[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr":3,"chapter-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Academic Director: Reborn in the Film Industry",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297014,4493,"Chapter 14: Flying to Berlin","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>On February 4, Cao Yang and his group set out from Jingcheng, boarding an international flight to their destination, Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been over three months since the film wrapped, and seeing Li Xiaoran again, Cao Yang secretly observed her; she seemed to have recovered well, at least appearing quite natural when they greeted each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Director Cao. I am Xiaoran's manager, Zhang Sumei. Thank you for giving Xiaoran this opportunity. If there is anything you need in the future, just give the word.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Zhang Sumei saw Cao Yang, she was incredibly enthusiastic; when shaking hands, she not only extended both hands but also bowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never dreamed that the film she had originally wanted Li Xiaoran to turn down would now be selected for the main competition section of the Berlin Film Festival!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had also heard through the grapevine that this silly girl, Xiaoran, had a very high chance of winning Best Actress in Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, she simply couldn't believe her ears. Her? Li Xiaoran? Best Actress in Berlin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth was that about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't make any sense at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming repeatedly, the film starring Li Xiaoran had indeed been selected for the main competition section, and it was truly the Berlin International Film Festival, not some random, third-rate, no-name festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sumei was surprised, stunned, amazed, and shocked!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She almost slapped herself on the spot; back when Li Xiaoran finished filming, she had struggled to get out of character and couldn't take on new roles for months, and she had even made some sarcastic remarks... Who could have guessed that a student director in his twenties could actually pull it off?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Li Xiaoran had insisted back then and she hadn't forced her to take on a TV drama; otherwise, if she had missed this opportunity, she would have been kicking herself in her sleep at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sumei was definitely going on this trip to Berlin. Li Xiaoran had now become the most promising actor in her hands, so she had to take it seriously and follow along to provide service the whole way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be realistic, if Li Xiaoran won Best Actress in Berlin, she would instantly become a major leading actress in the country. Look at the so-called \"Four Dan Actresses\" selected just before the new year—how many of them had any awards worth showing off?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, box office drawing power wasn't emphasized yet, because nobody had any box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the one known as \"International Zhang\" didn't have a single major, heavyweight award to her name yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, we won't compare ourselves to those \"Dan\" actresses. After all, what kind of acting skills do \"Dan\" actresses need? A pretty face is enough. We are a true leading actress who can both sing and act!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who are the ones who have won Best Actress at the three major European film festivals?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Li won Best Actress at Venice, Maggie Cheung won Best Actress at Berlin, and Josephine Siao also won Best Actress at Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former two are known as \"Empress Gong\" and \"Goddess Maggie,\" while Josephine Siao is even called the \"Actress of Actresses,\" the \"Light of Xiangjiang,\" the \"Rose Princess,\" and the \"Oriental Shirley Temple!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of status is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not that Zhang Sumei is bragging, but even if Li Xiaoran missed out on the Best Actress award, as long as this film she starred in could bring back any award from Berlin, they could issue press releases and hype her up as a \"quasi-first-tier\" star, second only to the Four Dan Actresses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang knew exactly why Zhang Sumei was trying to curry favor, so he smiled and nodded, saying, \"Sister Zhang, you're too kind. Xiaoran is a good actor, and I have high hopes for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the two of them, Tian Zhuangzhuang also came along. He had connections in Berlin and was prepared to put in a good word for Cao Yang; he and Cao Yang were now quite close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from having the film's producer, Cheng Jianye, follow along, the Beijing Film Studio also sent two assistants to handle miscellaneous tasks in Berlin outside of the film itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, they specifically hired an interpreter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coal boss's mistress also came. Her name was Zhao Tiantian. He had promised her back then that he would take her to Europe to chase awards, and he couldn't go back on his word, so of course, he had to bring her to Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How great was the coal boss? He didn't ask how the film was shot, he didn't ask how the money was spent, and his only request was to promote his mistress. But even then, he didn't demand a lead role. Where else could you find an investor like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder so many people in the industry missed the coal boss years later; who wouldn't remember the coal boss's kindness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once on the plane, he didn't expect to run into an acquaintance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Tian, long time no see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiaoshuai, you're on this flight too? I haven't congratulated you yet. You're doing well, kid. I hope you can bring back a big award.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Xiaoshuai stand up, Tian Zhuangzhuang walked over and patted him on the shoulder, feeling quite emotional; the sixth-generation directors were starting to take the stage one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since there was also a guy from the '98 class who was supposed to be seventh-generation but was forcing his way into the sixth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhuangzhuang put his arm around Wang Xiaoshuai's shoulder and waved at Cao Yang, \"Come over, let me introduce you. This is Wang Xiaoshuai from the '85 class of the directing department.\" He then said to Wang Xiaoshuai, \"This is Cao Yang, '98 class of the directing department, just a junior, a student of Teacher Situ, my little junior brother. It's his first time making a feature film, and he got lucky enough to be selected for the main competition section. The future belongs to you young people; you should help each other out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang reached out to shake Wang Xiaoshuai's hand and smiled, \"I've long heard of Director Wang's name. I really liked your 'Frozen'. When I saw the name 'Anonymous' in the director credits, I thought it was some master, only to find out later it was Director Wang's work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiaoshuai twitched the corner of his mouth, which counted as a smile. He seemed a bit shy and not one for small talk, \"Hello, I am Wang Xiaoshuai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they had just boarded the plane, it wasn't convenient to talk too much, so they each found their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang and his group were in economy class, the classic 3-4-3 layout, with somewhat cramped seating. To his left was Li Xiaoran, to his right was Old Tian, and they were three rows away from Wang Xiaoshuai's group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Cao Yang whispered to Old Tian, \"Why do I feel like Wang Xiaoshuai is a bit cold toward me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Tian didn't even have to think, whispering directly, \"Nonsense. He finally managed to get a line to the Taiwanese Jiao Xiongping and got his film fast-tracked into the main competition section, risking a ban on his directing career. He thought that since a teacher from the school's directing department was on the jury, winning an award was a sure thing. Who knew that the school's 'golden boy' would suddenly appear out of nowhere? It’s a sign of his good breeding that he isn't giving you a cold shoulder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang was stunned, \"His film didn't pass censorship?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was sent back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, who did you say is the school's 'golden boy'? How did I become the school's 'golden boy'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Tian gave Cao Yang a disdainful glance and ignored him. Didn't he have any idea who the school's \"golden boy\" was?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same old saying: when graduates achieve success, the school basks in the glory. When students currently in school achieve success, the honor is yours, the school's, and even more so, the leaders'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang looked around but didn't see Da Meiyuan or Xun Ge'er. He didn't know if they weren't attending the film festival or if they just weren't on this flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically speaking, even if they were busy filming, they would ask for leave to go to Berlin. This was one of the three major European film festivals; going meant boosting one's status, and their agencies wouldn't miss the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few years later, at the three major film festivals every year, even if they had no work, many domestic \"carpet stars\" would still make appearances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you ask if they feel awkward crashing the red carpet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha, this is how they make a living. How can buying press releases to boost one's status be called awkward? That's called \"outshining the rest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the dozen-hour flight, whether intentional or not, Li Xiaoran didn't speak to Cao Yang. However, she very naturally grabbed Cao Yang's arm, hugged it, and fell asleep with her head on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She fell asleep...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was tough on Cao Yang. Although at first he could feel the warmth and softness of her chest, as time went on, his entire arm went from sore to numb, then to painful, then numb again, and finally, he lost all feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know how much time had passed, but Cao Yang couldn't take it anymore and tried to pull his arm out. To his surprise, Li Xiaoran opened her eyes, glared at him, and then closed them again, hugging him even tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, Li Xiaoran held half of Cao Yang's arm, resting her head on his shoulder with her eyes open, a sweet look on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang tilted his head and fell asleep right next to Li Xiaoran's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Tian was snoring next to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Berlin, we have arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1664,"2026-06-20T05:36:32.009Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","5640721f6d084f8e6fbc835ea7e35a1328001338cf1c63daef027a401154934d","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-15","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-13",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]