Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 415 Affectionate
This period coincided with the rise of melodramatic romance dramas.

In particular, South Korea's dramas such as "Stairway to Heaven," "Autumn in My Heart," and "Winter Sonata" laid the foundation for melodramatic dramas and formed a huge industry.

The three core elements—"switched babies at birth, terminal illness, and car accident"—have become popular for a reason; audiences really like this formula.

In China, there are very few similar melodramatic dramas. People are not only not tired of such dramas, but many people even love them. Therefore, such melodramatic dramas are a powerful weapon in China.

As for movies, there isn't an overabundance of melodramatic youth romance films, or rather, there are very few youth films at all, so there's no question of disliking such films.

There are still quite a few people who enjoy these kinds of youth movies about love that are so intense and passionate.

"The Fault in Our Stars" can be said to have been blessed with a lot of buffs.

Best Picture in Hollywood is an award that elevates the prestige of a film to an unprecedented level.

The fact that Cao Yang is both the producer and screenwriter adds another layer of sophistication to the film.

Terminal illness, youth, sadomasochistic love...

Moreover, this movie is different from the formulaic melodramatic romances in South Korea; it can be considered a "refreshing" film.

In addition, this movie was a huge hit in North America, so the promotional materials will definitely include the fact that it grossed over $200 million in North America.

Another rather special thing is President Han.

In any case, this film brought Han, the nominal producer, the honor of winning the Oscar for Best Picture, and added parentheses to his title.

Mr. Han's support for this film is unprecedented.

He paid close attention to the film schedules in every major city, down to the specific screenings in each popular location. When the film crew promoted the movie in several major cities, Mr. Han would accompany them, but instead of promoting the movie himself, he would go to the cinema.

With so many factors at play, it would be hard for "The Fault in Our Stars" to flop.

"Your appearance allowed me to experience infinite eternity within the limited time I have!"

Li Xiaoran gazed at Cao Yang with deep affection. Her eyes were red and misty, giving the impression of a woman deeply in love.

At 2 a.m. on February 25, filming officially wrapped up for "Mei Lanfang," directed by Chen Yong, after 7 months and 10 days.

Li Xiaoran, who played Meng Xiaodong, also finished filming, and only then did she have time to stay in the capital to prepare for a period of rest.

This is why Lao Chen and Sister Hong had time to attend the premiere of "The Fault in Our Stars." If they had waited a few more days, Lao Chen might have gone into seclusion to work on the post-production of "Mei Lanfang."

After Li Xiaoran and Cao Yang went to the cinema to watch "The Fault in Our Stars," she became like this.

Cao Yang sighed helplessly and asked, "Are you going to say next that funerals are not for commemorating the dead, but for comforting the living?"

"what!"

Li Xiaoran gently nudged Cao Yang, "Hurry up and say 'Pui pui pui'..."

Seeing that Cao Yang didn't speak, she bared her teeth, like a fierce little female cat.

To Cao Yang, her expression and bared teeth weren't scary, but the underlying meaning was incredibly intimidating...

Even a gentle scrape doesn't feel good.

"Bah bah bah..."

Cao Yang asked helplessly, "What you said is a line from a movie, why don't you spit it out?"

Li Xiaoran raised her head, like a proud little female cat.

"I wasn't talking about lines."

"Don't I know if it's a line or not? I'm the author of the novel and the screenwriter of the film. This is the line I had the protagonist say at the funeral."

Cao Yang retorted.

It wasn't that he was deliberately being argumentative, but he had just felt a sudden tremor in his heart. He didn't dare to accept such a thing that was... well, such an obvious confession.

Li Xiaoran smiled, seemingly nonchalant, but a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Just when Cao Yang thought the matter was over, she suddenly said again, "I recently listened to a very nice song, it's really interesting."

"Really? Sing a couple of lines and let me hear it. Let me see if you have any talent for singing. Well, you know, I can not only train actors' acting skills, but also correct your vocalizations very well."

Cao Yang joked with a smile.

Li Xiaoran rolled her eyes at Cao Yang, then cleared her throat and began to hum softly.

"The night breeze gently blows, your image flickers in my dreams, memories are like an old cassette tape, every second playing your love. You are my secret I can't hide, like starlight scattering across the night, your smile is the melody of my heart, illuminating the verses of my life..."

"Clap clap clap..."

Before Li Xiaoran could continue singing, Cao Yang quickly clapped his hands to interrupt her.

"It sounds so good, so incredibly good!"

His mind raced. The song was catchy, but the lyrics just didn't feel right... Sigh, he wondered which kid wrote it; it was like he was contradicting himself.

Look at these lyrics and the melody, it's giving me a headache.

You shouldn't take a sentimental woman to watch this kind of melodramatic, sadomasochistic film.

Thinking about how I promised Yu Feihong I'd go see "The Fault in Our Stars" tomorrow night, and I promised Gao Yuanyuan I'd go the night after tomorrow...

A headache!
Fortunately, the remaining few were not in the capital.

However, I don't think I've heard this song before. Although it sounds really good, but...

Yes, it must be an unknown singer. It's normal that I haven't heard of them since online singers are all the rage right now.

"Since it sounds good, shall I sing it for you again?"

Li Xiaoran narrowed her eyes and said, "I feel that this song goes particularly well with that line from earlier. It would be even better if it were added as narration..."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes and murmured softly, "Your appearance allowed me to experience infinite eternity within my limited time... um..."

Before Li Xiaoran could finish speaking, Cao Yang kissed her, silencing her with his lips.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

"Since time is limited, let's cherish it and make the most of it... Hmm, I just listened to you sing, and I feel that your pronunciation is a bit off. Let me teach you."

Without giving Li Xiaoran time to react, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

"Hehehe, Cao Yang, you look so handsome today! I can't get enough of looking at you..."

……

March is considered a slow season for box office revenue in China, not a good time to release a film.

However, "The Fault in Our Stars" became a hit, sparking a movie-going frenzy.

If this movie were released ten years from now, even if it won the Oscar for Best Picture, there would definitely be a lot of criticism on the domestic media and the internet for being melodramatic and tragic.

Some people might even criticize it as a game of make-believe by terminally ill young men and women on the verge of death, wishful thinking, or something unrealistic.

But not now.

The aura of an Oscar for Best Picture is still very intimidating, at least to film critics at that time.

Well, the main reason is that film critics during this period either had a background of studying abroad, had a background of going abroad for exchange, or simply thought that the grass was always greener on the other side and particularly admired Hollywood and the Oscars.

"Everyone has a fire in their heart. Passersby can only see the smoke, but there is always someone, there is always just one person who can see the fire and come over to be with me."

I saw his fire in the crowd, and I walked over quickly, afraid that if I was a little slower, he would be swallowed up by the dust of time.

When you meet the right person, any time is the best time.

This passage from Van Gogh's letter to Timothy is particularly fitting for "The Fault in Our Stars".

A wrong life, wrong time, but I met the right person. Life is short, but your appearance has allowed me to experience infinite eternity in my limited time...

Director Cao Yang is truly an all-around genius. This film he made, adapted from a novel, may seem to have a tragic ending, but didn't everyone know that from the beginning?
That's why I say that even if you guessed from the beginning that the movie would end in tragedy, it is still a movie that is romantic to the core.

I'm really, really looking forward to "Love in the Seaside City," which won Best Director and Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival and will be released next month. Just from the title, it sounds like an extremely romantic movie.

As I said, director Cao Yang is an extraordinary and talented director, and I believe his films will possess a kind of romance that we never expected.

This film review was written by a film critic who is widely recognized as extremely talented in the industry, and it resonated with many viewers.

Anyone who has read this film critic's reviews believes that if he were to switch careers and become a director, he might become another genius like Ning Hao. This genius is currently pursuing a doctorate in film studies at Peking University, and his film reviews are of exceptionally high quality.

Why is he described as a genius like Ning Hao, rather than a genius like Cao Yang?

The reason is actually quite simple: he is about the same age as Cao Yang, and Cao Yang's achievements, whether in terms of box office or awards, are already something that everyone looks up to.

There is a general consensus in the domestic film and television industry that it will be difficult to produce another "Cao Yang" within a century.

To call him a genius like Ning Hao is already a very high expectation and praise.

It's worth noting that Ning Hao not only has a film that grossed over 100 million yuan, "Crazy Stone," but also served as assistant director and executive director for "Pieta," which won the Golden Lion.

In addition, as a regular member of Cao Yang's team, he served as assistant director and followed Cao Yang almost throughout the filming of those classic Hollywood movies.

Furthermore, he also served as executive producer on a mega-production that reportedly had a budget of $200 million.

Among domestic film and television professionals, who has access to such resources? Who has such a resume?
For a dying person, a confession, a kiss, or holding hands are all luxuries...

"The Fault in Our Stars" is a movie that doesn't seem very romantic, but it's a rare film that focuses on young people suffering from terminal illnesses.

It would be absurd to expect dramatic conflict from a film that focuses on a small, vulnerable group, but the film manages to convey care and a unique kind of romance without much traditional dramatic conflict.

The film wasn't as tear-jerking as I'd imagined; it was interspersed with humor, both big and small, until the very end.

We can see from movies that when filming tragic stories, you shouldn't be sentimental; you should portray the strength within the tragedy. When filming stories of courage, you shouldn't be manipulative either; you should show the vulnerability within the bravery.

In my opinion, this film truly deserved the Oscar for Best Picture.

This is a film review published in the Beijing Youth Daily, which was later reprinted online and also reprinted and pinned to the top of the "Cao Yang Bar".

This film review resonated with many people and allowed more people to understand the film's "simplicity".

Well, that's just how people are sometimes. After watching a movie or reading an article, they just think it's okay.

However, once an interpretation that resonates with you appears, you'll suddenly realize when you watch the movie or read the article again: "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful! So that's how it is!"

Therefore, if a famous writer fails to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, it may not be because your writing is bad, but because the translation you choose is not up to par.

The next day, Cao Yang went to Yu Feihong's place. He played a little trick and, before going to see the movie, "casually" told Yu Feihong about the movie "The Fault in Our Stars".

Even the most brilliant movie, if told in a straightforward manner, will just be an ordinary story.

So, when Cao Yang said in the evening, pretending to be casual, "When shall we go see 'The Fault in Our Stars'?"

Yu Feihong hesitated for a moment and said, "It feels a bit like one of those South Korean melodramatic love movies about life and death."

Cao Yang nodded and said with a smile, "The stories are probably all similar, but the dialogue and filming techniques will definitely be different."

"You want to see?"

Yu Feihong looked at Cao Yang and asked.

"Haha, this movie was made entirely according to my ideas, and the post-production editing was also entirely my idea. Do you think I really wanted to see it?"

After saying that, he took Yu Feihong's hand and said affectionately, "I just want to spend some time with you and have a romantic time together."

Yu Feihong smiled.

She let go of Cao Yang's hand, reached out and took the trench coat off the coat rack, saying as she put it on, "You're such a grown-up, still thinking about romance."

That's what she said, but after putting on her trench coat, she took Cao Yang's arm and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's do what those young people do and have a romantic time at the movie theater."

Cao Yang was completely dumbfounded.

Swallowing hard, still clinging to a sliver of hope, he asked, "What...what movie are we watching?"

"Of course it's 'The Fault in Our Stars.' If we don't watch this, are we just contributing to our competitors' success?"

"It's not impossible."

"Ok?"

"I mean, that works too."

Cao Yang replied somewhat numbly.

I came back after watching the movie.

"Your appearance allowed me to experience infinite eternity within the limited time I have!"

Yu Feihong repeated the sentence several times, and then, seeing that Cao Yang seemed a little absent-minded, she snuggled into his arms and said, "These lines are so well written, how did you come up with them?"

Cao Yang sighed inwardly.

I knew that these lines would be incredibly impactful for female literary types like Li Xiaoran, Yu Feihong, and Gao Yuanyuan.

Cao Yang suddenly had a jolt. Was it possible that Li Xiaoran and Yu Feihong kept mentioning this sentence because they wanted him to say it?

"I don't know how I came up with this idea. As I was writing, the image of you looking so pitiful during the filming of 'Empty Room' suddenly popped into my head, and this sentence just came out naturally... um..."

Before Cao Yang could finish speaking, Yu Feihong covered his mouth with her tongue.

This time, Cao Yang witnessed her unprecedented passion and enthusiasm.

Afterwards, Cao Yang lay there, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

He could be considered to have become famous at a young age, if being a sophomore in college is considered young.

Coupled with the middle-aged mindset from his previous life, he had even forgotten what sweet words were.

In this life, he never uttered sweet words to any woman, including several women he considered very important to him.

But he seems to have forgotten that no matter how good a woman is to you or how much she likes you, she still longs for sweet words spoken to her in person.

Cao Yang glanced at Yu Feihong, who was fast asleep beside him due to exhaustion, then quietly got out of bed, gently opened the door, and went to the bathroom in another room, closing the door behind him.

He took out his phone, took a deep breath, and called Li Xiaoran.

"Cao Yang?"

"it's me."

"What happened? What's wrong? Where are you?"

Cao Yang smiled as he listened to the series of questions asked by the other party.

He said softly into the phone, "Do you know how I came up with that line you said was well-written yesterday?"
Actually, I don't know how I came up with this idea. As I was writing, the image of you looking so pitiful during the filming of "On the Beach at Night Alone" suddenly popped into my mind, and this sentence just came out naturally..."

"Phew, you scared me to death! I thought something had happened to you. You called in the middle of the night just to say this?"

"Ah."

"nerve!"

Hearing the dial tone on the phone, Cao Yang fell silent again.

Was I wrong? Why was Li Xiaoran's reaction different from what I expected?
How is this going?

After Li Xiaoran hung up the phone, she felt her heart pounding wildly.

Cao Yang's actions yesterday, and his sudden romantic "confession" today, have left Li Xiaoran somewhat unable to face reality.

She had great difficulty controlling her hand as she hung up the phone.

If she hadn't hung up, she would definitely have asked where Cao Yang was, and she would have impulsively gone to find him.

But she was afraid.

She was afraid that Cao Yang was in the home of someone she didn't want to face.

Everyone usually pretends to be deaf and dumb, but once things are out in the open, it becomes awkward, given that everyone here is a person of status.

How should we face this from now on?

So, with her last shred of reason, she "slammed" the phone down.

Even though I regret it now, I don't really regret it.

How she wished Cao Yang were by her side right now!

(End of this chapter)