Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 107: Forbidden Experience
It was still the same small restaurant. Before going to Hollywood, Cao Yang met with Lao Tian here again.

"Would you like something white?"

While waiting for the ordered dishes to arrive, Lao Tian looked at Cao Yang eagerly and made some suggestions.

Cao Yang hesitated for a moment, looked at Lao Tian's useless appearance, sighed, and stretched out a finger, "A bottle of two taels."

"okay."

Lao Tian became happy and shouted, "Boss, bring me a bottle of Red Star, a small one."

Afterwards, he hummed an unnamed little song leisurely until he lost the tune, then asked, "Are you going to the United States?"

Cao Yang nodded, "Well, while I'm still young, I want to go there to see how Hollywood operates, make a movie, and see if the Americans are a dangerous place."

"I don't know if there are any dangerous places, but there is no shortage of money and beauties in this world of pleasure."

Old Tian took a bite of food and spoke incoherently while chewing.

"Brother, do you want to go there with me? In a few years, our market will be flooded with a large number of industrial films. It would be helpful to learn from their experience."

Cao Yang took the white wine handed over by the boss, unscrewed the lid, poured a small cup for Lao Tian, ​​and poured another small cup for himself.

Old Tian glared at the red star in Cao Yang's hand and couldn't help but get furious. "Good boy, you took this small bottle and you want to share it with me?"
It was not until the bottle of wine was pushed in front of Lao Tian that Lao Tian began to smile happily.

"No, I have teaching assignments next semester, so I'm not going to that damn place."

As Old Tian spoke, he picked up the glass and drank half of it in one gulp. He smacked his lips and had a relaxed look on his face, a typical old drunkard.

He chewed the food with a crunching sound and said incoherently, "With the current situation in our country, there are no industrial films. The cinemas are almost closed down. Commercial films can't survive at all."

Lao Deng, you have too little sensitivity and underestimate the domestic film market.

"Old Tian, ​​do you know that on December 12 last year, the State Council passed Article 12 of the "Film Management Regulations" and related policies, and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television formulated the "Implementation Rules for the Qualification Certification System for Obtaining the "Film Production License (Single Film)"."

Lao Tian paused for a moment while picking up the food with his chopsticks, and looked at Cao Yang in confusion, "I'm not a fool. How could I not know about such big news in the circle? What do you want to say, kid?"

Cao Yang reached out and picked up the glass full of white wine, hesitated for a moment, put it down, picked up the beer next to it and took a sip.

"There is a clause in the detailed rules that states that after obtaining the "Single Film Certificate", units other than film production units will have the right to independently produce films... Do you know what this means?"

"Well, I thought it was something else. The school has already held a meeting to discuss it. Isn't it just that these private enterprises will no longer need to buy the factory logo when shooting movies in the future? What's the big deal?"

Old Tian filled his own glass, put down the small bottle after finishing, and said: "With the few big and small cats now, even if they don't buy the factory logo, what waves can they make? The market is so big, and there are so many cinemas, can they just appear out of thin air?"

Stubborn!

You can’t imagine the vitality of private enterprises when they are no longer restricted.

Cao Yang had read a report before. In 2002, when the new "Film Management Regulations" were introduced, the proportion of film investment by private film and television investment companies was less than one-third.

By 2003, private enterprises had invested in 96 films, accounting for 140% of the 68.5 films produced that year, and the number has subsequently grown at a rate of to percent each year.

Alas, I guess most filmmakers within the system now don’t believe that the film market can be quickly activated after it is liberalized.

In a few months, when Zhang Yimou's "Hero" is released, you will know that commercial films also have great potential, which will further encourage private enterprises and accelerate their pace of entry. "You have always been a man of few plans before you act. Did you have a plan for your trip to Hollywood this time? You have to choose the first movie carefully. Those people don't have that much favor to give us. If you fail, you will basically lose their trust."

Cao Yang chewed the food in his mouth and swallowed it before replying: "Well, I know, so I chose a movie that is very easy to succeed, which is..."

It's just a bit utilitarian and will inevitably be criticized in the future.

Lao Tian was a little surprised. Is there such a movie?

"what type is it?"

"Biography, biographical film about controversial figures."

Cao Yang picked up the white wine on the table, drank it in one gulp, and reached out to take the Red Star. Old Tian was quick-witted and picked up the bottle and glared at Cao Yang.

That’s all I have. If you dare to move me again, just try it.

Cao Yang chuckled, picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food, no longer paying attention to Lao Tian.

Old Tian placed the small bottle of wine next to him like a treasure, and then said, "It's a biographical movie about a controversial figure. Such a movie is indeed easy to succeed as long as it is well made."

He looked at Cao Yang and reminded him cautiously, "However, since he is a controversial figure, the movie will definitely become controversial after it is made. You have to be mentally prepared for this."

Cao Yang nodded. He had expected this. The more controversial the better. He was not afraid of this.

What he worries about most is the future.

It would be fine if it was just a biographical film about another controversial figure, but the key point is that this person is a homosexual.

It doesn’t matter now, and no one in China will care.

It will not be until many years later, when the American value system has gradually become distorted, even to the point of being magical, and when gender alone has developed to hundreds of types, that the old things may be brought up again.

He is afraid that the opponents will use this to attack him, while a few idiots will take it as a guiding principle.

How can we avoid this situation?
Cao Yang felt that he still needed to use his brain and try to see if he could survive the whole thing and minimize the impact.

"Old Tian, ​​if I am 'forced' to take on a controversial Hollywood movie, will the impact on me be less?"

"Forced?"

Old Tian thought about it and suggested, "It would be better to make a bigger noise. If the impact is not good, it will be easy to justify it."

As expected of you, Lao Tian. Is this the experience gained from being banned?
After saying goodbye to Lao Tian, ​​Cao Yang went to sit with Lao Situ and said that he wanted to take a leave for some time.

Old Situ didn't ask anything. He already knew Cao Yang was going to Hollywood. He just reminded him repeatedly, "You are still young. Don't pay attention to the saying that one movie determines success or failure. Even if you fail, you can just come back. There are plenty of opportunities."

Cao Yang nodded and replied with a smile: "Don't worry, teacher. I'm still young and can withstand the blow."

Old Situ added: "Foreigners are different from us. Sometimes you are too modest. You don't need to use this trick with foreigners. The more polite you are, the more likely they will think you are incompetent..."

Cao Yang stayed in old Situ's office for almost an hour, with old Situ talking and Cao Yang listening all the time.

(End of this chapter)