Chapter 313: A Prudent Approach

In the evening, Old Tian called Cao Yang, and they went to the small restaurant the two often frequented.

To Cao Yang's surprise, when the still-charming landlady asked Old Tian if he wanted alcohol, Old Tian waved his hand and refused directly.

"Not bad for you, quitting just like that? Remarkable."

Cao Yang gave a thumbs up, teasing Old Tian.

"Quit my ass."

Old Tian used his chopsticks to pick up a strip of pickled radish, chewing it with a crunch. Only after swallowing did he say to Cao Yang: "That stuff isn't so easy to quit. I've just been under a lot of pressure lately, afraid that drinking will delay things."

"Take it slow, don't have so much pressure."

Cao Yang advised casually.

Old Tian smiled, then asked: "When you went to Venice this time, did you show the script to Old Ma? What did he say?"

"What else could he say? He told you not to have too much pressure, everything is on him."

Cao Yang also picked up a strip of pickled radish, comforting him while eating.

"Heh."

Old Tian smiled. He knew these words couldn't have been said by Old Ma.

Old Ma might say the script is very good, might say to let Old Tian shoot it well, but he definitely wouldn't take on such a big responsibility; that's not his character.

However, Old Tian only asked casually. Before the film comes out, nothing said about such things is credible; only when the film is shot well is it the fundamental thing.

Skipping this topic, Old Tian asked casually: "How is the situation in Venice this time? Can Chinese-language films have any harvest?"

Cao Yang pondered for a moment and said: "You might not believe it if I say it, but this year is another bumper year for Chinese-language films. The news will come tomorrow. I feel the Golden Lion should go to Jia Zhangke, who came out of the literature department."

Old Tian's hand, which was about to pick up food, paused. He looked at Cao Yang seriously: "You're not joking?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Cao Yang asked back.

"This..."

Old Tian stopped picking up food, frowned, and pondered for a long time before saying: "Last year Old Ma gave the Golden Lion to your *Black Swan*. If he gives it to Jia Zhangke again this year, next year... it shouldn't be possible, right?

The Venice Film Festival isn't run by Old Ma's family. Even if he had heaven-defying ability, he wouldn't dare give us the Golden Lion for three consecutive years, right?"

Afterward, he laughed at himself and continued: "If that were the case, others would think the Venice Film Festival is an internal award held by our Beijing Film Academy."

Cao Yang nodded; what Old Tian said made some sense.

According to the thoughts of ordinary people, they would definitely think it's impossible for Old Ma to give the Golden Lion to Chinese people for three consecutive years. How much courage would it take to dare to do that?

But the fact is, Old Ma really did do that.

Cao Yang remembered that in his previous life, the Venice Film Festival gave the Golden Lion to Chinese people for three consecutive years. What was even more excessive was that the first and third years were both given to the same person, Ang Lee, and the second year was given to Jia Zhangke.

This matter caused an uproar in Europe at the time. The media cursed Marco Müller as an "Italian traitor," an enemy within Europe, and a running dog of the East.

Anyway, the cursing was very nasty.

But strangely, that year was Marco Müller's fourth year as Venice Film Festival chairman, and it was exactly the time for a change of term. Even though he was cursed like this, he was still elected and served as Venice Film Festival chairman for another four years.

Not only that, bearing the name of an "Italian traitor," after Marco Müller finished two terms as Venice Film Festival chairman, he was elected as the Rome Film Festival chairman.

Well, the Italian way of thinking is indeed a bit different; while cursing in their mouths, they still entrust important tasks. It's hard to understand.

"Don't worry about whether it's the Venice Golden Lion or the Beijing Film Academy's internal award. Just shoot your film well. As long as the film is shot well, leave the rest to me and Old Ma."

Cao Yang said to Old Tian with a smile.

"With you saying that, my pressure is even greater."

After Old Tian finished speaking, he picked up some food, chewing while saying:

"I was originally considering whether to choose Duan Yihong or Fu Dalong for the male lead. I've been very hesitant during this time. I found a lot of information on both of them, studied it seriously for a long time, and made a summary.

Duan Yihong is the type that makes people feel very reassured. He might not have surprises, but he definitely won't drag his feet.

What about Fu Dalong? Perhaps there will be surprises, but he's not necessarily the most reassuring. Sometimes he tends to use too much force when acting."

"Do you have a decision now?"

Cao Yang didn't expect Old Tian to have specifically studied so much information for the male lead selection. From this, it could also be seen that Old Tian was indeed putting in the effort.

Old Tian picked up a large mouthful of food, chewing hard, using force to chew, and then swallowed it suddenly, as if he had made up his mind.

"Let's use Fu Dalong. I think if he's trained well, he will definitely be a surprise."

In fact, before meeting Cao Yang, Old Tian had almost decided to use Duan Yihong, mainly because Duan Yihong was too stable. Even if he couldn't act out a surprise, he definitely wouldn't make any mistakes.

Old Tian just didn't want to make any mistakes.

However, after talking with Cao Yang, especially since it looked like Old Ma was giving the Golden Lion to Jia Zhangke again this year, this made him determine to shoot a film with "surprises" rather than a stable one.

Even if it takes slow grinding, he couldn't make things difficult for Cao Yang and Old Ma.

Cao Yang thought about Fu Dalong's image and gave a little suggestion:

"You can lean toward cult style. You can make Fu Dalong act more perverted and crazy. The more perverted and crazy and inhumane, the more shocking and rare the little bit of humanity guided out by the female lead will be."

Old Tian pondered for a moment, nodded, indicating he understood.

After saying goodbye to Old Tian, Cao Yang also fell into thought.

Today's contact with Old Tian let him see Old Tian's change. Even the alcohol he loved most, he said he quit and he quit. Even if, according to Old Tian's words, it was temporary, this was definitely not an easy decision.

Even Old Tian dared to try.

Cao Yang couldn't help but ask himself, should I also shoot a film and try to charge at the Berlin Film Festival?

He has always been a realistic person. He knows very clearly that the Berlin Film Festival definitely wouldn't easily give him the Golden Bear, letting him complete the Grand Slam of the three major European festivals.

Therefore, he never had the intention of going to the Berlin Film Festival.

Call it avoidance, call it realism; he didn't intend to go to Berlin in the short term before.

Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, having the opportunity to try is good. Maybe he'll find an opportunity.

Always hiding isn't a solution either.

After attending the school's opening ceremony, Cao Yang originally planned to rest for another month before going to the US. He didn't expect that Columbia's executive director, Tang Mu Rothman, would come to Beijing in person again.

Tang Mu Rothman tasted great sweetness in his cooperation with Cao Yang. *District 9* and *Inception* were both actively promoted by him.

"Tang Mu, I heard that Sony Pictures intends to promote you to be their global vice president. Is this true?"

Cao Yang asked with some curiosity. Bellman mentioned this when he called last time.

Tang Mu Rothman laughed and said: "There is such a thing. This is a proposal from Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton. The company has already passed this proposal internally, and it is currently going through the process.

However, it's not necessarily a good thing. You might not understand. Although Sony Pictures is ostensibly the superior company of Columbia, it doesn't intervene much in Columbia's specific affairs, so I don't know if it will be a good choice for me."

Cao Yang nodded. He just asked casually. These large companies are very complex internally. Sometimes it might look like the position has been promoted, but who knows if it's a promotion in name but a demotion in reality, losing actual power.

However, although Tang Mu Rothman was complaining, he still seemed very willing to be this global vice president.

"Dear Cao, how have you considered the matter I mentioned on the phone last time? We have always cooperated very happily, and Columbia has never done anything to hurt the trust between us."

Tang Mu Rothman said directly.

He knew that Cao Yang is currently very hot in Hollywood, and many companies must be scrambling to cooperate with Cao Yang. Columbia's advantage is that they have cooperated many times and haven't had any unpleasantness.

"Aren't you about to be transferred? Why are you still so concerned about Columbia's affairs?"

Cao Yang felt a bit strange in his heart. According to Tang Mu Rothman's meaning, Sony Pictures won't specifically intervene in Columbia's operations. Why is he still so concerned about Columbia's affairs?

"Haha, Cao, you are a smart man, so I'll just say it directly."

Tang Mu Rothman smiled at Cao Yang and said: "Talking about cooperation with you is the last thing I'll do at Columbia before I go to Sony Pictures. Can you understand what I mean by saying this?"

Cao Yang thought for a moment. Is this the kind of reporting with political achievements? That's about what it means, right?

So, if you want this political achievement, I can squeeze out more benefits? Is that it?

"Tang Mu, I understand what you mean. We have cooperated so many times, and we have always cooperated very happily. As long as the conditions are suitable, I will definitely let you complete this last work satisfactorily before you take office at Sony Pictures."

"Haha, Cao, I am very happy that you can say this. We will always be friends, the best of friends."

Tang Mu Rothman also started feeding Cao Yang chicken soup.

"Yes, yes, Tang Mu, we will always be the best of friends. I am waiting for the news of you taking charge of Sony."

Isn't it just commercial mutual blowing? Cao Yang can do that too.

"Thank you for your blessing, dear Cao. What do you think of my proposal last time? Columbia is very sincere. How about we cooperate again and shoot *2012*?"

Tang Mu Rothman returned to the main topic and talked about the matter he wanted to cooperate on.

Not good.

If you were still at Columbia, or if other people in power at Columbia were talking to me about cooperation, maybe there would be a possibility of cooperation. But you are about to be transferred to Sony Pictures, and you yourself said that Sony Pictures cannot intervene in Columbia.

If I signed *2012* with you, the credit for this project would be yours. Who at Columbia would be willing to take it over?

To tell the truth, if the person who takes over does a good job, the credit is Tang Mu Rothman's. If they do a bad job, the blame is the person who takes over.

Therefore, this person who takes over will definitely not be a person of real power at Columbia.

When the time comes, maybe something will go wrong.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 314 =====