Chapter 27: The Buzz is Here

Before leaving, Hou Ke Ming told Cao Yang another piece of news: after coordinating with the China Film Group, everyone agreed that to take advantage of the current buzz, the film’s domestic premiere would be set for March 2nd.

For the release in Xiangjiang and Wanwan, Hou Ke Ming contacted Jiang Zhiqiang of Edko Films to have them handle distribution, ensuring a simultaneous release with the mainland.

During the time before the release, Cao Yang pushed all the film’s promotion onto the actors, as he had already begun preparations for his new film.

Compared to *On the Beach at Night Alone*, *3-Iron* was clearly much more complex. Cao Yang had been discussing the film’s lens language with Tian Zhuangzhuang for the past few days; this time, he wanted to try using more lens language rather than relying solely on the actors' performances.

Cao Yang had gone to the school to find Old Situ, intending to offer him the position of artistic director. There was basically nothing to direct, as Old Situ was an absolute leader in the field of documentaries, but he rarely involved himself in art-house films.

In truth, it was just to thank Old Situ for his guidance.

Old Situ refused without hesitation and warned Cao Yang not to learn such messy things at such a young age instead of learning what was good.

Cao Yang secretly asked Old Tian about it. Old Tian curled his lip and said the old guy was just like that, telling him not to look at the older generation with a young person’s mindset, as the dedication they spoke of and the dedication he understood were not the same thing.

Fine, Old Tian certainly understood Old Situ, and since he had said as much, Cao Yang dismissed the idea.

He had originally planned to have Old Situ serve as the artistic director on the surface, with Old Tian acting as his deputy to oversee the whole project, but now he could only give the artistic director position to Old Tian.

Of course, Old Tian was still the cinematographer; he was used to it.

An artistic director is actually a very complex position.

They are not only responsible for the design of all visual elements in the film other than the acting, but they also need to work closely with the director, cinematographer, special effects artists, costume designers, and other departments to ensure the visual effects of every link are consistent with the overall style.

For example, if the film is set in Xiangjiang, the scenes and props involved in the film cannot make the audience lose immersion; everything related to things like police stations or correctional facilities must match the background setting.

This is also part of the work the artistic director is responsible for.

"Senior brother, are you interested in this film? I’ll give you a 10% share. Of course, it’s only a cut of the domestic box office. Let’s use your salary as artistic director and cinematographer, plus another 100,000 yuan. The 100,000 will be deducted from the dividends of *On the Beach at Night Alone*."

Old Tian looked at Cao Yang with a complex expression. This kid...

"Fine, how did you talk to the school this time?"

"The same conditions as before: it’s a practical film, included as part of the teaching plan. The Youth Film Studio provides the studio logo, equipment, and personnel, shares the domestic copyright, and takes a 10% cut of the domestic box office."

Old Tian grinned and laughed, "Logically speaking, back then, not knowing the film’s prospects, they only asked for 10% of the domestic box office; the school lost out last time.

You have to know that a studio logo from the Youth Film Studio alone can sell for over a hundred thousand, and your film only cost a few hundred thousand to invest in. They mainly valued the fact that they didn't have to pay money and could arrange for students to get practical experience."

He couldn't help but ask curiously: "Then what about now?"

"Now?"

Old Tian laughed, glancing at Cao Yang, "Now this film’s investment is much larger, and the director is no longer a nobody. Just looking at the surface conditions, it can be considered reasonable."

"Surface?"

Cao Yang really didn't understand these things. To the school or the leaders, the gains and losses weren't simply about how much was earned or lost; there were other intangible things that had to be calculated.

"If you said these conditions out there, almost every film company would fight to invest. From this aspect, the school is taking advantage of you again.

Your last film won two Silver Bears; the domestic box office definitely won't be low. Over 10 million is guaranteed. Let’s say 15 million; the production side gets a little over 40%, which is a little over 6 million.

The school can get a cut of over 600,000. Compared to the investment in the studio logo, personnel, and equipment, they can get a profit of nearly 400,000. From this perspective, they’ve earned quite a lot again.

So, you have now become the school’s favorite son. No leader will ignore you; they will even try every way to make you more successful."

After a moment of silence, Old Tian continued: "I guess as long as you don't have a strong desire to go out and work alone, the school will keep you tied down, letting you study for a master’s degree, letting you stay at the school, and giving you titles."

"I’m still a student; what you’re saying is too far off for me."

"Far? Ha, then let’s talk about something close. Do you have candidates for the male and female leads?" Cao Yang took out a pen, wrote a list, handed it to Old Tian, and said: "This is the list. There are two from the Beijing Film Academy and one from the Central Academy of Drama. When we have time, we’ll have them come in for an audition and then decide who to use."

Old Tian took it and looked it over. He had heard of some, but didn't know any of them. He folded the list and put it in his pocket, planning to ask around when he had time so he could give Cao Yang some reference suggestions; he had to live up to the status of artistic director.

"What about the female lead?"

Cao Yang held up three fingers and joked: "First, she must be young; second, she must be beautiful; third, she must have charm."

"Are you choosing a concubine? What about Li Xiaoran? Why aren't you using her?"

Cao Yang smiled. She was a strong-willed, extraordinary woman who kept fighting despite repeated setbacks, was both unskilled and loved to play, and had some unusual little hobbies.

"She and her manager want to arm-wrestle with International Zhang. The two of them are fighting for a role in the National Master’s film, so she has no schedule. Just watch, for the next period of time, it will definitely be all press releases about the two of them."

"Haha, that’s a good thing too. At least for the film we’re about to release, there’s no lack of buzz."

There was indeed no lack of buzz.

One was in the limelight, and the other was also in the limelight. When these two started tearing into each other, the media was overjoyed.

International Zhang had been riding high recently. As the Oscars approached, this sentiment was constantly amplified. Just as she was lamenting that there wasn't a single female star in the country who could fight, Li Xiaoran gave her a blow to the head.

!

For the National Master’s 30-million-dollar blockbuster, there was originally a role "custom-made" for her—a role added specifically for the international market.

Could such a sure-fire role really slip away?

It really might!

The National Master had personally invited someone else to audition.

If it were an ordinary person, International Zhang wouldn't care, but the key was that this person had just won the Berlin Best Actress award.

She asked around and found out it was a small supporting actress who had always played bit parts, had taken on a university student’s practical film, and ended up winning two Silver Bears directly!

What was this? Was there any reason left? If the facts weren't right in front of her eyes, who could have imagined it? Who would dare to believe it? It was like a dream.

It was one thing to have the dumb luck to become a Berlin Best Actress, but she actually came to snatch a role from her!

Consequently, when International Zhang was interviewed and asked what she thought of Li Xiaoran winning the Berlin Best Actress award?

"Who is Li Xiaoran? I don't know her."

Li Xiaoran was interviewed and asked about *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, which was shining brightly at the Oscars.

"International Zhang has a very good eye. Since her debut, she has won many awards, like the Asian Film Exchange Association’s Star of Tomorrow, the Toronto Film Critics Association’s Best Supporting Actress, the Online Film Critics Society’s Best Supporting Actress, the Chicago Film Critics Association’s Most Promising Performer, and so on—too many. Unlike me, I only have one Berlin Best Actress award."

International Zhang: "When I debuted, I took on the National Master’s *The Road Home* and won the Berlin Jury Grand Prix."

Li Xiaoran: "She participated in the 50th, and I participated in the 51st. Following Director Cao, I not only won the Berlin Jury Grand Prix but also the Best Actress award.

Oh, right, Ziyi, don't care about other people’s opinions. The Jury Grand Prix rewards the entire film; in principle, the actress can also go on stage. It’s all my fault for being thin-skinned and not having the nerve to go on stage with Director Cao to accept the award."

International Zhang: "The *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* I starred in won ten Oscar nominations."

Li Xiaoran: "I don't quite understand Ziyi’s positioning in the film. If you say she’s the female lead, her name is third-billed; if you say she’s a supporting actress, she thinks she’s the female lead herself.

But it’s a pity that among the ten nominations for *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, there is neither a Best Actress nomination nor a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Ziyi’s acting is okay, it’s a pity."

International Zhang: "Wait until she has a film released before talking."

Li Xiaoran: "Thanks for Ziyi’s recommendation, *On the Beach at Night Alone* will be officially released on March 2nd."

International Zhang stopped accepting interviews directly. Was I recommending your film? My meaning was clearly that you haven't even had a film you starred in released, so what are you blathering about to me?

(End of chapter)