Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 25 I am narrow-minded

In the evening, Cao Yang found a private restaurant and called Tian Zhuangzhuang to have a drink together.

Old Tian took a sip of wine and said while picking up some food: "I went to the bank this afternoon and was shocked. Wow, there's 500,000 yuan there. Are you trying to bribe me?"

"Go away, you are a freeloader at the Beijing Film Studio, I won't bribe you. You know I made some money from selling copyrights overseas, this is given to you by the producer. This domestic project is initiated by the two of us, we will talk about it after the box office is down."

Cao Yang explained with a smile, "Let me make it clear first, you will not get any share of the profits abroad. It is my ability that won the award. I was originally thinking of giving you the money after the movie is released in China, but who would have thought that I would encounter a problem and would like to ask you for advice, so I might as well give it to you first to avoid you hiding it and fooling me."

Lao Tian's hand holding the chopsticks paused for a moment, and the food on the chopsticks fell on the table. He picked up the chopsticks again and put them into his mouth, feeling mixed emotions.

He had never thought about these things from the beginning. When Teacher Situ gave the order, he was just helping out and had never thought about getting a share of the money.

The project was completed, and he was only happy, firstly because Mr. Situ still had a good vision, and secondly because he was considered a "Bo Le". He never thought that this young man was so honest and actually regarded him as the project initiator.

"Then you are really good at judging people. If I didn't have this bonus, I would definitely hold back. I am a person who eats and takes. Tell me what's going on. I will give you some advice."

“I wrote a script…”

"What?" Old Tian's eyes widened, his face showing an expression of extreme surprise.

"You have a new project so soon? Why don't you take a few days off and study? You are still a student. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's just a script. The project hasn't started yet."

Cao Yang took a bite of the food and said, "Besides, you are my favorite supporting actor and full-time photographer. How can I start a project without you?"

Should I tell you that the market is going to pick up, a wave of commercial films is coming, and I need to take advantage of the next two years to build up my reputation and accumulate capital - even if I tell you, you may not believe it.

"Get lost, when did I become your man? Even a full-time photographer? I'm a director, director, do you understand?"

"Then why haven't I seen you guide for so many years?"

"You deserve a beating, don't you? Besides, I will be released from the ban next year."

"Then will you come?"

Lao Tian took a sip of wine and smacked his lips, "Come on."

"That's it."

Cao Yang then talked about the problems he encountered. "There are a few places in the script that are difficult to pass the review. I have a solution, but I haven't decided which one to use. I want to hear your opinion."

"You said."

"First, change it! Change everything that cannot pass the review. There is a paragraph among them..."

"Stop talking nonsense. If it's that easy to change, you wouldn't need to talk about it here." Lao Tian took a bite of food and said while chewing, "Just tell me the second solution."

"Change the location of the story, such as Hong Kong."

"Sure, as long as it doesn't affect the viewing experience of the movie, then change it. What's there to hesitate about?"

Cao Yang understood what Lao Tian meant. Some movies cannot be replaced with Hong Kong ones even if they do not pass the review. For example, the rural themes that the fifth-generation directors like to shoot would be obviously out of place if replaced.

"But I want to go to Venice this year. If I go to Hong Kong to shoot, I definitely won't have enough time."

"You want to go to Venice?"

Old Tian was stunned for a moment. The young man had a really big appetite. He had just been to Berlin and now he wanted to go to Venice. I really didn’t know whether to say he was confident or arrogant.

Cao Yang counted on his fingers for Lao Tian.

"The Venice Film Festival will start on August 8, and the deadline for registration for the main competition unit should be in June. Even if we cut in line with the internal investment, we have to do it before the announcement of the films selected for the main competition unit, and it must not be later than August."

"We need to allow at least one month for film review, plus preparation, which leaves us with a little more than three months for filming and post-production." Yes, Cao Yang is also qualified to "jump the queue."

The registration deadline for the main competition unit is usually three months before the opening of the film festival. However, that is for ordinary filmmakers. Some films by "special" directors are not subject to the registration deadline.

Directors like Cao Yang, who have won awards in the main competition units of the three major European film festivals, will receive special treatment when they go to the three major European film festivals again.

As long as you are sure to participate, inform the organizing committee and submit your entry before the main competition unit announces the shortlisted entries. There is a special review channel.

Old Tian looked at Cao Yang like he was an idiot and said with disdain, "Who says that things that happen in Hong Kong must be filmed in Hong Kong? The beginning of your last movie took place abroad, why didn't you film it abroad instead of in Ludong Island?"

Ok?
Whoops!
Cao Yang patted his forehead, somewhat influenced by inertial thinking. Because it was too close, he always felt that things that happened in Hong Kong should be filmed in Hong Kong.

Old Tian took a sip of wine leisurely and continued, "Of course, doing this may make those arrogant Hong Kong filmmakers unhappy, but you can make a compromise. You can put two Hong Kong actors in the crew and it will be acceptable on the surface."

This is a good idea. Cao Yang thought it made sense, so he did it.

Then Lao Tian suggested: "In fact, there is an even simpler way. Shoot two versions, review one version, and use the other version to participate in the film festival. Many people have done this."

Cao Yang refused without even thinking about it. He was kidding. He didn't want to be targeted by the higher-ups. Otherwise, he would become the focus of special attention. The film censorship had been stuck for half a year. Where could he go to seek justice?

After dinner, Cao Yang looked at the time. Fortunately, it was not too late, so he took a taxi to where Li Xiaoran lived. The two of them agreed to go there that night.

The two met, washed up before dinner, and then had a big meal.

After a long time, Li Xiaoran lazily lay in Cao Yang's arms, her hand slowly slid down, grasped the key point, and said with some resentment: "You are struggling with me here, and she wants it when she goes back, can you still do it?"

hiss……

You are addicted to acting and don’t plan to leave, right?

Or do you just like this tune?
Also, never doubt the body of young men in their twenties. They are tough enough in what they say and do, which is not comparable to those who soak wolfberries in a thermos cup.

Let’s continue and show you the strength of young people.

An hour later, Li Xiaoran calmed down, slapped Cao Yang's dishonest hand away, and said weakly, "Stop messing around, I have something important to ask you."

"Isn't this our business?"

Li Xiaoran slapped Cao Yang's hand away again, "Be good, I'm afraid of you, okay? I really have something to do, please stop making trouble, I really can't take it anymore."

Cao Yang stopped his hand at the undulating mountains, "What's the matter?"

As soon as she finished asking, Li Xiaoran narrowed her eyes visibly, with a little pride on her face, "The national master invested 30 million US dollars in a blockbuster and sent me an audition invitation."

When Cao Yang heard that it was a blockbuster produced by the national master, he knew what Li Xiaoran was talking about.

The national master is currently preparing for the movie "Hero". I talked about this with Lao Tian today. Lao Tian despised the national master for being "degenerate" and actually going so far as to make a commercial film.

This is the general attitude of academic directors towards commercial films so far.

Let’s put it this way, if Cao Yang had taken the script of a commercial film and gone to find Old Situ.

Old Situ's attitude was probably to flip through the script casually, then put it down and said earnestly: "Your script has too much commercial flavor and not enough humanistic care. Next time you write a script, you must think more, read more, calm down, and pay more attention to human nature and society..."

Then there is no more then.

What a joke, you got a “vulgar” commercial film script and you want a teacher to help you?

This is where?

This is the Beijing Film Academy's Directing Department, a place dedicated to cultivating directors with humanistic care.

　Thank you brothers for your monthly tickets and recommendations, thank you for your support, thank you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)