Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 616 Tom Cruise Appears at Premiere
In Beijing, the afternoon sun was quite intense, still dazzling even through the glass curtain wall.

In the conference room, the secretary pressed a button, and the electric sunshade slowly descended, finally relieving some of the discomfort.

Today's meeting is a meeting to discuss the upcoming film "Train to Busan," and it is chaired by Chung Lai-fang.

"The promotional tour for 'Train to Busan' in South Korea has ended, and the preview screenings were very well received. It seems our director Ning is quite popular in South Korea!"

Xingchen Entertainment's internal meetings have never been very formal, and joking around is common.

Ning Hao smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Just trying to make a living, just trying to make a living~"

"Time is tight, Director Ning will probably have to work hard for the next few days to kick off the domestic roadshow~"

"No problem, it's all my duty."

Zhong Lifang then looked at Chen Xiaowei: "President Chen, we still need you to handle the public opinion situation. After all, 'Train to Busan' is the first zombie movie in China, and there will definitely be people jumping out to say this and that. Although the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has opened a window, if the negative voices are too strong, they might close it again, so..."

"I understand that Weibo has already prepared relevant contingency plans and will consciously guide public opinion towards a more humane approach."

"I can rest assured that."

Chen Xiaowei is experienced in this area, and Zhong Lifang was just offering a heads-up. Ning Hao, however, scoffed, "You've all seen the movie; there wasn't anything particularly gory. If we're talking about subject matter, 'Resident Evil' had such a level of violence that it was allowed in mainland China, so there's no reason 'Train to Busan' wouldn't be!"

"But this is, after all, the first zombie film we've participated in domestically. You should know that standards are different domestically and internationally."

Ning Hao was telling the truth, and Zhong Lifang was also telling the truth. Sometimes, you really can't be sure what will happen when it comes to censorship.

Just then, Zhang Chen's phone rang.

The group's discussion suddenly stopped. Zhang Chen didn't want to answer the call, but when he saw that the caller ID showed Tom Cruise, he finally answered it anyway.

"Director Zhang Chen?"

"It's me, Tom! Long time no see!"

The two talked for about a minute before hanging up. When they looked up, they were surrounded by gossipy eyes.

Although they were speaking English, everyone still recognized Tom Cruise's name.

Facing the probing gazes of those around him, Zhang Chen shrugged: "It was Tom Cruise calling. He said he and Paramount executives will be attending the premiere the day after tomorrow."

?

A question mark appeared above everyone's head.

"You invited him?"

Zhang Chen shook his head: "No, I don't know what happened either, but I guess it might be related to Mission: Impossible 4. Tom Cruise invited me to direct Mission: Impossible 4 before, but I turned it down."

Chung Lai-fong, however, was beaming with excitement: "Tom Cruise is coming to the premiere? That's fantastic!"

She was already thinking about how to generate buzz for "Train to Busan." Although the film was a co-production between China and South Korea, it was still a story set in South Korea, and she was worried that domestic audiences wouldn't accept it.

Tom Cruise's sudden announcement that he will attend the premiere is the best advertisement ever.

She then looked at Chen Xiaowei, who understood and nodded: "I will spread the word."

Zhang Chen unconsciously tapped the windowsill with his fingertips, his thoughts racing: "He clearly remembers refusing Tom Cruise's invitation last time, so what is he here for this time?"

He also agreed with Zhong Lifang's approach. Regardless of Tom Cruise's purpose in coming here, it was good news for "Train to Busan." The influence of international movie stars is undeniable.

After the meeting, Chen Xiaowei immediately began to work on the matter. Before entering the internet industry, he was a veteran media professional and knew that "suspense" was the key to igniting a topic.

Instead of a conventional official announcement, she called Wang Hao, a reporter from China Movie Report, and revealed in a slightly mysterious tone: "A top Hollywood star will be attending the premiere of Train to Busan, and this star has a long-standing relationship with director Zhang Chen."

Just 20 minutes later, the official Weibo account of "China Movie Report" was the first to announce: "Exclusive news! A Hollywood action star has confirmed his attendance at the Beijing premiere of 'Train to Busan.' According to sources, the star and director Zhang Chen had previously had collaboration offers. Does this surprise appearance mean that the collaboration has been restarted?"

The accompanying images, featuring Zhang Chen at a film festival and screenshots from Tom Cruise's classic movies, subtly hinted at a connection that instantly ignited public opinion.

The media circle immediately erupted in celebration.

Film Art magazine quickly launched a special analysis: "Is there something else going on in Tom Cruise's trip to China? Does this signify the first collaboration between a big director and a big star?"

Collaboration between the two parties is not impossible; Zhang Chen's scene direction skills, demonstrated in his previous works, are highly compatible with the action style of "Mission: Impossible."

Television media were not to be outdone.

Beijing TV's "Daily Entertainment News" broadcast a report in its evening slot, inviting film and television industry analysts to provide in-depth analysis: "Mission: Impossible III was filmed in China and deeply incorporated Chinese elements. Mission: Impossible IV will likely continue this trend and will be directed by Chinese director Zhang Chen..."

It's possible that Paramount invited Zhang Chen to tailor a new style for "Mission: Impossible," which might be a new attempt by Hollywood to cater to the domestic market...

The program also included an interview clip from years ago in which Tom Cruise mentioned "appreciating director Zhang Chen's style," adding further evidence to the speculation about a collaboration.

Entertainment portal websites are even more diverse in their offerings.

Sina Entertainment launched the hashtag #TomComeInvitesZhangChenToCollaborateAgain#, which reviewed the works directed and starring the two in recent years. The hashtag garnered over 100 million views within two hours of its launch.

On social media, the discussion among netizens was equally heated.

Weibo user "Film Enthusiast Akai" commented: "If Zhang Chen really directs the sequel to Mission: Impossible, the action scenes will definitely be super exciting! The pace of the action scenes in Taken is more exciting than many Hollywood blockbusters!"

This comment received over 8 likes;
In the Douban group "Filmmakers' Tea Party," an industry insider revealed: "Although Mission: Impossible III added Chinese elements, it wasn't very good. I had already given up on the series, but if Zhang Chen were to take over the sequel, I think it could still be salvaged..."

Within a single day, five related topics, including "Tom Cruise and Zhang Chen's collaboration" and "Mission: Impossible and Train to Busan crossover," dominated Weibo's trending topics list, and the Baidu Index peaked at over 800,000.

From in-depth analysis in professional film and television journals to evidence mining by television media, and then to the hype generated by portal websites, a media frenzy surrounding Tom Cruise's surprise appearance at the premiere has evolved into a nationwide discussion on "new possibilities for Sino-US film and television cooperation."

Amidst the lively discussions, August 2nd arrived, the day of the Beijing premiere of "Train to Busan".

The red carpet outside BJ International Cinema was already packed with media and movie fans, with celebrities constantly appearing on it, eliciting clicks from the media.

As the black Lincoln sedan slowly came to a stop, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

Tom Cruise, dressed in a sharp navy blue suit with a white silk shirt underneath and a sophisticated mechanical watch peeking out from his cuffs, opened the car door with a hearty smile and waved to everyone around him.

It must have been tough on him, having to wear a suit in this sweltering heat. It just goes to show how much Tom Cruise cares about his personal image.

He can certainly be considered one of the most image-conscious stars in Hollywood.

In Hollywood, almost all stars license figurines of their personalities, except for Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise got out of the car and didn't linger. Instead, he walked around to the other side of the car and gentlemanly opened the door.

Long, slender legs stepped out of the car, and a beautiful figure peeked out—it was Fan Xiaopang.

How could Tom Cruise walk the red carpet without a female companion?

Holding Tom Cruise's hand, Fan Bingbing stepped out of the car, and their appearance immediately triggered a burst of camera flashes, accompanied by cheers from fans.

"Tom Cruise, over here!" a reporter from China Movie Report called out loudly, just to get a photo of his face.

The two walked onto the red carpet with bright smiles and composed steps.

They made their appearance, posed for photos, and became the focus of all the media like a golden couple.

The two glanced at the reporters holding cameras around them, waved to the crowd, and immediately drew another cheer. After walking across the short red carpet and entering the interview area, they were greeted by reporters who had been waiting for a long time, waving their long lenses and microphones.

"Mr. Tom Cruise, is your attendance at the premiere of 'Train to Busan' in preparation for a collaboration with director Zhang Chen, as some have speculated?"

When a reporter asked a question in Chinese, Fan Xiaopang acted as a temporary translator.

Tom Cruise responded with a smile: "Director Zhang Chen and I have talked about 'Train to Busan' countless times. I'm very curious about this movie, so I'm here. I'm very happy to see such enthusiastic Chinese fans!"

He cleverly evaded the topic of collaboration and instead praised the film, which only intensified the questioning from the audience.

"Tom Cruise, could you tell us what stage the preparation for Mission: Impossible 4 is at?"

Since Tom Cruise wouldn't give a direct answer, reporters from Sina Entertainment started trying to find out indirectly.

However, Tom Cruise was clearly more tactful than they thought: "The nickname 'Tom Cruise' is quite interesting. Is it a nickname given to me by Chinese movie fans?"

Fan Xiaopang then briefly explained what 'Brother Tom Cruise' meant.

"Oh, I like this nickname, 'Tom Cruise,' haha, I like it when you call me 'Tom Cruise'..."

Tom Cruise didn't give a direct answer, so there was nothing anyone could do.

Fan Xiaopang covered his mouth and chuckled, then came to his rescue: "Hey, are you only asking him and not me? That's such obvious discrimination! Is it because outsiders are more likely to be praised?"

Fan Xiaopang's nonchalant attitude amused the reporters, with one even joking, "Tomorrow's headline is in: Fan Xiaopang says Tom Cruise is a monk..."

"Hello~"

There was another burst of laughter immediately.

"Alright, we have to go. Our new guests will be here soon, and we can't steal their thunder!"

After Fan Xiaopang finished speaking, he pulled Tom Cruise away; they had already lingered there for far too long.

On the way, Tom Cruise suddenly leaned over and said, "Although I couldn't understand what you were saying to them, I could tell you have a good relationship with the media."

Tom Cruise's face was full of envy when he said this. These past two years have been his low point, and he has been almost completely blackmailed by the media.

His movies didn't do well at the box office, he was involved with Scientology, had a bad relationship with his daughter, had a complicated romantic history, and was involved in all sorts of negative news.

For the past two years, he has been living under constant criticism from the North American media.

In other words, domestic movie fans don't pay much attention to his negative news, and Tom Cruise rarely enjoys the kind of enthusiasm he receives today.

Fan Xiaopang is walking the red carpet with Tom Cruise today, and he must have done his research beforehand, knowing that the other was dressed in all black. Upon hearing this, he actually showed some empathy: "My relationship with the media only gradually improved after I met Director Zhang Chen. Speaking of which, Director Zhang is my benefactor~"

Thinking back to when I first left Huayi Brothers, I was really criticized relentlessly. Later, Zhang Chen taught me how to maintain good relations with the media.

Tom Cruise was taken aback when he heard Fan Xiaopang's words. A thought suddenly popped into his mind: If I work with Zhang Chen, will my fate also be changed?
The two left the red carpet and entered the venue.

Inside the venue, the crowd was huge, with many people watching the two from a distance; Tom Cruise was just too famous.

When Fan Xiaopang led Tom Cruise to their seats, they found Zhang Chen chatting with Sasha.

Upon seeing Tom Cruise, Zhang Chen immediately opened his arms and gave him a big hug: "Tom, thank you so much for coming to support us. It is a great honor for 'Train to Busan' to have your support."

Tom Cruise smiled and gave a sincere smile, his eyes full of sincerity: "Zhang, don't say that. It's an honor for us to attend the premiere. I've been wanting to see this movie that you've mentioned so many times for a long time."

Sasha added at the opportune moment: "Mr. Zhang, Train to Busan is said to be the first zombie movie in Asia, and we are also looking forward to it. Paramount has always paid close attention to outstanding works in the Asian film market, and we are here to learn and exchange ideas."

Zhang Chen then took the opportunity to introduce Ning Hao and the company's senior executives to them, especially Zhong Lifang.

At that moment, the host's voice came through the microphone, reminding the guests that the premiere was about to begin.

The guests, who had been busy socializing, gradually returned to their seats. Zhang Chen also had to leave, nodding to the two of them: "The premiere is about to begin, let's chat more afterwards~"

The two knew now wasn't a good time, and nodded in agreement: "Looking forward to the meeting later~"

The premiere has begun!
The original film was screened, the main creators went on stage to share their creative process, and the host cracked jokes...

The premiere of "Train to Busan" proceeded in a standard and orderly manner, with everything following the established procedures.

After the event, the organizers guided the guests to the venue for the thank-you banquet, where the area outside was already packed with media.

Tom Cruise and Sasha were immediately surrounded by reporters as soon as they stepped out of the screening room.

A reporter from China Film News asked first: "Mr. Tom, you just finished watching 'Train to Busan,' could you share your thoughts on the film?"

Tom Cruise straightened his suit jacket, his tone full of admiration: "This movie is absolutely amazing!"
It is completely different from traditional Western zombie movies.

Western zombie movies often feature special forces teams and advanced weaponry, with a focus on action scenes involving fighting zombies.

But Train to Busan is different. It focuses more on the characters, showing how people of different backgrounds and personalities on the train make choices and struggles in the face of disaster, which is full of the brilliance of humanity.

For example, everything the father did to protect his daughter, and the mutual help among strangers, deeply moved me.

"So what do you think is the most touching part of 'Train to Busan'?" a Tencent Entertainment reporter asked.

Tom Cruise's eyes were filled with emotion: "It's real. The film doesn't deliberately create heroes; everyone has their own weaknesses and selfishness, but in crucial moments, it also shows the goodness of humanity."

This sense of realism completely immersed me during the movie, and I was even moved by the plot several times.

I think this is a very successful movie. It's not just a zombie disaster film, but also a masterpiece about humanity.

In the internet age, information spreads very quickly. Before Tom Cruise even left the BJ International Cinema, the information had already begun to spread online.

Domestic media outlets have reported on this matter:
The entertainment section of the Beijing News published an in-depth commentary titled "Tom Cruise Praises 'Train to Busan': The Brilliance of Humanity Surpasses Western Zombie Films."

The article states: "Tom Cruise's high praise for 'Train to Busan' not only affirms the artistic value of China's first zombie film, but also injects a strong boost into Asian films' journey to the international market."

Sina Entertainment invited film critics to comment:
"Train to Busan presents humanity from a unique perspective, breaking the established pattern of Western zombie films and providing new ideas for film creation."

Tom Cruise's assessment was very objective. The success of "Train to Busan" lies in the fact that it did not fall into the trap of piling up special effects, but instead returned to the essence of film—storytelling.

Through the lens of a zombie apocalypse, the film explores themes of family, love, friendship, and the good and evil of human nature. This profound thematic expression is key to its ability to resonate with audiences from different countries.

The most excited were not only the domestic media, but also the South Korean media.

After learning of Tom Cruise's remarks, South Korean media immediately regarded them as high praise for South Korean films and publicized them extensively.

The Chosun Ilbo published a screenshot of Tom Cruise's interview as its front-page story in the entertainment section, with the caption: "Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise praises 'Train to Busan,' saying it surpasses Western zombie films and showcases the strength of Korean cinema!"

The recognition of "Train to Busan" by Hollywood stars signifies the growing influence of South Korean films on the international stage.

Just as domestic media outlets consider "Train to Busan" to be a Chinese film, South Korean media outlets firmly believe it to be a South Korean film.

The story is set in South Korea, features a large number of South Korean actors, and is invested in by South Korean companies, so how can it not be a South Korean film?

The South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo stated: "The fact that 'Train to Busan,' a commercial film, has attracted the attention of Hollywood stars demonstrates that the creative level of South Korean commercial films has reached international first-class standards. In the future, South Korean films are expected to occupy a more important position in the global commercial film market."

In a short time, discussions about "Train to Busan" in domestic and international media continued to rise, and the film's reputation and influence continued to expand.

(End of this chapter)