Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 697 Join forces?

In the capital city, the sun sets, and twilight creeps in through the cracks in the French windows.

In Jiang Wen's home, the study door was ajar, and through the crack, one could see Jiang Wen intently looking at something behind the mahogany desk.

With a click, the study door was gently pushed open, and Zhou Yun walked in carrying a cup of hot tea, placing the cup on the coaster next to Jiang Wen.

"Have some Longjing tea, your favorite, to warm you up first."

Jiang Wen was looking at the film schedule.

He held an unlit cigar between his fingers, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed form for the third time, his brow furrowing into an unresolved knot.

On the table, "Inception" sits at the very top with a staggering 32% share of screenings, followed closely by "Sacrifice," which, while not as high as the former, still firmly occupies the second tier with a 28% share.

His film, "Let the Bullets Fly," is scheduled for release on December 16th, but the initial screening allocation is only 22%, placing it in the middle, neither high nor low.

"What's making you look so worried?" Zhou Yun couldn't help but ask when he saw Jiang Wen's furrowed brows.

"This scheduling is really bad; it's like putting us on the hot seat."

Jiang Wen finally couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with self-mockery.

He leaned back in his chair, twirling the cigar between his fingers twice: "This year's Lunar New Year film season truly lives up to what the media said: a fierce battle, leaving no room for even a breath."

This year's Lunar New Year film season is a true battle of titans, with four heavyweight blockbusters hitting theaters simultaneously:
陈诗人的《赵氏孤儿》12月4日率先开战，张辰的《盗梦空间》紧随其后于12月10日登陆，他的《让子弹飞》定在12月16日，而冯小钢的《非诚勿扰2》则踩着12月22日的节点压轴登场。

The four films cover four completely different genres: historical epic, sci-fi mind-bending, dark comedy, and urban romance. Yet, they all have to compete in the same month. Just thinking about that scene gives Jiang Wen a headache.

Jiang Wen was fretting when he seemed to remember something and turned to Zhou Yun: "Do you remember how much the opening weekend box office was for 'Sacrifice' and 'Inception'?"

"I remember the former grossed 8500 million in its opening weekend, and the latter grossed 1.4 million."

Knowing that Jiang Wen was paying attention to this, Zhou Yun also took a special liking to this data during this period.

Jiang Wen finally had time to pick up his teacup and take a sip. The scalding tea slid down his throat, but it did not dispel the chill in his heart.

"With 'Inception' out, 'The Orphan of Zhao' won't be able to hold up, right?" he asked, his tone knowing.

"Yes."

Zhou Yun sat down in the chair opposite him: "On the second day of 'Inception,' 'The Orphan of Zhao's' daily box office dropped below 2000 million, and yesterday it was only 1800 million. You have to admit, Zhang Chen is amazing. Even the great poet Chen, a great director, can't beat him..."

Jiang Wen knew his wife wasn't particularly interested in this, so he corrected her, "This isn't Zhang Chen's most impressive achievement. During the recent National Day holiday, 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,' also one of Zhang Chen's films, grossed 280 million yuan in its opening weekend!"

"Ah~"

Zhou Yun covered her mouth in surprise. Zhang Chen was actually that amazing?

Jiang Wen put down his teacup, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, the rhythm quickening, but his mind was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Both "Sacrifice" and "If You Are the One 2" had budgets under 7000 million yuan, so even if the box office performance fell short of expectations, they wouldn't lose everything.

But "Let the Bullets Fly" cost 1.5 million yuan, not including marketing and distribution expenses. "The Sun Also Rises" has already flopped, so this one absolutely cannot fail as well.

But he couldn't bring himself to tell his wife these things.

The film "The Sun Also Rises" had an investment of 8000 million yuan, but its box office was only 1800 million yuan. This not only caused the investors to lose a lot of money, but also cast a shadow over Jiang Wen's directing career.

"Let the Bullets Fly" is his comeback film after a two-year hiatus. It brings together two film emperors, Chow Yun-fat and Ge You, and he himself stars in the film. He poured his heart and soul into every step of the process, from script polishing to filming and production.

But now, with Inception blocking its way in front and If You Are the One 2 eyeing it from behind, Let the Bullets Fly is like an egg sandwiched between two walls, and it could be shattered into pieces if it is not careful.

"what are you worried about?"

"Zhang Chen and Chow Yun-fat don't get along."

He recalled the last time he met Zhang Chen. The two bumped into each other at a film forum, and during their casual conversation, Zhang Chen suddenly changed the subject and asked him with a half-smile, "When Chow Yun-fat took on the role in 'Let the Bullets Fly,' did he specifically request a motorhome to use as a portable toilet?"

Jiang Wen was afraid that Zhang Chen would take out his dislike for Chow Yun-fat on this movie.

Given Star Entertainment's current promotional capabilities, if they really wanted to smear a movie, they could do it horribly.

This is a ticking time bomb.

"No way, you and Zhang Chen are on pretty good terms, aren't you? I remember he even had a cameo in 'Let the Bullets Fly' before~" Zhou Yun held his hand, trying to comfort him.

"You're oversimplifying things. Personal relationships are personal relationships, and business is business."

Jiang Wen interrupted her, his brows furrowing even more.

No, we have to find a way to defuse this mine.

Jiang Wen pondered for a moment, picked up his phone from the table, and found Zhang Chen's number.

He hesitated for two seconds, but still pressed the dial button.

The phone was answered after three rings, and Zhang Chen's cheerful voice came through the receiver: "Director Jiang? What's up? Is there something you need?"

"I need to get something done, I want to grab a drink with you~"

Jiang Wenyan's words are concise and to the point.

Zhang Chen paused for a moment, seemingly somewhat surprised.

He and Jiang Wen weren't particularly close; they'd only met a few times at the premiere, and his cameo appearance in "Let the Bullets Fly" was out of courtesy.

The two had almost no close relationship in private, and they would never casually call each other to chat. It was quite unusual for Jiang Wen to suddenly invite him to his home for drinks.

“Sure, Director Jiang is treating, so I’ll definitely go.” Zhang Chen readily agreed.

"Come to my house around seven o'clock, and I'll cook you a few dishes myself."

"After you finish eating, you won't leave me with the antidote, will you?"

"Haha, do you dare to eat it?"

"Of course I dare!"

The two joked around with laughter.

"See you later, I'm off to buy groceries now!"

"Alright, see you later~"

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Yun looked at him: "Did it work?"

"Yes, he agreed to come."

Jiang Wen nodded: "I hope we can clear things up this time and avoid any real mishaps."

At seven o'clock in the evening, the doorbell rang precisely on time at Jiang Wen's house. Zhou Yun went to open the door, where Zhang Chen and his assistant Gu Lina were standing.

Zhang Chen was wearing a black jacket, jeans, and sneakers, looking very casual.

"Director Jiang, Sister Zhou, sorry to bother you." He waved with a smile, carrying a fruit basket in his hand.

"Come in, don't be shy."

Jiang Wen came out of the study and greeted him warmly: "I was just telling your sister Zhou that if you hadn't come soon, I would have started drinking the Moutai myself."

When the group arrived at the restaurant, several exquisite appetizers were already laid out on the table: braised beef, smashed cucumber, and fried peanuts, while the hot dish was a pot of lamb spine.

Jiang Wen took out the bottle of Moutai, unscrewed the cap, and a rich aroma of liquor instantly filled the air.

"Come on, Director Zhang, fill it up first."

He poured Zhang Chen a glass, then poured one for himself: "Zhou Yun, would you like some too?"

"I won't drink, you guys drink. Gulina and I will drink red wine and chat with you." Zhou Yun waved his hand with a smile and poured Gulina a glass of red wine.

Zhang Chen raised his glass and clinked it against Jiang Wen's: "Director Jiang, let me first toast you to thank you for your hospitality."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and took a sip. The spicy liquor exploded in his mouth, but it also had a mellow aftertaste.

"Excellent wine!" he couldn't help but exclaim.

He doesn't like drinking Moutai, but it does taste alright.

Jiang Wen also took a sip, put down his glass, picked up a piece of braised beef and put it in his mouth.

"Director Zhang must be really busy lately. He just finished filming 'Mission: Impossible 4,' and now he's already started filming 'Inception'," he asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled and said, "It's alright. I'm used to being busy. It's pretty much the same every year at the end of the year."

"Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol grossed 980 million yuan, setting a record for the entire series. Director Zhang is truly remarkable..."

"9.8 million, that's really impressive," Zhou Yun exclaimed from the side.

Zhang Chen waved his hand: "That wasn't just my achievement; the entire cast is top-tier."

Jiang Wen sincerely praised, "Director Zhang, don't underestimate yourself. I've heard that Director Zhang's box office predictions are always very accurate?"

Zhang Chen smiled and didn't deny it: "It's not always accurate, it's just a guess based on experience. What, Director Jiang wants me to guess the box office of 'Let the Bullets Fly'?"

Jiang Wen didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly: "To be honest, I'm really not sure right now. Look at this year's Lunar New Year film season, 'Sacrifice' and 'If You Are the One 2,' none of them are pushovers. Can you help me analyze how far these films can ultimately go?"

Zhang Chen put down his chopsticks and pondered for a moment.

"Let's talk about 'Sacrifice'. Although Chen Shishi's name is still around, the film itself is too heavy and doesn't meet the entertainment needs of the New Year's audience. The 85 million in the opening weekend looks okay, but it was diverted by 'Inception' as soon as it was released, and it lacked momentum later on. I estimate that the final box office will stop at 200 million."

Jiang Wen nodded; this was roughly what he had predicted.

"Then there's 'If You Are the One 2'."

Zhang Chen continued, "The combination of Feng Xiaogang and Ge You, along with Shu Qi, speaks volumes about their national popularity. Their previous film, 'If You Are the One,' grossed 320 million yuan. This one has the added bonus of nostalgia, so the box office will definitely be even higher. However, the film itself is an urban romantic comedy, which has a limited audience. I estimate it can gross 400 to 500 million yuan."

Jiang Wen's heart skipped a beat; what he cared about most was "Let the Bullets Fly".

Zhang Chen seemed to see through his thoughts, looking directly at him: "As for 'Let the Bullets Fly,' Director Jiang, this film is your masterpiece, isn't it?"

Seeing Jiang Wen nod, he continued, "The style of dark humor, coupled with the scenes between Chow Yun-fat, Ge You, and you, makes for a tight plot, packed with jokes, and not vulgar. This kind of film is most popular during the Lunar New Year season. As long as the marketing and distribution are up to par, it will definitely be a hit. I'll give you a conservative estimate of around 6 million."

"6 billion?"

Jiang Wen was stunned. His biggest expectation was to surpass the 320 million yuan of "If You Are the One," but he did not expect Zhang Chen to give a prediction of 600 million yuan, which was almost double. This was more confident than he was.

"You really think it's so good?"

"of course."

Zhang Chen said confidently, "I read the script when I did my cameo role. Your camerawork and narrative pacing are impeccable, especially the scene where you, Chow Yun-fat, and Ge You are at the dinner table. It's full of tension and is definitely the highlight of the whole film. As long as we can get the audience to go to the theater, they will definitely buy tickets."

Hearing Zhang Chen's precise analysis of the film, Jiang Wen couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship.

He was initially worried that Zhang Chen might be prejudiced against the film because of Chow Yun-fat, but now it seems he was overthinking it.

"To be honest, Director Zhang, the reason I invited you here today is actually to form an alliance with you."

"Form an alliance?"

"Well, the costs of 'Sacrifice' and 'If You Are the One 2' were both less than 7000 million, my 'Let the Bullets Fly' cost 1.5 million, and I heard your 'Inception' cost even more..."

Zhang Chen nodded: "Yes, $1.2 million."

Jiang Wen slapped his thigh: "That's right, out of the four movies, ours has the highest budget and the greatest pressure to recoup our costs. So I was thinking, could we promote our two movies together?"

"How does the binding process work?"

"When people are promoting their own movies, they casually mention the other person's movie, whether it's praise or criticism, it just increases exposure, right?"

Zhang Chen put down his wine glass, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he said, "The method is feasible, but instead of linking our publicity, it's better to attack each other."

"Attack each other?"

"Yes, audiences these days love a good show, especially the 'grudges and feuds' between celebrities. Look at those trending topics; as long as there's a celebrity feud, there's guaranteed to be a lot of viewers. How about we... make 'Let the Bullets Fly' and 'Inception' into a feud between the two?"

The two ladies sitting next to me thought the word "Zhang Chen" was rude, but... it was also quite apt.

Zhang Chen continued to explain: "When the eldest and second eldest brothers fight, who suffers the most? It's the third and fourth eldest brothers."

"Right now, *Inception* is number one, and *Let the Bullets Fly* is number two. If we start competing, all the audience's attention will be on us, and *Sacrifice* and *If You Are the One 2* will naturally be marginalized."

Jiang Wen was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening, and his eyes lit up instantly.

He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Great idea! How come I didn't think of that! Netizens love this kind of thing; the more exciting it is, the more excited they get. Let's have a little 'argument' on Weibo, and I guarantee we'll generate a lot of buzz."

"You're right."

Zhang Chen laughed and said, "I'll attack you first, saying that 'Let the Bullets Fly' is not as profound as 'Inception,' and you can refute me by saying that I don't understand movies. Then we'll exchange some harsh words, and I guarantee we'll dominate the trending topics."

Jiang Wen thought it over and over and it seemed more and more feasible. He picked up his glass and clinked it heavily with Zhang Chen's: "Director Zhang, I finally understand why Little Cannon couldn't beat you. You're the expert in this area! This glass is for you, bottoms up!"

"Dry!"

The two of them tilted their heads back at the same time and drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.

After drinking the wine, the two exchanged a smile, everything understood without words.

(End of this chapter)