Chapter 179: Unprecedented Grandeur

*Milk* is a Hollywood film, but the director is Cao Yang, which leads to this film's treatment domestically being almost no different from Cao Yang's other films.

Even, because it won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Actor, both the scale of the screening and the importance attached by the higher-ups caught up to the *Titanic* of back then.

The premiere ceremony certainly had to be held.

Han Zong of China Film Group originally prepared to hold it at the Great Hall of the People, but was stopped by Cao Yang.

For a foreign film, even if he is the director, holding it at the Great Hall of the People is not very appropriate. It's better to choose the old place, the Jingcheng Theater.

To show importance, Han Zong sent out "Hero Invitations" far and wide.

Of course, this film was imported by China Film Group, so to a certain extent, it can be considered a China Film Group film.

Han Zong even stood at the end of the red carpet himself, doing reception work together with Cao Yang.

It made Cao Yang feel a bit depressed.

In Cao Yang's heart, this film had actually already completed its mission; he had gotten everything he should have gotten, and he didn't really want to participate in the remaining matters.

Helplessly, Han Zong was too enthusiastic, and Cao Yang couldn't slack off even if he wanted to; he was forced to stand here.

"In the past, domestic films, in order to compete for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, because there was only one quota, were all eager to beat each other's brains out, but after so many years, not a single one won Best Foreign Language Film."

Han Zong might have remembered Ang Lee from Taiwan; his *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* won Best Foreign Language Film, so he quickly smiled and found a way to make up for it: "Domestic mainly refers to the mainland; Xiangjiang and Taiwan have their own paths, it's different."

"I'm sometimes puzzled too. The several Chinese-language films you directed before won countless awards, yet they never competed for this quota. I didn't understand it before, but now it seems you don't look down on the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at all."

"Sigh, there's no such thing as looking down on it. I mainly feel that this isn't any remarkable award. Whether I have it or not makes no difference to me, and it doesn't play much of a role for me going to Hollywood, so I'm too lazy to bother with it."

Fine, Han Zong heard it; he still looks down on it.

Also, at Cao Yang's status and reputation, the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is really just a chicken rib.

That's not right either. As the other two of the domestic top three directors alongside Cao Yang, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou often fight openly and secretly for this quota...

It can only be said that Cao Yang is different from the two of them; he starts with an Oscar for Best Picture, so it's normal to look down on Best Foreign Language Film.

"That place looks like a cluster of flowers, but it's actually just like that. It's very difficult for us Chinese to develop there and want a fair environment."

Cao Yang looked at Han Zong and said sincerely: "We still need to vigorously develop the domestic film market, formulate entry qualifications, and limit Hollywood's invasion. Xiangjiang and Taiwan are the best lessons."

Han Zong sighed, seemingly lamenting the difficulty of the rise of Chinese-language films.

"Also, it's not like no Chinese directors have ventured into Hollywood. Director Chen Kaige went once and returned in defeat."

"Xiangjiang and Taiwan also have many directors who have been there. Director John Woo can't get any films there and definitely has to come back. Ang Lee... the situation isn't very good either. It is said that he wants to take on commercial films, but no one dares to use him."

"However, he is still considered okay; he started with art-house films, his reputation is there, and he can still return to the art-house film field..."

As he spoke, he sighed again, looked at Cao Yang, and said somewhat confusedly: "I understand everything you said, but... it's difficult."

"When joining the WTO, a film opening clause was established, importing 10 Hollywood blockbusters every year, gradually increasing to 40. China and the US also signed a memorandum on showing 20+17 films..."

"Why do I want to make big productions? Want to make co-productions? If we don't fight back like this, just the Hollywood blockbusters imported every year will suck the domestic box office dry, and domestic films will have no way out." Old Han, you only think about fighting head-on, have you never thought about taking a detour?

Cao Yang knows that they did indeed use detour tactics later, but it's very clear that Old Han doesn't have this idea yet.

So he gave him a hint.

"We can be considered our own people. I'll call you Senior Brother. Today's words are purely private, and I won't admit to them later."

Han Zong looked left and right and leaned in closer. "Alright, Junior Brother, speak."

Cao Yang smiled. Why would there be a need to be so sneaky?

"We can have a domestic film protection month, for example, June, July, and August. Only domestic films are shown in these three months, but don't implement it as a document; just hold a meeting for the cinema chain executives and notify them verbally."

"You also control China Film Group; just don't arrange for imported films to be shown in these months."

"In addition, for imported films, try not to have any global simultaneous releases. Wait until the Americans have finished showing them, and if the box office is average, we will show them normally. For blockbusters with particularly good box office, they can be arranged to be shown in a certain month at the same time, letting them compete with each other."

"Or you can choose two months to concentrate on showing imported films."

Han Zong pondered for a moment. Hey, don't say, it's really a pretty good bad... no, this idea is superb!

He couldn't help but look at Cao Yang. No wonder this kid said he wouldn't admit it later. If the Hollywood crowd found out about this, he would never be able to mix in Hollywood for the rest of his life.

!

This premiere scale was unprecedented. There were so many stars and big names that they couldn't be counted. As long as they could make it, almost everyone came, and those from Xiangjiang and Taiwan were no exception.

Cao Yang's status is different now. As long as a star still has a little bit of pursuit, who doesn't want to get on Cao Yang's path?

Before, Cao Yang was just a domestic big director, an internationally famous art-house film director. Now? He has also gained a firm foothold in Hollywood, even more sought-after than Ang Lee before he was "critically wounded."

Commercial film big directors mixing in Hollywood, as long as they are "critically wounded," they can only return to where they came from.

Art-house film big directors are better than commercial film directors in this regard; even if they are "critically wounded," they are still art-house film big directors, with no loss of prestige.

So regardless of whether Cao Yang succeeds or fails in Hollywood next, he is still an internationally famous big director.

Moreover, everyone has been staring at and thinking about that press conference from a while ago. How could a co-production be without Chinese actors?

As an actor, whether you want to pursue awards or commercial value, Cao Yang can satisfy them.

Fan Bingbing entered the premiere hall and secretly observed, unable to help but click her tongue.

In terms of actors, big names mixing in Hollywood like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Chow Yun-fat all came.

Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Nick Cheung, Wu Qihua, Aaron Kwok, Nicholas Tse from Xiangjiang...

There's no need to mention the mainland; the top three international actresses, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun... as long as they have a little bit of fame, they can all be found here.

As for directors, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang... and many domestic, Xiangjiang, and Taiwan directors.

This lineup simply gathered most of the well-known directors and actors from both sides of the strait and three places.

Of course, there are many people who want to attend the premiere ceremony, but it's not like you can come just because you want to. Seats are limited, and not everyone can get an invitation.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 180 =====