Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 410 Who agrees? Who objects?
Han Sanping suddenly woke up with a start, and when he touched his forehead, he found it was covered in sweat.

His wife, startled awake by his movements, mumbled sleepily, "What's wrong, Lao Han?"

In the darkness, Han Sanping's heart was pounding, and she was still in a state of shock. She swallowed hard and said, "It's nothing, I just had a nightmare. Go to sleep."

"Oh," his wife replied, turning over and her soft breathing resumed.

Han Sanping turned over, wanting to continue sleeping, but she couldn't fall asleep again.

I reached for my watch and checked the time: 2:43 AM.

He rolled out of bed, waking his wife up again.

Han Sanping waved his hand, and his wife muttered something, but he didn't hear it. He slipped on his slippers and left the bedroom.

After urinating, Han Sanping went to his study, turned on the desk lamp, lit a cigarette, and began to read the documents on the table. He frowned, and the smoke swirled in the dim light of the lamp.

It grossed 1.5 million yuan in its opening week, an additional 7000 million yuan in its second week, and 2.2 million yuan in two weeks.
This achievement, far below the expected 3 million yuan, is nowhere near as impressive as it was during the founding of the People's Republic of China. Han Sanping stubbed out his cigarette and rubbed his temples. Recalling the ambitious plans made during the preparation phase, he felt a lump in his throat.

Fortunately, this was taken into account from the beginning, and preparations were made to extend the release period.

Otherwise, if they go to great lengths to gather more than 170 celebrities again, and still can't sell it for 3 million, Han Sanping's reputation is a minor issue, but to present a gift in such a way is really unacceptable.

But that's just the official explanation.

But internally, Han Sanping was very clear about the situation.

If his only goal was to protect the box office of "The Founding of a Republic," he wouldn't have scheduled the blockbuster "Transformers 3" for July 21st, but instead went to great lengths to release another film on August 13th, at the tail end of the summer season.

This cannot be explained away by simply saying that it is to protect domestic films, because it is a Sino-foreign joint venture and enjoys the same treatment as domestic films.

He went around trying to find connections and people to delay the other party's review time. The pressure he faced and the favors he gained were considerable.

So why is that?
Despite all the obstacles, he was determined to get things done.

There is only one reason.

Only if this movie fails can his initial decision be proven to be wise.

He feared being branded a lack of courage, vision, and competence more than being known for infighting. At this critical juncture in his official career, where advancement or demotion was both possible, the latter would be fatal.

"Old Han!?"

A voice from Xichuan dialect made Han Sanping turn around, and there stood his gray-haired wife in the doorway. His wife, like him, was from Xichuan, and they had been married for almost 30 years, their relationship remaining strong.

"Why are you up?"

"Come see you, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Oh, I can't sleep, I'll get up and look at some documents."

"I'm telling you, don't pay attention to what people say online. No director can guarantee that every movie will be a box office hit. Just read those random things online and don't take them to heart."

Han Sanping frowned impatiently, "It has nothing to do with this, go to sleep."

"It's alright, how can it be alright? I've seen you frowning every day, you can't even eat, and now you're not sleeping either. Sigh, how about you call Chen Nuo and ask him to come back to China to help you promote your movie? You're from the same hometown, and it's for the country, right?"

"I told you, this has nothing to do with this! What nonsense are you spouting!" Han Sanping's face darkened, and he cursed, "Instead of sleeping, you're spouting nonsense here. Go to sleep!"

"What are you yelling about?" His wife was no pushover either, retorting without backing down. "You're so stubborn! I told you to make a phone call, but you wouldn't. Who are you trying to impress? These people are living the high life in Hollywood. What's wrong with giving them a way out? Now look what happened, they really didn't come to act in the movie, and the box office was a disaster. The bosses are unhappy, and the staff are unhappy. You stay up all night smoking. You brought this on yourself!"

"You damned woman, get out of here!" Han Sanping roared, pointing to the door.

"Heh." His wife chuckled coldly. "You'd love for me to die so you can make room for me, wouldn't you? Let me tell you, I'm healthy and will live to be a hundred. None of those vixens outside will ever set foot in my house."

After his wife finished speaking, the door slammed shut, leaving Han Sanping alone sitting on the stool, his face turning black and blue in turns, wishing he could kill his wife with a knife.

Is this one of the reasons why The Great Journey is currently performing poorly at the box office?
Is it because he invited more than 170 celebrities, but deliberately forgot the most popular one at the moment?

Although no one dared to say it to his face, how could Han Sanping not know that this kind of talk was prevalent not only among this old woman, but also online, and even within their own China Film Group Corporation?

Ridiculous! Absurd!
Do you really think Chinese films won't work without him?

After a while, Han Sanping's anger finally subsided a little.

I checked my watch; it's past 3 o'clock now.

In London time, it should be 7 p.m. now.

He picked up the phone and made the call.

A moment later, the call was answered, and the voice sounded quite surprised, "Chairman Han?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Chairman Han, you...aren't you asleep yet?"

"Haha, I'm asleep now, I'm awake now. How's things going on your end?"

"I just entered the venue."

"Oh, it hasn't started yet," Han Sanping asked knowingly, then feigned nonchalance, "How did their premiere go?"

“There are a lot of people here, including many British stars such as Kate Winslet and Colin Firth, as well as many film critics. The red carpet is very lively. I just had a chance to chat with Chen Nuo for a bit, and now I'm getting more and more excited.”

"Really? What did you talk about with him?"

"Haha, we didn't talk much. I just introduced myself and said I was a special correspondent for 'Film Art' magazine, and I came here specifically to see this film and then introduce it to readers in China. He welcomed me."

"Then what?"

"And then, that's it. He was quite busy. He said a couple of words and then went to do the interview. Haha."

"There's been a lot of talk about his stock trading in the US lately, but he hasn't been affected?"

"No, right? I can't tell. You seem quite relaxed."

Easy? Why would it be easy?

I heard from foreign media that if the movie doesn't sell well and Warner Bros.' stock doesn't rise, you'll lose a lot of money!
How can you still feel relaxed?
Han Sanping chuckled twice and said, "Hehe, okay then. Remember to send me a message after you finish watching it and tell me what you think of the movie."

"OK, no problem."

After the call ended, Han Sanping felt increasingly uneasy.

Is this movie really that good?
Han Sanping originally intended to stay awake until the end of the movie, but unknowingly fell asleep on the desk in the study halfway through, and slept until dawn before waking up.

Then he suddenly remembered what had happened before, grabbed his phone and looked at it.

There is one unread text message.

Han Sanping took a deep breath.

To be honest, at this point, he would be willing to trade three years of his life for a "bad movie" rating.

He mentally prepared himself and opened the text message.

I saw it read:

"Chairman Han, let me give you my impressions of the film. The 3D effects are excellent, the visual effects are fantastic, especially watching it on the IMAX screen at the premiere. I felt it was even more breathtaking than Avatar. Nolan truly lives up to his reputation. Chen Nuo's performance was also superb. It's definitely a great movie. The only problem is that the plot is too complex; I didn't quite understand it. Haha, I'm embarrassed. I'll just have to wait until it's released in China to watch it again."

Han Sanping's face initially grew increasingly gloomy, but as he looked closer, his expression shifted and then suddenly calmed down.

He closed his eyes and pondered for a while.

Then, a smirk appeared on his lips, followed by a soft "hehe" chuckle, which grew louder and louder until he burst into a deafening roar.

It's fine if you didn't understand it. He completely ignored the last part, "watch it again." Film critics might watch it again, but who among the average person would watch it a second time? Even with a movie like Avatar, not 1% of the audience would watch it a second time!

Who is Wang Xinping?

He is a senior film critic for "Film Art," an official magazine run by the China Film Association! He has seen at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand, films in his lifetime.

Even he said he couldn't understand it?
How many people can understand it?

In that instant, many movie titles popped into Han Sanping's mind, such as "Mulholland Drive" and "The Matrix Reloaded"... Aren't these movies all like that?

It was a big, aggressive, and visually stunning game, but the ending was unpredictable and confusing. The game was a complete flop, so bad that even its own mother wouldn't recognize it.

If a movie is incomprehensible, what's the point of having amazing visual effects?
You're more like a bootlicker for Avatar!

Han Sanping became happier the more she thought about it.

Well, this is probably just another commercial 3D movie that flaunts visual effects, just like the 3D movies of the past two years, including Transformers 3. It's nothing more than a commercial popcorn flick, a money-grabbing scheme.

For him, this makes things easier to explain.

After all, such works certainly cannot represent Chinese cinema and make a name for themselves in the world!
"Haha, hahaha..."

He felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he felt incredibly relaxed and happy.

Suddenly, a loud shout in a Sichuan accent came from outside the door, "Laughing, laughing, laughing! Instead of sleeping last night, you're acting crazy this early in the morning, Han Sanping! I think you're asking for it!!!"

Chairman Han's face immediately darkened, and his laughter abruptly stopped.

……

Chairman Han is not the only one who cares about "Inception".

Chairman Han stayed up all night to steal the dream, while Mason Collins, on the other side of the Pacific, also sacrificed his rest time for the same purpose. At 8 p.m., he entered the studio of his luxurious villa. Three 27-inch iMac monitors were lined up in front of him.

He was carefully reading the website in the middle, a film review that a reporter from The Hollywood Reporter had just uploaded from London in the early hours of the morning.

This is the fifth one he has read.

Prior to this, he had already read the quick reviews published on the websites of American newspapers such as The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, as well as British newspapers such as The Guardian and The Independent.

He felt as if there was a bomb in front of him, about to explode, but underneath the bomb also seemed like a bank vault.

Will they be utterly destroyed or strike it rich?
Let's see if he dares to gamble that the bomb will blow up the vault door or blow him to pieces.

Collins rubbed his eyes, took a big gulp of his black coffee, and glanced at the New York Times film review headline:

"Inception: Nolan's dream Tower of Babel."

Christopher Nolan's Inception is perhaps the most ambitious Hollywood blockbuster of the last decade—a work that attempts to bridge the gap between box office success and philosophical inquiry. It is a film about dreams, consciousness, and the boundaries of reality, demanding not only that viewers watch, but also that they participate, think, and even question their own belief in "linear narrative."

The film was unveiled at its world premiere at the Empire Cinema in London, showcasing its complex structural design for the first time. A dreamlike world reminiscent of an Escher painting, a narrative thread nested like the Tower of Babel, and Nolan's signature time compression techniques combine to create a mesmerizing, and potentially dizzying, 3D cinematic experience.

In a film that emphasizes structure and philosophical thought, the actors' presence remains impressive.

Chen Nuo, the Chinese actor taking on his first leading role in a Hollywood A-list production, portrays a "dream weaver"—emotionally wounded yet logically strong—with a calm yet compelling performance. His co-stars, Bella Knightley and Ellen Page, provide emotional depth and rational tension, respectively, creating a surprising balance among the three.

Ryan Reynolds and Cillian Murphy are the same...

Inception is not a work that every viewer can immediately understand. Nolan does not intend to cater to everyone, but rather challenges the mainstream definition of "watchability" and "entertainment" in a way that is almost philosophically experimental.

I give it five stars and highly recommend it to all sci-fi movie lovers and seasoned film buffs who enjoy mind-bending plots. This movie will definitely satisfy you.

Five stars.

Including the two four-star and two five-star units from before.

Of the five film reviews he has read so far, two have been rated 4 stars and three have been rated 3 stars.

This is absolutely high praise. If it weren't for the fact that all five film reviews mentioned the same word, Mason Collins would have immediately picked up the phone and called his assistant, demanding that he close out his short positions in Warner Bros. stock as soon as he got to work on Monday.

But the word "brain-burning" made him hesitate.

Mason Collins shut down the website and opened Twitter and Reddit, starting to search on them.

Half an hour later, Mason picked up the phone and, ignoring the fact that it was already late at night, made the call.

“Jerry, yes, it’s me… I’m adding to my short position in Warner on Monday’s opening, with a target price of $11.5, at least 50 shares, and I’m going to max out the leverage… Haha, let me think about the liquidation line… Yes, that’s right, we’re going big this time.”

"...I watched it, don't worry Jerry, of course it will be all good reviews. Warner Bros. isn't stupid. If this movie wasn't good, why would they invest so much in publicity, and why would they hold a premiere in London a week before the official release? They just want to generate buzz within that week. They want to play big."

"...I think they've miscalculated. Audiences aren't film critics! I just saw some of the reviews circulating on Twitter, and a lot of them say 'I don't understand it.' It's the same on Reddit; some people are saying 'the plot is like a fucking exam.'"

"I don't think this movie will appeal to family audiences. So, is Warner Bros. trying to rely on IMAX fans and Chen Nuo fans to prop up the box office?"

"Hahaha, too bad this isn't Twilight, and Warner Bros. isn't Summit Entertainment. For a big-budget production costing hundreds of millions, those young girls' wallets can't afford Warner Bros.'s appetite!"

At this point, Mason Collins held the phone between his fingers, a smug smile on his face. "I guarantee I'm not the only one who's seen this. Just look at the theaters and screenings when it opens, and you'll see—it'll never surpass Transformers 3!"

"I know all this, but those theater managers certainly see it even better than I do."

"When the theatrical release dates are announced, Warner Bros.' stock price will drop. At that time, we will close out the part of our position that we added today and only hold the previous short positions."

"In that case, haha, yes, no matter what happens next, we're guaranteed to make a profit."

……

……

伦敦时间2011年7月2日早上10点13分。

The conference room at the London Hilton was packed with people.

These are representatives from theater chains, screening managers, distributors, and marketing teams in the major global markets for "Inception." Invited by Warner Bros., they flew here from all over the world to discuss important matters.

This was Chen Nuo's first time attending a global launch event, and he hadn't originally planned to speak.

This meeting is meant for the production company's distribution coordinator to communicate with distributors and theater managers from various countries, assess the market response based on media reactions and audience feedback from the premiere, and then discuss the screening schedule and promotional pace.

Emma Thomas was in charge of this task.

He, on the other hand, is here to learn. In case his company ever produces a film that requires global distribution, he'll need some experience, won't he?
I originally just wanted to be a student.
But Nolan's wife, despite her formidable nature, seems to be experiencing this kind of collective attack for the first time.

After a heated debate, they were rendered speechless by a barrage of deadly questions posed by David Carter, the director of AMC Theatres' North American programming.

He looked around and saw that Nolan and Warner Bros. seemed a little guilty and were all thinking.

As a result, he had no choice but to speak up and take over the conversation.

Does this question even need to be considered?

In his opinion, it couldn't be simpler.

He coughed, took the microphone, and said, "David, you're right. This is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that many people won't understand."

"He is not naturally appealing to family audiences and teenagers, nor does he have a comic book or book fanbase like my Dark Knight or Twilight."

"So our audience may be limited, and the box office is only supported by Nolan's fans, science fiction enthusiasts and high-end audiences."

“But,” Chen Nuo paused, his gaze sweeping across the conference room, “this is precisely the unique value of Inception.”

"Gentlemen, from the very beginning, director Nolan never intended to make a popcorn movie suitable for all ages. From the very beginning, we were targeting loyal movie fans who were willing to watch it two or three times, high-end audiences who were willing to pay for the stunning IMAX visuals, and active social media users who would be stirred up by the 'mind-bending' plot."

"Indeed, just as you said, David, the audience who like this movie has nothing to do with my fans! There's a Mariana Trench between them!"

"But let's leave those teenage girls alone; they don't have much pocket money left."

Although the scene was serious, many people still laughed when they heard Chen Nuo's words.

Gulnazar, too, now understands quite a bit of English. With a smirk, she sat in the last row, her eyes fixed on Chen Nuo without blinking.

I had only one thought in my mind: Here it comes again!

She now truly admires her boss for this: the ability to act arrogantly anytime, anywhere, treating customers like dogs, making them cry or laugh as they please—that's the highest level of salesmanship. It's something she really should learn from.

Chen Nuo was unaware that he had been misunderstood.

In reality, he was a complete novice in sales. The only reason he could stand up and answer questions so quickly was because he had memories of his past life.

He glanced around the room, recalling the box office of Inception in his previous life and the actions of those lunatics, the ticket stubs he had posted online, and his feelings after watching the movie last night.

Sorry, he really feels like he's got a straight flush right now.

Unless a plane falls from the sky, he'll dominate the entire field!

Have you ever witnessed the breathtaking sight of Parisian streets, seemingly folded in a dreamlike fashion, slowly closing in a 3D world?
Have you ever experienced the immersive feeling of a gravity-defying corridor fight on IMAX?

Have you ever seen a surreal battlefield dreamscape filmed with the same camera used in Avatar?
If North American sci-fi fans in their past lives could regard the 2D version of "Inception" as the bible, the best sci-fi film of all time, then this version—shot with James Cameron's 3DMAX camera, in which he gave his all during filming, and after being meticulously edited by Nolan for more than half a year—seems to have no chance of losing!

Unless he's ten times worse off than Leonardo DiCaprio!

is it possible?
impossible!
Therefore, he spoke with even more emphasis, his gaze almost touching the face of everyone who was staring at him.

"The easiest money to make in this world is not women's money, but the money of those who consider themselves smart, and our target group this time is precisely these smart people."

"Think about it, how many smart people lose everything in the stock market every day?"

"When these smart people come to the film market, when they find that they can't understand a stock chart, when they can't understand what the movie is about, when they find that their intelligence has been insulted by a filmmaker—God bless our Mr. Nolan, who is smarter than them—then will these people still care about this little bit of money?"

“They are not underage girls and do not need their parents to give them pocket money.”

"Maybe we can only attract 500 million people to the cinema compared to Transformers or Harry Potter, but so what?"

"5 million multiplied by 2 is 500 million, multiplied by 3 is 1000 million, and multiplied by 5 is 1500 million. I believe that there are definitely many smart people who are willing to gamble 2500 times, just like those in the stock market who don't know when to take profits and keep adding to their bets."

"Just as Emma said, as long as you focus your promotional efforts on the positive interpretation of our film as 'mind-bending,' promote the concepts of 'mystery-solving' and 'multiple viewings,' and turn complexity into a selling point like 'The Matrix,' theater managers, I guarantee the opening weekend figures won't disappoint you!"

"You've all seen my statement, haven't you? I've staked 1000 million on this; I'm not kidding you!"

Chen Nuo looked at the audience, who had all fallen silent.

He nodded in satisfaction, then, taking advantage of the fact that these foreigners hadn't seen *Black Gold*, he arrogantly imitated Tony Leung Ka-fai and said in English, "I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone said, "I object."

His face immediately fell, and he looked at the damned Japanese man who had suddenly stood up from the audience, saying with an unfriendly expression, "Mr. Yamamoto, what are you objecting to?"

Manager Yamamoto from Toho International Film Distribution Department bowed to him, his tone humble but his stance firm: "I admit that Mr. Chen is right, this is indeed a brilliant work. However, in our market, the situation is different."

He looked up at Emma Thomas and Chen Nuo at the other end of the conference table and said earnestly:
“Japanese audiences are not entirely averse to movies with complex plots, but they rely more on emotional resonance and star power. Frankly speaking, besides you, Chen, there is no one else who attracts them to the cinema.”

He bowed slightly again, his tone now more pleading: "So, please. In the Japanese market, please allow us to make 'Chen Nuo starring' the sole focus of our promotion, emphasizing this in all posters and television commercials."

Chen Nuo got goosebumps from listening to this.

Damn it, you Japanese! Can you please stop being so mushy every time?!

  (End of this chapter)