Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 131 There is only one Cao Zhong in China

It was already late at night at the Beijing Film Academy.

Yang Mi, who was still awake, had her mind filled with the script lines that Cao Zhong had given her. During this time, she had done her best to study the script, and even found a foreign teacher to learn the speaking speed and tone.

Because the dialogue was quite scary, Yang Mi hasn't been sleeping well these past few days.

Suddenly, her phone beeped with a text message, and she picked it up without thinking.

Upon seeing the news, Yang Mi excitedly jumped up from the bed.

During this period, Yang Mi stayed in her dormitory for a few days because she needed to catch up on her classes at school and also film the year-end stage play "The Story of the Stairs".

In this stage play, she also played the role of a little boy.

Because she had forgotten that she lived in the dormitory, Yang Mi stood up and bumped her head on the ceiling with a thud.

"what!"

Although Yang Mi wanted to hold back, she still called out very softly.

Jiao Junyan woke up instantly from the bed next to her.

"What's wrong, Mimi?"

"It's nothing. I just bumped my head," Yang Mi said hurriedly.

"Are you alright? How could you be so careless?" Jiao Junyan asked with concern.

"It's nothing, my head is just a little buzzing."

Jiao Junyan is a kind-hearted person. Fearing that Yang Mi might suffer a concussion, she turned on her flashlight and prepared to go to Yang Mi's bedside to check on her. As a result, she saw Yang Mi's script.

"Have you taken on a new role? You've been acting all mysterious lately."

Seeing that it was an English sentence, Jiao Junyan couldn't help but ask.

"There is a new movie." Yang Mi knew she couldn't hide it any longer; it would be found out sooner or later. But she still kept it a secret as Cao Zhong had asked. "It's a resource from the Hong Kong entertainment circle."

"They're filming English-language movies in Hong Kong?" Jiao Junyan asked, puzzled. "Feature films or art films?"

“No, I’m going to Hollywood,” Yang Mi said. “For a small role.”

Jiao Junyan froze completely.

"What?! Hollywood?!"

This impassioned question woke up the other two roommates.

A moment later, the dormitory lights came on.

Jiao Junyan, Yuan Shanshan, and Zhang Xiaofei sat in chairs, forming a row, while Yang Mi sat at the other end of the three-way trial.

"Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely! Mimi! Tell us the truth now!"

The men had serious expressions, but beneath their brows in the dead of night, different emotions were revealed.

Jiao Junyan was more shocked, while Zhang Xiaofei was more envious.

Only Yuan Shanshan had a complicated look in her eyes, her gaze towards Yang Mi filled with scrutiny and judgment.

Following the script Cao Zhong had taught her, Yang Mi accidentally obtained an email from Boss Jiang in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, thus completing a lie.

Jiang Zhiqiang will not refute this lie.

Rong Xinda might find it strange, but they would be happy to see it happen.

As Jiang Zhiqiang's sworn enemy, Cao Zhong will naturally not be in the public eye for the time being.

……

Time flies.
The Chinese New Year film season has entered its final, intense competition.

In August, at the end of the summer season, Cao Zhong's "Nanjing Photo Studio" created a box office miracle, pushing the Chinese film box office to new heights.

The marketing and distribution companies for the films released during the Lunar New Year season are working like they're on steroids.

"The Warlords," "Assembly," "CJ7," and "Kung Fu Dunk" are targeting the New Year's Day and Spring Festival holiday periods, respectively.

On December 6, "The Warlords" held its premiere at the National Olympic Stadium, kicking off the 2007 Lunar New Year film battle.

At the premiere, Chen Kexin boldly stated: "Our film is not intended to please foreign audiences. Although Chinese films have won numerous awards on the international film scene in recent years, 'The Warlords' does not want to become a warlord."

This time, they really mastered Cao Zhong's tactics. They completely baffled Han Sanpin.

But Chen Kexin seemed unaware of what she was saying and continued to talk at length, claiming that we do not rely on overseas markets, special effects, or Chinese kung fu to cater to foreign audiences, but rather on romantic interpretations and a subversion of "Chinese-style" brotherhood.

Li Lianjie even claimed that Pang Qingyun was the most complex role he had played in his 27-year acting career.

"The Warlords" did not follow the path of a purely commercial film, nor did it follow the path of a purely art film. Instead, it used real-life characters and stories.

Upon seeing this news, Zhao Haicheng couldn't help but sigh as he spoke with Cao Zhong.

"Director Cao launched a full-scale attack on the three major European countries, but unexpectedly, the first one he used was a Hong Kong director."

Cao Zhong smiled but said nothing.

The brothers in the colonies suffered the most beatings and were the quickest to kneel down.

Moreover, it's very clever; this statement doesn't mention Cao Zhong at all, yet it's a natural way of using Cao Zhong to generate public discussion.

Cao Zhong knew that Chen Kexin was just using him against him, but he didn't care.

Hong Kong directors don't really compete for overseas awards. While Chen Kexin is a bit greedy and her films are generally bad, she doesn't have many other flaws…

The claim that it didn't rely on special effects or Chinese kung fu is because he didn't film it.

The fact that it's neither a purely commercial film nor a purely art film further illustrates Chen Kexin's concern about the public opinion impact of the film's release.

The groundwork has already been laid.

But it was clear that the others at the premiere didn't sense this.

On the contrary, the diversity of film genres this year has led many industry insiders to sense the exciting atmosphere that Chinese blockbusters have successfully transformed.

This kind of self-confidence is good.

Although Cao Zhong did not have a good opinion of "The Warlords" and "Assembly", he would not create enemies out of thin air.

……

Filming is ongoing.

The fierce competition in the promotion of Lunar New Year films has not yet affected Cao Zhong.

During this period, Han Sanpin, Cao Zhong, Zhai Junjie, Xu Ke, and Mao Weining held several conference calls.

Regarding the casting, Zhang Yi was ultimately chosen for the role of Li Yannian, based on Cao Zhong's suggestion.

Many people applied for the role, and because the character information of Li Yannian was not specific in the early stages, many leading male actors wanted to participate.

Deng Chao, Chen Kun, Tong Dawei, Zhang Hanyu and others sent messages, and even He Zhengjun, who played the political commissar in "Bright Sword", sent a message.

Huang Xiaoming also contacted Cao Zhong privately to ask about the specific situation.

But Cao Zhong rejected them all, and in the end, he turned his attention to the popular TV series "Soldiers Sortie" that aired this year.

This film happens to be produced by the August First Film Studio, which can be considered to fulfill Han Sanpin's previous idea of ​​initiating projects through political work.

All parties are satisfied with this.

The group ultimately decided on Zhang Yi as the male lead.

Other actors from "Soldiers Sortie" were also invited to participate in the film, including Chen Sicheng, Wang Baoqiang, Li Chen, Zhang Guoqiang, and Duan Yihong.

Zhang Yi was completely stunned when he received the invitation.

Wang Baoqiang was also dumbfounded. He never expected that he would be playing the male lead in the movie, but then he would be playing the supporting male role for Zhang Yi.

However, Wang Baoqiang had no intention of giving up on the play written by Cao Zhong.

……

The competition in the Lunar New Year film season is extremely fierce.

However, none of them could surpass the box office miracle created by "Nanjing Photo Studio".

It wasn't until the entire New Year's Day holiday was over that people realized this.

In China, there is only one Cao Zhong.

The industry is at a loss for words to comment on this news, and can only sigh in disappointment.

(End of this chapter)