Chapter 1: The Senior Brother is Bitter at Heart

The Directing Department must have terrible feng shui; not a single one of them is ever worry-free.

Old Situ was exhausted in both body and mind; he was a man on the verge of retirement, yet he still had endless things to worry about day after day.

Looking at the calm-faced, wicked disciple before him, Old Situ’s anger flared up from nowhere. "You’re so young, what are you pretending to be so mature for? Who are you putting on that detached and indifferent act for?"

"Why don't you just fly up to the heavens already?"

"Let’s talk about it. Zhuangzhuang even came to me to complain, saying you are stubborn, obstinate, and set in your ways, completely unable to listen to different opinions, and very difficult to get along with. You’re over forty years old, and after drinking less than two taels of alcohol, you were crying a river, snot and tears all over the place."

Cao Yang filled Old Situ’s cup with water and said softly, "Teacher, don't blame Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang. He has bitterness in his heart. Back then, in his prime, he was just about to spread his wings when he was suddenly banned from directing for ten years. He could only drown his sorrows in alcohol, and it is only in front of you that he can open his heart and pour out his grievances."

Old Situ was stunned. Why was this different from what he had imagined?

Shouldn't you be explaining yourself?

Why are you still speaking up for him?

And that wicked disciple actually learned to drown his sorrows in alcohol?

Suppressing the series of doubts in his heart, Old Situ asked, "He said that you two agreed privately that you would be the nominal director, and everything would be decided by him."

Cao Yang thought back to the scene at the time; this wasn't entirely wrong.

In a private room at the Yuehai Hotel, a coal boss in his forties wearing a thick gold chain sat next to a very pure-looking young girl, said to be a fresh graduate from an art academy with a major in acting.

Tian Zhuangzhuang had his arm around the coal boss’s shoulders and said, "Boss Feng, you know, my 1992 film was banned by the authorities, and I was forbidden from directing for ten years. There’s still over a year left. This is my junior fellow apprentice, Cao Yang, from the Directing Department class of '98, about to be a junior. We are both students of Teacher Situ."

The coal boss chimed in, "The young man is not bad. Learn well from Director Tian. Once you become a big director in the future, you’ll definitely have a crowd of female stars surrounding you... Haha..."

Tian Zhuangzhuang also laughed, then said to the coal boss, "Boss Feng, to tell you the truth, for this film, my junior Cao Yang is the nominal director, but in reality, I’m the one calling the shots... Our film is going to Europe to chase awards; it’s being shot for foreigners to watch. You invest in me, and I’ll give you sixty percent of the domestic box office share..."

Tian Zhuangzhuang was a big director, and using his reputation as a tiger skin was still very effective.

The coal boss didn't understand film at all; how would he know that if the film was made well, there would not only be domestic box office, but also big money to be made abroad?

Hearing that he could get sixty percent of the domestic box office, the coal boss immediately toasted with Tian Zhuangzhuang, praising Old Tian for being generous and magnanimous, and even more so for having no concept of copyright—until the contract was signed, he didn't even mention the issue of copyright.

At the time, the young female college graduate sitting next to them took Old Tian’s words seriously, thinking the film was going to Europe to chase awards. She was so excited she couldn't speak coherently, and her hand was trembling as she offered a toast.

I don't know what methods she used on the coal boss after they went back, but the next day, the coal boss signed an agreement with Cao Yang and wired the money to the account Cao Yang specified.

One has to sigh, coal bosses are truly great; with a wave of their hand, they are incredibly generous.

The money arrived in one lump sum. No bullshit supervision, no sending accountants into the crew, no fighting over copyright—none of that!

Only one requirement: arrange an important role for his newly graduated little girlfriend.

As for the female lead, he didn't even mention it.

Perhaps in the coal boss’s eyes, by investing that little bit of money, he could not only arrange an important role for his little girlfriend but also get sixty percent of the domestic box office share—it was simply a huge profit, wasn't it?

"Yes, I am the nominal director for this film. Apart from matters regarding the film itself, I listen to Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang for everything else."

Cao Yang said.

Old Situ nodded. No problem there. As a director, the thing one hates most is others pointing fingers at their film during production.

A nominal director can be seen as a humble way for the director to describe themselves.

It can also be seen as purely nominal, not managing anything—it just depends on how you interpret it.

"He said that when the actor contract was signed that day, he was deceived by you into signing it, so it doesn't count."

Cao Yang thought about it. At the time, the two of them were discussing the script, making revisions, and it was already very late, so Old Tian suggested having a little drink.

After three rounds of drinks, he took out an actor contract and said to Old Tian, "This is an actor contract. You are the director; do you want to sign it?"

Hmm? Could it be because of this that Old Tian had a misunderstanding?

But this was an actor contract, and the role Old Tian was playing was a director—a director who cheated on the female lead after marriage.

"Teacher, when Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang signed the contract, I explained it very clearly to him. I told him at the time that this was an actor contract and that he was the director, and he signed it without hesitation."

Old Situ felt that this statement might be a bit ambiguous, but it couldn't be considered deception. He was a grown man; who could he blame if he didn't ask clearly?

That should be it, right?

Old Situ always felt something was strange, as if something wasn't right, but he couldn't refute it.

"Teacher, I think Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang might have been suppressed for too long. Besides alcoholism, he also... Sigh, you must find an opportunity to counsel him not to get stuck in a dead end. There’s only a little over a year left on his directing ban. Once it’s lifted, he’ll be able to spread his wings."

Cao Yang was very considerate of Old Tian. He was both an important character in the film and held the duties of a cinematographer. He could suppress other crew members with his martial presence and put the coal boss’s mind at ease with his literary side.

Old Tian was just too important.

Old Situ keenly grasped the key point, "Besides alcoholism, what else did he do?"

"Teacher, Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang has bitterness in his heart..."

"Don't try to cover for that wicked disciple, speak!"

"Senior Brother is bitter..."

"Speak!"

"Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang wants to get Lv Liping into the crew..."

"What? She’s already married, and he’s still thinking about... It makes me so angry... I’m telling you, the Directing Department has bad feng shui. When it comes to these matters between men and women, not a single one of them is ever worry-free. I should have moved the school a long time ago!"

"Teacher, calm down. Senior Brother is a sentimental person and didn't mean anything else by it; perhaps he just felt the role was suitable. However, I felt it wasn't quite appropriate, so I righteously refused. I even argued with Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang for a long time over this."

"Right, you did the right thing. I understand, I finally understand why he suddenly came to me to drink. So that’s what it was."

As he spoke, Old Situ began to dial Tian Zhuangzhuang’s number. "Tian Zhuangzhuang, where are you? Get your ass over here right now!"

Did you really think I didn't know about those little schemes of yours?

You’re a grown man, and you’re still thinking about snatching the directing power from your junior, and you want to shove an old flame into the crew. The key is that she’s already married, and you still want to pull this stunt!

You go and badmouth others after being refused? You really have some nerve!

I told you to go and help your junior, not to go and stir up trouble.

Cao Yang is the sensible one; even after being treated like that, he still defends that wicked disciple.

"Teacher, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go get busy."

Cao Yang was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to watch the scene of his senior brother being reprimanded, so he could only silently wish Old Tian well.

Old Situ came back to his senses and asked with concern, "Have you finalized your crew’s actors?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment, "I’ve decided on a few supporting roles, but the leads haven't been set yet."

"Then speed up the progress. If you encounter trouble, let Zhuangzhuang handle it. If he can't handle it, come find me."

Cao Yang looked at Old Situ and said very sincerely, "Okay, Teacher, I understand. Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang has been running around for me lately; he’s worked very hard, so Teacher, please don't blame him."

!

Mentioning this, Old Situ felt a surge of anger for no reason.

"Do I not know him? Shaohong is right; he just wants to have a romance with someone in the film, and once the film is over, they go their separate ways. What a disgusting habit! Every single one of them has such disgusting habits!"

"Teacher, that’s not the norm; it might just be falling in love due to the play." Cao Yang tried hard to defend his senior brother.

"Bullshit 'falling in love due to the play.' It’s falling in love due to the play when the male lead falls for the female lead. He’s a director—what’s going on with him getting together with the female lead?"

"Teacher, you can't blame Senior Brother Zhuangzhuang either. Perhaps a director needs empathy. Look at Director Zhang Yimou, Senior Brother Chen Kun, Director Jia Zhang, Director Li An, Director Guan Hu..."

"Alright, alright, stop counting."

Old Situ waved his hand impatiently, "The Directing Department’s broken feng shui is beyond saving. Cao Yang, you must take this as a warning and not learn these messy things."

Cao Yang nodded and promised, "Teacher, I am not that kind of person."

"That’s good. Take it as a warning, take it as a warning!"

Cao Yang was very grateful to Old Situ, and also very grateful to Tian Zhuangzhuang.

Some time ago, he took the script he had written to Old Situ and said he planned to film it himself, though he didn't really hold much hope.

Old Situ looked at the script and immediately asked how he planned to shoot it, what the production cycle would be, what the budget was, what the expected returns were, and so on.

Even if you write a great script, it only proves you are a good screenwriter; you are still three streets away from being a director.

Only through in-depth discussion can one see the clues.

This discussion took up the entire afternoon. They ate dinner in the cafeteria and continued talking after eating, chatting until past eight in the evening.

Only when Teacher Situ felt he understood enough, and that Cao Yang could answer everything fluently—that he was indeed well-prepared, had the ability to execute, and wouldn't give up halfway—did he introduce him to Tian Zhuangzhuang.

Old Situ was clearly grooming his juniors—if a student appeared to have ability, he would introduce connections to give them an opportunity.

Tian Zhuangzhuang was the connection and opportunity introduced to Cao Yang.

Of course, things wouldn't be that simple.

After meeting Tian Zhuangzhuang, this big director, who was still under a directing ban, was clearly only polite on the surface at first—since Teacher Situ introduced him, the matter had to be handled, but how exactly to handle it and to what extent to help was a different story.

On the surface, everyone is Teacher Situ’s student. Although Teacher Situ hasn't taught many classes, he has many students. I’m from the class of '78, you’re from the class of '98, twenty years apart—why should I help you with all my might?

You have to provide a reason that convinces me.

After a few days of contact, the topics inevitably revolved around the film and television industry, from the past and future of film, domestic and foreign, down to the shooting techniques, skills, and core of a certain film. It seemed like eating, chatting, and bragging, but in reality, it was an understanding and assessment of Cao Yang.

Then, Tian Zhuangzhuang contacted the coal boss, and the investment was secured.

"Old Tian has his own ideas."

It was likely that he used the alcohol to pour out his grievances, play the emotional card, and test Teacher Situ’s reaction.

These big directors all have the heart of a Jiang Wen; they like to cuckold people to their faces.

If Teacher Situ had tacitly approved, Tian Zhuangzhuang would likely have staged a coup to seize power, leaving Cao Yang with nothing but a nominal title, just like Lu Chuan.

Fortunately, Teacher Situ was reasonable and did not listen to one side, favor one over the other, or show partiality—he said he would give you an opportunity, and this is your opportunity; no one should have any crooked ideas.

The opportunity has been given to you; whether you succeed or not is a matter of your personal ability.

Of course, Cao Yang is not Lu Chuan. What kind of man cries and wails in front of the media? At worst, they just go their separate ways.

Pfft!

Don't you think so, useless system?

A new author with a new book, I ask all the masters passing by to add a bookmark, cast a recommendation, and invest. Thank you very much.

(End of chapter)