Chapter 125: Old Situ

The next day, Dong Xuan got up early and made breakfast for Cao Yang.

Fried dough sticks bought outside, and white rice porridge she cooked herself.

Such a simple breakfast, but Cao Yang ate it with great appetite. He felt a bit dazed and sighed that it seemed he hadn't eaten such authentic breakfast for a long, long time. Life in the old U. S. was simply not a life for people.

"Are you going back to school today?" Dong Xuan supported her chin and watched Cao Yang eat with relish. She was also happy.

"Hmm, I'm going back to school to see Teacher Situ and Dean Hou."

Cao Yang took the tissue handed by Dong Xuan, wiped his mouth, and asked: "What about you? Going back to school?"

Dong Xuan shook her head. "Not going today."

Then, she looked at Cao Yang's face and asked with full expectation: "Are you coming back today?"

She hurriedly explained: "If you come back at night, I'll prepare more dinner."

Cao Yang patted Dong Xuan's head and said with a smile: "You dry my clothes in the closet. I'll live here for a while."

"Okay."

The corners of Dong Xuan's mouth turned up, and the smile on her face could no longer be stopped.

She couldn't help thinking that Cao Yang said her double ponytail was quite youthful and energetic. Try it tonight?

Old Situ no longer has teaching tasks now—no, that's not right. He still has Cao Yang, this graduate student, but Cao Yang is rarely at school. Old Situ just occasionally comes to the office to sit for a while.

Today, Old Situ came to the office early in the morning.

Old Tian saw it and hurriedly came over to say hello with a smile.

"Oh, look who this is? Isn't this my most respected teacher? Why are you free today, strolling to school?"

"Get lost, stay wherever it's cool. I'm annoyed when I see you."

Old Situ sat down, then touched the table with his hand. There was actually some dust.

So, he hurriedly called Old Tian, who wanted to slip out, "Wait a minute, clean the office before you go."

When Cao Yang came, he just saw Old Tian holding a rag and wiping the table.

"Oh, Director Tian is different after becoming a teacher. This is coming to practice respecting teachers and teaching in person."

Old Tian threw the rag in his hand. Old Situ coughed. Old Tian obediently picked it up, turned to Old Situ and smiled, "It's finished."

Then, as if afraid of being punished by Old Situ, he turned and walked out, "I still have class. It will be late if I don't go."

Passing by Cao Yang, he deliberately bumped into Cao Yang and whispered: "Let's eat together later."

He didn't wait for Cao Yang to answer, closed the door smoothly, and ran away in a puff of smoke.

"Teacher, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Old Situ pointed, signaling Cao Yang to sit down, and asked: "Came back yesterday?"

"Hmm, I adjusted the jet lag yesterday and rested for a night."

Cao Yang said, picked up Old Situ's water cup, filled it with water, and poured himself a cup.

"Is it smooth in the U. S.?" Old Situ blew on the water cup, took a small sip, and asked. Cao Yang smiled bitterly, "It can be considered a twist and turn, but fortunately the result is good."

Old Situ didn't speak for a long time, and was silent for a while before saying: "That place in the U. S. is just like that. In a foreign land, being bullied is a very normal thing. Only those who have been out know that home is better."

Then he deliberated and said: "If it doesn't work, don't go. You are now considered successful. Going to Hollywood is just to prove yourself. Actually, I don't think it's necessary. Domestic is also promising. Look at Yimou's *Hero*..."

Speaking of this, Old Situ stopped, as if he didn't know how to open his mouth.

Cao Yang wanted to laugh a little. Old Situ clearly wanted to praise the box office of *Hero*, but this is a commercial film. People in the directing department of Beijing Film Academy praising a commercial film always feels wrong.

Especially a year ago, everyone was secretly mocking Zhang Yimou for going astray, not shooting good art films, but shooting a damn commercial film.

Zhang Yimou himself didn't dare to admit it was a commercial film, but covered it up and said it was an industrial film, an industrialized film.

Now it's good. 250 million box office, really shocked a group of people in the directing department.

Everyone vaguely felt that if the film market could really accommodate a 250 million film, perhaps, maybe, the spring of commercial films was coming?

"Teacher, you are right. Domestic is also promising. The box office of *Hero* proves this."

Cao Yang took the initiative to give Old Situ a step.

!

"Hmm."

Old Situ nodded. Since he said this, he had no concerns, and said directly: "The box office of *Hero* is very amazing, but is this a coincidence or inevitable? No one can be sure, so someone needs to explore it again."

"By the way, it can also consolidate the market opened by Yimou, so as not to have no box office support, and the market will shrink back. Don't you think so?"

"At the same time, it can also give those private companies investing in market development a kind of encouragement and confidence. A prosperous and unlimited potential domestic market is what everyone wants to see."

After speaking, Old Situ looked up at Cao Yang, with some expectation and some hesitation. "Can you understand what I said?"

Cao Yang was indeed a bit surprised. Looking at Old Situ's meaning, it seemed he supported himself in following up and shooting a commercial film to test the market, rather than pushing it off and waiting for Zhang Yimou to explore the market again.

Sure enough, what Old Tian said before was right. The dedication that the older generation pays attention to is not the same word as the dedication we pay attention to now.

Even if he looks down on commercial films, as long as the country needs it and society needs it, the older generation can temporarily put aside their prejudices.

Maybe he thought Cao Yang didn't speak, thinking Cao Yang was unwilling.

Old Situ said sincerely: "Cao Yang, you are my student. I shouldn't have let you take risks, but there are only a few of you who can do this in the country. I have already talked to Kaige, and he has also agreed to prepare a commercial blockbuster."

"I understand him. He does things mainly based on stability, and he also cares about face. The investment in the new film will definitely not be lower than *Hero*, so I estimate that by the time he is ready, it will take at least a year in the early stage. Plus the post-production, it may take two years."

"By then, the day lily will be cold, and Yimou's second film will be released."

"One flower blooming is not spring, a hundred flowers blooming is a spring garden. If the audience recognizes you as a big director, you must have the responsibility of a big director."

"What do you mean?"

"I want you to put aside your prejudices, make a commercial film, even if the investment scale is not large, it doesn't matter. Making a contribution, opening up the market for latecomers, and testing the potential of the domestic market is also a kind of responsibility of a big director."

Teacher, you still don't understand me. Although I come from Beijing Film Academy and have only shot art films since my debut, I really don't discriminate against commercial films. The purpose of my desperate attempt to win awards is to create a golden body and prepare for shooting commercial films.

Commercial films are the future development trend of films, while art films have become the self-entertainment of a small circle.

"Okay, teacher, I listen to you. I will use some time to prepare and strive to make a commercial film as soon as possible."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 126 =====