[{"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-94":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},2297094,4493,"Chapter 94: What Does a Director Know About Film?","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>Once the film’s post-production was finished, the remaining work was to hold a small screening at the school; if there were no issues, it would be submitted for censorship, and then entered into film festivals through the school’s official channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As early as January, while the film was still being shot, the Berlin Film Festival learned that Cao Yang had a new project and sent an invitation, hoping to have Cao Yang’s new film participate in the Berlin Film Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 2002 Berlin Film Festival was held from February 6th to 17th, right during the Chinese New Year holidays; the timing was too early, and since \"Secret Sunshine\" did not wrap until February 9th, there was simply no time to go to Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For directors who have won awards at the three major European film festivals, as long as news of a new film spreads, the three major festivals will basically send an invitation if the timing is right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for a famous director like Cao Yang, who has not only won the Berlin Jury Grand Prix but also the Venice Golden Lion, the three major European festivals do not want to miss out whenever there is a new film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also a way for the three major European festivals to increase their own influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like this year’s Cannes Film Festival, upon learning that Cao Yang was shooting a new film, they would certainly send a tentative invitation; whether he goes or not is one thing, but inviting him is another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directors who have won the top prizes at the three major European festivals, regardless of their nationality, certainly have significant influence in the European film circle—if their influence were small, it would be very difficult to win the top prizes at the three major festivals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sounds a bit convoluted, but that is the reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind every director who has won a top prize is a large group of stakeholders, and these stakeholders are connected to a large number of other directors; this is what influence is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang had not yet given Cannes a definitive reply, saying only that he would check the progress and would attend if he could make it in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that Cao Yang was intentionally playing hard to get; it was mainly because Old Situ, Marco Müller, had contacted Cao Yang and said that the Venice Film Festival might invite Gong Li to be the jury president this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Situ asked Cao Yang if he wanted to wait a few more months and come to Venice in September.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Cao Yang was certainly tempted; there were quite a few \"people of his own\" at Venice this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Cao Yang tentatively asked: \"Old Situ, if the film quality is very good, is there a possibility of a repeat win?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A repeat win?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Old Situ’s Chinese was very good, he didn’t understand the meaning of this term for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means winning the Golden Lion for two consecutive years,\" Cao Yang simply clarified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Situ said without hesitation: \"That is impossible. There has been no precedent so far, and no one would support such a 'pioneering' initiative. I can tell you very responsibly that the possibility is almost zero.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, he added, \"Even if I were to become the film festival president, it would be absolutely impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why should I go to Venice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the plot of \"Secret Sunshine,\" even if it went to Venice, only the lead actress could win an award, at most accompanied by a Jury Grand Prix or Best Director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be better to go to Cannes; even if it only won the Best Actress award at Cannes, it would still be a breakthrough, as there has never been a Chinese Best Actress at Cannes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang had also considered, what if Cannes \"bullied\" him and didn’t give the Best Actress award?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, call in reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mk2, which is playing on home turf, and Sony Pictures Classics, which is playing support, better both bring someone reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they still feel uncertain by then, it won’t be too late to choose Venice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This screening was still held in the small screening room at the Beijing Film Academy; Old Situ from the Directing Department, Xie Fei, Old Tian, and the department head Xie Xiaojing—almost all the school leaders came, along with several department heads from the Cinematography, Fine Arts, and Acting departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mk2 was very respectful this time; such a young Golden Lion director, whether in terms of influence or the benefits he could bring them, made them value him extraordinarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mk2 sent three people: founder Marin Karmitz, producer Chabrol, and they also brought along last year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner, who was also last year’s Venice Film Festival jury president, Nanni Moretti.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sony Pictures Classics sent Bellman and Nikita Mikhalkov.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides winning the Venice Golden Lion, Nikita Mikhalkov had also won the Jury Grand Prix at the 47th Cannes Film Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, the Jury Grand Prix at the 47th Cannes was a tie; the other winner was Zhang Yimou’s \"To Live,\" and at the same time, Ge You won the Cannes Best Actor award precisely for Zhang Yimou’s \"To Live.\" However, \"To Live\" had not been approved and had not passed censorship, belonging to the category of films that went to film festivals privately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had several other films that went to foreign film festivals without passing censorship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, \"Red Sorghum,\" which won the Berlin Golden Bear; the script hadn’t passed censorship when filming started, and if it hadn’t been for Wu Tianming’s help, it might not have been able to participate in the Berlin Film Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, \"Ju Dou,\" which hadn’t passed censorship when it participated in the Cannes Film Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, \"Raise the Red Lantern,\" which won the Venice Silver Lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhang Yimou’s influence was too great; who in the country dared to punish him? Nothing happened to him at all, and the Film Bureau acted as if it had never happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the pleasantries, the screening began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang had always known that Eastern and Western values were very different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, in this film, it was typical Eastern values: the female lead does not believe in religion, but her spirit needs comfort and a reliance, so she begins to join the church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when she feels that the church’s doctrines conflict with her values, she can retaliate without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a bit like: when I need it, I can believe; but when faith conflicts with my interests, I no longer suppress myself; I will abandon it, or even retaliate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Cao Yang felt that this kind of Eastern value system would be incomprehensible to the West, and they might even find it inconceivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, films with this kind of value conflict are also very easy to win awards for, but they can never win the top prizes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the film, neither the people from Sony Pictures Classics nor mk2 discussed Gao Yuanyuan’s acting first; instead, they discussed the film’s interpretation of religion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mk2 founder Marin Karmitz first remarked, \"Cao, your understanding of the doctrine is too accurate. The female lead is a shallow believer; her breakdown and anti-Christian behavior are signs that her foundation of faith is not deep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The doctrine contains a warning against 'excessive behavior'; one cannot do good deeds beyond one’s own strength, and the female lead’s attempt to forgive the criminal clearly exceeded the capacity of a mother who had lost her child. This is God’s trial for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Book of Job in the Bible tells of Job as a perfectly upright man whom God tests twice, destroying all his wealth and covering him with sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After suffering extreme pain, Job begins to doubt God: why should a righteous man like him suffer while the wicked remain unscathed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t this very similar to the female lead’s situation? Cao, I have to say, you must have referenced Job’s story, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After the persuasion of his three friends and Elihu, and God appearing in person to speak, Job strengthened his faith, stopped being self-righteous, and regained God’s blessing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the female lead in the film, regrettably, did not pass God’s trial.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanni Moretti also followed up: \"I can see from the film that the female lead is deeply loved by God, even to the point of taking away her husband and child to make her return to herself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God’s love for the female lead is expressed in many ways: the auto shop owner, the clothing store owner, the pharmacy owner, the sunlight in the junk pile, the passerby who sends her to the hospital, etc.—these are all love codes woven by God for the female lead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The female lead also loves God, even though she vents her anger on the church, seduces the pastor, and disrupts the church fellowship... her way of loving is very similar to how she loves ordinary people, loving to the point of getting angry at God, acting hysterically, and going against God.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She says, 'God, I chose to forgive the person who killed my child only after such great pain; how could you forgive that person so easily!'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cao, I really didn’t expect you to be able to make the film’s metaphors so perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to their conversation, Cao Yang fell into deep thought: What are you all talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could my understanding of the film be wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, just as netizens jokingly say, you as a director don’t know a damn thing about film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Tian turned his head to look at Cao Yang in confusion: Did you really shoot this film with this line of thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t believe it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1638,"2026-06-20T05:36:32.009Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","79097ef1ccb9b2b1019eb980648dbc95815505bb3cf21a8806c347baf44eebe2","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-95","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-93",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]