Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 158 The Seven Most Honorable Directors

In the evening, Cao Yang invited Berman to dinner at the private restaurant that he and Lao Tian often visited.

When Lao Tian heard that Cao Yang was going to talk to Behrman about writing about Hollywood, he insisted on coming along, saying that he wanted to broaden his horizons so as to avoid being cheated by Hollywood people next time.

Cao Yang was a little skeptical. Now even an art film you make fails, who would be so blind as to cheat you?
If someone in Hollywood really wants to buy your film copyright, or invites you to make a movie in Hollywood, you are essentially cheating others.

Old Tian has been thinking about how to stimulate the actors' acting skills recently. He has been writing papers and consulting the crew who are filming with Cao Yang. I guess he is itching to do it?
Cheng Jianye told Cao Yang that Ning Hao now has a very good relationship with Lao Tian. The two have very consistent opinions on how to train actors, and even the training methods they have summarized are rarely similar.

It is said that Old Tian was excited to see the opportunity and wanted Ning Hao to apply to be his graduate student.

Ning Hao was moved.

Becoming a student of Lao Tian means becoming a member of Lao Situ's lineage.

Among the three and a half directors recognized in the country, two are students of Lao Situ, and Xie Xiaojing, the director of the directing department of Beijing Film Academy, is also a student of Lao Situ.

What's more, Cao Yang's relationship is not limited to old Situ's lineage. The school's upper echelons and those above all attach great importance to Cao Yang and treat him as one of their own.

In the eyes of European art film directors, Cao Yang's status is no lower than that of Zhang Yimou.

In Hollywood, Zhang Yimou is no match for him.

According to Ning Hao's private analysis, even if Lao Tian is a good-for-nothing, not to mention his status in the film industry, if Xie Xiaojing is promoted, Lao Tian is very likely to become the next director of the directing department.

How could Ning Hao not be moved?

"Hey, I heard that Toei Films, which is a small company, negotiated with China Film Group Corporation for 450 million US dollars to buy the film rights of your "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox". Did you refuse?"

While waiting for the food, Lao Tian touched Cao Yang and asked curiously.

"It's not Toei. Toei also bid, but not that high. This price was offered by Toho, but I stopped it."

Cao Yang said this to Lao Tian casually, with a very casual attitude, as if 450 million US dollars was not a lot of money.

Old Tian sucked his lips and felt that he could no longer keep up with Cao Yang's thinking.

Am I getting old and can no longer keep up with the thinking of young people?

That's 450 million, not Japanese dollars, nor South Korean dollars, but fucking US dollars, that's a lot of money!
"what are you thinking?"

Old Tian couldn't help but ask, "450 million US dollars, that's 3700 million. I remember that all the investments in your movie added up to 7500 million, right? You've made back half of your money in one go, and you're still not satisfied?"

"Why are you in such a hurry? I haven't finished post-production on my movie yet. There's no need to be so anxious."

When Cao Yang saw the waiter coming with the dishes, he looked at Lao Tian, ​​then at Berman, and decided to make an exception.

"Two bottles of Red Star, two liang."

"Hey, I knew you were a particular person." Old Tian said happily.

"Go away, there's no share for you. Bellman and I each have a bottle. The teacher asked me to supervise you to quit drinking."

Cao Yang laughed, "Teacher said you used to be a very thoughtful person, but because of all the drinking you've done in the past ten years, you've drunk away all your spirituality and you can't even make a movie anymore."

"Don't listen to that old man's nonsense."

Lao Tian waved his hands, "I just feel that I don't have the passion I used to have. When I regain my passion, you'll see if I can punch Lao Mouzi and kick that old guy Chen Kai."

"Hey, Lao Tian, ​​tell me something, is it because the girls you like are all married that you don't have passion for them anymore?"

Cao Yang smiled and whispered, "If you ask me, shouldn't you be more passionate when you think about them getting married?"

"Go away!"

Lao Tian snatched the two bottles of wine from the waiter and handed one to Berman.

"Lao Bei, you should have drunk white wine before. Are you used to it?"

"It's OK. When I first drank it, I was a little uncomfortable. It was too spicy and stimulating, and the taste was not smooth enough. But after I got used to it, I actually thought it was not bad."

Bellman unscrewed the lid, closed his eyes, shook his head and sniffed it, seeming to enjoy it very much.

Old Tian was different. He took a sip from the bottle, smacked his lips, and handed it to Cao Yang with a smile, "Your wine, do you want more?"

Cao Yang smiled and reached out to take it, about to do something beyond Lao Tian's expectations.

Lao Tian chuckled and quickly withdrew.

Cao Yang took a bite of food and explained the problem to Lao Tian while eating.

"As for this movie, I plan to release it on National Day next year, so there is no need to rush to sell the copyright now."

"So late? I thought you were going to do it next summer."

"It's impossible to put it in the summer vacation. The current market can hardly accommodate two commercial blockbusters at the same time." Cao Yang explained.

Lao Tian nodded. He knew some information that Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers" would be screened in the summer vacation.

But what Lao Tian didn't know was that the main reason why Cao Yang was not released during the summer vacation was because in August next year, Harvey Weinstein would screen "Heroes" on a large scale in North America.

By October, Hero will have been released and the box office statistics will be released. The $54 million box office will definitely shock a lot of people. The box office of Hero will temporarily make the market think that Chinese costume blockbusters are popular, which will greatly increase the copyright fee of Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

On the other hand, Cao Yang feels that he should be able to win some awards at next year's Golden Globe Awards and Oscars, which will greatly enhance his own status, especially in Hollywood, and will be more conducive to selling copyright fees.

To put it bluntly, Cao Yang just wants to earn more copyright fees from Americans so that he can increase copyright fees in other places.

"Cao, do you know why Columbia chose District 9?"

Berman clinked glasses with Lao Tian, ​​took a sip, and asked with a smile.

Cao Yang thought about this question.

"District 9" is, on the surface, a very interesting story about alien "invasion". Rather than invading, it would be more accurate to say that they are here to seek refuge.

But even after coming to Earth, they could not escape their fate because they were discriminated against and racially discriminated against!

They were kept in captivity by the people of Earth, and were insulted and killed at will...

This is one line, and there is another line that unfolds as the male protagonist mutates, which is also very ironic.

What is the core of this movie? Racial discrimination, apartheid, genocide.

This is a movie that uses aliens to fight against racial discrimination.

To be frank, this can actually be classified as an art film.

Since it is an art film at its core, Columbia certainly has confidence in Cao Yang, which is why they chose "District 9" as their first choice for investment.

“Is it because this is an art film disguised as an alien?”

"exactly!"

“Columbia believes you can’t fail with a movie like this,” Behrman said with a laugh.

"Well, even if they are optimistic about my novel, they still can't completely trust me."

Cao Yang smiled and said, "However, I have so many copyrights of novels that they are optimistic about, so they have no choice but to trust me."

"So, my dear director, it is indeed the right choice for you to write all your ideas into a novel and publish it."

Berman stretched out his arms exaggeratedly, "Just wait, as long as your novel is successfully adapted, you will become the most respected director in the eyes of the Hollywood Big Seven."

Cao Yang suddenly thought of a question. It seemed that he had not seen Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River" mentioned in the media.

In the upcoming Oscars, this movie helped Sean Penn, who fooled Cao Yang, win the Best Actor award, and helped Tim Robbins, who also fooled Cao Yang, win the Best Supporting Actor award.

If nothing changes, this movie will be Depp's biggest obstacle to winning the Oscar for Best Actor.

"Bellman, why haven't I heard about Eastwood's Mystic River?"

Berman was stunned for a moment, then took a big sip of wine and said with great relief: "It is said that Eastwood has always been dissatisfied with the performances of Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, and privately scolded them both as damn sissies.

How could Sean Penn, with his bad temper, stand it? I heard he had a big fight with Eastwood, and the film was shelved afterwards. "

Cao Yang was a little dazed. At that time, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins were both candidates for the male lead, the script was the same as before it was revised, and Milk was still a gay.

After being tricked, Cao Yang gave Sean Penn and Tim Robbins two in-character experiences at once, which made the two unable to bear it and they also leaked a lot of Milk's information.

But the experience of being immersed in the play is still playing a role. Is "Mystic River" turned into a drama about two childhood friends turning from love to hate?
No wonder Eastwood called them both sissies. It would be strange if this satisfied Eastwood.

Eastwood doesn't know how to adapt.

If you change Mystic River a little bit.

The protagonist played by Tim Robbins was unfortunately kidnapped and sexually abused while playing as a childhood friend, but this was changed to a situation where he and the protagonist fell in love with each other.

But due to worldly pressure, the male protagonist got a girlfriend, married her, and had a daughter.

The childhood friend of the protagonist played by Tim Robbins held a grudge against him and killed the protagonist's daughter in order to avenge his former lover who had betrayed him.

Another one is a childhood friend who is a policeman. As the case becomes clearer, he can uncover this old story. Wouldn't that be perfect?

For Hollywood, this is political correctness. If the two had dared to express themselves and resist secular pressure, how could this tragedy have happened?

This way the story is elevated instantly, which is much better than being abused as a child, and will definitely arouse sympathy among the gay community.

The two of them can definitely act passionately, and there will be no awkwardness at all, just like it's real.

Maybe after it is finished, "Mystic River" will be a strong contender for the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, not to mention Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.

Eastwood is confused!

You even dared to mock Sean Penn for being a sissy to his face. With his bad temper, how could he give you face? He was already showing mercy by not beating you into the hospital.

"Mystic River" was shelved and not filmed, and Cao Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Depp's title as the Best Actor was more secure.

(End of this chapter)