Chapter 26: As Long As You Have Confidence

"Hero" sent an audition invitation to Li Xiaoran; which role could she play?

Cao Yang quickly sorted it out in his heart. The freshly baked Berlin Best Actress couldn't let her play a bit part. There are only those few female roles in the whole film; Maggie Cheung was already decided long ago, and it's impossible for a competitor to appear.

Only the role of International Zhang can be competed for.

At last year's Berlin Film Festival, the National Master's "The Road Home" won the Jury Grand Prix; when receiving the award, International Zhang wore a red bellyband and followed the National Master on stage; the National Master was stunned at the time; it was so embarrassing.

This is the Jury Grand Prix; what are you, a lead actress, doing up here?

What for? Hotspots, didn't you see the news the next day was all about the red bellyband.

The National Master must have an opinion on International Zhang.

But it cannot be denied that in the recent period, among all the domestic actresses, no one has International Zhang's heat, even Gong Li can't.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" won ten nominations for the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Original Song, Best Costume Design, Best Foreign Language Film, etc.; as one of the lead actresses, "International Zhang" really became International Zhang.

"Hero" is a commercial film; well, the National Master might also feel that turning to shoot commercial films is a bit shameful, insisting that this is an industrial film.

Alright, whether it's a commercial film or an industrial film, the purpose is to win the box office.

It should be that the producer wants to use International Zhang's heat, the National Master has a hurdle in his heart, and at the same time, he also sent an audition invitation to Li Xiaoran.

"Do you know which role you are auditioning for?"

Li Xiaoran narrowed her eyes and suddenly got spirited, showing off, "I don't know. They covered it too tightly. However, my agent found a lot of connections and found out that the one competing with me is International Zhang, hehe......"

Looking at her proud little appearance, she must be thinking in her heart: I didn't expect that I could compete with International Zhang for a role now.

Cao Yang didn't want to hit her and could only say tactfully, "Your film hasn't been released yet; International Zhang is in full swing this year."

In this era, filming a 30 million US dollar investment film in the country, with the current market, how could the focus be only on the country.

Even if it's the National Master, even if he has a little emotion, at most it's like this now, sending an audition invitation to Li Xiaoran to add blockage to International Zhang.

Although Li Xiaoran's status has gone up, her fame is several streets away from International Zhang.

As long as International Zhang is sensible and says some soft words to the National Master, Li Xiaoran definitely has no play.

Capital will not let the National Master be willful, and the National Master himself will definitely compromise.

Cao Yang comforted, "This is the National Master's first time stepping into the commercial film field; he is shooting a commercial film; if it were a literary film, his first choice would definitely be you."

Li Xiaoran "hummed" and turned her back, not forgetting to arch Cao Yang with her butt, "I knew it, it must be that one at your home who is making trouble behind the scenes, not wanting to see me show off."

I, damn it, again.

You are really in love with this style, aren't you?

The next day, Cao Yang returned to school and first went to Old Situ's office.

He told Old Situ the idea he discussed with Old Tian yesterday; Old Situ nodded after listening and said, "You can put the background in Hong Kong, but when you shoot, it's best to find a few Hong Kong actors, so that when the film is shot and censored, those people won't have nothing to do and say you are fooling them."

Cao Yang deeply agreed and reminded himself that even if he didn't shoot in Hong Kong, all the details should be done as best as possible.

By then, everything involving Hong Kong's police station, clothes, correctional institution, etc., must be restored as much as possible to avoid being criticized. Coming out of Old Situ's office, class? Non-existent, Cao Yang went directly to find Hou Keming.

Unexpectedly, he was shut out at Hou Keming's office; Old Hou was not there.

Calling, Old Hou came after a while, explaining while opening the door, "Holding a regular meeting at the Youth Film Studio."

Cao Yang gave the revised script to Hou Keming and said, "There are a few plot points in the script that are not easy to pass censorship in the country, so I put the location in Hong Kong."

Hou Keming was surprised and looked at the script; "Empty Room", just looking at the name, couldn't see anything. So he asked while reading, "Are you going to shoot in Hong Kong?"

In the end, Cao Yang did not change the film's title to "3-Iron." This Chinese name feels too stupid, and the general domestic public does not understand the "3-iron" reference. It is better to call it "Empty House." Abroad, it can be called "3-Iron."

"No, just the background is in Hong Kong, still shooting in the country."

"Then you'd better find two Hong Kong actors, it's easy to pass censorship."

Hou Keming read it very quickly; putting it in Hong Kong, there are fewer taboos; as long as the big principles are not wrong, he will follow it himself, and it shouldn't be difficult to pass censorship.

"Well, I plan to give Hong Kong people a big supporting role and a small supporting role; we'll talk about the others later; anyway, finding at least two or more is certain."

The abusive husband in the film originally wanted Old Tian to play it; Old Tian protested yesterday; let's see, if it really doesn't work, give it to Hong Kong people.

!

Cao Yang still tends to let Old Tian play it.

After about half an hour, Hou Keming read the script roughly and was a bit surprised; the male and female leads actually have almost no lines?

Really outrageous.

After deep thought, he said, "It's really not easy to pass censorship in the country; your idea is correct; instead of making two versions, you took Hong Kong as the background."

Actually, Hou Keming didn't understand the second half of the script; how could the male lead become invisible? Is this mythology or ghosts?

If it were someone else, he would have sprayed it long ago, but this is Cao Yang, the... university student who just won two Berlin Silver Bears.

Thinking of this, it's right that this group of people who shoot literary films can't understand it; they play avant-garde art; thinking this way, it's easy to understand; whatever, as long as it can help me... the school win an award.

"Do you have any intended Hong Kong people? What kind do you plan to find?"

Hou Keming must be clear about this to make a budget; you can't find too outrageous supporting roles; the Four Heavenly Kings and Zhou Xingxing, Liang Chaowei, etc., are definitely not okay.

Cao Yang thought for a moment and said, "No matter how many Hong Kong people are found, their total salary should be controlled at around 300,000; any more and it won't be worth it; they are not counting on them to pull the box office, and they are not the main attraction, so there is no need."

"Okay." Hou Keming made the decision.

"I want to go to this year's Venice Film Festival with this film."

Hou Keming stood up at once, immediately spirited, staring at Cao Yang with burning eyes, only asking one sentence, "Are you confident?"

"Female stance, domestic violence, loneliness, dignity, and a bit of religious meaning...... this type of film has an advantage; as long as the school cooperates by then, the main competition section is definitely no problem; as for winning an award, the contingency is very large, but the opportunity is not small."

Hou Keming slapped the table and expressed his attitude, "As long as you have confidence, I represent the school and fully support you. Don't worry about the script; I will watch it myself and guarantee that you will get the permit before you shoot."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 27 =====