Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 11 Which Film Festival to Go to
After Cao Yang completed the post-production of the film, he first told Teacher Situ about it, and then notified Tian Zhuangzhuang and Hou Keming, the director of Qingying Studio.

Hou Keming is both the director of Qingying Studio and the vice president of the academy. He was promoted from the directing department.

This film is nominally a practical film for students, part of the teaching plan, and once it is finished it must be submitted for review in the name of Qingying Studio.

Of course, if we participate in various film festivals, we will do so in the name of the school.

There were not many people watching the movie this time, so we chose a small screening room in the school.

Before the film started, Hou Keming, out of politeness, praised Teacher Situ: "Your student is not an ordinary one. He has made a feature film in his junior year. His future is limitless."

Teacher Situ smiled and said, "This is my first time making a feature film, and I don't know how it will turn out. I think the script is quite simple, and it will be good if we can make it according to the script."

"I've read the script, and it's a bit one-dimensional and doesn't delve deeply into human nature. But if it can be made, it's a pretty good feature film."

Hou Keming thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Let's see how it goes. If it's still acceptable, we'll send it to a few small film festivals in Europe and South America. It can be considered as the school's support for the students. Hundreds of thousands of dollars can't be wasted."

Director Hou's meaning is very simple. Why do people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars? Isn't it just to get a good qualification?

As long as the film is good, he doesn't mind sending it to small film festivals abroad to gild it. Those small film festivals are very tolerant of student films, and winning a few awards will be good for both the students and the school.

He didn't know that Cao Yang had the support of Teacher Situ in making this movie, nor did he know that the funds for this movie were obtained by Tian Zhuangzhuang from the coal boss.

Hou Keming has read the script and found the story a bit simple and crude. It does not explore the shining points of human nature, nor does it expose the evil of human nature. It is a bit like an autobiographical movie.

But for a junior student, being able to film it and tell the story clearly is considered pretty good.

Even if he didn't take this movie very seriously, he was after all a student of old Situ, and he got Tian Zhuangzhuang involved, and although he didn't know what their background was, it wouldn't be a bad idea to sell it well first.

Xie Fei beside him coughed and said, "Let's watch a movie."

The movie slowly begins with the melodious and low sound of cello.

No one took it seriously at first, but five minutes later, Xie Fei was the first to say "eh" and sat up straight again.

Then Old Situ sat back down and started watching carefully.

Not long after, Hou Keming changed his previous carelessness and stared at the screen with a serious face.

The plot of the movie is simple, with no pretense and no dazzling editing. The whole movie is like a straightforward article and is very easy to understand.

The one hundred-minute movie was over quickly, and Cao Yang even heard a few deep breaths.

"Clap clap clap..."

Xie Fei was the first to applaud, and others followed suit.

"Not bad!"

Old Situ looked at Cao Yang. This kid did not disappoint him. This was not just a film that followed the script. The ordinary plot could make people's emotions fluctuate. This was the real skill.

Also, this is a film from a female perspective, which is hard to say in Asia, but it is extremely popular in Europe and the United States. As long as the characters stand out, it is easy to get the support of some judges.

Is the heroine in this film good?

It was undoubtedly wonderful!
"Who is this actor? He is so spiritual. The character comes alive." Xie Fei followed suit and praised.

Tian Zhuangzhuang winked at Cao Yang and gave him a thumbs up.

Although he was the cinematographer and had an acting role, he didn’t follow the post-production, so this was the first time he saw the finished film.

As expected, Cao Yang did not do anything fancy. For such a simple plot, he should have just told the story honestly, and Cao Yang did a good job in this regard.

Hou Keming's eyes lit up, as if he had shot the movie. He turned to look at Xie Fei and asked solemnly, "Teacher Xie, what do you think?" Xie Fei was a leading figure of the fourth generation of directors and had won the Berlin Golden Bear. In terms of film art alone, Tian Zhuangzhuang was a little inferior.

In addition, he has received inside information that the Berlin Film Festival has invited Xie Fei to be a judge in the main competition unit of the 51st Berlin Film Festival next year. It is estimated that he will leave for Berlin in a while.

“The shooting technique is very simple.”

Xie Fei glanced at Cao Yang with a smile and encouraged him, "Youth is your capital, and there is still a lot of room for improvement."

What he meant was that the camera language used by Cao Yang was too simple.

Old Tian glared at Cao Yang. He had suggested not to use so many long shots and not to just use simple push and pull shots, but the boy just wouldn't listen, and the two argued for a long time.

For this reason, he went to Lao Situ to complain and wanted to take over the movie, but was finally scolded and warned by Lao Situ.

"But the leading actress was a great choice! She was so spiritual that I found it a little unbelievable. It didn't seem like she was acting. It seemed like the leading actress was playing herself. She's such a good actress!"

Xie Fei couldn't help but admire.

Hou Keming asked again, "Teacher Xie, putting aside all influencing factors, if you were a judge, what would you choose?"

Xie Fei knew what Hou Keming meant. He was silent for a moment before saying, "She has a great chance of winning the Best Actress award."

Hou Keming slapped his thigh and stood up, asking Xie Fei: "When is the deadline for registration for the main competition unit of the Berlin Film Festival?"

"It seems to be November 11th."

"There are still more than twenty days."

Hou Keming calculated and said, "Time is a bit tight."

Then he waved his hand and said, "Never mind, just be strict. This movie can't possibly violate any rules. I'll go find the dean. I don't believe it. I'll call the dean again and again to urge him to pass the review as soon as possible."

When everyone reached the door, Hou Keming came back and patted Cao Yang on the shoulder. "Cao Yang, good photos. Good job. Keep up the good work."

He turned around and said to Old Situ: "Teacher Situ, in terms of vision, you are this one."

He gave a thumbs up.

"Teacher Xie, come with me to the dean's place. It will be more convincing with you around."

Xie Fei did not refuse. He stood up, patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, and followed Hou Keming.

Only the master and his disciples were left in the screening room.

Cao Yang waited until everyone had left before he whispered to Old Situ, "Why did you decide to go to Berlin in such a hurry? We were running out of time. I was originally planning to go to Cannes next year."

This is Cao Yang's sincere thought. There have been Chinese actresses at the Berlin Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, but there has never been a Chinese actress at the Cannes Film Festival. It was not until 04 that Manyu Cheung was crowned the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress for the first time with the French film "Clean".

Cao Yang originally wanted to strive to be the first Chinese actress to win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tian Zhuangzhuang sucked her lips and said, "Just be content. Didn't you see how excited Hou Keming was? The Berlin Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival are both the top three in Europe for the school. There is no difference. If there is any difference, it's which one is easier to get and easier for their political..."

Teacher Situ coughed in time to interrupt Tian Zhuangzhuang's outspokenness and explained to Cao Yang: "Even if Xie Fei didn't serve as a judge and the school was allowed to choose, Berlin would probably be the first choice. Berlin is more friendly to Chinese-language films."

Then he smiled and said, "Besides, Xie Fei is one of the judges this time. Although Xie Fei is only a judge and not the chairman of the jury, he has won the Golden Bear and is a Berlin native. His voice is no less than that of the chairman of the jury."

Tian Zhuangzhuang added, "Just be happy in secret."

(End of this chapter)