nucmednet Chapter 64 Best TV Series Gold Award
Chapter 64 Best TV Series Gold Award
The ceremony of the SH TV Festival at the Lingang Performing Arts Center.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was already packed with enthusiastic fans and media with their cameras and microphones.
On the red carpet, spotlights flashed, and glittering stars and directors smiled and waved, basking in cheers and attention.
The atmosphere was completely different at the relatively secluded VIP entrance on the side of the red carpet.
This place is mostly filled with behind-the-scenes staff dressed in well-tailored suits or tuxedos, including platform executives, producers, and investors.
They were also dressed up for the event, but they lacked the flamboyance of being chased by cameras and instead displayed a more composed and low-key demeanor.
They gathered in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, their smiles subtle, their sharp eyes scanning the area inside and outside the venue, while simultaneously catching up on industry trends and interpersonal connections.
Xu Wei is one of them.
Today she wore a sharply tailored dark blue velvet evening gown, which was both dignified and highlighted her capable demeanor.
With her exquisite makeup and a perfectly timed smile, she nodded to acquaintances, making it hard to believe she was almost 35 years old.
"Hey, Mr. Xu, long time no see. You're still as dashing as ever." A slightly slick voice rang out.
Xu Wei turned her head and saw a guy wearing a red suit, white socks, and an exaggerated pair of empty-framed glasses.
Sun Zhe, the vice president in charge of film and television production at Aishang Media, is her long-time business rival.
He held a glass of champagne, his face beaming with an overly enthusiastic smile.
Last year, in this very place, several projects that Xu Wei strongly promoted all failed, while a big-budget production led by Sun Zhe won many awards at the awards ceremony.
Xu Wei still vividly remembers the smug look in that guy's eyes at the victory celebration banquet.
"Mr. Sun, how have you been?" Xu Wei's smile remained unchanged as she raised her glass, her tone calm. "It seems Aishang is determined to win again this year?"
"Not at all, just accompanying you, mainly learning," Sun Zhe said modestly, but his eyes glanced towards the red carpet, where the main cast and crew of the drama that Ai Shang had bet on this year were walking by.
He mentioned it casually,
"I heard that Mr. Xu's bet on 'Day and Night' is going very well this year? Five nominations, impressive. However... as a web series, its foundation is still a bit shallow. Competing with those traditional big-budget productions for awards, I'm afraid it will only end up being a laughing stock."
Xu Wei sneered inwardly, but her face remained impassive:
"Awards are based on the quality of the work. As for background, good works will speak for themselves. Didn't Mr. Chen say something similar last year?"
Sun Zhe was momentarily speechless, recalling his triumphant remarks from last year. His expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly regained his smile.
"That's for sure. But tonight's outcome depends on the judges' judgment. As long as Mr. Xu has a good attitude, that's all that matters."
His words still hinted at a subtle expectation that Xu Wei might once again "runner-up" (i.e., be nominated but not nominated).
The two exchanged a few more perfunctory words before going their separate ways.
But the invisible tension in the air did not dissipate.
Xu Wei could feel the schadenfreude in the eyes of Sun Zhe and other people who knew about last year's events.
She took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and focused her attention on the upcoming ceremony inside the venue.
Tonight will be the battle to vindicate "White Night" and Xu Wei's chance to redeem herself.
At 8:00 a.m. sharp, the awards ceremony began on time.
After a grand opening performance, the awards were announced one by one.
The awards at the beginning were mostly technical awards, as well as documentary and animation categories, and the atmosphere at the event wasn't particularly enthusiastic.
In the performance category, the Best Actress award went to veteran actress Song Dandan.
Compared to the controversy between Song Jia and Sun Li last year, today's event is obviously much less heated.
Until—"The winner of the Best Actor award at the 21st Shanghai TV Festival is—"
The big screen flashed images of the nominees, then froze on a close-up of Pan Yueming in "Day and Night".
"Pan Yueming! Congratulations on 'Day and Night'!"
Thunderous applause erupted! Xu Wei's lips finally curved into a genuine smile.
Pan Yueming stood up, hugged Qi Yue, Duan Yihong and others beside him tightly, and then steadily walked onto the stage.
It's hard to imagine that this is the same man who was embroiled in divorce scandals and cyberbullying last year, but now stands on the highest stage symbolizing honor.
The spotlight shone on him, and at that moment, the tears glistening in his eyes and his composed remarks moved countless people.
This award is an affirmation of the actors and an important endorsement of the quality of the series.
Xu Wei could sense that the atmosphere in the area where Sun Zhe was located, not far to her side and behind, seemed to freeze for a moment.
The main event is coming.
The Best Director Award was presented, and the winner was the director of the drama promoted by Sun Zhe.
But the award did not make Sun Zhe happy; instead, he frowned.
Generally speaking, these award ceremonies do not allow a single film to win both Best Director and Best Picture at the same time.
You could call it dividing pork, but it's also an industry-standard art of balancing.
If you take all the awards, how can others compete? If you offend people, they might not come to your award ceremonies in the future. Why bother?
If Best Picture is the brightest jewel in an awards ceremony, then Best Director is a consolation prize for the runner-up.
Could it be? Impossible! Sun Zhe considered this possibility!
Soon, the television festival reached its climax with the awards ceremony.
Gold Award for Best Television Series.
The award presenters were two highly respected veteran artists.
They opened the envelope, exchanged a glance, and then, speaking clearly and solemnly into the microphone, announced:
"The winner of the Best TV Series Gold Award at the 19th Shanghai TV Festival is—"
The entire audience held their breath.
"Day and Night!"
boom!
Applause and cheers instantly swept through the entire venue!
A huge cheer erupted in the area where the "Day and Night" crew was located!
Pan Yueming suddenly stood up, Nazha covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise, Duan Yihong laughed and applauded...
After a brief pause, Qi Yue slowly stood up, straightened his suit, and led the entire cast and crew of "White Night" onto the awards stage.
As Xu Wei sat there, she felt a surge of warmth welling up from the bottom of her heart, instantly dispelling all the previous repression.
She won.
"White Nights" won.
She bet on Qi Yue, she bet on the right team, and she bet on the future of high-quality web dramas!
She maintained her elegant posture and clapped vigorously, but her gaze involuntarily found Sun Zhe's location to her side and behind.
Sun Zhe's smile had completely frozen, and he was barely managing to clap his hands. But the astonishment, resentment, and even a hint of disbelief and embarrassment in his eyes were clearly visible under the stage lights.
Xu Wei could even imagine the turmoil in his heart at that moment:
How is this possible? A web series? It actually beat their big-budget, star-studded drama? What were those old guys on the judging panel thinking?!
The awards ceremony continued, and Qi Yue, as the director, went on stage to accept the award and delivered a long, pre-prepared acceptance speech.
Watching Sun Zhe's almost hasty departure, Xu Wei finally let out the pent-up frustration that had been building up inside her for over a year.
The awards ceremony gradually drew to a close at its climax.
Award winners and important guests were invited backstage for a group interview with the media, where there was a denser barrage of flashing lights and more direct enthusiasm.
Xu Wei, as a key representative of the production company, naturally accompanied them.
The backstage interview area was bustling with activity.
Qi Yue, Pan Yueming, and others were surrounded by layers of media, bombarded with questions, smiles, and the constant clicking of camera shutters.
Xu Wei and her team of behind-the-scenes key figures stood a little further out. Although some familiar reporters came over to offer their congratulations and conduct brief interviews, the focus was clearly not on them.
Xu Wei responded with a smile, but a faint sense of regret inevitably rose in her heart.
She deserves immense credit for this victory.
Without her decisive early takeover of "Yu Zui", without the 80 million yuan investment and platform resources she secured for "White Night", and without her efforts to clear obstacles for the project, there might not be the glory we see today.
However, those who receive the most applause and are captured by the most cameras are ultimately the directors and actors on stage.
Those thrilling negotiations, those late-night decisions, and all the pressure and risks endured have become nothing more than a backdrop against the backdrop of others' glory.
This is an inevitable consequence of the nature of this profession, but those in it inevitably feel a sense of melancholy.
During a break in the interview, Qi Yue temporarily escaped the media frenzy and went to the side to drink some water.
He spotted Xu Wei standing on the edge, smiling but with a slightly unfocused gaze.
Qi Yue, holding a water glass, walked up to Xu Wei.
"Sister Xu, you've worked hard." He looked at her and said, his eyes bright.
"Congratulations, Director Qi, you truly deserve it," Xu Wei said sincerely, raising her champagne glass.
Qi Yue did not immediately clink glasses with her, but looked at her as if he could see through her well-hidden regret.
He suddenly put down his water glass, and to Xu Wei's somewhat surprised look, he stepped forward and gave her a brief but powerful hug.
The embrace was fleeting, but on such an occasion, coming from a director who had just won the highest honor, it held extraordinary significance.
"This honor belongs to you. Behind the scenes, unseen by the audience, you are the pillar of strength. Thank you."
After saying that, he released his hand, took a step back, raised his water glass, and solemnly clinked it against the champagne glass in Xu Wei's hand.
A soft "ding" sounded.
Xu Wei was stunned.
There seemed to be camera shutters clicking around, capturing the moment, but she didn't care.
Qi Yue's words and that sudden hug were like a warm current, instantly dispelling the insignificant regret in her heart.
Yes, she works behind the scenes, but those who understand her value will naturally understand it.
In particular, receiving recognition and gratitude from a partner like Qi Yue makes her feel more grounded and satisfied than any spotlight.
Looking into Qi Yue's clear and sincere eyes, she revealed the most relaxed and relieved smile of the night.
"It was a pleasure working with you, Director Qi. Looking forward to the next time."