: “The young man has high ambitions. What’s the matter, do you really want to compare with our special forces?”

Tao Mu said: “All our crew members are experiencing life in the army. The last month is to train with the soldiers of the special forces. Although our physical fitness is limited, and we are definitely not comparable to the professional special forces. But we will try our best to persevere, at least be able to display the spirit of the special forces.”

The leader from SARFT also patted Tao Mu on the shoulder and said with a smile: “If our actors can prepare to this level before filming, I believe we will be able to shoot more classic works.”

The topic then turned to the current atmosphere of the entertainment industry. Most of the directors and actors who could be shortlisted for the Lingxiao Award were ptofessional actors with ability and background. Otherwise, it was impossible or them to be able to participate in mainstream TV series. For these actors, the right way was to be low-key as a person and high-profile when acting roles. Therefore, they all couldn’t get used to some newcomers who don’t polish their acting skills when they were filming, and instead keep buying articles and hyping themselves outside the film set, which caused the atmosphere of the entertainment circle to be smoggy. Later, the subject turned to the hype route of some gossip stars. Criticizing some management teams for being too willing to kill chickens to get the eggs, shortsightedly, draining the value of their artists. Some stars were also thick-skinned, they didn’t even have a single work to their name, yet they could even blow rainbow farts at themselves into international superstars through the articles they buy online. In the end, they even felt that marketing hype was not desirable.

As the founder of FlyNews.com and a well-known publicist in the industry, Tao Mu, who was reborn from the later years, did not reject publicity and hype. It could even be said that one of the reason “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood” and “Fashion Storm” could break the ratings records one after another and create social hot spots was because of FlyNews.com’s publicity and hype credit.

However, at such a time, Tao Mu would obviously not dampen the mood and disagree with everyone. He had no choice but to keep silent and maintain his image as a low-key little rookie to the end. In fact, Tao Mu felt that the directors and actors who agreed with SARFT did not necessarily agree with this opinion in their hearts. It was just that in this kind of social situation, everyone upheld the truth that more was worse than less and didn’t bother to argue with the leaders.

Although it was very popular for the protagonist, in order to show his uniqueness, utter nonsense in front of the leader in TV series. But in real life, such tactless and low EQ young people were obviously not welcome.

Cheng Baodong disliked Tao Mu’s fakeness. In his opinion, young people should speak freely and dare to stand up for their own opinions. Now that was called being young and lively. It was a pity that Tao Mu had never had this kind of vigor. This dude was more like an old fritter than an old fritter, and an older fox than an old fox. He was just so socially smooth and ease that people were unaccustomed to it.

If it was said that the world hated people who “got advantages and then say some cute words”. Then in Cheng Baodong’s eyes, Tao Mu was a typical person who “pretend to be cute to take advantage and then doesn’t bother saying any cute words afterwards”. His scheming shrewdness was even more annoying than cheap-cute people.

Fortunately, the awards show started soon after. Everyone took their places, and Tao Mu sat with “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood” crew.

The hosts of the Lingxiao Award were two famous hosts of the National Channel, who often host the Spring Festival Gala. After the usual opening remarks, the first award given out was the Best Newcomer Award.

The guest of honor was a nearly 70-year-old actor named Tian Xingjian. At the same time, he was also the only grand slam actor in the country. He had just received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lingxiao Award last year. That the Lingxiao Award invited this old artist to award the Best Newcomer Award just launched this year also had a kind of passing on the torch meaning.

“The organizer asked me to be the presenter. I am very pleased. At the same time, I am grateful for the jury’s recognition of me.” The 70-year-old artist, with white hair like frost, stood on the stage and said slowly: “I am a person who is useless at everything else except for acting. But my life is rich and colorful because of this profession. I hope that young people who have just entered the profession can also appreciate the charm of being an actor. Feel and live more kinds of life, and at the same time also bring more and more exciting works to the audience.”

Mr. Tian didn’t say much. After saying this, he gestured everyone to watch the screen. Video clips of the five nominees appeared one after another on the big screen. The final shot of Su Dingbang, played by Tao Mu, was of him committing suicide by swallowing opium.

The other four nominees shortlisted were also newcomers who have just debuted for a year or two. But for various reasons, whether it was popularity or acting skills, they were obviously incomparable to Tao Mu, a rebirth person who charged out from the siege with his acting skills and even won a best actor award in his previous life. When the Lingxiao Award launched the Best Newcomer Award, it also showed the organizer’s favor for Tao Mu himself.

So the end result was predictable.

Mr. Tian didn’t tease like the other presenters. He opened the envelope and announced directly: “…..The winner of the Best Newcomer Award is Su Dingbang, “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood”. Congratulations to Tao Mu who played Su Dingbang.”

The camera in the studio hall turned to Tao Mu at the same time, and a close-up of Tao Mu also appeared on the big screen. Tao Mu stood up and hugged the director and actors of “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood” then went to the stage.

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Tao Mu reached out and took the trophy that Tian Xingjian gave him, and bowed to Mr. Tian with the trophy. Then he stood in front of the microphone and delivered his acceptance speech.

“I would like to thank the Lingxiao Award for its encouragement to newcomers and the jury for their recognition of me. At the same time, I would also like to thank all the members of “The Great Wall of Flesh and Blood”. It was the joint efforts of all of us that made this work. I hope this award is just the beginning. In the future, we will try our best to create more and better works.”

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