Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 190 Executive Producer

After dinner, Mandela asked Serondo to introduce the characteristics of South Africa to Cao Yang and to entertain Cao Yang well and show his hospitality.

That’s what I mean.

Theron smiled and nodded in agreement.

On the way back, Yang Ke was still driving.

Theron told Yang Ke an address, then smiled and explained to Cao Yang: "That's where I live."

Cao Yang nodded. He thought that Yang Ke should take her home first. It was the right thing to do so late at night. Ladies should be given priority.

When he arrived at the place, Cao Yang found that it was a single-family courtyard with three floors, a garden and a garage.

Out of politeness, Cao Yang got out of the car and opened the door for Charlize Theron.

"Thank you, this is one of my properties. Sometimes my parents come over to take care of it. They don't live here, they have their own house."

Charlize Theron smoothed her long blond hair and invited him with a smile, "Come on, Director. It's still early. I'll show you around my house. It's very unique."

Cao Yang thought Yang Ke would be waiting for him, but he didn't expect that Theron would directly say to Yang Ke: "Thank you sir, thank you for bothering you today."

Yang Ke nodded and drove away without caring about Cao Yang's wishes.

Cao Yang smiled bitterly, feeling as if he was being set up.

"Come on, Mr. Director, I'll show you around."

Sharon opened the door, walked over, took Cao Yang's arm, and walked in.

"Charlize, I think this is a little inappropriate. It's a little late now..."

Cao Yang tried to find out. He didn't know whether this was Mandela's instruction or Charlize Theron's own will, but he didn't like to force others.

Theron paused, smiled and said nothing.

When they walked into the living room, she gently pushed Cao Yang and asked him to sit on the sofa. Then she put one hand on the backrest behind Cao Yang, a bit like a wall-dong, looking down at Cao Yang.

"Handsome director, are you scared?"

"Charlize, if it was Mandela's instruction, I hope you would tell me. I don't like to force others." Cao Yang looked up, looked at the beautiful face, and said.

"Haha, how could you have such an idea? Mr. Mandela is not that kind of person."

Charlize Theron stroked Cao Yang's face with her other hand and said with a smile, "You are a young, handsome and famous director, and I have a crush on you. Aren't these reasons enough? Don't have any other ideas. I have a boyfriend."

Well, after Cao Yang was teased, he didn't want to endure it anymore. Now that you said that, isn't it even more exciting?
Cao Yang put his arm around Sharon's waist and, with a little force, let her lie in his arms.

Then, the two began to get to know each other, explore each other's secrets, and treat each other with sincerity.

After a very complicated process, we were finally able to be honest with each other.

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Yes, at this time, could you please not mention...ah..."

Cao Yang is best at teaching people to sing.

No matter whether it is contralto, mezzo-soprano or soprano, he can make the other party sing beautifully and melodiously.

……

"Come, hold the backrest with both hands..."

……

After finishing his trip to South Africa, Cao Yang went to the United States first.

He was going to Industrial Light & Magic to see the progress of the special effects and provide them with some materials.

Industrial Light & Magic is a long-established special effects company, so its efficiency is guaranteed.

Their person in charge of this project said that with complete materials, they will probably complete all special effects production before November.

Cao Yang is quite satisfied with the progress. If Columbia wants to release the film during Christmas or New Year's Day, it should be in time.

There are only a few months with high box office in North America. Normally, starting from the first weekend of May, June, July, October, December and early January, especially June and July, are the months when blockbuster movies are released in large numbers.

If Columbia doesn't release the film during the Christmas period, it will only be released in June or July next year to compete with other commercial blockbusters.

If Cao Yang remembers correctly, there will be many well-known blockbusters released during the summer vacation next year.

George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" has become a trend culture in the United States, and it is difficult for other movies to compete with it.

"War of the Worlds", a science fiction film directed by Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, although the film has not had a good reputation, it has grossed over 200 million in North America and over 500 million worldwide, and is still very competitive.

There was also "Kingdom of Heaven", which cost $1.4 million to make. Well, this movie only grossed a little over million in North America, and it was a terrible flop.

There is also "Batman Begins" directed by Nolan and starring Bale. This movie has grossed more than 3.7 million US dollars worldwide and has a very good reputation.

In addition, Spielberg's "The Island" was also released during the summer vacation. This movie, with an investment of 1.3 million US dollars, only grossed million in North America, and almost bankrupted Spielberg's DreamWorks.

From this perspective, it is actually possible to try the summer vacation schedule, as long as you avoid "Star Wars" and "War of the Worlds".

Cao Yang kept this in mind. If Columbia doesn't release the film this Christmas, he will take advantage of the situation during next summer vacation.

As long as you choose the right opponent, it will be easier to increase your influence. Tom Rothman, one of the producers of District 9 and executive director of Columbia, seemed more enthusiastic during his visit to the United States.

It was not only because of the huge success of "Mean Milk", but also because of the huge success of an unrelated movie that made Tom Rothman value Cao Yang more.

The disaster film "The Day After Tomorrow" produced by 1.86th Century Fox sold 5.5 million US dollars in North America and nearly million US dollars worldwide.

The success of "The Day After Tomorrow" made Columbia, and Tom Rothman, who was in charge of the collaboration with Cao Yang, determined to start filming "2012".

However, Cao Yang is not in a hurry about this. He does not have to cooperate with Columbia. The original 1+1 contract was a two-way choice.

“1” refers to the currently filmed “District 1”, while “+” is a choice that depends on the situation. There is no mandatory requirement, so it’s up for discussion.

The success of "The Day After Tomorrow" not only made Columbia pay more attention to "2012", but other Hollywood film companies also turned their attention to this short story.

With successful examples, it is normal to follow suit and shoot more.

Back then, Hong Kong films were very good at this.

If a movie is a big hit at the box office, a Hong Kong director can make a similar movie in just over ten days.

This has led to blindly following the trend, causing aesthetic fatigue among the audience. In addition, due to the short time, it is difficult to guarantee the quality, resulting in too many bad films.

The same thing happened in China later.

Hollywood is no exception.

However, although the Hollywood Big Seven followed suit, they invested real money to reduce risks...

They call this a successful precedent and it also saves the process of market research.

Its essence is just following the trend.

This is not only true for movie making, but basically anything in this world, as long as there is a successful example, will be like this.

During this period, Cao Yang officially signed a contract with Fox Searchlight for the adaptation rights of "Juno".

Cao Yang will become the nominal project initiator and serve as producer, supervisor and screenwriter, and will enjoy 20% of the film's global box office and subsequent dividends.

And, along with Fox Searchlight, has final editing rights to the film.

He is now considered one of the most normal producers in Hollywood.

Of course, for this movie he would only give the script and let the director shoot according to the script, and then let Cheng Jianye come to be the executive producer and represent him in full.

He basically won't interfere in the filming process. After the movie is finished, he will take a look at whether the editing by Fox Searchlight is to his liking. As long as the filming follows the script, there should not be any major problems.

The main purpose of Cheng Jianye as the executive producer is to supervise the director to see whether he will shoot according to the script.

This is the normal process in Hollywood.

Most directors just follow the script and shoot carefully under the supervision of the producer.

What? The director wants to change the script? The director doesn't want to shoot according to the script?
What are you thinking? In Hollywood, it is not uncommon to change directors midway through a production. If a director doesn’t obey, he will be replaced.

Cheng Jianye did not come to the United States with Cao Yang.

After he finished filming District 9, he returned to his country with a group of people.

After resting at home for a day, I went to Qingying Studio's director Hou Keming to cancel my leave the next day.

The two also chatted.

Hou Keming joked with Cheng Jianye, saying that since he followed Cao Yang, he has been busier than himself, the director of Qingying Studio, and goes abroad frequently, which makes many people envious.

Cheng Jianye just laughed.

In the past, he was just a small-time external liaison of Qingying Studio, and Hou Keming would definitely not know his name.

But since being selected by Cao Yang and gradually becoming a regular member of the team, his status, position, and various treatment and titles have all risen rapidly.

Now, he can also joke with Hou Keming and is not afraid of the factory director at all.

"I won't be traveling again in the short term. Director Cao is busy with post-production and preparing for the release of 'Nine-Tailed Demon Fox'. He won't be working on a new film for the time being, so I don't have to run errands with Director Cao."

Just as he finished speaking, Cheng Jianye came to see Hou Keming again the next day.

"Jianye is here, sit down."

Hou Keming was puzzled when he saw Cheng Jianye. Didn’t this guy cancel his vacation yesterday?
Cheng Jianye laughed happily, handed Hou Keming a cigarette, lit it for Old Hou, and he lit one for himself. He sat down, looked helpless, and shook his head and smiled.

This made Hou Keming a little confused. You might say that this guy was helpless, but he was laughing happier than ever.

"Ah, Mr. Hou, you said that I have a life of hard work. I just came here yesterday to cancel my leave, and I have to ask for leave again today."

What kind of hard-working life is it that makes you laugh so hard that your mouth reaches your ears.

"There was a Hollywood movie. Director Cao was the project initiator, producer and supervisor. He was not available, so he asked me to be the executive producer and stay on the crew."

Cheng Jianye looked at Hou Keming, took a puff of his cigarette, and continued, "Director Cao said that my main task is to supervise the director and make the director shoot according to Director Cao's script. If the director doesn't obey, I will replace him with an obedient director."

Then, he shook his head and said to Hou Keming, "Director Hou, don't you think this is too difficult? I have never been a producer in China, and suddenly Director Cao sent me to Hollywood to be a producer."

roll!
Get the hell out of here, you bastard, just show off!

(End of this chapter)