Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 320 The Scene I Imagined

As the de facto head of China Film Group, President Han pays close attention to information from Hollywood, especially information concerning Cao Yang.

For example, there is the Hollywood script blacklist, which few people know about.

This is a list of the best unproduced screenplays, selected by professionals such as Hollywood directors, producers, and film company executives since last year, 2005.

It is released annually.

Domestically, let alone paying attention to it, probably very few people even know that such a thing exists.

But it just so happens that President Han paid attention to it.

The reason is simple: seven parts of "Cao Yang's Fantastic Journey" were listed as unproduced scripts.

Just the other day, President Han was marveling at how amazing Cao Yang was, and then he received another piece of news: Disney held a press conference for its new movie. But that's not the key point. The key point is that Cao Yang has become the producer, screenwriter, and director of the new movie!

This is yet another mega-production with an investment of $1.6 million.

The moment President Han heard the news, his first reaction was actually heartache—my dear junior brother was making a new film and didn't even invite me!
He quickly dismissed the thought and returned to reason.

He understood that this wasn't Columbia, this was Disney.

Of all the film companies in Hollywood, Columbia Pictures was the only one willing to accept investment from China Film Group.

When other companies asked if they needed investment, they would politely indicate that they did not lack funds after learning China Film Group's identity.

They're not short of funds?
Mr. Han knew that some of those companies that claimed to have no shortage of funds had even received other funding for their new films shortly after rejecting China Film Group's offer.

Mr. Han was both angry and helpless.

He really couldn't understand why this was happening. Even a private film company like Huayi could invest in movies in Hollywood, so why wasn't China Film Group's money valuable?

He roughly calculated the time difference and figured it would be fine to make a call at this time, so he thought he would ask Cao Yang for his opinion on the "Hollywood script blacklist".

"Ha, senior brother, I was just thinking about you, and then you called."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

"Haha, it's been a while since I called my junior brother. I just saw something interesting and thought I'd congratulate you."

Mr. Han glanced down at the so-called Hollywood script blacklist and said with a smile.

"Oh, senior brother also knows about my collaboration with Disney?"

Cao Yang thought that President Han was referring to this matter.

Mr. Han was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Congratulations, junior brother, on producing another super big production. Among Chinese people, you are the only one who has the ability to attract directors with budgets of over 100 million US dollars."

However, that wasn't what I originally wanted to talk about. I saw something about a Hollywood blacklist of screenplays, and my junior has seven novels on it. Congratulations, junior!

It turns out to be this thing.

The "Hollywood Blacklist" may not be widely known, but it is an important reference for Hollywood producers and film companies, and is considered somewhat authoritative.

"I didn't expect my senior to have paid attention to such an obscure list."

Upon hearing Cao Yang's words, President Han quickly replied with a smile, "Among the Chinese, my junior brother is doing the best in Hollywood. As his senior, of course I have to care about everything concerning him."

After saying that, perhaps feeling a bit cheesy, he added, "Junior Brother, you take such good care of your senior brother, so of course I have to keep an eye on you to prevent you from being bullied outside." Cao Yang felt that President Han was acting a bit strange today; given his status, he shouldn't be saying so many deliberate things.

That means something's wrong.

"Senior brother, we're on the same side, so just say what's on your mind."

Mr. Han also felt that he had spoken a bit too deliberately, so he laughed awkwardly for a while to ease the tension.

"Junior brother, I want to ask you something. You know a lot about Hollywood, so why are many Hollywood film companies reluctant to cooperate with China Film Group?"

There are clearly many films raising funds, but as soon as they hear it's from China Film Group, many are rejected outright. I've never understood this.

Cao Yang thought for a moment and then gave a simple explanation.

"Senior brother, if a Hollywood movie raises too much money, it will basically lose money even if the box office is very good. If China Film Group invests in it, it will be difficult for them to make it lose money, because they still have their eyes on the Chinese market, and they are afraid of being retaliated against by China Film Group."

Of course, senior, this isn't the norm. They have many sources of funding for a film, but their attitude towards different types of funding differs.

President Han is a very smart person; he understood immediately after Cao Yang explained it to him in just a few words.

Damn, I never knew Hollywood was this dark!

They're ruthless and heartless. How could they have thought so highly of Americans and Hollywood?

"Then, without my junior brother, China Film Group should be careful when collaborating with Hollywood."

Mr. Han muttered something.

You don't have to.

Cao Yang really wanted to say this: Hollywood also plays favorites. As long as a Hollywood film company still has its eye on the Chinese market, who the hell would dare to cheat China Film Group? Do they not want their movies to be shown in China?

Even though China Film Group has implemented a series of policies that "discriminate" against Hollywood films, treating Hollywood like a thief, Hollywood film companies still treat China Film Group with the attitude of "China Film Group may mistreat me a thousand times, but I will still love China Film Group as my first love."

"By the way, junior, about that 'New Pirates of the Caribbean' movie you collaborated on with Disney..."

Mr. Han asked softly. What he originally wanted to ask was, what's the situation with your collaboration with Disney on "New Pirates of the Caribbean"?
But before he could finish speaking, Cao Yang said with a smile:

"What's wrong, senior brother? China Film Group wants to invest, right? Let me make it clear first, because this movie is a remake and the original was a failure, I'm not entirely confident that it will be successful. Senior brother, if you want China Film Group to invest, you should think it through carefully."

To be honest, President Han was truly stunned after hearing Cao Yang's words.

Then I was deeply moved. This is my junior brother! This is my real junior brother!
I haven't even mentioned investing yet. I just learned the inside story of Hollywood rejecting China Film Group. I was thinking that Disney would also refuse to let China Film Group invest for the same reason.

The junior apprentice casually uttered such thoughtful words.

I imagine that my junior brother went to great lengths and made numerous arguments with Disney in order to secure investment from China Film Group.
President Han could even imagine that Cao Yang might threaten to cease cooperation because of this matter…

"Junior brother, please don't be in a difficult position. It doesn't matter whether China Film Group invests or not. You must not fall out with Disney over this matter, that's not what I want to see."

President Han quickly stated that this was his true feeling.

"What are you saying, senior brother? Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. As long as China Film Group is willing to invest after careful consideration, everything will be fine."

At this moment, President Han was moved to tears. He once again vowed in his heart that as long as he was still alive, he would never let his junior brother suffer any injustice.

(End of this chapter)