Chapter 79: All Have a Touch of Madness

The script needs to be submitted for review and filing first; it is better for the school to step forward for this, so Cao Yang took the script and went to Hou Ke's office.

After Hou Ke finished reading the script Cao Yang gave him, he kept drinking tea, looking as if he had something to say but was holding back.

"Dean Hou, what is that expression? Is there something you can't just say directly?"

"Cao Yang, then I will be direct, please don't be angry."

Hou Ke offered a word of comfort first, then said: "This script is very good, and the probability of winning an award is also very high, but..."

"But the review process will be very slow, right?"

"Yes, yes, you had better be mentally prepared; this script... the Religious Affairs Bureau will definitely have reservations about it," Hou Ke nodded hurriedly to explain.

"The setting is still Xiangjiang."

Hou Ke let out a long sigh of relief, laughed, and stood up to refill Cao Yang's tea.

"I knew that you, Cao Yang, are much better than those old stubborns; you never make things difficult for the school."

If Cao Yang had insisted on setting the story in the mainland, could Hou Ke have refused? No.

Even knowing the difficulties were immense, he would have had to bite the bullet and push forward—if he didn't, there were plenty of people in the school dying to take over the task.

A moment later, after some hesitation, Hou Ke asked: "Cao Yang, the investment for this film..."

"Just follow the original rules."

Cao Yang took a sip of tea; Old Hou said it was pre-Qingming Longjing, and it tasted fresh and fragrant, quite good.

"Alright!"

Hou Ke was all smiles. Ever since Cao Yang won the Golden Lion, the school's upper management had held several meetings, mainly worrying that Cao Yang might have other ideas if he made another film, and discussing to what extent the school should make concessions.

They really hadn't expected Cao Yang's approach to be so impressive; it seemed the school would have to compensate and support him more in other areas.

Director Cao is starting a new film!

This news was quickly learned by many interested parties.

International Zhang had no scenes to shoot today. Although she was a supporting character in "Hero" and her screen time wasn't much, she wasn't special enough for Zhang Yimou to focus on filming her scenes.

Like the other actors, she waited to go on set every day according to the posted schedule.

On the filming set, International Zhang had finished her styling and was waiting to go on set when her assistant came over and whispered in her ear: "Sister Qin called to say that Director Cao Yang is starting a new film and asked me to let you know."

International Zhang's expression shifted, and she asked quietly: "Do you know what genre it is?"

"It's not clear yet, but there is a rumor going around that it is very likely another female-led film."

"Cao Yang is skilled at filming female-led stories and coaching actresses."

International Zhang muttered a line Zhang Yimou had once said.

She suddenly had an impulse to take off this ridiculous costume, throw it in Zhang Yimou's face, and question him: Is this the role you specifically designed for me? With just this bit of bullshit screen time, you still want me to wait here every day? I'm not fucking doing this anymore!

But that was just a thought.

She took a deep breath, suppressed the impatience in her heart, and wondered if it was possible for her to get into Cao Yang's new film.

According to the plan, "Hero" would be filming until late January, and her last scene was in mid-December.

Cao Yang's film was still in the preparation stage and couldn't be shot immediately; if she rushed her side a bit more, it should be fine, right?

The more International Zhang thought about it, the more tempted she became, and the more tempted she was, the more she felt an urge to go find Zhang Yimou right now, have him put in a good word for her with Cao Yang, and then have him concentrate her filming schedule.

"Sister Ziyi, your salary is too high, and Director Cao's art films don't have high budgets."

The assistant remembered Sister Qin's instructions and quickly reminded her.

"When I filmed Li An's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', I didn't mention salary and let him pay what he saw fit; I can do the same for Cao Yang's film." International Zhang decided that as soon as Zhang Yimou was free, she would go find him and do whatever it took to have him push her to Cao Yang, just like he had pushed her to Li An back then.

She was extremely anxious; even Yu Feihong had won the Venice Best Actress award, and she couldn't be left behind. What she lacked most right now was the title of an international film queen, and she was willing to pay any price for it.

When Li Yapeng was filming "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in October, because he didn't use a stunt double, he accidentally tore his left knee's anterior cruciate ligament and severely damaged the meniscus in his lower leg bone.

But he was still quite professional; he just went to the hospital for treatment, rested for a few days, and then insisted on filming while injured with the help of a wheelchair and crutches.

Usually, after filming, the one taking care of him wasn't his current girlfriend Qu Ying, but Xun Ge'er, with whom he had developed feelings on set.

Xun Ge'er was pushing Li Yapeng in his wheelchair, chatting and laughing, when she suddenly received a call and fell silent.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Xun Ge'er's expression change, Li Yapeng asked hurriedly: "What happened?"

Xun Ge'er was silent for a long while, then said in a low, slightly hoarse voice: "Cao Yang is starting a new film, and I... don't have the schedule for it."

Afterwards, she slapped the armrest of the wheelchair hard, feeling indescribably disappointed.

!

Xu Jinglei's film resources were excellent. At the beginning of this year, she filmed "My Beautiful Hometown", in May she filmed the film version of "Spring Subway", and next month she was entering the set to film Zhang Yuan's "I Love You".

Three films in one year—most actresses would be envious to death of these resources.

However, when she heard the news that Cao Yang was going to film a new movie, she was still deeply tempted.

She asked Zhang Yuan if he could postpone the filming of "I Love You" if she took on another film.

Zhang Yuan stared with his big eyes, full of confusion and disbelief. Is this woman sick? She could actually ask such a thing; she really had been spoiled rotten by her many boyfriends.

"Do you have a new film?" Zhang Yuan asked.

"Isn't Cao Yang starting a new film? The female lead hasn't been decided yet, and I want to try for it."

You are fucking sick!

Do you still remember that when he invited you for his first film, you didn't even give him an answer? Now that you see he's won the Golden Lion and become a big director, you want to try for it?

Try for what!

"How are you going to try? You need a middleman to pass a word, right?"

Zhang Yuan asked absent-mindedly.

"Yuan, you went to the school seminar last time, didn't you? I even heard you tell Wang Shuo that you exchanged contact information with Cao Yang. Why don't you put in a word for me?"

Zhang Yuan's big eyes were full of shock. I'm fucking sick, I'm not your lover, I have nothing better to do than to postpone my own film and introduce my own female lead to someone else? I...

Once again, his perception of this world had been refreshed.

Finally, he stared with his big eyes, helpless and innocent, and said: "Not close, don't know him. Why don't you try finding someone else?

Wang Shuo might have a way, and Zhang Yadong, as a well-known musician, is also friends with many Beijing Film Academy directors. You are also a famous alumnus of the Beijing Film Academy; you can call him directly and try."

Cao Yang had been annoyed these past few days. Ever since the script was submitted for review, his phone had become a hotline, with many famous alumni calling to either recommend themselves or recommend actresses.

Even Liu Ye had called, first joking to ask if there was a role suitable for him, then recommending his classmate Zeng Li to Cao Yang.

Didn't Zeng Li have a boyfriend? Didn't this guy have Xie Na?

Is he still secretly in love?

Pfft, simp.

He still needed to decide on the female lead as soon as possible, otherwise, some flighty actresses might really do something outrageous.

Thanks to "Banbanzhi" and "Book Friend 141205154400735" for their tips, and thanks to my brothers for their monthly tickets and recommendation support. I bow and thank you all, thank you.

(End of chapter)