Chapter 107: Experience Gained from Being Banned

It was the same little eatery as before; before heading to Hollywood, Cao Yang met up with Old Tian here once more.

"How about some hard liquor?"

Once the ordered dishes arrived, Old Tian looked at Cao Yang eagerly and suggested.

Cao Yang hesitated for a moment, looked at Old Tian’s hopeless expression, sighed, and held up one finger, "A small bottle, two taels."

"You got it."

Old Tian brightened up and shouted, "Boss, bring a bottle of Red Star, the small one."

Afterwards, humming an nameless tune in a leisurely manner until he lost the melody, he asked, "So, you’re heading to the American Empire?"

Cao Yang nodded, "Yeah, while I’m still young, I want to go over there to see how Hollywood operates, and maybe shoot a film while I’m at it, to see if the Americans' place is really a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair."

"Whether it’s a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, I don’t know, but you certainly won’t be lacking in a world of glitz, money, and beauties."

Old Tian picked up a bite of food and said, chewing, his words muffled.

"Senior brother, do you want to come with me and take a look? In a few years, our market will also be flooded with industrial films; it would be good to borrow their experience so we can aim our arrows at the target."

Cao Yang took the white liquor handed over by the boss, twisted off the cap, poured a small cup for Old Tian, and then poured one for himself.

Old Tian’s eyes widened as he stared at the Red Star in Cao Yang’s hand, and he couldn't help but be furious. The nerve of this kid, he only asked for this one small bottle, and you still want to split it with me?

Only when the bottle was pushed in front of Old Tian did his face visibly light up with joy.

"Not going. I have teaching duties next semester; I’m not going to that hellhole."

As Old Tian spoke, he picked up his cup and downed half of it in one go, smacked his lips, and wore a look of pure satisfaction on his face—a true old drunkard.

He picked up a bite of food, chewed it with a crunch, and said vaguely, "With the situation here in the country, there’s no way in hell we’ll have industrial films. The cinemas are all damn near closing down; commercial films simply can’t survive."

Old man, your sensitivity is too poor, and you underestimate the domestic film market too much.

"Old Tian, do you know that on December 12th of last year, the State Council passed the 'Regulations on the Administration of Films,' and Article 16 and related policies led the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television to formulate the 'Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Qualification Certification System for Obtaining a Film Production Permit (Single Film)'?"

Old Tian’s chopsticks paused, and he looked at Cao Yang suspiciously, "I’m not an idiot. With such big news in the industry, how could I not know? What are you trying to say, kid?"

Cao Yang reached out to pick up the cup full of white liquor, hesitated, put it back down, picked up the beer next to it, and took a sip.

"One of the clauses in those rules states that after units other than film production units obtain a 'Single Film Permit,' they enjoy the right to independently produce films... Do you know what this means?"

"Pah, is that all? The school already held meetings to discuss it. Doesn't it just mean that these private enterprises don't need to buy studio labels to shoot films anymore? What’s the big deal?"

Old Tian poured his own cup full, set down the small bottle, and then said, "With the few stragglers we have now, even if they don't buy studio labels, what kind of waves can they make? The market is only so big, and there are only so many cinemas; can they just conjure them out of thin air?"

Stubborn!

You cannot imagine the vitality of private enterprises once they are no longer held back.

Cao Yang had once read a report: in 2002, the year the new "Regulations on the Administration of Films" was issued, the proportion of films invested in by private film and television investment companies was less than one-third.

By 2003, private enterprises invested in 96 films, accounting for 68.5% of the 140 films that year, and subsequently grew at a rate of 20% to 40% each year.

Sigh, I guess most of the filmmakers within the system don't really believe that the film market can be quickly activated once it's opened up.

In a few months, once Old Mouzi’s "Hero" is released, you will all know that commercial films have great potential, which will further encourage private enterprises and accelerate their pace of entry. "You’ve always planned before you act; this time you’re going to Hollywood to make your way, did you have a plan long ago? You must choose your first film well; those people don't have much sentimentality for us. If you fail, you’ll basically lose their trust."

Cao Yang chewed his food, swallowed, and then replied, "Yeah, I know, so I chose a film that is very easy to succeed with, it’s just..."

It’s just a bit utilitarian, and it will be hard to avoid being criticized for it in the future.

Old Tian was a bit surprised. There’s such a film?

"What genre?"

"Biography, a biographical film about a controversial figure."

Cao Yang picked up the white liquor on the table, downed it in one gulp, and reached for the Red Star. Old Tian was quick-handed, grabbed the bottle, and glared at Cao Yang.

This is all I have left; you try moving again, kid.

Cao Yang chuckled, picked up his chopsticks to grab some food, and ignored Old Tian.

Old Tian, like it was a treasure, placed the small bottle on his side before saying, "A biographical film about a controversial figure, eh? As long as such a film is shot well, it is indeed easy to succeed."

He looked at Cao Yang and reminded him cautiously, "However, since it’s a controversial figure, once the film is shot well, it will surely become a controversial film. You need to be mentally prepared for that."

!

Cao Yang nodded. He had anticipated this long ago; the more controversial, the better. He wasn't afraid of that.

What he worried about most was the future.

If it were just a biography of some other controversial figure, that would be fine, but the key is that this person is a homosexual.

It doesn't matter now; the country won't care.

It will only be years later, when the Americans' value system gradually becomes distorted, even to the point of being magical, and gender alone develops into hundreds of types, that this might be dug up and brought up again.

He was just afraid that when that time comes, those who oppose it will use this to attack, while a few idiots will hold it up as a golden rule.

How can this situation be avoided?

Cao Yang felt he still needed to rack his brains to see if he could pull off a stunt to minimize the impact.

"Old Tian, do you think if I were 'forced' to take on a controversial Hollywood film, the impact on me would be reduced?"

"Forced?"

Old Tian thought for a moment and suggested, "Then it’s best to make a big scene of it. In case the impact is bad later, it will naturally be very easy to defend."

You really are something, Old Tian. Could this be the experience gained from being banned?

After saying goodbye to Old Tian, Cao Yang went to see Old Situ and said he needed to take a leave of absence for a while.

Old Situ didn't ask anything; he had long known about Cao Yang’s plan to go to Hollywood, only repeatedly urging, "You are still young, don't pay attention to the talk of one film deciding your success or failure. Even if you fail, at worst you can come back; there are plenty of opportunities."

Cao Yang nodded and replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Teacher, I’m still young and can withstand the blow."

Old Situ added, "Foreigners are different from us. Sometimes you are too humble; you don't need to do that with foreigners. The more polite you are, the more they might think you’re not up to the task..."

Amidst the rambling, Cao Yang stayed in Old Situ’s office for nearly an hour, with Old Situ doing all the talking and Cao Yang listening.

(End of chapter)