Chapter 152: We'll Go to the CPPCC Auditorium Next Year

Bellman asked Cao Yang if he wanted to come to the US to attend the screening of *Milk*.

Cao Yang learned that the movie was chosen in a few closely related cinemas, and it was chosen at a bad time.

And he was afraid that others would know, so there was no publicity at all, focusing on the fact that I screened it, complying with the Oscar regulations, but I hope you don't see it, so as not to affect my large-scale screening after the year.

Don't think that the US doesn't have piracy. Around 2000, pirated DVDs were very common in the US, especially when the DVD market was just emerging.

In addition, there is the Internet, which is also one of the sources of piracy. Many movies were pirated and circulated on the Internet before they were released.

More famous ones such as *Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith*, *American Gangster*, *X-Men Origins: Wolverine*, *The Expendables 3*, etc., were all posted on the Internet when they were released, and some were made into pirated DVDs and widely circulated.

And no publicity, still choosing a bad time for screening, Cao Yang felt, what am I going for?

Besides, he still had to do post-production for *Nine-Tailed Fox*, no time, not going.

And there was no need.

Cao Yang was busy doing post-production, but on December 8, he came out of the Qingying Factory without working overtime after finishing his work in the afternoon.

It wasn't that the post-production was finished, he had to attend a movie premiere tonight, *Infernal Affairs III* was going to hold a premiere at the Great Hall of the People at nine o'clock in the evening.

Any Chinese "blockbuster" released this year would be specially treated by the higher-ups to test the market, so they would all have special treatment.

Obviously, *Infernal Affairs III* met the standard of a "blockbuster," the starring lineup was too powerful.

In order for this film, which was called a "film bully" by industry insiders, to be more widely distributed in the market, a distribution and publicity team jointly formed by China Film, Huaxia, and Poly Bona would launch their respective strong resources to jointly create a box office legend.

Actually, just a greeting from Han Zong of China Film couldn't make Cao Yang put down his work to attend the movie premiere.

Mainly, this *Infernal Affairs III* was a bit different from Cao Yang's memory. The director didn't know why he didn't choose Leon Lai for the role of Yang Jinrong, the rising star of the police force, but chose Wu Qihua.

Wu Qihua first invited Cao Yang in his own name. After Cao Yang agreed to show his support, *Infernal Affairs III* hurriedly invited Cao Yang in the name of the crew.

In order to give Wu Qihua face, Cao Yang brought Gao Yuanyuan to attend.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the premiere started. One star after another began to walk a simple red carpet in front of the Great Hall of the People for the media to take pictures. This was a part of the premiere and would last until nine o'clock.

Cao Yang was arranged to enter the venue in the penultimate position. The second to last was Han Zong, and the last to enter was a Deputy Director Zhang from the State Administration.

The guests who came this time were very impressive, giving enough face to this movie.

"Cao Yang, when our movie is released next year, will it also be arranged to hold a premiere at the Great Hall of the People? It's just too much face here."

In the nanny car, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but envy being able to hold a premiere at the Great Hall of the People.

She chose a classic outfit of a black suit and white shirt today, simple and atmospheric. The suit jacket was well-tailored, perfectly outlining her figure curve; the white shirt inside added a bit of freshness and refinement.

This outfit not only showed the competence and independence of modern urban women, but also did not lose gentleness and charm, perfectly interpreting the charm of modern urban women.

Well, actually, it was mainly because it was too cold, and she didn't dare to wear a skirt.

Gao Yuanyuan had cooperated with Wu Qihua in *Secret Sunshine*, and Wu Qihua also sent an invitation to Gao Yuanyuan.

"Great Hall of the People, this is the second time a movie premiere has been held, right?"

Now being able to hold a premiere at the Great Hall of the People still looked very high-end, unlike later, when you could rent it just by paying money.

Cao Yang remembered that the poet Chen Kaige's *The Promise* didn't follow the beaten path, he chose to hold a premiere at the CPPCC Auditorium to express his confrontation with Old Mouzi.

"Why don't we choose the CPPCC Auditorium next year?" Cao Yang said with a smile.

If he chose the CPPCC Auditorium to hold a premiere, he didn't know how Brother Kaige would choose then, haha.

Cao Yang had a bit of a bad taste.

"This is good, let's choose the CPPCC Auditorium, never follow the trend." Gao Yuanyuan said with a smile. The Great Hall of the People could hold a movie premiere, and with Cao Yang's status, she didn't think Cao Yang couldn't talk down the CPPCC Auditorium.

"Let's go, it's like attending a film festival, the lineup is really big." After the staff reminded, Cao Yang held Gao Yuanyuan's hand and then got out of the car.

After stepping on the red carpet, Gao Yuanyuan held Cao Yang's arm, and the two walked forward along the red carpet.

The host's voice suddenly increased.

"Next is our special guest:

The winner of the Berlin Film Festival Jury Grand Prix, the winner of the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Award, and the winner of the Cannes Film Festival Best Director and Palme d'Or, he is our country's famous world-class director, Cao Yang Cao Dao.

Let's welcome!"

"Walking with Cao Dao is the Cannes Best Actress, and also the first Chinese Cannes Best Actress, Miss Gao Yuanyuan, welcome."

After walking to the end of the red carpet, several main creators of the movie stood in a row.

"Cao Dao, welcome, welcome."

"Miss Gao Yuanyuan, welcome."

!

The two directors shook hands with Cao Yang respectively, full of enthusiasm.

"Cao Dao, welcome, thank you for coming to the premiere, thank you."

Tony Leung held Cao Yang's hand with both hands and said with a smile: "Hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with Cao Dao."

"There will be opportunities."

"Cao Dao, thank you, hope to have the opportunity to cooperate, you are one of the directors I admire most."

Liu Liu Dehua held Cao Yang's hand and said with a smile.

"You are also an actor I appreciate very much."

"Cao Dao, long time no see, thank you."

Wu Qihua didn't say much, directly hugged Cao Yang, looking very happy.

Cao Yang had always been very low-key and rarely attended similar activities. Being able to come this time was entirely to give Wu Qihua face. Wu Qihua knew this, so he was very moved.

Cao Yang smiled and patted Wu Qihua on the shoulder, "If you have time tomorrow, let's get together and I'll treat you to dinner."

"Good, good."

Cao Yang looked, a row of Hong Kong actors, what about Chen Daoming?

Wouldn't he be squeezed out? Who knows.

Just wait, after my movie is released next year, all directors will see that without Hong Kong and Taiwan actors, it can still be a big box office hit.

The box office resistance of Hong Kong actors has always been overestimated, with high pay and low cost-effectiveness.

*The Twins Effect* released in July this year, starring Leon Lai, Ekin Cheng, and Francis Ng, these are all big stars, and the box office was only 13 million.

*The Medallion* released in August, Jackie Chan's movie, with an investment of 41 million US dollars, nearly 340 million at the exchange rate at the time, these few years were when Jackie Chan was the most popular, and the box office was only 25 million.

*Running on Karma* released in September, starring Liu Liu Dehua and Cecilia Cheung, the box office was 14 million.

On the contrary, *Warriors of Heaven and Earth* also released in September, Jiang Wen resisted the box office, and sold 41 million domestically.

In this era, there were almost no actors who made the audience willing to pay, and who were particularly resistant to the box office.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 153 =====