Chapter 1: The Jiang Shixiong

The Directing Department must have bad Feng Shui; not a single one of them is ever worry-free.

Old Situ is exhausted in both body and mind. He is a man about to retire, yet he still has endless worries day after day.

Looking at the calm-faced disciple in front of him, Old Situ's anger flares up. You are so young, yet you put on an air of maturity—who are you trying to impress with that detached, indifferent look?

Why don't you just ascend to the heavens?

"Let's talk. Zhuangzhuang already came to me to complain, saying you are stubborn and obstinate, set in your ways, refuse to listen to any differing opinions, and are very difficult to get along with. A man over forty, and after drinking less than two taels of wine, he was sobbing uncontrollably, snot and tears running everywhere."

Cao Yang fills Old Situ's cup with water and says softly, "Teacher, don't blame Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang. His heart is bitter. Back then, in the prime of his youth, just when he was ready to spread his wings, he was suddenly banned from directing for ten years. He could only drown his sorrows in wine. Only in front of you can he open his heart and pour out his bitterness."

Old Situ is stunned. Why is this different from what he expected?

Shouldn't you be explaining yourself?

Why are you speaking up for him instead?

Has that rebellious disciple actually learned to drown his sorrows in wine?

Suppressing the series of doubts in his heart, Old Situ asks, "He said that you two agreed in private that you would be the nominal director, while everything else would be up to him."

Cao Yang thinks back to that scene; that statement isn't entirely wrong.

In a private room at the Yuehai Hotel, a coal boss in his forties wearing a large gold chain sat with a very pure-looking young girl beside him, said to be a fresh university graduate from an arts college, majoring in acting.

Tian Zhuangzhuang had his arm around the coal boss, saying, "Feng Zong, you know, my 1992 film was banned, and I was barred from directing by the authorities for ten years. There's still over a year left before it expires. This is my junior fellow apprentice, Cao Yang, from the 98-class of the Directing Department, about to enter his third year. 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 surely have a crowd of female stars surrounding you... Haha..."

Tian Zhuangzhuang also laughed, then said to the coal boss, "Feng Zong, to be honest, for this film, my junior fellow apprentice 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 is a big director; using his reputation as a protective shield is still very effective.

The coal boss doesn't understand film at all; how would he know that if a film is made well, there's not only the 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 Tian Zhuangzhuang, praising Old Tian for being generous and bold. He had even less awareness of copyright; until the contract was signed, he didn't mention copyright at all.

The fresh female graduate sitting nearby heard this and truly took Old Tian's words to heart, thinking the film was going to Europe to chase awards. She was so excited she became incoherent, and the hand she used to toast was trembling.

I don't know what methods she used on the coal boss after returning, but the next day, the coal boss signed the 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. What nonsense supervision, what sending accountants into the crew, what fighting over copyright—none of that existed!

There was 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, investing that little bit of money not only gets his little girlfriend an important role but also nets him sixty percent of the domestic box office—it's simply a huge profit, isn't it?

"Yes, for this film, I am the nominal director. Aside from matters regarding the film itself, I listen to Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang on everything else."

Cao Yang says.

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

Being a nominal director can be seen as a director's own humble way of putting it.

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

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

Cao Yang thinks back. At the time, the two of them were discussing the script, revising it, 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 that this is what caused Old Tian to have a misunderstanding?

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

"Teacher, when Jiang Shixiong 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 feels this statement might be a bit ambiguous, but it doesn't count as deception. He's a grown man; who can he blame if he doesn't ask clearly?

That should be it, right?

Old Situ always feels something is strange, as if something isn't right, but he can't refute it.

"Teacher, I feel that Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang might have been suppressed for too long. Besides alcoholism, he also... Sigh, when you find an opportunity, you must guide him. Don't let him get stuck in a dead end. The directing ban has only a little over a year left. Once it's lifted, he'll be able to spread his wings."

Cao Yang is very considerate of Old Tian. He is both an important character in the film and doubles as the cinematographer. He can suppress other crew members with his martial prowess and put the coal boss's mind at ease with his literary skills.

Old Tian is just too important.

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

"Teacher, Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang's heart is bitter..."

"Don't cover for that rebellious disciple. Speak!"

"Jiang Shixiong is bitter..."

"Speak!"

"Jiang Shixiong 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 Feng Shui of the Directing Department is bad. When it comes to these matters between men and women, not a single one of them is worry-free. I should have moved the school long ago!"

"Teacher, calm down. Jiang Shixiong is a nostalgic person and didn't mean anything else. Perhaps he just felt the role was suitable. However, I felt it wasn't quite appropriate, so I righteously refused. For this, I even argued with Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang for a long time."

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

As he speaks, Old Situ begins to dial Tian Zhuangzhuang's number. "Tian Zhuangzhuang, where are you? Get your ass over here immediately!"

Do you really think I don't know about your little schemes?

A grown man like you, still thinking about snatching the directing rights from your junior fellow apprentice, and still wanting to stuff 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 ambition!

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

Cao Yang is so sensible. Even after being treated like this, he still defends that rebellious disciple.

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

Cao Yang is kind-hearted and can't bear to watch his senior brother being reprimanded, so he can only silently offer his blessings to Old Tian.

Old Situ regains his composure and asks with concern, "Have you finalized the actors for your crew?"

Cao Yang thinks for a moment, "I've set a few supporting roles, but the lead hasn't been decided yet."

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

Cao Yang looks at Old Situ and says very sincerely, "Okay, Teacher, I understand. Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang has been running around for this, working very hard, so Teacher, don't blame him either."

!

Mentioning this, Old Situ flares up with anger for no reason.

"Do I not know him? Li Shaohong is right; he just wants to date people while filming, and once the film is over, he breaks it off. What a disgusting habit! Every single one of them has such disgusting habits!"

"Teacher, that's not the norm. It might be falling in love due to the play." Cao Yang tries hard to defend his senior brother.

"Bullshit falling in love due to the play. The male lead falling in love with the female lead is falling in love due to the play. He, a director, getting together with the female lead—what's that all about?"

"Teacher, you can't blame Jiang Shixiong Zhuangzhuang either. Perhaps a director needs empathy. Look at Director Zhang Yimou, Jiang Shixiong Chen Kaige, Director Jia Zhangke, Director Wu Ziniu, Director Hu Mei..."

"Enough, enough, stop counting."

Old Situ waves his hand impatiently, "This broken Feng Shui of the Directing Department is hopeless. Cao Yang, you must take this as a warning and not learn these messy things."

Cao Yang nods and guarantees, "Teacher, I am not that kind of person."

"That's good, take it as a warning, take it as a warning!"

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

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

Old Situ looked at the script and then pressed him on how he planned to film it, what the shooting cycle would be, what the budget was, whether there were expected returns, and so on.

Even if you write a script well, 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 whole afternoon. They ate dinner in the cafeteria and continued talking after eating, talking until past eight in the evening.

Only when Teacher Situ felt he understood enough, and that Cao Yang could answer everything with ease, was truly 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 the younger generation—if a student appears to have ability, then introduce connections and give them an opportunity.

Tian Zhuangzhuang is 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 in the directing ban was clearly only polite on the surface at first—since Teacher Situ introduced him, the matter had to be handled, but how to handle it specifically, and to what extent to help, was a matter of discussion.

On the surface, everyone is Teacher Situ's student. Although Teacher Situ hasn't taught many classes, he has many students. I am from the 78-class, and you are from the 98-class, 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 topic inevitably revolved around the film and television industry, from the past, future, domestic, and foreign aspects of film, 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 ideas."

It should be that he used the alcohol to vent his bitterness, play the emotional card, and test Teacher Situ's reaction.

These big directors all have the heart of Jiang Wen and like to cuckold others to their faces.

If Teacher Situ had tacitly approved, Tian Zhuangzhuang would likely have snatched the power, leaving Cao Yang like Lu Chuan, with nothing but a nominal title.

Fortunately, Teacher Situ is sensible and didn't listen to one side, favor one over the other, or show bias—I said I'd give you an opportunity, so 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 in front of the media? At worst, we just break it off.

Pfft!

Don't you think so, useless system?

New author, new book. I ask all the masters passing by to add a bookmark, cast a recommendation, and ask for investment. Thank you very much.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====