Chapter 304: New position

Cao Yang went to the Beijing Film Academy early this morning and came to Old Tian's office.

Old Tian was already waiting for him.

"Did you read the script I sent you yesterday?" Cao Yang sat down on his own and asked Old Tian.

Old Tian took out the good tea he had specially prepared, and while brewing the tea, he said boastfully:

"This is good tea, top-grade Maofeng from Huangshan, the fairy of tea nourished by clouds and mist, covered in white hair, the buds like peaks, the tea soup smells of orchid fragrance, the taste is fresh and mellow, neither bitter nor astringent..."

"Did you swipe this from Old Situ?"

Cao Yang saw that the packaging of the tea was a bit familiar, so he interrupted Old Tian's introduction and asked.

Old Tian paused, turned his head, and asked with some surprise: "How did you know?"

How did I know?

This was given to me by Old Han. I thought the taste was okay, so I sent some to the teacher.

If you didn't like drinking tea, I would have sent you two taels to taste.

Cao Yang didn't say that this tea was sent by him to Old Situ. He skipped this topic and asked again: "Then have you read the script? What do you think?"

Old Tian put down the teapot and gave Cao Yang a thumbs up.

"The script is excellent, like a sharp knife, deeply analyzing the complexity and multifaceted nature of human nature. Revenge and love-hate are intertwined, showing the most real and tragic side of human nature."

Then, he smacked his lips and confirmed again: "Are you really planning to give this script to me, to let me film it?"

"Of course, we agreed at the beginning that when there is an opportunity, I will write a script for you. I had nothing to do after promoting the film for a while, my hands were a bit itchy, so I just wrote a script as a pastime."

Cao Yang explained randomly with a smile and deliberately asked: "Why, you don't like it?"

"Hey, what are you saying."

Old Tian slapped the table.

"Your script, Director Cao, is now worth a thousand gold. If you write a script for those people in Hollywood, you can get an Oscar for Best Picture. How could I not like it? It is my honor to film your script..."

"Alright, stop being poor. Listening to your tone, I know you must have thoughts about the script. Tell me."

Cao Yang interrupted Old Tian's flattery and said with a smile.

He knew Old Tian too well. Don't look at this guy being happy and laughing with him; that's because he is his close friend, his fellow apprentice, and his guide.

If you just go outside and ask anyone who knows Old Tian, they will definitely say that Old Tian is both stubborn and rigid, and he is very principled in doing things.

Old Tian thought for a moment and said deliberately: "Cao Yang, do you think it's okay if we set the background of the story on the mainland?"

"Set the background on the mainland?"

Cao Yang frowned, pondered for a moment, and said: "What are your plans? The protagonist is a professional debt collector, and he is cruel, often using violence to threaten the other party, and even beating the debtor into a disability.

Cutting off people's hands and feet is a common occurrence. Is such a background suitable for the mainland?"

Old Tian smacked his lips and explained: "You became famous at a young age, so you might not know the cruelty of the outside world. Many cities on our side have similar professions, but.

They are equally cruel in doing things, even worse, and those who are in debt are often forced to have their families broken... I just want to film these, instead of setting the background in Hong Kong."

Cao Yang frowned. It is only 2006 now. In the early years of the century, there was indeed such a group in society, fighting for territory, fighting in groups, using knives, and even using guns.

These people, of course, work part-time as debt collectors.

Social security as a whole began to improve, and there are three turning points.

The 2008 Olympics was one, which was an important watershed, starting to promote Shanghai's experience nationwide and building a large number of police posts in areas.

2014 was one, truly, thoroughly, further improving public security. In most areas, wherever there are many people, a large number of police forces have been added.

After this year, armed police patrols also started. Phenomena such as street fraud, pickpockets, and snatching mobile phones have greatly improved. The most intuitive experience is that the public security at railway stations and long-distance bus stations has greatly improved.

The third turning point, which can also be said to be the turning point of true qualitative change, the super turning point, was in 2018.

It can also be said that starting from 2017, the turning point that truly made domestic public security one of the safest countries in the world is the full popularization of the Skynet system. How good the effect is, needless to say.

Anyone who has been to Europe and America can truly feel what safety is after coming back.

"If the background is set on the mainland, it won't be easy to pass the review, right?"

Cao Yang said.

He then glanced at Old Tian and asked with a frown: "You don't plan to pass the review? Go directly to the film festival?"

Old Tian smiled and didn't answer this question for the time being, but asked: "Which film festival do you plan to let me go to? You should have plans in your heart, right?"

"Venice."

Cao Yang didn't hide it and answered directly.

Why go to Venice?

One is that he wants to "lift" Old Tian.

Before Old Tian was banned, he was a director with similar fame to Old Mouzi and Chen Kaige. Now, there is no way to compare, as he has long fallen too far behind.

Cao Yang had promised Old Tian earlier that he would give him a script. Later, although he gave Old Tian *Crazy Stone*, Old Tian didn't want to take advantage of his apprentice Ning Hao, so he didn't co-direct.

So Cao Yang has always remembered this matter.

Second, it is for another matter.

Although Old Han said that he would restrict Li An from filming *Lust, Caution* at the source, that is, the copyright of the novel, this matter is not so safe.

Even if Li An doesn't have an Oscar for Best Director, he has had many films nominated for many awards at the Oscars, and he has also won quite a few awards at the Oscars.

And Li An currently has two Berlin Golden Bears, one Venice Best Director, and one Golden Globe Best Picture and two Best Directors.

In addition, there are Taiwan Golden Horse Best Director and Best Picture, and Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director and Best Picture.

Although he doesn't have as many awards at the European Three Major Film Festivals as Old Mouzi, he has Oscar awards and Golden Globe awards, which gives him influence in the whole world, especially in North America, that Old Mouzi and Chen Kaige cannot compare with.

Therefore, such a major director with international influence, if he films *Lust, Caution* and wins the Venice Golden Lion like in history, the influence will be even greater.

To be honest, at the critical moment of the Olympics, it is really not certain that *Lust, Caution* can be restricted from being screened on the mainland—because of copyright disputes, there are many films that have been screened on time without much influence; at worst, it's just a lawsuit afterward.

So, Cao Yang wants to add another insurance.

The script he gave Old Tian is called *Pieta*, which is one of Jin Laoguai's peak works. It won the Venice Golden Lion itself and is qualified to compete for the Golden Lion with *Lust, Caution*.

Another favorable point is that Old Tian is the director most favored by Venice Film Festival Chairman Marco Müller, and the two are also very good friends.

Cao Yang's first film to win the Venice Golden Lion, *3-Iron*, had Old Tian as the producer, and Old Ma then went all out to help.

It can be seen that Old Tian definitely has a different status in Old Ma's heart.

There is another point: next year's Venice Film Festival chairman is Old Mouzi.

After Old Ma gave the Golden Lion to the Chinese for the third consecutive time, he once passed the buck to Old Mouzi, saying that Old Mouzi was the jury chairman and that Old Mouzi insisted on giving Li An the Golden Lion.

If there was no instruction from Old Ma, how could Old Mouzi decide the ownership of the Golden Lion? Wouldn't that make the film festival "out of control"?

If Old Tian takes *Pieta* to Venice next year, as long as the film quality is not bad, Old Ma will almost certainly give the Golden Lion to Old Tian.

And he can pass the buck even more smoothly—Old Mouzi and Tian Zhuangzhuang are alumni of the same class. He insists on giving Tian Zhuangzhuang the Golden Lion. He is the Venice Film Festival jury chairman; what can I do?

If Li An's *Lust, Caution* loses the Venice Golden Lion, the film's copyright itself is in dispute, and it is a core that insults the martyrs, it will definitely not be able to be screened.

Cao Yang felt a bit depressed. If it weren't for the Olympics, with his current status and influence, it wouldn't be difficult to "press to death" Li An in the country.

Why would it be so troublesome?

Old Tian heard that Cao Yang wanted to go to the Venice Film Festival, without any surprise, and even had an expression that he had expected it.

He laughed heartily, patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, and sighed: "I understand what you mean. You want to give me a Golden Lion to improve my status and influence in the industry."

He then sighed pretentiously, shaking his head and saying:

"Sigh, although I have long lost my utilitarian heart and just want to be a teacher now, to cultivate more film and television talents for the country... but since you have specially given me a script, I cannot let your hard work go to waste."

"Go, go, believe it or not, if you pretend again, I will give the script to your good apprentice Ning Hao."

Cao Yang joked with a smile.

Old Tian smiled, smacked his lips, and let out a breath.

Watching Old Mouzi and Chen Kaige, who were at the same level as him, leave him far behind, it is impossible to say that he has no thoughts in his heart.

At the beginning, he, Old Mouzi, and Old Chen were called the "Three Heroes of Beijing Film Academy."

Now the two of them are called major directors with "international influence," and he is called a famous domestic director. This gap is huge.

"Do you know why we directors called the Fifth Generation always like to film grand narrative films with rural, folk, and marginal themes? This is related to our social experience, era background, and education methods.

From the moment we entered the Beijing Film Academy, we were educated by some old seniors tirelessly:

You are a generation with a special mission. You must explore the history of national culture and national psychological structure through films, showing a strong sense of historical responsibility;

You must use the hardships and fate of small characters to metaphorize the stubborn diseases and future of the country, showing deep sympathy for the bottom of society and ordinary people..."

Subsequently, he waved his hand and said with a bitter smile: "Forget it, you don't understand these things. People who haven't experienced that era background cannot understand these."

Cao Yang was silent for a moment, avoided this topic, and asked:

"So, you also have your own persistence, don't want to compromise for the sake of passing the review, don't want to set the story background in Hong Kong, but want to stick to your consistent philosophy, and express your compassion by describing the hardships and fate of marginal small characters on the mainland?"

This time Old Tian was silent for a long time. He could faintly feel that there was some irony in Cao Yang's words.

He slapped the table and stared at Cao Yang: "Do you know why the Beijing Film Academy let me be the director of the directing department?"

Isn't it because this "vein" of ours is too awesome?

Old Tian didn't know Cao Yang's thoughts. He then changed his face and laughed.

"Because I, Old Tian, am no longer the Old Tian I used to be. I have kept pace with the times and am no longer limited to my previous understanding. Things are always developing forward. I understand this point."

"?"

A question mark appeared in Cao Yang's mind. Old Tian, do you want to listen to what nonsense you are saying? Go outside and ask around. Who doesn't know that you are the most stubborn in our Beijing Film Academy?

Old Tian smiled cunningly, patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, and said with a smile:

"You have to keep pace with the times and don't become an old stubborn. Let me put it this way: as long as I change your script slightly and set the background on the mainland, there is a high possibility of passing the review. Do you know why?"

"Because of me?"

Cao Yang added.

"Cough, cough..."

Old Tian seemed to be choked by himself. He coughed several times before continuing: "If a controversial domestic script wants to pass the review, there are bad guys. The bad guys must either die or be brought to justice, and the protagonist dies in the end. This is very good.

There is a point in this script that violates human ethics. We will delete that plot when submitting for review.

The last point, after the film ends, use subtitles or news format to say that after investigation, the city has eradicated a black society-style organization led by so-and-so...

Of course, there is the most important point. In June this year, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued a document again. Scripts only need to be filed, not reviewed!

Look, you didn't keep pace with the times and became an old stubborn, right? Haha..."

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian with a complex expression. You compromised so thoroughly just to set the background on the mainland. Why bother?

It would be much easier to set it in Hong Kong.

I don't understand Old Tian's thoughts.

"What if it can't pass the review after filming?"

Cao Yang asked uninterestingly.

"Don't worry, it definitely will. I guarantee that this film can participate in next year's Venice Film Festival normally."

Old Tian said seriously.

Cao Yang sighed. Looking at Old Tian's meaning, even if it doesn't pass the review, he must participate in the Venice Film Festival.

Sigh, Old Tian, Old Tian, I think the reason you don't dare to set the background in Hong Kong or abroad is mainly because you can't get out of your comfort zone, are afraid of contacting new things. Is this because you have no spirit?

Ten years of being banned, you have lost all your spirituality and confidence, right?

Damn it, if it weren't for the fact that we are close friends and you have grace for me, I would be too lazy to pull you.

"I heard that the organization intends to add some burden to you? Are you going to take a part-time job at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles?"

Old Tian changed the subject. This is the latest news he got.

Cao Yang nodded. The higher-ups had already told him, mainly because they knew that his *Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey* sold well in North America, plus the amazing box office and influence of *Inception*.

"What position are you given? Presidium member or Secretariat secretary?"

Old Tian asked curiously. This is already the suitable position he can think of.

"Maybe Vice Chairman, but it won't be officially elected and appointed until the 8th Congress of Literary and Art Workers in November."

Cao Yang said with a normal expression.

"Damn!"

Old Tian was extremely shocked, and a series of modal particles came out of his mouth.

Vice Chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, this level should be considered deputy ministerial, right? It's higher than the level of the big leaders of the Beijing Film Academy!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 305 =====