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

Chapter 8 A single word shakes the nation!
The road is now complete.

Cao Zhong couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Back in his dorm, he began to recreate the storyboard from memory.

For directors and screenwriters, storyboarding usually begins with location scouting, followed by scene depiction based on actual conditions.

But Cao Zhong couldn't do that; he needed to prove himself.

To prove to Han Sanpin that he is the undisputed director of this script.

Han Sanpin is different from Wang Hongwei. The school teachers can be trusted, and they don't mind that Han Sanpin has dreams of becoming a director. Ultimately, it's not their money that's being spent.

However, China Film Group and other investors will actually still try to manage the situation.

If Cao Zhong cannot prove his abilities, no matter how hard Wang Hongwei tries, the investment may fall through.

To reiterate, Cao Zhong lacks personal resources.

He is not Lu Chuan!
He doesn't have Lu Chuan's background or father.

Of course, Cao Zhong didn't care much about these things. There will always be benefactors in this world, and he just needs to keep moving forward.

The rest is up to fate.

Furthermore, there's the issue of project approval.

Cao Zhong needs to persuade Han Sanpin to help get the script approved as a project. Wang Hongwei didn't say this explicitly, but Teacher Cui had previously revealed that it might involve review by multiple departments.

Only after convincing Han Sanpin could the project truly be considered a success, both in terms of script approval and investment.

This would save Cao Zhong a lot of time.

Cao Zhong also had his own selfish motives. If the investment amount couldn't be agreed upon at the beginning, he could use China Film Group's name to his advantage and find a way to make things work out on his own.

He knew that this movie would definitely make money.

Actually, I'd like to invest some myself.

It means I'm short of money.

Actually, if China Film Group were to fully invest in it, it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for them.

Because he can't make money.

Cao Zhong had been thinking about Yang Mi's salary for two days. Today, when he heard Wang Hongwei talking about Ning Hao wanting to see the script, Cao Zhong suddenly thought of a rich woman.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this wealthy woman will be taking the entrance exam for the Beijing Film Academy next January.

A freshman, and a direct junior from the same department, is always easier to fool than someone from the Central Film Academy.

I remember in my past life, this rich woman wasted a lot of money.

To get someone to invest, you need to have some leverage.

For example, being met by Han Sanpin, or other scripts suitable for this rich woman to play.

Thinking of this, Cao Zhong became even more determined.

Soon, Cao Zhong drew up storyboards one after another.
These storyboards are actually very restrained, without a trace of bloodshed. What they show is Cao Zhong's portrayal of the true face of history, which is realistic and cruel, restrained and stoic.

A knife plunges into history.

A knife plunges into the scenery within the lens, revealing the character's inner world.

Cao Zhong was very focused until he heard a furious shout.

……

"Aaaaaah, I really want to blow up the DJ!"

"Beast! This is a beast!"

Qi Jiuzhou had returned to his dormitory at some point, holding the storyboard drawn by Cao Zhong in his hand, his eyes already filled with tears.

He clenched his fists, feeling completely overwhelmed.

If Qi Jiuzhou hadn't known that these scenes would be useful to Cao Zhong, he probably would have crumpled them into balls long ago.

Seeing Cao Zhong raise his head, Qi Jiuzhou wiped away his tears and sobbed, "I never expected that many of the historical photos I learned about in junior high school textbooks would appear in your storyboard today."

"Brother Zhong, the movie you're going to make isn't this kind of movie, is it?"

Cao Zhong nodded. "That's right."

“I have to play this role,” Qi Jiuzhou said. “With my appearance, I can’t play an idol, but if you ask me to play a soldier, my image is absolutely perfect. I don’t want money.”

"Your teacher said we're not allowed to take on any acting roles before our junior year, have you forgotten?"

"Can't I even take on a role that belongs to our own people? Besides, you can give me a small supporting role, or even just a minor extra, and I'll definitely do my best!"

Cao Zhong nodded. "Okay."

"Thank you, Brother Zhong," Qi Jiuzhou said, then thought for a moment, "If you need any help, I can ask my dad."

“Not for now,” Cao Zhong said. “My teacher might need to help me get some investment opportunities later.”

"Where?"

"They say it's China Film Group."

"That's amazing?" Qi Jiuzhou's eyes widened. "Then my father won't embarrass himself. My dad has been making movies for several years, but most of them aren't commercial films, so he basically gets investment from all over the place and hasn't collaborated with China Film Group yet."

Cao Zhong was also a little surprised when he heard this.

Qi Jian is already a mid-level figure in the directing industry, yet he has never collaborated with China Film Group.

But this gave Cao Zhong an even stronger resolve: no matter what, he had to be fully prepared for this trip to China Film Group.

……

In the next few days.

Yang Mi returned to the film crew to continue filming "The Door." Cao Zhong missed classes for a long time, and gradually, the news that he had written a script spread throughout the class.

After Cao Zhong finished drawing all the important storyboards, he went to the office and told Wang Hongwei.

That afternoon, Wang Hongwei arranged a time.

We need to take Cao Zhong with us to China Film Group.

He didn't even bother to review all the storyboards himself.

At 2 p.m., Cao Zhong and Wang Hongwei were already standing outside the China Film Group office.

After waiting for a while, the secretary inside finally came out.

"Producer Wang, President Han wants you to come in."

"Okay." Wang Hongwei straightened his clothes, then turned to Cao Zhong and said, "Remember what I said on the way? Watch my expression when you speak."

"Hmm." Cao Zhong nodded; he was an honest man and didn't talk much.

Once inside, Cao Zhong immediately spotted the man who had influenced the golden decade of the Chinese film industry.

Han Sanpin.

He was sitting on the sofa in his office, with three cups of tea on the coffee table.

Seeing Wang Hongwei enter, he stood up and shook hands with him, saying, "Long time no see, Director Wang."

The last time we met was several months ago, when I was discussing low-budget films with Wang Hongwei and Ning Hao.

"This is the young man you told me wrote a script that's even better than the script for 'Crazy Stone'? He's very young. Please sit down."

Han Sanpin sized up Cao Zhong. He was somewhat handsome, looked honest, and was very clean.

He gestured for the two of them to sit down.

"Yes, Mr. Han."

"I have a meeting in ten minutes, so let's not waste any more time. Leave the script here for me to look at. Then, if you have any requests, you can tell me." Han Sanpin seemed very busy, and he explained things quite clearly: he was to show him the script.

Then, at the same time, you should also tell him what your needs are.

Just as Wang Hongwei was about to speak, Cao Zhong spoke up first.

"Teacher Wang, how about I give the presentation?"

Wang Hongwei had his words stuck in his throat and could only let Cao Zhong speak.

In my mind, I was thinking, "All the things I just taught you have gone down the drain."
"Okay, come on."

Cao Zhong thought about the words he had prepared during this period of time.

After considering the time again, I felt that ten minutes was not enough. After hesitating for two seconds, I decided to go all out.

"Mr. Han must have read 'Schindler's List', right?"

Cao Zhongdao,
"A film that has been hailed as great, telling the tragic story of the victims, and has gained praise, fame, and sympathy worldwide."

The film doesn't depict the hoarding and speculation of squid in Germany; it only tells the tragic story of the concentration camps during World War II.
Through the eyes of the protagonist Schindler, the story returns to Kolako, Poland, in that inhumane era, striving to find glimmers of humanity. While depicting suffering, it expresses an anti-war theme.

Many even claim that this film is a work of humanitarian spirit, made by a director full of humanitarian sentiment, and that it contains both Spielberg's cruelty and tenderness.

But ultimately, this film, through a personal perspective, exposes that brutal atrocity.

These words were indeed shocking. Han Sanpin raised his head, his dry eyes revealing great doubt.

He didn't know why Cao Zhong would suddenly bring up Schindler's List.

What does it have to do with you?
"Could you make a film like Schindler's List?" A thought flashed through Han Sanpin's mind.

Han Sanpin certainly knew about this movie. It was a retrospective of the tragedy of the six million Jews during World War II by the Germans. It was a world-renowned epic, a movie that would move countless people to tears.

Wang Hongwei had no idea what Cao Zhong was up to.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Cao Zhong continued,
"I know that since taking office at China Film Group, President Han has been pursuing a blockbuster strategy."

I can guess the purpose of China Film Group's existence.

Such as resisting the oppression of foreign ideologies, welcoming the impact of Hollywood movies, maintaining the cultural charm of China, and seeking for Chinese films to move forward proudly in the wave of globalization.

Blockbuster movies are indeed the best genre to attract audiences to the cinema.

But has President Han ever considered this?

Both were World War II, and China fought a hard 14-year war of resistance, with 35 million casualties. Why is it that China does not have a film with the same international impact?

There's no Schindler's List, no Life Is Beautiful, no Letters from Iwo Jima...

Yes, even their everyday lives are made into war movies.

Wang Hongwei suddenly felt a little confused.

He never expected Cao Zhong to say these words in front of Han Sanpin.

I brought you here to discuss investment.

Did I fucking send you to China Film Construction?

Wang Hongwei was completely numb!
When he looked up, he felt as if there were stars all around his eyes, and he almost couldn't breathe for a moment.

He glanced at Han Sanpin and noticed that Han Sanpin had indeed frowned.

But Cao Zhong didn't stop; instead, he continued.
"Of course President Han knows that one of the biggest reasons for this is the war of public opinion—we do not control public opinion."

People from the United States and the Squid Country can leverage their unique public opinion and the Hollywood film industry to distribute their values ​​globally and spread their suffering throughout the world.

But not in China.

But is China really not up to the task?
We have a population of 1.3 billion. Back then, movies like "Shaolin Temple" and "Titanic" sold more tickets to audiences than we have now.

Our domestic market is huge, why go looking far and wide, neglecting the essential and chasing the trivial?

Han Sanpin sat up straight, not even opening the script he had just picked up. He glanced at the young man in front of him and encouraged him.

"Go on."

Cao Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. "There's China Film Group in China, and naturally there are similar institutions abroad. No matter how brilliantly our films are made, no matter how good they are, they will still be blocked and suppressed abroad."

There is actually no evidence to support his claim.

Cao Zhong could not provide evidence to Han Sanpin using later films such as "Ne Zha 2" and "Wolf Warrior 2".

But Han Sanpin did not refute him.

In the past two years, from the movie "Hero" whose rights were bought by Hollywood but was shelved for two years before its release, to movies like "The Promise" and "The Banquet" which were both box office flops in both China and Hollywood.

Then there's "Curse of the Golden Flower," which is set to be released during the Lunar New Year holiday this year, but it hasn't even been released yet; all we've got are introductions and stills.

This resulted in a large number of negative reviews online.

Han Sanpin was clearly also somewhat at a loss.

Han Sanpin thought that his previous films should have made some noise overseas, but he didn't expect that after "Hero", they would get worse and worse.

All those movies combined don't even compare to Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".

But it's clear that Han Sanpin agrees with what Cao Zhong said.

If China Film Group has this goal, then it doesn't believe that such a large film market as Hollywood would allow other markets to attack it at will.

Back when Hong Kong cinema was at its peak, Hollywood was nothing compared to it.

However, after Jurassic Park swept the world and burst onto the scene.

Hollywood quickly dominated the world and gained control of the global film discourse.

It's worth mentioning that Jurassic Park grossed over HK$64 million in Hong Kong, a record that wasn't broken until more than 20 years later.

Hong Kong films, which had previously dominated Southeast Asia, were completely destroyed.

This gradually led to a significant shrinkage in Hong Kong film funding and the migration of Hong Kong stars to the mainland.

Therefore, Han Sanpin did not refute what Cao Zhong said.

Seeing Han Sanpin deep in thought, Cao Zhong continued,
"In that case, we should make movies that the masses should enjoy, movies that can help improve China's industrial system, movies that can actually make money at the box office, and movies that can bring some thought to the audience while making money."

What reflections does Mr. Han believe that "The Promise" and "The Banquet" have given the audience?

After Cao Zhong finished speaking, Wang Hongwei broke out in a cold sweat.

Although it was the dead of winter, Wang Hongwei truly felt that he had made a grave mistake.

If these words were to get out and reach the ears of Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige, he would be devastated.

Han Sanpin smiled.

People do laugh when they're speechless.

He thought about "The Banquet" and "The Promise," and suddenly thought of "A Bloodbath Caused by a Steamed Bun," and couldn't help but think of it.

Happy.

Cao Zhong continued,
"So, Mr. Han, I think the most important thing for us is to get the audience into the cinema and meet their spiritual needs."

And my film perfectly fulfills all of my above statements.

Han Sanpin looked Cao Zhong in the eye and called him "Secretary".

"Postpone my meeting by an hour."

He picked up the script, looked at the five large characters "Nanjing Photo Studio" on it, and fell into deep thought.

(End of this chapter)