1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

"The script is very good. Mr. Liao has already read it and said it can be filmed!"

Not long after meeting with the old director Wang Yang at Yanying Studio, Cheng Xuemin's script of "Tai Chi" was sent to Mr. Wu in the department.

After Mr. Wu read it, he immediately sent it to Mr. Liao's place, where he also received high praise.

Immediately afterwards, Cheng Xuemin received a call from Mr. Wu, asking him to come to the department to discuss the details.

This is not!

As soon as Cheng Xuemin and the old factory director Wang Yang entered the office, Mr. Wu pointed to the "Tai Chi" script on the table, nodded and said it was good.

"Can we shoot now? Old leader, are you giving it to our Yanying Studio?"

The old factory manager Wang Yang's face lit up with joy when he heard this, and he couldn't wait to ask.

"I can give it to your Yanying Studio first, but I don't know if your Yanying Studio dares to accept this task!" Old Wu smiled and glanced at the old guy, motioning them to sit down first.

"Uh?"

"Do you dare to answer it?"

"Old leader, is there any other deeper meaning behind this?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yang's face was surprised for a moment, and he looked at Old Wu and Cheng Xuemin who came with him with great confusion. Seeing these two old and young foxes, they looked at each other without saying a word.

Instantly, the old factory director Wang Yang also reacted and asked, "Old leader, is it the rumor about the movie earning foreign exchange?"

"So, Xiao Cheng, you haven't informed Old Wang yet?" Old Wu knew that Wang Yang was anxious, but he let him be anxious first, so he turned to Cheng Xuemin and asked.

"Indeed not!" Cheng Xuemin smiled bitterly, sat up straight, and continued, "The main reason is that you, Mr. Wu, have not yet made a decision. It is not certain whether the project can be approved, so I dare not open the champagne at halftime and say anything nonsense."

"Old Factory Director, I'm sorry that you keep asking me this!"

Cheng Xuemin sincerely apologized to the old factory director Wang Yang. Even though they had been in the same car together, Cheng Xuemin still didn't tell anyone a thing, and it was a good thing that he didn't expose the old factory director's internal injuries.

“Is that really foreign exchange earning?”

The old factory manager waved his hand, saying that this was not a big deal. The main thing was that he wanted to confirm whether they really wanted to earn foreign exchange.
If the film industry starts to earn foreign exchange, then their Yanying Studio will definitely take the lead and will definitely be the first to take the lead and set an example for other brother units.

"Yes!" Cheng Xuemin nodded and said it with certainty.

"We really need to earn foreign exchange!" Old Wu's face relaxed and he said happily, "And Xiao Cheng said that if we want to earn foreign exchange in the cultural sector, your film business will be the biggest source, and the most profitable one is US dollars!"

"That's why I'm asking you, Old Wang, do you dare to take on this responsibility together with Xiao Cheng?"

"Dare you!"

"Why should we be afraid of this? We have long wanted to export our films abroad and earn some foreign exchange dollars for our country, but China Film Group won't give us a chance!"

"Damn it, fuck!"

It turned out that movies really were the way to earn foreign exchange, and their Yanying Studio was designated as the vanguard. The excited old director slapped his thigh and nodded excitedly.

"Old Wang, don't be so confident!"

"Xiao Cheng has signed a military order with us. This Tai Chi is going to generate at least 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country!"

"That means we have to make at least 10 million US dollars!"

This old guy is still so easily excited, mainly because it is what he has wanted for many years. Hasn’t he been clamoring for the distribution rights of China Film Group before?

Now it’s all right, it’s what he wanted, I’m so excited!

However, Mr. Wu immediately poured a bucket of cold water on Wang Yang's head and gave him a reminder!

"How many?!"

"Ten million...US dollars?!"

really!

The old factory manager Wang Yang was originally very excited, but when he heard Mr. Wu emphasize the need to earn 10 million US dollars and even issued a military order, he was completely dumbfounded.

He looked at Cheng Xuemin in disbelief and asked dully, "Xiao Cheng, did you also issue a military order?"

"Ten million US dollars!?"

"Old factory director, we cannot express our determination to earn foreign exchange without a military order, so I think you have to have an attitude. You can also issue a military order in front of Mr. Wu!" Cheng Xuemin touched his nose and said in a very unkind way, dragging Wang Yang into the water.

"what?!"

This time the old factory manager Wang Yang was in complete trouble and felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Ten million dollars!
That’s 10 million US dollars.

Can this military order be issued just like that?
The old factory director is in a very miserable situation. Forget about making 10 million US dollars from a movie "Tai Chi". Even if he sells copies to China Film Group, he can't get a distribution revenue of 10 million RMB!

Their Yanying Studio produced nearly twenty new films throughout the year, but could barely achieve a distribution revenue of 10 million RMB.

Better now!

Cheng Xuemin, the younger generation boy, is really a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger. He even declared in front of Mr. Wu that he would earn 10 million US dollars from foreigners just by watching "Tai Chi".

Since when did it become so easy to make money from foreigners’ US dollars?
The most outrageous thing is that the script of "Tai Chi" has just been written and there is no sign of filming yet.

Moreover, it is a martial arts film. Not only Yanying Studio, but also other film studios in China have never made one before, so they have no experience in martial arts films at all.

The old factory manager Wang Yang's initial guess was that the old leader was planning to use the younger generation Cheng Xuemin to test the waters by moving closer to the martial arts films in Hong Kong.

But I really didn't expect that they would go directly to the battlefield, and even the military order had been issued.

"What's wrong, Old Wang? Are you scared?" When Old Wu saw Wang Yang's expression as if he had seen a ghost, he laughed in his heart.

You know!
When he went to report to Mr. Liao, Mr. Liao heard his casual instructions. There was actually a young comrade who signed a military order on the spot to earn 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country. How shocked was Mr. Liao's expression?

It’s exactly the same as Old Wang is now.

"If you're afraid, then change someone else!"

"Xu Sangchu is in Yanjing right now. I'll ask my secretary to bring him over. Among the four major film studios, Xiao Xu is definitely more courageous!"

"No, no, what are you talking about, old leader? When has our Yanying Studio ever been afraid?"

"Isn't it just 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange?"

"We at Yanying Film Studio have accepted this mission and will ensure that we complete it!"

Provoked by his old leader, Wang Yang could no longer sit still. He stood up abruptly, tilted his neck, and shouted loudly.

"You are indeed braver than Xiao Xu. You dare to issue this military order without even asking for the specific situation!"

"Ten million US dollars!" "Old Wang, do you know how much ten million US dollars is?"

Old Wu smiled and waved his hands, continuing to tease and stimulate Wang Yang.

"Uh... I don't know!"

"But since the old leader told us to do it, we will obey the order unconditionally and make sure we complete the task!"

"Sit down, sit down!" Old Wu waved for Wang Yang to sit down, nodded and said, "This is the attitude I want from you!"

"But then again, I don't know how to make this 10 million dollars or how much I can get out of it!"

"All of this is just Xiao Cheng's boast. Now that Mr. Liao takes it seriously, we have to do our best!"

"Right, Xiao Cheng!"

Cheng Xuemin sat upright, nodded and replied, "Mr. Wu, I still say the same thing. If you give me enough authority, the annual foreign exchange earnings of 10 million US dollars will only increase, not decrease!"

"Did you hear that? Young people are so courageous and energetic!" Old Wu clapped his right hand on the sofa and cheered. He liked Cheng Xuemin's attitude very much, but his face soon darkened and he continued:

"But there is one thing I have to mention first. Xiao Cheng, the distribution rights you mentioned may have to be postponed!"

"The most important thing now is to film this script first!"

"After the script is finished, we can discuss the operation method later. Do you think it will work?"

It is not easy to get the film distribution rights. Even Mr. Liao did not make a decision on the spot, which shows how difficult it is.

"Then, Mr. Wu, how much authority can you give us regarding filming?"

Cheng Xuemin was silent for a moment, knowing that the higher-ups were not going to release the plan until they saw the rabbit. If he didn't put the finished film in front of the leaders, it would obviously not be possible to get the leaders to make the final decision based on a paper script alone.

Cheng Xuemin was actually prepared for this.

Getting the distribution rights is indeed a matter for the next step. The most urgent task now is to film the script into a movie and get the finished film out first.

So, how much authority can the higher-ups give us in terms of filming?

"You don't have to worry about the filming. I've already made an agreement with Mr. Liao. The finance department will directly allocate one million yuan so that you can shoot well!"

"If you need someone, you can go to any of the major film studios, including Yanying Studio, and choose whoever you like. If you are a hard-nosed unit that won't let you go, just report to me directly and our department will coordinate!"

"If you need a venue, I'll say it again. You can go anywhere in the country and run around!"

"In a word, this film Tai Chi has your Yan Film Studio as the nominal producer, but the execution must be under the full control of Xiao Cheng!"

"Whatever people he wants, you must give them unconditionally; whatever help he wants, you must fully support and cooperate with him!"

"Tai Chi will be a key project for our cultural department in the second half of this year and even for the whole of next year. I hope everyone can go all out."

"We don't care about the process, we only care about the result!"

That is to say!

Apart from the unrealistic distribution rights, Cheng Xuemin was given whatever he wanted and would do his best at all costs.

That's 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange. Mr. Wu has never seen it before. How much is this 10 million US dollars?
If they could really achieve a foreign exchange gain of 10 million US dollars in their cultural field, it would be such a sensation and honor.

"Yes, old leader, don't worry. Our Yanying Studio will spare no effort to support Xiao Cheng in making this Tai Chi movie a success!" The old director Wang Yang was completely dumbfounded when he heard this. His blood boiled in his heart. He stood up and shouted loudly.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wu. I promise to complete the task and won't let you down!"

The same goes for Cheng Xuemin. Today he has officially taken on a heavy responsibility for the country.

"Okay, okay, then good luck to you guys!"

"When can we see the sample?"

It's really not that Mr. Wu is impatient. The project has just been officially launched, but he is already asking for a sample film. It's really 10 million US dollars, no one can help but be impatient.

If possible, Mr. Wu would like Cheng Xuemin to go back today so that he can put the sample film in front of him tomorrow.

But I also know that you are definitely not very realistic.

At Yan Film Studio, the shooting of a movie usually takes three to five months at the shortest, or one to two years at the longest.

"Ah... it's already mid-September, I... I guess if I'm fast, I'll try to hand in the finished film before New Year's Day!"

In fact, Cheng Xuemin had already estimated the shooting time in his mind and he had to finish the film before New Year's Day.

Because he knew that this year's Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear Award would be held in late January next year, and Cheng Xuemin planned to take "Tai Chi" to participate in the competition.

We don’t seek to win any awards, but we do hope to promote the film “Tai Chi” to the international stage!

Only during the Berlin Film Festival will filmmakers from all over the world gather together, which is a great opportunity for Cheng Xuemin to earn 10 million US dollars.

Otherwise, if you miss this opportunity, there will really be no such store. If you really rely on Cheng Xuemin to sell them one by one, how long will it take to make 10 million US dollars?
So after some estimation, although time is very tight, Cheng Xuemin is confident that he can film "Tai Chi" within these three months.

Of course, if you missed this year's Berlin Film Festival, you can wait for the Oscars next summer.

But it has been almost a year, and Cheng Xuemin doesn't want to cross the line and complete this military order, testing everyone's patience and eroding everyone's trust.

"Before New Year's Day, so soon?"

Sure enough, as soon as Cheng Xuemin finished speaking, both Mr. Wu and Wang Yang were surprised.

Mr. Wu is fine. He feels that there are still more than three months before New Year's Day, so time should not be that tight.

But veteran filmmaker Wang Yang doesn’t think so. Besides, this is a military order worth 10 million US dollars, so he has to polish it carefully and shoot it well.

Otherwise, if you only care about speed and not quality, do you really think it is so easy to cheat foreigners out of their US dollars? !
"It should be about the same. Anyway, the old factory manager and I will finalize the crew list as soon as possible. If the filming goes smoothly, it won't take too long!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded and said.

"That's fine. Anyway, the project has been decided. I'll send it to Old Wang's Yanying Studio in a formal document. You guys should get the team together as soon as possible!"

"Oh, I almost forgot, there is one most important point!"

After Mr. Wu nodded to Cheng Xuemin and Wang Yang, they almost forgot the most important point and continued, "Xiao Cheng also said just now that we must not open champagne at halftime. Keeping things secret will lead to failure. Taiji, the foreign exchange earning project, is an ordinary project of your Yanying Studio, Mr. Wang!"

"We must not let anyone know about the 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange earnings. Only the three of us need to know about this!"

"Especially the Central Film Academy!"

……

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