Chapter 217: Going All Out

Not long after the 77th Academy Awards announced their nominations, even though Cao Yang was busy writing the script for *Black Swan* and didn't have time to pay much attention to the news, he still sensed something was off.

There was a massive amount of domestic reporting on *District 9* receiving seven Oscar nominations. Since this film was a co-production and most of the staff were domestic, it could be considered a new attempt in some respects, so the extensive coverage was to be expected.

However, when Luo Luo Binsi called Cao Yang, it was primarily about the operational status of *Cao Yang's Fantastic Journey*, but he mentioned in passing that North America was suddenly flooded with a large amount of news and film reviews regarding *District 9*.

This was a bit unusual.

The executive director of Columbia Pictures, Luo Luo Binsi, had flown over from the States specifically to discuss the next film with Cao Yang.

Because Cao Yang had promised the invitation of the Venice Film Festival chairman, Lao Ma, during his last visit, he temporarily turned down Luo Luo Binsi, saying he wanted to shoot an art-house film and would discuss the matter after it was finished.

Luo Luo Binsi was no fool; how could he possibly believe Cao Yang's excuse?

He even thought Cao Yang was waiting for a better offer, or perhaps had "hooked up" with another Hollywood film studio.

Otherwise, how could a director pass up a big-budget A-list production to shoot a "low-profile" small-budget art-house film?

At the very least, Luo Luo Binsi didn't believe it.

*District 9* was projected to gross 230 million in North America, which had once again fully proven Cao Yang's ability, as well as the vision and capability of Luo Luo Binsi, who had defied public opinion at the time.

Luo Luo Binsi and Columbia Pictures certainly wouldn't easily give up on a top director like Cao Yang who hadn't failed yet.

Hollywood had its own set of methods for winning over top directors.

Just like 20th Century Fox with Cameron, or Time Warner with Peter Jackson.

Isn't what a top director values most the major awards from the Oscars?

It's no big deal; just show him the strength and sincerity of Columbia.

*District 9* was equally important to Han Zong of China Film Group.

Since this co-production could break domestic box office records, wouldn't it be even better if it could also achieve something at the Oscars?

Han Zong and the other producer of *District 9*, Luo Luo Binsi of Columbia, only slightly probed the feasibility.

Han Zong swore to the heavens that he really only probed it slightly; the arguments he had spent several days organizing to persuade Columbia and Luo Luo Binsi hadn't even been spoken yet.

Luo Luo Binsi had already impatiently taken over the topic, proactively suggesting that since *District 9* was so successful, why shouldn't they give the admirable Director Cao Yang a surprise?

Han Zong had the same intention, so they hit it off immediately and joined forces to campaign for the Oscar for Best Director, with all expenses during the period split equally between the two companies.

Han Zong was now in high spirits; if a co-production could win an Oscar, it wouldn't just benefit Cao Yang—it would also be a tremendous political achievement for Han Zong.

The date for the Oscar nominations was January 25, 2005; the members' final ballots were to be mailed starting February 3, and the voting deadline was February 22.

To be honest, it was a bit late to campaign for Oscar awards now, just like Warner had done for *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*, starting various operations half a year in advance.

But fortunately, *District 9* had enough fame and good enough reviews, and Cao Yang's fame was also great. The focus of the campaign was only Best Director, without the intention of sweeping all the major awards, so the chances were quite high.

It just depended on whether Columbia was genuinely campaigning for it.

Cao Yang didn't know that Han Zong and Columbia had made up their minds to give him a surprise.

It wasn't until February 18, less than ten days before the Oscar ceremony on the 27th, that Cao Yang finished the script for *Black Swan* and suddenly received a call from Han Zong.

"Junior brother, what have you been busy with lately?" Han Zong asked with a chuckle over the phone, his tone sounding very relaxed and comfortable.

"I've been busy writing a script lately."

Hearing Cao Yang's words, Han Zong felt a stir in his heart and couldn't help but probe: "*2012*?"

He had heard Luo Luo Binsi complain with a mix of truth and falsehood; the old man had come to the country specifically for the project initiation of this film, but had not yet gotten his wish.

Could it be that his junior brother already knew about him and Luo Luo Binsi campaigning for the Oscar for Best Director?

"No, it's a pure art-house film, not an experimental film, nor a commercial film," Cao Yang explained.

For a moment, Han Zong had the same thought as Luo Luo Binsi.

However, as a director with a traditional background, after dispelling this inappropriate thought, Han Zong actually felt that Cao Yang shooting a pure art-house film again was the "right path"!

He then shook his head and laughed at himself; he was becoming less and less like a traditional director now, and he felt a bit guilty for the thought he had initially.

Han Zong hurriedly changed the subject and said, "Junior brother, pack your luggage; let's go to the States and take a trip to the Oscars."

"Why go there..."

Cao Yang had just said this when he remembered *District 9*, which had been occupying the headlines in the States during this period. This definitely wasn't a normal phenomenon. Did Columbia want to win a major Oscar?

Actually, for a sci-fi film with art-house attributes like *District 9*, despite the excellent word-of-mouth and reviews, it really didn't sell as well as B-grade slasher films and action movies in the subsequent disc market.

What was Columbia after?

!

Even if it won a major Oscar, the impact on the subsequent disc market wouldn't be that significant.

Did they want to turn *District 9* into a classic?

Or perhaps... for his own sake?

"Senior brother, is Columbia campaigning for awards for *District 9*?"

Han Zong laughed out loud.

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

Han Zong first gave Cao Yang a small compliment, and then certainly couldn't leave out his own credit.

"I felt that since *District 9* broke our domestic box office record, if it didn't win some major awards, it would always feel like something was missing.

So I discussed it with Luo Luo Binsi, and China Film Group and Columbia are working together to campaign for Best Director for you with all our might.

Haha, your *Milk* won the Oscar for Best Picture; if *District 9* can also take home Best Director, it would be considered complete."

There was one more thing Han Zong didn't say: as long as Cao Yang won the Oscar for Best Director again, no one in the country would be able to shake his status.

And by then, even in Hollywood and across the world, Cao Yang would be a top-tier director, and a director who achieved both critical and commercial success.

Cao Yang thought for a moment, then shook his head; even with Columbia's help, it probably wouldn't be that easy.

The Oscars had only awarded Best Picture to *Milk* last year; it would likely be very difficult to award Best Director to him, a Chinese person, again this year.

This was also the reason why Cao Yang hadn't planned to go to the States to attend the Oscars before.

(End of chapter)