Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 195 Building momentum
"…Romeo and Juliet of the East! Racial barriers and hatred forced lovers to die for their love...

Director Cao Yang, from a unique perspective, completed a song advocating freedom and equality, individual liberation, and marriage autonomy.”

Cao Yang looked at the film review of "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" published in the program book. It was written by Vincent, a very famous European film critic, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Don’t these views fit in with the content of the movie?
If you think about it carefully, there is indeed some meaning in this regard.

Wang Sheng committed suicide for love, and Xiao Wei also committed suicide to save Wang Sheng. Isn't this wrong?

However, I had never really considered advocating freedom, equality, personality liberation and marriage autonomy in this movie.

But if you look closely, it does have some meaning in this regard...

Never mind, let’s continue watching.

"...When the plot is analyzed in depth, the metaphors, symbols and themes in the film can be further explored, which contain profound thoughts on themes such as love, desire and morality. The choices and decisions made by the heroine reflect the pursuit of self-worth and the true meaning of love..."

Cao Yang paused, thought for a moment, and said... bullshit, I have nothing better to do than to discuss love, desire and morality in a commercial film.

"...the elf disguised herself as a human and fell in love with the hero. The hero rejected the elf on the grounds that he was married and rejected the elf's courtship. He was not romantic...

This is a movie with many metaphors, exploring human nature in the name of race, love, and hatred.

The male protagonist did not accept the elf and committed suicide for his wife, but before he died he said to the elf, I love you.

The elf cannot get the love she wants, but she will die for the male protagonist without hesitation.

Human nature is so complex and changeable. Director Cao Yang explored this eternal theme through a fantasy film. "

Even Cao Yang feels that this is a bit too much. Isn't it a bit inappropriate that a commercial film I made myself was interpreted by you in this way?
I continued watching, skipping those critics who "over-interpreted" the film, and finally saw a normal review.

“First of all, I have great respect for Director Cao Yang. He is one of the people in the world who is most likely to become a great director because he is young enough and because he has achieved achievements that others would never achieve in their lifetime.

On the official website, the film is defined as a fantasy film that explores human nature. The content of the film is very exciting, at least for ordinary people.

As a professional film critic, I was a little disappointed after watching it. I really wanted to stand in front of Director Cao Yang and ask him face to face why you chose to shoot such a good subject with the techniques of a commercial film?

We all know that Director Cao Yang is an art film director, but this time, he gave up what he does best. He did not use this to explore the complexity and volatility of human nature, nor did he give philosophical meaning to love between men and women.

Does Director Cao Yang want to combine the fast pace of commercial films to carry out reforms and experiments in literary and artistic films?
...I am looking forward to seeing Director Cao Yang explore the eternal theme of human nature again in an artistic way. "

This article is quite interesting.

Cao Yang wanted to laugh. This article seemed to be criticizing himself, but after thinking about it carefully, this was an endorsement from the official Venice website, right?

This film review gave the Venice authorities a way out and also served to shut up their opponents.

Experimental films deserve a spot in the competition section at any time and at any film festival!

“It’s a good idea to combine the fast pace of commercial films with the reform and experimentation of art films.”

President Han was also reading the comments in the program brochure. He couldn't help but slap his thigh and said to Cao Yang next to him.

To be honest, after the movie premiered, President Han was very nervous and anxious.

He was really afraid that the film reviews in the program brochure would all be cursing "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox".

Now it seems that I was overthinking it. As a major director of art films, Cao Yang really wanted to use the fast pace of commercial films to shoot an experimental film, just as the film critics said?
Then, Mr. Han thought of "District 9" again.

As a co-production for which Mr. Han himself served as producer, he has a very deep understanding of District 9.

Although this movie is a science fiction film, its core is about racial discrimination and racial segregation. It is also an art film shot at the fast pace of a commercial film.

In comparison, "Nine-Tailed Fox" may not be as obvious as "District 9", but if this is Cao Yang's first exploratory film, it is really possible! Isn't it normal that the first film did not achieve balance in some aspects?
"Junior brother, are you trying to strike a balance? This road is not easy to walk."

President Han looked at Cao Yang with a complicated expression and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that young people are really bold in thinking and doing. It is not so easy to strike a balance between artistry and commerciality.

It's easy to please neither side.

"what?"

Cao Yang looked at Mr. Han in confusion, then he realized what was happening and could only laugh, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Senior Brother."

What can I say?

"No, Junior Brother, I admire you very much, really." President Han said seriously.

Cao Yang looked up at the sky, then changed the subject, "Brother, how is the discussion going with Xiaorizi and South Korea?"

President Han couldn't help but sigh again. He felt that after he became close to Cao Yang, he sighed more and more often.

When Cao Yang called off the negotiations with Xiao Rizi, President Han still felt a little regretful.

Xiao Rizi has raised the price to 450 million US dollars, which is almost half of the investment amount of "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox".

But no one expected that Cao Yang would perform so well at the Oscars, with his fame and influence becoming much greater than before.

This has caused the overseas copyright fees for "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" to increase significantly.

In addition, this time it was shortlisted for the main competition unit in Venice, so it had more contact with China Film. Toho, one of the five major film companies, even gave it 500 million US dollars.

But this time, because there were many competitors, Mr. Han did not agree.

In fact, he still had a little hope in his heart. If "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" could receive an invitation from Venice, could the copyright fee be increased?

Thinking of this, President Han couldn't help it anymore and asked Cao Yang in a low voice, "Junior brother, do you think it's possible for us to receive an official invitation from Venice?"

"Ha, Brother, this is the second time you ask. Didn't I tell you that it's basically impossible? The best you can get is something like the St. Mark's Prize or the Alfred Boer Prize."

"Well, I saw so many praises in the program brochure, so I had some ideas."

Mr. Han said somewhat embarrassedly, people always want more and are never satisfied.

At this moment, Cao Yang's phone rang and he pressed the answer button.

When President Han saw Cao Yang answering a phone call, he stood there in a daze. He felt something in his heart and couldn't help but feel his heart pounding.

"Junior brother?"

"Brother, someone just told me that this year the Venice main competition unit has retained the technical award that was established two years ago."

Cao Yang couldn't help but want to complain. This was a slap in the face too quickly. He was thinking that he could just get a consolation prize in the non-competition unit, but now he would probably have to win a prize in the main competition unit.

Come to think of it, Ma's painstaking efforts in hype and interpretation were definitely not meant to give a consolation prize.

But is it just a technical award?
"Fuck!"

President Han was stunned for a moment, then he reacted and spoke beautifully.

The full name of the Technical Award is the Best Technical Contribution Award. It is an award that was established in the main competition unit two years ago. It was continued last year, and unexpectedly it was retained again this year.

As long as it is an award in the main competition unit, it is a Silver Lion!
Then, Mr. Han used a series of internationally used interjections to express his excitement.

(End of this chapter)