The Best Director

In the dimly lit movie theater, a diverse audience filled the seats, stuffing popcorn into their mouths while intently watching the big screen. As tense music played, they saw Tom Cruise, dressed in black leather, leaping between streamlined cars—embodying a futuristic sci-fi vibe. This was the scene from “Minority Report,” which released on June 21.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this new sci-fi thriller cost $102 million to make and starred Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell. With 481 special effects shots, it has surpassed the number Spielberg used in any of his works since “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977. The movie is an adaptation of a short story by the legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick, telling a tale set in the world of 2054.

Advanced technology allows humans to use robotic systems to detect criminal intentions, and the police then stop these individuals and mete out legal punishment. Tom Cruise plays a supervisor in the police department, who is devoted to the system until he is identified by the “pre-cognitive” robots as a target for apprehension.

The audience let out an “ohh—” as Tom Cruise on the screen jumped from a building into a women’s fitness club, landing on his butt in a pose resembling that of the exercising women. This darkly humorous film won widespread acclaim upon release for its “exciting and perfect blend of CGI and live-action, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “the best sci-fi movie of the summer!”

But in this summer that was nearly two months past, the superhero sci-fi blockbuster “Spider-Man” was released in May, nearing $400 million at the box office in North America and over $700 million globally. Although its box office momentum far surpassed “Minority Report,” it fell short in critical acclaim due to being a pure commercial film. The “must-watch for sci-fi fans,

“Star Wars: Episode  – Attack of the Clones,” was nearing $300 million at the box office in North America and close to $600 million worldwide, but the reviews were mostly “disappointing”…

On the wall hung a flat-screen LCD TV, showing a beetle-styled, oddly-shaped mecha running across the barren, muddy land, surrounded by dilapidated tin huts. The mecha suddenly opened fire on the soldiers in front of it, and amid a brief outcry, they were instantly reduced to piles of mangled flesh and blood.

Lee Smith, wearing glasses and with slightly graying hair, sat in front of a glass editing desk with three computer screens and other equipment, manipulating the editing with a mouse. Wang Yang leaned his chin on his hands, standing beside him, focusing on the images on the screen, and asked, “Does it feel like something’s missing?” Lee Smith pressed replay, pondering, “It’s already quite violent and shocking.”

Hmm, but I think it’s not vivid enough… you know, to make it exciting,” Wang Yang picked up the storyboard notebook and the shooting schedule from the desk, flipping through, and suggested, “Lee, pull up the fifth set of close-up shots from this segment, the ones of the soldiers.” Looking at the center computer screen filled with close-up images, he thought for a moment and said, “When the mecha first fires the bullets, do a rapid rotation of close-ups…

Following his instructions, Lee Smith sifted through the material, lining up the close-up shots and adjusting the scene.

Soon the footage played again. The mecha on screen raised both hands towards the soldiers—those lying on the ground, standing by the walls, hiding beside piles of trash—the expressions of all the soldiers’ faces rapidly changed. In the beginning, there were two faces per second, accelerating to a blur of six faces too fast to discern. After three seconds, the screen froze on a burly soldier lying on the ground, his expression blank, uttering a quiet, “FUCK.”

With a bang! The next frame shifted to a long shot from the media’s perspective. As the bullets swept over, every soldier’s body exploded, and a shower of blood instantly reddened the muddy ground.

Just right!” Wang Yang couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction, “The audience seeing these poor soldiers before their death will feel even more thrilled at the sight of their scattered remains!” Lee Smith, however, looked utterly horrified, “It gives me the chills just watching.” Wang Yang chuckled and, looking at the screen again, continued, “Add the shot where the flesh splatters against the tin huts…”

The tense editing of “District 9” was underway every day. As July approached, the final cuts of the theatrical version were nearing completion. Each completed segment was sent for music scoring and color grading, and the post-production voice-overs by the actors were also in progress—the entire movie was almost ready to be finalized.

On Thursday, June 27th, Wang Yang didn’t stay to work late in the editing room. Instead, he headed home early in the afternoon, first because the editing was ahead of schedule, so there was no need to work so hard; second, because the annual NBA Draft was set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

On the comfortable fabric sofa, Wang Yang held Jessica’s shoulder, and Joshua was sitting next to them. All three watched the TNT channel on the screen. The venue was bustling with excitement as the players waited anxiously with their families and friends in the green room for the draft to start. However, Yao Ming, the hot favorite for the first pick, was not present at the venue but in a studio in Beijing.

When David Stern walked out from the small door in the center of the stage, Wang Yang quickly brought his hands together, resting his forehead in them, chanting, “Not Yao Ming! Not Yao Ming! Amare Stoudemire, Drew Gooden, Nene Hilario…” Only if Yao Ming’s draft position slid to third would the Warriors Team have a chance to get the big guy.

Jessica, naturally aware of his feelings, also closed her eyes and prayed, “Not Yao Ming, not Yao Ming…” Joshua glanced at them, shook his head with a smile, and said with arms crossed, “Dream on! The Rockets have already announced they’re picking Yao Ming, and they’ve already negotiated everything.”

Wang Yang spread his hands in exasperation and said, “Hey, bro, can’t you let me have some hope?”

The Houston Rockets’ choice is…” On the screen, David Stern looked into the camera and announced, “Yao Ming, from the Shanghai Sharks in Shanghai, China!”

Oh!” Wang Yang exclaimed, holding his head in both hands. He felt both happy and disappointed. Yao Ming was the NBA’s first foreign number one pick and the first Chinese number one pick. There would be another Chinese player on the NBA court with endless potential. How could he not be excited? But it would have been perfect if Yao Ming had fallen to the third spot and joined the Bay Area instead of Space City.

Nevertheless, he still happily raised his hands and high-fived Jessica, who was equally thrilled, both of them saying with a laugh, “Congratulations Yao Ming!” However, their brows quickly furrowed as the TV screen switched to the studio in Beijing, where Yao Ming was clapping and celebrating with his parents and coach. The unseen Madison Square Garden, however, erupted with a chorus of boos.

What kind of people are these?! FUCK!” Wang Yang immediately tensed his face with rage; Jessica puffed her cheeks and let out a breath angrily, saying, “Have these people gone mad?” Joshua cursed loudly, “They’re too full of themselves, a bunch of idiots!”

Traditionally at the draft, each selected player would receive applause and well-wishes, but now? Perhaps it was the jealousy of the New York fans, holding the seventh pick yet still wishing to have Yao Ming, having made a lot of efforts, offering many promises; perhaps it was the skepticism and disdain for a foreign Chinese number one pick, as many in the sports media had predicted Yao Ming wouldn’t even hit 10 points in a game.

Wang Yang watched Yao Ming being interviewed in Beijing on the screen, expressionless, and scoffed at the idea that Chinese couldn’t play in the NBA, saying earnestly, “I’m optimistic about Yao Ming. The guy has nimble footwork, plays smart, and I heard he’s very diligent too. He’ll definitely prove himself on the court, shutting up those who doubted him.”

Yeah, Yang, I think the Houston Rockets are a better fit for Yao Ming,” Jessica turned to look at him, smiling. “They have a tradition of playing tall centers, and Rudy T. is a coach with a good temper, perfect for helping him integrate into the NBA.” Wang Yang nodded in agreement. His favorite coaches were Don Nelson and Rudy Tomjanovich, laughing and saying, “He’ll turn Yao into the second Dream.”

I don’t think so; he will make the first Yao Ming,” Jessica playfully winked, seemingly implying something as she smiled, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.”

That summer, the Chicago Bulls had won their second three-peat. They still had Zachary, Eileen sitting on that old apartment’s rickety sofa, shouting joyously for Michael Jordan and the others… The heart of a champion! Wang Yang laughed and hugged her, kissing her forehead, saying, “Yes, never underestimate the heart of a champion.”

On July 31st, 1998, “Paranormal Activity” had trial screenings in 25 small theaters; on August 2nd, 2002, “District 9” would hit 3550 big screens across North America, with over 40 other countries worldwide releasing it simultaneously. After more than a year of effort, it was finally ready to break out this summer!

R-rated, violence, cult, mockumentary, sci-fi, Oscars, whether capable of handling a big production, market… The cocoon was covered with various labels, some expectant, some skeptical. But he believed that the butterfly which would emerge would certainly show the world its distinct beauty.

Sitting on the loveseat, Joshua looked at the two with puzzlement, what now? He stood up listlessly and said, “I’m leaving; I just can’t stand couples!” Wang Yang and Jessica smiled at each other and waved together, “Bye-bye!”

On June 30th, the Korea-Japan World Cup officially came to a close, with the Brazil team defeating Germany 2:0 and claiming the FIFA World Cup Trophy for the fifth time; the Chinese team, however, disappointed with three defeats and not scoring a single goal, ended their first World Cup journey; while the Korea team shamelessly made it into the top four, becoming the target of scorn for football fans around the world, excluding Korea.

On Friday, July 5th, another weekend commenced, and the sci-fi movie “Men in Black 2,” starring Will Smith and with a production cost of 140 million US dollars, was widely released. It grossed 73 million in box office revenue in its opening week, but the reviews were terrible, with a mere 6.0 score on IMDb and a 39% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as the lack of originality in the story became its nightmare.

District 9″ was completely edited by early July, with a runtime of 125 minutes, which amounted to 132 minutes including the opening animations and end credits; after another week of scoring and color correction, the theater version was officially finalized. Flame Films immediately went full throttle with the copying and printing company to rush the production of copies, which were then sent to theater companies across North America and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, copies of “District 9” were also sent to the MPAA and rating agencies in other countries. In the MPAA headquarters screening room, ten members of the rating board sat in chairs with varied expressions, looking at the large screen on the wall. Amid the somber music, the end credits began to scroll: “Director: Young-Wang, Screenwriter: Young-Wang, Producer: Young- Wang, Stephen-McCawm…”

Oh my God, Magic Yang! That guy is a lunatic…” Todd Morris sat slumped in his chair, incredulous and repeating, “He’s a madman, he’s a madman.”

His left hand was sweaty as he clutched a notebook, naturally used to record detailed scenes from the movie, such as how many times profanity was used, which body parts were shown in sex scenes, and to what extent bloody wounds filled the screen, and so on, all with detailed quantitative grading standards. Usually, reviewers would pause frequently to take notes and measure; but sometimes they’d get so engrossed in the film they’d forget to evaluate until it was over.

With one hand propped against her forehead, Karen Wald tried to suppress the dizziness and nausea from focusing too much and the shaking of the entire film’s shots, saying, “I really didn’t expect this! I’ve reviewed three of his movies! But it seems I’ve only just met him.” She looked at the screen with its black background and white lettering, laughed with a sigh, and said, “This movie took away all the joy his past work has brought me in one fell swoop.

Now I’m wondering, how funny could his ‘The Hangover’ be?” Matt Stark clutched at his chest, which was full of oppressive sensations, shaking his head and saying, “My heart is hurting.” Duane Elliott, sitting next to him, spread his hands and said, “Matt, don’t forget the kid’s ‘Juno’.”

Chris Rocky, originally somewhat biased against Wang Yang, was now filled with nothing but emotion. At 22, this movie! In his view, it was even more brilliant than “Minority Report,” much more… He couldn’t help but express his admiration: “Magic Yang!”

Guys, should it be R-rated then?” Todd Morris asked, shaking his notebook with doubt; Matt Stark nodded, and everyone else including Karen Wald nodded and said, “R-rated.” Todd Morris uttered an OK, then picked up the remote and pressed to replay.

Although the rating was determined, they needed to watch it again. This time it wasn’t for the 800 flawlessly real special effects shots, not for the performance by Robert Downey Jr. which could also be called “magic,” not for the soul­shaking story… but to compile detailed data for a “why is it R-rated” record.

Shortly afterward, “District 9” smoothly passed the MPAA’s R-rating in North America, with the reasons cited as “blood and violence; extensive profanity.”

In May of this past summer, a Spider-Man was leaping between city skyscrapers, and the audience in the theater cheered thrillingly at the sight, this being “Spider-Man”; in another theater next door, Natalie Portman, dressed in senatorial robes, with Jedi knights waving lightsabers, elicited both love and curses from the audience, with the movie being “Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.”

Mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, sloths, and a baby caused mischief and elicited waves of laughter in the screening room, belonging to “Ice Age,” which had already reached a North American box office of $203 million (fourth in the history of CG animated films), and a global box office of $450 million, not to mention the promising future of Blue Sky Studios; a group of exuberant young people danced with the vigor of youth, and the audience couldn’t help but move a little, too, watching “Sweetheart,” which had eventually grossed $83.46 million in North America, $76.64 million overseas, with a global box office that was expected to reach $180 million.

In June, a group of neo-Nazis obtained a nuclear bomb from the former Soviet Union, planning to set it off at the Super Bowl stadium, and the secret agent protagonist set off to stop them, in the timely solo hero action movie “Sum of All Fears”; a talking Great Dane dog, fighting crime, starred in the live-action animated movie “Scooby-Doo”; with a production cost of $115 million, and an opening weekend of only $20 million, currently stuck at a global box office of $70 million, was the war movie “Windtalkers,” alongside the heavily impacted MGM.

Minority Report”; by July, Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder

“Lilo & Stitch,” ”

teamed up to deliver the romantic comedy “Mr. Deeds”; Will Smith, wearing sunglasses, holding a gun against oddly shaped aliens, viewers occasionally mustered a forced laugh in the screening room showing “Men in Black 2,” a sci-fi comedy that made money but was not well-liked…

Jude Law and Tom Hanks, looking dapper in suits and hats, starred in “Road to Perdition,” the new $80 million film by “American Beauty” director Sam Mendes; a huge fire dragon awakened to wreak havoc on earth, which humanity sought to slay was depicted in the sci-fi thriller “Day of Fire,” with a budget of $60 million, it grossed $30 million in two weeks, a 50% drop off, and received terrible reviews.

The animated film “Stuart Little 2,” which cost $120 million and opened to only $24. million, was another blow to Sony Pictures Entertainment; meanwhile, the $100 million production “K-19: The Widowmaker,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, opened to just $17 million; another uproar of laughter in theaters came with the July 26th release of “Austin Powers in Goldmember, which had a production budget of $63 million.

As August approached, in this tumultuous post-9/11 summer, an array of blockbusters came in succession, whether heartwarming comedies or intense action-thrillers, the audience’s reactions were somewhat unpredictable. Some movies exhilarated them, with box office receipts soaring, while others left companies deeply in debt and executives at risk of losing their jobs.

Perhaps the market hadn’t changed much after all; it still boiled down to good movies and bad movies.

Had the summer ended? For many film fans, especially science fiction enthusiasts, no, the summer wasn’t over yet!

Next week on August 2, another sizable science fiction thriller, “The Omen, was set to hit theaters. Starring Mel Gibson, with a budget of $72 million, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan of “The Sixth Sense,” the film tells the story of a farmer who discovers mysterious crop circles in his cornfield and follows the clues to uncover the story behind them.

Of course, also releasing that day was another science fiction thriller that film fans were even more eagerly anticipating, having waited over a year—Wang Yang’s fifth directorial endeavor, “District 9,” with a production budget of $100 million. To this date, little information about the movie had been revealed; aside from the background setting of aliens and District 9, the storyline itself was kept completely secret; Flame Film had not arranged any test screenings, and the exciting trailers were so jumbled that it was impossible to discern the content.

So now, both film fans and critics were left itching with curiosity. What kind of movie was “District 9″ anyway? What on earth was Wang Yang up to?!

He’s a real madman,” said Todd Morris, a member of the MPAA rating committee. (