Chapter 374: More Popular

Cheng Long had been waiting for news in Jingcheng for the past few days.

Moreover, he and his team had also reached a consensus in the past few days.

If Cao Yang's new film used him as the male lead, he could forgo profit sharing and could also forgo his salary, but he couldn't say that to the outside world.

The team's suggestion to him was that he could invest 15 million in Cao Yang's new film in the name of a new company, or in the name of the Cheng Long Emperor Motion Picture Company, a joint venture between Cheng Long and Emperor.

And this 15 million would be used entirely as Cheng Long's salary, and this 15 million investment would not ask for film copyright, nor would it ask for mainland box office profit sharing.

If possible, giving the Xiangjiang distribution rights would be best; if not, just giving the Xiangjiang profit sharing would also be fine.

This was actually a compromise method.

With Cheng Long's name and influence as an international superstar, joining without a salary or with very little salary would not only disrupt Cheng Long's external quotes, but also make people feel he was "too fawning."

It was unfavorable to his image.

And 15 million was a relatively "reasonable" number.

The salary for the film "The Forbidden Kingdom" that Cheng Long just finished shooting with Li Lianjie was 10 million USD for both him and Li Lianjie.

But this film was a commercial film, and the salary only had reference value.

Stars generally halved their salaries when participating in art films, and when participating in art films by big directors, especially those with hope of winning awards, they would give another discount on the halved salary.

According to the current exchange rate, 10 million USD was over 60 million RMB; halving it was over 30 million, and giving another discount, 15 million was a reasonable salary, and it wouldn't damage his own image.

After all, as everyone knew, since Cao the Great Director debuted, all the art films he shot could win awards, and they were all heavyweight awards.

Participating in Cao the Great Director's art films, halving the salary and then giving another discount, was considered a consensus and routine operation for stars.

Even super superstars like Depp and DiCaprio were no exception.

Even so, a crowd of big stars were still flocking to it.

Especially given Cheng Long's current awkward situation, in order to establish a connection and get on good terms with Cao Yang, and in order to give himself a "decent" ending, this wasn't just a matter of lowering his salary.

As the saying goes, opportunity is reserved for those who are prepared.

Cheng Long did everything he could, and he also got this opportunity.

The method he discussed with his team was very satisfactory to Cao Yang, the Youth Film Studio, and China Film Group.

Since Cheng Long made such a big concession, which was almost the same as not wanting a salary, Cao Yang finally made the decision to hand over the Xiangjiang film distribution rights to him for operation.

How should one describe the box office market in Xiangjiang now? It was almost completely cold, but occasionally it could still return to its soul.

Thus, the actors for "Ties to the Seaside City," which was "Manchester by the Sea," were almost all in place.

Well, actually, it was still missing the role of the male lead's ex-wife.

Cao Yang originally wanted Sister Hong to play this role; she would most likely be able to win a Best Supporting Actress award in the country with this role.

However, when visiting the "Forever Enthralled" crew, the words Sister Hong said to Cao Yang on the way made Cao Yang hesitate, so he didn't open his mouth to invite her.

When he was in Los Angeles, he could still say he was muddled... well, that was "Baizhi."

But now Sister Hong looked a bit resentful, which made people feel embarrassed.

If he let Sister Hong play the role of the male lead's ex-wife, and then met "Baizhi" when shooting in Xiangjiang, Cao Yang wasn't unconfident in himself; he was just unconfident in the feng shui of the Beijing Film Academy's directing department.

Forget it, forget it.

It is fine to do some wild things with men or women abroad, but in China, one must keep a respectful distance from married women or women who have boyfriends.

After all, the feng shui of the Beijing Film Academy's directing department was too bad, and it was easy to affect people from the directing department.

Let Yu Feihong, who had no desires, play this role; only she currently had a schedule.

The film's preparation work naturally had people following up; what Cao Yang had to do now was to gather a few actors with more scenes and give them a symbolic explanation of the play.

The reason why it was said to be symbolic was that Cao Yang didn't intend to talk for too long, expected to be about ten days, mainly to let everyone familiarize themselves with the film's plot and their respective roles.

Old Tian started to get busy.

"Pieta" had been scheduled for November 1st, still more than a month away, but Old Tian took Fu Dalong, Kara Wai, and other main actors to appear frequently in media reports.

Old Tian was relatively active this time; he had awards, his status had improved, and the only thing he thought about now was that the box office of "Pieta" could also be higher.

If it were a few years ago, Old Tian would still disdain the box office, but with the changes in the film circle's atmosphere in recent years, and with the improvement of Old Tian's status today, looking at problems naturally changed.

Different positions and heights could indeed change a person's vision and point of view.

It wasn't until Cheng Long joined the crew and participated in Cao Yang's explanation of the play before shooting that he saw the complete script for the first time.

It couldn't be said that it was the first time he saw the complete script; it was the first time he saw the script and the first time he knew what story this film was going to tell.

Of course, there were still a few directors in the country who, even until the actors joined the crew, might not necessarily understand the script or know what the director was going to shoot.

For example, Wong Kar-wai, for example, Jiang Wen.

But for Cheng Long, it was indeed the first time he had volunteered to act without knowing what the film was going to shoot, without knowing the film's specific investment, without knowing who the film's actors were, etc., almost knowing nothing.

Cheng Long read the script from the morning until nearly twelve o'clock at night, reading it several times, before finally determining what the film was going to shoot.

It was precisely because after reading the script content for the first time, he suspected that he hadn't understood it or had missed something, that he read it over and over again until twelve o'clock at night.

After determining that he understood the content of the script, he was confused.

This script... was too counter-intuitive.

According to the general direction of the script, shouldn't the male lead be "influenced" by his nephew, or see hope from his nephew, and then walk out of the haze, walk out of autism, walk out of self-punishment?

Shouldn't he finally reconcile with life?

That was the normal brain circuit, the normal plot direction, okay!

How could a film be "depressed" to the end!

Even if it was an art film, it shouldn't be that you couldn't see a glimmer of hope!

Is it really good to shoot like this? Too "depressed."

If this were changed to another director, even Zhang Yimou, Cheng Long would immediately go to discuss the plot with the director—you at least have to let people see even a glimmer of hope.

But the director and screenwriter of this film were Cao Yang, which made Cheng Long hold back the idea of discussing it in his heart.

But this idea rolled repeatedly in his heart, making him really restless, and he didn't know why he was restless; in short, it was a breath stuck in his heart, and he couldn't let go, so he was completely sleepless.

The next day, after Cao Yang finished explaining the play to everyone, he specially kept Cheng Long and asked: "You have a general understanding of the film's content, right?"

Cheng Long's eyes were a bit red; he nodded and said: "I read the script from yesterday morning until... very late, read it several times, and roughly understood the content of the script."

"Do you have anything you don't understand or don't comprehend? If you do, just speak it out; if you have doubts and suspicions in your heart, you definitely can't invest in the film's shooting."

Cao Yang said.

If you have doubts about the film, suspicions about the content, and different views, even if you can add an immersive experience, you need more immersive experiences to achieve the effect.

This was the experience Cao Yang summarized.

Cheng Long hesitated for a moment, but since Cao Dao said so, he felt that asking about the parts he didn't understand was a very normal thing, right?

Well, this wasn't questioning.

Therefore, Cheng Long tried to use a more tactful tone and said: "Cao Dao, the male lead realized his mistake, and also punished himself for his negligence for so many years; shouldn't he be given a glimmer of hope for redemption?"

Cao Yang didn't explain too much, but said: "Did you notice in the script that the male lead went out to buy things when the house caught fire?"

Cheng Long was stunned for a moment; he definitely read this part, but he didn't pay much attention to the details of this part—speaking of which, does this have anything to do with the question he wanted to ask?

However, he still took out the script, quickly flipped to this part, and then saw the script write: After the male lead's party with friends at home was interrupted by his wife, the friends left sensibly.

He thought about it repeatedly and felt that what his wife said also made sense; the children were still so young after all, and they should rest early.

But he also felt a bit sorry for his friends, and had guilt towards his friends in his heart.

When he was cleaning up the wine bottles and cigarette butts on the ground, his wife asked him if he bought diapers when he came back today? She said there weren't enough diapers at home.

He remembered this time; he was just thinking about the small gathering with friends and forgot about this.

Therefore, in a hurry, he left the wine bottles, cigarette butts, tissues, and other garbage he cleaned up in the trash can beside the sofa, didn't have time to throw them out, and hurriedly went out to buy them.

When he bought them and came back, he found that the house had already caught fire...

The police investigation report afterwards showed that it was an unextinguished cigarette butt that ignited the tissues, and those wines with some residual brandy were just the type that was easy to ignite.

Therefore, the fire burning in the trash can spread to the sofa beside it, thereby igniting the entire house.

"He felt that he was the culprit who caused all this, because it was his negligence that burned three children to death, so he couldn't walk out." Cheng Long closed the script and said softly.

But since he made an unforgivable mistake, why couldn't he be given a glimmer of hope and sunshine?

"The protagonist is a kind person; his wife lost her temper in public and interrupted his party with friends, and he felt guilty towards his friends.

But he didn't blame his wife, feeling that it was so late, it really affected the children's rest... the kinder a person is, the more they will self-condemn and feel guilty, the less easy it is to walk out, and the less easy it is to forgive themselves."

Cao Yang sighed, shook his head, and then added with emotion, "Precisely because he is kind."

"Kind?"

Cheng Long was a bit confused.

He had seen all kinds of people in Xiangjiang, and had seen even more outrageous people in Hollywood, but truly kind people—it wasn't that there weren't any, but they were very few.

Kind people were easier to be bullied, but they also had more sympathy.

So after Cheng Long saw that kind people didn't have good rewards, he kept warning himself that he could be smooth, could be loyal to brothers, and could even have sympathy, but he couldn't be kind for no reason.

So, is this human nature?

At this moment, Cheng Long seemed to have realized.

"Cao Dao, I understand; you want to explore the good and evil of human nature, explore self-punishment and redemption, and explore deeper self-cognition, sense of responsibility, and free will through the perspective of such a kind character!

The protagonist's self-cognition is guilty, which can also be seen from his grabbing the police officer's gun to commit suicide at the police station, and all of this stems from his sense of responsibility.

He has the freedom to live in guilt and not forgive himself; this is the embodiment of everyone's free will."

After speaking, Cheng Long looked at Cao Yang with incomparable admiration.

Cao Dao is really too amazing; no wonder the films he shot, whether art films or commercial films, are classic films.

Cao Yang looked up at the sky, then nodded.

"You analyzed it very well; remember these contents you analyzed, um, it will help you better bring yourself into the role."

Ending the conversation with Cheng Long, Cao Yang sighed a bit; human potential is really infinite, and imagination is also infinite... really good.

On October 2nd, Cao Yang took Cheng Long, Yu Feihong, Zhu Yilong, Old Tian, plus Yang Mi, Jing Tian, and other main and secondary actors to hold the opening press conference for "Ties to the Seaside City."

As for why Yang Mi and Jing Tian were brought along, actually Yang Mi was brought along, and Jing Tian was brought out to let her show her face.

Someone threw 20 million in, didn't want copyright, didn't want profit sharing, just wanted to show her face in some occasions, such as press conferences, such as film festivals, etc., as long as Jing Tian was brought out to show her face.

If you think this is too superficial and loses Cao Dao's force.

You can understand it as someone spending 20 million to place an advertisement in the film, just needing to show the "product" in specific occasions.

And this "product" was Jing Tian.

Cao Yang didn't want to do things he wasn't willing to do for a mere 20 million at first.

Then, when people persuaded him, it was the above statement.

Cao Yang thought, someone spent 20 million to buy a patch advertisement, just needing to show up in specific occasions; was he willing?

The answer was, as long as it didn't affect the film's plot and wouldn't cause discomfort to the audience's senses, Cao Yang was willing to accept it.

And would bringing Da Tiantian to attend a press conference and participate in a film festival affect the film?

Of course not!

It wasn't for her that he had to change the plot.

Just a matter of convenience.

Since there was no impact, he agreed.

This press conference was held in Jingcheng; many indoor scenes in the film were shot in the Youth Film Studio's studio.

Cao Yang combined with Cheng Long—the number one director in China, the most famous international big director, combined with the number one film superstar in China, the most famous Chinese film star in Hollywood—this combination was absolutely a king-bomb level.

So the small press conference venue was crowded with media reporters who came; this undoubtedly counted as the most explosive entertainment news of the year.

"Cao Dao, we noticed that "The Fault in Our Stars," which you produced and wrote in Hollywood, won 200 million USD at the North American box office; that was a very moving romance film.

And "Ties to the Seaside City" also looks like an incomparably wonderful romantic romance film; are you trying to replicate the success of "The Fault in Our Stars" in the country?"

In the Q&A session, the reporter who was called stood up and asked.

Cheng Long almost laughed out loud.

"Ties to the Seaside City" is an incomparably wonderful romantic romance film?

Okay, listening to the title, it really is.

I hope you can walk out of the cinema laughing when the time comes.

""The Fault in Our Stars" is unique, and "Ties to the Seaside City" is also unique; they cannot be compared together; I can only say that these are two completely different films."

Cao Yang replied.

He said it, and it was equal to saying nothing.

Reporters also naturally thought that "Ties to the Seaside City" should be a different type of romantic romance film from "The Fault in Our Stars."

It wasn't strange that reporters thought so; "Ties to the Seaside City," listen to this title, it sounds very romantic, okay?

"Cao Dao, does your cooperation with Cheng Long mean that this romantic film is full of comedy and fighting elements?"

Another reporter who was called asked.

It wasn't strange that he thought so; what was Cheng Long's label?

Action comedy star.

Using specially designed actions to produce comedy effects.

Cao Yang thought about it; comedy was not there, as for fighting, the male lead had two fights with people in the film; did that count as fighting?

"This is a brand new attempt; I hope it can satisfy you when the time comes."

When the reporters heard this, they couldn't help but think, did Cao Dao's answer mean that Cao Dao was going to try to add comedy fighting elements?

Very likely.

"Brother Cheng Long, I want to ask, for your first cooperation with Cao Dao, do you have anything you want to say?"

A Xiangjiang reporter asked.

Cheng Long repositioned the microphone in front of him, letting the microphone be closer to him, and he also took the opportunity to lean forward a bit.

In this way, the microphone was almost going to poke his mouth.

"Cao Dao is the director I respect the most, and also the director I most want to cooperate with; being chosen by Cao Dao this time is my honor."

Looking at the reporters below, especially some reporters from Xiangjiang, he continued to say:

"You might not have been stationed in Hollywood and don't quite understand the influence of Cao Dao Yang; let's put it this way, you should all know Director Spielberg, right?

In Hollywood today, if you interview those stars or super superstars and ask them if they want to cooperate with Cao Dao Yang or Director Spielberg, they might say, both."

After saying this, seeing those reporters below thoughtful, he continued:

"However, what I want to say is, what if this question can only have one option?"

He laughed and said in a joking tone: "Perhaps female stars who want to win awards will mostly choose the young and handsome Cao Dao Yang."

The reporters below also followed suit and laughed.

However, some reporters were also thoughtful.

As everyone knew, the few films Cao Yang shot in Hollywood didn't promote any female stars.

Instead, he promoted Depp to two consecutive Oscars for Best Actor, and Mark Ruffalo to the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in "Milk."

Cheng Long said female stars were more willing to choose Cao Yang for the sake of awards, but what about male stars? Cao Yang promoted male stars in Hollywood.

Does this mean that in Hollywood, compared to Spielberg, whether male or female stars are more willing to choose Cao Yang?

This thought couldn't help but make the thoughtful reporters gasp in surprise.

Is this true?

They looked at Cheng Long.

It was Cheng Long whose emotional intelligence was high, and he didn't directly make a comparison to say that answer, but adopted this way.

It turned out that unconsciously, Cao Dao was already a director more popular than Spielberg!

Being more popular with stars, does it mean having greater influence?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 375 =====