Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 286 I am not me
When the box office results came out the next day, Chen Hong knew that "The Promise" had no hope.

The good news is that "The Promise" has a stable box office performance, and the second day's box office was even slightly higher than the first day's, almost reaching $90,000.

The bad news is that this is the total box office revenue for 213 cinemas.

Warner Independent has given up on promotion. Given the current box office situation, let alone increasing theater screenings, they will almost certainly reduce screenings next week.

However, Old Chen was still not satisfied, so he decided to take Jang Dong-gun from South Korea and Hiroyuki Sanada from Xiao Rizi and complete the three cities they planned to visit.

The promotional plans in San Francisco have been cancelled, Cecilia Cheung has returned to Hong Kong, leaving only Chen Hong in Los Angeles.

Cao Yang had an interview this morning to promote "Juno," and he would be free in the afternoon. However, he felt that it wouldn't be good for him and Chen Hong to stay together, so he went to Columbia Pictures to catch up on the post-production of "Inception."

Cao Yang didn't go home until after 10 p.m., when he was busy with work.

"You're back? Why are you so late?"

Perhaps hearing the sound of a car engine, Chen Hong came out of the room and asked Cao Yang.

"have you eaten yet?"

"I'm sorry, Sister Hong, I hope I didn't disturb your rest? In a few days, 'Juno' will be released, and the post-production of 'Inception' is also at a critical stage. I've been busy until now, and I've already eaten."

The reason Cao Yang came back so late was that he was afraid of being alone with Chen Hong and feeling awkward. He looked up at Chen Hong, just wanting to find something else to talk about, but he didn't expect that Chen Hong was wearing a fitted silk nightgown, with many parts of her body being partially visible.

This outfit adds a touch of allure, making it hard to look away.

Cao Yang quickly suppressed this thought.

However, he couldn't help but glance at her. Under the light, it was clear that Chen Hong wasn't wearing a bra, and the shape of her breasts was very distinct.

Silk pajamas are mostly semi-transparent, and Chen Hong's was even shorter, barely covering her bottom.

Cao Yang felt a little embarrassed and cursed himself inwardly, thinking that he shouldn't have looked at what was improper.

"Sister Hong, it's getting late, you should get some rest. I have some things to take care of on the computer," Cao Yang said quickly, then pretended to calmly leave.

Chen Hong's eyes followed Cao Yang's retreating figure until he closed the door to the room, at which point she looked away.

She pursed her lips, then, as if belatedly realizing something, tightened her pajamas, crossed her arms, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, she loosened her pajamas a little more and looked down at herself.

He then tore off a few more pieces, took another look, sighed in a very low voice, and turned back to his bedroom.

Cao Yang lay in bed, still somewhat confused about Chen Hong's actions.

Does this mean they really consider themselves family?

Even if it's family, you can't dress like that in front of your brother-in-law. At the very least, you should wear underwear or something that isn't too revealing.

That's probably not what I meant.

Cao Yang quickly shook his head, trying to stop himself from overthinking. How could that be? Chen Hong was a pretty upright person... Well, her relationship with Lao Teng was just...

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, I'm going to sleep.

In a daze, Cao Yang didn't know how long he had slept, but he seemed to hear knocking on the door again.

He was still half asleep and thought it was Bai Zhi knocking on the door again, so he opened the door and a figure slipped in.

Cao Yang closed the door, turned around and looked, instantly jolted awake.

"rainbow……"

"Director Cao, this is Bai Zhi. I'm going back to Hong Kong tomorrow. I'd like to spend one more night with you tonight."

The newcomer interrupted Cao Yang directly, speaking softly.

"Don't do this, Hong..."

Call me Bai Zhi!

"No, Rainbow..."

"I told you, call me Bai Zhi!"

"You are me..."

"I am Bai Zhi," the newcomer interrupted Cao Yang once again, emphasizing his words.

Cao Yang sighed inwardly, wondering how things had turned out this way.

Now that communication seemed impossible, he could only open the door and prepare to leave, secretly regretting that he shouldn't have come back tonight.

What's going on here!

What is this!

"Even if I am Bai Zhi, if you leave like this, how am I supposed to face people? How am I supposed to live with myself?"

After the other person finished speaking, they hugged Cao Yang from behind.

"Weren't we having a good time the other day? Why are you pretending to be such a gentleman today? I'm Bai Zhi, and there's only Bai Zhi here."

"I……"

Call me Baizhi.

Just as Cao Yang was about to try to persuade him again, he suddenly felt a jolt.

Ugh!
Damn it, it's cypress juice, isn't it?
Are you Bai Zhi?
Don't you want to go back to Hong Kong tomorrow?

When Cao Yang woke up the next day, there was no one around, including Bai Zhi. It felt like he had just had a somewhat embarrassing dream.

"Cao Yang, are you up? Time for breakfast."

Chen Hong's voice came from outside, which gave Cao Yang a headache, and he didn't know what to do next.

He took a deep breath, opened the door, and went into the living room.

Before he could even speak, Chen Hong chuckled and teased, "So young, why are you up so late? Don't you have an interview today? Hurry up and eat." "Sister Hong, yesterday..."

"What happened yesterday? Oh, are you worried that I couldn't sleep because of the poor box office performance of 'The Promise'? Don't worry, I slept very well yesterday. I slept quite well in my own room."

Chen Hong spoke while eating breakfast, her expression revealing nothing unusual.

Cao Yang stared at Chen Hong for a while, and indeed there was nothing unusual about her.

Why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?

Chen Hong casually touched her face with her hand, "No."

Okay, Chen Hong seems normal.

Cao Yang didn't say much more; perhaps he really had a shameful dream.

Next, Cao Yang accepted an interview arranged by Fox Searchlight, and then went to Columbia University, where he stayed until after 11 p.m. before returning.

Then, when he pushed open the door to his bedroom, he was startled.

It was the same person from yesterday, half-lying on the bed, his pajamas unfastened and open.

At this moment, her allure was undeniable.

"Director Cao, I'm going back to Hong Kong tomorrow. I'll spend one last time with you tonight."

Cao Yang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Cypress juice?"

"Yes, Director Cao, please don't call me by the wrong name later. I prefer you to call me Baizhi."

Are you sure you're going back to Hong Kong tomorrow?

"Yes."

As the other person spoke, they stretched out their leg and lifted it up.

She rubbed her foot against Cao Yang's thigh.

When Cao Yang woke up, his side was indeed empty. He decided to just consider it another good night's sleep.

"Cao Yang, get up and eat."

"coming."

Cao Yang responded, reached out to open the door, then withdrew his hand, hesitating for a moment.

It wasn't until Chen Hong called him a second time that he sighed, composed himself, opened the door, and went out.

"Hurry up and eat, it's getting cold."

Chen Hong complained.

"Sister Hong, yesterday..."

“I slept very well yesterday, so don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I’ve come to terms with the box office performance of ‘The Promise’. If it doesn’t sell well in the US, it doesn’t sell well.”

After Chen Hong finished speaking, she smoothed her hair and added, "Old Chen is coming back today."

Cao Yang almost choked on the food in his mouth.

"Sister Hong, why did you decide to become the producer of 'The Promise'? Being a producer in China is quite tiring."

Cao Yang made conversation to change the subject.

"You think I want to?"

Chen Hong rolled her eyes at Cao Yang and said, "All of you directors, whether famous or not, are all the same, not one of you is any good."

Cao Yang was speechless, unsure whether Chen Hong was making a veiled criticism or expressing her true feelings.

"Don't let Old Chen's serious appearance fool you. Humph, you have no idea, your senior brother has quite a few romantic entanglements outside."

Then she added softly, "Men are all the same."

"As the producer, I manage all sorts of miscellaneous things on set; I'm basically the general manager. But at least I can keep an eye on Lao Chen to prevent him from succumbing to temptation..."

Cao Yang touched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Chen Hong probably remembered something too, and stopped talking for a moment.

Over its opening weekend, "The Promise" raked in $28 at the box office, but it didn't even make it onto the North American weekend box office charts, which were difficult to find even after scrolling through several pages.

The top spot went to Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible III," which grossed just over 48 million in its opening weekend. While it was in first place, it was somewhat disappointing for a sequel.

It's worth noting that the first Mission: Impossible film only opened in 3000 theaters, yet it still grossed over 4500 million in its opening weekend.

Mission: Impossible 2 opened in 3600 theaters, grossing $5700 million in its opening weekend.

With its opening in over 4000 theaters, Mission: Impossible III ranks fourth in North American film history, behind only three blockbusters: Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2, and Madagascar.

According to everyone's expectations, the box office should be at least 6000 million to be considered satisfactory.

Spider-Man 2, which was also released in over 4000 theaters, grossed 4050 million yuan on its opening day and achieved a super box office of 1.15 million yuan in its opening weekend.

The fact that Mission: Impossible III didn't become a huge hit relieved Fox Searchlight and Cao Yang. Despite the fact that it's a different genre from Juno, if Mission: Impossible III had been a big hit, it would have affected Juno's performance as well.

"Juno" began its wide release on the 14th, which was a Sunday, contrary to the usual practice of releasing it on the 12th, a Friday.

The reason is actually quite simple: the 14th is Mother's Day, which fits the theme of "Juno" perfectly, and the promotional efforts during this period have focused on this aspect.

However, this puts Juno at a disadvantage in the North American box office rankings for its opening weekend, as other films earn their box office earnings over the three-day weekend, while Juno only earns its earnings for one day.

On the evening of the 13th, Fox Searchlight held a grand premiere, inviting many celebrities who had worked with Fox, and Cao Yang also invited many people he knew.

The main purpose was to generate buzz for "Juno".

(End of this chapter)