Chapter 341: Cooperation

At that time, when Cao Yang heard that Xiao Xiao Gangpao wanted to adapt a film based on the novel *Lawsuit*, he had asked him.

"You were a soldier. How do you think this novel is written?"

Xiao Xiao Gangpao smiled and replied, "It's a novel, so it's inevitable to have artistic processing."

"How do you plan to film it? Faithful to the original?" Cao Yang asked again.

Xiao Xiao Gangpao hadn't considered that much at the time and said without thinking:

"Of course, faithful to the original. I spent so much money to buy the adaptation rights. If I were to spend a large amount of time and energy checking historical materials—the key is that I don't even know where to check the data—I'd be full and have nothing to do to buy his adaptation rights."

"You are indeed full and have nothing to do."

Cao Yang said unceremoniously, "CCTV's *Oriental Horizon* broadcast the interview program *For That Sound of the Military Bugle*. I don't quite understand why you still want to buy the adaptation rights to this novel that clearly doesn't respect the facts."

Xiao Xiao Gangpao was silent for a while, then gave a bitter smile and said:

"Old Cao, your status is different; it's easy for you to deal with those people, but I'm different."

"You might not know how overbearing they are. Don't you think I want to use *For That Sound of the Military Bugle* for adaptation? The difficulty and complexity involved are something you simply cannot imagine."

Cao Yang was silent for a moment, then said to Xiao Xiao Gangpao, "If this film is filmed well, you have a chance to win some domestic awards, but if it's filmed poorly, you will be scolded. No one will care if you were faithful to the original."

Then, he looked at Xiao Xiao Gangpao and asked very seriously, "Do you want to win an award or be scolded?"

"As long as I can win an award, even if I'm scolded..."

Before Xiao Xiao Gangpao could finish, Cao Yang interrupted him, "As long as you are scolded, it's very hard to win an award."

"I spent a lot of money, and the screenwriter I found is Liu Heng..."

"Finding anyone is useless." Cao Yang shook his head and said:

"For this type of film, it's best to be faithful to the facts rather than perform artistic processing that you think is reasonable. We haven't experienced that desperate era, so we cannot use today's rationality and logic to substitute for that era."

"Is it really that hard to win an award?"

Xiao Xiao Gangpao didn't care about what was reasonable or unreasonable. He is a realistic person. His current pursuit of film, aside from box office, is awards, and awards are what he urgently needs.

Like this type of film classified as mainstream, who knows how the box office will be? Xiao Xiao Gangpao's greatest pursuit for this film is awards.

This was something he didn't dare tell Huayi, fearing Huayi Brothers wouldn't invest.

Cao Yang knew very well that it was this film that allowed Xiao Xiao Gangpao and the Golden Rooster to "reconcile."

Xiao Xiao Gangpao went crazy at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers awards with *Assembly*, and also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor at the Golden Horse awards in Taiwan.

However, Xiao Xiao Gangpao didn't know these things.

Moreover, this time, even if Cao Yang didn't take action, it would be very hard for Xiao Xiao Gangpao to win any significant big awards.

"You should know that I wrote a script called *Pieta* for Old Tian. Do you think *Assembly*, which is being scolded, can compete with a film that won a big award at the Venice Film Festival?"

Cao Yang asked.

"Damn! I..."

Xiao Xiao Gangpao was excited, and the internationally common greeting almost slipped out.

Of course he knew about Cao Yang writing a script for Old Tian. He also wanted Cao Yang to write a script for him, but his relationship with Cao Yang hadn't reached that point yet.

Cao Yang's scripts couldn't be begged for with money.

So he changed his thinking—I can't get your script, but I can discuss my script with you, and then it's fine to write some of your ideas into it.

This is why he discussed *Assembly* with Cao Yang.

"Are you so sure that Old Tian can use your script to film an award-winning movie? It's not that I look down on Old Tian, but some of his ideas and thoughts are already outdated."

Xiao Xiao Gangpao said somewhat indignantly.

"As long as Old Tian doesn't change it randomly and follows the script, it's still very easy to win an award."

Cao Yang then smiled and said, "Besides, I also planted a mole by Old Tian's side. As long as he has any changes, I will know immediately."

"Damn!"

Xiao Xiao Gangpao was even more indignant.

Damn, Old Tian, this big idiot, did he save all of humanity in his past life? Why does he have such good luck!

Xiao Xiao Gangpao suppressed the envy, jealousy, and hatred in his heart, and then asked with an even more indignant tone, "With Old Tian's movie, even if my *Assembly* is filmed well, what's the use? How could it compete with him?"

"If you film it according to the facts, as long as it's filmed well, it's still very easy to win an award. It's not like the Golden Rooster can't give out double awards."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

He could see that Xiao Xiao Gangpao had changed his mind and was definitely going to film *Assembly* seriously.

Afterward, Cao Yang said, "According to the news I received, the 4th Column of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, where Chang Chang Menglan was stationed, was stationed in Benxi, Liaoning Province. A certain regiment was the predecessor of the 30th Regiment where Old Chang was. Go there to find the data."

Just like that, the filming of *Assembly*, which was originally planned to start in October or November, was postponed.

Xiao Xiao Gangpao spent a month visiting the site, checking a large amount of data, and under the premise of respecting the facts, changed some of the settings and content of *Assembly*.

Moreover, Xiao Xiao Gangpao also sent the revised script to Cao Yang immediately.

Although Xiao Xiao Gangpao's purpose was still to win an award, this version was at least respectful of the facts, rather than artistic processing through so-called "rationality."

Most importantly, this guy Xiao Xiao Gangpao is very cunning. He said the script for *Assembly* was guided by Cao Yang and adapted under Cao Yang's ideas, so Cao Yang's name should be added as a screenwriter.

Regarding this, the two main investment companies for this film, whether it was Huayi or Hong Kong's Universe, had no objections and were extremely willing to add Cao Yang's name.

Even if it meant paying a large screenwriter fee, they wouldn't hesitate.

Cao Yang refused at first. A large screenwriter fee couldn't move him. Having his name attached as a screenwriter wasn't just a matter of a large screenwriter fee.

Huayi's relationship with China Film Group was still very good; their rise relied on China Film Group.

Thus, Huayi persuaded China Film Group, and China Film Group brought in the Youth Film Studio, wanting to jointly invest in this *Assembly*.

Since China Film Group and the Youth Film Studio were in, Cao Yang felt relieved.

What he feared was that after his name was attached as a screenwriter, Xiao Xiao Gangpao or those Taiwanese people working at Huayi would mess with the film's plot again, which was not what he hoped to see.

Since China Film Group and the Youth Film Studio were in, let's do things officially and renegotiate the investment amounts and dividend ratios.

Cao Yang was not only a named screenwriter but also the producer of this film.

*Assembly* was dragged until January before it officially started filming.

Xiao Xiao Gangpao was very satisfied with this multi-party cooperation.

Because of the participation of the Youth Film Studio, and under Xiao Xiao Gangpao's deliberate efforts to make friends, he could also get some inside news about some things at the Beijing Film Academy.

For example, the news that came out of the Beijing Film Academy that Cao Yang originally wanted to give *Tuya's Marriage* the Berlin Best Actress award.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 342 =====