Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 477 I'm Here
After the press conference, Cao Yang chatted with President Han for a while, but they didn't talk about the tribute film again. Instead, they chatted about some topics in the film and television industry.

Since we're talking about the film and television industry, we inevitably ended up discussing Hollywood.

"In the past two years, our domestic box office market has grown rapidly. Even with the economic crisis that had such a huge impact last year, the annual box office still increased by more than 30% compared to 07, making it the fastest growing market in the world."

Everyone can see the potential of the Chinese market, and Hollywood is no exception.

Speaking of this, you have no idea how much pressure I've been under these past two years, how many times I've been complained about by Hollywood film companies and even their officials. If it weren't for the contributions I've made these past few years, I would have been forced to retire long ago.

President Han sighed, shook his head with a smile, and continued:
“I might not even be able to provide for retirement. I’ve blocked too many people’s path, especially the twenty imported blockbusters every year. They say I’m deliberately blocking them and not importing the most popular movies of the year.”

Many people have talked to me about this. There's nothing I can do. If you don't import some of the most popular movies, the audience will complain. I have no choice but to compromise.

Chinese films have made great progress in recent years, but they still can't compare with Hollywood blockbusters. They can't compete and are not in the same league.

Since they're not in the same league, let's figure out a way to keep them out of the same release window. Let's put all the competitive Hollywood blockbusters in one release window, and let them fight each other.

Mr. Han took a puff of his cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, and said with a smile, "I'm actually quite satisfied now. I've invested in quite a few movies with you, which has greatly boosted China Film Group's performance. I've also won a few major awards. This treatment... haha, I'll add that in parentheses."

"I'm satisfied, because I've offended so many people, something I never dared to imagine before. To be honest, Cao Yang, you are a great benefactor in my later life."

"Hey, senior brother, get sentimental. Why are you saying all this? Your contributions to Chinese cinema are undeniable. Believe me, when people talk about Chinese cinema during this period, you will definitely be an indispensable figure."

Cao Yang could tell that President Han wasn't really complaining; he was just showing off his achievements on the surface.

Indeed, if we talk about the initial stage of the explosion of Chinese films in the future, Cao Yang will definitely be one of the most important protagonists, and President Han will also be one of the protagonists of the era.

"Haha, I hope it's true."

Mr. Han squinted and took another puff of his cigarette with a satisfied look.

Why did he say that?
Nobody's a fool. Starting as the chief consultant for the Olympics, Cao Yang went on to become the first person in the world to win the grand slam of the three major European Best Director awards, the three major European Gold Medals, and then won Best Director and Best Picture at the Oscars...

You have to understand that such a great achievement has brought great glory to the country, so it would be unreasonable to say that the higher authorities would not give a reward.

Cao Yang was elected vice chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles two years ago. This was a proper election, regardless of whether he was nominated by someone from the Beijing Film Academy.

Without exceptional talent and the ability to command respect, even if the people from the Beijing Film Academy exerted all their efforts, it would have been impossible for Cao Yang to be elected vice chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles at the age of thirty.

This is a formal position with a formal rank; it's a proper deputy ministerial level position, not just a concurrent one.

President Han doesn't know where Cao Yang will go next, but Cao Yang is a smart man and it's highly unlikely that he will give up everything to go into politics.

Unfortunately, starting too high is a problem, and with the added limitation of specialization, you can hardly see the end.

However, if one does not pursue a full-time political career and remains in a second-tier position, then there is a very high chance of being promoted to the next rank.

Once you take that step, everything will be completely different.

Even if one doesn't have real power in other areas, when one is in a low position, some people might not accept it. But when one reaches this position, how many people are there in the entire country of China?
This position allows you to meet almost anyone in the country.

If you don't listen to him, he'll dare to go to the top and try to make things difficult for you.

Moreover, Cao Yang is still so young. Even if he doesn't move for the next thirty years, as long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, given his contributions to Chinese cinema, he'll be able to retire when he reaches retirement age...

He will likely rise a little higher, becoming a vice chairman of the National People's Congress or a vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Therefore, if Cao Yang moves up a rank now, even without real power, he will still have a lot of influence, and most people will have to listen to what he says.

President Han knew he had offended too many people, and he was hoping to retire peacefully. Cao Yang was the key to his peaceful retirement.

"Senior brother, there's something I've been hesitating about for a while now, and I still can't make up my mind. Could you give me some advice?"

After hesitating for a moment, Cao Yang said.

After hearing Cao Yang's words, President Han immediately stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray and said seriously, "Junior brother, what do you want to say?"

If something can make Cao Yang hesitate, then President Han must be something important.

Important matters should be taken seriously.

"Senior brother, there's no need to be so serious."

Cao Yang said with a smile, "That's right. As you know, the reason why Hollywood movies can sweep the world is not only because of the country's strength, but also because of their film industrialization."

If a country is powerful but its movies are not good, it is impossible for them to be bestsellers worldwide. For a film to be a global bestseller, artistic merit aside, the most important factor is that it is entertaining to the average viewer.

Their commercial film production follows a fixed process, which, simply put, is an assembly line production method. Essentially, it is a sophisticated industrial system that standardizes creativity, modularizes production, and minimizes risk.

In addition, the producer system also helps to control everything.

In China, the quality of a film depends most heavily on the director, at least for now.

However, this approach also has a fatal flaw: a severe lack of innovation. Due to risk management, the development trend tends to follow mature models, thus discouraging risky innovation.

If this continues, it will stifle directors' creativity, and may even lead to creative burnout, stylistic convergence, and the demise of auteurship.

Cao Yang sighed and said, "I've discussed this with Nolan, Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, and others. We all agree that when movies start to imitate assembly lines, we're not producing dreams, but canned culture."

The paradox of the assembly line is that it uses a 100% success rate to stifle the one in ten thousand chance of a miracle.

This system will eventually evolve into a vascular stent for the cultural sector, maintaining the industry's vital signs while simultaneously blocking the capillaries of its unchecked growth.

Cao Yang couldn't help but think of the future.

In reality, when internet giants entered the entertainment industry, they didn't actually produce movies or TV series in their own way. Instead, they adopted a Hollywood-style production method: hype and risk management.

They use big stars, popular online figures, and young heartthrobs... Essentially, it's about hype and using big data for risk management to minimize risk.

However, these internet companies focused on learning risk management and hype, while neglecting standardization and modularization.

Therefore, their approach was effective quickly, but it also collapsed quickly.

It certainly didn't last as long as Hollywood.

Of course, Hollywood isn't much better off.

If we start now and fully promote the Hollywood model, we should be able to avoid the short-sighted pursuit of quick profits after the internet enters the market, thus allowing the potential for domestic film and television development to be more sustainable.

But even if it lasts, it is limited, much like drinking poison to quench thirst; eventually, the consequences will have to be paid.

Just look at Hollywood's later lack of innovation and its dead end, and you'll understand.

As an important cultural industry for a country, film and television should ideally have a long-term plan.

After hearing Cao Yang's words, President Han was indeed somewhat shocked.

As the head of China Film Group, it's impossible for him not to have thought about the development of the Chinese film industry.

"Learn from Hollywood, industrialize and marketize the film industry"—this was the internal slogan, but how exactly to industrialize and marketize the film industry was a subject of ongoing internal debate.

Regulating the market is what we are doing.

The industrialization of the film industry is also encouraged by the state, which has even introduced many preferential policies and measures in this regard.

However, Hollywood's global expansion has prevented most people from thinking more deeply about what Cao Yang calls creative exhaustion, stylistic convergence, and the death of auteurship...

After all, Hollywood is currently at its peak, and learning from Hollywood is, at least for now, the right approach.

As for further long-term development, it's not that no one has thought about it or mentioned it, but no one has explained it as thoroughly as Cao Yang.

In addition, there is a very real problem at hand – you haven’t even developed yet, so to deny Hollywood’s development path is just worrying about nothing.

The most important thing right now is development. Only when we've developed enough to compete with Hollywood can we then talk about future problems and development bottlenecks. This way of thinking isn't wrong.

President Han has always acted with this mindset, and he has also criticized those who oppose him as unrealistic and mere bookish scholars who only know how to talk nonsense.

However, it's different now that these words are coming from Cao Yang's mouth.

Anyone who heard Cao Yang's words would take them seriously because of his special status.

Mr. Han lit another cigarette, held it in his hand, but didn't smoke it.

He pondered for a long time, until the cigarette was almost finished. He stubbed it out in the ashtray, gave a wry smile, and said, "This matter is too big. I don't have a plan for the time being. I need to think about it carefully. These things can't be rushed."

"Yes, these things can't be rushed. I haven't decided yet whether or not to do anything."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

He actually had a vague idea, which was a "dual-track" system.

However, once implemented, it's hard to say how it will turn out.

If we are to adopt the Hollywood model, then in addition to this model, we should establish a specialized film and television technology school, or focus on developing film and television technology majors at institutions such as the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama. This is one way to ensure the school's ability to generate its own revenue.

In addition, a special fund will be established to encourage the development of independent films within a controllable scope. Independent filmmakers can apply for the special fund for their creative work.

Applications for special funds may be few and few, and they can be monitored, but they must be effectively implemented.

Independent films may seem sophisticated and have a strong revenue-generating capacity, but this industry is also the easiest place for both scoundrels and talented individuals to emerge.

Therefore, it must be controllable.

But it is precisely the word "controllable" that is the most uncontrollable.

In short, we still need to consider it carefully.

"Alright, it's getting late, let's call it a day."

Cao Yang stood up, and President Han also stood up. The two walked out side by side.

"By the way, Toho Films wants to buy out the distribution rights to 'Like Father, Like Son' for $300 million. What do you think?"

"Mr. Han asked."

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said, "You make the decision, but there's one thing: the domestic release date is June 21st, Father's Day. The release date of 'Little Day' cannot be earlier than that day."

"it is good."

After parting ways with President Han, Cao Yang didn't go home but went to Li Xiaoran's place instead.

He had a key to Li Xiaoran's villa. As soon as he entered, he saw Li Xiaoran wearing pajamas, lounging on the sofa reading a script.

"What are you looking at?"

Cao Yang asked as he hung his coat on the hanger.

"The Founding of a Republic"

Li Xiaoran stood up, placed the script on the coffee table, and stretched out her arms.

"hug."

Cao Yang walked over with a smile, flicked her nose, pulled her into his arms, and said, "Can you smell how fragrant I am?"

Li Xiaoran rested her head on Cao Yang's shoulder. Although she didn't understand why Cao Yang said that, she still took the time to smell Cao Yang's neck and shoulders.

"No, I don't smell any perfume."

Li Xiaoran looked up at Cao Yang with a puzzled expression and teased, "Did you make sure to get rid of the perfume you smelled on before you came? Oh, I know, you must have changed your clothes, right?"

"what?"

Cao Yang was both amused and exasperated.

"I'm wearing this outfit to the press conference today, you know that."

"Then why did you ask me if it smells good?" Li Xiaoran asked curiously.

Cao Yang affectionately patted Li Xiaoran's head, leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I want to confirm if you're in heat, haha..."

Li Xiaoran rolled her eyes at Cao Yang.

"Pah, you just went in, I know, you must have run into another vixen outside, right? Let me touch her..."

"No, no, I was wrong, I was wrong."

Cao Yang took Li Xiaoran's hand, who was laughing and joking, and they sat down together.

"By the way, why did Mr. Han suddenly want me to play Miss Song? Am I the right age?"

Li Xiaoran glanced at the script and asked.

"She appears in the movie around 1945, when she was in her forties. In terms of age, you are indeed a bit inappropriate."

However, she was one of the most elegant socialites of the Republic of China era. She was fluent in seven languages ​​and also had great achievements in the arts. Although her appearance might not be the kind that would amaze everyone at first glance, she had a unique temperament and charm.

In other words, she is outstanding in both appearance and temperament, and it is probably because of this that President Han thought of you.

As for age, compared to the character in the movie, there's only a difference of about ten years; with some makeup, that's easily achieved.

Li Xiaoran became happier and happier as she listened. Wasn't Cao Yang praising her appearance and temperament?

There's a saying in the film industry that goes something like this: age is easy to replicate with makeup, but temperament is hard to imitate.

"Okay, I'll act well."

Li Xiaoran's pretty face was as beautiful as a flower.

Cao Yang smiled, but there was something else he didn't say.

A tribute film with so many domestic stars in it, how could it be complete without the four top actresses, the most outstanding leading ladies?

Therefore, President Han chose Li Xiaoran for the role of the third young lady of the Song family.

"By the way, Little Cannon said he gave you a new script, but you turned it down?"

Cao Yang thought of the movie "If You Are the One" that Xiao Gangpao had mentioned, and asked.

"Yes, I accepted the script for 'The Founding of a Republic,' but I'm worried about scheduling conflicts."

Then, she looked up at Cao Yang, pursed her lips, and said, "Besides, the female lead in the drama feels somewhat familiar and makes me feel sorry for her. I always feel like you've married someone else... so I don't want to act in it."

You want me to act?

Cao Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Finally, he just kept saying, "No, why would I force you? You can do whatever you want. If you like it, then act; if you don't, then don't. Nobody can force you."

I'm here for you! I'm here for you!
Nobody dares to force you!

(End of this chapter)