[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr":3,"chapter-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-354":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Academic Director: Reborn in the Film Industry",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297354,4493,"Chapter 354: He Is the Person I Admire the Most","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-354",354,"\u003Cp>After more than two months of negotiations, Cao Yang’s team and Warner Bros. finally reached a consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This negotiation was actually very difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The copyright for \"Batman\" belongs to Warner Bros., and it has a massive fan base; if the previous installment’s box office hadn't been lackluster, and if Warner Bros. didn't want to make \"Batman\" \"great\" again, they would never have let an outsider intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang is participating in \"Batman\" as a project producer and screenwriter, and he is to oversee the production of this film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Berman could only negotiate an 8.5% share of the global box office; any more was impossible to discuss, as this was already Warner Bros.' bottom line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, the revenue share for subsequent merchandise is separate from the box office share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Batman\" is the most popular comic book in the United States, and the development of its subsequent merchandise has long formed a mature system; it was impossible to let Cao Yang take a \"bite\" out of this ready-made cake just because of one movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subsequent revenue share for the film \"Batman\" is limited to film-related proceeds such as disc rentals, video-on-demand, and broadcasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Income from things like new comic book issues, toy development, and character licensing is not included in the share; that was non-negotiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this reason, Warner Bros. was even willing to make concessions on the share for disc rentals and video-on-demand, raising those shares to 13%, which was also their maximum concession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang could accept this figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, for a film primarily driven by box office, with the copyright not in his own hands and such high name recognition, being able to negotiate this figure was already not easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Copyright is a difficult thing to define in value; the same thing has different values in different people's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, for novels published in \"Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey,\" if one wants the adaptation rights, not counting Cao Yang's other fees, for the film adaptation rights alone, Berman defaults to a starting share of 5% when negotiating with outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, Cao Yang had also already written the script for \"Batman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the team Berman assembled for him, there were not only commercial and legal experts responsible for negotiations but also professional screenwriters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang would write the general framework of the script, and these screenwriters would fill in the content under fixed frameworks and requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These screenwriters are completely different from our domestic screenwriters; they are professional assembly-line \"workers,\" following a completely Hollywood model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some are specifically responsible for character personalities, some for the story, and some plan details to \"fill in the holes\" and set up suspense, with Cao Yang finally fusing it into a complete story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner Bros. has the right to review Cao Yang’s script; this was written into the contract, as they were certainly afraid of Cao Yang messing with Batman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, they were satisfied with Cao Yang’s script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner Bros. mainly reviewed the script to see if there were any \"out of line\" parts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at a script and the finished film are sometimes two different things; different directors using the same script will definitely produce different films, which is the value of a director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the footage shot by a director can be edited into different finished films by different editors according to the producer's requirements; sometimes, they can even cut two completely different \"movies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also one of the reasons why directors are important in Hollywood, but the project's producer is even more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the script was no longer an issue and Warner Bros. had officially greenlit the project, Cao Yang prepared to gather the existing crew members to discuss the film's preparation matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, the confirmed crew members include the director Nolan, the producer representing Warner Bros., as well as the production manager, coordinator, and liaison; as for other personnel, they have not yet been determined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan felt both expectant and apprehensive about collaborating with Cao Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days, before seeing Cao Yang’s script, Nolan had a rough direction for how to shoot the second \"Batman\" film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is a somewhat stubborn person; although he agreed to shoot according to the script, if Cao Yang’s script had any issues, he felt he would definitely have to argue with Cao Yang about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even told his wife, Emma Thomas, about this idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas knew very well what the consequences would be of arguing with a great director and producer like Cao Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the other party feels your argument is unreasonable, or thinks you are not aligned with his vision and fears you cannot achieve the effect he wants, he will truly move to replace the director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Hollywood, it is very common for the producer in charge of a project to replace the director or actors before filming begins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are even many precedents for replacing directors during filming if the producer in charge of the project feels the director's work does not meet their requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This point occurs even more frequently in films produced by Warner Bros.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, she also understood her husband's personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan is a very talented person, with a broad mindset and many ideas, but he is also very stubborn and insists on his own views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most people like this have one trait: they admire those who are even more talented than themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When encountering such people, they might even have a kind of \"blind obedience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Cao Yang a talented person? For Emma Thomas, this point is certainly beyond doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas did not persuade her husband, but instead said: \"You have always been busy with your own films; why don't we watch his films before meeting Director Cao Yang, so we can have a comprehensive understanding of him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan did not refuse his wife's suggestion; he had seen Cao Yang’s \"District 9,\" but as for the hit \"Inception,\" he was doing post-production for \"The Prestige\" when \"Inception\" was released, so he didn't have time to watch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan found every film he could find that Cao Yang had directed or produced in one go, including several of Cao Yang’s early award-winning Chinese-language films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Nolan did not watch them alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was afraid that watching them by himself would lead to biased thoughts and an inability to be objective, so he called his wife and brother to watch them together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took a total of five days for them to watch all the films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that it took that long to play the movies, but that Nolan watched some of them several times, and after finishing, he would fall into deep thought and not watch other movies that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the films he watched more than twice included \"3-Iron,\" \"Black Swan,\" and \"Inception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these, Nolan even watched \"Inception\" four times, and couldn't help but applaud every time he finished it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honey, do you have a rough understanding of Director Cao Yang now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas asked her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan pondered for a long time, then smiled bitterly and shook his head, \"No, Emma, I understand Director Cao Yang even less now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Emma Thomas’s confused expression, Nolan explained: \"Most famous directors have their own style and will inadvertently bring this style into new films.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas thought about it, and it was indeed so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many directors have their own shooting styles, whether it's a preference for certain props, specific camera shots, or narrative styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, what do you think is Director Cao Yang’s style?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan asked his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas took even longer to think this time, but no matter how she recalled, she couldn't find a common style in the films Cao Yang had directed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, I know the answer to this question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan’s brother, Jonathan Nolan, said from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words caused both Nolan and Emma Thomas to focus their attention on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan couldn't find Cao Yang’s directorial style, and Emma Thomas couldn't find a common thread either; had Jonathan Nolan found it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jonathan Nolan is also a person who can be considered very talented; Nolan’s breakout film in Hollywood, \"Memento,\" was adapted from a short story by Jonathan Nolan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I say, are you all falling into a traditional trap? Some genius directors don't have a fixed style; this is a well-known fact. Besides, doesn't Director Cao Yang also have a very strong personal style? It's just that you all subconsciously ignored it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan was stunned after hearing his brother’s words, then nodded seriously; some genius directors indeed don't have an obvious directorial style, meaning they can handle films of different styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This can be seen from the fact that Cao Yang can shoot both award-winning art-house films and box-office-hit commercial films with artistic attributes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what about what his brother said, that Cao Yang has a strong personal style?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how Nolan thought about it, he couldn't figure it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, I told you you were trapped in a traditional misconception. Think about it, what is Director Cao Yang most famous for since his debut?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jonathan Nolan asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan’s heart stirred; breaking free from traditional thinking, he knew what his brother was talking about. \"Directing actors!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas glanced at Nolan and said with a smile first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan nodded along and chimed in: \"That's right, in all the films he has shot, the performances of the main actors are almost at the level of Best Actor and Best Actress; this is simply incredible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly, this is Director Cao Yang’s greatest style!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jonathan Nolan slapped his thigh and laughed out loud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even in a boring film like 'On the Beach at Night Alone,' which he shot when he first debuted, he could make us feel like we were witnessing something that truly happened to a girl. Being able to make actors perform beyond their level is Director Cao Yang’s greatest style.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan nodded along; he thought of that weirdo Depp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being able to get Depp three Oscar Best Actor nominations in three films, and winning the Oscar for Best Actor twice, this is Director Cao Yang’s style and ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, Director Cao Yang has also produced Berlin Best Actress, Venice Best Actress, and Cannes Best Actress winners...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought about it, the more incredible Nolan felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only one or two films could train the lead to the level of Best Actor or Best Actress, it wouldn't be too strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But every film is like this; is that something a human can do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Nolan had heard about Cao Yang’s skill in directing actors, but rumors are never as shocking as seeing it with one's own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching these films, he had seen it with his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What will you do if you are not very satisfied with the 'Batman' script written by Director Cao Yang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma Thomas asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could that be?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan rejected the idea without even thinking, \"I believe in Director Cao Yang’s ability; he is a genius!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Nolan thought of \"Inception\" again; this film is too brilliant, and it coincides with some of his own ideas—it is the kind of film he wanted to shoot but didn't have a concrete plan for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan felt that Director Cao Yang was simply much more brilliant than himself; that ability to direct actors alone was something he could never learn in a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For such a genius director, how could he possibly write a script that didn't meet his expectations?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the script was different from what he thought, then it must be his own ideas that were problematic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, Nolan couldn't help but think: if he could build a good relationship with Director Cao Yang, could he learn some of that ability to direct actors from him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang gathered the existing members of the \"Batman\" crew to discuss things, which officially established the film's preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He named the film \"Batman: The Dark Knight,\" and no one, including Nolan, objected; moreover, Nolan was the first to applaud, indicating that the film title was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan’s enthusiasm surprised Cao Yang a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sent the script to Nolan two days ago and thought Nolan would raise some questions today; who knew that not only did Nolan not raise any questions, but as soon as they met, he said the script was very good, written simply too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that Nolan was intentionally buttering up Cao Yang; he truly felt that this script was surprisingly consistent with the general direction he had thought of before, continuing the style of the previous installment, which made Nolan very surprised and impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan felt more and more that Director Cao Yang was truly talented and a genius worthy of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Cao Yang is the person I admire most; I must build a good relationship with him and become his good friend,\" Nolan secretly resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the preparation and filming of *The Dark Knight*, Cao Yang certainly didn't have the time to be stationed at the set, so he followed the old rule: send an executive producer in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't about supervising anything; with a director like Nolan, Cao Yang was actually at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the producer in charge of the project, he couldn't be a hands-off manager; the best method was definitely an executive producer, so if anything happened, he could know about it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Jianye was the best candidate; he had been sent by Cao Yang to the *Juno* set to serve as executive producer, and then sent to *The Fault in Our Stars* to serve as executive producer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the training of these two films, his ability and experience went without saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, because the \"Granting 100 Wishes for Seriously Ill Children and Teenagers\" campaign for *The Fault in Our Stars* was becoming increasingly popular, Cheng Jianye, as the film's executive producer and one of the people in charge of the campaign, simply couldn't get away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, Cao Yang thought of Ning Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been busy with *Pieta* alongside Old Tian; now that this film was completely finished, Old Tian had urged Cao Yang several times to go back and see how it was, and if it wasn't good enough, to revise it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao was quite suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he hadn't worked as an executive producer in Hollywood, he had served as an assistant director for Cao Yang in Hollywood several times and was very clear about the production processes and many trivial matters of Hollywood films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he called both Ning Hao and Old Tian to discuss this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang felt he should also make a trip back to the country; not only was Old Tian urging him, but Hou Keming also had the intention of having Cao Yang return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what Hou Keming was urging Cao Yang about was not the same as Old Tian; he wanted Cao Yang to go back to handle a few things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, Old Hou wanted Cao Yang to return to preside over the selection of graduation works at the Beijing Film Academy; he also wanted Cao Yang to give a lecture to the graduates, he wanted Cao Yang to preside over the graduate thesis defenses, and he also wanted...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, this year was an odd-numbered year, and the 26th Golden Rooster Awards were to be held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the main purpose for which Old Hou wanted Cao Yang to make a trip back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last November was the Eighth Congress of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang was elected as Vice Chairman of the Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was elected in his capacity as a director, so the focus of his work was certainly in the film and television sector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Golden Rooster Awards were an event hosted by the Federation and the Film Association; this edition of the Golden Rooster Awards was the first since he was elected Vice Chairman of the Federation, so its importance was self-evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It involved a great many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, determining the list for the Golden Rooster Awards election committee, choosing the chairman and secretary-general, cooperation matters with the host city, and setting the tone for the award selections, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Cao Yang wasn't the only one who had the final say on these matters, one had to make their voice heard, make those who supported them aware of their presence, and also consider whether to \"light a fire\" at the Golden Rooster Awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hou spoke of these things very tactfully on the phone, but his attitude was still somewhat firm: Cao Yang absolutely had to make a trip back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up the phone, Cao Yang thought for a long time and finally came up with a term that wasn't entirely fitting: \"establishing one's standing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he would go back for a trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, before going back, he had to wait for Ning Hao to arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao had previously been very envious of Cheng Jianye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Ning Hao, among domestic filmmakers, who wasn't envious of Cheng Jianye?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy was sent by Cao Yang to the *Juno* set to be an executive producer for the first time and immediately won the Oscar for Best Picture, becoming famous in Hollywood in one fell swoop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Cheng Jianye was only an executive producer and everyone would only count the award toward the producer, Cao Yang, he could still write \"Executive Producer of the Oscar Best Picture *Juno*\" on his resume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This point, not to mention domestically, was recognized even in Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could tell from the fact that Cheng Jianye not only won an award from the American Producers Guild but was also specially invited by the Oscars to become a final-round judge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Ning Hao had the film *Crazy Stone* with over 100 million in box office, becoming one of the few domestic directors with over 100 million in box office, but he was one hundred percent willing regarding Cao Yang wanting him to go be the executive producer for *Batman*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of opportunity to pad one's resume was simply rare and hard to come by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*The Dark Knight* was a film with an investment budget of 200 million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous one had managed over 300 million in box office, and with this one having the added prestige of Cao Yang's name, Ning Hao estimated himself that the global box office had to reach at least 500 million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm going to make a name for myself in Hollywood; next time, that old brat Cheng Jianye will be the one envying me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ning Hao arrived in Los Angeles, Cao Yang took him to the set and instructed him to call him if anything came up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, he went to check on the progress of the CG special effects for *New Pirates of the Caribbean*, arranged everything that needed to be arranged, and then took a plane back to the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3166,"2026-06-20T05:36:33.260Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","86e7d8c9a7888cc2e56661be863847a3cb57ad481ed9003d27805e3930d9a3f2","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-355","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-353",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]