Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 421 The Great Chaos of the Three Kingdoms
Gao Yuanyuan sat on the sofa with her legs draped over Cao Yang. She held a script in her hand and read it for a while before rubbing her feet against Cao Yang.

"The script has been changed quite a bit. In the novel, Wang Deng is adopted by a couple who work in a factory, and she is later molested by her adoptive father. In the script, her adoptive father truly treats her as his own daughter."

Cao Yang put his laptop aside and joked with a smile, "Oh, I didn't know you were reading novels."

Gao Yuanyuan rolled her eyes at Cao Yang.

"Who do you think you are? I'm a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress, okay? Since you've asked me to act in this film, I'll definitely be prepared, and of course I'll read the original novel."

These are Gao Yuanyuan's honest thoughts. She will definitely do her best to play the role that Cao Yang asked her to play.

Besides, Cao Yang isn't a director, and Xiao Gangpao won't be giving any special acting advice. To play the role of Wang Deng well, in addition to thoroughly understanding the script, you definitely need to read the novel carefully as well.

In fact, Cao Yang did want to direct "Aftershock", but the timing was not right. The film must be started now to achieve the best "warning" effect.

However, Cao Yang was busy directing "Joker" and simply couldn't spare the time.

Moreover, trying to create a sensational earthquake story before filming is bound to provoke public outrage, and his identity is also unsuitable; only Little Cannon is the most appropriate candidate.

"Oh, so you do know you're a Cannes Best Actress winner."

Cao Yang patted Gao Yuanyuan's thigh lightly and teased, "I'm afraid no one would have thought that the young Cannes Best Actress who was given the most hope would be groomed for the advertising and fashion industries, and now she has become the most popular spokesperson for major brands in China."

"They insisted on having me as their spokesperson, and I couldn't refuse."

Gao Yuanyuan pouted slightly, showing no sign of remorse. She then bent her knee and pulled one leg back, but once it was in the right position, she put her foot down and gently rubbed it against Cao Yang's sensitive area, giggling:
"You haven't answered my question yet. Why did you change her adoptive father to such a good person?"

Cao Yang glared at Gao Yuanyuan, telling her to behave herself; they were going out later and she shouldn't cause trouble.

"Sister, can't you have some compassion? Wang Deng's fate is already so bitter. The earthquake killed her father, and she was abandoned by her mother. Why add more suffering to her unfortunate life?"

If her adoptive father were like those in novels, her life would be over; she would never be able to escape the trauma of her childhood. It's good that things are the way they are now; it allows her to feel the warmth of a home after being adopted.

Gao Yuanyuan was displeased after hearing Cao Yang's words.

"Then why did you let her have a child out of wedlock at the age of 21? For the sake of the child in her womb, she even dropped out of school and became an outcast? You have to know that according to the year in the movie, it was only 91, which was still a very conservative era, and the family that adopted her was a strict military family."

Gao Yuanyuan pouted and tried to pinch Cao Yang's thigh with her foot, but Cao Yang slapped her away to avoid it.

She continued to complain, "According to the script you changed, her adoptive parents treated her so well, but Wang Deng never truly regarded them as her parents in the deepest part of her heart."

Otherwise, why would her mother's words about saving her younger brother during the earthquake haunt her like a nightmare, yet she never mentioned it to her adoptive parents?

Why did she never go home or make a single phone call to her adoptive father during the five years between her pregnancy and when her child was three or four years old?
Before her adoptive mother passed away, she told Wang Deng that she was entrusting her adoptive father to her care. But what did she do? This was the dying plea of ​​someone who had raised her for over a decade.

This doesn't make any sense at all.

Cao Yang looked at Gao Yuanyuan with some surprise, not expecting her to actually read the script so seriously.

Then, Cao Yang gave a wry smile, feeling somewhat helpless.

I always unconsciously think of Gao Yuanyuan as the Gao Yuanyuan of the past, probably because her "unconventional" endorsement and advertising left me with a stereotypical impression.

This Gao Yuanyuan is different from the Gao Yuanyuan of my previous life. This one is a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress and one of the four great actresses with excellent acting skills. Due to her status, her dedication is extremely high.

"Although the movie is called 'Tangshan Earthquake,' it almost entirely depicts events that occurred after the earthquake. Earthquakes are extremely cruel natural disasters. I think the title of the novel, 'Aftershocks,' is very good."

What are aftershocks? They are the lingering effects left after an earthquake, especially for the survivors. This was true for Wang Deng, and it was also true for her mother, Li Yuanni.

That devastating earthquake not only destroyed Wang Deng's home, but also shattered her faith in family ties. Her heart was already filled with gloom and riddled with holes.

Faced with her boyfriend's insistence that Wang Deng have an abortion, she said, "I am from Tangshan, so I know the preciousness of life. We have no right to deprive him of his rights..." So she resolutely gave birth to the child, even if it meant paying a heavy price.

Her wounded heart was never warmed or healed by the enduring love of her adoptive parents, and this remains a deep and profound regret in her life.

Why did they choose to make "Little Steel Cannon" have this kind of storyline in the first place?
Of course, it's not like what Cao Yang said.

Instead, the movie "Little Cannon" was actually filmed based on the novel... but it didn't pass censorship, so a lot of content was cut and some content was reshot to make "Wang Deng" look like a cold-hearted and heartless person.

Cao Yang originally wanted to change Wang Deng's appearance, but after thinking about it, he realized that everyone knew he was an art-house film director, and to outsiders, his greatest strengths were in training actors and exploring human nature.

Actually, this kind of "Wang Deng" is quite good; it can well reflect the cruel impact of the earthquake.

To make "Wang Deng" seem a little more human, since "coldness" is not her true nature, Cao Yang added some plot elements.

For example, whenever she is with her adoptive parents, the better they treat her, the more easily she thinks of her biological parents. At night, she dreams of her father's tragic death and her mother's abandonment of her.

This is one aspect, in order to portray Wang Deng's deep-seated psychological trauma.

On the other hand, Cao Yang also added a plot point.

After she became pregnant while in college, not only did her boyfriend make her have an abortion, but her adoptive parents, who came from a military family, also found out about it and were furious. After she refused to have an abortion, her adoptive father slapped her and said he would sever all ties with her from now on.

Wang Deng then thought of her mother who had abandoned her back then, and she had taken it seriously.

"Okay, you're the producer, the executive producer, and the screenwriter, so you're in charge."

Gao Yuanyuan tried to twist Cao Yang's foot again, but Cao Yang reflexively dodged to the side, and her foot landed on Cao Yang's private parts again.

Seeing Cao Yang looking over as if he was about to make a move, Gao Yuanyuan jumped up and said with a smile, "It's almost time, let's go watch the movie."

After saying that, she quickly ran to change her clothes and closed the door behind her.

Cao Yang was certain that the door was only closed, not locked.

If he goes in, our plans to see a movie today will definitely be ruined.

Forget it, let's wait until after the movie. There's no rush. If I don't go see that much-criticized "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon" today, I probably won't have the chance to see it again.

His flight is tomorrow, heading to Los Angeles.

First, Ning Hao called to say that Jim Carrey's weight loss was significant and he had already met the requirements, about ten days ahead of schedule, so filming for "Joker" could begin at any time.

Secondly, he could take this opportunity to "hide".

With so much advertising money in hand, Little Cannon is bound to make a big splash.

Cao Yang's status does not allow him to participate in the hype surrounding such serious topics. As long as he is not in the country, Xiao Gangpao will be the biggest target.

After all, it's common knowledge that Xiao Gangpao likes to create hype.

Just then, Cao Yang's phone rang.

He picked it up and looked at it; it was a call from Lao Tian.

"I remember the Hong Kong Film Awards red carpet starts at 5:30, right? Why are you calling me now instead of walking the red carpet?"

Cao Yang checked the time; it was 6:40 PM.

"The red carpet event won't end until 7:30. Pietà, as the hottest show tonight, will definitely be the grand finale."

Old Tian said smugly, "Many media outlets in Hong Kong interview me, and the first thing they ask is whether I, as the winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, am confident of winning Best Film and Best Director tonight. I'm getting a little annoyed by this question."

"Then you'd better work hard, or you'll be left with nothing at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Otherwise, you won't be the only one embarrassed; the Venice Film Festival will be embarrassed too."

Cao Yang joked with a smile.

Old Tian clicked his tongue, sighed, and asked in a low voice, "Really? Pietà is a Venice Golden Lion film after all. With seven nominations, the Hong Kong Film Awards can't possibly not give it a single award, right? Would they dare to do something like this?"

Cao Yang shook his head. He didn't know if the Hong Kong Film Awards would dare to do it now, but he knew they would in a few years, and their slogan was to protect Hong Kong films.

Well, they really messed things up. Originally, it had some prestige and could have competed with the Golden Horse Awards for the most prestigious Chinese-language award, but both sides kept pulling stunts, turning it into a self-indulgent exercise behind closed doors. "Pieta," with investment from Edko Films in Hong Kong and Kara Hui being from Hong Kong, and employing many Hong Kong staff during filming, fully met the Hong Kong Film Awards' eligibility requirements at that time.

Old Tian also wanted to "make his mark" at the Hong Kong Film Awards, so he signed up.

As a Venice Golden Lion film, Pietà received at least some respect from the Golden Lion Awards, earning seven nominations: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

It received 15 nominations, second only to "Protégé" with 12 nominations, and 8 nominations for the two films "Eye in the Sky" and "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt" with 8 nominations. It also tied with "C+ Detective" for 7 nominations.

However, a film that won the Golden Lion at Venice only received 7 nominations, which is actually a loss.

"I'm not the chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards, how would I know?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said, "There's a high probability they'll give out some awards, don't worry."

Old Tian made two "oh" sounds, feeling uncertain.

To be honest, he was only a little nervous at first, which is why he called Cao Yang. He never thought that the Hong Kong Film Awards would dare not award the film that won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Otherwise, why would I participate in a local award selection when my Golden Lion-winning film is recognized by Venice, one of the three major European film festivals and one of the most authoritative film festivals in the world?
Lao Tian had been very confident, believing that he was certain to win major awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Suppressing his doubts, Lao Tian said, "Just now, a reporter from Hong Kong asked me why I didn't attend the seven nominations for Pietà, which included Best Picture and Best Screenplay."

"To interrogate?"

Old Tian thought for a moment and said, "No, maybe the reporter just wants to know the reason."

Actually, it had a somewhat condescending, questioning tone.

But Lao Tian knows Cao Yang too well.

When Cao Yang first went to Hollywood to make movies, the Golden Horse Awards mixed in internal strife and some political factors, so Cao Yang dared to publicly declare that he would never participate in the Golden Horse Awards again.

It's important to remember that his influence back then was far less than it is now. If Cao Yang had acted impulsively and boycotted the Hong Kong Film Awards right before the Olympics, things would have been very difficult to handle.

"Alright, I'm not going to chat with you anymore. I need to get ready for the red carpet."

Lao Tian said.

"Okay, just take it easy. You're a Golden Lion-winning director now, so it doesn't matter whether some local awards recognize you or not."

When Cao Yang hung up the phone, he smiled and comforted Lao Tian, ​​leaving Lao Tian speechless for a moment.

"Director Tian's phone?"

After Gao Yuanyuan changed her clothes and came out, she heard Cao Yang mention "Golden Lion Director" in his words, and knew that it was Lao Tian who called.

"Yeah, he's about to walk the red carpet, so he's probably nervous and is calling to get some reassurance."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

"I don't understand what you're thinking. That's the Hong Kong Film Awards. You were the producer and screenwriter of 'Pieta,' which was nominated for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Why didn't you go and participate?"

Gao Yuanyuan said, puzzled.

Cao Yang was slightly taken aback. Gao Yuanyuan was a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress, and Lao Tian was a Golden Lion Director and the head of the Directing Department at Beijing Film Academy. Judging from their tone, they both thought the Hong Kong Film Awards were very prestigious awards.

In this day and age, the Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards still seem to hold considerable prestige in the domestic film industry.

"I'm going to Los Angeles tomorrow, so I definitely have to be with you today. The Academy Awards are nothing compared to you."

Cao Yang held Gao Yuanyuan's hand and said with a smile.

At this moment, Gao Yuanyuan smiled very happily.

The two disguised themselves, found a movie theater, and bought tickets for "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon".

This was a hall with a capacity of about 200 people. Cao Yang even took a closer look and found that by the time the movie started, the audience was sparse and the occupancy rate was probably less than 20%.

"Including the two of us, there are 26 people."

Gao Yuanyuan said softly.

She counted them specifically.

Cao Yang grasped Gao Yuanyuan's hand and smiled.

It's worth mentioning that the action choreography in "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon" was quite good, the actors were all excellent, and the soundtrack was also great...

As the plot unfolds, Cao Yang tries to find the film's strengths.

To be honest, if this movie weren't based on historical facts as advertised... if the background were blurred, the names of the characters were changed, and it was emphasized that this was a martial arts film, it would be quite worth watching.

Unfortunately, I won't talk about the clothing, because it's impossible to discuss it.

Most importantly, Hong Kong directors portrayed the Three Kingdoms period as a struggle between triads.

Throughout the film, you'll find it embarrassing that, apart from the characters' names matching historical records, the entire movie has almost no connection to the history of the Three Kingdoms.

As Cao Cao led his army south to Jingzhou, Zhao Zilong gradually began to show his presence. At this time, he was a lowly soldier guarding Jingzhou... You read that right!
Before the Battle of Changban, Zhao Zilong was just a soldier.

And then something even more outrageous happened.

In order to rescue Liu Shan, the son of A Dou, who was caught in the chaos of war, Zhao Zilong, who was in Fengming Mountain in Jingzhou, volunteered to run to his rescue alone...

Moved by the young soldier's courage, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei decided to escort him. With the help of the two men and a group of cavalry, Zhao Zilong successfully entered the Changbanpo battlefield.

As Cao Cao's army discovered their presence and charged towards them, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei waved their hands and said, "Brothers, take care on your journey!"
The two then led their men away.

Get away!

Holy crap!
Cao Yang was dumbfounded!

It's still a gang war, isn't it? Are they trying to choose the best double-stick fighter?

and then?
After gaining fame in the Battle of Changban, Zhao Zilong returned to his hometown of Changshan to visit his fellow villagers. The local people lined the streets to welcome Zhao Zilong and celebrated the victory in this battle.

Cao Yang was once again dumbfounded.

If he remembers correctly, Zhao Zilong's hometown, Changshan County in Ji Province, had long been incorporated into Cao Cao's territory. So how did he get back?
Did the people under Cao Cao's rule openly celebrate Cao Cao's defeat?

What is this operation?
Then, another major setback occurred.

After conquering Yizhou and Hanzhong, Liu Bei established the Great Shu Kingdom in Chengdu!
You read that right, Liu Bei, who restored the Han Dynasty, actually called himself the Shu Kingdom!
You son of a bitch, don't you screenwriters have any common sense?
There are also all sorts of bizarre names: Guan Family Army, Zhang Family Army, Huang Family Army, Ma Family Army... What are they trying to do?

The following plot twists were once again incredibly absurd.

As Zhuge Liang read the imperial edict, an even more bizarre line was born: "Zhao Zilong commands the three armies and leads the army on the Northern Expedition"—we learned the "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops" in middle school, could it have been written by Zhao Zilong?

Cao Yang was speechless. Did this guy have absolutely no concept of history?
Then, many years later, Zhao Zilong led his army on the last Northern Expedition of his military career.

Upon hearing that the Shu Han army was marching north, Cao Cao's granddaughter, Cao Ying, quickly led her army south. The two sides fought a final battle at Fengming Mountain many years ago. According to the previous script, Fengming Mountain was in the Jingzhou region. Why did Zhao Zilong's northern expedition reach Sun Quan's Jingzhou territory?
Could it be that Cao Cao had already taken Jingzhou long ago?

Then, gunpowder was even used in the final battle!
Damn it, even a student with only a junior high school education should know that gunpowder shouldn't have appeared during the Three Kingdoms period, right?
Screenwriter!
At the end of the film, Zhao Yun, alone once again, charged into the enemy ranks by himself... and was ultimately killed in action!
On the battlefield of the Three Kingdoms, the two generals shouted "Long live the Great Wei Kingdom! Long live the Great Shu Kingdom!" as they were dying.
Despite the film being about Han Dynasty history, various Japanese-style armors appear one after another, and the UFO-shaped helmets are even more intolerable to Cao Yang.

Didn't you say it was adapted from the historical record "Records of the Three Kingdoms"?
Can the history of the Three Kingdoms be made up like this?
Oh, so it probably only referenced the three characters "Records of the Three Kingdoms"?

Must be!
(End of this chapter)