Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 173 Spielberg's Invitation

Every year after the Oscars, there is a gala dinner.

Wolfgang Puck is the "chief designer" of this year's Oscar super dinner. This year's Oscar dinner is his 10th performance.

According to tradition, the annual Oscar "super banquet" must include a dish: smoked salmon carved into the shape of an Oscar statuette.

It is said that for this dinner, Wolfgang Puck will deploy 200 chefs, 453 waiters and waitresses, and 50 bartenders.

Of course, celebrities don’t attend the Oscars dinner to eat, they are definitely more focused on socializing.

The last major award of the day was Best Picture, and the presenter was Spielberg. Cao Yang and Behrman went on stage together to receive the award.

While Berman was giving an excited speech, Spielberg whispered to Cao Yang that they would have time to chat at the dinner.

At today's dinner, the person who attracted the most attention from all the stars was Cao Yang.

He is even more popular than Peter Jackson, the director of The Lord of the Rings.

The reason is simple. Not only can he win awards, he can also promote people. The fact that he has won three of Europe's top three film actress awards and an Oscar for best actor is the most powerful proof of this.

Don’t say that these awards were obtained through operations.

There is a prerequisite for operation, that is, the quality of the film must be guaranteed, and the agency or film company must feel that it is worth operating and see hope.

They are not fools and will not spend a lot of time and money on meaningless things.

No matter where Cao Yang went in the banquet hall, he would soon be surrounded by a circle of people, forming a small group centered around him.

This situation was not alleviated until Spielberg came along.

When everyone saw that the two big directors obviously had something to discuss, they stopped coming over.

However, many people's eyes are always glancing over here intentionally or unintentionally - if the two major directors have a new project to collaborate on, no one can refuse this temptation.

"Congratulations again, young Oscar-winning director." Spielberg raised his glass and gestured to Cao Yang, saying.

"Thank you, but I haven't won the Best Director award yet, so I can't be considered an Oscar-winning director." Cao Yang took a sip and said with a smile.

"No, no, it has nothing to do with that. Being one of the biggest winners tonight, you are an Oscar-winning director. I think no one can deny that."

Spielberg explained with a laugh.

"Well, Mr. Spielberg, what do you want from me?"

Spielberg nodded.

"Call me Steven, that's what my friends call me. Columbia has already told you, I want to invite those three actresses, the ones you helped win the Best Actress award for, to co-star in Memoirs of a Geisha."

"Yes, I have received the message."

Cao Yang nodded, indicating that he understood, and then said: "I can make connections, but I can't guarantee whether they will participate."

"I understand. Please tell them in advance. I will send them an invitation as soon as possible."

Spielberg said, "Cao, are you interested in directing this movie? Think about it, you and I will join forces, and you will work with the three actresses you support again. What a big gimmick this is. As long as you are willing to direct, the conditions are negotiable..."

Cao Yang looked at Spielberg who was talking nonstop and wanted to laugh. "You want me to direct an art film with an investment of more than 8000 million US dollars. Have you never thought about the box office? Have you never thought about how to make your money back?"
"I'm sorry, Steven. I'm currently in post-production on a movie and I'm also planning on launching another new movie in collaboration with Columbia. I really don't have time."

After Spielberg finished speaking, Cao Yang directly refused.

Spielberg was silent for a moment, then said, "Cao, as long as you are willing to direct, I can convince Columbia to postpone the new film you are planning to launch."

Why is this old man so persistent in wanting me to direct?
After thinking about it for a while, Cao Yang guessed it was probably almost right.

Li An's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" won four technical awards at the Oscars, making him an A-level director in Hollywood. His own film won five awards at once.

These include the most important awards such as Best Picture and Best Actor.

To be frank, I am definitely very popular in Hollywood now.

This is one aspect.

On the other hand, he is a world-renowned director of art films. In the eyes of the outside world, he is definitely the most suitable candidate to shoot an art film like "Memoirs of a Geisha".

After all, the investment is too huge, and even Spielberg has to try his best to find ways to increase the insurance of the film.

"Steven, I've been preparing for the new movie for a long time, and the script is almost finished. I can't suspend this project."

Cao Yang refused again. This was obviously a big trap.

The domestic box office of Little Days is very good now, but for a movie that is mainly aimed at Little Days and the North American market, how come you chose three Chinese people?

Well, at this time, there were really no young actresses with international fame in Xiaoshidai.

In addition, I guess in the eyes of foreigners, people in East Asia look similar, so it’s okay for Chinese to play the role of Daily Life?
"8%, Cao, I can make the decision and let you take 8% of the global box office share, as long as you are willing to take on this movie."

Seeing Cao Yang was indifferent, Spielberg began to use his big trick to lure him in. Cao Yang was a little emotional. He held the copyright of the novel, and was a producer, director and screenwriter. In the end, he had to work hard to negotiate with Columbia for a 9% share of the global box office.

This is probably because it is a co-production.

Unexpectedly, on the night of the Oscar ceremony, the first thing Cao Yang asked for was 8% of the global box office share. Cao Yang estimated that if he really wanted to take on the film, he could negotiate further terms.

However, this movie is destined to flop.

It is very difficult for a movie that does not have a majority white cast to get high box office in North America.

However, choosing three Chinese female protagonists blocks the film's path to high box office success. How can this problem be solved?
Cao Yang didn't want to be like Li An, who fell down with little health just after taking off.

"Steven, I really don't have time to take this movie. Besides, I don't really want to make a movie about Xiao Zi Ri. We are sworn enemies, and I'm a passionate young man. I think you can understand."

Cao Yang just said it directly to stop him from pestering.

I have even brought out my lifelong vendetta, you can't just keep pestering me.

Spielberg was silent for a moment, then smiled helplessly and shook his head.

"Okay, let's put my matter aside for now. There is another matter. You know I am from CAA, a company that values ​​directors the most in the world. They want me to be their lobbyist and sign you as their client."

"CAA..."

Cao Yang muttered to himself.

"Yes, James Cameron is also their client. In addition, Li An, Zhang Yimou, and Wu Yusen are also their clients. To be honest, they are a company that values ​​directors the most."

At this point, Spielberg smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“Because they are best at package services, in their own words, providing consulting and project integration services to numerous investors and producers.

So they value directors the most, especially directors like you who have never failed in the field of art films and are the kind who are best at supporting people. They can do a lot of things around you, you know. "

Cao Yang nodded thoughtfully and said, "Packaging? I understand. From producers, directors, screenwriters, photographers, to actors, and even funding, a complete set of services."

What, you don't want to use this actor?

Sorry, we are packing. Do you know what a pack is? It means they are all in one package and you don’t have the right to choose.

This package service has its pros and cons, and basically everyone can see the pros and cons.

As for the overall package, it seems to be a bit of a disadvantage for Cao Yang. After CAA signs him, it will definitely launch a series of packages around him.

If Cao Yang was someone like Li An or Wu Yusen who made his way into Hollywood, signing with CAA would seem like a good choice.

But for Cao Yang, it is not necessary.

He now holds the copyrights to a series of novels. As long as one of them becomes a hit, the popularity of his novels will surely increase and the sales of his novels will also be promoted.

This is mutually reinforcing. If the novel sells well, it can in turn sell the film adaptation rights at a higher price.

Especially now that District 9 has been approved, Fox Searchlight has set its sights on Juno and is very eager to buy the adaptation rights.

It is almost certain that Cao Yang will not lack funds or good scripts in the future.

As long as he waits for the opportunity to mature and shoots the five films in "Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey 1", he will almost become one of the world's top directors, one of the kind of great directors that can be counted on one hand.

When I think about it this way, CAA’s packaging service is really trying to take advantage of me.

After the Oscars, Cao Yang decided to return to China three days later and let relevant people know the news.

Well, it was mainly revealed to Fox Searchlight, in order to make them anxious so as to be more conducive to negotiating the adaptation rights of "Juno".

Cao Yang is definitely not in a hurry. The one who should be in a hurry is Fox Searchlight. It depends on whether they are sincere.

After consultation with Miramax, Columbia decided to release "Mean Milk" on March 3, which happened to be a Friday.

The ten-day period between the end of the Oscars and the release of the film is just enough time for public opinion to ferment, which can save a lot of publicity costs - the Oscars are the best and largest publicity channel.

In addition, it was also to avoid the impact of "The Passion of the Christ".

Since its release on February 2, this movie has earned more than 25 million in North America in the first five days of its release, and it looks like its momentum will continue next week.

So if we choose the 12th, we can avoid the strong momentum of this movie.

Apart from The Passion of the Christ, there were almost no movies worth noting throughout March.

As one of the biggest winners of the Oscars, "Meanwhile Milk" was taken very seriously by everyone, so it opened in 3200 theaters, catching up with "The Passion of the Christ" with 3400 theaters.

Columbia told Cao Yang that if the box office reached expectations in the first two days, it would continue to increase.

(End of this chapter)