Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 341 Cooperation
When Cao Yang heard that Xiao Gangpao wanted to adapt the novel "The Lawsuit" into a movie, he asked him about it.

"You served in the military, what do you think of this novel?"

Little Cannon replied with a smile, "Novels inevitably involve artistic embellishment."

"How do you plan to film it? Stay true to the original work?" Cao Yang asked again.

Little Cannon didn't think much about it at the time and said without even considering it:
"Of course, it should be faithful to the original work. I spent so much money to buy the adaptation rights. If I were to spend a lot of time and energy researching historical materials, and I didn't even know where to find the information, I would be a fool to buy the adaptation rights."

"You really are just bored and have nothing better to do."

Cao Yang bluntly stated, "CCTV's 'Oriental Horizon' broadcast an interview program called 'For That Bugle Call.' I don't quite understand why you would still buy the adaptation rights to this novel, which clearly doesn't respect the facts."

Little Cannon was silent for a while, then gave a wry smile and said:

"Old Cao, you have a different status, so it's easy for you to deal with those people, but it's different for me."

You might not know how domineering they are. Did you think I wouldn't adapt it using "For That Bugle Call"? The difficulties and complexities involved are beyond your imagination.

Cao Yang was silent for a moment, then said to Xiao Gangpao, "If this movie is well-made, you have a chance to win some domestic awards, but if it's not well-made, you'll be criticized, and no one will care whether you're faithful to the original work or not."

Then, he looked at Little Cannon and asked very seriously, "Do you want to win an award or get scolded?"

"As long as I can win an award, I don't care if I get criticized..."

Before Xiao Gangpao could finish speaking, Cao Yang interrupted him, "If you get criticized, it's hard to win an award."

"I spent a lot of money; I found Liu Heng to be the screenwriter..."

"It's no use talking to anyone," Cao Yang said, shaking his head.

"Films of this kind should be faithful to the facts rather than undergoing artistic embellishment that they think is reasonable. We didn't live through that desperate era, so we can't use what we think is reasonable and logical to apply to that era."

"Is it really that hard to win an award?"

Little Cannon doesn't care about what's reasonable or unreasonable. He's a pragmatic person, and his current pursuit for movies is either box office success or awards, and awards are something he desperately needs.

For a film like this, which is categorized as a patriotic film, who knows how well it will perform at the box office? Little Cannon's biggest goal for this film is to win awards.

This is something he didn't dare tell Hua Yi, fearing that Hua Yi's brothers wouldn't invest.

Cao Yang knew very well that it was this movie that brought Little Cannon and Golden Rooster together.

With "Assembly," Xiao Gangpao swept the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, and also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.

However, Little Steel Cannon was unaware of these things.

Moreover, even if Cao Yang doesn't intervene this time, it will be difficult for Xiao Gangpao to win many significant prizes.

"You should know that I wrote a script called 'Pieta' for Lao Tian. Do you think 'Assembly,' which has been criticized, can compete with a film that won a major award at the Venice Film Festival?"

Cao Yang asked.

"Damn it! I'm fucking..."

In his excitement, Xiao Gangpao almost blurted out an internationally recognized greeting.

Of course he knew about Cao Yang writing a script for Lao Tian, ​​and he also wanted Cao Yang to write a script for him, but his relationship with Cao Yang hadn't reached that point yet.

Cao Yang's scripts cannot be obtained by spending money.

That's why he changed his approach—I can't have your script, but I can discuss mine with you and then incorporate some of your ideas, right?

This is why he discussed "Assembly" with Cao Yang. "Are you so sure that Lao Tian can make an award-winning film with your script? It's not that I look down on Lao Tian, ​​but some of his ideas and approaches are outdated."

Little Cannon said somewhat indignantly.

"As long as Lao Tian doesn't make any random changes and follows the script, winning an award is still quite easy."

Cao Yang then added with a smile, "Besides, I've also planted a mole next to Lao Tian, ​​so I'll know immediately if he makes any changes."

"Grass!"

Little Cannon was even more indignant.

Damn it, that idiot Lao Tian, ​​did he save all of humanity in his past life? How come he has such good luck!

Xiao Gangpao suppressed his envy, jealousy, and hatred, and then asked in an even more indignant tone, "With Lao Tian's stupid... movie, what's the use of my 'Assembly' even if it's well-made? How could it possibly compete with him?"

"If you shoot according to the facts, it's easy to win an award. It's not like the Golden Rooster Awards can't produce two winners."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

He could tell that Xiao Gangpao had changed his mind and was definitely going to take "Assembly" seriously.

Then, Cao Yang added, "According to the information I have, the predecessor of a certain regiment of the Fourth Column of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, where Chang Menglan served, stationed in Benxi, Liaoning Province, was the 30th Regiment where Elder Chang served. Go there and find the information."

Thus, the start of filming for "Assembly" was postponed, even though it was originally scheduled to begin in October or November.

Xiao Gangpao spent a month conducting on-site investigations and researching a large amount of information. While respecting the facts, he modified some settings and content of "Assembly".

Furthermore, Xiao Gangpao immediately sent the revised script to Cao Yang.

Although the goal of the little cannon was still to win an award, this version at least respects the facts, rather than being artistically embellished for so-called "reasonableness".

Most importantly, Xiao Gangpao is a cunning guy. He said that the script of "Assembly" was adapted under Cao Yang's guidance and based on Cao Yang's ideas, so Cao Yang's name should be added to the screenwriter's name.

Both of the film's two main investment companies, Huayi Brothers and Hong Kong's Universe Entertainment, had no objections and were extremely happy to add Cao Yang's name to the film.

Even if it means incurring a large additional cost for screenwriting, they are willing to pay it.

Cao Yang initially refused; a large screenwriting fee couldn't sway him. Once his name was on the screenplay, it wasn't just about the large fee anymore.

Huayi Brothers has a very good relationship with China Film Group Corporation (CFGC). Their rise to prominence was due to CFGC's support.

So Huayi persuaded China Film Group, which in turn brought in Qingdao Film Studio, to jointly invest in the film "Assembly".

Now that China Film Group and Qingdao Film Studio have joined, Cao Yang is relieved.

What he fears is that after his name is listed as a screenwriter, Xiao Gangpao or those Taiwanese people working at Huayi Brothers might mess up the movie's plot again, which is not what he wants to see.

Now that China Film Group and Qingdao Film Studio are involved, let's handle this officially and renegotiate our respective investment amounts and profit-sharing ratios.

Cao Yang is not only credited as the screenwriter, but also the producer of this film.

The filming of "Assembly" was delayed until January before it officially started.

The little cannon is very satisfied with this multi-party collaboration.

Because of the involvement of Qingying Film Studio, and with Xiao Gangpao's deliberate efforts to cultivate a good relationship, they were able to obtain some inside information about certain matters concerning Beijing Film Academy.

For example, there was news from the Beijing Film Academy that Cao Yang originally wanted to give the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress award to "Tuya's Marriage".

(End of this chapter)