[{"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-395":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},2297395,4493,"Chapter 395: First Meeting in Berlin","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-395",395,"\u003Cp>The Berlin International Film Festival and the Oscars were scheduled so close together that they almost overlapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, the Berlin International Film Festival announced its final list for the main competition section on January 18, while the Oscars announced their nominations on January 22—a difference of only four days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Berlin International Film Festival is scheduled from February 7 to 18, which means the awards ceremony will be held on February 18.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oscars awards ceremony is on February 24, six days after the Berlin International Film Festival's awards ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means that after Cao Yang attends the Berlin International Film Festival, he will have almost no time to stay in Berlin for social engagements before he has to rush to Los Angeles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oscars also require rehearsals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this is based on the premise that Cao Yang's *Manchester by the Sea* can win an award; if it cannot, there would be no need to stay until the end, and even less reason to stay for a series of official and unofficial social engagements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, in order to expand his influence, Dieter Kosslick, the chairman of the Berlin International Film Festival, has gone to great lengths to build a good relationship with Cao Yang, and he is dangling the Berlin Golden Bear in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a relationship of mutual interest, how could Dieter Kosslick possibly play Cao Yang for a fool?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Berlin Golden Bear might be a bit difficult, but winning an award is not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang himself knows that winning the Golden Bear is a bit difficult, but since he is going to the Berlin International Film Festival, he certainly has to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying might still offer a chance, and even if he doesn't win, it might make Dieter Kosslick feel indebted to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given this, Cao Yang decided to go to Berlin a week early to see if he could maneuver things; he had to try, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside personal factors—such as the current Venice Film Festival chairman Marco Müller, who is clearly friendly toward China—the Berlin International Film Festival is actually the most China-friendly among the three major European film festivals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there is one point about the Berlin International Film Festival that is extremely unfriendly toward China: its schedule, as it is held almost every year during the Spring Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, the Berlin International Film Festival opens on February 7, which happens to be the first day of the Lunar New Year in China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang going to Berlin seven days early means he will be unable to spend the New Year at home again this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Cao Yang, Ning Hao, whom he sent to serve as an executive producer on the set of *The Dark Knight* directed by Nolan, returned to the country before Cao Yang set off for Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How was it? Those Americans didn't give you a hard time, did they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang gestured for Ning Hao to sit down and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao did not sit down, but instead went to brew two cups of tea, placed one in front of Cao Yang, and then sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could they? They know I'm your person, and on top of that, I'm an executive producer with significant authority; who would dare give me a hard time? They aren't idiots; they certainly wouldn't want to be kicked off the set.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ning Hao spoke, he took two boxes of cigars out of his bag, pulled open the drawer in front of him, put them inside, and didn't forget to add:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Nolan is also quite nice; he was very friendly to me and very supportive of my work. With your support and Director Nolan's, wouldn't I be able to walk sideways on set?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang pointed at the drawer and scolded with a smile: \"You rascal, are you trying to bribe me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, look at what you're saying, that's not it at all, these aren't for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao smiled and explained: \"Doesn't Old Situ love to smoke? These were given to me by Director Nolan while I was on set; he said they were purely handmade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he winked at Cao Yang with an expression everyone understood and whispered: \"They say these were hand-rolled on a virgin's thighs; the Americans with some power really love this sort of thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he continued in a normal voice: \"You know, I'm not used to smoking this stuff, so keeping it here would be a waste, which is why I thought of Old Situ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'm not very close with the old gentleman, so I'll trouble you to make a trip and help me deliver them to Old Situ.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang smiled and pointed a finger at Ning Hao; this guy's emotional intelligence was beyond reproach, and he had some real talent, so it was inevitable that he would make a name for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, there's one more thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao whispered mysteriously again: \"You know I shot an MV for Da Tiantian before, right? That little girl in your new movie, the one named Jing Tian, she's a student at our Beijing Film Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm-hmm, I know. It's said that to invite a director like you, who has over 100 million in box office, to take this job, they spent quite a lot of money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao looked embarrassed, scratched the back of his head, and chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yesterday, Jing Tian's agency contacted me again and asked me how much money it would take to win the Best Newcomer Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao chuckled again and whispered: \"They know my relationship with you, so they certainly couldn't ask you directly, which is why they used me to inquire about the possibility. They are willing to spend up to 20 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Best Newcomer Actress...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang pondered for a moment and did not answer directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This award is not a permanent award at the Berlin International Film Festival; it is a consolation-type award, and also one specifically created when the cake cannot be divided evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Cao Yang, this award is like a chicken rib—tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away—but for a newcomer just starting out, it is an opportunity for rapid fame; after all, no matter what, it is still a Berlin Silver Bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her role has too few scenes; it's not suitable for winning Best Newcomer Actress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang said to Ning Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Cao Yang, it would be very easy to maneuver a consolation-type award like Best Newcomer Actress, and the Berlin International Film Festival chairman Dieter Kosslick would also be very happy to let Cao Yang \"owe\" him a favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to maneuver for Best Newcomer for a role with so few lines is just not necessary; it's not worth using up a favor for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn't a matter of money; money is just a number to Cao Yang now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, *New Pirates of the Caribbean*, which is still in theaters, has already reached 960 million USD in global box office, and it really might have a shot at 1 billion USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have to know that once the global box office reaches 1 billion USD, according to Cao Yang's contract with Disney, his share will directly increase to the astronomical figure of 25%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if calculated at just 1 billion USD, 25% is 250 million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps some people will think this percentage is too high and simply impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who says that just doesn't understand Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First of all, this 25% percentage was never a standard practice, but a tiered contract that scales up with the box office, somewhat similar to a gambling agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this movie doesn't reach 1 billion USD in global box office, Cao Yang's share percentage would fall into the 800 million USD bracket; according to the agreement, he would get an 18% share of the global box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, for a super A-list production like this, given Cao Yang's current status and influence, a reasonable share percentage is about 10% to 13%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, considering Cao Yang's track record of never having a failed movie, people in Hollywood are also very superstitious; they are very superstitious about constant winners, so this maximum percentage could still be negotiated, but under normal circumstances, it is impossible to exceed 15%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, don't think that Disney isn't making money by giving Cao Yang a 25% share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a movie can reach the 1 billion USD level, they will only make more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once it reaches the 1 billion USD level, whether the box office makes money or not doesn't really matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are all small change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real big money is the expected return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, if Disney releases a 1 billion USD-level movie, it will definitely cause a massive surge in the stock market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a market capitalization of hundreds or thousands of billions, a casual surge is not just a matter of a few hundred million USD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that, if Disney releases a sequel plan, they can make another fortune on the stock market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's just the stock market; there are also subsequent peripheral revenues, disc rentals and on-demand revenues, new media copyright revenues, etc., which is another wave of significant small change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's more, what is Disney famous for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it's their theme parks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is foreseeable that if *New Pirates of the Caribbean* becomes a huge hit, it will definitely drive a wave of global enthusiasm for visiting this amusement project; an increase in the number of visitors can also be reflected in the stock market...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, don't think this share percentage is unrealistic; Hollywood has a so-called \"20 Million Club.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this is not a real club, but a term to describe a Hollywood star whose salary reaches 20 million USD after a movie becomes a huge hit, and the share percentage can be as high as 20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>20% is not the limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for sequel movies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Hollywood movies, generally, as long as they haven't signed a multi-film contract in advance, why do most sequels only have three parts even if they are profitable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is because after three parts, the stars' salaries and shares can be terrifyingly high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*The Avengers* is popular enough, right? Why is it hard to keep filming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the salaries and shares of the several leads are so high that they make the producers shrink back.\u003C\u002Fp>",1746,"2026-06-20T05:36:33.260Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","28c4236f7eb9e589e608bab44712a4770e20788323a47af78949b48a3efc34f5","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-396","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-394",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]