Chapter 73: If You Can't Afford to Offend, Then Drag It Out

For the new script, Cao Yang specifically checked a large number of laws, regulations, and religious policies, asked Old Tian, who had rich experience in being banned, and specifically went to Hou Keming and Han Zong to consult.

According to Hou Keming and Han Zong, whether a movie involving religion can pass the review mainly depends on the content of the movie.

Hmm, before leaders speak, they are used to first using official jargon or stacking armor.

Movies must not display religious extremism, extreme ideas, and cult organizations and their activities, must not tease or ridicule religious content, and avoid hurting national religious feelings.

When involving religious content, one must respect religious culture, must not hunt for novelty and render unique national customs and religious beliefs, and avoid triggering ethnic conflicts.

Involving special subjects such as religion, public security, etc., requires relevant competent departments to assist in reviewing the entire script and issuing assistance opinions...

Both of them said a bunch of nonsense, and in the end, they didn't give a definitive conclusion.

Hou Keming was silent for a long time, and finally said, "If you really want to shoot, I'll think of a way."

Old Tian was quite direct and said: "Your status is different now. Just shoot it first. As long as it's not extreme, they probably won't dare to target you."

What is probably? I believe your ghost, you old guy, probably you are taking me to test the above, right?

Generally, at this time, you have to use a big move.

Cao Yang went directly to Old Situ, told him everything Hou Keming and Old Tian said, and asked Old Situ what he thought.

Old Situ pondered for a while. This time he didn't dare to easily draw a conclusion.

If it were other directors who wanted to shoot religious subjects, Old Situ would definitely deny it the first time. This kind of script has to go through the Religious Affairs Bureau, which is both time-consuming and troublesome, and very difficult to pass the review.

But Cao Yang's status is different.

Not only because of the Golden Lion award-winning director, but a few days ago, the News Broadcast specifically used more than 20 seconds to broadcast the news that young director Cao Yang won the Golden Lion award.

Although it was just a sentence, the meaning is different.

"Does your new movie involve a lot of religion?"

"Not much, only involving Christianity."

Old Situ breathed a sigh of relief. It's fine if it doesn't involve the one that costs lives. It's still only a little content, so it's not a big problem.

He waved his hand directly, "Then it's fine, don't worry, passing the review is no problem."

"The movie expresses that in the eyes of God, all beings are equal, even murderers are the same." Cao Yang reminded.

"No problem, this is definitely no problem." Old Situ said very firmly.

Cao Yang saw that Old Situ didn't understand his meaning, so he had to make it clear, "Because in the eyes of God, all beings are equal, the protagonist wants to do some things that blaspheme God, in order to vent his grief and protest, and to prove that believing in God is ridiculous, sad, and self-deceiving."

"Uh..."

Old Situ's expression was clearly stunned, and then he pretended to ask as if nothing had happened: "What did I just say?"

"You said no problem, absolutely no problem."

"Ah, is it? Hmm, the connotation of this movie is very good, very good..."

Old Situ took a sip of water, put down the water cup, and picked it up to take another sip.

"Cao Yang, you know I've always been very direct, so I'll just say it. Have you considered putting the background in Hong Kong?" Afterwards, Old Situ laughed, took another sip of water, and said: "Those film review committee members are not easy either. You submit this script, and their internal situation will definitely be chaotic, asking for instructions here and there, which is both troublesome and time-consuming, and will make them scold you behind their backs, right?"

It's not that I have to be Old Situ. Now even Hou Keming and Han Zong won't easily deny Cao Yang.

They might think that after winning the Golden Lion award, Cao Yang is already a top big director in the country, so they have to give face and also maintain face, and they no longer speak directly.

Is this probably the situation faced by the great poet Chen Kaige?

Others, in order to show respect for him, will not easily deny his opinions and ideas, which is why Kaige walks further and further away and lets himself go?

"Can't pass the review in the country?"

Cao Yang explained: "The background of the movie, the female lead's husband died, and she has to move from a big place to a small place to live. Putting it in Hong Kong... it's okay, just move from a prosperous district to a remote and poor district."

Old Situ was silent for a while, then smiled bitterly and said: "It's not that it can't pass the review. Your influence is a bit big now. They won't directly deny your script, they will only report it layer by layer. No one dares to take responsibility."

"Precisely because your influence is big, your movie will be interpreted or over-interpreted, and it will cause too much social impact, easily misinterpreted into various meanings."

"Think about it, if after the movie is released, it is used by people with intentions, saying that the above intends to prohibit the spread of Christianity, and believing in their God is useless, will it cause a big disturbance?"

"So, I think, they might drag it out, never give you approval, even if you go to slap the table, their leaders will hide when they see you, leaving only a few ordinary staff members, what can you do?"

"Until they drag it out until you lose patience and change the script."

Old Situ sighed, and finally said: "If you really want to put the background in the country and don't change the content of the movie, then just shoot it, and then go to the three major European festivals, and don't show it in the country."

Cao Yang was really stunned this time, and couldn't help but ask: "Privately participate in foreign film festivals? Won't I be banned from directing?"

!

Old Situ widened his eyes, "You, a Golden Lion award-winning director in his twenties, just because of this little thing, who dares to ban you from directing?"

"You don't go to the Film Bureau to slap the table, that's already giving them a lot of face. Still dare to ban you from directing? Can they bear the impact caused?"

Afterwards, Old Situ slowed down his tone and said softly: "If your movie wasn't blaspheming and satirizing God, even if it involves religion, passing the review would still be very simple."

Cao Yang really wanted to say, aren't we advocating atheism? But after thinking about it, freedom of religious belief is also a basic right of citizens. Since it is a basic right, then respect it.

How could Cao Yang not know that some content is indeed difficult to pass the review in the country? He mainly wanted to test how much tolerance the above can have for himself now.

From the conversations with several people, he has a rough understanding.

The treatment is indeed different. At least on the surface, everyone will "respect" you.

"Okay, teacher, I understand. Then I won't add trouble to the country. Let's set the background in Hong Kong." Cao Yang joked to Old Situ.

"I am very gratified that you can think this way. What I fear most is that you will drill into the tip of the bull's horn, and then bombard the censorship system in front of the media without knowing the importance. That influence is very big, which is a huge trouble for anyone."

Saying goodbye to Old Situ, Cao Yang went directly to another office to find Old Tian, preparing to tell him that he was going to start a new project and to reserve time.

Now Old Tian is already a teacher at Beijing Film Academy. Although he hasn't officially started teaching, he already has an office, and he sits in the office like a model every day, not knowing what he is busy with all day long.

Cao Yang knocked on the door and entered Old Tian's office, only to find Old Tian actually reading a script.

He opened it and looked, "Spring in a Small Town? Why are you looking at this?"

Old Tian laughed, "It's about to be unbanned, my hands are a bit itchy, I want to try."

"Are you going to remake it?"

"Just want to try it, practice my hands, mainly want to try your method."

Cao Yang was a bit speechless. His exclusive photographer wants to be a director. It seems he has to change a photographer this time.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 74 =====