Chapter 342: Contrast

After the 57th Berlin Film Festival ended, Cao Yang stayed in Berlin for another two days, mainly for interpersonal socializing; this is the same all over the world.

Afterward, he didn't go to the US to do post-production for *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End*, but returned to the country first.

In Hollywood, for films with huge investment amounts like *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End*, most directors' work is basically finished after filming is completed. Even if they participate in post-production, they mostly just offer suggestions.

Only special directors who possess final cut rights participate in post-production.

That's right, in Hollywood, directors who possess final cut rights, especially in big productions, are special and rare existences.

However, possessing final cut rights doesn't mean one has to do everything personally; as long as one grasps a general direction, it is enough.

Currently, the main post-production work for *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* is the editor working with visual effects to first cut a rough draft of about four to five hours in length. Only then will Cao Yang take over the work.

Returning to Beijing, Cao Yang first accompanied his parents for two days.

Then, his old mother "unintentionally" talked from time to time about his childhood friends, elementary school classmates, middle school classmates, and whose children who were even younger than him, etc., who were already married, and who already had children...

Cao Yang had a headache and could only play deaf and dumb, casually brushing it off, changing the subject...

Finally, the old mother still asked that question, "Have you found a girlfriend? You're not young anymore; it's time to consider your personal life..."

Cao Yang could only use work as an excuse to go find his girlfriend... s in Beijing.

Yu Yu Feihong is currently the most "Buddhist" first-line Best Actress. It seems that after winning the Venice Best Actress award, she has no pursuits.

Acting in films is fate, taking ads is fate, attending events—if she can avoid going, she won't go.

Logically speaking, with her "Buddhist" attitude, she should have gone out of style.

However, perhaps because she is tied to the name "Four Great Qingyi," or perhaps for other reasons, she hasn't gone out of style at all, and her advertising fees are second only to Gao Gao Yuanyuan.

Moreover, those who seek her out are all the highest-end endorsements.

Therefore, she is considered the most free-spirited among domestic female actresses.

Li Li Xiaoran, Gao Gao Yuanyuan, and Dong Xuan might be very busy during the New Year period and not necessarily in Beijing, but Yu Yu Feihong is definitely in Beijing.

Cao Yang also likes coming to Yu Yu Feihong's place.

Watching her cook in the kitchen, accompanying her to eat and watch TV, holding her on the sofa and listening to her talk about cooking techniques, or listening to her complain about TV dramas...

It seems that here, Cao Yang's heart can also calm down, no longer thinking about numerous troublesome things.

Of course, what Cao Yang likes most is when the currently more intellectual, quiet, and gentle "Yu Feihong Fairy" transforms into a female knight.

Contrast in image, personality, and behavior is very easy to make people get high.

The stronger the contrast, the more it can stir up a man's emotions.

The so-called good woman: can be a lady in the hall, can be in the kitchen, can be a lady in the hall, and in bed... well, anyway, it's quite interesting.

Of course, no matter how strong the female knight is, she will eventually fall off the horse.

In fact, when the majestic female knight says she can't do it anymore, that is the moment that can best stir up people's emotions.

Whenever this happens, Cao Yang feels confident and full of drive, and his satisfaction is very strong.

This is also a special expression of contrast beauty.

Old Tian called Cao Yang, saying he wanted to gather alone.

Cao Yang was a bit puzzled. Didn't they just gather at Old Situ's house two days ago? But since Old Tian wanted to gather alone, let's gather.

It was still the small private restaurant they often went to.

Cao Yang observed Old Tian. He didn't look abnormal; maybe he just wanted to gather simply.

Old Tian was very proactive this time. When Cao Yang arrived, he had already ordered the dishes. After the dishes were served, Cao Yang discovered that Old Tian had also ordered two small bottles of liquor.

"Didn't you quit?"

Cao Yang looked at the two bottles of Red Star on the table and asked with slight puzzlement, "When we were eating at Teacher's house the day before yesterday, Teacher asked who wanted liquor, and you even pretended to wave your hand and said you quit."

"Hey, you brat, are you doing this on purpose? I'm not stupid. It's New Year's; I don't want to be scolded."

Old Tian pushed one bottle to Cao Yang, took one himself, and said, "Do you want to drink? If not, both bottles belong to me."

"Maybe Teacher saw you performing well recently and wanted to reward you with a drink?"

Cao Yang snatched one bottle and put it under his feet, so Old Tian wouldn't drink it all.

"Who knows if the old guy is sincere? Maybe because I've been performing well recently, he hasn't scolded me for a long time, and if he wants to scold me, he has to find a legitimate reason, right? Maybe he's fishing for law enforcement."

Old Tian was talking nonsense with a straight face.

Cao Yang nodded along, "Hmm, makes sense. Not to mention Teacher, if I don't scold you for a while, it feels like something is missing in my heart. I can understand Teacher's feelings."

"Go, go, am I your venting tool?"

Old Tian poured himself a small cup, took a small sip, and couldn't help but close his eyes and smack his lips.

"Comfortable..."

"Damn, Old Tian, you wouldn't have really quit drinking since we last met until now, right?"

Looking at Old Tian, who looked like an old drunkard who hadn't drunk for eight hundred years, Cao Yang couldn't help but ask.

Old Tian didn't pay attention to Cao Yang, opened his eyes, took another small sip, and let out a long breath.

He picked up a chopstick of food and threw it into his mouth, chewing while saying, "From the last time we ate here until now, it's been about five months. I put all my heart and soul into the film; where would I have time to drink?"

Cao Yang gave Old Tian a thumbs up.

Old Tian picked up the small liquor cup, drank the rest in one breath, bared his teeth and hissed, and couldn't help but count on his fingers.

"I remember the last time we met here was early September, and it was also the day we decided to use Fu Fu Dalong to play the male lead."

Old Tian seemed to fall into memories, then shook his head and smiled at himself.

"Fu Fu Dalong, this brat... how should I put it? His acting is okay, and his explosive power is enough, but he's easily carried away and easily loses control."

Afterward, Old Tian smiled smugly and looked at Cao Yang, saying:

"Do you know? I started from September... oh, you were there too. Starting from September, I gave the main actors acting lessons and character lessons. Do you know how long I and that brat Ning Hao gave them lessons?"

Cao Yang curled his lips inwardly.

Of course I know.

You still have the face to say that? You signed a four-month schedule with Hong Kong's Kara Hui. At the time, it was agreed that there would be two months of acting training, leaving two months for filming.

For this *Pieta*, which has an uncomplicated plot and no big scenes, two months of filming time is considered very generous.

But you, you actually started calling actors for lessons in September and kept going until mid-December!

Good guy, for such a simple film, you actually broke it apart and kneaded it, teaching for a full 100 days and more.

The film hadn't even started filming, and you actually used up three and a half months of Kara Hui's four-month schedule!

You say her agency can have no objections?

Fortunately, this is a script written by Cao Yang, and he is also the film's producer and supervisor, so he can hold the scene. Otherwise, it would definitely be another troublesome matter.

"I taught them for a full 107 days before I was satisfied with their performance and officially started filming."

Old Tian picked up the small liquor bottle, poured it into his small liquor cup again, picked it up to smell the aroma, and put it down again.

"107 days. You might not have seen the filmed shots, but Fu Fu Dalong, that brat, he's made it!"

After speaking, Old Tian picked up the liquor cup somewhat excitedly, tilted his neck, and drank it all in one breath.

He let out a breath, picked up his chopsticks, picked up some food, put it in his mouth, and chewed with a crunching sound.

Cao Yang's heart moved. To be honest, he felt that Fu Fu Dalong's acting was sometimes very good, and his explosive power was quite good, but it wasn't stable enough.

Unlike Duan Duan Yihong, Duan Duan Yihong's acting is at least online no matter what role he plays.

However, for the male lead of *Pieta*, just looking at the image, Fu Fu Dalong is quite suitable. If he keeps a crew cut, it's very easy to perform that feeling of being fierce and ruthless.

Listening to Old Tian, he used about three and a half months to "train" Fu Fu Dalong out?

"Fu Fu Dalong performed very vividly?"

Cao Yang couldn't help but ask.

Old Tian laughed out loud and wanted to fill his small liquor cup again, but unexpectedly, he poured all the liquor out of the small liquor bottle, and the small liquor cup was still not full, so he couldn't help but mutter a few words in a low voice.

Afterward, he turned his head and looked at Cao Yang with eager eyes.

Cao Yang picked up the small bottle on the ground. Old Tian's eyes lit up, and then he saw Cao Yang put the liquor into his pocket.

"Fu Fu Dalong performed very vividly?"

Cao Yang pretended not to see Old Tian's expectant eyes and asked again.

Old Tian was a bit depressed, picked up some food and threw it into his mouth, deliberately chewing with a very loud crunching sound.

Only after swallowing did he say, "It's more than good; he performed the character's changes and contrast vividly!"

Afterward, he looked at Cao Yang with eager eyes again, even smiled flatteringly, and said:

"I'm eating with you today because I'm going to start entering the editing room for post-production tomorrow. I plan to eat and drink inside, and I must follow the script completely to edit out an incomparably wonderful story."

"That, I'm going to enter the editing room tomorrow, and I won't come out after entering..."

Old Tian hinted crazily, wanting Cao Yang to give him the liquor. He wanted to drink a bit well before entering the editing room for post-production.

"You're going to enter the editing room, then I'll wait for your good news."

Cao Yang pretended not to understand Old Tian's hint and said with a smile, "I'll keep this bottle of liquor first. When you come out next time, this will be your celebration liquor."

"Go, go, does your family use this small bottle of Red Star for celebration liquor?"

Old Tian muttered in a low voice and stopped talking, just eating the food with a crunching sound.

After eating, Cao Yang drove Old Tian back. Afterward, he didn't go to Yu Yu Feihong's place, but went to the place where Gao Gao Yuanyuan lived.

Gao Gao Yuanyuan returned to Beijing today.

As soon as he entered the door, Gao Gao Yuanyuan jumped onto Cao Yang with one step. Fortunately, Cao Yang was prepared, knowing Gao Gao Yuanyuan liked to play this set.

Gao Gao Yuanyuan hugged Cao Yang's head and kissed him a few times before asking with a smile, "Haven't seen you for so long, did you miss me?"

"What do you think? You returned to Beijing in the afternoon, and I came over in the evening."

Cao Yang supported her butt, hugged her, walked to the sofa in the living room, and put her on the sofa.

Gao Gao Yuanyuan hugged Cao Yang's neck and acted like a spoiled child, "I don't want to. I want you to hold me."

Cao Yang kissed her on the face, then patted her butt and said, "Be good, I'll go take a shower first. After a while, not only will I hold you, I can also pick you."

"Hee hee, can you?"

"It's not like you haven't tried."

Probably because they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Gao Gao Yuanyuan was very crazy this night, fighting repeatedly despite setbacks.

She wished she could squeeze Cao Yang dry.

Cao Yang slept until 10:00 AM and was woken up by a phone call.

He took a look; it was actually Chen Shu calling.

Chen Shu had played the former lead dancer in Cao Yang's *Black Swan* and had collaborated with Cao Yang.

"Chen Shu?"

"Hello, Cao Dao. Calling you now, didn't I disturb you?"

Cao Yang glanced at Gao Gao Yuanyuan, who was still sleeping soundly just now. She seemed to have heard the female voice coming from the phone and was currently moving her head closer to this side without moving a muscle.

"Is there anything?"

Cao Yang asked.

"Cao Dao, it's like this. I was chosen by Director Feng as the female lead for *Assembly*, but there were no scenes for me before the New Year, and I only joined the crew after the New Year."

Chen Shu organized her language and continued somewhat dejectedly, "I have already filmed five days of scenes after joining the crew. Today, Director Feng talked to me, saying my image is too Westernized and doesn't fit the character's positioning, and asked me to go back."

"Go back?"

"Hmm, Director Feng wants to terminate the contract with me."

Chen Shu said in a low voice, "After Director Feng finished talking to me, his assistant chased after me and asked me to call you."

Cao Yang frowned.

Of course, he understood what was going on.

In the domestic film and television circle, even if an actor signs a contract, it doesn't necessarily mean they will definitely play the role. There are many people who are replaced before filming starts, or even replaced after filming for many days.

The excuse for being replaced is, of course, that it doesn't fit the character's positioning, but in reality, there are very few cases where this is the true reason.

A small part is because of the actor's own problems, such as being "difficult to handle"—meaning their status might not be very high, but they might be a little popular, have a big ego, and be picky, causing the director and producer to be unable to stand it.

Of course, in a general film crew, if an actor with a very high status has a big ego and is picky... that's not an issue at all! The director just has to hold it in.

Most cases of being replaced are because of people inserted by the capital side.

What, you say if the film crew dares to replace the actor after signing the contract, let them pay liquidated damages, and also sue the film crew?

You can sue, and you can win as soon as you sue, after all, there is a contract in black and white.

However, if you really sue, even if you win and get the liquidated damages, your acting career will basically be over—I'm afraid no film crew will dare to use you in the future.

Therefore, if you still want to mix in this industry, if you are replaced, you can only admit your bad luck. Let alone liquidated damages, you have to return the deposit you received to the film crew!

Reality is just this fucked up.

That's why these actors desperately want to become famous. If you become an existence like the Four Great Qingyi or Three Huadans, ordinary film crews can't even invite you, so how could there be any replacement?

Thinking of Xiao Xiao Gangpao secretly asking his assistant to tell Chen Shu to call him, Cao Yang knew what was going on.

This bastard Xiao Xiao Gangpao, it should be that he couldn't handle it himself and had to replace the actor under pressure.

But he might think more highly of Chen Shu's acting—well, this probability is very small.

As one of the few big directors in the country, Xiao Xiao Gangpao absolutely hates others interfering with his films, even if the person interfering is his financier—

When casting, you can offer opinions, you can insert people, I will consider giving her a role, but after I have decided on the actor, you insert someone to replace her, that is a bit too disrespectful to me.

Xiao Xiao Gangpao is a clever person. Since I can't handle it, I will let someone who can handle it come forward.

As a director, the biggest taboo is the occurrence of this situation.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 343 =====