Chapter 27: The Heat Is There

Before leaving, Hou Keming also told Cao Yang a piece of news: after coordinating with China Film Group, everyone unanimously agreed to take advantage of the existing heat and set the film's domestic premiere for March 2nd.

For the release in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Hou Keming contacted Jiang Zhiqiang of Edko Films, letting Edko Films distribute it and release it simultaneously with the mainland.

During the time before the release, Cao Yang pushed all the publicity of the film to the actors; he had already started the preparation work for the new film.

Compared with "On the Beach at Night Alone", "Empty Room" is obviously much more complex; Cao Yang has been discussing the film's lens language with Tian Zhuangzhuang for the past few days; this time he wants to try using more lens language instead of relying solely on the actors' performance.

Cao Yang once went to the school to find Old Situ, intending to give him an art director position; basically, there was nothing to direct; Old Situ was absolutely a leader in the field of documentaries, but he rarely involved himself in literary films.

Actually, it was to thank Old Situ for his promotion.

Old Situ refused without hesitation and warned Cao Yang not to learn these messy things at such a young age.

Cao Yang also secretly asked Old Tian; Old Tian curled his lips and said that the old guy is just like this; don't look at the older generation with the thinking of young people; the dedication they pay attention to and the dedication you understand are not the same word.

Alright, Old Tian must understand Old Situ; since he said so, Cao Yang dismissed the idea.

Originally, he wanted to let Old Situ be an art director on the surface and Old Tian be an assistant to take charge of the overall situation; now he could only give the art director position to Old Tian.

Of course, Old Tian is still the photographer; he is used to it.

Art director, actually, is a very complex position.

They are not only responsible for the design of all visual elements in the film except for performance, but also need to cooperate closely with directors, photographers, special effects artists, costume designers, and other departments to ensure that the visual effects of each link are consistent with the overall style.

For example, the film's background is set in Hong Kong, so the scenes and props involved in the film cannot make people feel out of the play; for example, everything related to police stations, correctional institutions, etc., must conform to the background setting.

This is also part of the work that the art 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 share of the domestic box office; it's your salary as art director and photographer, plus 100,000 yuan; the 100,000 yuan 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......

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

"Still the original conditions, practice film, included as part of the teaching plan, Youth Film Studio provides factory logo, equipment, and people, shares domestic copyright, and takes 10% of the domestic box office."

Old Tian grinned and laughed, "Reasonably speaking, in the case of not knowing the film's prospects at the time, only asking for 10% of the domestic box office, the school lost money last time.

You know, a factory logo of the Youth Film Studio can sell for more than 100,000, and your film only invested a few hundred thousand in total. They mainly valued not having to spend money and being able to arrange for students to practice."

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

"Now?"

Old Tian laughed, glanced at Cao Yang, "Now this film's investment is much larger, and the director is no longer an unknown person; just looking at the surface conditions, it can be considered reasonable."

"Surface?"

Cao Yang really doesn't understand these; for the school or for the leaders, the gain and loss are not simple calculations of how much is earned or how much is lost; there are other intangible things to be calculated.

"If you say this condition outside, almost all film companies will fight to invest; from this aspect, the school has taken advantage of you again.

Your last film won two Silver Bears, the domestic box office definitely won't be low, and there is still a guarantee of more than 10 million; let's calculate according to 15 million; it's about 40% to the producer's hands, that is, a little over 6 million.

The school can share more than 600,000; compared to the investment of factory logo, personnel, and equipment, there can be a profit of nearly 400,000; from this aspect, they earned a lot again.

So, you are now the school's own son; no leader will ignore you; they will also try every means 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 always bind you, let you read for a master's degree, let you stay in school, and give you a position."

"I am still a student now; what you said is too far from me."

"Is it far? Ha, then let's talk about the near one; do you have candidates for the male and female leads?" Cao Yang took out a pen and 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, let them come to audition, and then decide who to use."

Old Tian took it and looked at it; there were some he had heard of, but he didn't know them; he folded the list and put it in his pocket, preparing to inquire about it when he had time, so that he could give Cao Yang some reference suggestions, and he had to be worthy of the identity of art director.

"What about the lead actress?"

Cao Yang stretched out three fingers and joked, "First, be young, second, be beautiful, and third, have charm."

"Are you choosing a concubine? What about Li Xiaoran? Why don't you use her?"

Cao Yang smiled; that is a strong and strange woman, who keeps failing and fighting, is both bad and loves to play, and has some unusual little hobbies.

"She and her agent want to compete with International Zhang; the two are fighting for a role in the National Master's film, so there is no schedule. Look, for a period of time in the future, it will definitely be their press releases."

"Haha, that's also a good thing; at least for the film we are about to release, there is no lack of heat."

Indeed, there is no lack of heat.

One is in full swing, and the other is also in full swing; these two people are tearing each other up, and the media are crazy.

International Zhang has been proud of the spring breeze recently; with the approach of the Oscars, this emotion has been constantly magnified; she was just sighing that none of the domestic actresses could fight, and Li Xiaoran gave her a head-on blow.

!

The National Master's big film with an investment of 30 million US dollars originally had a role specifically "customized" for her; this is a role added hard, just for the international market.

Can such a sure-fire role run away?

It really might run away!

The National Master personally invited others to audition.

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

She asked, a small supporting role who had been running bit parts, took on a student's practice film, and as a result, directly won two Silver Bears!

What is what; is it still reasonable? If it weren't for the facts in front of her, who could have thought of it? Who would dare to believe it? It's like a dream.

It's fine to be a Berlin Best Actress by luck, but she actually came to compete with herself for a role!

So, when International Zhang accepted an interview, when asked how she viewed Li Xiaoran winning the Berlin Best Actress?

"Who is Li Xiaoran? Don't know."

Li Xiaoran accepted an interview and was asked about "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", which was shining at the Oscars.

"International Zhang has a very good eye; she has won many awards since her debut, such as the Asian Film Exchange Association's Star of Tomorrow, Toronto Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress, American Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress, Chicago Film Critics Association Best Newcomer, etc., too many, unlike me, who only has one Berlin Best Actress."

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

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

Oh, by the way, Ziyi, don't care about other people's views; the Jury Grand Prix is to reward the whole 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 follow Cao Dao on stage to receive 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 it's the lead actress, her name is in the third position; if it's the supporting actress, she thinks she is the lead actress.

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 skills are okay, it's a pity."

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

Li Xiaoran: "Thank you Ziyi for the recommendation; 'On the Beach at Night Alone' will be officially released on March 2nd."

International Zhang stopped accepting interviews directly; am I recommending a movie to you? My meaning is clearly saying, you haven't even had a movie you starred in released, what are you talking about with me.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 29 =====