Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 124 Great Directors All Care About Their Reputations
After much consideration, Cao Yang only told Dong Xuan the specific date of his return and asked her to pick him up at the airport.

Li Xiaoran and the other two are all movie queens with great influence. Reporters pay too much attention to them, and if they are found to be picking me up at the airport, rumors will be flying everywhere.

Dong Xuan doesn't have this concern. She is only slightly famous now, and her fame will only increase significantly after her movie "Snow Goddess Dragon" is released.

Dong Xuan drives an Audi TT that Cao Yang gave her. In Cao Yang's opinion, the car is really a bit ugly, but Dong Xuan fell in love with it at first sight, and Cao Yang had no choice.

Cars of this era are either square or rounded front and back.

Back at the residence, Dong Xuan cooked the meal herself. The taste was just so-so, but it was warm and cozy.

"How about it?"

Dong Xuan looked at Cao Yang eagerly as he took a bite, then asked impatiently.

She had never cooked before, but she learned cooking from her mother during the Chinese New Year and planned to cook for Cao Yang.

Cao Yang hesitated for a few seconds, but still took another big bite of the food and said while chewing, "Good, not bad."

Dong Xuan's face was clearly blossoming, and he asked with a smile: "How long will you stay this time?"

"I can't say for sure. Before I come back, Hou Ke... Dean Hou called me and said there was something he wanted to discuss with me when I come back. I guess it's about the new movie."

"New movie?" Dong Xuan asked puzzledly.

"Lao Tian also called me and said that ever since Lao Mouzi's film received nearly 2.5 million yuan, the higher-ups have been holding meetings non-stop, and several school leaders have been called in almost every time."

As Cao Yang spoke, he opened his mouth and took the food that Dong Xuan picked up, chewing as he spoke.

"During that time, they also called Brother Kai and Xiao Gangpao to attend a few meetings, saying that they wanted them to make a movie as well to test the market and see if it was just a coincidence or if the market had already started to pick up. I heard that the two of them didn't dare to take the chance."

"Huh? Why?"

Dong Xuan was a little confused. It felt like a good thing, so why didn't he dare to accept it?

"You do not understand."

Cao Yang took a sip of the seaweed egg drop soup and found it a bit salty.

"It looks like a good thing, but who knows if the market is going crazy or developing? What if the movie I make is not even a fraction of Zhang Yimou's? Wouldn't it seem much worse than Zhang Yimou?"

Dong Xuan nodded thoughtfully, indicating that he understood.

"So, before they understand the market, they don't dare to make commercial blockbusters?"

"Ah."

Cao Yang patted Dong Xuan's head gently and said with a smile, "Not stupid, I guess they will wait until they are sure of it before making a commercial blockbuster like "Hero". Both of them have concerns, and no one dares to leave first."

"How long will they have to wait?" Dong Xuan asked curiously.

Cao Yang took another sip of the egg drop soup and licked his lips. It was indeed a bit too salty, but he didn't say anything. He picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Even though it's a bit salty, it's still more delicious than what you'd eat in the United States.

"How long do we have to wait?"

Cao Yang laughed, pulled Dong Xuan over to sit on his lap, and said, "We have to wait for the release of Zhang Yimou's second commercial blockbuster to see how the market reacts. If it succeeds, we'll follow up. If it fails, we'll stick with the original model."

"Uh……"

Dong Xuan thought about it. The box office market was already top-notch when it was only 2.5 or million, but it suddenly rose to million. No one could understand it and no one dared to take risks.

The bigger the director, the more he cares about his reputation.

Bah, what a big director, but he is still as timid as a mouse! Then he was suddenly stunned. Cao Yang just said that the school wanted to discuss something with him, it must be this matter, could it be...

"The higher-ups want you to test the market?"

Dong Xuan suddenly asked a little nervously, this kind of thing is too risky.

Although Cao Yang is also a famous director, he is still so young. Why not let the big commercial film director Xiao Gangpao go? Why not let the senior director Chen Kaige go?

Since they are all unwilling, are they just pushing this matter to Cao Yang?

This is too much!

Isn’t this bullying an honest person?

It is very risky to test the market with a commercial blockbuster with an investment of hundreds of millions. If it fails, losing money is a small matter, but will Cao Yang's reputation be preserved?
He is still so young.

"I guess that's the case. However, the school definitely doesn't want me to take action, fearing that failure would damage my reputation."

Cao Yang kissed Dong Xuan on the face and continued, "It should be similar to Xiao Gangpao and Brother Kai's idea. Let Lao Mouzi explore the way again. If it is suitable, then follow up. If it is not suitable, then do what you should do."

Dong Xuan, who had just despised Xiao Gangpao and Chen Kai in his heart, nodded without hesitation this time and said, "If the school can think this way, it would be great. I don't want you to take risks either."

Cao Yang was a little amused and scratched Dong Xuan's nose with his hand.

"What kind of adventure is this? It's just to test the market potential."

Dong Xuan looked at Cao Yang in surprise, "You want to go? You want to make a commercial blockbuster?"

"It's better to give it a try. Nowadays, people still recognize big directors. I guess in China, apart from Zhang Yimou, there are only me and Brother Kai, plus a small-time talent in the commercial film industry. The three of us are qualified to give it a try."

Cao Yang thought for a while and said, “If it’s someone else, no matter how good the quality of the film is, if there is no box office in the early stage, forget about it in the later stage. By then, pirated copies will have flooded the market, and it will still be hard to see where the market limit is.

Only big directors are recognized by everyone and feel that the quality of the films they make is at least guaranteed. Big directors increase their investment. As long as the quality is not bad, people will be interested and go to the theaters, and the market potential can be seen. "

Dong Xuan suddenly said seriously: "Don't go, it's too risky. You should wait for Director Zhang's second commercial blockbuster. The first one made so much money, he will definitely make a second one."

Cao Yang put a little more force on Dong Xuan's hand, letting her get closer to him, and comforted her: "Don't worry, who knows what the situation is, maybe the school has already rejected it for me."

Then he patted Dong Xuan's butt and said, "Come on, let's go take a bath together."

"Director Deng, you have to fully understand that Cao Yang is too young. He is still a student. Can you discuss this with Director Chen or Director Feng? They are both mature and reliable people. There will definitely be no problem."

Hou Keming hung up the phone and couldn't help rubbing his temples. He felt his head was as big as a bucket.

He has already responded to four such calls, but it was no use; people still kept calling.

"Ah, Cao Yang, oh Cao Yang, you really know how to pick the time. You said your movie was done, so why did you insist on holding a press conference? Now the higher-ups all know that you have nothing to do, and they are all targeting you."

Just as I was thinking about it, the phone on the table rang again.

Hou Keming sighed again and said, "You say the person who invented the mobile phone is really an asshole. He did discover that mobile phones are for the convenience of others. Without them, people are quite free, but with them, people become kites."

"Hello, Mr. Han."

"Hello, Mr. Han."

"Hello, Mr. Han?"

"Hello, can you hear me? President Han? President Han?"

Hou Keming quickly hung up the phone. It was the only way he could pretend. Although he could not escape the temple, he still had to face it in the end. But it was better to have some peace and quiet for a while.

I really want to throw my phone away!
(End of this chapter)