Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 253 Film Festival Kicks Off
In the evening, Marco Muller drove Cao Yang to a restaurant with Japanese signs.

Cao Yang looked at Lao Ma in some surprise. It would be understandable if Lao Ma took him to eat authentic Italian food or Chinese food, but why a Japanese restaurant?
Old Ma saw Cao Yang's confusion, laughed, and said, "I'll take you to eat some 'authentic' food."

He also deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "authentic".

Well, Cao Yang would like to see what it really is.

In fact, eating food abroad is also a good choice. Those restaurants that claim to serve so-called authentic Chinese food may taste a little strange. The sushi, rice balls, ramen and eel rice can at least fill people up.

However, after tasting it, Cao Yang became even more confused.

There is a restaurant in Beijing run by Xiao Rizi. He has eaten there. The chef is said to be the descendant of Xiao Rizi and is said to be relatively authentic.

Why does the taste of this place claiming to serve authentic Japanese food seem different?
"what about the taste?"

Old Ma asked with a smile.

"It's a bit weird." Cao Yang didn't know how to describe the taste of these dishes, but it was definitely different from what he had eaten before.

"Haha, I thought you would like it. I think it tastes pretty good."

Lao Ma ate a piece of sashimi and said with a smile: "The locals think it tastes good. Many people think that this is Chinese food that suits European tastes very well."

"Uh, Lao Ma, you may have misunderstood one thing. Japanese cuisine is for everyday life."

Cao Yang looked at Lao Ma with some confusion. Lao Ma had been in China for so many years, how could he not know that Japanese cuisine was a daily routine?
"No, no, you don't know. In Venice, well, including the whole of Italy, almost most of these restaurants are owned by Chinese people, and the chefs are also Chinese people. Haha, you can't imagine it, right?"

Lao Ma explained with a smile: “So, many people think that cooking is the food in Chinese cuisine that is more in line with Western tastes.”

Okay, as long as you like it.

"Old Ma, you seem to be in a good mood."

Cao Yang skipped the topic of food. Lao Ma was in the mood to make fun of this. Is the matter settled?
"good."

Lao Ma hesitated for a moment and said, "The thing you specifically requested has been sorted out."

"Are there any clues? In other words, are there any conditions?"

Cao Yang heard the hidden meaning in Lao Ma's words.

Lao Ma nodded and explained: "If Black Swan wants to win the Best Actress award, it has two biggest competitors. One is called The Beast Within, and the leading actress is Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno.

The other is called "Gabrielle," and the heroine is French actress Isabelle Huppert. In addition, both films have Italian backgrounds and are produced by Italian film companies. "

Cao Yang nodded. He understood that Lao Ma emphasized Italian funding and background. After all, the Venice Film Festival belongs to Italy. As long as there are good films from their own country, there will definitely be some bias in the awards.

Lao Ma continued: "You should have heard of Isabelle Huppert, the queen of European literature and art, who has won numerous awards, including the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival twice and the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival twice.

Many people in the film festival supported her this time, hoping that she would win the Venice Film Festival Best Actress Award for the third time, overshadowing her two wins at the Cannes Film Festival. I think you understand what they mean. "

Cao Yang nodded again. Isn’t it just to compete with Cannes and create a gimmick?

"Another contender is Giovanna Mezzogiorno, who has the advantage of being Italian and performing very well in The Beast Within."

"If we put aside "Black Swan", how did you plan to deal with this matter?" Cao Yang asked curiously.

Old Ma smiled mysteriously.

"If you want to create a gimmick, let's do a big one. Isabelle Huppert has won the Silver Lion for Best Actress twice at the Venice Film Festival. Since this is the third time, let's give her a Golden Lion. I've even thought of a name for it: the Special Golden Lion."

The Silver Lion was replaced by the Golden Lion, which should be a great honor for Isabelle Huppert.

At the same time, it also created a big hype for the Venice Film Festival.

"In other words, the biggest competitor now is the Italian Giovanna Mezzogiorno?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment and asked Lao Ma, "You haven't mentioned the so-called details and conditions yet."

"You know, there are a few official people on the jury to ensure the ownership of the Golden Lion. These people are not all my people. As the chairman of the jury, Dante Ferretti also knows the existence of these people.

So, if you want to win the Best Actress award for Black Swan, it’s better for these people not to bring it up first. We need an outsider, preferably an American, to bring it up first, and then my people can follow up.”

Glancing at Cao Yang, Lao Ma said, "I have contacted Claire Denis's agent. Her agent can ask her to support Black Swan and win the Best Actress Award, but there is a condition. I want to work with you once."

"Claire Danes?"

Cao Yang thought for a long time but still couldn't remember who this person was.

Lao Ma also thought about it, mainly recalling the information he had read about this actress before coming here, and finally remembered the most memorable point.

"Claire Danes worked with Leo DiCaprio in the movie Romeo and Juliet. She played Juliet and was named one of the 97 most beautiful women in the world by People magazine in 50."

Since she was selected as one of the top 50 beauties by People magazine, she must have looked good, at least when she was young.

"How old is she?" Cao Yang asked.

"Twenty years old, huh? Definitely no more than thirty."

Cao Yang sorted out the information and decided that being able to act opposite Leo at least proved that she still has a certain degree of fame. She is now under 30 years old, which is the most "brilliant" time for European and American women.

However, that’s not necessarily true. Some European and American girls’ looks start to decline sharply before they reach 30. It’s better to look at their appearance first before making a decision.

Cao Yang and Lao Ma came out of their meal and unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance.

"Director Cao?"

Cao Yang turned his head and saw several people coming out from another private room. Leading them was Xu Ke, the director of Seven Swords, who was called by Sun Honglei next to him.

"It's really you, Director Cao. I didn't expect to see you here."

Sun Honglei stood out from the crowd, quickly stretched out his hand to shake hands with Cao Yang, and said with a smile.

He played a role in Cao Yang's debut film "Alone on the Beach at Night" and is quite familiar with Cao Yang.

"Hello Director Cao, are you guys coming to eat too?"

Xu Ke shook hands with Cao Yang, then looked at the foreigner next to Cao Yang and felt that he looked familiar.

"Yeah, Mueller said the sushi here is good, so we came over to try it."

Hearing the word "Mueller", Xu Ke suddenly remembered who this foreigner was, and quickly extended his hand and said in English: "Hello, Mr. Mueller, nice to meet you."

Xu Ke had a brief chat with Mueller. It was obvious that he kept talking, and Mueller smiled and nodded. "Hello, Director Cao, nice to meet you." Zhen Zidan said.

"Hello, Director Cao, I'm Yang Caini."

"Hello Director Cao, nice to meet you."

Zhang Jingchu smiled and said that last time at the College Student Film Festival, Zhang Jiarui, the director of "The Flower Waist Bride", introduced Cao Yang to her, but they didn't talk much.

"It's an honor to meet you. I'm South Korean actress Kim So-yeon."

The Korean actress bent down and stretched out her hand to shake hands with Cao Yang, with a very humble attitude.

In Korea, directors, especially big directors, are the top figures in the entertainment industry and have the highest status, followed by movie actors > TV actors > singers > idols/variety show hosts.

In other words, those so-called idol Oppas have the lowest status in their eyes and are looked down upon and bullied by their seniors.

There is currently no international director in South Korea with such a great influence as Cao Yang.

Yang Cai Ni looked at Jin Su Yan strangely, not quite understanding why she suddenly became so "humble". This South Korean female star was not like this when she first met director Xu Ke.

This is actually a cognitive bias caused by information.

Just like in China, in the eyes of many ordinary people, Cao Yang is a big director at the same level as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Xiao Gangpao, and at most he is only slightly better than the latter three.

At this time, people in Hong Kong generally "looked down" on the mainland, and the media were reluctant to report on Cao Yang, whose influence had long surpassed that of Hong Kong directors.

Therefore, many Hong Kong actors who do not pay much attention to the mainland generally believe that Cao Yang is a director of the same level as Xu Ke.

This was the recognition after "District 9" became a huge hit in Hong Kong and broke box office records in mainland China.

Before, they always regarded Cao Yang as an art film director.

Instead, it is people from South Korea, Xiaorizi and other places who know how big Cao Yang's status is and how far-reaching his influence is.

Of course, those directors and actors in Hong Kong who are developing their careers outside or in the north also know how great Cao Yang's influence is. Just like Zhen Zidan, he was not at all surprised by Kim So-yeon's behavior.

When Cao Yang and Lao Ma were about to leave, Xu Ke quickly extended an invitation, wanting Cao Yang to come and support them tomorrow.

Cao Yang agreed without much thought. Although "Seven Swords" and "Crazy Stone" were competitors in China, they became family when they went abroad.

Yang Caini saw Xu Ke was still staring at the place where the two had left, and couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you know that foreigner?"

"Master" is Xu Ke's nickname, and many people in Hong Kong call him that.

It is said that Xu Ke set up his studio in a small villa in Kowloon Tong, which had a garden and a pond. Every day when he arrived at the studio, he would habitually put on casual clothes and slippers, and then take time to go to the pond, sit there, feed the fish and think about the script.

At that time, his wife saw Tsui Hark's state every day and thought that this guy was just an old man, so she jokingly called him "Lao Ye". Thus, the nickname "Lao Ye" spread.

Xu Ke glared at Yang Caini and really wanted to cover her mouth.

He ignored Yang Caini and said to everyone, "Let's go."

Then he walked outside.

Zhen Zidan looked at Yang Caini who looked innocent, and whispered, "I know the person with Director Cao. He is Mark Muller, the president of the Venice Film Festival."

Yang Caini's eyes widened with a look of shock.

Is that foreigner so powerful?
"Director Cao Yang is so lucky to know such a big shot."

Yang Caini sighed.

In fact, it's not her fault for making a fuss. She is similar to Zhang Min. Both of them made a comeback after retiring from the screen. She retired from the screen in 97 to go into business, and then her company lost money and couldn't continue. She started to make a comeback in filming the year before last.

The only thing that makes her better than Zhang Min is that her road to comeback seems particularly smooth.

The first movie after his comeback was Cheng Long's "New Police Story", and the second was Xu Ke's "Seven Swords".

No one has this resource anymore.

Zhen Zidan also wanted to cover her mouth.

"Director Cao's new film is called Inception. Have you heard of this blockbuster with a $1.8 million investment?
Cheng Long, Li Lianjie, Shen Xianfa, and I all wanted to join the film, but Director Cao didn't think highly of us. I heard that Cheng Long and Li Lianjie used many connections, but they still couldn't convince Director Cao.

By the way, you should know Wu Qihua. Because of his relationship with Director Cao, Wu Qihua took on several of Director Cao's films, and then his value increased dramatically. His salary increased from the initial offer of more than 300 Hong Kong dollars to the current offer of million US dollars. "

Yang Cai Ni looked confused. She could understand what Zhen Zidan said, but her brain suddenly froze up and she was unable to comprehend the meaning of these few simple sentences.

威尼斯当地时间8月31日晚7点，京城时间9月1日凌晨1点，《七剑》作为威尼斯电影节开幕影片，正式亮相。

Xu Ke, Shi Nansheng, Zhen Zidan, Sun Honglei, Jin Suyan, Zhang Jingchu, Yang Caini and others all made appearances.

Since they were not selected for the main competition unit and did not enter other units, it was impossible for them to win any awards. The biggest reason why so many people from the "Seven Swords" crew came was to sell the film.

Influenced by "Crazy Stone", the final box office of "Seven Swords" in China was only 1.4 million, far below expectations. It was impossible to recover the cost of million Hong Kong dollars by relying solely on box office, and it could only rely on selling copyrights.

When Cao Yang brought Dong Xuan, Lu Yi and Huang Xiaoming here, the crew of "Seven Swords" finally saw what influence was.

All the foreign media followed Cao Yang for an interview, and the audience also joined in the fun, shouting “Cao, Cao, Cao”.

For a moment, the media seemed to have forgotten that this was the home studio of Seven Swords and left all the crew members out in the cold.

Only now did Yang Caini personally understand what Zhen Zidan said, and it turned out that it was not an exaggeration at all.

Although "Master", a director who is so famous in Hong Kong and the mainland, is no different from an ordinary director when he arrives in Europe, but all the European and American media who come here know Cao Yang and want to get news from him.

This is influence.

Zhang Jingchu looked at Cao Yang who was being chased by the media, her eyes flashing, and thoughts in her mind took root and sprouted wildly.

On September 9, Cao Yang originally wanted to go alone to support Li Yu's "Red Beauty".

Dong Xuan had no choice but to follow.

Cao Yang advised her, "Not all movies are like Seven Swords. Li Yu's Beauty is an art film. Are you sure you want to watch it?"

Dong Xuan chuckled and said, "Are you trying to say that her movie has nude scenes? What's wrong with that?"

She thought to herself, I have studied all the action movies of my childhood just for you, can this movie be more perverted than my childhood Tokyo Hot?
Cao Yang smiled and said, okay, just don’t regret it.

(End of this chapter)