Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 125 Old Situ's Request
The next day, Dong Xuan got up early and made breakfast for Cao Yang.

She bought fried dough sticks from outside and cooked white rice porridge herself.

It was such a simple breakfast, but Cao Yang ate it with a great appetite. He felt in a trance that it seemed like he hadn't eaten such an authentic breakfast for a long time. Life in the United States is simply not a life for human beings.

"Are you going back to school today?" Dong Xuan held her chin and was happy to see Cao Yang eating with relish.

"Well, I have to go back to school to meet with Teacher Situ and Dean Hou."

Cao Yang took the tissue handed over by Dong Xuan, wiped his mouth, and asked: "What about you? Are you going back to school?"

Dong Xuan shook his head and said, "I'm not going today."

Then, he looked at Cao Yang's face again and asked expectantly, "Are you coming back today?"

Then he quickly explained, "If you come back in the evening, I will prepare more dinner."

Cao Yang patted Dong Xuan's head and said with a smile: "Please hang my clothes in the closet to dry. I have been living here for some time."

"Ok."

The corners of Dong Xuan's mouth curled up and he couldn't stop smiling.

She couldn't help but think, Cao Yang said that she looked youthful and energetic with two ponytails, why not try it tonight?

Old Situ no longer has any teaching duties, which is not quite right, because he still has a graduate student named Cao Yang. It’s just that Cao Yang is rarely in school, so Old Situ only comes to his office occasionally to sit for a while.

Early this morning, Old Situ came to the office.

When Old Tian saw it, he came over with a smile on his face to say hello.

"Hey, look who is this? Isn't this my most beloved teacher? How come you have time today and come to school for a stroll?"

"Go away, go somewhere cooler, I'm annoyed when I see you."

Old Situ sat down, then touched the table with his hand and found some dust.

So, he quickly stopped Lao Tian who was about to slip away and said, "Wait a minute, clean up the office before you leave."

When Cao Yang came, he saw Lao Tian wiping the table with a rag in his hand.

"Oh, Director Tian is different as a teacher. He practices respecting teachers with his own actions."

Lao Tian threw the rag in his hand, and Lao Situ coughed. Lao Tian picked it up obediently, turned to Lao Situ and said with a smile: "It's done."

Then, as if afraid of being punished by Old Situ, he turned around and walked out, "I still have classes. It will be too late if I don't go now."

When passing by Cao Yang, he deliberately bumped into Cao Yang and whispered, "Let's have dinner together later."

Without waiting for Cao Yang to reply, he closed the door and ran away.

"Teacher, are you okay?"

"It's okay."

The old Situ pointed and motioned Cao Yang to sit down, and asked, "Did you come back yesterday?"

"Well, I adjusted to the jet lag yesterday and rested for a night."

As Cao Yang spoke, he picked up old Situ's water cup, filled it up for him, and poured himself a cup.

"Is everything going well in the United States?" Old Situ blew on his water cup, took a sip, and asked. Cao Yang smiled bitterly, "It was a series of twists and turns, but fortunately the final result was good."

Old Situ didn't speak for a while. After a long silence, he said, "That's how it is in the United States. It's normal to be bullied in a foreign country. Only when you go out, you know that home is better."

After pondering for a while, he said, "Don't go if you can't. You are already successful now. Going to Hollywood is just to prove yourself. In fact, I don't think it's necessary. There are also great potentials in China. Look at Yimou's "Hero"..."

Having said this, Old Situ stopped talking, as if he didn't know how to start again.

Cao Yang wanted to laugh. Old Situ obviously wanted to praise the box office of "Hero". However, this was a commercial film. As someone from the directing department of Beijing Film Academy, it didn't feel right for him to praise a commercial film.

Especially a year ago, everyone was openly or secretly mocking Zhang Yimou for going astray, not making good art films but instead making crappy commercial films.

Even Zhang Yimou himself doesn't dare to admit that this is a commercial film, but instead says in a cover-up that it is an industrial film, an industrialized movie.

Now, the box office of 2.5 million has really shocked the group of people in the director department.

Everyone has a vague feeling that if the film market can really accommodate a movie with a budget of 2.5 million, then perhaps, probably, the spring of commercial films is coming?

"Teacher, you are right. There is great potential in China. The box office of Hero proves this."

Cao Yang took the initiative to give old Situ a way out.

"Ah."

Old Situ nodded. Now that he had come to this point, he no longer had any concerns and said directly: "The box office of "Hero" is very amazing, but whether this is accidental or inevitable, no one can be sure, so someone needs to explore it again.

By the way, it can also consolidate the market that has been developed by a certain company, so that the market will not shrink again without the support of box office. Don’t you think so?

At the same time, it can also give encouragement and confidence to private companies that are committed to market development. A domestic market with unlimited potential for prosperity and development is something everyone wants to see.”

After saying that, Old Situ raised his head and looked at Cao Yang, somewhat expectantly and hesitantly, "I have said so much, can you understand?"

Cao Yang was indeed a little surprised. From what Old Situ said, it seemed that he supported him to follow up and make a commercial film to test the market, instead of shirking it and waiting for Zhang Yimou to explore the market again.

Sure enough, what Lao Tian said before was correct. The dedication that the older generation emphasized is completely different from the dedication we have now.

Even if they look down on commercial films, as long as the country and society need it, the older generation can temporarily put aside their prejudices.

Maybe because he saw that Cao Yang didn't say anything, he thought Cao Yang was unwilling.

Old Situ said sincerely: "Cao Yang, you are my student, I shouldn't have let you take risks, but you are the only ones in the country who can do this. I have already talked to Brother Kai, and he has agreed to prepare a commercial blockbuster.

I know him well. He is cautious and also very face-conscious. The investment in his new film will definitely not be less than that of "Hero", so I estimate that it will take at least a year for him to be ready. After the filming is completed and the post-production is completed, it may take two years.

By that time, the opportunity will be gone and Yimou’s second movie will be released.

A single flower does not make spring, but a hundred flowers in full bloom make the whole garden full of spring. If the audience recognizes you as a great director, then you must have the responsibility of a great director.”

"what do you mean?"

"I want you to put aside your prejudices and make a commercial film. It doesn't matter if the investment is small. Do your part to open up the market for newcomers and test the potential of the domestic market. This is also the responsibility of a great director."

Teacher, you still don't understand me. Although I graduated from the Beijing Film Academy and have only made art films since my debut, I really don't discriminate against commercial films. The purpose of my desperate efforts to win awards is to create a golden body and prepare for making commercial films.

Commercial films are the future development trend of films, while art films have become the self-entertainment of a small circle.

"Okay, teacher. I'll listen to you. I'll spend some time preparing and try to make a commercial film as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)