Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 194 Director Cao wants to create a new system?
On September 9, "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" held its premiere in Venice.

The award ceremony is tomorrow. The Venice organizing committee has arranged such a special day for this film, which is very respectful to Cao Yang.

The Venice official recommended this film on its website:
Human nature is complex and subtle. It may show completely different sides in different situations. Never test human nature because everyone’s inner struggle and decision-making process are full of complexity and uncertainty.

Moreover, in the face of continued challenges, the fragile and vulnerable side of human nature may be inadvertently magnified, causing irreversible impacts on individuals and even society.

"Nine-Tailed Demon Fox", a fantasy film with macro scenes, expresses the most vulnerable side of human nature.

After learning about the official promotional words, Cao Yang was a little skeptical. Could it be that the original intention of making this movie was to explore the fragility and struggle of human nature?
Don't mention it, just with these promotional words, at first glance, I really thought it was an art film that explored the inner world of the characters...

This time, several of the film's leading actors, Li Xiaoran, Gao Yuanyuan, Duan Yihong, Chen Kun, and Pang Bing were all there, and even the supporting actors Huang Xiaoming, Zhou Yiwei, and Wang Luodan, who had quite a few scenes, were there.

In Cheng Jianye's words, since President Han is personally leading the team to Venice, there must be some pomp and ceremony. Otherwise, how can President Han show his majesty by bringing just a few people with him?

In Mr. Han's words, it means bringing a few more people, and everyone working together to promote the movie, hoping to increase the popularity of the movie.

Cao Yang feels that it doesn’t matter how many other people come, but only one heroine is enough. If so many come... it’s a headache.

Cao Yang and President Han, together with a large group of people, stood on the red carpet to greet the guests who came to attend the premiere.

This time, President Han was once again amazed.

From time to time, well-known European art film directors and producers came, and each of them hugged Cao Yang without exception, and then joked that he had fallen and actually went to Hollywood to develop his career.

President Han could tell from the conversations between Cao Yang and these people that almost all of the mainstream figures in the European art film circle felt sorry for Cao Yang and believed that he should not have gone to Hollywood and should not have made commercial films.

Cao Yang could only explain patiently, "I'm still young, I just want to give it a try, don't worry, I will continue to make art films."

At this year's Venice Film Festival, in addition to Cao Yang's "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox", Jia Zhangke's "The World" is also selected for the main competition unit of the domestic film.

"The World" premiered on the 4th. At that time, Cao Yang was still in the United States and did not have time to attend the premiere.

However, President Han brought a large group to show his support, including Li Xiaoran and Gao Yuanyuan, which made Jia Zhangke very happy.

Today, Jia Zhangke came with Zhao Tao again. The two of them were arm in arm, not hiding anything. Could it be because they were abroad?
After the two of them went in, Cheng Jianye seemed to see Cao Yang's confusion and began to explain to Cao Yang what he knew.

“On the 4th, I also attended the premiere of The World. How should I put it? There were quite a few audiences and reporters. But after watching the movie, many foreign reporters said that they couldn’t understand what The World was trying to express.

The audience also had a mediocre response, with many even falling asleep in the second half of the movie, perhaps because the subject matter was a bit obscure and difficult to understand.

"You fell asleep too?" Cao Yang glanced at Cheng Jianye and asked in a low voice.

Cheng Jianye quickly shook his head, "No, but it's true that I didn't understand it."

"What does Jia Zhang say?"

"He said at the press conference that it might be because he was facing a transformation and he felt a little lost."

"What's going on between them? I remember he hasn't divorced yet? Isn't he afraid that the news will spread back to the country?" Cao Yang asked softly.

He also instructed Cheng Jianye, "Tell the domestic reporters later not to take random photos or spread the news." Cheng Jianye nodded quickly and explained, "It may be because the movie is not very popular. At the subsequent press conference, many reporters said that the movie was too long and difficult to understand.

Perhaps it was for this reason that no reporter interviewed Zhao Tao during the entire press conference, which made her feel embarrassed.

Director Jia may have been trying to comfort her by deliberately showing intimacy in such an occasion."

Cao Yang's fame and influence in Europe are still very great. Directors, producers, people from film and television companies, reporters, film critics, judges of the jury, etc., plus the audience watching the movie, the 500-seat theater was almost full.

Cao Yang stayed with Marco Muller. Looking at the many reporters and film critics who came, he couldn't help but ask Marco Muller with a smile.

"Lao Ma, this is a truly commercial film. Aren't you afraid that these reporters and film critics will say whatever they want and allow a commercial film to be shortlisted for the main competition unit?"

"What you said is true. If I was really afraid, would I still let you be nominated? Whether it's Berlin or Cannes, don't they give awards to Hollywood movies every once in a while? What kind of artistry do Hollywood movies have? Which one is not commercial?
What is an art film? Jia Zhangke's "The World" is an art film, with stream of consciousness, symbols, metaphors, etc., but they all say it is too boring to understand...

Nowadays, the boundary between art films and commercial films is becoming increasingly blurred. As long as we can find some metaphors and reflections of human nature in commercial films, we can blur the concepts a little bit.”

Old Ma glanced at Cao Yang and said with a smile: "Coincidentally, I found it in your movie."

Cao Yang was silent for a moment, then asked, "Old Ma, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush with me."

From what Lao Ma said, we can tell that some of the reporters and film critics here were specially arranged by him in order to promote the humanity of "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox".

Lao Ma must have other purposes for putting in so much effort. It is definitely not because he has a good relationship with Cao Yang that he is helping him so wholeheartedly.

"Haha, no rush, let's talk about it after the film festival is over."

The movie had been playing for a while, and exclamations could be heard from the entire hall from time to time.

Jia Zhangke frowned as he watched.

When the movie was almost over, he asked Zhao Tao softly, "Do you think this movie is... good?"

Zhao Tao stared at the big screen, watching the little fox willing to give up its life for Wang Sheng, and felt a little emotional for a moment.

"I think it's great. The battle scene at the beginning is really spectacular. So many cavalrymen charging together in a dense crowd is quite shocking to watch..."

"anything else?"

"Gao Yuanyuan's acting is really good. She brought the transformation of an ignorant little vixen to life..."

Forget it. Jia Zhang didn’t plan to ask anymore. It would be pointless to ask.

Director Cao's film was obviously shot in the style of a commercial film, but combined with the official promotional words given by Venice, human nature is complex and subtle, full of uncertainty...

Indeed, whether it was Xiao Wei's initial innocence and ignorance, or her later jealousy and "possessiveness", and her willingness to sacrifice herself for Wang Sheng in the end, these are the complexity and uncertainty of human nature.

Does Director Cao want to create a new system?
Is this an experimental film, like the New Wave?
(End of this chapter)