Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 36 A Stormy Night Amidst the Enemy's Aggression

There are no idiots in the directing department.

Especially the directing department at Beijing Film Academy, they're all incredibly shrewd people.

Directors are ranked, and those who can get their films released in theaters are already among the very top few.

It can't be stupid.

They all knew very well that Cao Zhong was telling the truth.

Sometimes, it's precisely because of telling the truth that things become difficult.

Cao Zhong sacrificed himself to blow up the latrine, lifting a crack and the cover, but once the crack and cover were open, they could not be closed again.

What else can we do besides evade the question?
Who dares to speak out?

They're all insiders; they know it all too well.

Industry rules, you understand?
You have to play dumb when you need to.

But who would have thought that someone would actually roll up their sleeves and get to work!

They might have some tricks up their sleeves if it were a debate on campus.

They really exposed it.

I'm completely stumped!
Silence, still silence.

The group looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

Many people lament that they, the classically trained directors, are the true inheritors of Chinese directors' legacy and the true inheritors of the narrative power of Chinese art!
Cao Zhong is a half-baked idiot, nothing but a clay chicken and a clay dog!

But the other party targeted your weakness and beat you so badly that you were paralyzed from the waist down.

Suffocated!
And it's not something I like, anyway.

This is how they've always taught us, what can I do?
Regardless of what the truth actually is.

However, within the range of cannons, what the majority says is the truth.

Cao Zhong is different.
He was in the minority, but he carried a cannon.

With a bang,
It exploded directly!

And it ignited a media frenzy!

The online fighters are different from them; they were called out, and Yasujiro Ozu is still listed in "The History of Film".

They responded that they had walked right into a trap.

A roundabout response indicates a reluctance to confront the issue directly.

Not responding is like burying your head in the sand.

Too many people are angry and anxious, but there's nothing they can do.

This leaves these majority members with anger, but unable to vent it.

Damn it, how could Cao Zhong, a young actor, be so wicked?!
A meeting is in progress.

Tian Zhuangzhuang suddenly saw the latest news online.

"Cao Zhong bombarded Mao Yushi, and though we are from different places, we are irreconcilable enemies."

After seeing the title and reading the content, Tian Zhuangzhuang spoke up.

"Everyone take care of themselves."

The remaining directors also saw the news, and they lay down without saying a word.

"Let's not worry about what to do for now, let's minimize the impact first."

Seeing that no one had anything to say, Tian Zhuangzhuang said in a low voice, "Hongwei, let's deal with the simplest things first. There are people who are having a harder time than us right now."

Tian Zhuangzhuang was quite decisive; he gave up.

It has nothing to do with him.

Once Cao Zhong brought this matter to light in the media, there was no way to control it.

It's not that they're unwilling to be flexible, but rather that these individuals have lost the ability to be flexible.

Although they also have very flexible academic and ethical bottom lines, they can adapt to various postures, and each of them is very flexible.

If the higher-ups are willing, they can immediately side with Cao Zhong, but at the cost of some people losing all their interests.

Cao Zhong dared to sacrifice himself to blow up a cesspool.

Tian Zhuangzhuang didn't dare, and neither did the directing department.

The closed-door meeting was as good as not having been held at all.

Everyone prepared to lie low and await their fate.

Because they really didn't understand whether the photo of Han Sanpin standing next to Cao Zhong meant anything else.
After analyzing Cao Zhong's paper, various response methods were discussed.

It's pointless now.

……

Jia Zhangke, who returned home in glory, felt very frustrated at this moment. In a previous interview, he had expressed his admiration for Yasujiro Ozu.

Many times.

The news has already caused a huge uproar online.

He was inevitably exposed as well.

However, he had just been crowned with the Golden Lion in Venice in September.

"Still Life" has added glory to Chinese-language films.

Some people online sided with him, but many more started criticizing Yasujiro Ozu.

Jia Zhangke was heartbroken.

"Do these people even understand what art is? Do they understand the value of 'Tokyo Story'? Do they understand what it means to downplay the plot and reduce drama? Do they understand what it means to present the relationships, emotional exchanges, and inner spiritual changes of characters in a situation, or to present the connection between characters and the times and society, solely through the lens of the camera?"

You don't understand.

All he does is spew vulgarities online.

That's such a pity.

"And Cao Zhong."

Jia Zhangke's face was grim as he looked at the name that had been appearing in the news so frequently lately.

This person is actually a student at the Beijing Film Academy.

Jia Zhangke didn't understand.

Is the cinematic aesthetics of director Yasujiro Ozu not enough?

His films, whether in terms of dialogue, conversation, or action, remain on the surface of everyday life.

This is also the most captivating aspect of his work.

Over time, we can see what the characters don't say.

This kind of expression might be easier to achieve in literary works, but it's rare to present it in film like Ozu did.

A group of mediocre filmmakers can only see the surface of life, but Ozu could feel the undercurrents beneath.

The success of a film is determined by its lingering impact.

And his films are full of lingering charm.

Such a master filmmaker with such a distinctive style, such a visionary figure who transcended his time.

Why did you, Cao Zhong, bestow such a despicable name upon me?
Most importantly, if you're making a movie, just make a movie; if you're making a film about Nanjing, just make a film about Nanjing. Why bring up Ozu?
They've dragged us, the Literature Department and Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy, and all art schools into the opposite camp.

You are sick?
Cao Zhong, are you sick?
Jia Zhangke called Su Mu: "We need to do an interview and have a big discussion about character and art."

“Nobody’s paying attention to this right now,” Su Mu said. “Cao Zhong just published another article.”

Jia Zhangke quickly went online, read Cao Zhong's article, and gasped in shock.

However, his composure as a renowned director allowed him to quickly calm down.

"This interview must be conducted, not for ourselves, but for the elegance of art and the true meaning of art."

“I understand what you mean, we need to muddy the waters,” Su Mu said.

Jia Zhangke: "..."

……

"I wasn't ready, how did someone start doing this to me?"

Beijing.

Keijo Exchange Center, International Exchange Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is the first center established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.

And it was just established.

At this moment, Aki, the then president of the foundation's overseas center, was somewhat flustered.

When he saw the news about Yasujiro Ozu yesterday, he was only slightly flustered. But today, when he saw Cao Zhong's article "Different Lands, Incompatible Enemies", he was quite alarmed.

Aki is numb.

He was nervous.

Send an email to headquarters immediately.

"I need money, lots of money. I want to launch study tours to Japan for individuals who have a strong influence in public opinion and the media. I want to spend money, I want to spend a lot of money."

We must bribe the media and influence public opinion, minimize the impact, and vigorously publicize the loans and aid provided to China in those years.

We must encourage people to sing in celebration of our friendliness.

He was in a hurry; his Japanese typing was so fast that it left afterimages.

He sensed that if headquarters didn't spend lavishly, he would basically be laid off.

(End of this chapter)