The entire staff at Xio Entertainment was in low spirits today. Ever since Liu Jinhua received Ouyang Chen's order to scrap the new movie, the project had come to a standstill.
Secretary: "Sister Jinhua, the boss is here."
Liu Jinhua responded listlessly. She slowly got up, feeling that even breathing was a waste of time.
Liu Jinhua and Zhou Man reluctantly entered the conference room. Ouyang Chen was already seated inside.
Ouyang Chen put down the materials he was holding and looked at the two women with drooping eyelids. He shook his head slightly, guessing why they were so dejected.
Ouyang Chen: "Why did you stop the movie?"
Liu Jinhua: "Didn't you tell us to stop it?"
Ouyang Chen: "I said we wouldn't participate in the Golden Horse Awards, not that you should stop production."
Liu Jinhua mumbled, "What's the difference..."
Ouyang Chen: "If you have any complaints, speak up."
Zhou Man: "Sister Jinhua means, you told us not to participate in the awards without any reason. Why is that?"
Ouyang Chen recalled Yan Shizong's threat. Now that he had given him ten percent of the shares and Bai Mingyu's surgery had also gone smoothly, it seemed everything could return to normal. However, Yan Shizong had disrupted all the original plans...
Ouyang Chen looked at Liu Jinhua and Zhou Man. He could give them time to process their emotions, but time was limited, and it was time for them to cheer up.
Ouyang Chen pushed the documents in his hand towards Liu Jinhua.
Ouyang Chen: "Take a look."
Liu Jinhua glanced at Ouyang Chen's face, then exchanged a look with Zhou Man. Zhou Man nodded, and they both picked up the documents and started reading.
In unison: "The Oscars?!"
Ouyang Chen nodded.
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, are you crazy?"
Ouyang Chen: "I know that canceling our participation in the Golden Horse Awards made your efforts go to waste, but I thought about it, and we shouldn't give up just like that."
Zhou Man: "But why the Oscars?"
Ouyang Chen: "I haven't given up on confronting Yan Shizong; I've just found another way."
Ouyang Chen: "Have you ever considered that we might be able to avoid Yan Shizong's familiar circles? Aim for a Best International Feature Film nomination at the Oscars?"
Liu Jinhua's mouth hung open. She thought Ouyang Chen was dreaming.
Liu Jinhua: "Mr. Ouyang, do you really understand the Oscars? As far as I know, the Oscars are the least politically correct awards."
"Countless excellent films from our country have been submitted, yet very few have even been nominated, and it's been a long time since we've had a nomination."
Ouyang Chen: "Only this award can overshadow Yan Shizong."
Liu Jinhua: "We are an anomaly in the eyes of the Oscars. Zhou Man is a woman, and even more so, she is discriminated against... Over 90% of Oscar members are white, and over 70% are male. Even their so-called equality has only given black people 3%... How can we possibly win an award there?"
Ouyang Chen: "I know, which is why I need you to work even harder. This is truly a fight to the death."
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, you still don't understand. No matter how hard we try, even if we are truly excellent, at the Oscars, we have no background, no connections. The rules of the game there are to operate in the shadows under the guise of fairness. We might as well not go..."
Ouyang Chen: "As I said, you just focus on working hard. I'll handle the rest."