Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 240 Request
Xiao Gangpao waved his hand and sent the reluctant Shou Bing away.

Zhang Jingchu took a step forward and then stepped back. She found that Xiao Gangpao did not leave and seemed to want to talk to Director Cao alone.

At the same time, she also observed that there were many people who shared the same ideas as her.

The actress who fell during the award ceremony must have had the same idea as her.

Because the other party had already walked several steps towards Director Cao, after realizing that Little Cannon had no intention of leaving, he couldn't stop himself and walked around him, then returned to his original position.

There was another person who surprised her a little, the youngest award presenter, whose name seemed to be Liu Yifei, a little girl who has been quite popular in the past two years.

It wasn't that she wanted to get closer to Director Cao, but her mother, who was always with him, also turned back halfway.

The competition is fierce!
Zhang Jingchu couldn't help but sigh.

After thinking about it and observing for a while, she turned and left without waiting here.

With so many people here, even if I rush over first, it probably won't be of much use. I might as well think of other ways.

Shou Bing can go with director Xiao Gangpao. He can ask Zhang Jiarui, the director of "The Bride", to take him there. Director Zhang should not refuse.

It is a convenient thing for Director Zhang, and he can also owe him a favor. Director Zhang can also take the opportunity to improve his relationship with Director Cao, which is a win-win situation.

Xiao Gangpao looked around and saw that those who were nearby were actors who wanted to meet Cao Yang. These people were very tactful and all took the initiative to move away.

It was obvious that Little Cannon wanted to talk to Director Cao about some private matters. Although they really wanted to listen, they still suppressed their curiosity very well. Little Cannon was not someone they could afford to offend.

"Lao Cao..."

"Stop, what do you mean by Lao Cao? I'm still so young, how can I be Lao Cao?"

Cao Yang interrupted Xiao Gangpao and said with a helpless smile.

"Then I'll call you Xiao Cao?"

The little steel cannon became more energetic, grinning and saying, "You said you were young, didn't you? Then it's settled, little..."

"Okay, okay, Lao Cao is Lao Cao."

Cao Yang said speechlessly: "You used to call me Director Cao."

"With our relationship, it would be strange."

The little cannon put his arm around Cao Yang's shoulders and said with his teeth bared.

"Okay, Gangzi." Cao Yang said with a smile.

Xiao Gangpao originally wanted to refute, but then he thought that even if he refuted, at most he would just be called Lao Feng. Lao Feng was not much different from Gangzi, so it didn't matter.

"I have been polishing the script with Lao Sheng and Lao Qiu recently. We want to make our own Hamlet."

Xiao Gangpao was very excited when he mentioned this. After looking at Cao Yang's reaction, he was a little disappointed that the other party did not react.

He could only continue: "Huayi is cooperating with Media Asia Film Company in Hong Kong, with a large investment, there are two..."

The little cannon originally wanted to say that he had 20 million US dollars.

But as soon as I said the word "two", I realized that the investment of 1.8 million US dollars is nothing compared to the other party's million US dollars for "Inception", not even a fraction of it. Why should I show off?

Alas, boring.

However, thinking of his own backstage team, he regained some confidence and quickly said:

"The people who collaborated this time are all Oscar-level behind-the-scenes talent, including Yuan Heping, Tan Dun, Yip Kam Tin, Sheng Heyu, Zhang Li, and so on..."

"No, Gangzi, why are you telling me this? Are you showing off?"

Cao Yang already knew what the little cannon was going to shoot.

It is probably because he saw that Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" had good box office performance, his own "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" was even a huge hit, and Kai Ge's "The Promise" is about to complete post-production.

Xiao Gangpao couldn't sit still anymore. He prided himself on being one of the top four directors in China. The other three all had costume blockbusters, and if he couldn't keep up, he would not be considered one of the top four directors.

"My show-off fart!"

Xiao Gangpao glared at him, then smiled and said, "Lao Cao, I want to ask you a favor. We are brothers, so you will definitely not refuse, right?"

"What do you think."

Cao Yang didn't agree immediately, as he wasn't sure what Xiao Gangpao was up to.

He talked so much about the new movie, it must be related to this, but Cao Yang really couldn't think of what he would ask him for.

It’s definitely not a funding issue. Huayi and Media Asia can still come up with this amount of money.

It's impossible for him to ask me to write a script for him, because as long as I write a script for him, if the movie sells well, people will say that the script is good.

If a movie fails, people will say that his director is an idiot who couldn't make a good movie even with a good script.

There's nothing I can do about it, it's because he's not as famous as me.

Xiao Gangpao said in a low voice a little embarrassedly: "I still want to continue to cooperate with Xiaoran, and want to ask her to play the leading female role. She said she would consider it before, but just now, she firmly rejected me.

Lao Cao, I know you have a good relationship with Li Xiaoran, can you help my brother persuade her?"

Cao Yang looked at Xiao Gangpao in confusion, what do you mean?
He was too lazy to guess, so he just said, "Gangzi, you are married, and you know very well the relationship between Xiaoran and me."

After hearing what Cao Yang said, Little Cannon slapped his thigh. "Hey! Old Cao, what the hell are you thinking? Go to Sijiu City and ask around to find out who I am. How could I possibly do something worse than pigs and dogs? You... Hey!"

Cao Yang looked at the little cannon and continued to warn:

"Gangzi, don't blame me for not reminding you. If you dare to have any bad intentions, I will save Inception next year and focus on your new movie, and arrange for it to be released on the same day. You know I can make the decision.

Then it’s the year after next, the year after that, and every year…”

"Stop, you are born in the year of the dog, right?"

The little cannon rolled his eyes. He really didn't have such an idea.

He is not stupid, so how could he offend Cao Yang for a woman?

If he wants a woman, why can't he find one?

He is not bragging. In the domestic entertainment circle, including Hong Kong Wanwan, as long as he beckons with his fingers, a lot of people will take off their clothes and book a room to wait for him.

"Let me be frank, I think Li Xiaoran is the most cost-effective actor for me.

You know it's not easy for my movies to sell at a good price in the U.S. Even if I find an actress like Zhang Ziyi to be the leading actress, it's still the same because she doesn't have much box office appeal in the U.S.

But Li Xiaoran is different. She really has a market in Europe. People in Europe still recognize the Berlin Film Queen very much.

In addition, Li Xiaoran's aura is really suitable for the heroine of my movie. She has good acting skills and has worked with me in "A World Without Thieves". I really want to continue working with her."

Xiao Gangpao explained seriously that these were his real thoughts. His movie needed an actress with a strong aura, and Li Xiaoran was the most suitable one.

"Xiao Ran rejected you?"

Cao Yang asked, and then he remembered that Li Xiaoran didn't win anything at the film festival tonight, and he even explained to her why it was not easy for Xiao Gangpao's current films to win awards...

Li Xiaoran was bullied by Gao Yuanyuan tonight, and she must be very angry. The little cannon has walked into trouble.

Cao Yang considered whether to let Xiaoran take on this movie.

The reviews of Xiao Gangpao's "Night Banquet" are polarized. From the perspective of the movie's plot, it is another fucking love triangle, a political intrigue film whose depth is weakened by the love triangle.

The plot form is more important than the content, and the pursuit of a sense of ritual leads to a slow pace, which is very fragmented.

Cao Yang felt ashamed when thinking about the love triangle.

His own "Nine-Tailed Fox", Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers", and Kai Ge's "The Promise" which has not yet been released, including Xiao Gangpao's "The Banquet", and Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower"...

These all have love triangle plots.

Fortunately, "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" at least told the story clearly and received good reviews. The rest...

However, Xiao Gangpao's "Night Banquet" also has its good side. The film's lighting, scenes, costumes, etc. are all top-notch. The restoration of the background of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the oriental adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy give the picture a cold and magnificent epic feeling.

In other words, this movie is indeed as Xiao Gangpao boasted, with a strong team behind the scenes.

The story just wasn't told clearly. Even though the screenwriter was Qiu Gangjian, who has won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay twice, it's useless.

Maybe it’s the little cannon’s literary youth syndrome that’s breaking out?
If Li Xiaoran takes on this movie, as long as she performs well, the audience will only scold the director.

With Li Xiaoran's current acting skills, it should not be a problem for her to play the leading female role in "Night Banquet".

We'll see what Xiaoran thinks when the time comes. If she does, she'll have another movie with a box office of over 100 million yuan.

"Okay, I'll ask for you and see what she means."

Cao Yang thought for a moment and reminded: "Let's make it clear first, if Xiao Ran is willing to take the role, we have to find a double for all the passionate scenes, otherwise..."

"How about you use Inception on me, okay?"

The little cannon said with a smile.

At this moment, there was a sudden chaos in the meeting, and then the noise became quieter.

Cao Yang saw that the senior leaders of the Film Bureau, the senior leaders of the Beijing Propaganda Department, and the secretary and president of Beijing Normal University all came in.

"Director Cao, I want to discuss something with you and ask for your opinion."

The senior leader of the Beijing Propaganda Department said to Cao Yang.

The little cannon was very observant. He greeted the big shot from Beijing with a big smile on his face, then walked away.

After they were some distance away, Xiao Gangpao saw the powerful boss chatting and laughing with Cao Yang, and he couldn't help but feel envious.

I have to admit that Cao Yang's status is indeed higher than mine now, and he can talk to such a big shot.

You know, this big guy is not only one of the biggest leaders in Beijing, but also the vice chairman of the 08 Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee.

Xiao Gangpao's heart moved. Recently, the Olympic Committee had announced that it would invite bids for the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Could it be that this big shot was looking for Cao Yang at this time about the chief director?

He had heard from President Da Wang a while ago that according to President Han's private revelation, the Olympic Committee intended to make Cao Yang the chief director, but Cao Yang refused.

He even privately mocked Cao Yang with President Da Wang for being ungrateful.

What exactly is the matter that this big guy is looking for Cao Yang about?

The little cannon felt a little itchy and wished he was right next to them.

(End of this chapter)