Chapter 25: It Was My Narrow-mindedness

In the evening, Cao Yang found a private restaurant and called Tian Zhuangzhuang to have a drink together.

Old Tian took a sip of wine and said while picking up food, "I went to the bank this afternoon and was startled; good guy, 500,000, are you trying to bribe me?"

"Go, go, you are a person who eats and does nothing at the Beijing Film Studio, I bribe you, fart. You know I sold the foreign copyright and made some money; this is given to you as a producer. On the domestic side, it counts as a project initiated by the two of us; let's talk about it after the box office comes down."

Cao Yang explained with a smile, "Let's say it first, there is no share of the foreign distribution for you; winning an award is my ability. I originally thought about giving it to you after the film was released domestically, but who would have thought I would encounter a problem and want to ask for your advice, so I just issued it to you first, so you don't hide it and fool me."

Old Tian's hand holding the chopsticks paused, and the food on the chopsticks fell on the table; he picked it up again, stuffed it into his mouth, and his heart was full of mixed feelings.

He never thought about this from the beginning; Teacher Situ spoke, and he was purely helping; he never thought about getting paid.

The project was successful, and he was only happy; one was that Teacher Situ's vision was still there, and the other was that he could be considered a "Bo Le". Who would have thought that this young man would do things so authentically, actually treating him as a project initiator.

"Then your vision is really accurate; if there was no bonus, I would definitely leave a hand. Eating people's mouths is short, taking people's hands is short; I am eating and taking again, say it, what is the matter, I will advise you."

"I wrote a script......"

"What?" Old Tian widened his eyes, the expression on his face was incredibly surprised.

"You kid has a new project so quickly? You don't rest for a few days, read books, you are still a student, why are you so anxious?"

"It's just a script, it hasn't been established yet."

Cao Yang ate some food and said, "Besides, you are my imperial male supporting role and full-time photographer; how can a project be opened without you."

Do you want to tell you that the market is about to warm up, the commercial film tide is coming, and I want to take advantage of these two years to accumulate fame and capital — even if I say it, you might not believe it.

"Roll, roll, when did I become your person, and full-time photographer, I am a director, director, do you understand?"

"Then I haven't seen you direct for so many years?"

"You kid is asking for a beating, right? Besides, I will be unbanned next year."

"Then are you coming?"

Old Tian took a sip of wine and smacked his lips, "Coming."

"That's it."

Only then did Cao Yang say the problem he encountered, "I wrote a script...... there are a few places that are not easy to pass censorship, I already have a solution, but I haven't decided which one to use, I want to hear your opinion."

"You say."

"One is to change! Change everything that can't pass censorship, including a segment......"

"Stop talking nonsense, if it were really that easy to change, you wouldn't be here talking." Old Tian picked up some food, chewing while saying, "Just say the second method."

"Change the place where the story happens, for example, Hong Kong."

"It's okay, as long as it doesn't affect the film's perception, then change it; what is there to hesitate about?"

Cao Yang understood Old Tian's meaning; some films, even if they don't pass censorship, cannot be changed to Hong Kong, such as the rural themes that the Fifth Generation directors love to shoot, etc., changing it would be obviously discordant.

"But I want to go to the Venice Film Festival this year, and if I shoot in Hong Kong, the time will definitely not be enough."

"You want to go to Venice?"

Old Tian was stunned; the young man's appetite is really big; he just went to Berlin and still wants to go to Venice; I really don't know whether to say he is confident or arrogant.

Cao Yang counted on his fingers for Old Tian.

"The Venice Film Festival starts on August 29th, the deadline for the main competition section registration should be in June, even if we insert a queue for domestic submission, we have to catch up before the list of selected films for the main competition section is announced, it definitely cannot exceed August."

"We also have to leave at least one month for film censorship, plus preparation, the time left for us to shoot and post-produce is only a little more than three months." Yes, Cao Yang also has the qualification to "insert a queue".

The deadline for the main competition section registration usually ends three months before the film festival opens, but that is for ordinary filmmakers; some "special" directors' films can be exempt from the registration deadline.

Like Cao Yang, who has won awards in the main competition section of the three major European film festivals, going to the three major European film festivals again has some special treatment.

As long as you confirm participation, say hello to the organizing committee, and submit it before the list of selected films for the main competition section is announced, there is a special censorship channel.

Old Tian looked at Cao Yang like he was a fool, despising, "Who said that things happening in Hong Kong must be shot in Hong Kong? Your last film started abroad, why did you shoot in Ludong Island instead of abroad?"

Hmm?

Sigh!

Cao Yang slapped his forehead; he was a bit influenced by inertial thinking; because it was too close, he always felt that things happening in Hong Kong should be shot in Hong Kong.

Old Tian took a sip of wine leisurely and continued, "Of course, doing so may make those Hong Kong filmmakers who look down on others dissatisfied, but it can be flexible; you put two Hong Kong actors in your crew, and it can pass on the surface."

This method is good; Cao Yang felt it made sense, so just do it.

Afterwards, Old Tian suggested, "Actually, there is a simpler way; shoot two versions, one for censorship, and another for the film festival; many people have done this."

Cao Yang refused without thinking; joking, he didn't want to be targeted by the people above; by then, he would become a key care object, and the film censorship would be stuck for half a year; where would he go to reason?

After eating, Cao Yang looked at the time; fortunately, it wasn't too late, so he took a taxi to the place where Li Xiaoran lived; the two had an appointment to go over tonight.

!

The two met, washed up before dinner, and then had a big meal.

For a long time, Li Xiaoran lay lazily in Cao Yang's arms, her hand slowly sliding down, grasping the key point, her voice saying somewhat resentfully, "You are struggling desperately here with me, when you go back and she wants it, can you still do it?"

Hiss......

You are really addicted to acting, don't you intend to get out of the role?

Or do you just like this kind of style?

Also, never doubt the body of a young man in his twenties; speaking and doing things are hard enough, not comparable to those who soak wolfberry in a thermos.

Continue, continue, let you see the strength of young people.

An hour later, Li Xiaoran was honest, patted away Cao Yang's restless hand, and said weakly, "Don't mess around, there is still business to ask you."

"This doesn't count as business for us?"

Li Xiaoran patted away Cao Yang's hand again, "Be good, count it as I'm afraid of you, okay? I really have something, don't mess around, it really won't work."

Cao Yang stopped his hand on the undulating mountains, "What's the matter?"

Just after asking, Li Xiaoran's eyes narrowed visibly, and there was a little pride on her face, "The National Master's big film with an investment of 30 million US dollars sent me an audition invitation."

Hearing it was the National Master's big film, Cao Yang knew what Li Xiaoran was talking about.

The National Master is preparing "Hero"; he talked about this with Old Tian today, and Old Tian also despised the National Master for "falling", actually going to shoot a commercial film.

This is the universal attitude of academy-style directors toward commercial films at this time.

Let's put it this way, if Cao Yang had taken a commercial film script and gone to Old Situ at the beginning.

Old Situ's attitude would probably be to flip through the script casually, then put it down, and say earnestly, "Your script, the commercial atmosphere is too strong, the humanistic care is not enough, next time you write a script, you must think more, look more, sink down and calm down, pay more attention to humanity and society......"

Then, there is no then.

Are you kidding, you take a "vulgar" commercial film script and still want the teacher to help you?

Where is this?

This is the Directing Department of the Beijing Film Academy, a place that takes cultivating directors with humanistic care as its duty.

Thank you to the brothers for the monthly tickets and recommendations, thank you for your support, thank you!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 26 =====