Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 101 "We Live in Nanjing", Yu Dong Seeks Advice [Please Subscribe!!]

Cao Zhong chose the film "We Live in Nanjing" because...
The main reason is not because this sci-fi is hard enough.
It wasn't because of the film's narrative, grand scale, or moving qualities, but rather because of a comprehensive consideration based on reality.
This film has relatively few special effects scenes; in fact, it relies heavily on location shooting for most of the film.

The main special effects for this movie include a grand fireworks display of a rocket reentry capsule crashing, a nuclear explosion, and an alien swordsman.

But actually, these are the few special effects that require the most investment in the entire movie.

The remaining details, such as the subtle effects of radio transmission, present no technical challenges.

In the post-apocalyptic world, the green wasteland where cities turn into forests can be realized through location shooting.

Building a simplified version of Nanjing in the forest is much less expensive than using special effects.

Moreover, the name "Nanjing" can significantly reduce publicity and distribution costs.
For Cao Zhong, who aspires to develop the domestic film industry,

Why not?
Most importantly, it is the hidden meaning at its deepest level.

Oh, you ruthless swordsman who reaped lives in Nanjing, you need a little girl picking mushrooms to personally deliver a nuclear explosion to you.

Cao Zhong could see the insults and slanders leveled against him by those traitors.

Since it's not possible to eliminate them all at this stage.

Then let them work for me! That would be a way to vent my anger.

The movie "We Live in Nanjing" is based on a science fiction novel from Qidian.com, a work highly recommended by Liu Cixin, the author of "The Three-Body Problem," and a winner of the Science Fiction Nebula Award. It is definitely a science fiction masterpiece!
It was later adapted into a movie and a TV series by Lu Yang and others, and the two series were launched, showcasing a romantic epic of civilizational self-salvation led by China!

In contrast to the suffering in Nanjing back then, this film uses the symbol of Nanjing to embody a true representation of the rise of a great power from the dignity of ordinary people.

This film is like a fusion of "Your Name" and "Inception".

However, it revealed something completely different about China compared to other countries.

The story begins with Bai Yang, a senior high school student who inherited his father's love for radio. While searching for radio frequencies, he accidentally made contact with Banxia, ​​who came from twenty years in the future.

Bai Yang lives in the real world, while Ban Xia comes from a post-apocalyptic wasteland where she is all alone.

It may seem like a clichéd teenage love story, but it's actually far from that.

From initial misunderstandings to getting to know each other, and finally to investigating whether Banxia really came from the future.

The work presents a most stunning concept: the time capsule, which involves a scientific premise—time slow delivery.
Time-lapse delivery needs to meet three conditions.
1. Principle of Determining Information. The sender must clearly know the spatiotemporal coordinates of the package, including the precise time and location.

2. Double-blind or multi-blind operation principle. Participants in the transportation process should not have all the information, and the task needs to be broken down and assigned to different executors.

3. Weaken the principle of purposefulness. Avoid interference from causality by increasing randomness and reducing the correlation of information.

Simply put, it means you can go to the future by leaving something there.

This matter seems simple, but how can we guarantee that this thing will still be here in twenty years? How can we be sure that someone else won't dig it up after it's buried, or that we ourselves can't dig it up? And how will the recipient receive it in twenty years? These are all problems.

After several failures, Bai Yang finally succeeded in developing a method before the college entrance examination, using tritium tubes and identification materials to verify his identity.
Tritium tubes are similar to glow sticks, with a half-life of 12.43 years, and their luminescence intensity decreases over time.

Thus, Bai Yang confirmed that the female lead was from twenty years in the future.

After confirming it, Bai Yang told his father.

The father contacted the three members of their old radio hobby group, learned about the incident, reported it, and alerted the relevant authorities.

After layers of reporting and approval, and with the intervention of the state apparatus, the narrative of collective heroism in China gradually unfolded.
For the future of all humanity, the Command Center for Reversing the Future and Saving the World was established in Bai Yang's home.
Using the power of the state apparatus, a rocket is launched, sending it 4 million kilometers to Mars, and then returning to Earth twenty years later, crashing spectacularly over NJ City, thus launching an even larger time capsule.

The purpose of this crash was to show Banxia a fireworks display spanning twenty years. Banxia did indeed see the fireworks during the crash. At this moment, rationality and emotion were completely intertwined.

The state apparatus also confirmed that Banxia did indeed live in Nanjing twenty years later.
However, because she was still an infant at the time, Banxia was unaware of the details of the disaster when it occurred. All she knew was that there was an alien swordsman called Big Eyeball, who had slaughtered all of humanity.

She was all alone!
Therefore, nations began to unite globally to carry out various plans, and humanity began the last resistance battle in history.

The first is Project Hedgehog, which involves laying nuclear minefields in low Earth orbit, using 12,000 nuclear warheads to envelop the Earth and establish a community of shared future for mankind to counter the invasion of extraterrestrials.
The second project, the Human Cannon Project, is centered on offensive operations and involves constructing 6400 super lasers on Earth, capable of destroying anything 30 kilometers away.
Some teams are building the most powerful astronomical telescope ever built, VVVLBI, to observe the black hole at the center of the Milky Way and detect potential threats.

Bai Yang's command post was their last hope; their plan was to build two secret bases.
These two secret bases recorded all information that happened in the world over the past 20 years by monitoring networks, radio waves, and other means, including why the apocalypse came.

Then, send Banxia, ​​20 years in the future, into the base to transmit this information back via radio. This will allow humanity to analyze the reasons for the Black Moon's arrival and the manifestations of the apocalyptic disaster, enabling them to address the problem effectively.
Finally, Zhao Bowen, one of the three, noticed something amiss. The staring contest between the big eyes was suspicious. After discussing it with experts, they discovered that what attracted the group of doomsday swordsmen was the camera and their gaze, not Banxia.

The observer is also the observed—that's an ironclad rule. In other words, what truly attracts aliens to attack Earth is precisely those who want to save it.

But the war has begun, and everyone in the real world is hoping that Banxia can send back a message, waiting for that message to travel through the long years and across the vast distances, and then defeat the apocalypse.

Therefore, they launched the Miss Qiu Project. Miss Qiu is a fat girl who is also a little boy, and her goal is to find a swordsman in Nanjing.

A nuclear explosion occurred.

But after taking down one, a whole bunch came.

Finally, in order to transmit the data back to the base, Banxia...

She ran desperately through a world on the verge of collapse, the world crumbling behind her...

All for the sake of getting what Bai Yang wanted before everything shattered, the last person in the future world, to use two legs to outpace the destruction of two worlds, to save the only sound she heard, and to save everything she had during this time.

But the swordsman still arrived, vying for that last sliver of time.
To attract the swordsman's attention, Banxia went out alone to draw his attention, even if it was just to gain one more minute, like Shen Gongbao in "Ne Zha 2"...

Alone, for the sake of seven billion people worldwide... she bravely stood in front of the group of swordsmen.

Among the data transmitted back was a warning sent by the swordsman before he arrived on Earth.

And so, the story ends.

Cao Zhong believes this film represents what the current Chinese film special effects industry can achieve.
In his previous life, Cao Zhong had actually researched this and concluded that China has never lacked special effects companies or special effects talent.
In addition to Hong Kong-based Centro Digital Technology Co., Ltd., there are also companies like Wan Kuan, Kinomotive, and Imagi, which specializes in animated films, among others.
These Hong Kong studios have produced films and TV series such as *The Storm Riders*, *The Legend of Zu*, and *Kung Fu Hustle*. Imagi, in particular, has produced films like *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* and *Astro Boy*.
Another example is Crystal Stone Company from mainland China. The giant footprints at the Olympics, 29 huge "firework footprints" that "walked" along the central axis of Beijing from Tiananmen Square to the Bird's Nest Stadium, were created using digital special effects by this company.

It created an Olympic opening ceremony that was unprecedented and will never be repeated.

But why have Chinese-language films never truly amazed people?
Because Chinese-language media lacks high-end talent—screenwriters and directors—who can effectively integrate resources, provide excellent creative ideas, supervise the implementation of creative ideas, and be responsible for the final quality.

What's even more ridiculous is that in a couple of years, even India will be able to produce a special effects blockbuster called "Robot," which will rake in $1.5 million at the global box office.

They spread the flavors of Indian curry and their song and dance all over the world. Although the plot is a bit silly, no one can say that it is a terrible movie.

Moreover, many of the special effects were created by Chinese special effects companies.

However, even ten years later, in the true sequence of Chinese special effects sci-fi blockbusters, we can still see oddities like "Shanghai Fortress".

Cao Zhong felt a headache just thinking about it.

None of these people have ever put their heart into making movies.

But it doesn't matter, I, Cao Zhong, am here. The audience in China is blessed, and the nightmare for you directors is about to begin.

……

After seeing Han Sanpin off, Cao Zhong returned and talked to Shen Ao and Xu Zheng about "My Disqualified Daughter".

But they found that Yu had gone east and then returned.

He sheepishly ran to Cao Zhong's side: "Brother, save me!"

"Didn't General Manager Yu leave?" Cao Zhong asked curiously. "He realized he'd forgotten about the important matter halfway there."

Yu Dong looked distressed. "I just got back. I saw that Chairman Han was here the whole time, so I didn't come over. After Chairman Han left, I rushed over."

"Mr. Yu, what's going on?"

"Director Cao gave me a lot of inspiration in the promotion and distribution of 'Nanjing Photo Studio'. Now that the movie 'The Sun Also Rises' is about to be released, could Director Cao help me figure out how to promote and distribute it?"

Brother, I'm suffering so much! You've certainly condemned Venice, but the problem is I'm on a boat!

Cao Zhong realized that this was a veiled attack on him.

"Is Mr. Yu blaming me?"

"I wouldn't dare, it's just too much trouble," Yu Dong said. "Director Cao, could you help me think of a solution?"

“Mr. Yu, I’m not trying to criticize you, but your initial idea was flawed,” Cao Zhong said. “What kind of film is ‘The Sun Also Rises’?”

"An art film."

"You dare to claim a box office of 100 million yuan for an art film?" Cao Zhong chuckled. "Which film has ever achieved that?"

"That's because I trust Director Jiang Wen's abilities."

"What kind of strength? The strength that Ning Jing had when he threw two large milk bottles?" Cao Zhong said, "I've watched the movie. That movie was released in 94. People were very depressed. This movie was very exciting, and everyone loved to watch it."

Yu Dong's face turned bright red.

"This film also has artistic merit, it's just that it was cut."

“Then there’s no hope,” Cao Zhong said. “The market hasn’t even stabilized yet. Last year’s box office was only 26.2 billion. Trying to make money by engaging in art is just asking for trouble.”

"Come here," Yu Dong said, getting a little impatient. He pointed at Cao Zhong, wanting to get angry, but then immediately softened his stance.

"Brother Suan, please!"

"I'll give you a suggestion, but I can't guarantee it will work."

Cao Zhong had actually seen the movie "The Sun Also Rises" in his previous life, and he felt that it was of very high quality. In particular, it did not involve any vilification or anything like that; on the contrary, it subtly expressed some praise.

"Thank you, Director Cao." Yu Dong couldn't be happier.

"We need to accurately target our promotional efforts, making them refined and targeted at film enthusiasts, art cinemas, and highly educated individuals."

We also need to strengthen interpretation and guidance from film critics, providing in-depth analysis to help people better understand the film's narrative and themes, thus reducing the barrier to entry for watching movies.

Let's try to get the key; let word-of-mouth build up over time.

Yu Dong frowned deeply. He had thought about these points and understood them, but felt that the effect might not be good enough.

"There's another trick."

Cao Zhong thought of something and said,
"They targeted me as a group of highly educated art students, attacking me and saying I don't take art seriously."
You led Bona to spearhead the attack on me, and incidentally, you leaked information about my second new film, which is still related to Nanjing and seems to be a film about suffering. You attacked me, and let my group of opponents make money for you at the box office.

They are all art lovers and are the core audience of your film.

It might bring Bona a considerable sum.

Yu Dong looked up in an instant, completely stunned! He was utterly bewildered.

Look! Look! That's what you call vision!
He originally wanted to hit Li An, but Han Sanpin wouldn't allow it, saying it would be easy to get banned.

But there's no pressure when fighting Cao Zhong!
Cao Zhong is far more popular than Ang Lee!

This is pure selflessness.

Moreover, Bona launched an offensive, linking Cao Zhong's second film to Nanjing!

The rhythm instantly reached its maximum!

Yu Dong was almost in tears.

He made a decision: from now on, Cao Zhong's father would be his father, and he would treat him with the same respect.

"This can work?" Yu Dong was a little shocked.

"Whether there are dates or not, let's take a shot," Cao Zhong said. "Think about it, do you think those who love art would allow 'The Sun Also Rises' to have low box office? Wouldn't that be shameful?"

"What is Director Cao trying to achieve?"

Yu Dong was surprised.

"They don't dare to attack me now, and my fans have nothing to do. They always think they're winning, and if this continues, their fighting power will decline. Besides, many of my supporters are just bandwagoners now, not true die-hards."

Wang An and the captain were driven away, and those guys are feeling down and desperately need a spiritual leader, which Jiang Wen happens to be perfect. Bona Film Group, as the distributor of Jiang Wen's new work, can easily generate buzz around this, and some of those who criticized me should be able to find someone to support me financially.

"You'll rake in the box office, I'll gain die-hard fans, and I'll even discover the enemy—a triple win, killing three birds with one stone."

Cao Zhongdao said, "I'll allow you to fire at me for two months. It would be best if you became the spiritual leader of this group, brought these people out for me, recorded the ringleaders, and then Bona would turn around and kneel down to me. Leave the rest to me."

Yu Dongren was stunned. He never expected that public opinion could be manipulated like this, and he immediately stood at attention.

"I guarantee I will!"

"I understand Director Cao's intentions. Regardless of the box office results, Director Cao will receive 10% of the final distribution fee," Yu Dong said before leaving. "I'm not an unreasonable person either."

"Mr. Yu, there's no need. I've already said I have no interest in money."

"How can this be?" Yu Dong was very excited.

"Director Cao must accept this. I learned a new trick from Director Cao today, but I can't let Director Cao get scolded for nothing. Consider this money as compensation for Director Cao. I think giving Director Cao the money from these opponents will make him feel better."

Having said that, Cao Zhong had no choice but to nod.

Cao Zhong had no problem taking any of the money from these people.

Making some money before walking the dog is a good idea.

"Then, thank you, Mr. Yu."

"Eh...no, no, no! I should be thanking Director Cao!"

Yu Dong turned back to get the red wine, getting into the swing of things.
"I have to toast Director Cao three times! By the way, brother, how about we become sworn brothers?"

"No, no, no."

Cao Zhongdao said, "This is what I should do."

After downing three cups of wine, Yu Dong burst into tears. "I can't say anymore, Director Cao. My gratitude is all in my heart. Right now, you're the only one helping me, working so hard."
Not only did they take me to the car, but they also had to take the blame for me.
"If there weren't so many people here, I would have knelt down before you."

Yu Dong was moved to tears. "No matter what happens in the future, if my brother says the word, Yu Dong will definitely follow."

(End of this chapter)