Chapter 402: The Third in History

American media and newspapers, especially those with entertainment sections, generally rarely report on the three major European film festivals.

Unless a well-known American director or big star wins a major award, such cases might get a mention.

After all, the three major European festivals have gradually become outposts for the Oscars, or at least that is what the American media believes.

Although the three major European festivals do not admit it, it is true that they have compromised with Hollywood films in their actions one by one.

Just like this year's Berlin Film Festival, a total of 26 films were shortlisted for the main competition, with Hollywood alone accounting for 8, including both the opening and closing films.

The fixed awards at the three major European festivals are few, usually only around 8.

Yet this time in Berlin, Hollywood films took home two of the fixed awards: the Jury Grand Prix and the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.

Cannes and Venice are no better; in any case, among the films entering the main competition each year, Hollywood films are generally the most numerous of any country.

In other words, while the three major European festivals deny it with their words, they have in fact compromised quite thoroughly.

By convention, when an American-produced film wins an award at the Berlin Film Festival, major outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post would usually mention it.

Well, only in an unimportant and inconspicuous place in the entertainment section; after all, other prominent and important spaces are reserved for reporting on the upcoming Oscars and the gossip and schedules of numerous stars.

However, this time, some newspapers mentioned it in the most obscure corners, and some didn't even mention it at all.

Like the mainstream newspapers mentioned above, all of them reported the news of Cao Yang achieving the Grand Slam of Best Director at the three major European film festivals in prominent and important positions.

It was just that they played a few tricks in the format of the reporting.

For example, the Los Angeles Times wrote: After Director Cao Yang achieved the most important Oscar for Best Director and the Golden Globe for Best Director, he seemed to remember that he was still missing the Best Director award from the Berlin Film Festival.

Thus, after finishing the production of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and before this global blockbuster was released, Director Cao Yang used his spare time to improvise a Chinese-language film and won Best Director in Berlin.

With this, the great Hollywood director Cao Yang now possesses the Oscar for Best Director, the Golden Globe for Best Director, the Best Director award from Cannes, the Best Director award from Venice, and the Best Director award from the Berlin Film Festival.

He has achieved the Grand Slam of Best Director at the world's most important film festivals, the first time in history anyone has achieved such a feat...

The other newspapers had similar content, placing the Oscar for Best Director at the very front.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a global hit, its heat has not yet faded, and many countries with later release dates are still showing it; although it has already been pulled from mainstream theaters in the U.S., rural theaters are still screening it.

The lingering heat brought by the film, coupled with the "Grand Slam of Best Director at the world's most mainstream and important film festivals" reported here in the U.S., has once again made Cao Yang a hot topic before the Oscars.

His level of attention has risen sharply.

The U.S. has always repeatedly mentioned topics like equality for all and the absence of racial discrimination.

But in reality, racial discrimination is everywhere.

For example, for a director like Cao Yang who has very high influence and status in Hollywood, film companies and talent agencies know his value, otherwise they wouldn't have offered Cao Yang the highest-level profit-sharing agreement.

In the internal hierarchy of the major studios, Cao Yang's level is on par with the likes of Spielberg and James Cameron, who are still active today—absolutely super A-list.

Yet, many American media outlets previously referred to Cao Yang in their reports mostly as "a great director from China"...

Of course, this isn't exactly discrimination, but the condescension and exclusion between the lines were real.

However, after Cao Yang achieved the first Grand Slam of Best Director at the three major European festivals this time, it is somewhat funny that many media outlets actually used the title "a great director from Hollywood" when mentioning him.

It is as if Cao Yang has finally gained their approval.

It is fucking ironic.

After Cao Yang arrived in Los Angeles, he received calls from Tom Rothman, Robert Iger, Barry Meyer, and Sid Ganis in succession.

Tom Rothman has now been transferred to the position of Global Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures, and The Fault in Our Stars, which received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score at the Oscars, was something he spearheaded while still at Columbia Pictures.

He excitedly told Cao Yang over the phone that Amy Pascal, another Global Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures and President of Columbia Pictures, was eyeing the position of Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures, and in order to seek his support, the two had already reached some consensus.

As for what the consensus was, Tom Rothman didn't say, but Cao Yang could tell that for Tom Rothman, it should be a good thing.

As for the awards for The Fault in Our Stars, Tom Rothman told Cao Yang not to worry, as he would handle everything.

Cao Yang knew of the relationship between Tom Rothman and Oscar President Sid Ganis, and coupled with the massive buzz generated by the film back then, it would be unjustifiable for the Oscars not to give it an award.

Because under the initial clever maneuvering, this film was too politically correct.

Barry Meyer is the CEO of Warner Bros.; he called Cao Yang, firstly to congratulate him on becoming the first person in history to achieve the Grand Slam of Best Director at the three major European festivals, and secondly to ask when Cao Yang would have time to visit Warner Bros.

Cao Yang didn't need to think to know it must be about the release of Batman, which he collaborated on with Nolan, and the filming of the spin-off movie Joker.

He told Barry Meyer that he would go to Warner Bros. after the Oscars.

Sid Ganis is the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and also the President of the Oscars; his reason for seeking out Cao Yang was a bit unexpected—he wanted Cao Yang to present the Oscar for Best Director this year alongside Martin Scorsese.

Originally, the Best Director award is usually presented by the director who won Best Director the previous year; Martin Scorsese won it last year, and it was already set for him to present it this year.

Old Martin had also agreed, and he would be rushing back from Berlin to serve as a presenter.

But since Cao Yang has been in the spotlight so much lately, being the first person in history to achieve the Grand Slam of Best Director at the three major European festivals is quite the gimmick.

Coupled with the fact that the writers' strike had just ended, having various impacts, all of which were negative, Sid Ganis certainly had to think of ways to increase the attention and ratings of the Oscars.

Cao Yang's gimmick just happened to be perfect.

Having him present Best Director with Old Martin could both attract attention and enhance the prestige of the Oscar for Best Director.

Cao Yang considered it and agreed.

He has a pretty good relationship with Sid Ganis; before the latter was elected as Academy President, he was a senior executive at Columbia and even served as the executive producer when Cao Yang directed District 9.

Cao Yang thought that while Hollywood and the Oscars still have prestige in these few years, building a good relationship with Sid Ganis and racking up a few more awards wouldn't be bad.

As the CEO of Disney, Robert Iger not only called Cao Yang but also came to see him in person the next day.

"Congratulations on becoming the first person in history, my Mr. Best Director."

Robert Iger said to Cao Yang with a smile.