Chapter 70: Intertwined Relationships

Bellman's first reaction was, this is impossible!

Who do you think you are?

In Hollywood, except for a few big directors, even Ang Lee cannot get control, let alone you, a... a Golden Lion director in his twenties?

Hmm? In his twenties! Two Best Actresses in one year!

Such a young Golden Lion director, and can promote people. If he can be bound to himself, what Sony Classics, this small company, how can it accommodate two giants!

A thought kept rolling in Bellman's heart: bind him, promise him, promise him everything. This is the future, this is power, this is everything...

"Mr. Cao, we have cooperated very happily, and I am also very optimistic about your future, so some things are only said in private."

"Hollywood is different from your country, and it is different from Europe. It is a very realistic, very sober, and extremely ruthless place."

"As a newcomer director entering Hollywood, even if you have won the Golden Lion award, this only guarantees everyone's recognition of your directing ability, but it does not represent recognition of your box office ability."

"According to my understanding of Hollywood and my own experience, for projects over ten million US dollars, it is difficult for you to have much autonomy. For those under ten million US dollars, it can only guarantee you are relatively free, that is, just a little bit."

Even a few million dollars is not a small amount, and it didn't come from a strong wind. Who knows what kind of things these art-film directors who consider themselves artists will make for you with this money without constraints.

Fortunately, Cao Yang has two major advantages: he is young and can promote actors.

"Relatively free?"

Cao Yang thought quickly. What is relative freedom? Can he suppress the producer? It is estimated to be impossible.

To stand firm in Hollywood for the time being, the first movie must either explode at the box office or win an award.

"If, I mean if, I can win another Jin Xiong or Palme d'Or, can I have greater freedom in Hollywood?"

"This is impossible."

Bellman shook his head regretfully and said frankly to Cao Yang: "Cao, I think your path now is wrong."

"Oh?"

"You have won the Golden Lion now, which fully proves your directing ability. It doesn't matter if you win the Jin Xiong or Palme d'Or in the short term; the impact won't be too big."

"But there is one point that will have a huge impact on you."

Bellman saw that Cao Yang was listening carefully, so he continued: "Your advantage over others is that you have produced two international Best Actresses in one year. This can also make Hollywood actresses look at you differently, and even have huge attraction for some actresses who want to win awards."

"What does Mr. Bellman mean?"

"Prove yourself! Prove yourself in this regard. As long as you prove once again that being able to produce a Best Actress or Best Actor is not an accident, then it is more useful than winning a Jin Xiong or Palme d'Or, more popular with Hollywood capital, and more popular with Hollywood stars."

"Is that so?"

"Mr. Cao, don't believe it. A director who has won the top prize at the three major European festivals is definitely not as popular in Hollywood as a director who can produce a Best Actress or Best Actor."

Bellman thought Cao Yang didn't believe it, so he quickly explained: "The reason is very simple. Movies shot by Golden Lion award-winning directors, as long as they don't win Oscar awards, the box office generally won't be very high."

"And what about directors who can produce Best Actresses or Best Actors?"

"Those stars and superstars who have already proven themselves at the box office, in order to win awards, will definitely join with a pay cut, and some will even join for free. With their box office appeal, when the movie is released, it can easily break ten million at the box office. This is the reason."

Capital pursues profit. To put it bluntly, it is still caused by the two words of interest.

"What if I produce another Best Actress at the three major European festivals?"

Bellman said in a very affirmative tone: "As long as you can produce another Best Actress, it proves that you have extraordinary ability to train actors. By then, when you go to Hollywood, let alone ten million, even an investment of twenty million, there will definitely be companies very willing to give you complete autonomy."

Cao Yang carefully considered Bellman's words. His statement should be somewhat reasonable.

For example, if a superstar in Hollywood's twenty-million club, like Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt, wants to win an award, they have to take on art films. Then what about the pay? Still twenty million plus a share?

Are you kidding?

Leonardo DiCaprio later, in order to win an award, took a pay cut of ten million US dollars when taking on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," and didn't want a share. Brad Pitt also took on this movie and also took a pay cut of ten million, and didn't want a share either.

Taking a pay cut and not taking a commission is one aspect. The most important thing is that with Leonardo DiCaprio and Pitt, the box office has a guarantee.

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" had a global box office of 329 million US dollars, a North American opening weekend box office of 40.35 million US dollars, and a total North American box office of 143 million US dollars.

The box office exploded.

Finally, Pitt won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with this movie, and Leonardo DiCaprio cried in the toilet.

It seems that a director who can promote people is more popular than a director who only knows how to win awards.

Cao Yang felt, should he seal the script in his hand and shoot another movie that can promote people?

The next day, Cao Yang attended another private cocktail party hosted by Marco Müller. This time the scale was smaller, and there were no "desserts."

Very few people attended. Except for Cao Yang and Old Tian, there were a few people from the Venice Organizing Committee, and also several members of the Venice selection committee. These were probably "our own people."

During the period, Old Tian asked Marco Müller if he could take the top spot after Venice Chairman Alberto Barbera stepped down next year.

Old Ma lowered his head and thought for a while before shaking his head and saying in Chinese: "It's very difficult. My team is now all in the selection committee, and the organizing committee only has a few people supporting me. The possibility of me being elected is very small."

!

"Who will go up? Organizing Committee Chairman?"

"Barbera won't let him go up."

Old Ma smiled and raised his glass to Cao Yang, who was listening to the side, and said: "But don't worry, no matter who goes up next, they won't monopolize power again, and good movies will be easier to stand out."

Cao Yang nodded thoughtfully. Does this mean that as long as the film quality is guaranteed, the awards will be guaranteed?

It seems that Old Ma has already stood firm.

Old Ma is actually grateful to Cao Yang. The few people from the organizing committee here all came together with him through this cooperation.

Because he just became the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, he originally had no hope of going up in the next year's change of term, but now at least he has the possibility of being elected.

The purpose of Old Ma holding this cocktail party was to connect feelings.

He attaches great importance to Cao Yang now. After winning the Golden Lion, he is not only "one of our own" in Venice, but also a partner of Venice, belonging to the kind of mutual achievement.

Maybe he will be invited to become a jury member or chairman in some edition, borrowing each other's fame.

Cao Yang coincidentally helped him open up the situation, and he is no longer a vassal of Barbera.

"Mr. Müller..."

"I've said it, just call me Old Ma. I like this name."

Cao Yang immediately followed the trend.

"Old Ma, I don't think you and Barbera are enemies. Your foundation is in the selection committee, and there are people in the organizing committee who support you. If you show weakness to Barbera appropriately and selectively agree to some conditions, maybe he will support you next year."

Old Ma thought carefully for a while and felt that what Cao Yang said was also reasonable. He could first test Barbera's meaning. If the conditions were not harsh, as long as he could become the Venice Film Festival Chairman, what if he agreed to it for the time being?

Moreover, if Sony Classics knew that he was going to run for Venice Film Festival Chairman, they should also be very happy, right? Who doesn't want a powerful ally?

As for mk2, their main connections are in Cannes, but they are all mixed in the European film circle. Who can guarantee whether they have hidden connections in Venice? Do they not want to have a Venice Film Festival Chairman as a backer?

Everyone works together, it's not bad to try.

First of all, thank you all for your consistent support. Thank you brothers for your monthly tickets and recommendations. Thank you "Time 1979" and "Banbanzhi" for the rewards in the past two days. Sorry, I only posted a message to thank you now. It was mainly because I was affected by the comment section a few days ago, which made me a bit out of state these past few days. I haven't written a novel for more than ten years, and I care very much about the brothers' reading experience. Basically, I will read every message and reply to most of them. Seeing the feedback, it affected the rhythm a bit. I will adjust as soon as possible. Thank you all again for your support, thank you.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 71 =====