Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 416 A Different Kind of Surprise
Compared to Yu Feihong and Li Xiaoran, Gao Yuanyuan is quite special.

Unlike Yu Feihong, who was almost without desires and lived a semi-retired life, she was not like her.

Unlike Li Xiaoran, who is career-driven and collaborates with top domestic directors like Xiao Gangpao and Lao Chen, she has access to top-tier film resources almost every year.

Gao Yuanyuan is considered a big shot in the advertising industry, holding the title of Cannes Best Actress.

She holds the most top brand endorsements among female celebrities in China and is a fashion star sought after by various magazines.

In terms of film resources, she can't even compare to Li Xiaoran, let alone Dong Xuan.

But strangely enough, top brands like to hire her as their spokesperson, probably because of her image and the fact that she is a "rare" Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner.
Therefore, she spends far more time filming commercials and attending brand launches throughout the year than she does film movies and TV series.

Actually, Dong Xuan is quite special.

Because President Han knew about her relationship with Cao Yang, and because she was also a Venice Film Festival Best Actress winner, many films invested in by China Film Group would first send the script to Dong Xuan if the role was suitable. Only if Dong Xuan did not accept the role would they look for other actors.

Dong Xuan is practically the go-to leading lady for China Film Group.

She has more resources than Li Xiaoran in terms of quantity, but she doesn't have as many top-tier resources.

The current situation in China is different from that in the past.

During that period, although domestic actresses could play important roles in various movies, if Hong Kong and Taiwan wanted to promote their actresses, top domestic stars would act as "elevators".

In some top-tier resources, apart from Zhang Ziyi, most of them can only play supporting roles.

But nowadays, thanks to the existence of these international film queens, they are not afraid at all when it comes to competing in terms of fame or backing.

Therefore, it is very difficult for Hong Kong and Taiwan to find top mainland actresses to boost the status of their actors, just as they have done in the past.

After all, in this day and age, China Film Group is involved in almost all big-budget productions.

Are you worried about losing money if you invest too much?
Seek investment from China Film Group.

Are you worried that investing too much will cause other cinemas to block your screenings?

Seek investment from China Film Group.

Big stars and big productions lack funding?

Seek investment from China Film Group.

A TV drama director switching to making movies?

If the script is decent, we'll seek investment from China Film Group.

A moderately famous director can't get funding?

If the script is decent, we'll seek investment from China Film Group.

……

In short, China Film Group's role and contribution to the film market during this period were unparalleled.

Because China Film Group's influence is everywhere, President Han also knows that Cao Yang is somewhat disgusted by the "promotion of celebrities" that Hong Kong and Taiwan like to play. So it is conceivable that, at least on the surface, it is difficult to promote celebrities.

Some Hong Kong and Taiwanese directors have also tried to use underhanded tactics, manipulating post-production editing to cut out excessive scenes of the people they want to promote.

But if you think you can get away with it this way, you're underestimating China Film Group's capabilities. China Film Group has plenty of ways to get them to re-edit the script based on the filed content.

Unless it's a film that China Film Group doesn't participate in.

However, for films that China Film Group is not involved in, it would be very difficult to invite the six leading actresses of the "Four Great Actresses"—yes, six people—unless they are directors of the caliber of Wong Ka-wai or Lee On from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It's even more impossible to get them to act as supporting actors.

The reason for this is that Cao Yang has achieved too much in recent years, both in terms of box office and awards, which has made President Han and other more famous actors somewhat "demystified".

At least to some extent, it has "demystified" Hong Kong and Taiwan.

However, "demystifying" is not something that can be done overnight.

Those young actors who have just debuted, as well as those actors of the generation who are heavily influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan films and television dramas and whose fame is not very high, have not yet achieved a certain level of success.

Gao Yuanyuan was able to be in Beijing this time because a movie she was filming wrapped up in late January. The filming lasted for more than nine months, and she often called Cao Yang to complain about it.

Especially around the Lunar New Year, many of the big brands she endorses have events that she has to attend, which is one of the reasons she complains.

It wasn't until the end of February that she had a brief respite and stayed in the capital to rest.

"Do you have any lines like 'Mengmeng, stand up' in your dialogue?"

Cao Yang asked curiously.

To Cao Yang's surprise, he simply said to Gao Yuanyuan, "You must be exhausted from filming these past few days, right? Let's not go to the movies, let's just stay home and rest."

Gao Yuanyuan actually kissed Cao Yang and happily agreed, saying that Cao Yang was just being considerate of her.

This rendered Cao Yang's "universal formula," which he had prepared for after watching the movie, useless.

Gao Yuanyuan tugged at Cao Yang's hand, urging him to hold her tighter. After thinking for a long time, she finally said:

"Oh, I remember now, there is such a line. Hmm, how did you know?"

Cao Yang imagined Gao Yuanyuan saying to a newborn pony, "Mengmeng, stand up..."

However, no matter how you look at it, you can't imagine Gao Yuanyuan saying those words in a soft, delicate voice like Kurosawa Rei.

That's right, the movie that Gao Yuanyuan filmed for more than nine months was the famous Wu Baige's "Red Cliff".

It's true that China Film Group invested in this film, but that doesn't mean that just because it's a big-budget production with investment from China Film Group, we have to ask Cao Yang for his opinion.

This movie is a little different.

This film was a project that Wu Baige "brought" to China Film Group, not one that China Film Group wanted to make a film about the Three Kingdoms and therefore approached Wu Baige.

Furthermore, the main investor in this film is Mei Ah Entertainment, a Hong Kong film company.

Wu Baige said he had a dream of the Three Kingdoms since he was a child.

However, the film's actual preparation began at the end of 03.

In December 2003, after Wu Baige's film "Memory Rift" flopped at the box office again, he realized that he could no longer make it in Hollywood, and that the film industry in Hong Kong and Taiwan was also failing. As a result, a large number of filmmakers from Hong Kong and Taiwan began to "go north".

He also had this idea.

Therefore, after careful consideration, the first project was chosen to be part of the Three Kingdoms series, which has a wider audience.

After all, he was a former big-name director, and after contacting Hong Kong's Mei Ah Entertainment, the latter decided to invest.

Of course, for a film with an investment budget of tens of millions of dollars, Mei Ah will definitely need to find partners to invest together and share the risks.

With its backing from the Three Kingdoms period, Orange Field Entertainment and Mei Ah Entertainment could easily collaborate. After all, the Three Kingdoms period is a huge fan of the Three Kingdoms, and with Wu Baige being a globally renowned director, the Three Kingdoms film produced by the Three Kingdoms period would certainly be a box office success for them.

Wu Baige went through several screenwriters during this period, but was never satisfied with the script. It wasn't until he revised the script several times and personally participated in the process that he finally wrote a script that satisfied him.

With the script in hand, you can roughly create a budget based on the script and the director's requirements. Then, the awkward part begins.

According to Wu Baige's request, the initial budget of $3500 million was far from enough and would likely exceed the budget by a considerable margin.

Having prepared for so long, there's no way I can give up.

Meiya and Orange Field stated that additional funding is impossible due to excessively high costs and risks. They suggested introducing new investors to share the risks.
There's no other way but to bring in more investors.

In mainland China at present, in order to revitalize and expand the film market, as long as it is a big-name director and a big-budget production, there is one film company that will almost always invest if you approach them: China Film Group.

So China Film Group also invested in it.

With investors secured, it's time to launch the project and get started.

As for the male actor, after a series of betrayals and recasting, it's finally settled.

However, problems arose with the actresses.

Wu Baige and Mei Ya wanted Hei Zeling to play Xiao Qiao. Two years ago, China Film Group and President Han would have had no objection.

But wasn't it already close to 07? Cao Yang had already made his statement:
"...Whether they are compatriots from Hong Kong or Taiwan, we welcome them all to work in the film and television industry on the mainland. However, if you're going to make a movie, just do it properly and don't bring any bad habits with you..."

Cao Yang's words were directed at the so-called "elevation of status," "being superior," and "looking down on mainlanders."

Therefore, the suggestion from model Kurosawa Rei to play the female lead in such a big-budget film was rejected by China Film Group, and quite firmly at that.

Then, China Film Group asked Dong Xuan if she wanted to play the role.

After reading the script and discussing it with Cao Yang, Dong Xuan rejected it—she was actually pursuing a career as an actress and had no shortage of resources, so she was not interested in this novel Three Kingdoms melee with an "anti-war" theme…

I just can't muster any interest.

Since Dong Xuan wasn't going to act, after discussions among several parties, Gao Yuanyuan, whose film investment was comparable to her star power, was found.

After receiving the script, Gao Yuanyuan was quite interested. She follows a fashionable route, and taking on such a large-scale commercial production, especially one about the Three Kingdoms period which has high public interest, would be a plus for her.

Cao Yang felt it was a pity that Gao Yuanyuan, who debuted as a leading actress with exceptional acting skills in "Secret Sunshine" and even won the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award, did not later pursue a career focused on acting.

But she's doing very well now, and her advertising endorsement fees are among the highest for actresses in China. That's all.

Gao Yuanyuan then took on the role in "Red Cliff".

"I also know that 'Red Cliff' will be divided into two parts."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

Gao Yuanyuan was not surprised; in her opinion, it was normal for Cao Yang to know these things.

"Do you know why it was split into two parts? I heard from the producer that the original budget for 'Red Cliff' was $3500 million, but as filming progressed, it reached $5000 million."

Various other problems arose, such as recasting and reshooting, set damage from heavy rain, and a fire that killed staff members... It was just one of many setbacks.

In the final settlement, it cost nearly $8000 million.

"So, considering the cost, you plan to split it into two parts?" Cao Yang asked.

"Yes, I heard that from Director Wu's agent, Zhang Jiazhen, who is also one of the film's producers."

Cao Yang nodded and stopped talking about the topic. Instead, he asked with a smile, "During filming, did anyone bully you?"

With China Film Group involved, Cao Yang certainly knew whether Gao Yuanyuan had been bullied.

"How could that be? I'm not a nobody, and I'm no less famous than anyone else. How could they possibly bully me?"

Gao Yuanyuan rubbed her head against Cao Yang's shoulder and said with a smile, "Only you would bully me."

"is it?"

Cao Yang patted Gao Yuanyuan's bottom and said with a smile, "I heard that during the filming of the movie, some people from Hong Kong wanted to invite you out?"

"Oh, how did you know? I didn't agree to it. Later, he left the crew for his own reasons, and I haven't seen him since."

Gao Yuanyuan quickly explained.

Cao Yang smiled but didn't say anything.

Among his female friends, Yu Feihong has no need to worry about being bullied, and Li Xiaoran works with directors who know a little about her situation, so there won't be any problems.

Needless to say, Dong Xuan's side is even more complicated; there are even rumors circulating that she is President Han's illegitimate daughter...

Fat Bing is one of the partners of the largest brokerage firm in China; his status speaks for itself, so there's nothing to worry about.

The fact that Gao Yuanyuan is involved in the advertising and fashion industries is the most worrying thing.

However, she is a big shot, and ordinary people don't dare to do anything to her. But capable people can find out who is backing her.

The circles these characters mingle in are not like those in the novel. Although they are more exciting and chaotic than those in the novel, they are almost all based on mutual consent.

Offending Cao Yang for a woman?
Reality isn't a novel, and even second or third-generation rich kids aren't that stupid—does anyone really think these people are lawless brats who were spoiled from childhood?
how is this possible.

It's only in Hong Kong and Taiwan that there's a tradition of using actresses as "public relations" personnel. Coupled with their disdain for mainlanders, and their reliance on their status as big shots in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment circles, they might dare to do some outrageous things.

For example, the male producer who invited Gao Yuanyuan out for drinks was quite famous in Hong Kong and had served as the producer of many films.

After Gao Yuanyuan rejected him, he used his privileges as a producer to target her.

Of course, this targeting only lasted two days. The executive producer, who wielded considerable power in the production team, was kicked out by producer Zhang Jiazhen, who also declared that they would never work together again.

However, I probably felt that doing so would not show enough sincerity; well, that's definitely what I was thinking at the time.

Zhang Jiazhen called the executive producer over again and made him apologize to Gao Yuanyuan in person. After Gao Yuanyuan said it was okay, he was sent away again.

Cao Yang spent three days with Gao Yuanyuan, after which Gao Yuanyuan flew away again to attend to her work.

So far, "The Fault in Our Stars" has grossed 1.32 million yuan in its first week of release, and based on the current trend, it is still possible for it to reach 400 million yuan.

President Han was very pleased.

It's worth noting that this is considered an art film, and it's only with various factors that it could have achieved this box office result.

After spending another day with Li Xiaoran, Cao Yang took Ning Hao and flew to Los Angeles.

He was there to give acting coaching to the actors of "Joker". The reason he brought Ning Hao along was that he planned to return to China after two weeks and have Ning Hao coach them.

Cao Yang will only stay in Los Angeles for a maximum of two weeks because his film "Love in the Seaside City" will be released in China next month.

Well, it can be said that by taking advantage of the "romance" trend of "The Fault in Our Stars," viewers can experience the "romantic sentiment" of "Love in the Seaside City," which seems even more romantic.

A different kind of romance.

Hopefully, we can give the audience a surprise.

(End of this chapter)