Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 217 Full Operation
Not long after the 77th Academy Awards announced the nominations, even though Cao Yang was busy writing the script for "Black Swan" and had no time to pay too much attention to the news, he felt something was wrong.

There has been a lot of coverage in China about the fact that "District 9" received seven Oscar nominations. This movie is a co-production and most of the crew are from China. To some extent, it is a new attempt, so it is only natural that it has been widely reported.

But when Berman called Cao Yang, he mainly talked about the operation of "Cao Yang's Fantastic Journey". He also mentioned that North America was suddenly flooded with a lot of news and reviews about "District 9".

This is a little unusual.

Tom Rothman, executive director of Columbia Pictures, flew over from the United States specifically to discuss the next film with Cao Yang.

Because Cao Yang accepted the invitation of the festival chairman Lao Ma at the Venice Film Festival last time, he temporarily rejected Tom Rothman and said that he wanted to make an art film and would talk about this matter after the film was finished.

Tom Rossman is not a fool, so how could he believe what Cao Yang said?

He thought Cao Yang was waiting for a good price, or was "hooking up" with other Hollywood film companies.

Otherwise, how could a director give up a big-budget A-level production and go for a small-budget art film that is "not up to par"?
At least Tom Rothman doesn't believe it.

"District 2.3" is expected to earn million in North America, which once again fully proves Cao Yang's ability and also proves the vision and ability of Tom Rothman who went against all odds at the time.

Tom Rothman and Columbia Pictures will definitely not easily give up on a great director like Cao Yang who has never failed.

Hollywood has its own way of winning over big directors.

Just like 20th Century Fox is to Cameron, Time Warner is to Peter Jackson.

Isn’t the Oscar the most important award for great directors?
It’s no big deal. Let him see Colombia’s strength and sincerity.

"District 9" is also very important to Mr. Han of China Film Group.

Since this co-production broke the domestic box office record, wouldn’t it be even better if it could also win something at the Oscars?

Han and Columbia's Tom Rothman, another producer of District 9, only briefly explored the feasibility.

President Han swore to God that he was just testing the waters. He had spent several days organizing the arguments to convince Columbia and Tom Rossman, but he hadn't even said them out loud yet.

Tom Rothman couldn't wait to take over the topic and took the initiative to suggest that since "District 9" was so successful, why don't we give the admirable director Cao Yang a surprise?

President Han had the same idea, so they hit it off and joined forces to prepare for the Best Director Oscar, with all expenses shared equally by the two companies.

President Han is in high spirits now. If the co-produced film can win an Oscar, it will not only benefit Cao Yang, but also a great political achievement for President Han.

奥斯卡公布提名名单的时间是2005年1月25号，会员们最终选票寄出时间是从2月3号开始，投票截止日期是2月22号。

To be honest, it's a bit late to plan for the Oscars now, just like Warner Bros. started all kinds of preparations for "The Lord of the Rings 3" half a year in advance.

But fortunately, "District 9" is famous enough and has received good reviews. Cao Yang is also very famous, and the main award of the strategy is only the Best Director. He is not planning to win all the awards at once, so the chances are quite good.

It all depends on whether Columbia is sincere in its operations.

Cao Yang didn't know that President Han and Columbia were determined to give him a surprise.

It was not until February 2, less than ten days before the Oscars ceremony on the 18th, that Cao Yang, who had just finished writing the script for Black Swan, suddenly received a call from President Han.

"Junior brother, what have you been busy with recently?" President Han asked with a smile on the phone, and his tone sounded very relaxed and comfortable.

"I've been busy writing a script recently."

After hearing what Cao Yang said, President Han's heart moved, and he couldn't help but ask tentatively: "2012?"

He had heard Tom Rothman complain, both true and false. The old man had come to China just to help with the project of this film, but he had not yet been able to achieve his wish.

Could it be that my junior brother already knows that I and Tom Rothman are working on the Oscar for Best Director?
"No, it's a pure art film, not an experimental film, nor a commercial film," Cao Yang explained.

President Han instantly had the same thought as Tom Rossman.

However, as a director of an orthodox background, after dispelling this inappropriate thought, President Han actually felt that it was the "right path" for Cao Yang to make a pure art film again!
Then he shook his head and laughed at himself, thinking that he was becoming less and less like an orthodox director. He felt a little guilty about the idea that came to his mind at the first moment.

President Han quickly changed the subject and said, "Junior brother, pack your luggage, let's go to America and visit Oscar."

"Why go there..."

Cao Yang just said this, and then he remembered that "District 9" has been a hot topic in the United States recently. This is definitely not a normal phenomenon. Colombia wants to win an Oscar?
In fact, science fiction movies with literary and artistic attributes like "District 9" may have very good reputation and reviews, but in the subsequent disc market, they still cannot sell as well as B-level blood films and action movies.

What is Colombia trying to achieve?

Even if it wins an Oscar, it won't have much impact on the subsequent disc market.

Do you want to make "District 9" a classic?

Or maybe... for yourself?
"Brother, Columbia is running an award for District 9?"

President Han burst into laughter.

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

President Han first praised Cao Yang a little, and then made sure not to leave out the credit for his own contribution.

“I feel like District 9 broke our domestic box office record, and if it doesn’t win any more awards, I feel like something is missing.

So I discussed it with Rothman, and China Film and Columbia Film Group will work together to do their best to help you get the best director.

Haha, your film "Mean Milk" won the Oscar for Best Picture. If "District 9" also wins the Best Director award, it will be perfect."

There is one thing Mr. Han didn't say. As long as Cao Yang wins the Oscar for Best Director again, no one in the country will be able to shake his position.

By then, Cao Yang will be a leading director in Hollywood and even in the world, and a director with both good reputation and box office success.

Cao Yang thought about it and then shook his head. Even with Colombia's help, it might not be that easy.

The Oscars awarded the Best Picture to "Mean Milk" last year, so it would be hard for them to give the Best Director award to a Chinese like me this year.

This is also the reason why Cao Yang had not planned to go to the United States to attend the Oscars.

(End of this chapter)