[{"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-71":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},2297071,4493,"Chapter 71: Just Do It","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-71",71,"\u003Cp>Returning from Venice this time, Cao Yang clearly felt the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flew in business class booked by the school, and as soon as he got off the plane, he was interviewed by the media at the airport, especially by a news channel from the Jingcheng station, which specifically recorded a segment to be broadcast on television.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang’s itinerary was entirely handled by the school; needless to say, these reporters had all been notified by the school in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, Hou Ke came to the airport in person to pick him up, under the pretext that Cao Yang had returned with honors and brought glory to the country, and as a vice dean, he had come to welcome a hero home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at that—the way he put it, talking about bringing glory to the country and welcoming him home; no wonder he could be a vice dean while also serving as the head of the Qingying Studio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the car pulled up to the school gate, a large group of people was already there waiting to welcome them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang got out of the car and took a look; good heavens, the top school leaders were all there. This turnout was definitely impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome home to our young Golden Lion-winning director.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at that, the top school leader also emphasized \"home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clap, clap, clap...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was not only applause, but also reporters nearby taking photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top school leader shook hands with Cao Yang, his face full of smiles, and asked with concern, \"You must be exhausted after such a long flight, right? Go and rest first, and once you've rested, we'll hold a celebration for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your concern, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could Cao Yang say? He could only respond with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the other vice deans and department heads of the school shook hands with Cao Yang one by one, offering their congratulations; they didn't treat Cao Yang like a student at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang hadn't expected the power of the Golden Lion to be this great. The top school leaders had come to the gate in person; it seemed the Golden Lion provided a massive boost not just for him, but for the school and its top leaders as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was likely that from here on out, not only would he have to give reports, but the top school leaders would probably have to go give reports as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These weren't things Cao Yang needed to worry about for the moment. He smiled at the top school leader and said, \"I'll go rest later; I want to go see Teacher Situ first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top leader laughed heartily, \"Excellent. Respecting teachers and valuing the Dao—that is the old tradition of our Beijing Film Academy. Go ahead, I won't disturb your reunion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, he said to Old Tian, \"Director Tian, come, tell me about your great feat in Venice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were the old version of Old Tian, he might have really dared to give him a cold shoulder—*so I’ve been on a plane for this long and I’m not tired, is that it?*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the current Old Tian was no longer the old Old Tian; his employment records had already been transferred to the Beijing Film Academy, so he still had to give the top school leader this much face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiaojing, the head of the Directing Department, accompanied Cao Yang as they walked toward the Directing Department. Along the way, many students were stunned to see Cao Yang, and quite a few called out to him loudly, most of them female students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Cao is back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations to Director Cao for winning the Golden Lion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Director Cao, congratulations on taking home the Golden Lion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This doesn't feel like the Beijing Film Academy at all. Are there really so few stars in the school? You run into them all the time on campus, so why such a big reaction?\" Cao Yang said to Xie Xiaojing while responding to the greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, do you know what attracts them the most? A Golden Lion-winning director? That’s not the main reason. It’s that you only took one year to produce a Berlin Best Actress and a Venice Best Actress—that’s what makes them 'not feel like the Beijing Film Academy'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiaojing felt both moved and envious, primarily regarding Cao Yang’s Golden Lion; it was one of the highest honors in world art-house cinema, and what director with any ambition wouldn't want one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really set off a massive satellite this time. Everyone who heard the news that you won the Golden Lion was deeply shocked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang was a bit puzzled and asked, \"You all knew I went to Venice early specifically for the Golden Lion, so me winning it shouldn't have been without warning, right? Didn't you have any mental preparation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, you’re thinking too simply. If your film quality is top-notch and aligns with the philosophy of the three major European festivals, winning an award isn't too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the top prize? Aside from luck, there are all sorts of other factors involved. You can't be missing a single one. That’s why, for so many years, only Zhang Yimou has won it twice in the mainland.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang really wanted to say: it’s not that I’m thinking too simply, it’s that you, Department Head Xie, are the one thinking too simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Winning an award isn't too difficult*—listen to yourself. If Feng Xiaogang heard that, he’d dare to put a sack over your head and beat you to a pulp behind your back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared Old Situ’s office, Xie Xiaojing stopped and patted Cao Yang on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest, I’m very envious that you were able to take the Golden Lion, and I’m sincerely happy for you. Our teacher is getting on in years and was originally going to retire this year, but I suspect that might be delayed now. Your graduate student spot will be placed under the teacher’s name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, you’re the one in charge, so that’s fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang nodded, knocked on the office door, and pushed it open to walk in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiaojing watched Cao Yang enter and couldn't help but sigh, feeling a bit envious of Old Situ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew exactly how Old Situ had helped Cao Yang back then. If it had been him instead, and Cao Yang had come to him first with the script, perhaps Cao Yang’s development wouldn't have gone so smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was the head of the Directing Department, there really wasn't much he could have done for Cao Yang. The greatest kindness he could have offered was lending Cao Yang a DV camera and arranging a few students; everything else would have been up to fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for ordering Tian Zhuangzhuang to run errands like a teacher?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he thinking? Tian Zhuangzhuang would definitely spit on the ground and say, *You’ve got some nerve!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a piece of news spread rapidly through the school: Golden Lion winner and senior Directing Department student Cao Yang had returned from Venice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One stone stirred up a thousand ripples. This was big news. Usually, one rarely saw Cao Yang on campus, and Cao Yang’s status was different now: a Golden Lion-winning director who had also helped Yu Feihong win the Venice Best Actress award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who wouldn't want to be the next \"Yu Feihong\"? Who wouldn't want to be a \"Cao Girl\"?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, people asking for news about Cao Yang were endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Situ looked at the calm, wicked... beloved student before him, and the more he looked, the happier he became. He wasn't old, yet he acted with such maturity and composure, and his attitude toward things was so light and detached. Good, truly good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feng shui of the Directing Department was quite good, too; there was no need to move the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tian Zhuangzhuang called me a few days ago and said you have another idea?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang nodded and replied with a smile, \"Well, I’m a senior now, and I’m thinking of shooting another practice film. If I finish it quickly, I’ll enter it into the Berlin Film Festival; if it takes longer, I’ll enter it into Cannes as my graduation project.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Situ opened his mouth, wanting to say a lot of things. *You’re talking about Berlin and Cannes—is the European trio of film festivals run by your family?*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*And a graduation project? Have you even attended class? Where were you when the teacher was taking roll call...*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s good that you have ideas. While you’re young and your mind is active, it’s a good thing to shoot more. But you must also pay attention to balancing work and rest. Don't exhaust yourself, and don't think that just because you’re young you can stay up late and work overtime whenever you want—that’s not a good thing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*What am I saying?*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Situ paused, felt confused for a moment, and then waved his hand with great vigor, \"As long as you have an idea, just do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1524,"2026-06-20T05:36:32.009Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","9941cc01d8ffc8bea9f957ef0245564034c5284b767107fbdb012750c1647671","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-72","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-70",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]