Chapter 352

Christopher Nolan was born in London, England, and is less than 37 years old, counting as a young and promising director of the young and strong faction.

His reputation and influence in Hollywood are still okay now, and he is classified into the ranks of commercial film directors with strong authorial style.

Cao Yang might be influenced by later generations, taking it for granted that Nolan is a Hollywood major director with extreme personality and certainly won't shoot films according to other people's scripts and intentions.

This idea of his, to a certain extent, also counts as accurate.

Look at the films Nolan shot from his debut, the three short films and one feature film before coming to Hollywood to develop, all are concurrently director and screenwriter, and will also personally edit and photograph.

After coming to Hollywood, "Memento," "Batman Begins," and "The Prestige" are also director and screenwriter.

However, Cao Yang ignored one point.

The current Nolan is not yet a major director who has completed his promotion by winning a global box office of 1 billion thanks to "The Dark Knight."

He is not yet a major director who has been "deified" thanks to "Inception" and "Interstellar."

So far, he has shot a total of four films since coming to Hollywood; his famous work "Memento," although the word-of-mouth is very good, only has a box office of 40 million.

The second "Insomnia" had a budget of 46 million USD, and the global box office was only 110 million.

The third "Batman Begins" had an investment budget of 170 million USD, and the global box office was 370 million; although the word-of-mouth was not bad, the box office didn't make much money.

This is also the reason why Warner Bros. has opinions—"Batman" is the superhero with the highest heat in America and has a wide fan base; this box office simply didn't meet their expectations.

Especially the latest film "The Prestige," although the word-of-mouth is as good as ever, the investment budget of more than 40 million, the global box office barely reached 100 million.

This is a typical case of good word-of-mouth but not good box office.

Warner Bros. executives also have a headache for Nolan.

Starting from Nolan's second "Insomnia," the following few films were all invested and produced by Warner Bros.

If you don't make money at the box office, it's okay to have a harvest in awards.

However, sorry, whether it is the three major European festivals or the Oscars, there is not a single award.

To put it bluntly, Nolan's ability to tell stories is very strong, and his creativity is also full, which makes his films have very good word-of-mouth among the audience, but his films are essentially commercial films, and it is difficult to win awards.

Currently, Warner Bros.' view of Nolan, we have a word to describe it, which is very accurate, that is "chicken ribs," tasteless to eat, a pity to discard.

Nolan is also very clear about his situation.

He is now in a very awkward position.

One step forward, it might be a major director of mainstream commercial films.

If he can't step over, it is highly likely that he will become one of the many commercial film directors in Hollywood, and the possibility of turning over again will increase exponentially.

This is not alarmist.

He has been cooperating with Warner for these few years; if Warner doesn't cooperate with him and doesn't give him investment, relying on his still not bad word-of-mouth, there are many film companies outside that will give him opportunities.

However, he dares to guarantee that absolutely no film company will give him an investment budget of more than 100 million USD.

Why?

Because his most recent film only has 100 million box office.

Because his films don't make money.

Because he has no awards in his hands.

Nolan can even imagine the fate he might face next, which is 40 or 50 million investment, 100 million box office, 50 or 60 million investment, 100 million box office... repeating like this.

Basically, he shouldn't lack investment, but it is also difficult to have major investment.

Therefore, it is best to continue to cooperate with Warner Bros.

Only Warner is willing to give him opportunities and is also willing to invest in large sums.

Nolan is a bit resistant to shooting completely according to other people's scripts, but it also depends on who the other party is.

If it is Cao Yang, he is not very resistant in his heart, and is also looking forward to it.

To put it bluntly, his current status cannot be compared with Cao Yang at all; cooperating with Cao Yang, he thinks this is a relatively good opportunity for him.

When Cao Yang received a call from Jeff Robinov, the president of Warner Bros. Pictures, saying that Nolan was willing to cooperate and be the director of the second "Batman," Cao Yang was a bit surprised for a while.

He asked: "Jeff, does Director Christopher know that this film needs to be shot according to the script I wrote? That is to say, as a director, he doesn't have much power, and even editing cannot be participated in."

Cao Yang's words made Jeff Robinov a bit confused.

"Of course he knows these; isn't it normal not to give him editing rights?"

Jeff Robinov was also strange; when did Nolan have the final editing rights for films? Even if he is a director and screenwriter, it won't work; at most, he has the right to suggest.

Cao Yang was silent for a while, then smiled at himself, "Okay, Jeff, I know; I will notify Bellman now and let him go to Warner."

Hanging up the phone, Fan Bingbing next to him asked with a smile: "Warner found a director for that 'Batman' you didn't want to direct?"

She knew about this, and also knew very clearly that Cao Yang didn't want to direct "Batman."

Bellman often came here to report the negotiation matters to Cao Yang some time ago, and Cao Yang didn't intend to hide it from Fan Bingbing, so Fan Bingbing knew a lot about the new film.

For this, Fan Bingbing really had many feelings.

A film with an investment of nearly 200 million USD and a wide fan base, which director wouldn't fight to direct?

This kind of film is still very "stable" to a certain extent, and the possibility of success is much higher than ordinary films, and it is a major production with super investment; as long as it succeeds, it is very easy to promote "status."

Warner is very much hoping that Cao Yang will direct; Bellman revealed that as long as Cao Yang is willing to direct, the conditions Warner offers can be extra loose.

However, Cao Yang was not moved.

"Well, it's still the director of the previous 'Batman,' called Christopher Nolan."

Cao Yang said with a smile.

Fan Bingbing didn't have any special feelings about this name; she thought for a moment and asked: "Is this director very famous? I have heard his name, but it seems there is nothing special in my impression?"

The box office hasn't exploded, and there are no awards that can be taken out; it is indeed nothing special; it is just a young director in Hollywood who counts as having a future.

Cao Yang also thought for a moment, well, it is indeed nothing special now.

"He is the director of the previous 'Batman'; letting him continue to direct can maintain the unity and integrity of the film style."

Cao Yang originally wanted to joke, saying that when the second "Batman" comes, you will know he is still a bit special.

However, thinking again, if it really sells well like the previous life, Nolan will certainly get more attention, but more credit is afraid to be counted on himself.

Who told his fame and influence to be greater; Warner's promotion of the film is certainly focused on promoting himself.

Fan Bingbing then thought of another question.

"Cooperating with Warner, you don't intend to make it a co-production?"

Make it a co-production?

Forget it; Warner is ruthless, even pitting their own parent company, let alone other companies.

Well, Warner Bros. is not stupid; it shouldn't be too pitting to China Film Group, but how could they be willing to make it a co-production when they know they can't pit it?

At least "Batman" will definitely not be made into a co-production.

"Joker" is possible; after all, Warner's positioning for this film is an art film aimed at winning awards, not for the purpose of box office.

In recent years, with the annual significant growth of China's box office market, Hollywood film companies including Warner are certainly willing to have a good relationship with China Film Group.

China Film Group holds the power of life and death over imported films and is still very face-saving.

Of course, the prerequisite is that China's film market is attractive enough, and this one, China can satisfy.

Cao Yang told Bellman that the director of "Batman" was found, Nolan was willing to take over, and let him continue to promote this matter with Warner Bros. In addition, let him mention the matter of making "Joker" a co-production, and tell Warner the benefits; not to mention anything else, at least there is one point: co-productions are not restricted by imported films and do not occupy the quota of imported films.

That is to say, as long as it is made into a co-production, "Joker" will definitely be able to be released in China; with Cao Yang's influence, the box office cannot be low.

No matter how you look at it, it is a good thing that only earns and doesn't lose, just need to let out a little investment share.

Fan Bingbing stayed in America for another week and went back.

With the big sale of "Inception" globally, her status rose rapidly, directly on par with Zhang Ziyi.

Recently, with "Inception" winning five little golden men, although Fan Bingbing had nothing to do with it, and didn't win the nomination for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress, she also got a lot of benefits.

In the latest quotation for commercial endorsements, she directly surpassed Zhang Ziyi.

As for whether she can stabilize, it depends on the follow-up.

Active female stars in the country are now difficult to position accurately; as everyone knows, there are five people in the four great Qingyi, four people in the three great Huadan, plus a Fan Bingbing who is more difficult to position.

Saying Fan Bingbing is Qingyi, one is that there are too many Qingyi, and the other is that she has no major awards—Zhang Ziyi has been crazily brushing awards for the past few years, at least she brushed the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress, and the mainland Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Best Actress.

Classifying Fan Bingbing into the Huadan ranks also won't work; her international fame is much larger than the other few Huadan, and her remuneration and endorsement fees are not at the same level.

Therefore, some good people proposed the four great Qingyi, two great international, and four great Huadan.

Among them, the two great international refers to Zhang Ziyi and Fan Bingbing, which is to kick Zhang Ziyi out of the ranks of the four great Qingyi.

Zhang Ziyi certainly won't do it—damn, I fought for my life to take art films in the past two years, and the sacrifice in it is not enough to be known to outsiders; it was not easy to win the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress and Golden Rooster Best Actress, just to keep the "Qingyi."

You say kick and kick me out?

How is it possible!

Fan Bingbing counts as a fart, does she have any major awards?

No, right?

Without major awards, why can she be on par with our four great Qingyi?

Humph, the one I look down on most is this kind of vulgar woman who raises her status without awards.

Cao Yang is actually very busy during this time.

He not only has to do post-production for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," staring at the progress of special effects from time to time, but also has to follow up on the post-production of "The Fault in Our Stars."

"The Fault in Our Stars" started preparations in October last year, started shooting in December, and finished shooting in February.

Cao Yang had been shooting "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" before February, went to Berlin in early February, returned to the country for a few days, came back and participated in the Oscars, and was indeed unable to separate himself.

It wasn't until March that he followed up on "The Fault in Our Stars," explained to the editor what he wanted, and let the editor cut a rough film first.

This film has no big scenes, no special effects, and plays with sentimentality.

So the score is also the key.

A good score combined with the plot can definitely make people empathize; put in this film, it is to poke your tear nest, it is to make you cry.

However, this kind of variant romance drama like "The Fault in Our Stars," sentimentality over the top won't work—romance films have always been the object of "discrimination" by film festivals and are not liked by judges.

Of course, if you play with perverted romance, that's another matter; that is the "true" art of digging into human nature, which is easy to win awards.

Therefore, you can often see some relatively perverted romance films at the three major European festivals.

For example, a husband sends his wife to have an affair with her lover; this is a French film.

For example, a woman is like a fountain, erupting at every turn, then flowing into the stream under her feet, fattening many fish in the water; this is a Japanese film.

For example, some relationships occurred between close relatives, and afterwards, either they regret it and are uneasy, or they choose to forgive, and continue to maintain... this is many films that entered the main competition section of the three major European festivals.

There are not a few similar ones.

In short, pure romance is not welcomed at film festivals; love that plays with tricks has a chance to win awards.

"The Fault in Our Stars" is the last film led by Tang Mu Rothman, executive director of Columbia, before he went to Sony Pictures to serve as Global Vice President, and it is certainly aimed at winning awards.

But the romance of cancer patients does not belong to the category of "perverted," but rather love is purer, counting as one of the films not welcomed by judges; it is easy to get nominated, but if you want to win an award, you have to operate well.

For this, Cao Yang and Tang Mu Rothman each put forward many ideas.

Tang Mu Rothman told Cao Yang that he is a very good friend of Oscar President Sid Ganis, which Cao Yang has already seen at this year's Oscars.

To be honest, Cao Yang didn't expect "Inception" to win five little golden men; Oscar President Sid Ganis indeed played a big role in this.

However, this last film led by Tang Mu Rothman at Columbia definitely didn't want Oscar nominations and some small awards.

So, Cao Yang asked Tang Mu Rothman to what extent Sid Ganis could help.

Tang Mu Rothman thought for a moment and said: "Sid's successful election as Academy President was the result of Columbia's full support, and I also led this matter."

Perhaps feeling that saying it like this couldn't show his relationship with Sid Ganis, Tang Mu Rothman was silent for a moment, and then said pointedly:

"Sid once served as Vice Chairman of Columbia Pictures, and was responsible for the marketing and distribution of Columbia Pictures for a period of time.

Just one year and three months after he took office, the board of directors dismissed his Vice Chairman and gave him the position of Deputy Director of the Production Department; at that time, you were just about to produce 'District 9,' so I let him be the executive producer.

By the time you finished shooting this film, he left Columbia Pictures... you know what happened after that; he unexpectedly succeeded in running for President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and became the Oscar President."

Tang Mu Rothman didn't say much, but there were many things hidden in it.

Cao Yang didn't expect that Sid Ganis had also served as Vice Chairman of Columbia Pictures and was responsible for the company's marketing and distribution, which is a very large power.

He was dismissed after only working in this position for one year and three months, which shows that something big happened during this period, so he was "demoted" to Deputy Director of the Production Department.

Regardless of what happened during this period, Cao Yang can be sure that Tang Mu Rothman and Sid Ganis should have a very good relationship, either "accomplices" or true friends.

At least it can be seen that when Sid Ganis "suffered," Tang Mu Rothman pulled him.

Also afraid that he would be "embarrassed" in the Production Department, he sent him to Cao Yang's crew "District 9" to serve as executive producer, hiding for a period of time.

When Sid Ganis ran for Academy President, Tang Mu Rothman should also have contributed a lot.

In short, the relationship between the two should be better than it looks.

Interest community?

Cao Yang doesn't know what specifically happened, and Tang Mu Rothman didn't continue to explain, but it is certain that as long as there is a justifiable reason, "The Fault in Our Stars" should be able to win major awards.

A justifiable reason?

Cao Yang thought of a domestic film, through the "Love Story" activity, inviting young people who were heartbroken to tell their stories and shoot them into short films and upload them to video websites.

These contents caused widespread resonance on social media and formed a good word-of-mouth effect...

Their marketing was for the box office, not related to awards, but, with a slight change, could it be possible to create a sensational effect and thus win awards?

"Tang Mu, I remember April 29 is World Wish Day, aimed at helping children with serious illnesses realize their wishes and passing on hope and strength."

Cao Yang looked at Tang Mu Rothman and said: "We can contact the Wish Foundation, the initiator of World Wish Day, and unite with them to hold a large-scale Wish Day activity.

Find more children and adolescents with serious illnesses, realize their wishes for them, and shoot them into videos and put them on the website, calling on people to donate and help them.

Then we promise in front of the media, besides taking part of the box office to realize their wishes, let them get better medical assistance..."

Tang Mu Rothman's eyes lit up, feeling that Cao Yang's idea was really too good, and it was also consistent with the film's theme.

As long as the momentum is up and the influence is up, this film can be considered "plated" with a layer of gold, and winning an award is the will of the people.

By then, this film will not be a romance film, but an inspirational film that gives hope and strength to patients with serious illnesses and encourages them to live on!

Romance films are not liked, but inspirational films are what judges like.

(End of chapter)