Chapter 316: Bowing One's Head Isn't Necessarily Showing Weakness

After handling the cooperation with Columbia, Cao Yang became temporarily free.

However, he wasn't without things to do.

Old Tian had already started training the actors for *Pieta*, saying he was prepared to use two to three months to let the actors get into character, determined to shoot this film as well as possible.

For this, he also let his apprentice Ning Hao serve as his assistant director, with the master and apprentice going into battle together to explain the scenes and conduct training for the actors.

Furthermore, he would call Cao Yang at least once a week, asking Cao Yang to also talk to the actors about the character positioning and the core of the film.

Old Tian said that before the film starts shooting, the main characters must realize the character positioning and what the film wants to express.

Aside from occasionally explaining scenes to the actors of *Pieta* and starting to write the script for *The Fault in Our Stars*, Cao Yang spent a lot of time watching films.

He only watched two films: Nolan's *Batman Begins* and *Pirates of the Caribbean*.

He was very likely to take over one of these two films, so he watched them countless times repeatedly, and even conducted film analysis at the Beijing Film Academy.

Regarding Nolan's *Batman Begins*, Cao Yang felt that Nolan gave "Batman" a new life, no longer the superhero in previous comics and films, but shaped into a "human."

Cao Yang even believed that Batman was no longer symbolized from then on, but ascended to a brand-new height.

He completely interpreted why Bruce Wayne became Batman—overcoming inner fear, arming himself, adhering to moral bottom lines, and unparalleled self-control.

Bruce Wayne can be everyone's shadow, the "human" everyone hopes will appear.

Nolan took over a sequel film but was able to shoot the sequel with new ideas; this is ability.

As for the box office not being high, this might be caused by various reasons.

First is the film's duration. A running time of more than two hours, plus the rhythm not being fast, tests the patience of those viewers who hold the expectation of watching a "cool" film.

Additionally, the plot of this film is really too complex for many ordinary Americans.

This is "Batman," the "sky" of Gotham City, the crime-buster, the invincible existence that strikes criminals. What are you showing me?

Do I need to see how he became Batman? Do I need to see his inner journey? I came to see how he blows the heads off those damn criminals!

So, to summarize, Nolan's *Batman* is too human.

But precisely because of this, "Batman" came alive; Nolan gave "Batman" a new life.

So, after slowly savoring it afterward, or renting a disc to watch slowly, one will find that "Batman" is also a human, also has desires, instead of a superhero who doesn't eat the food of mortals.

As long as the next film can build on this foundation, speed up the rhythm slightly, make the scenes bigger, and make the fighting more exciting, the box office is very likely to explode.

*Pirates of the Caribbean*, this film was a bit beyond Cao Yang's expectations.

He had heard before that after Depp joined this film, he not only changed many of the character's behaviors and lines, but even quite a bit of the film's plot was changed by him.

Of course, these words were all exposed later when Disney wanted to replace Depp.

At that time, many people thought Depp was a weirdo, and regarding his changing the character and plot, many people instead thought this fit Depp's persona.

Cao Yang didn't know who was right and who was wrong, or what the specifics were.

But this time, without Depp, *Pirates of the Caribbean* was indeed shot differently.

One could even say that it was two different films compared to the *Pirates of the Caribbean* in Cao Yang's memory.

This *Pirates of the Caribbean* completely became a love and adventure story between the little blacksmith Will Turner and his fiancée Elizabeth Swann.

As for the great Captain Jack Sparrow, sorry, he was just a big supporting role, not even a co-lead.

Furthermore, Captain Jack Sparrow wasn't a "flamboyant creature," had no memory points, and was a very normal character.

The main selling point of this film was special effects, weakening the plot.

Or one could say that the producer and director at the time were thinking: I'll use the money where it counts, make the special effects well, and then start a maritime fantasy journey of handsome men and beautiful women.

The female lead Keira Knightley was at the peak of her beauty at this time, and she dared to show skin. Her styling in this film was also very eye-catching, with her two balls squeezed so much that they almost completely broke free from the restrictions of her clothes.

That was an existence even more eye-catching than Old Mouzi's *Curse of the Golden Flower* full of big-breasted girls.

The male lead Orlando Bloom was also at his peak of beauty. The role of Legolas made him famous, and he could indeed be counted as a handsome man.

But this film with a production cost of 150 million USD didn't even sell 100 million USD at the global box office. It was indeed a flop. No wonder Disney wanted to seal this series.

Don't look at the film flopping, but there might be a preconceived notion. If it were shot as an alternative film after a reboot, perhaps people would be even less accepting, and it really might flop again.

"Why have you been repeatedly watching this film for the past few days? Oh, right, there's also a very long-winded *Batman*."

Yu Feihong walked into the small screening room. This was something she specifically renovated at home, convenient for Cao Yang to analyze films here, and also convenient for the two of them to watch films together.

Cao Yang had been staying at her place for the past few days. After eating dinner at night and helping Yu Feihong wash the dishes, he would come to the small screening room to watch films carefully.

When Yu Feihong came in, Cao Yang had already stopped the film and was taking notes. After writing the last few words, he said to Yu Feihong:

"I am very likely to take over one of these two films. Neither of these two films is led by me, so I have to do preparatory work."

Yu Feihong hugged Cao Yang's shoulders from behind, pressing her head against the side of his.

Instantly, a faint, clean fragrance drifted into Cao Yang's nostrils, a bit of a light milky scent.

"Is the risk of shooting these two very high? I haven't seen you analyze films and take notes so seriously before."

Cao Yang rubbed Yu Feihong's head with his head, their faces pressed together.

"The risk of *Batman* isn't high, and as long as I follow the settings of the first one, I have a great grasp of making it explode again."

"You want to take over *Batman*?" Yu Feihong asked.

"Very likely not."

Cao Yang explained with a smile: "If it's a reboot or shooting a film that has appeared before, let's call them sequels. If it's an ordinary director, it doesn't matter if they shoot according to the context of the previous work, but if it's a famous director, it won't work.

You must shoot with new ideas; otherwise, whether it's media or critics, they will criticize it heavily. So famous directors generally won't take over such films; it's too easy to flip over.

Just like this *Batman*, I know how to make the box office explode, but it's very difficult to shoot with new ideas. Even if the box office explodes, the film company will definitely be happy, but it might have a negative impact on my reputation."

Yu Feihong glanced at the screen and said: "So you want to take over *Pirates of the Caribbean*? You think you can shoot with new ideas?"

Cao Yang pulled her over and let her sit on his lap.

He kissed her on the face and said: "Compared to the original, it definitely counts as new ideas, but the risk is very high. I don't have certainty."

"I believe in you."

Yu Feihong sat on Cao Yang's lap and said seriously.

"Then give me some motivation?"

Cao Yang took a look, lowered his head, and bit lightly through her pajamas with his teeth.

Yu Feihong hummed softly, then rolled her eyes at Cao Yang and lowered her head.

Sometimes, bowing one's head isn't showing weakness; it might also be searching for the other party's handle.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 317 =====