Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 359 Detour
Cao Yang largely agreed with Lao Hou's assessment.

Given Cao Yang's current status and influence, he could certainly directly interfere with the Golden Rooster Awards and even change the selection rules.

But there's a saying, "Too much of a good thing is bad."

He can achieve his goals temporarily, and others dare not confront him head-on, but what about afterwards?
When you infringe upon the interests of the majority and cause dissatisfaction among the majority, then there will definitely be many people who secretly trip you up, report you on your behalf, and do things perfunctorily in accordance with your instructions.

Going it alone has long been proven not to work.

Unless you only want to be "reckless" this once.

With Cao Yang's current status, it's fair to say he's a beneficiary in the film and television industry.

In any industry, those who have vested interests do not want anyone to intrude and disrupt the industry's development or redistribute wealth.

Therefore, the development and sustainable development of the film industry are also issues that Cao Yang should consider.

This requires changing or eliminating some of the drawbacks that hinder the development of the industry, and formulating some rules that can restrict the development of the industry.

Of course, Cao Yang couldn't accomplish all of this by himself. Even if he united and led some people and won them over, he might not necessarily achieve better development in the end.

But how bad can it get?

Take it slow and try it.

For example, this year's Golden Rooster Awards don't need to be too radical, but some changes are necessary.

"what's your plan?"

Old Hou asked.

Old Tian also looked up at Cao Yang instantly, understanding the meaning behind Old Hou's words.

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said, "The Golden Rooster Awards have many criticisms. For example, some films have never been released, or have been released but almost no one has watched them, yet they still win the award, which makes them highly questionable."

For example, few people know the specific selection criteria for the Golden Rooster Awards. Without specific criteria, many people believe that it is easier to be manipulated.

For example, the judges are unprofessional. Many of them are not even people working in the film industry, and there are always many such people on the judging panel.

For example, there is a phenomenon of dividing the pie, and in the last two years there has been a tendency to favor Taiwanese and Hong Kong films and filmmakers.

There are many other drawbacks like these.

Old Tian grinned and gave Cao Yang a thumbs up. He had long disliked these things, but unfortunately, they were things he couldn't change.

Old Hou opened his mouth, with a lot to say. He and Old Tian had similar thoughts, both believing that Cao Yang was saying so much in order to change these problems all at once.

But how could that be!
Innovation is an exceptionally difficult thing, no matter the country, the industry, or the level of support.

The person who is pushed to the forefront often doesn't have a good ending.

That's almost certain.

That's just how it is. Even if a reform succeeds, it often requires sacrificing those at the forefront in order to appease the so-called "public anger" because it has offended too many people.

Old Hou secretly made up his mind: the Beijing Film Academy had finally produced Cao Yang, and he absolutely could not let Cao Yang stand in the spotlight.

He glanced at Lao Tian.

As everyone knows, Lao Tian is famously stubborn and has long been dissatisfied with the "old traditions" of the film industry. If he were to be pushed to the forefront, he would not feel out of place at all.

In addition, Lao Tian is the head of the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy, which meets the requirement of "high position and great power". He still has a lot of influence. In fact, he could be promoted to the position of vice dean in a while, which would make things even more perfect.

Most importantly, according to Cao Yang, he wants to get Lao Tian a Venetian golden lion.

This is absolutely fantastic.

Winning the Golden Lion grants international influence, and being the head or vice dean of the directing department at the Beijing Film Academy, coupled with a notoriously stubborn personality, suggests he was born to stand in the spotlight...

Simply perfect.

Old Tian suddenly shivered without warning. What was going on? It's summer already, this shouldn't be happening.

"I have given it a thorough and careful consideration."

Old Hou glanced at Old Tian again, then gave him a harmless smile and said:
"The Golden Rooster Awards ceremony is held at the end of October, while the Venice Film Festival is held in September. I personally think that Director Tian's 'Pieta' has a high probability of winning the Golden Lion."

"Hmm, after taking that into consideration, I suddenly feel that Director Tian is the best candidate to be the chairman of this year's Golden Rooster Awards."

Old Tian was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. At that moment, he found Old Hou much more pleasing to the eye.

The Golden Rooster Awards selection committee consists of one chairman, one secretary-general, and the remaining twenty-one members are all ordinary members.

In other words, the chairman is considered the leader of these judges, similar to the chairman of the judging panel of the three major European leagues.

In China, the chairpersons of the Golden Rooster Awards are usually highly respected figures in the industry, which is a form of recognition of their status.

Old Tian thought Old Hou's suggestion was excellent; he could finally hold his head high again.

However, while Lao Tian was happy, he was also a little puzzled. After the post-production of "Pieta" was completed, it was never screened, not even within the Beijing Film Academy, because it was waiting for Cao Yang to review it.

So here's the question: how could Lao Hou be so sure I'd win the Venice Golden Lion without even seeing the movie?

Cao Yang didn't really understand Lao Hou's roundabout way of speaking, but he did see Lao Hou's worry and hesitation after hearing his words.

So he said, "The Golden Rooster Award has been around for a long time, and its problems can't be solved overnight. My plan is to find some more professional judges this time, and the selection of awards will no longer favor Hong Kong and Taiwan."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "It's best not to cut the cake."

Upon hearing this, Old Hou immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He had already prepared to push Lao Tian to the forefront and secretly contact people to charge into battle, but he didn't expect Cao Yang to have no intention of "head-on confrontation".

If it's just these two points, then it's not difficult.

Cao Yang is an internationally renowned director. As the vice chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, his desire to find some relatively professional judges for the Golden Rooster Awards is a reasonable request in everyone's eyes.

On the contrary, the seemingly simple matter of correcting the tilt of the Hong Kong River is not so easy to handle.

The domestic film market is currently experiencing rapid growth, and a large number of Hong Kong and Taiwanese filmmakers are moving north. Some people see this as a good opportunity for unification and political maneuvering.

The reason, of course, is to give these people some preferential treatment.

Furthermore, with the Beijing Olympics to be held, it is even more important to unite the majority of those who can be united.

In the film and television industry, this translates to giving special consideration to those who move north, and the same applies to awards.

Fortunately, most of these filmmakers who went north were there to make money. In addition, most of the Hong Kong filmmakers who went north were engaged in commercial films, so there were not many who could participate in the Golden Rooster Awards.

There's a way to solve this problem if we think about it.

As for dividing the cake, that's because of relationships and saving face.

To be honest, even if the judges are all relatively professional people, they can't avoid various relationships and face-saving considerations, and it's hard to avoid dividing the pie.

This is something that neither the three major European cinemas nor the Oscars can avoid.

As long as you grasp the right "degree"—don't let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry movie get a piece of the pie. If you want a piece of the pie, you at least have to be above average.

Old Hou understood everything. He turned around and saw Old Tian's eager gaze. He was taken aback for a moment, then smiled at Old Tian.

"Director Cao, I've thought about it again. After all, this is your first time influencing the direction of the Golden Rooster Awards. I think Professor Li Qiankuan is more suitable for the position of chairman."

As for the remaining committee members, I'll consult with someone and draft a new list for you.

Old Hou's words left Old Tian completely stunned.

Hey, wait a minute, Lao Hou, what's wrong with you? Why am I suddenly unsuitable to be the chairman again?
Old Tian initially wanted to refute it, but after considering it, he gave up.

Forget it, if I were to refute it, it would make me, Lao Tian, ​​seem shameless. Then, thinking about how he had poured his heart and soul into making the film, even giving up alcohol during production, and finally completing his masterpiece, "Pieta," Lao Tian felt he needed to make amends.

"Um... Pietà has been completed for a while now. How about we go to the small screening room this afternoon to check it out?"

After saying that, Lao Tian still felt a little regretful. He had originally saved the "first time" of the movie for Cao Yang to see, so that he would be surprised.

To be honest, he felt that Pietà was the pinnacle of his career, and that he would never make a more dedicated and "perfect" film.

His original intention was to "show off" in front of Cao Yang.

Old Tian looked up at the sky and sighed.

Looking back now, I realize I was being narrow-minded.

Why should I show off in front of Cao Yang? I want to show off in front of more people, especially that bastard Lao Hou.

"Sure, is it just the three of us? Should we invite Teacher Situ and Xie Fei along?"

Old Hou didn't think much of it and just said it.

Old Tian smiled silently. This is not something I want to show off. Just wait and be shocked!
"Sure, more people means more feedback."

Cao Yang glanced at Lao Tian and thought, "You still have the nerve to be so smug?"
A simple art film, with a simple plot and simple characters. It doesn't have big scenes or budget constraints, and you even have Ning Hao as your co-star...

With such favorable conditions, you've been preparing since last August, almost ten months now. What's there to be proud of?
Well, okay, compared to Wang Jiawei, your speed is really quite fast.

As a senior leader at Beijing Film Academy, Lao Hou was actually very busy. Just as he was about to leave after the discussion was almost over, he heard a knock on the door.

Old Hou sat down again.

In the realm of Beijing Film Academy, there are very few people who can make Lao Hou stand up and greet them.

If he stands there, it's as if he's there specifically to greet people from outside.

"Come in," Cao Yang said.

The office door was pushed open, and three people entered. Cao Yang recognized two of them.

"Director Cao..."

The person had barely finished speaking when he noticed Old Hou sitting there. He paused for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening and said, "Dean Hou is here too. You all go ahead with your work. We'll come back when Director Cao has time."

He was quite perceptive; it was obvious the three of them were discussing something.

At this moment, I couldn't help but regret not making a phone call first; it was really too rash.

The two people following behind him also greeted him, "Dean Hou, Director Cao, Director Tian..."

"Director Liu, come, have a seat."

Cao Yang didn't let the visitor leave, and then said to the other two, "Director Zhang, you two please sit down as well."

The people who came were Liu Yibing, the head of the Department of Literature at Beijing Film Academy, and Zhang Min, the Party branch secretary. Zhang Min was also the deputy head of the Department of Literature.

Cao Yang didn't recognize the last one, but he looked somewhat familiar; he was probably a teacher or something similar at the school.

"Director Liu and Secretary Zhang have something to discuss with Director Cao?" Old Hou asked with a smile.

Liu Yibing felt a little regretful, wondering if he had disturbed the dean and Cao Yang's conversation. But on the surface, he certainly couldn't show his annoyance, nor could he hide the purpose of his visit to Cao Yang from Dean Hou.

"This is Hou Yuan, and this is Zhuang Yuxin, a teacher in our department."

Liu Yibing introduced the young man behind him, and then continued:
"Teacher Zhuang directed a film called 'Love's Teeth,' which recently won the Best First Film Award at the Beijing College Student Film Festival and has already received its film license. He wanted to come and ask Director Cao for some guidance."

Old Hou immediately understood Liu Yibing's meaning and asked with a smile, "Are you going to Venice?"

Liu Yibing smiled and nodded, then casually patted him, saying, "Nothing can be hidden from the Marquis."

Zhang Min, the Party Secretary of the Literature Department, chimed in:
"Professor Zhuang's film is a romantic drama. When it comes to directing, our literature department is definitely not as good as the directing department. Now that we heard that Director Cao is back, we'd like to take advantage of his presence and ask him to take a look."

“Yes, when it comes to understanding art films, our literature department is definitely no match for Director Cao,” Liu Yibing added.

"One is a photography department, the other a literature department, why are you always stealing our directing department's jobs?"

Old Tian joked with a smile.

"Hey, Director Tian, ​​that's not right. Our school cultivates well-rounded talents. The photography department can produce a Zhang Yimou, and our literature department can produce a Jia Zhangke."

I believe that under Hou Yuan's leadership, every department will produce many talented film and television professionals.

Liu Yibing said this subtly.

Cao Yang ignored their bickering. He thought for a moment and realized he seemed to have heard of the movie "Love's Teeth," but had never seen it.

Let's see. If it's above average, he wouldn't mind giving the Venice Film Festival a shout-out.

"How about this, there's a preview screening at 2 PM in the directing department's small screening room, let's show it together then."

Cao Yang made the decision.

"Thank you for your help, Director Cao," Liu Yibing said with a smile.

"Thank you for your help, Director Cao," Zhang Min added.

"Thank you, Director Cao. Thank you, Dean Hou," Zhuang Yuxin said immediately afterward.

You could tell he was very happy.

The three of them, not wanting to disturb Cao Yang's discussion with Hou Yuan and Lao Tian, ​​left after finishing their conversation.

"The Literature Department really values ​​Professor Zhuang; the department head and the Party branch secretary both came in person."

Old Tian sighed.

"Nonsense, the literature department has finally produced another director who looks promising, and he's even a tenured professor, so of course they value him."

Old Hou smiled and shook his head, knowing that Old Tian could not possibly empathize. After all, almost all the teachers in the directing department had experience as directors, and it was quite normal for a teacher to direct a film.

"This movie wasn't made by Qingdao Film Studio, was it?"

Cao Yang realized that since Lao Tian and Lao Hou didn't know much about the movie and Zhuang Yuxin, it was almost certain that the movie wasn't invested in by Qingying Film Studio.

"Probably not."

Old Hou shook his head and explained, "Qingying Film Studio has made a lot of money in recent years, but the risk of investing in movies is still too high. The nature of the school-run factory means that Qingying Film Studio has to invest in some movies that are obviously going to lose money every year."

Most of these films, once completed, could not be released, which made the Qingdao Film Studio quite strict about film investment applications. Generally, it was difficult for directors who were not from a directing program or had directing experience to obtain funding..."

Cao Yang still managed to glean something from Lao Hou's words.

Xie Xiaojing, the director of Qingying Film Studio, is Lao Tian's classmate, Lao Situ's student, Cao Yang's senior, Lao Tian's former head of the directing department, and now also serves as the vice dean of the academy.

This long list of titles clearly shows that Xie Xiaojing wields real power and can disregard the feelings of many people.

It seems that since Xie Xiaojing became the director of the Qingdao Film Studio, the application for film investment has definitely favored those from the directing department, making it difficult for students from other departments to apply to become directors and make films.

This was also the slight dissatisfaction implied in Lao Hou's words.

Don't be fooled by Lao Hou's status as a high-ranking leader and the former director of Qingying Film Studio. Xie Xiaojing's identity is different, and she really dares to disrespect him.

Only Cao Yang can solve this problem.

However, Cao Yang didn't say anything. He was still the chief producer of Qingying Film Studio. To be honest, all film applications and project approvals should go through him.

He needs to understand the specific situation first; one cannot speak without investigation.

(End of this chapter)