Chapter 173

Every year after the Oscar ceremony, there is a grand banquet.

Wolfgang Puck is the "chief designer" of this year's Oscar super meal; this year's Oscar gala dinner is his 10th time performing his craft.

According to tradition, every year at the Oscar "super meal", there must be this dish: smoked salmon carved into the shape of an Oscar little golden man.

It is said that for this banquet, Wolfgang Puck will coordinate 200 chefs, 453 waiters and waitresses, and 50 bartenders.

Of course, stars attending the Oscar banquet aren't there to eat; they definitely focus more on socializing.

Today's last major award, Best Picture, was presented by Spielberg, and Cao Yang and Luo Bote went on stage together to receive the award.

During Luo Bote's emotional acceptance speech, Spielberg whispered to Cao Yang on the side that they should chat when there's time at the banquet.

At today's banquet, the person receiving the most attention from the stars is Cao Yang.

He is even more popular than 'The Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson.

The reason is very simple: he can not only win awards but also promote people; the three European festival Best Actresses and the Oscar Best Actor are the most powerful proof.

Don't say that these awards were all won through maneuvering.

To maneuver, there must be a prerequisite, which is that the film quality must be guaranteed; it must make the talent agency or film company feel that there is value in maneuvering and see hope.

They aren't fools; it's impossible for them to spend a large amount of time and money doing meaningless things.

In the banquet hall, no matter where Cao Yang walks, a circle of people will surround him before long, forming a small group with him at the center.

This situation only eased when Spielberg appeared.

Once everyone saw that the two big directors clearly had something to discuss, they stopped crowding around.

However, many people's eyes kept glancing this way intentionally or unintentionally—if the two big directors have a new project collaboration, it's estimated that no one could refuse such a temptation.

"Congratulations again, young Oscar-winning director." Spielberg raised his glass to signal to Cao Yang and said.

"Thank you, but I haven't won Best Director yet, so I can't be considered a big Oscar director yet." Cao Yang took a shallow sip and said with a smile.

"No, no, that's unrelated. Being able to become one of the biggest winners tonight, you are a big Oscar director. I think no one can deny this point."

Spielberg explained with a smile.

"Alright, Mr. Spielberg, do you have something to discuss with me?"

Spielberg nods.

"Call me Steven; friends all call me that. Columbia has already told you, right? I want to invite those three Best Actresses—the girls you helped win Best Actress—to co-star in 'Memoirs of a Geisha'."

"Yes, I have already received the news."

Cao Yang nods, indicating he knows, and continues: "I can act as a bridge, but I can't guarantee whether they will participate."

"I understand. You talk to them in advance first; I will send them an invitation as soon as possible."

Spielberg says: "Cao, are you interested in directing this film? Think about it, you and I join forces, you and the three Best Actresses you promoted collaborate again—what a huge gimmick this is. As long as you are willing to direct, the conditions are all negotiable..."

Cao Yang looks at the rambling Spielberg and wants to laugh a little. An art-house film with an investment of over 80 million dollars, and you still want me to direct? Have you never thought about the box office? Have you never thought about how to recoup the cost?

"Sorry Steven, I currently have a film in post-production, and another new film is about to be launched, which is a collaboration with Columbia. I really don't have the scheduling availability."

After Spielberg finished speaking, Cao Yang refused directly.

Spielberg was silent for a moment, then said: "Cao, as long as you are willing to direct, I can convince Columbia to postpone the new film you are about to launch."

Why is this old man obsessed with wanting him to direct?

Cao Yang thinks for a moment and guesses it's about 80-90% correct.

Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' won four technical Oscar awards, which was enough to make him an A-list Hollywood director; his own film won five awards all at once.

This includes the most important major awards like Best Picture and Best Actor.

To speak without false modesty, he is absolutely red-hot in Hollywood today.

This is one aspect.

On the other hand, he is a world-renowned art-house film director. In the eyes of outsiders, filming a movie like 'Memoirs of a Geisha' that follows an art-house route is absolutely the most suitable candidate.

In the end, the investment is too large; even Spielberg has to try his best to find ways to add insurance to the film.

"Steven, I have been preparing for the new film for a long time, and the script is almost finished. I cannot pause this project."

Cao Yang refuses again; this is obviously a big trap.

The box office in Japan is quite good right now, but you are a film mainly targeting the Japanese and North American markets—what's with choosing three Chinese actresses?

Alright, at this time, Japan really doesn't have young actresses with international fame.

Additionally, it's estimated that in the eyes of foreigners, people in East Asia all look the same, so is it okay for Chinese to play Japanese?

"8%, Cao, I can make the decision to let you take an 8% global box office share, as long as you are willing to take on this film."

Spielberg sees Cao Yang is unmoved and begins to play his trump card, using profit to lure people. Cao Yang feels a bit emotional; he holds the novel's copyright, and on top of that, as a producer, director, and screenwriter, he finally negotiated a 9% global box office share with Columbia after a lot of effort.

Even that was likely because it was a co-production.

Unexpectedly, on the night of winning an Oscar, someone opens their mouth and it's an 8% global box office share. Cao Yang estimates that if he really took on this film, he could negotiate even more conditions.

However, this film is destined to flop.

It's not a film dominated by white people; it's very difficult to get a high box office in North America.

And choosing three Chinese female leads blocks the path to a high box office in Japan—how to solve this problem?

Cao Yang doesn't want to be like Ang Lee, who just took off and then fell down and was left crippled.

"Steven, I really don't have time to take on this film. Besides, I don't really want to film a movie about Japan. We and Japan are mortal enemies, and I am a hot-blooded youth. I think you can understand."

Cao Yang shuts the conversation down directly to avoid him pestering him endlessly.

I've even brought up mortal enemies; you can't possibly still pester me.

Spielberg is silent for a moment before shaking his head with a helpless smile.

!

"Alright, I'll put this matter aside for now. There is another matter. You know I am with CAA, which is the company in the world that values directors the most. They want me to be a lobbyist and sign you as their client."

"CAA..."

Cao Yang mutters to himself.

"Yes, James Cameron is also their client. Additionally, Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, and Wu Wu Yusen are also their clients. Speaking privately, they are truly the company that values directors the most."

At this point, Spielberg smiles and shrugs his shoulders.

"Because they are best at packaging services. In their own words, it's providing consulting and project integration services to numerous investors and production parties.

So they value directors the most, especially directors like you who have never failed in the art-house film field and are the best at promoting people. They can do many things around you; you understand."

Cao Yang nods thoughtfully. Packaging, right? I understand—a whole set of services from producer, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer to actors, and even including funding.

What, you don't want to use this actor?

Sorry, we are packaging. Do you know what overall packaging is? It means they are a single unit; you don't have the right to choose.

This kind of packaging service has pros and cons, and basically everyone can see the pros and cons.

For overall packaging, it seems a bit disadvantageous for Cao Yang. After CAA signs him, they will definitely launch a series of packages externally around him.

If Cao Yang were someone like Ang Lee or Wu Wu Yusen venturing into Hollywood, signing with CAA would seem like a good choice.

But for Cao Yang, there's no need.

He currently holds a series of novel copyrights; as long as one is filmed and becomes a big hit, his novels will definitely rise in value along with it, and it will also promote the sales of the novels.

This is mutually reinforcing; if the novels sell well, they can in turn be sold for even more expensive film adaptation rights.

Especially now that 'District 9' has been launched, Fox Searchlight has set its sights on 'Zhu Nuo' and really wants to buy the adaptation rights.

It is almost certain that Cao Yang will not lack funds or good scripts in the future.

He only needs to wait for the opportunity to mature and film the five books in 'Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey I', and he could almost become one of the world's top directors—one of those big directors you can count on one hand.

Thinking about it this way, CAA's packaging service—they are fucking trying to take advantage of me.

After the Oscars ended, Cao Yang decided to return to China in three days and let the relevant people know this news.

Well, it was mainly revealed to Fox Searchlight, wanting to make them anxious so it would be more favorable for negotiating the adaptation rights for 'Zhu Nuo'.

Cao Yang is definitely not in a hurry; the one who should be in a hurry is Fox Searchlight. It just depends on whether they have sincerity.

After consulting with Miramax, Columbia decided to set the release date for 'The Vile Milk' on March 12th, which happens to be a Friday.

From the end of the Oscars to the release, the ten-plus days in between are just right to let public opinion ferment, which can save a lot of promotion costs—the Oscars are the best and biggest promotional channel.

Additionally, it is also to avoid the impact of 'The Passion of the Christ'.

Since this film was released on February 25th, it has grossed over 120 million at the North American box office in its first five days, and it looks like the momentum won't be weak next week either.

So choosing the 12th can avoid the strong momentum of this film.

Besides this 'The Passion of the Christ', there are almost no films worth paying attention to in the entire month of March.

As one of the biggest winners of the Oscars, everyone attaches great importance to 'The Vile Milk', so it opened in 3,200 theaters, right on the heels of 'The Passion of the Christ's 3,400 theaters.

Columbia told Cao Yang that if the box office reaches expectations in the first two days, they will continue to increase it subsequently.

(End of chapter)