Chapter 356: Circuitous

Cao Yang agreed quite a bit with Old Hou's statement.

With Cao Yang's current status and influence, he could definitely intervene directly in the Golden Rooster Awards, or even change the selection rules of the Golden Rooster Awards.

But isn't there a saying, "too much is as bad as too little"?

He could achieve his goal temporarily, and others wouldn't dare to confront him head-on, but what about afterward?

When you touch the interests of the majority and cause dissatisfaction among the majority, then there will definitely be many people who will secretly trip you up, report your wrongdoings, and perfunctorily handle the things you entrust to them.

It had long been proven that going it alone wouldn't work.

Unless you only want to be "willful" this once.

At Cao Yang's current status, it's not impolite to say that he is also a vested interest in the film and television circle.

No matter which industry, as a vested interest, no one wants someone to break in and destroy the industry's development and carry out redistribution.

Therefore, the development and sustainable development of the film industry are also problems Cao Yang should consider.

This requires changing or removing some drawbacks that destroy the industry's development, and formulating some rules that can limit the destruction of the industry's development.

Of course, these are not things Cao Yang can complete alone. Even if he unites and leads some people and wins over some people, it might not necessarily lead to better development in the end.

However, how much worse can it get?

Let's try slowly.

For example, this Golden Rooster Award doesn't need to be too radical, but there must be some changes.

"What are your plans?"

Old Hou asked.

Old Tian also instantly raised his head to look at Cao Yang; he understood the meaning of Old Hou's words.

Cao Yang thought for a while and said: "There are many places where the Golden Rooster is criticized. For example, some movies haven't even been released, or they have been released and almost no one has watched them, yet they can win big awards. This will be highly questioned.

For example, few people know what the specific selection criteria for the Golden Rooster are. Without specific criteria, in the eyes of many people, it is easier to be manipulated.

For example, the lack of professionalism of the judges; many judges are not even people engaged in the film industry, and every time there are many such people entering the list of judges.

For another example, there is the phenomenon of dividing the cake, and in the last two years, there has also been a phenomenon of tilting toward Wanwan and Xiangjiang films and filmmakers.

There are quite a few such drawbacks."

Old Tian bared his teeth and gave Cao Yang a thumbs up. He had long been unable to stand these things, but unfortunately, these were not things he could change either.

Old Hou opened his mouth, having a lot to say in his heart. He had similar thoughts to Old Tian, both thinking that Cao Yang said so much because he wanted to change these drawbacks all at once.

But how is that possible!

Innovation, no matter in which country, no matter in any industry, no matter how strong the support is, is an extremely difficult thing.

And the person pushed to the front stage often doesn't have a very good ending either.

This is almost a certainty.

Reality is like this. Even if the innovation is successful, because it offended too many people, in order to appease the so-called "public anger," it is often necessary to "sacrifice" the person at the very front.

Old Hou secretly made up his mind. It was hard for the Beijing Film Academy to produce a Cao Yang; he must never let Cao Yang stand at the front stage.

He looked at Old Tian.

As everyone knows, Old Tian is a famous "iron-headed" person who has long been dissatisfied with the "old traditions" of the film circle. If he were pushed to the front stage, there would definitely be no sense of incongruity.

In addition, Old Tian is the head of the Directing Department of the Beijing Film Academy, which can be considered to meet the requirement of "high-ranking and powerful." He still has quite a lot of energy now, and even after a while, he can be promoted to the position of Vice Dean, then there will be no problem at all.

Most importantly, listening to Cao Yang's meaning, he wants to get a Venice Golden Lion for Old Tian.

This is simply too good.

Winning a Golden Lion can bring international influence, and he is also the head of the Directing Department of the Beijing Film Academy, or the Vice Dean, and also a famous "iron-headed" person. Isn't this just born to stand at the front stage...

Simply perfect.

Old Tian suddenly shivered without warning. What's going on? It's summer; it shouldn't be.

"I have carefully and thoroughly considered it."

Old Hou looked at Old Tian again, then showed an innocent smile and said:

"The Golden Rooster Awards ceremony is only held at the end of October, and the Venice Film Festival is held in September. I personally think that Director Tian's *Pieta* is highly likely to win the Golden Lion.

Hmm, after considering this point, I suddenly feel that Director Tian is the best candidate for the chairman of the Golden Rooster Awards this year."

Old Tian was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud. At this moment, he felt Old Hou looked much more pleasing to the eye.

The Golden Rooster Awards Selection Committee has one chairman, that is, the chief committee member, one secretary-general, and the remaining twenty-one are all ordinary committee members.

In other words, the chairman is the leader of these judges, similar to the chairman of the jury of the three major European film festivals.

The domestic Golden Rooster Awards chairman is generally held by someone "highly respected" in the industry, which is a kind of recognition of identity.

Old Tian felt that Old Hou's suggestion was very good, and he could finally hold his head high again.

However, while Old Tian was happy, he was also a bit puzzled. After *Pieta* finished post-production, because he was waiting for Cao Yang to review it, it hadn't been screened once, not even within the Beijing Film Academy.

So the question is, how could this guy Old Hou be sure that I could win the Venice Golden Lion without having seen the movie?

Cao Yang actually didn't understand Old Hou's twists and turns either, but he still saw Old Hou's worry and hesitation after hearing his words.

So he said: "The existence of the Golden Rooster hasn't been for a day or two, and those drawbacks can't be completely solved overnight. My plan is to find some relatively professional judges this time, and the selection of awards will no longer tilt toward Xiangjiang and Wanwan."

He thought for a while and added: "Try not to divide the cake."

Old Hou breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

He was prepared to push Old Tian to the front stage and secretly contact people to charge into battle, but he didn't expect Cao Yang didn't intend to "confront head-on."

If it's just these two points, it's not difficult.

Cao Yang is a world-renowned director. As the Vice Chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, wanting to find some relatively professional judges for the Golden Rooster Awards is, in anyone's eyes, a relatively reasonable request.

On the contrary, the "small" matter of correcting the tilt toward Xiangjiang and Wanwan, which seems simple, is not easy to handle.

Currently, the domestic film market is growing at a high speed, and a large number of Xiangjiang and Wanwan filmmakers are moving north. In the eyes of some people, this is the right time for a united front.

The reason, of course, is to give these people some preferential treatment.

Coupled with the hosting of the Jingcheng Olympics, it is even more necessary to unite the majority that can be united.

Specifically reflected in the film and television circle, it is to give these people moving north some special care, and the same is true for awards.

Fortunately, most of these filmmakers moving north are here to make money, and most of the Xiangjiang filmmakers moving north are engaged in commercial films, so there are not many who can participate in the Golden Rooster Awards.

This matter can also be handled if you think of a way.

As for dividing the cake, that's because of relationships and face.

To be honest, even if the judges are relatively professional people, it is inevitable to have various relationships and face, and dividing the cake is very difficult to avoid.

On this point, whether it is the three major European film festivals or the Oscars, it cannot be avoided.

Just grasp a "degree"—don't let any dog-shit movie of any cat or dog divide the cake. If you want to divide the cake, at least ensure it is above the standard.

Old Hou understood all this. When he turned his head, he saw Old Tian's eager gaze. He was stunned, then smiled at Old Tian.

"Cao Dao, I have carefully considered it again. After all, this is the first time you have influenced the direction of the Golden Rooster. For the position of chairman, I think Teacher Li Qiankuan is more suitable."

Old Hou's words made Old Tian stunned.

Hey, no, what's wrong with you, Old Hou? Why am I suddenly unsuitable to be the chairman again?

Old Tian originally wanted to refute, but after considering it, he gave up.

Forget it, if I refute, it will make me, Old Tian, look shameless. Subsequently, thinking of his masterpiece *Pieta*, which he had worked so hard to make the movie good, and even quit drinking during the production period, Old Tian felt he needed to make up for himself.

"That... *Pieta* has also been finished for a while. How about we go to the small screening room to watch it this afternoon?"

After finishing, Old Tian was still a bit regretful. He had originally kept the "first time" of the movie, wanting Cao Yang to watch it and then be surprised.

To be honest, he felt that this *Pieta* was the peak work of his life, and it was impossible to have a movie more attentive and "perfect" than this in the future.

His original intention was to "show off" in front of Cao Yang.

Old Tian sighed to the sky.

Now it seems that he was narrow-minded.

Why show off in front of Cao Yang? I'm going to show off in front of more people, especially this bastard Old Hou.

"Sure, just the three of us? Do you want to call Teacher Situ and Xie Fei and the others?"

Old Hou didn't think much and said directly.

Old Tian smiled silently. This is not what I wanted to show off. You guys just wait to be shocked!

"Sure, more people can give more opinions."

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian. You still have the nerve to be complacent?

A simple art-house film, simple plot, simple characters, no big scenes, no capital pressure, and Ning Hao as your deputy...

Under such generous conditions, you have been preparing since August last year, and it has been almost ten months now. What is there to be proud of?

Hmm, fine, compared to Wang Jiawei, your speed is really quite fast.

As the big leader of the Beijing Film Academy, Old Hou is actually very busy. Since the discussion was temporarily over, he was about to leave when he heard a knock on the door.

Old Hou sat down again.

In the Beijing Film Academy, there are very few people who can make Old Hou stand up to welcome them.

If he were standing, it would be as if he were specifically welcoming the people outside.

"Come in." Cao Yang said.

The office door was pushed open, and three people came in. Cao Yang recognized two of them.

"Cao Dao..."

The person who came in just shouted one sentence, then noticed Old Hou sitting there, and was stunned for a moment. He quickly reacted and said hurriedly: "Hou Yuan is also here. You guys go ahead and get busy. We'll come again when Cao Dao is free."

He still had a good eye; it was clear the three were discussing business.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit regretful; he should have called first. It was really too rash.

The two people following him also greeted, "Hou Yuan, Cao Dao, Director Tian..."

"Director Liu, come, sit."

Cao Yang didn't let the people leave and said to the other two: "Director Zhang, you two sit too."

The people who came were Liu Yibing, the head of the Literature Department of the Beijing Film Academy, and Zhang Min, the party secretary. Zhang Min was also the deputy head of the Literature Department.

Cao Yang didn't recognize the remaining one, but he looked familiar; he should also be a teacher at the school or something.

"Do Director Liu and Secretary Zhang have something to do with Cao Dao?" Old Hou asked with a smile.

Liu Yibing was a bit regretful, not knowing if he had disturbed the dean and Cao Yang discussing business, but on the surface, he definitely couldn't hang this annoyance on his face, and he definitely couldn't hide the purpose of coming to Cao Yang from Hou Yuan.

"It's like this, Hou Yuan, this is Zhuang Yuxin, a teacher in our department."

Liu Yibing introduced the young man behind him and then continued:

"Teacher Zhuang directed a movie called *The Teeth of Love*. A while ago, it just won the Best Debut Award at the Jingcheng Student Film Festival. It has already received the Dragon Mark, and he wants to come and ask Cao Dao for guidance."

Old Hou immediately understood Liu Yibing's meaning and asked with a smile: "Aiming for Venice?"

Liu Yibing nodded with a smile and patted without a trace: "Nothing can be hidden from Hou Yuan."

Zhang Min, the party secretary of the Literature Department, interjected:

"Teacher Zhuang's movie is considered an art-house romance film. Regarding directing, our Literature Department is definitely not as good as the Directing Department. We heard Cao Dao is back, so we wanted to hurry and take advantage of Cao Dao being here to trouble Cao Dao to take a look."

"Yes, if we talk about the understanding of art films, our Literature Department definitely can't catch up to Cao Dao." Liu Yibing also said.

"One is the Photography Department, one is the Literature Department, why are you guys always grabbing the work of our Directing Department."

Old Tian joked with a smile.

"Heh, Director Tian, you can't say that. Our school cultivates comprehensive talents. The Photography Department can produce an Old Mouzi, and our Literature Department also produced a Jia Zhangke.

I believe that under the leadership of Hou Yuan, no matter which department, many film and television talents can be produced."

Liu Yibing said without a trace.

Cao Yang didn't care about their bickering. He thought about it; he seemed to have heard of the movie *The Teeth of Love*, but he hadn't watched it.

Then let's take a look. As long as it is above the standard, he doesn't mind pushing it to the Venice Film Festival.

"How about this, there is a trial screening in the small screening room of the Directing Department at 2:00 this afternoon. Let's screen it together then."

Cao Yang made the decision.

"Sorry to trouble you, Cao Dao." Liu Yibing said with a smile.

"Sorry to trouble Cao Dao." Zhang Min also said.

"Thank you, Cao Dao, thank you, Hou Yuan." Zhuang Yuxin followed and said.

It could be seen that he was very happy.

The three were afraid of disturbing Cao Yang, Hou Yuan, and Old Tian discussing business, so they left after saying this.

"The Literature Department attaches great importance to that Teacher Zhuang. Both the department head and the party secretary came personally."

Old Tian sighed.

"Nonsense, it's not easy for the Literature Department to produce another director who looks promising, and he is also a teacher on the staff. Of course they attach importance to him."

Old Hou smiled and shook his head, knowing that Old Tian definitely couldn't empathize. After all, almost all teachers in the Directing Department had the experience of being a director, and it was very normal for teachers on the staff to direct movies.

"This movie isn't from the Youth Film Studio, right?"

Cao Yang thought that since both Old Tian and Old Hou didn't know much about this movie and Zhuang Yuxin, it could almost be certain that the movie wasn't invested in by the Youth Film Studio.

"Probably not."

Old Hou shook his head and explained: "The Youth Film Studio has made a lot of money in the last few years, but the risk of investing in movies is still too high. The nature of a school-run factory determines that the Youth Film Studio must invest in some movies that look like they will lose money every year.

Most of these movies cannot be released after they are filmed, which makes the Youth Film Studio somewhat strict about applications for film investment. Generally, if it's not the Directing Department or a director with directing experience, it's hard to apply for funds..."

From Old Hou's words, Cao Yang still heard some things.

Xie Xiaojing, the head of the Youth Film Studio, is Old Tian's classmate, Old Situ's student, Cao Yang's senior brother, and was the head of the Directing Department before Old Tian. Now he also serves as the Vice Dean of the college.

From this pile of titles, it can be seen that Xie Xiaojing definitely has real power and can not give face to many people.

It seems that since Xie Xiaojing became the head of the Youth Film Studio, the applications for film investment must be biased toward the Directing Department, and it is a bit difficult for other departments to apply to be a director to film movies.

This is also a little bit of dissatisfaction implied in Old Hou's words.

Don't look at Old Hou as a big leader and the former head of the Youth Film Studio, but Xie Xiaojing has a different status and really dares not to give him face.

This matter can only be solved by Cao Yang.

However, Cao Yang didn't say anything. He is still the general producer of the Youth Film Studio. If you really want to talk about it, the application and project establishment of the movie should be approved by him.

He wants to understand the specific situation first. There is no right to speak without investigation.

(End of chapter)

(End of this chapter)