Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 500 The Propaganda War Begins

Accompanying the boss to the movies is just watching the movie, and it can even be a bit boring.

You can't exactly eat popcorn, drink cola, and occasionally glance at your phone while sitting next to your boss, can you?

Even though "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" is great, Li Qiutang has already watched it five times. However, she still watched it with her attentively.

Right there in the screening room, Li Qiutang told several leaders some behind-the-scenes stories. When they heard that "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" took a total of 8 years from conception to production to release, the leaders were shocked: "An animated film takes so long to make."

Li Qiutang explained, "Animated films are different from live-action films. For live-action films, we shoot first, which takes three to five months, and then do post-production. If it's complicated, it can take a year or two to be completed. But animated films don't have this shooting stage. Every frame of an animated film is created, so it takes much longer."

The leaders praised "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" for achieving a box office of 13 billion yuan and encouraged Li Qiutang and his company to continue producing more and better animated films.

There have always been many supportive policies, otherwise there wouldn't have been so many "animation industrial parks" approved in the past decade. It's just that market confidence is still not in the animation sector, and this cannot be changed by issuing one or two policies.

Li Qiutang was bold enough to boast in front of several high-ranking leaders, and he gave a general overview of his plans for future animated films.

"In general, it's about three aspects: new legends, new myths, and new culture. Our animated films will be dedicated to exploring and interpreting classical Chinese texts. For example, this year's 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back' is a brand-new interpretation of Journey to the West culture and Sun Wukong. We have already started an animated film about Nezha. Currently, the company is also researching 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,' 'Investiture of the Gods,' 'Classic of Mountains and Seas,' as well as Tang and Song poetry. I think we can try to spread these to the audience in the form of animated films."

The leader really liked Li Qiutang's ideas and praised him repeatedly after listening to them, saying, "I'm really looking forward to your films."

After watching the movie and chatting for about half an hour, Li Qiutang left.

Before leaving, the leader's secretary handed him a box of tea: "This is for the leader himself, you should try some too."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Li Qiutang accepted it.

When the box of tea was returned to the company, Zhang Zhao and his colleagues took half of it.

"Everyone says that leaders drink the most special kind of special supplies, is this kind?" Zhang Zhao brewed a pot on the spot.

"The most I've ever had tea is from a minister; I don't know much about tea for leaders of this rank." Li Qiutang put the box away. "Half is fine with you; there's not much in total, so leave some for me. How does it taste?"

"I can't tell if it's good or bad."

"With your tongue, everything tastes the same, so it's normal that you can't tell the difference."

Li Qiutang also drank a cup, but couldn't tell if it was good or bad; it seemed no different from what she usually drank.

After finishing their tea, the group began discussing work.

"Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe" will be released at the end of the month. As long as Lu Chuan doesn't cause trouble, there's no need to pay any attention to him.

The promotion and distribution of Mahua FunAge's first film, "Goodbye Mr. Loser," proceeded in an orderly manner.

The company no longer has any connection with "Lost in Hong Kong".

After arranging his work, Li Qiutang went to a guesthouse and didn't go out again that evening. He stayed home to read books and watch movies with his wife, which was quite relaxing.

Once the second weekend of September is over, the National Day films will begin their promotional campaigns.

Sometimes, Li Qiutang genuinely can't distinguish between publicity strategies and the personal requirements of the creators.

The promotional period for "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe" has begun. In an interview, Lu Chuan casually mentioned that Zhao Liying acted in the film for free and even paid out of her own pocket.

"I think Liying is a very magnanimous and visionary actress. Because I needed to ensure the funding for post-production, Liying took the initiative to offer to return her salary to the production team halfway through filming, saying that she wanted to do her part for post-production. It's rare to see actors like her nowadays."

Is this their production team's publicity strategy or Lu Chuan's personal idea?

By saying that, he was essentially putting Zhao Liying in a very difficult position. But he seemed quite pleased with himself, believing that the actress was so captivated by his directorial charm that she volunteered to act in his film for free.

What's most puzzling is that even Zhao Liying's fans think their idol's behavior is praiseworthy.

"Liying is wholeheartedly devoted to the crew, sacrificing her own interests for the greater good."

"Liying is so thoughtful."

Zhao Liying's side may be eager to make a name for herself in the film market—she knows better than anyone that she currently has no standing in the film industry.

Her team made a terrible mistake: they gave her a role in a film for free and then paid her to write articles about it.

"Zhao Liying starred in 'Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe' without receiving any payment, and the director praised her for her vision."

"Zhao Liying opens a new chapter in the film industry, transforming into a female warrior in 'Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe,' bravely fighting monsters!"

Acting for free is a rare and commendable thing; in most cases, it's not a good thing.

What will Yao Chen, the lead actress, think about Zhao Liying's promotional efforts?
You're great, you're amazing. For the sake of the film's post-production, you, a supporting actress, are willing to forgo your salary, while I, the lead actress, am in the wrong place?
Don't forget, Tang Yan's fans already know that Zhao Liying stole the role from Tang Yan. Now, she's pretending to be righteous and saying she acted for free, which is bound to attract gossip.

"She got lucky to be in 'Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe.' She didn't ask for a salary to curry favor with the director and make it easier for her to move around in the film industry in the future. But they really treat her like a treasure and promote her like this."

"Stealing someone else's role and now pretending to be understanding, disgusting!"

"The investors in 'Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe' are China Film Group and LeTV. Do they really need your money for post-production? This money probably went into Lu Chuan's pocket."

Even Tang Yan made sarcastic remarks about Zhao Liying in an interview:
"It's only natural for actors to receive pay for their work. If a production crew is facing difficulties, I will do my best to help. I've been lucky so far; I haven't encountered any production crews where I have to work at my own expense."

When talking about her film career, Tang Yan said, "I don't force things. What belongs to me will eventually belong to me. Whether it's a movie or a TV series, actors are just completing one role after another. As long as there are good roles to give back to the audience, that's enough."

The pre-release promotion of "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe" didn't just rely on abstract concepts; there was another one.

Yao Chen (Shirley) reveals exotic, alluring, and sexy stills in a red robe.

"Her portrayal of Shirley Yang, with her graceful figure, determined gaze, fiery red lips, and wavy hair, exudes an exotic beauty that also inadvertently radiates a captivating and mysterious charm."

No, Yao Chen has an exotic charm? Yao Chen is alluringly sexy?

How did they manage to write this kind of article?

There are even more ridiculous moves, but actually, they can't be called ridiculous moves; they're quite good and novel.

During the promotional period, Lu Chuan repeatedly mentioned a mysterious department called Bureau 749, claiming that he had worked in it.

This Bureau 749 specializes in researching paranormal phenomena.

Lu Chuan's words were quite truthful, and he even said that some of the things in the movie were based on his own personal experiences, which attracted a group of curious viewers to discuss them.

Perhaps in response to "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe," or perhaps because the promotion of "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe" boosted the popularity of "Ghost Blows Out the Light," the "Mojin: The Lost Legend" production team released its first official trailer this Friday, titled "Starting with Style."

The trailer features all the main characters, showcasing their costumes. At the end of the trailer, the narration says, "This is the real tomb raiding style."

Director Li Qiutang, December 12.18.

(End of this chapter)