Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 62 The Review Scene

Zhang Li was truly stunned this time.

He never expected that Qi Yue would spend millions to meet him and make a request for an old work of his from many years ago that had been forgotten and even carried the shadow of failure.

However, Qi Yue's undisguised praise for "Ming Dynasty" and Youku's evaluation of it as "the pinnacle of Chinese dramas" and "unwilling to let a pearl be tarnished" accurately struck at his deepest regrets and a certain artistic pride.

That drama was the culmination of countless efforts by him and his team, but for various reasons it failed to receive the widespread recognition it deserved, which has always been a source of regret for him.

If... if it could truly regain its luster in the internet age and be understood and appreciated by a new generation of viewers...

Zhang Li remained silent for a moment, his expression shifting from surprise to感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion), and then to a hint of interest.

Finally, he nodded slowly, his tone much more solemn than before:

"I've noted this down. I can still say a few words to Ouyang. She also regrets that the drama didn't achieve the desired results back then. If Youku is truly interested and the conditions are right... I'll go and talk to her."

"Thank you so much, Senior Brother!" Qi Yue immediately stood up and bowed deeply. "Whether it succeeds or not, I will always remember your kindness."

The visit ended in an unexpected yet exceptionally harmonious atmosphere.

Zhang Li personally escorted them to the door, his attitude even more cordial than when they arrived.

Stepping out of the Zhang family's ancient gate and back into the quiet streets, Bai Mengyan finally couldn't hold back her words any longer.

She hurried to catch up with Qi Yue, both anxious and confused:

"Boss! Just now... just now, such a good opportunity! Director Zhang even asked you if you needed something! Why didn't you mention our 'White Night' and the Magnolia Awards?! Instead, you brought up... something about an old drama from many years ago? What does that have to do with us?!"

Qi Yue didn't stop walking. Upon hearing this, he merely turned his head, looked at his assistant's anxious and disappointed expression, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. Then—

"Snapped!"

Another crisp snap on her forehead.

"Fool."

Qi Yue dropped those two words, offered no further explanation, put his hands in his pockets, and strode towards the alley entrance.

......

Next to the main venue of the Shanghai TV Festival, there is a well-soundproofed meeting room with its doors and windows tightly closed.

Around the oval-shaped long table sat all the judges of this year's Magnolia Awards, as well as a small number of specially invited industry representatives.

The air was heavy, save for the sounds of turning over documents, clinking teacups, and occasional whispers.

The two-day closed judging process has entered its final and most crucial stage—determining the winners of this year's various awards.

The selection process for technical awards went relatively smoothly. Although there were occasional disagreements, most of the awards were based on professional visual language, art design, and musical presentation standards, and a consensus was quickly reached.

The final awards presented largely aligned with industry observations and expectations:

Best Cinematography: Sun Yeping (The Fate of the Nation)

Best Art Direction: Liu Yongqi (The Legend of Chu and Han)

Best Screenplay (Original): Chen Wengui (The Orphan of Zhao)

The performance awards, however, caused some ripples.

Although there was some discussion about the Best Actress award, the result was not surprising. Song Dandan won the award for her vivid portrayal of a modern urban woman in "Jin Tailang's Happy Life".

The discussion became particularly heated when it came to Best Actor.

Pan Yueming (White Night Chase) stands out among the nominees alongside established actors such as Zhang Jiayi (Cliff), Wu Xiubo (The Orphan of Zhao), Chen Baoguo (The Righteous Invincible), and Huang Zhizhong (The Chinese Expeditionary Force).

His performance, in which he plays twin brothers with vastly different personalities, has deeply resonated with audiences through the popularity of the series and word-of-mouth, thanks to his superb acting skills, nuanced layers of expression, and profound exploration of the characters' complex inner world. He has garnered immense public acclaim.

However, there were dissenting voices among the judges.

Some have subtly brought up Pan Yueming's previous divorce scandal and public controversy, questioning whether it is appropriate to award such an important prize to a "controversial" actress, and whether it might trigger unnecessary public opinion risks.

Zhang Jiayi's performance in "Cliff" was steady and restrained, also a performance worthy of a TV King, and he portrayed a positive image.

Supporters argued that the Magnolia Award is a professional award, and the judging criteria should be the performing arts themselves.

Pan Yueming's performance in "White Night" is remarkable and can be considered a breakthrough. His personal life scandals should not be used as a reason to deny his artistic achievements.

Moreover, the storm has passed, and actors let their work speak for itself, which is a true reflection of professionalism. The difficulty and execution of his performance are remarkably unique among the nominees of the same year.

After several rounds of debate, the voice supporting the supremacy of art gradually gained the upper hand.

In the final vote, Pan Yueming won the Best Actor award for his outstanding performance as Guan Hongfeng/Guan Hongyu in "Day and Night".

For some conservative judges, this result was an "unsurprising surprise."

They may still have reservations, but Pan Yueming's performance was truly outstanding. The award was given to him, and it was difficult for the public and industry insiders to find any faults to refute it. They could only accept it reluctantly.

"White Night" finally won the first major award at this year's TV festival.

However, the real storm only struck during the final and most important award ceremony for the Best Drama Series.

Among the nominated works, "The Orphan of Zhao" and "Day and Night" formed the most distinct confrontation and also triggered the most intense disagreement within the jury.

"The Orphan of Zhao": A model of traditional historical drama, with excellent production and a strong cast. Adapted from a classic IP, it embodies the grand narrative and national sentiment of mainstream TV dramas, and meets the aesthetic preferences of many senior judges for "major themes" and "high-quality projects".

"Day and Night" is a benchmark for the successful transformation of a phenomenal web series. With its novel subject matter, tight pace, and distinctive visual style, it has had a huge impact on young audiences and online platforms, representing a new trend and vitality in the film and television industry.

"The Orphan of Zhao is a work of profound depth and meticulous production, representing the national standard of film and television! While 'Day and Night' is certainly entertaining, it is ultimately a commercial suspense drama. Can its scope and depth be compared?"

"Depth and scope aren't determined by subject matter! 'Day and Night' explores human nature, delves into the legal system, and portrays brotherhood—in which aspect is it superficial? It tells a story in a more modern and engaging way, driving industry development—that's its value!"

"Even the best-produced web series, originating from online platforms, inevitably retain a certain 'internet-centric' feel. Is it too hasty to bring them to mainstream television? We need to have sufficient respect for the traditional television industry!"

"Respect is not about being stuck in the past! If the Bai Yulan Awards only see 'tradition' and not 'future,' that would be the biggest dereliction of duty! The success of 'White Night' proves precisely that high-quality content can transcend its medium!"

"Ratings and online viewership cannot fully represent artistic value!"

"But isn't broad audience resonance and industry-leading influence an important manifestation of artistic value?"

The debate grew increasingly heated, reaching a fever pitch.

Both sides tried to win over the centrists, and their words even became somewhat inflammatory.

The meeting reached a stalemate, with neither side able to convince the other.

Just as tensions were rising, Zhang Li, the chairman of the judging panel, coughed lightly.

He chaired the meeting today, spending most of the time listening attentively and rarely expressing his personal opinions directly.

His soft cough instantly silenced the noisy conference room. All eyes were focused on the renowned chairman.