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

Chapter 39 You're not even willing to call me Director Cao

The opening ceremony was rather simple, except for the main cast and crew members and numerous media representatives.

There was no red carpet, no offering table.

There was a table, but there was no incense burner or offerings on it.

This was completely different from the usual opening ceremony. If there was anything to prove that this was the opening ceremony, it was the red banner hanging on the Republican-era street that had already been built inside the film and television base.

"Opening Ceremony of the Film 'Nanjing Photo Studio'"

Following them were the main creative team: Cao Zhonghe, Shen Ao, Wang Hongwei, the cinematographer and art director selected from the Beijing Film Academy, the action director who had previously worked with Ning Hao, and all the main cast and crew.

Huang Xiaoming, Xu Zheng, Mei Ting, Hai Qing, Zu Feng, Lu Fangsheng, and Yang Zi.

To be honest, it's amazing that Cao Zhong was able to put together such a large-scale operation.

It has already stunned many people.

Due to Cao Zhong's popularity and media attention, the number of media outlets present this time was indeed much larger.

Outside the film and television base, a dense crowd had already formed, including fans of Huang Xiaoming and other actors, the construction team of the film and television base, and onlookers from the surrounding towns.

"Huang Xiaoming, the top leading man in mainland China, is really handsome, but isn't he a bit short?"

"If it hadn't caused such a big stir online, I wouldn't have known that several of the actors in this are from Nanjing."

“I know Mei Ting, the one who was a victim of domestic violence. It’s terrifying to think about. What was that man’s name again? An Jiahe.”

"This lineup is really impressive, with many famous celebrities. And there's Xu Zheng too. Besides Huang Xiaoming, Xu Zheng is probably the most popular one here."

"This Zu Feng, looking like that, can he really be an actor?"

"Where is the one who criticized Yasujiro Ozu? I don't recognize him."

"I specifically checked online, and there really is such a person. Do those art schools really teach this person's films? How shameless! It's so disheartening for people like us."

"It should be the youngest one on the list. Didn't the internet say that the director is a sophomore acting student?"

"A performing arts major? That's impressive."

"It seems that studying directing can't save Chinese cinema. We can only rely on acting majors to save it."

Many people at the scene were discussing and debating the matter.

The media reporters were also discussing it.
"Cao Zhong is so young, yet he's so arrogant."

"Cao Zhong has been in the news a lot lately, I wonder if he can generate some more buzz for us later."

"Are you ready with the topics? There are so many questions online that can be used against Cao Zhong. We'll ask him those questions later; they're all explosive."

The reporters were more excited than many of the people present.

Cao Zhong didn't delay things. After greeting the main cast and crew, he turned to the media and gave his first speech.

This startled the media.

"The most important matters of state are sacrifice and war."

In my view, the concepts of sacrifice and warfare are precisely related to today's opening ceremony.

Cao Zhong was very solemn.

"Sacrifice is commemoration, it is not forgetting. It is in the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing, it is the alarm that everyone present can hear. But many people have already forgotten."

There is no worship ceremony at our launch ceremony today. We do not worship gods. What we are doing is protected by the spirits of 300,000 compatriots.

"Rong" means military. I've seen many messages online saying I'm weak and incite war. Do I have that right? I'm not. But this film truly hopes to awaken people, to let them know what kind of menacing eyes are lurking beside our beds."

Cao Zhong did not disappoint the media and began to release his views again.

His words, however, prompted many people in Nanjing to reflect deeply.

Cao Zhong's words were spoken very seriously, which elicited a wave of applause.

In this place, what was said certainly deserves applause.

Because there were no unnecessary or complicated procedures, the opening ceremony ended quickly, and the Q&A session with reporters began.

...At the scene, Han Zheng was a little flustered.

Now, the word "reporter" gives him a headache; he was blinded by rage when Cao Zhongyi attacked.

With more media present this time, Han Zheng was a little afraid that Cao Zhong might say something he shouldn't, after all, he was a legendary figure who dared to confront even Han Sanpin.

Not only did they criticize him.

They were completely shut down by Han Sanpin.

The celebrities present also felt a sudden tightness in their chests.

Zu Feng glanced at Cao Zhong. Cui Xinqin had previously instructed him to keep his junior brother's mouth shut.

That's what Cui Xinqin said.

He's from Shandong, and he's an honest man who doesn't talk much.

He's just a bit too honest.

Say whatever you want to say, don't hold back, and don't care whether you win the argument or not. But from other perspectives, you've been attacked so much online that you're practically blackened.

Upon seeing those flashing lights, Zu Feng instinctively wanted to go down and warn Cao Zhong.

Huang Xiaoming actually thought highly of Cao Zhong's previous actions.

He's not a director, nor is he a stakeholder; yet he's a rising star in mainland China, and capital is flocking to him.

Huang Xiaoming is only worried about not having enough traffic.

He didn't care much about the specific topic or the amount of traffic it generated.

On the contrary, he was somewhat looking forward to whether Cao Zhong would unleash his ultimate move, and what kind of ultimate move he would use.

……

"Director Cao, what's your opinion on the recent online discussions about you deliberately making extreme remarks for the sake of marketing your movie?"

"Director Cao, some people online have started to spontaneously boycott your films. What is your opinion on this phenomenon?"

"As a student, you use nationalism for propaganda, the Nanjing Massacre and other tragic events as a pretext to make films that evoke people's pain, and rely on the concept of 'mainstream ideology' to gain fame for yourself. Don't you think your words and actions are too utilitarian? Suffering cannot be your shield, nor can it be a catalyst for stirring up the emotions and hatred of the audience. Moreover, you stir up a heated debate about art and morality online, but you use mainstream ideology to call it your film. You are simply unworthy of the name of art."

Cao Zhong suddenly heard a very good topic.

His eyes widened instantly, and his gaze became bright!

Here he comes, he is finally here!

He had seen this topic online a long time ago, and was just waiting for someone to ask him!
Cao Zhong immediately perked up.

He took the microphone and looked at the reporter who had asked the question.

"You're right. My film is indeed a patriotic film."

Cao Zhong nodded. "I completely understand your point of view. You and many others share the same idea: whenever the topic of patriotic films comes up, you all have an unspoken understanding, an ambiguous smile and arrogance, believing that the existence of patriotic films lowers the prestige of the 'seventh art'! You even want to remove patriotic films from the category of mainstream films."

Starting with the fifth generation of directors
Whenever the topic of patriotic films comes up, you give a knowing smile, using your influence in the mainstream film industry to bully 'patriotic' films within the genre itself.

When I'm making this kind of film, you think I don't understand art.

When I actually started making this kind of film, you said I was too opportunistic. Next year is the 70th anniversary, and I want to make a related film. You haven't even seen the content, and you're already saying I'm using suffering as an excuse.

The flavor is just right.

Cao Zhong looked at the numerous media outlets, his eyes filled with a cold indifference.

Is it wrong to love one's country?
and,

Why? Why?!

What did I do to deserve such disrespect? You won't even address me as Director Cao.

Cao Zhong let out a piercing, mournful cry!

(End of this chapter)