The Best Director

As dusk settled, the countryside-style town became even more tranquil. Riding leisurely on a bicycle along the tree-lined path, crushing the fallen leaves beneath his wheels, Wang Yang enjoyed the ordinary yet beautiful scenery around him. Having gone through a month and a half of filming, the time had come to early August, and “Juno” would wrap up tomorrow. The crew would leave the town, and before they departed, he wanted to take one more good look around.

That tree must be over a hundred years old, right? While gazing at the towering tree ahead, his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Wang Yang braked his bicycle and pulled out his cell phone to see the caller ID—it was Robert Zemeckis calling, and although their last call was just a week ago when he had asked Robert for advice, he was still somewhat surprised because Robert rarely initiated contact. Wang Yang answered, “Hello, Robert.”

“Ha, young man, you haven’t kept your promise,” Robert Zemeckis’s voice was as hearty as ever. He said, “You had told me that you would inform me as soon as the release date for ‘Juno’ was set; but now, I learn from the media that it’s December 22, right? Interesting, we are head to head.”

Wang Yang continued walking with his bicycle, chuckled into the phone and said, “Robert, it was only decided last night, and I was planning to tell you this evening. I’m sorry.” Robert’s hearty laughter sounded over the phone, and he said with a helpless tone, “Yang, since that charity dinner last year, I’ve been worried about this; now it’s come true. How does the newspaper put it? ‘University of Southern California’s new and old directors lock horns for the Christmas release battle.’ Young man, are you really not willing to let this old guy off the hook?”

Knowing he was joking, Wang Yang just smiled and didn’t say a word, but he didn’t have any intention of defeating Robert Zemeckis’s new work “Cast Away.” “Cast Away” had a budget of 90 million, starred Tom Hanks, and was a drama that marked the reunion of Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks after “Forrest Gump.” The film had started shooting in January of 1999 and was paused for nearly a year to allow Tom Hanks to lose weight, grow his hair, and find the right feeling. It was a meticulously crafted piece and a preordained classic.

Beat it? Perhaps some movies could perform well at the box office, but in reality, there is no such thing as defeat among good films. However, with “Juno” and “Cast Away” both releasing on December 22, the media, which loves to create buzz, naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity, especially since both Wang Yang and Robert Zemeckis are directors from the “University of Southern California school,” and Wang Yang was even nicknamed “The Avenger of USC” and “Senior Slayer.”

This was not deliberate by Wang Yang, the release date being set so close to Christmas was due to considerations for post-production, promotional plans, and timing expectations. Christmas season at the box office was when you would find an array of blockbuster commercial films and eagerly awaited new works by great directors. On December 8, the Christmas season officially kicked off: Sony’s adventure action film “Vertical Limit” with 75 million investment, Warner Bros’ “Proof of Life” with 65 million, New Line’s “Dragon and the cities below” with 45 million, and Sony Classics’ small-scale test screening of Ang Lee’s Chinese-language film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was receiving widespread acclaim.

By December 15, the new week saw two more noteworthy films set for major releases: Disney’s animated feature “The Emperor’s New Groove” costing 100 million, and Paramount’s “What Women Want” with a 70-million budget, the fantasy romantic comedy produced by Matt Williams, the director of “Sweetheart.” This made Mark Sloat jokingly say, “Now it’s really buzzing, let’s show him how to shoot a teen pregnancy, boss, no problem, right?” Wang Yang just rolled his eyes.

When the date reached the 22nd, numerous new movies were brought to market for test screenings, and naturally, there were also direct wide releases. Warner Bros’ action comedy “Miss Congeniality” with 45 million, Miramax Films’ horror film “Dracula 2000” with 54 million, Universal’s romantic comedy “The Family Man” starring Nicolas Cage with 60 million, 20th Century Fox’s “Cast Away” with 90 million, and Flame’s “Juno” with 15 million.

If we remove cost from the consideration of anticipation and exposure, “Juno undoubtedly leads the pack. It was also Wang Yang and Flame Film’s first foray into the grueling Christmas season battlefield. Surrounded by a variety of big-budget films of different genres, without a box-office magnet like Will Smith, and tackling an unproven teen pregnancy theme, this left Mark Sloat somewhat concerned, while Wang Yang’s attitude was, “Make a good movie, do the publicity well, do our job well, and let the audience decide the rest.”

After a bit of joking around, Robert Zemeckis’s voice turned serious and he said, “Yang, actually, there’s another reason I’m calling you. You know I’m very passionate about digital technology in film.” Wang Yang murmured in acknowledgment, and Robert continued, “The University of Southern California is currently building a digital technology training center, which I spearheaded. It’s for researching filming, post-production, and stage effect technologies. Hey, it’s the first such facility in America.”

Wang Yang parked his bike and took a seat on a long wooden bench by the road, listening to Robert explain the blueprints of the training center. He indeed knew that Robert was a tech fanatic; “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” in 1988 was a film that utilized the latest technology to combine live-action with animation, achieving a seamless and perfect integration that redefined the genre, marking a milestone. He also knew about another future milestone, the first full-length IMAX-3D movie “The Polar Express,” released in 2004, directed by Robert Zemeckis.

But back then, 3D and IMAX screens were extremely rare. “The Polar Express had only 75 such screens globally, while the rest of the 2000 were conventional 2D screens. By contrast, in 2009, “Avatar” had nearly 3000 3D screens in North America alone, with close to 200 IMAX screens.

I want to establish this training center because I believe the role of digital technology in filmmaking will become increasingly significant,” Robert Zemeckis said with a laugh, and then asked directly, “Young man, are you interested in sponsoring some funds? That way, the training academy could be expanded.”

Oh!” Wang Yang nodded without hesitation, “Sure, I’m very interested and more than willing to contribute to cinema.” He smiled and added, “And to the University of Southern California.” He did not actually hate his alma mater. The expulsion was a mistake on the school’s part, but the USC School of Cinematic Arts was not to blame. It was a place where all filmmakers aspired to learn and chase their dreams. George Lucas graduated from there, Robert Zemeckis graduated from there… She was a beautiful and kind girl, not an ugly, malicious witch.

That’s fantastic!” Robert exclaimed with delight. Wang Yang pondered over his personal and company finances; how much could he sponsor?

Two and a half months after “The Pursuit of Happyness” was released in North America, it had grossed a total of $203 million at the box office. Now, there were still fewer than a hundred theaters showing it, but the box office figures were settling down. In July, it was released overseas without any Waterloo surprises, and it did not disappoint anyone. It garnered acclaim and box office success, as the genuine performances by Will Smith and his son touched moviegoers worldwide. Currently, it had earned $150 million US dollars at the international box office and, although losing momentum, it still had a good chance of hitting the $180 million mark.

The original soundtrack had also hit the market. Of course, it wasn’t selling as explosively as “High School Musical,” but stable sales might see over 500,000 sets sold. As for DVD sales, those would have to wait until the theatrical window ended.

With “The Pursuit of Happyness” grossing $353 million globally, a rough estimate suggested that Flames Films could pocket about half of that, which would be $176 million. That would cover the $5 million for “Memento,” the $20 million marketing expense for “Juno,” and leave a small portion for sponsorship. With this in mind, Wang Yang spoke into his phone, “Robert, I’ll sponsor $5 million to the training academy.”

Even though Robert knew Wang Yang was not stingy—his donation of $5 million to the children’s charity gala had shocked many—Robert Zemeckis was still surprised by the offer. This young man indeed treated money in a way that matched the media’s characterization as “not taking money seriously.” Overwhelmed with joy and admiration for the young man, he said, “Wow, young man, that’s amazing! Thank you. With $5 million, the training academy will become the top technical institution in America. I can add a few more tech courses now.”

Well, Robert, don’t be shy if it’s not enough. We want the academy to be the best,” Wang Yang said earnestly. His money came from movies, and it was only natural to give back to cinema. He said with a smile, “And after the training academy is up and running, I’ll take some classes there too. I’m seriously lacking in digital technology skills.” Robert Zemeckis laughed, “You’re interested in that area too?” As he caught a falling leaf, Wang Yang nodded and laughed, “Of course, I like movies based on real life, but ever since I was young, I’ve dreamed of making ‘big films’ like Star Wars. Digital technology and IMAX-3D are obviously the way of the future.”

Which director wouldn’t want to make blockbusters? Sci-fi, the fantastical, the ancient, modern superheroes… a world imbued with imagination, a thrilling story, a cast of unique characters—these elements have always been what he strived for.

Upon hearing Wang Yang mention IMAX-3D, Robert Zemeckis instantly agreed, “3D is definitely the future trend. Once I finish working on ‘Cast Away,’ I think I will prepare a film shot entirely in IMAX film format. Wang, that will be a groundbreaking initiative!”

Wang Yang hummed a response. He thought that when the time was ripe and he had the ability and interest, he would also make an IMAX-3D movie, but at present, he barely understood the ordinary special effects technology and really needed to take classes at a training academy. He then heard Robert laugh and say, “But that could take several years, I still have to study the technology. So young man, if you want to ‘kill’ this old guy, take your chance with ‘Cast Away’!” Wang Yang couldn’t help but laugh and said jokingly, “OK, old guy, December 22nd, a fight to the death!”

The two laughed and talked for a while before ending the call. Wang Yang stood up, mounted his bicycle, and continued pedaling forward. After cycling for some distance, he saw a short-haired girl’s back far ahead. Recognizing the familiar clothes, Wang Yang called out with a bit of confusion, “Hey!” The girl turned her head, and sure enough, it was Natalie Portman.

Wang Yang pedaled next to her, braked, and, smiling at her, said, “So you’re also taking a stroll around this little town?” Natalie smiled and nodded, saying, “Yes, but I’m walking.” Wang Yang chuckled, jumped off his bike, and started pushing it as he walked alongside her. He glanced at Natalie and, though the likelihood was small, thought that if there were paparazzi lurking nearby, getting a shot of them now would surely make headlines. But who cared, it didn’t matter.

It’s coming up fast, ‘Juno’ wraps up tomorrow. I still remember the day you rushed into the coffee shop looking so disheveled.” Natalie kicked at the fallen leaves on the ground, smiled, and said, “Once this is over, I’m heading straight to Sydney to shoot ‘Star Wars: Episode II’. Whew, an interesting summer.”

Wang Yang looked at her and said, “Natalie, I’m afraid it will take up some of your semester time. You’re not needed for the preliminary promotion of ‘Juno’; but in December, when we enter the release phase, we’ll need to do some interviews and programs. However, by then the semester will be nearly over, so I reckon it won’t be a big problem, right?” The initial promotion plan for ‘Juno’ by the company didn’t have anything novel, all standard push advertising, interviews, talk shows, etc. Relying on the popularity of ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ that hadn’t yet faded, just a brilliant trailer for ‘Juno’ along with those standard promotional activities would already be sufficient.

Oh, I’m aware,” Natalie grimaced, a hint of self-mockery flashing across her face, and with a sweep of her hand said, “Missing classes, missing classes! What does Harvard matter anyway, I want to be a bad girl.” Wang Yang, amused, said with a laugh, “Bad girl?” Natalie looked him in the eyes and suddenly laughed, “That’s right, bad girl! I want to swear, I want to flip the bird, I want to shout and scream… Hey, tell me a vulgar joke!”

I don’t have many left,” Wang Yang laughed, seeing she was serious, and then frowned in thought, “Alright, let me think… Hmm…” For some reason, ‘Cast Away’ popped into his mind, and he recalled a joke related to it. “Got it. There was a shipwreck, and ten sailors and a beautiful girl washed up on a deserted island. After ten days, the girl committed suicide out of shame; another ten days later, the sailors buried her body out of shame; and another ten days later, they dug her body up again, still out of shame.”

Natalie thought about the joke for a moment, and then burst into laughter, understanding its meaning, “You really are… filthy, disgusting, vulgar, I’m going to puke, haha…” Although the joke wasn’t explicitly crude, it was a tongue twister that contained some utterly base implications. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, barely able to stop laughing, “I love it, give me another one!”

Wang Yang shook his head and said with a smile, “Considering your condition, maybe not, I’m afraid you’ll die laughing.” Natalie gave him a few looks and finally managed to stop laughing, still trembling slightly as she said, “Everyone thinks ‘the shy little girl’ is me. I used to think so too, but I, and everyone, were wrong. This bad girl is me, ‘Hey Natalie, how are you? Finally able to take a breather.’ ” She laughed some more, slowly calming down, and looked at Wang Yang, “Dude, thank you. You’ve made me truly recognize who I am. When you said ‘release your other side,’ this is it.”

Don’t mention it, shall we celebrate?” Wang Yang grinned and pressed the bicycle horn, producing a series of beeps. Natalie likewise pressed it a few times, and through the beeping sounds, she said with a curled lip, “You know, half the reason I chose to study psychology was because I’m really interested in the characteristics of people’s mental activities, and the other half was to figure myself out. Now that I’ve performed ‘Juno,’ I understand it all. Buddy, I’d say this is the best film I’ve ever acted in. So please do a good job editing it, scoring it… everything. Make it my pride; don’t ruin it.”

Seeing her serious expression, Wang Yang stopped and nodded emphatically. He then broke into a smile, “I promise not to let it lose to ‘Sweetheart’.” Natalie seemed unsatisfied, arching her eyebrows, “Is that all?” Wang Yang laughed, “Then let… whoever mentions Natalie Portman’s films first think of ‘Juno’, with ‘Leon: The Professional’ as the second.”

OK, that doesn’t sound too bad. Beating my 13-year-old self, what have I even done in these six years?” Natalie snorted in amusement, then turned to Wang Yang and asked with furrowed brows, “Seriously, you’re not really my fan, are you?” Wang Yang spoke with utter earnestness, “You’re right, a big fan, a crazy fan! You should see, my room is plastered with ‘Leon: The Professional’ posters, but you know what? The person on them is Jean Reno.”

Natalie’s voice lingered as she recited, “Oh, Natalie playing Mathilda is like a fallen elf, blah blah blah… Natalie, I think she’ll become the Best Actress at the Oscars one day!” Wang Yang laughed embarrassingly, looking up at the sky that was growing dark. Natalie laughed triumphantly, “The final blow! Perfect!”

That doesn’t count, because I still think the same way now, oh, but only about the part after ‘blah blah blah.’ As for the rest…” Wang Yang shook his head in disgust, mimicking in a high-pitched voice, “Oh, Natalie playing Mathilda is like a demon bursting out of hell!” Natalie shrugged indifferently, “Even just the last part is great, so when do you think I’ll win the Best Actress at the Oscars?”

Wang Yang smiled at her, 2011? That was another future world in his mind, but the future had changed, and in this world, who knew. He said, “I don’t know, maybe in ten years, or maybe next year with ‘Juno.’ But rest assured, you’ll definitely get it.” Pausing, he chuckled, “Then people will exclaim, ‘He knew it at 14, he’s a prophet.\'”

Natalie spread her hands, “I’m a prophet too, I say you will win Best Director at the Oscars in the future, so easy!” Both of them laughed out loud. Suddenly, she slapped Wang Yang’s bike, eager, “Hey, let’s stop pushing and race instead!” Wang Yang asked doubtfully, “How do we race?” She replied, “You drive, and I’ll stand behind; or I drive, and you stand behind.” Wang Yang looked at the back of the bike, “There’s no seat there.” Natalie said, “Just stand.”

No thanks.” Wang Yang rejected her idea. Although he and Natalie were great “brothers,” there were still differences between men and women, and such intimate actions were inappropriate; besides, if the paparazzi caught them, how would he explain to Jessie? He laughed, “No, there’s no tail seat, it’s dangerous.”

Such a coward!” Natalie pouted disdainfully, “I feel sorry for you!” Wang Yang clenched his teeth, cold-faced like Marty from ‘Back to the Future,’ “No one dares call me a chicken! OK, not this time, it’s dangerous.” Natalie smiled, then suddenly shouted, “Give me the bike!” Before her words were completely out, she snatched Wang Yang’s bike with both hands, took a few steps, and hopped on, pedaling hard, yelling, “Let’s go!”

Watching her pedal away as if the bike took flight, Wang Yang helplessly started running after her, “Hey, that’s my bike! Weren’t you going to walk? Slow down, I can’t keep up…” Natalie didn’t slow down, holding the handlebars with her left hand and raising her right hand high, flipping the bird, laughing, and yelling, “Woo-hoo! Bye-bye!”

Hey, you devil, give back my bike!” Wang Yang shouted, and upon seeing her switch to the middle finger with her left hand, he couldn’t help but curse with a laugh, “Crazy!” He gradually slowed down, watching Natalie get further away with short breaths until she disappeared around the tree-lined corner. He shook his head with a smile; this girl was such a nuisance!

He laughed to himself, “So what do I do now? Alright, I’ll walk, Let’s go!

PS: A hundred chapters, wow, thank you all so much for your support along the way, thank you!