Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 166 Exchange Conditions
This time when Cao Yang went to the United States, he brought Gu Changwei with him, and Gu was nominated for Best Photography.

This is the second time that Gu Changwei has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The last time he was nominated was for "Farewell My Concubine".

It was that time that, although Gu did not win the Oscar in the end, it made him famous in the United States, and thus started a four-year unsuccessful career.

Like Brother Chen Kai, Lao Gu hates Hollywood.

Even being nominated for an Oscar again did not change his view of Hollywood, which shows how much of a shadow his four-year Hollywood career left on him.

Brother Chen Kai is different from Lao Gu. Lao Chen simply made a movie that he thought was very good, and then failed miserably in Hollywood, so he felt that Hollywood was full of prejudice and did not understand art at all.

Since he couldn't stay in the United States for a long time this time, Cao Yang originally wanted to book a hotel by himself, but he didn't expect that Colombia was so thoughtful.

They arranged Cao Yang in the business suite that the company had booked all year round, which was specially used to entertain VIPs.

Gu Changwei once again lamented the reality of America. He never expected that he would also "enjoy" such treatment with Cao Yang and become a VIP of Colombia.

He still remembered that the last time he came to Hollywood with Cao Yang, even though Cao Yang was the project initiator and Columbia also invested in "Mean Milk", these foreigners were not so attentive.

It can be seen that with ten Oscar nominations, Cao Yang's status has been greatly improved, and his directing ability has also been recognized.

As a typical failure in Hollywood, Gu Changwei knows too well how realistic Americans are.

After a day's rest, Tom Rothman personally received Cao Yang. As the executive director of Columbia Pictures, he is now personally responsible for matters related to "District 9".

After the greetings, Tom Roseman did not get straight to the point. The old man showed Cao Yang his sense of humor, but because of the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, Cao Yang did not find some things so funny.

Since the old man wanted to get closer to Cao Yang, Cao Yang didn't mind cooperating with him, sometimes smiling and nodding, sometimes laughing.

It's so embarrassing.

Tom Rothman talked about this and that for a while before he started talking about work. To Cao Yang's surprise, he was not talking about "District 9".

"Columbia has participated in the investment of an adapted film called Memoirs of a Geisha, which is based on the novel of the same name by American writer Arthur Gordon. Spielberg is the producer and the estimated investment is 8000 million US dollars."

Cao Yang nodded and looked at Tom Rothman in confusion. Why did this old guy tell him this? Did he want him to direct the movie?

He knew Memoirs of a Geisha, which was about daily life, and the historical background lasted from 1929 to the end of World War II.

However, this was a very controversial movie after it was made. Not only was it condemned in China, but even in ordinary days, there was a boycott.

The reason for the domestic boycott of "Little Days" is very simple. This is a movie about little day-to-day life, and the three main female characters are all Chinese. What's going on!

Is it possible that there are no actresses in our daily life?
It really is.

It was really hard to find three internationally renowned actresses at that time.

There is nothing the Americans can do about this. For such a high-budget art film, if they don’t hire a few internationally renowned actresses, what if they can’t recoup their costs?

Capitalists are not philanthropists.

"It's like this. After discussing with Spielberg, we wanted to use three Chinese actresses to play the three main female characters in the movie." Tom Rothman spread his hands and explained with a smile.

"After discussing with Mr. Spielberg, we think the three international film queens you made famous are good. Their acting skills are definitely fine and they are very suitable for this movie. I would like you to convey this message. After all, you should have a good relationship with them."

Cao Yang was stunned for just a moment, then smiled and said, "No problem, I'll tell them. As for whether it will work or not, it depends on their own decision."

What the hell are you thinking? You want to take away my three international film queens by yourself. Especially such a controversial film. Shooting it will not enhance your status. On the contrary, you may become the target of criticism.

The most important thing is that this movie is quite explicit, with a lot of passionate scenes. What the hell, you should just ask Zhang Ziyi to act. She definitely won't mind.

However, not accepting the role does not mean that there can be no hype. When Spielberg invited me, I received the script, which was about daily life and also had passionate scenes, so I refused. This will definitely increase my popularity among the public in the future.

In addition, the three international film queens refused, but Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li accepted, which invisibly gave them an advantage - they were approached first and only after they were rejected did they approach them.

This gives people the impression that they are the ones who get the role when the three major international film queens don't want it.

As for whether this will offend Spielberg, that's not the case.

Even if he offended him, what would happen? Could he still cover the sky with one hand in Hollywood? If he really had this ability, his DreamWorks would not have been suppressed so badly and ended up being divided and acquired.

In fact, this kind of thing can't rise to that level. At most, you can just say you don't accept passionate scenes, and there will be no problem.

As an international film queen, it is understandable that she would not accept explicit movies before her status fell.

"Cao, I think we need to discuss the selection of the male lead."

Tom Rothman looked at Cao Yang and said, "As for the three girls you promoted, I can guarantee that the three heroines in Memoirs of a Geisha are theirs."

Huh?
What do you mean, old man?
After Cao Yang thought about it for a while, he understood a little.

It seems like the old guy regarded this as a favor. He thought that letting Li Xiaoran and the other three play the female lead in "Memoirs of a Geisha" was giving himself face?
Do you want to make an exchange with yourself?
Cao Yang wanted to laugh.

Actually, it makes sense if you think about it. With an investment of 8000 million US dollars, it is definitely a big production for an art film.

After being badly beaten by "The Hulk", Li An returned to art films with his first film "Brokeback Mountain", which had an investment of only 1500 million.

Without any audition, Li Xiaoran, Gao Yuanyuan and Yu Feihong were directly chosen as the female leads. At least on the surface, even if it was a swap, Cao Yang definitely got the upper hand.

Cao Yang laughed. In that case, Li Xiaoran and the others would have no psychological burden in promoting this movie.

"Rossman, what do you think of the leading actor?"

Cao Yang asked. In fact, he knew in his heart that it was nothing more than choosing a big-name white actor and rejecting the Chinese actor he had previously suggested as the male lead.

To be honest, I am still worried about the Chinese actors and concerned about the box office performance.

I just want to add a layer of insurance and hope for higher box office.

(End of this chapter)