Chapter 74: Different Fortunes for Different People

Old Tian is still very loyal; since he can no longer be a cinematographer himself, he intends to recommend one to Cao Yang.

"That day, the school opened a secret meeting to recruit people..."

"Ahem, Senior Brother, your status is different now; you shouldn't just say anything," Cao Yang hurriedly interrupted Old Tian, reminding him.

"Bah, it's just the two of us... Fine, I'll be careful next time. It really isn't good if others hear it and spread it around."

Old Tian sighed, always feeling that his identity as a teacher was a constraint; as a teacher, one must set an example, so he still needed to control his big mouth.

"Do you remember that skinny monkey-like guy I introduced to you that day? The one with dull eyes, timid and submissive, looking very sleazy... from the '78 cinematography class, a cinematographer named Gu Changwei. You should have heard of him, right?"

I definitely know this person, but you just said you wanted to control your big mouth, and I don't see you controlling it very well. Is this how you set an example?

Chen Kun's "King of Children" and "Farewell My Concubine," the National Master's "Red Sorghum" and "Ju Dou," and Jiang Wen's "In the Heat of the Sun" and "Devils on the Doorstep"—these classic films were all lensed by Gu Changwei.

Don't look at Gu Changwei as a director who can only shoot art-house films and can't handle commercial movies; in terms of cinematography, he is extremely awesome and was once called the number one cinematographer in China.

"I know him, and I also know he has collaborated with Director Chen, Director Zhang, and Director Jiang."

"He has nothing to do at home, just hugging his wife and having kids every day. You can invite him and give it a try." Old Tian's mouth curled up, seemingly intending to watch a joke.

"What is that expression? Is he hard to invite? I don't have the patience to visit a thatched cottage three times."

"Haha, you're overthinking it. A few years ago, when I was banned from directing, he even mocked me. I just feel that the tides turn; his situation now isn't much better," Old Tian said with a smile.

"Oh, give it a rest. He wasn't banned from directing or filming. With his reputation, no matter how bad his situation is, how bad could it really be?"

"You don't understand."

Old Tian waved his hand, still wearing that same expression. "He was the top student in the cinematography department back then. Everyone he collaborated with after graduation became a big director, and he has ambition too."

"So, after receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography for 'Farewell My Concubine' in '94, he dove headfirst into Hollywood to try his luck in the States."

"He messed around there for almost five years with zero achievements. He was just worrying about what excuse to use to come back when that kid Jiang Wen happened to be shooting 'Devils on the Doorstep.' The two hit it off immediately, and there was his excuse."

"Chen Kun and Zhang Yimou already had their fixed cinematographers. He figured being Jiang Wen's cinematographer would be fine; it wouldn't be a loss of face."

"Then, Jiang Wen got banned from directing because of that film. Think about it: Gu Changwei calls himself the number one cinematographer, yet he has no big directors to work with. I really feel stifled for him."

When you feel stifled for others, can you try not to laugh?

"There are so many directors; does he look down on all of them?"

"That's the problem. The ones who want to work with him, he looks down on. The ones he wants to work with, except for Jiang Wen, all have fixed cinematographers. And with Jiang Wen banned from directing, he can only stay home and have kids."

"Isn't it said that one of his eyes was diagnosed with strabismus and needs more rest?"

"Yeah, one has to have a plausible reason to reject others," Old Tian said with a smile.

Old Tian, your speculation is a bit malicious. I think you're just holding a grudge.

Cao Yang considered it for a moment and said, "Fine, I'll have Cheng Jianye make a call to test the waters. If he's willing to come, we'll collaborate once; if not, forget it. I remember meeting several good cinematographers that day."

"Teacher Cheng."

"Teacher Cheng."

"Director Cheng."

"Teacher Cheng."

Along the way, everyone who saw Cheng Jianye, whether they were teachers, students, or staff from the Qingying Studio, greeted him very politely and proactively.

Cheng Jianye liked this feeling very much; he felt a little bit of joy from the bottom of his heart.

Before, within the Qingying Studio, many people knew Cheng Jianye, but very few greeted him so enthusiastically and politely. He didn't have much seniority and had always done production work at the studio—liaison producer, production manager, on-site producer, coordinator—he had done them all. In short, whatever producer the crew needed, he was that producer; he had no choice.

But ever since he started following Cao Yang, everything had changed significantly.

First, after Cao Yang's first film won an award, although Cheng Jianye was only a producer, the film had won two Silver Bears. When he returned to the Qingying Studio at that time, he was surrounded by envious gazes.

And this time, after following Cao Yang to win the Golden Lion as a production manager, his status had risen sharply and invisibly.

Cheng Jianye didn't know how many people were envious and jealous behind his back, but to his face, it was all enthusiastic smiles and flattering voices.

Just two days ago, the organization issued a document promoting him to deputy director of the production department, which made countless people who had originally rejected Cao Yang slap their thighs in regret.

In the office, Cheng Jianye sat behind his desk, flipping through an equipment application, and asked the two students standing in front of him, "Are you from the cinematography department?"

"Yes, Teacher Cheng."

The two students answered cautiously with full smiles.

"Sign your names here."

The two took the application, signed their names in the top left corner, and handed it back with a smile: "Done, Teacher Cheng."

!

Cheng Jianye took the application and read aloud while signing his approval: "Ning Hao, Li Huachun, right?"

"Yes, yes, that's right, Teacher Cheng."

"Hmm."

Cheng Jianye had just finished writing half when the phone rang. He originally wanted to wait until he finished writing the approval before answering, but he glanced at it inadvertently, immediately put down his pen, and even sat up much straighter.

"Director Cao, what are your instructions?"

Cheng Jianye was no longer wearing that serious, business-like face, but his face was piled with smiles, even more so than the smiles on the faces of Ning Hao and Li Huachun just now.

"Okay, I will contact him immediately."

"Mm, mm, no problem."

"Good, good, I'll remember."

"Fine, fine, I know."

"Goodbye, Director Cao."

Cheng Jianye hung up the phone and got up to leave.

Ning Hao and Li Huachun immediately said with smiles, "Teacher Cheng, the application hasn't been signed yet."

Cheng Jianye didn't say anything, just stood there and finished signing with a flourish, then handed it to them and left without looking back.

Holding the application approved by Cheng Jianye, Ning Hao couldn't help but ask Li Huachun, "The person who called Teacher Cheng just now, wouldn't it be Director Cao Yang, right?"

"I think so. Only Director Cao could make Teacher Cheng so respectful."

Li Huachun said enviously, "If Director Cao could call me like that, I guarantee I'd be even more respectful than Teacher Cheng."

"Oh, give it a rest. He's a Golden Lion-winning director; what would he want you for? Running errands? It wouldn't be your turn to run errands anyway."

Ning Hao changed the subject, "Ahem, I can run much faster than you."

Li Huachun kicked Ning Hao and asked in a low voice, "Haozi, do you think Director Cao is going to start a new film again? Do you think we have a chance to be assistants?"

Ning Hao touched his chin and thought for a moment, then pulled Li Huachun along, "Let's treat Teacher Wei to a big meal and inquire about it while we're at it. Maybe we can snag an opportunity to intern on the crew."

(End of chapter)