Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 75: Confirm it quickly
Gu Changwei, who was taking care of the children at home, received a call from Cheng Jianye.

Cheng Jianye’s meaning was very simple. Director Cao was about to make a new film and was still short of a photographer. Old Gu, would you like to come?
Lao Gu, do you want to come? This sentence is so familiar.

Gu Changwei couldn't help but sigh. Three years ago, when he was still wasting time in Hollywood, Jiang Wen was just like this. He simply said, "I have an awesome idea. Old Gu, do you want to come?"

Come, of course I will come.

Hollywood is such a fucking quagmire that it's no place for humans to stay. Whoever wants to stay here can stay, whoever wants to come can come. I will never come here again, and whoever comes will be a grandson.

So, he returned to China to direct Jiang Wen's "The Devils", which started filming in October 98 and wrapped in January 10. There were no major problems during the filming period, so it was one of Jiang Wen's relatively quick films.

But then comes endless trouble.

First, the original author sued for infringement, mainly on two grounds.

First, the author only authorized it to Jiang Wen’s Sunshine Co., Ltd., but now it is a joint production by four companies, and the other three have not been authorized.

Second, without the author's permission, the original novel's creative themes, story details, character personalities, etc. were distorted and tampered with.

The original story of the Jiaodong anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians bravely resisting the invasion was changed into a tragic story of ignorant villagers in northern Hebei spontaneously resisting the Japanese.

Next, before the lawsuit was settled, Jiang Wen took the film directly to the Cannes Film Festival.

The Film Bureau was very angry. How dare you go to a foreign film festival when you have a lawsuit? More importantly, have you passed the review? So they ordered the film to be withdrawn from Cannes within a certain period of time.

Since it has been selected for the main competition unit of Cannes, there is no way that Jiang Wen, the tough guy, would withdraw. He directly brought his whole family to attend the premiere of the film in Cannes.

He ignored what the Film Bureau said.

Although the film lived up to expectations and won the Grand Jury Prize, Jiang Wen also won the Banned Director Award, but there was no official document this time.

Gu Changwei was "unemployed" again. Without a big director with whom he could work for a long time, his return to China was a heavy blow. Coupled with his experience in Hollywood, he was quite disheartened.

So I just gave up. Since my career wasn't going well and there were no big directors willing to work with me, I might as well go home and have kids with my wife.

Having been idle at home for more than two years, Gu Changwei has rejected many sincere directors. Some of them even came to invite him in person many times in order to get him to come out of retirement. There are more than one such directors.

Gu Changwei didn't agree.

It's still the same reason. Any director with a little fame has his own fixed team of collaborators. The people who come here are either unknown or have no ability. After all, he is known as the number one photographer in the country, so he has to consider his reputation.

This is probably what is called being burdened by fame.

When Gu Changwei received Cheng Jianye's call, he was still very excited and wanted to agree on the spot.

But considering that I have rejected many invitations from directors in the past two years, and my wife just gave birth to a child, I can't just go as soon as Director Jin Shi invites me, right?
You have to... give me half a day to think about it, right?
"Brother Cheng, this is what I am doing. I have to go to the hospital for a follow-up check on my eyes this afternoon. I will ask the doctor if there is any impact. I will call you back before dinner."

After Gu Changwei finished speaking, he felt that it was a little inappropriate, so he added, "Thank you for thinking of me, brother. I will definitely treat you to a meal some other day."

A few years ago, when Cheng Jianye met him and called him "Teacher Gu", Gu Changwei would at most nod his head and didn't even know who this person was.

now?
He is the production director who won the Golden Lion Award and the deputy director of the production department of Qingying Studio. It is not wrong to call him "brother".

"Who's calling?"

Jiang Wenli just gave birth to a son this year and her figure has not yet recovered. She came out in her loose pajamas and asked.

"Cheng Jianye from Qingying Studio."

"Cheng Jianye? I don't know him. Qingying Studio invited you? That's weird. How many movies can they make in a year? There are a lot of photographers in Beijing Film Academy, right? With the salary they offer, can they afford you?"

"Cheng Jianye is Cao Yang's exclusive producer." "Oh, huh? Who? Cao Yang? The one who just won the Golden Lion Award? Did you refuse?"

Jiang Wenli didn't react at first, but when she did, she started asking questions in a rapid fire, her tone quite urgent, and her voice pitch getting higher and higher.

"I just wanted to spend more time with you because you just gave birth..."

"You refuse?"

Jiang Wenli asked again, seeming a little angry this time.

"No, I didn't refuse. I, I said I would go to the hospital to see my eyes in the afternoon and give me an answer before dinner." Gu Changwei replied hesitantly.

It is normal for women to have a little temper after giving birth. We should be more understanding of the difficulties they face in giving birth.

"Don't wait until before dinner. Give me another two...an hour, and call me back. Don't keep them waiting anxiously."

Jiang Wenli was talking about this, and then she suddenly remembered that Cao Yang could support three major international film queens in Europe, so did she have a chance?
Lose weight and get back in shape quickly. Once Lao Gu has established a firm foothold in Cao Yang's crew, are you still afraid that you won't have any chances?
"Old Gu, you must remember to call back and agree to it. Be quick and decisive, don't be like a woman and nag."

In the afternoon, Cheng Jianye came to see Cao Yang in person and said that there was no problem with Gu Changwei.

Since Cheng Jianye was here, Cao Yang told him to set up the framework of the crew first and use the same staff from last time, and asked Cheng Jianye to greet them in advance and leave some time.

After Cheng Jianye left, Cao Yang took out his phone and called Gu Changwei. Cheng Jianye's invitation was a buffer. After the other party agreed, he still had to make a phone call in person to discuss the matter, which could be considered as advance communication.

Now that we have a photographer and the crew’s framework is roughly complete, the next step is to find actors.

Two days later, Cao Yang called Cheng Jianye and assistant directors Li Mingyi and Liu Shan to discuss the selection of actors.

Of course, the so-called discussion means whatever Cao Yang ordered and what they discussed. That was the discussion.

"Are there any actresses under 35 or over 25 who are not doing well recently? For example, they may have failed in love or career. It would be best if the media reported that they are very sad." Cao Yang asked.

The three of them didn't care why Cao Yang asked this. Li Mingyi said first: "Xiao Yanzi must be very sad. In the September issue of Fashion magazine, she wore a military flag skirt and was criticized so much that she even apologized on TV."

"She deserves it."

Cao Yang commented, and then said: "Don't talk about her, this kind of person is not worth wasting your breath on. Does anyone have any other ideas?"

"Qu Ying should be considered one of them. It's been rumored in the industry that her boyfriend Li Yapeng and Xun Ge'er fell in love during the filming and got together. She knows it very well now and is just waiting to go to the crew and make it clear one day."

This time it was Liushan who answered.

"Qu Ying..."

Cao Yang did not comment, and asked again: "Anything else?"

"Lv Liping got divorced last month. She must be sad, right?" Li Mingyi added.

"Lü Liping, let Lao Tian comfort her and we won't have to worry about it."

"I know one, but she is under 25 years old," said Cheng Jianye.

"Speak out and listen."

"Director Cao, do you still remember Gao Yuanyuan from director Wang Xiaoshuai's crew at the Berlin Film Festival? She must be very sad recently. Her boyfriend and Xu Jinglei were openly together and were photographed several times. Everyone in the industry knows about their affair."

　If you say I am slow in advancing the plot, then I will add this one more chapter! Thanks to "忙忙碌的一天", "书友110519144527980" for their rewards, and thanks to my brothers for their monthly tickets and recommendation support. Thank you all. I am considering whether to set up a group, but I am afraid that I will not be able to resist the group chat when the time comes...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)