Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

The good thing is that after this answer was announced, there wasn't a cold silence for tens of seconds or even three minutes.

Perhaps everyone is tired of seeing those repeatedly familiar faces.

Now, this surprising result actually lifted the spirits of the guests and audience who had gradually lost patience.

As for controversy...

Which Golden Horse Awards haven't had controversy?

Qi Hao's film, although not particularly groundbreaking in its directorial technique, makes you immediately feel full of potential when you consider it's his debut as a director and that this young man will surely bring more surprises in the future.

Especially filmmakers from the mainland, they must be clapping enthusiastically.

Since the decline of local Taiwan films, good films selected have been few and far between, losing public confidence for a long time.

Yet they still struggle on the brink of death.

Each time, they sift through for flawed artistic films to award.

Especially this time, with Hou Xiaoxian as the Golden Horse chairman, inviting back director Tsai Ming-Liang, who claimed he'd never attend the Golden Horse Awards again.

Inevitably, it raises doubts about whether the Golden Horse Awards committee is once again favoring Taiwan films.

Four directors were nominated for Best Director, although two were mainland directors, the absence of nominations for "Wind Sound" and "Mei Lanfang" gives off a sense of a strategic compromise.

Now that Qi Hao has won the award, everyone is naturally happy.

Qi Hao shook hands with those around him, then stumbled onto the stage.

He rose from obscurity, crawling and rolling around the bottom tier for years, and knows exactly how to behave now.

No emotions, all acting!

If you show too much joy or complacency, you're sure to be besieged by the media.

Spectators might also feel that you've received the award disgracefully.

But if you act, portray the kind of disbelief mixed with excitement, show the anxious fear of always having schemers around, you might actually receive more encouragement.

"Here, come this way."

With two great directors on either side, Qi Hao appeared even more nervous.

I admit, your directorial statuses can easily surpass mine, but you don't have my acting skills.

Qi Hao was pulled up, had a trophy shoved into his hands, then pushed to the microphone.

For at least ten seconds, he didn't open his mouth.

He seemed dumbfounded.

After ten seconds, he knocked the trophy against his head.

The scene was instantly filled with exclamations.

Is he going to spill blood on the spot, giving the other side an excuse to start a comprehensive war?

"It really hurts, so I guess I'm not dreaming!"

Qi Hao seemed to regain his senses, took a deep breath, and choked up while saying, "Thank you to the Golden Horse Awards, to all the judges, and to the screenwriter Mr. Zhang Meng, as well as Wang Qianyuan, Qin Hailu..."

Qi Hao thanked a large group of people, finally expressing gratitude to his team and parents.

There weren't any overly fancy words.

Some parts even had hesitations and repetitions, but they were genuine and heartfelt, truly moving people.

Wherever the camera turned, the guests were deeply moved.

Reflecting on their own sad moments, some were even wiping tears.

The directors encouraged Qi Hao further, and then Qi Hao went off the stage with the fake trophy.

Yes, the trophy in his hand was fake.

All the winners on stage receive a placeholder trophy; while they're tearfully holding the "fake Golden Horse" on stage, the "real Golden Horse" is being temporarily made in the news center.

This detailed process precisely reflects the "fairness" and "impartiality" Golden Horse chairman Hou Xiaoxian had assured with a pat on the chest.

Until the last moment, no one knows who the winners are.

The final award was for Best Picture, presented by Zhang Manyu and others at the end.

As expected, it went to the Taiwan film "Can't Live Without You".

Having won such a major award for Best Director, attending the following celebration party was a must.

Qi Hao went to exchange for the real Best Director trophy.

Then he accepted interviews from various media outlets.

If you act on the award stage, you certainly have to act in front of the media.

If you're doing something, love doing it. Since you became an actor, don't forget professional integrity.

Anyway, he really didn't expect to win this award; it was entirely a pleasant surprise.

"Qi Hao, do you have any directorial plans going forward?"

It's rare for Qi Hao to have a day when he's not asked about scandals; initially, questions were all director-related,

"I'm currently still in the learning stage, so I hope to try all kinds of subjects, accumulate experience during the attempts, and strive to become a qualified director as soon as possible."

Isn't that all styles indeed?

"Steel Piano" is a realistic-style artistic film, "First Love, This Little Thing" is a campus romance film, "Uncle" is an action film.

Three films in three styles, it's hard to believe they're all shot by the same person.

"Are you planning to gradually move from in front of the camera to behind the scenes?"

Most actors who transition to directing delve deep into direction, as that's where their status in the entertainment circle lies.

Acting for them becomes purely a hobby.

"I don't think so, I have a deep love for acting, probably will never give up acting my whole life."

Qi Hao said sincerely.

Acting is a very interesting thing, especially when I stepped into the true threshold of performance and saw another world, I felt an ambition to conquer it completely.

After asking a few more questions, it seemed enough about the directing aspects.

The reporters checked the time and, seeing there was still some, asked a few other questions.

"I heard you directed and starred in a youth campus film with An Feng, when will it be released? Is there any plan for it to be shown in Taiwan?"

"It will probably be released next Valentine's Day, or during the summer break. As for whether it can be shown in Taiwan, that depends on luck."

Qi Hao felt it was quite likely to be shown.

Mainland films face strict quota restrictions for release in Taiwan.

According to Taiwan's regulations, a maximum of 10 mainland films are allowed to be released in Taiwan each year.

These films need to be applied for by Taiwanese film companies, and the release list is determined by a lottery system. Even if a film is selected, it still needs to pass a review by the relevant departments in Taiwan to be finally released.

But this lottery is pure nonsense.

Whether you're allowed to be shown or not is decided by people in power.

Qi Hao won the Golden Horse Best Director award, and "First Love, This Little Thing" doesn't have anything sensitive, so as long as no one interferes, it should surely get one of those ten slots.

They'd probably be happy to give a slot to a youth campus film as well.

"Looking forward to Director Qi Hao's film, hoping it can meet the Taiwan audience soon."

"Thank you, I am looking forward to it as well."

"Do you have any intentions of working with Taiwanese actors?"

Local media definitely asked such a question, also kind of as a probe.

"If we can get along, of course we can collaborate. I acted together with Gu Baoming in 'Oath of Allegiance,' and his acting skills are outstanding. I've learned quite a lot from him."

Qi Hao casually handled it.

In such interview settings, the media didn't dare to ask particularly sharp questions. If they dared, Qi Hao would dare to shoot back.

It's just that the consequences would be hard to say.

Qi Hao might get boycotted in Taiwan—but who cares about that?

Back then, Liang Jiahui was boycotted in Taiwan because the entertainment industry there was extremely developed; even Xiangjiang had to rely on Taiwan's market.

Now the mainland market is the main player.

If Qi Hao really were boycotted, it would just give him more prestige.

In that case, it wouldn't affect Qi Hao, but next year no one would attend the Golden Horse Awards for sure.

Thus, the most daring move would be asking Qi Hao if he is willing to work with Taiwanese artists.

As long as you are obedient, why not?

After all, we're all Chinese!

Since there was a celebration banquet to attend, Qi Hao quickly wrapped up the interview and was taken for photos.

First was a group photo with the key crew members of 'Steel Piano' present today.

'Steel Piano' was nominated for seven categories, winning Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. Two out of seven, seemingly not eye-catching, but both considered major awards, so everyone was very satisfied.

Then there were photos with the Best Actor and Best Actress.

Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress…

By the time Qi Hao finished taking photos, An Feng had already left.

At the celebration banquet, Qi Hao became the focal point once more.

The biggest winners today were Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

Winning the Best Director is quite significant, making everyone regard Qi Hao with extra respect.

"Hehe, looking forward to the day I cooperate with Director Qi~"

A young actor chirped, finally finding a chance to speak with Qi Hao, though Qi Hao didn't even remember her name.

As for the business cards slipped into his pocket, they were bound to end up in storage.

Throwing them directly into the trash was out of the question; being photographed would cause big trouble.

Wang Zhiwen once suffered from such a blunder.

At the celebration gathering, people came and went, including some young folks seeking opportunities.

"Hello, Mr. Qi Hao, my name is Chen Yujie, this is my script 'Thief.' Please take a look when you have time. Whether you direct or invest, I eagerly await the opportunity to work together."

"Here's what we'll do: I have an email address here. Why don't you send it there, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

Qi Hao didn't accept the script from the other party.

Firstly, he couldn't carry a pile of scripts around in such a setting; secondly, without a contract or record, it'd be hard to explain if something went wrong.

Exchanges by email at least leave a traceable record.

"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Qi Hao!"

The person was overjoyed; not being rejected on the spot represented another opportunity.

"Hello, I'm actor Wu Zhongtian. I also have aspirations to move towards directing. Can I talk with you for a bit, Qi Hao?"

Another person with dreams.

For such individuals, Qi Hao showed a bit more patience and indeed chatted with the person for a while.

Seeing Qi Hao so approachable and not only mingling with big shots, more people were eager to present themselves before him.

"My name is Lin Xiaoqian... I like pure love and healing movies, that feeling of the reed catkins in the wind and the frost on the white dew; the beloved is on the other side of the water: a slight sense of detachment, seemingly unattainable, yet very fitting with our Eastern cultural aesthetic ideals and life's pursuits."

"Aha, my upcoming movie is just this type. I wonder if it can be released in Taiwan. How about you give me your address, and I'll send you a CD when it's out."

"Really? Thank you so much, I'll go directly to the mainland to watch it then, and have a little vacation."

Qi Hao and the other party had a pleasant conversation, even exchanged contact information.

"Mr. Qi Hao, my name is Ke Jingteng..."