Chapter 359: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Yu Yu Feihong didn't say whether she would go to Los Angeles with Cao Yang for a while.

However, after Cao Yang finished the phone call, she put down her legs and sat up, combed her hair, and asked softly: "You just said that with more attempts, the probability increases?"

Then she touched it, grabbed the handle, and said with a smile: "You washed it clean, right?"

Then, the strange sounds in the room rang again, but this time it started with the sound of eating.

After Cao Yang arrived in Los Angeles, he first checked whether the CG special effects progress of "Pirates of the Caribbean" had stopped or had problems during his absence.

Fortunately, with the existence of the visual director, these problems were avoided to a certain extent. In the general direction, he only needed to communicate with the visual director.

According to the current progress, Cao Yang expects to complete all post-production work in August.

The wish-granting day activity created by "The Fault in Our Stars" is getting more and more intense. Now every wish-granting activity of "Wish Day" is highly anticipated, and there are very many people waiting for the video to go online every day.

Tang Mu Rothman, the executive director of Columbia and the producer of the film, told Cao Yang very happily that several cable TV stations had inquired about the copyright, and they also saw this unparalleled attention.

In the conversation, some TV stations wanted to make it into a reality show, and some TV stations said they wanted to make it into an unprecedented public welfare variety show.

Public welfare? Variety show?

What is this?

Could it be that the TV stations in the US are so kind that they will donate all proceeds to public welfare undertakings by then?

Tang Mu Rothman smiled and explained, "Just set up a public welfare account, and then put part of the proceeds into the public welfare account. This part can be tax-exempt and can be under the name of public welfare."

Fine, no matter what it is called, or in what form it exists, the root will not change, everything is profit-oriented.

Cao Yang doesn't care how they engage in it. This is the US. By then, just share the benefits generated according to the contract.

Cao Yang calculated that the wish-granting activity said to fulfill the wishes of 100 seriously ill children and teenagers, which happens to be completed on August 6th.

That is to say, according to the plan, "The Fault in Our Stars" will be released on August 6th.

August 6th is a Monday, not a traditional release day. Generally, Hollywood films will choose to be released on Friday, because their weekly box office rankings only compare the three days of the weekend.

If it is released on Monday, under normal circumstances, it will certainly affect the first week's box office performance and ranking.

Weekly box office ranking is an important reference for many North American audiences when deciding to watch a film.

After the release, the weekly box office ranking can also play an extremely important promotional effect.

"Tang Mu, August 6th is a Monday. Do you mind being released that day?" Cao Yang asked.

Tang Mu Rothman was just stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"My dear director, you are still too inflexible. Think about it, we have never said that we must fulfill one child's wish every day."

He looked at Cao Yang proudly and continued: "We just need to artificially increase some difficulties from these so-called wishes, or let the children say they are not satisfied. What can we do?

Then we can only fulfill their wishes again.

In this way, it can also show that we are sincerely keen on public welfare, not afraid of difficulties and trouble. Isn't this something worth singing about?"

This time it was Cao Yang's turn to be silent.

Tang Mu Rothman was right. As long as the seriously ill children or teenagers are allowed to say to the camera that the wish fulfilled today is a bit unsatisfactory, then the crew can very "righteously" fulfill a wish for this "troublesome" child again.

Audiences who don't know the truth will certainly be moved by the crew and Columbia.

As for why the last wish was fulfilled just in time for the Friday release, who cares about this?

"Fine, I have no problem."

In a blink of an eye, it was late July.

On July 28th, the Venice Film Festival announced the list of films shortlisted for the main competition unit.

Domestic media took a look, good guy, almost instantly went crazy.

This time, it can be considered a "bumper harvest" for Chinese-language films.

The mainland has two films selected for the main competition unit, namely Old Tian's "Pieta" and Zhuang Zhuang Yuxin's "Teeth of Love."

A co-production between the mainland and Xiangjiang was selected for one, which is Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises." Because this film had investment from Xiangjiang, it was made into a co-production at the time.

Wanwan selected one, Li Kang-sheng's "Help Me Eros."

There is also a co-production between China and the US, Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution."

This 64th Venice International Film Festival has a total of 5 films entering the main competition unit.

Domestic media saw five Chinese-language films selected, and the first reaction must be that Chinese-language films are about to rise. Well, even if it is not a real rise, it is also developing toward the good.

This is certainly worth reporting extensively.

They don't know that Cao Yang had "calculated" "Lust, Caution" with Han Zong a year ago. They don't know about the appearance of "Lust, Caution."

But Cao Yang was stunned.

He had heard Han Zong say a while ago that because the copyright was unclear, "Lust, Caution" did not pass the censorship in the country.

For this reason, Ang Lee also mobilized a lot of relationships and even went to the Film Bureau. In the end, it seemed to be shirked by each other, and the matter was delayed. It seems that wanting to pass the censorship is still far away.

Therefore, "Lust, Caution" at this time certainly has not passed the censorship.

Like this kind of film with unclear copyright, as a Venice Film Festival with international influence, it should not be accepted.

Cao Yang originally wanted to call the Venice Film Festival chairman Marco Mueller to ask. After thinking about it, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, he decided to call Han Zong first. Han Zong must know about this matter.

However, before he could call Han Zong, his phone rang.

Cao Yang thought it was Han Zong who had a tacit understanding with him and called.

Unexpectedly, it was Old Ma who called.

"Old Ma, I was just about to call you."

Cao Yang connected the phone and said with a smile first.

No need to think, Old Ma must have called for the matter of "Lust, Caution." In order to show that he was not at all alienated from him and had no grudge, Cao Yang preemptively said it.

"Haha, is it because of Ang Lee's 'Lust, Caution'?"

Old Ma asked.

He knew about Ang Lee's film with copyright disputes. Before the list of Venice main competition unit nominations was announced, he had called Cao Yang.

Old Ma certainly is not sensitive to the content of "Lust, Caution," nor will he think about the inner meaning. After all, for Italians, the content that the so-called "traitor" finally survives, love is higher than the country, etc., is it not very normal?

Italy has never felt that surrender and changing camps are shameful, but rather proud, feeling that they have made a decision that conforms to the "ancestors."

Therefore, Old Ma didn't care about the connotation of "Lust, Caution," just feeling that this is a film co-produced by the internationally famous director Ang Lee and Hollywood, which is enough.

Even, he specifically called Cao Yang at the time, wanting to ask if Cao Yang could come forward to solve the copyright dispute of "Lust, Caution."

In his thinking, aren't these all Chinese-language films?

Cao Yang explained the connotation of "Lust, Caution" to Old Ma at the time, as well as the fact that copyright disputes are difficult to solve.

Old Ma is a smart person, doesn't understand the national conditions of China, but respects it.

He can roughly hear Cao Yang's meaning. Finally, he smiled and let Cao Yang rest assured.

Is this how you let me rest assured?

This is also the reason why Cao Yang didn't think about calling Old Ma for the first time, fearing that he would be unhappy with Old Ma because of this matter.

"Haha, Brother Cao, you can't blame me for this, blame yourself."

Old Ma said with a smile.

His words made Cao Yang stunned. How did you blame me?

Old Ma then continued: "Brother, look, at the beginning of the year, you can go to Berlin to be the chairman of the jury, but a while ago, I asked you to come to Venice, and you pushed back and forth, saying you were busy...

Haha, I can understand you, knowing that you have several projects in your hands.

However, you know, the Venice Film Festival is not like before. Whether it is attention or influence, it is declining. You don't come to increase exposure and bring influence to Venice, so I am also anxious."

Cao Yang was silent. He could hear Old Ma's dissatisfaction with him not going to the Venice Film Festival to be the chairman of the jury.

Old Ma continued: "So, I played a small trick and let 'Lust, Caution' enter the main competition unit.

Ang Lee's fame is great, and his influence is also great. If there is a dispute by then, then there will be more people paying attention, which can be considered to bring some attention to Venice."

Cao Yang understood Old Ma's meaning. He was preparing to let this matter ferment and cause a dispute. By then, he would say that "Lust, Caution" concealed the copyright dispute, hold a press conference to formally apologize to the audience, and then take "Lust, Caution" down...

This wave of traffic is considered to be there.

However, it is mixed with good and bad.

The attention is there, but the negative impact is certainly not small.

Others will certainly question the authority of the Venice Film Festival. How could it not even discover a film with unclear copyright?

The greater the dispute, the higher the attention.

I guess Old Ma doesn't care about this negative impact.

You can't think about the ideas of Italians according to normal logic.

The Venice Film Festival has done many strange things, and it doesn't care about one more.

"This matter will hit the credibility of the Venice Film Festival. Are you not afraid that the impact caused cannot be saved?" Cao Yang still reminded Old Ma.

Old Ma laughed again and laughed for a long time.

Cao Yang thought about whether Old Ma had a problem, and Old Ma stopped.

"Brother, do you know? Venice has always had opinions on me serving as both the film festival chairman and the artistic director. Some people want me to resign as the artistic director under the name of my excessive attention to Chinese-language films.

Do you know, brother, they secretly decided on the candidates behind my back. This is absolutely unforgivable!"

Old Ma's tone was a bit excited.

Probably realizing that he was out of state, Old Ma took a deep breath and said softly with a smile: "Ang Lee and Hollywood's Focus Features thought I didn't know about the copyright, so they came directly to me.

But you have already told me about the copyright dispute, so I pretended not to know about the copyright, and hinted to them that I am now going to be overhead, and the position of artistic director will not be kept after the film festival...

Let them find a new artistic director..."

Cao Yang could clearly hear again this time that Old Ma's handling of this matter was a bit proud.

The matter is already very clear. As long as the copyright dispute of "Lust, Caution" is exposed, the prestige of the Venice Film Festival will be affected, so does someone need to be responsible?

Who is primarily responsible?

It must be the candidate for artistic director who pushed "Lust, Caution" out.

Fuck, didn't expect Old Ma to be an old silver coin.

Cao Yang just thought that Old Ma didn't care about the prestige of the Venice Film Festival being affected for the sake of attention.

It turns out he was waiting here.

In this way, he can increase attention because of the famous director's dispute time, and he can also get rid of his potential competitors.

People who can climb to a high position and stand firm, no matter at home or abroad, are not simple.

"How do you want me to cooperate?"

Cao Yang asked.

Old Ma laughed again and said: "Ang Lee is your Chinese after all. The impact of you coming forward is not good. You don't need to worry about this matter. I will handle it properly before the film festival opens."

Cao Yang also felt Old Ma's personality "charm" again.

First complain, making you feel guilty.

Then explain to you without reservation, making you feel that everyone is still the closest person.

Finally, he is very "considerate" and lets you not intervene, completely thinking for you.

After a set of combination punches, ordinary young people certainly can't hold it, right?

Cao Yang shook his head. He and Old Ma are two parallel lines, basically will not produce conflicts of interest, so just keep an eye on it, don't need to deliberately guard against this old guy.

Domestic media can actually find out that "Lust, Caution" has not passed the censorship.

However, because "Lust, Caution" is jointly invested by Xiangjiang Edko and Hollywood's Focus Features, it seems that there are several hidden investors. As long as this kind of film doesn't want to be screened in the country, the country certainly won't care about media reports.

So domestic media have been reporting extensively these days.

Many headlines are also very bluffing.

"Chinese-language films occupy Venice, this is a grand ceremony for Chinese-language filmmakers."

"Who will win the Golden Lion? It is highly likely that Chinese-language films will win."

"Ang Lee, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Jiang Wen, who can laugh last?"

Ang Lee hung up the phone and sighed. The other party didn't fool him, directly telling him that as long as he could handle the copyright well, the mainland release would certainly be no problem.

This is exactly what Ang Lee is having a headache about.

The copyright of "Lust, Caution" is too scattered. The copyright in Wanwan is actually easy to say. He spent a lot of money to buy it, but who knew that a part of the copyright had already been traded before this.

This is the most headache-inducing place.

It is precisely this company that bought part of the copyright that is preparing to sue him for infringement all over the world.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 360 =====