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

Chapter 159 Go easy on them!

As August arrives, the atmosphere of the Olympics has swept across all provinces.

Amidst the scorching summer heat, people's barely suppressed anticipation was palpable.
The public's spiritual civilization was swept up in a frenzy of cheers and jubilation because of this Olympic competition, which had been highly anticipated and had been anticipated for seven years.

Cao Zhong was very moved by this, but he didn't put much attention or emotion into the Olympics.

For China, the Olympics is a platform to showcase its spirit and civilization to the world, a demonstration of its international image, and the best advertisement for attracting investment.
What moved him was the Chinese people's attempt to showcase Chinese civilization to the world through this sporting event.
What is touching is the simple and peaceful sense of identity that resides in the hearts of the Chinese people.

But apart from him, no one knew that in just over a decade, the Olympics would become a victim of political infighting.

In a world dominated by Western narratives, even sports become a joke due to double standards, to the point that China refused to host a new Summer Olympics three times after the Winter Olympics in its previous life.

The Olympic Committee was in a real hurry and insisted on assigning it to you.

Huaxia said: Get lost, don't get involved.

Like many summits, the Olympic Games have become a colonial power in the sports world, just like the Paris Agreement and COP30, which are toys for the US to use as it pleases.

As long as he wears this American face, he can come and go as he pleases.

The Olympics, the World Cup, and similar events are also targeted at countries, individuals, and rules.

If the Westerners don't win, they'll let the referee warm up! Or they'll just disqualify you from the competition.

Cao Zhong was well aware that the future image of the nation no longer needed such costly vanity projects.
We need people like him even more.
Be an eagle that can defeat a group of art enthusiasts who admire Western narratives domestically, and act without reason! Abroad, be an eagle that can subtly sabotage foreigners, or even slap them directly in the face!

However, this road is indeed difficult to travel.

Because he only has 1.4 billion viewers, while they cover billions, if they want to make inroads into channels controlled by the West, they have to sneak around in other people's rules for the time being. This is an unavoidable operation.

That's why Cao Zhongcai wanted to go into hiding.

But it's not necessarily impossible to hide it. If the other party really discovers the threat one day and breaks through the equity, they can directly seize the subsidiaries of subsidiaries!
……

On August 1st, the project approval notices for "Raging Father and Daughter" and "Lost in Thailand" were issued.
Along with the notification came a phone call from Han Sanpin.

"Director Cao, you're coming to China Film Group for a luncheon today. I'll be all happy to welcome you. Haicheng has already gone to pick you up. Is Shen Ao here too? Let's invite him over as well. The Olympics are coming up soon, so we can share in his good fortune."

China Film Group has just moved to a new office building, and Lao Han is in high spirits, but his words were very purposeful.

Although he remained calm, Cao Zhong knew that Han Sanpin was getting ready as soon as he said those words, and he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

A short while later, Zhao Haicheng arrived, and Cao Zhong got into the car by himself.

Seeing that Cao Zhong insisted, Zhao Haicheng didn't try to persuade him further.

In the China Film Group office, Han Sanpin cooked a special meal: hot pot.

While eating, Han Sanpin subtly inquired about the matter.

Why didn't Shenhua come?

"Chairman Han, let's keep talking about work, even if it's just a casual chat. Forget about the Olympic bid, we're busy casting roles too. We're short an eleven or twelve-year-old female student."

Cao Zhong was making excuses for Han Sanpin; if he didn't go to the Olympic bid, he could play games with Lao Deng.
He feared being tricked by Lao Deng and being caught by the two of them, so he could get his share.

Cao Zhong intends to make a fortune from these two comedy films, as he still has other business matters to attend to.

The battleground of public opinion must be won.
Sina Weibo is set to launch next year. Although the domain name has already been acquired, money is still essential.

Moreover, Cao Zhong knew that Zhang Yiming, the CEO of Douyin, would be developing a real estate app called 99fang next year, focusing on the vertical information field.

This was his last failed venture before ByteDance, and also the last opportunity for Cao Zhong to win him over and cooperate with him.

As for the share, Cao Zhong wouldn't mind giving it to Han Sanpin.

Of course, I'd like to take a bite, but I'm afraid Han Sanpin might get too carried away with it.

She always coveted the little bit of meat in his pot, and then took the whole pot away.

These two films are low-budget, which Cao Zhong can afford.

Han Sanpin chuckled, sensing the refusal in Cao Zhong's words, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued his recommendation.
"An eleven or twelve-year-old female student, like the girl in 'The Promise,' would you be okay with that?"

"Guan Xiaotong?"

“Yes, that’s the name,” Han Sanpin said. “I’ll have Haicheng give you his contact information. Her grandfather is the chairman of the Beijing Quyi Artists Association, a very authoritative figure. If you need any music or anything else in the future, it will be very prestigious.”

"I never expected to need Chairman Han's recommendation," Cao Zhong said with a laugh. "I really have to thank Chairman Han."

“With our relationship, there’s no need for such formalities,” Han Sanpin said casually. “Is this the title, ‘Raging Father and Daughter’? It doesn’t sound good, does it? It doesn’t sound as good as ‘Fast and Furious’. Are you sure you don’t need China Film Group to invest in this movie? I’ll arrange all the publicity and distribution for you from now on, thanks to Princess Six.”

Cao Zhong chuckled twice and said sincerely:

"The name was decided by the Olympic bid. I actually came up with two names for it: 'Driving My Car' and 'Unfamiliar Roads in Life'."
But he felt that both the father and daughter, the two main characters, should be included in the movie title.

And the word "storm"
He described it as a sudden storm, a metaphor for violent social change or major upheaval, directly illustrating the core of the film's plot.
He wanted to use the most tender details of eating, drinking, and everyday life to depict the turbulent inner world of ordinary people and the overflowing affection between father and daughter.

I was convinced.

But Mr. Han, the screenwriter, producer, and editor of this film, none of them know me.

The path to winning the Olympics has been too smooth; it's time to let them step out and shoulder some responsibility.
Moreover, I promised that if the bid for the Olympics was successful, he would have a share in it.

It's just an experiment; we have no idea what will happen.

Cao Zhong was telling the truth; it was a completely original work. However, its main advantage was its low cost, and Cao Zhong believed it was unlikely to lose money. Therefore, his words were half-truths, purely a way to deceive the audience. "Then what about the film that Xu Zheng is going to direct?" Han Sanpin asked again.

"That movie was adapted from an American film, an old movie from 87, and Xu Zheng was given the opportunity to try his hand at it."

Cao Zhongdao said, "Isn't this all for Han Dong to cultivate talent? These are all low-budget films worth a few million or tens of millions. Compared with the first installment of the Tang Dynasty series that I'm preparing to make, they're nothing."

"How's the preparation for the 'Tang Dynasty' series going?"

"I've already spent three million on the script, and I'm still working on it."

Han Sanpin was provoked by Cao Zhong's attitude and said enviously:

"The movie 'Split' was a hit. I can tell. Money talks."

You've changed too.

You're not that young guy who gave me political advice at China Film Group for a few million dollars anymore.

Han Sanpin nodded, feeling that they couldn't rush things; there would be many more opportunities for cooperation in the future.

But that didn't stop him from complaining.
"China Film Group would be honored to accept the release of 'Split'."

However, the release speed of your own movies is too slow. I'm also being held back by "Red Cliff".
This year's performance... is also very stressful for me.

Last year, "Nanjing Photo Studio" was a huge success; this year, the film about the Olympic bid, while boasting a star-studded cast, unfortunately lost some market share.

The box office results of the two Three Kingdoms films are making me dizzy, and I don't know how "Red Cliff Part II" will fare.

To be honest, I was counting on your three films this year, Chen Kaige and Lu Chuan's, but all three of you have your eyes on the Lunar New Year release window, so I have to schedule them for you all.

“I have to release my film at the same time as Lu Chuan,” Cao Zhong interrupted Han Sanpin, saying bluntly, “If I’m slow, you’ll have to hold him back for me.”

"Although most of his investment went to Stellar Media, China Film Group also had a small stake."

Han Sanpin said, "Xiao Cao, young man, don't be too impetuous. After all, 'We Live in Nanjing' is not finished yet. It's already August. Who knows how long you'll have to wait? Besides, it won't look good if word gets out."

"Two-thirds of the special effects have been completed," Cao Zhong said. "These hundred days of working overtime have not been in vain. I roughly estimate that we can meet the New Year's Day deadline."

"You never know, we might actually run into one." Han Sanpin hesitated for a moment. "Do we really want to run into one?"

“It’s not because I have a grudge against him,”

Cao Zhong said solemnly, "It really isn't."

“I understand,” Han Sanpin said. “I’ve thought about what you said before.”
I understand your anger; it's because the core message of his film is wrong.
Simply put, his script glorifies the Japanese army; in reality, his narrative core is flawed.
He attempted to film it this way, thinking it would gain Western approval, perhaps even hoping for awards, to fit the triple structure you mentioned, such as the Japanese soldiers' suicides. Essentially, it's about cultivating a sense of morality in the eyes of outsiders.

Cao Zhong smiled; he was very pleased with Han Sanpin's change in attitude.

"Yes, Chairman Han, this path is wrong."

What the Chinese film market needs is to stand tall and be upright.

To make a patriotic film, one must instill a sense of pride and ambition in the public, moving and inspiring them.
Making comedy movies is all about laughter—unrestrained, joyful laughter that makes the audience laugh until they're crowing.
When making historical epics, we must also convey our own core values ​​and civilization. For example, the Tang Dynasty series is about making films that allow people to experience Chinese civilization in the theater and resonate with its spirit!
We need to establish our own rules before we can shape the standards for the film industry. That's the right approach.

"If they can't break Lu Chuan's narrative structure, do you believe they'd dare to film a love scene between a Chinese woman and a Western white man against this historical backdrop?"

Han Sanpin's heart skipped a beat as he remembered Zhang Yimou's script... He was speechless for a long time.

He secretly wondered if Cao Zhong had some kind of eye patch in the censorship department.

"Is it confirmed? Should we touch it?" Han Sanpin asked again.

"We have to touch it."

“Last time I helped him, I made him beg you, and he ended up being betrayed. I’ve always felt guilty about that.”

Han Sanpin drank the tea in his cup and pondered for a moment,

“Then let’s have a go. I’ll make the arrangements. But I have a small suggestion: why don’t you go easy on them? Lu Chuan and Jia Zhangke’s gang are not the same. Their crimes don’t warrant the same level of punishment.”

Cao Zhong smiled.
"Of course, I'll be very gentle."

"However, once the public opinion momentum is built up, I don't care whether the audience wants to calm down or not."

Han Sanpin's heart skipped a beat.

……

Before the opening ceremony of the Olympics, the entertainment industry was actually relatively quiet.

However, a few pieces of news still caused a stir in the entertainment industry.

The second film submitted for the Olympic bid, "Raging Father and Daughter," has cast Guo Tao and Guan Xiaotong as the leads, and filming officially began on August 6.

Ning Hao's film "Crazy Racer" has quietly wrapped up filming.

Wang Baoqiang, who plays Li Yannian, a man skilled in both literature and martial arts, has also finished filming ahead of schedule. News has surfaced that filming for the entire movie will wrap up in mid-August.
The filming of this movie took a long time, and it is said that Zhai Junjie and Cao Zhong scrutinized many details very closely.

Meanwhile, Xu Zheng is about to start filming his first movie.

But all of this generated far less buzz compared to the Olympics.

At least in 2008, the popularity of the Olympics was unparalleled.

(End of this chapter)