Who said this top flow is crazy! This top flow is awesome!

Chapter 296 The Influence of the Wild Emperor: Unknowingly Changing the Landscape of the Film Industry
#TheMarsRescueStartsFilming#
#IkenoIndividualPoster#
#……#
While "The Martian" is a well-known project within the industry, having been famous since its planning stages, it is actually unfamiliar to many people outside the industry.

Aside from Ikeno's die-hard fans and career supporters, many people are hearing this name for the first time.

Therefore, when the hashtag #TheMarsRescue first appeared on the trending topics list, most casual viewers were quite confused.

But upon looking at the cast list and the glaring words "Ikeno plays Mamo," everyone immediately understood.

Ah, Ikeno's next movie.

If it's a science fiction movie, then it definitely deserves to trend on social media.

Fans who already knew about the film collectively went wild upon seeing this poster.

"Come on, come on!!"

"Holy crap! I've been waiting for you!"

"Filming just started? When will it wrap up? Can you put 'Goblin' on the box office during winter break and 'The Martian' during the Lunar New Year, a seamless transition? The kids have been suffering so much lately, Coconut, give it your all!"

"Indeed, there have been fewer and fewer new works lately. 'Flu' has become quite worn out; can't you release something new?"

"Director Guo Feng... and this production team, I've never heard of them before. Is it a new domestic sci-fi team? This movie must have a high budget, right? Why hire a completely new team?"

"Let alone the team, Chi Ye himself took the lion's share of the investment. Judging from the synopsis, it's probably just a reskin. This cast seems a bit unreliable."

"Chinese science fiction films? 'The Fortress of Shanghai' and 'Bureau 749' remain silent."

Having been forced to eat countless times, I can proudly declare that I will no longer believe any marketing claims for science fiction movies in China.

"Ikeno has finally ventured into the realm of science fiction... Is he trying to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and go all out?"

"..."

Overall, the initial marketing and launch of "The Martian" was a success. With Ikeno as the lead actor, the film is guaranteed to generate buzz and attention.

The only difference is whether this level of buzz and popularity is good or bad.

However, this "good" and "bad" cannot be defined in the traditional way.

For example, the PTSD and complaints from viewers and moviegoers who experienced the eye-polluting effects of films like "The Fortress of Shanghai" and "Bureau 749" may seem like negative public opinion, but in reality, it was deliberately orchestrated by Ikeno's side using hired online trolls to attack them.

If we don't bring them out and showcase them now, what if everyone forgets about these two epic masterpieces?
Without the backdrop of these two epic masterpieces, how could "The Martian" shoulder the "great responsibility" of "creating Chinese science fiction films"?
Besides, the thing a movie shouldn't fear the most is controversy, especially controversy without any obvious flaws. The greater the controversy, the higher its popularity will be, saving a lot of publicity and marketing costs.

"Even if we're dead, he'll still use our corpses to make a little more use of us... How can someone be so wicked?!"

A former investor in the film "The Fortress of Shanghai," now bankrupt, from Shaanxi, was furious after seeing this trending topic. He angrily denounced Chi Ye for lacking professional ethics and profiting from the suffering of others.

"I'm not used to it yet. This isn't the first time."

The other person next to him was dressed in slick, oily clothes, his whole body made of slippery material, and with his hair slicked back with hair oil, he looked like a wolfhound with its tongue sticking out from a distance.

As his name suggests, his surname is Lang. He is one of the agents of a film and television capital company in the capital. He has previously invested in several flops such as "The Fortress of Shanghai" and "Bureau 749". Currently, because he has a solid foundation, he has not been swindled like his friend, who went from heaven to hell.

Of course, even so, his situation wasn't much better.

The purpose of this trip is to invest in a new project. However, after being "educated" by the Beijing investment circle several times, both capital firms are now much more cautious.

"Ling Bingbing's next project doesn't seem to be a movie. Should we co-invest in it?"

"It seems the TV series is a collaboration with Ikeno."

"Then you're still coming?"

"Of course, I came here specifically for Ikeno."

"..."

The two exchanged a few words, then fell into a brief silence for two seconds.

If Ling Bingbing is to make a formal comeback, her first film will likely be very popular. In other words, it's a good fit for investors like her who have been burned before, as it can at least guarantee a return on investment and a profit.

Whether it's a small profit or a big profit, that's all up to fate.

The guy from Shaanxi didn't do his homework before coming here because he's currently investing with borrowed money... Many people in the industry have stopped contacting him, and his connections and information in the industry are very outdated now.

Only now did he realize that Chi Ye was actually Ling Bingbing's co-star in her next film.

In an instant, he was both surprised and delighted, and his previous attitude changed completely: "Damn it, Lu Chuan's Beijing circle! I should never have believed their nonsense."

"Good brother, you really have to help me this time. I've lost too much money these past two years. If I keep losing money, I really won't be able to recover."

"...Let's not talk about each other, my situation isn't much better than yours."

The investor surnamed Lang shook his head, his face also showing bitterness.

"Let's go up and take a look."

The two once-glorious investors poured out their grievances downstairs before turning around and walking together toward the front desk on the first floor.

"We're looking for General Manager Zhang."

"Hello, do you have an appointment?"

The two exchanged a glance, and the man from Shaanxi said, "Of course we made an appointment. We told Ling Bingbing before."

"OK, just a second."

The receptionist nodded politely, picked up the phone to confirm, and put it down a minute later: "Excuse me, please come with me."

As they were talking, the receptionist led the two upstairs.

Inside the elevator, the man from Shaanxi and the investor surnamed Lang remained silent, both thinking about how to inquire about the new project after their meeting.

To be honest, after so many incidents, these small capitalists behind the Beijing circle have been worn down to the point of near collapse. Currently, many people in the Beijing circle no longer trust the likes of Lu Chuan and Director Yang.

In contrast, targets like Ling Bingbing, who are more low-key and stable, became their choice.

Especially when news broke that Ling Bingbing and Chi Ye were going to collaborate, the place became extremely popular.

—Well, there are also instances of "bustling with customers" in the opposite direction.

Such as now.

Ding.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, the man from Shaanxi and the investor surnamed Lang stepped out of the elevator, they heard shouting, yelling, and arguing coming from the office inside.

"Ling Bingbing, what do you mean by this?! What do you mean by going to see Chi Ye behind our backs? Are you trying to make us all lose face?!"

"Lu Chuan, are you out of your mind? I'm not your subordinate, who are you talking to?"

This was Ling Bingbing's slightly bewildered and incredulous voice. She was genuinely astonished by Lu Chuan's thought process; she hadn't expected him to come directly to her company entrance to "educate" her.

What else could this person be but sick?
"Heh, yes, you're definitely not the same person you used to be. You're not the same person who begged us for resources anymore. You're so arrogant now, even saying 'Who are you talking to?'... Ling Bingbing, you should have a conscience. If we hadn't supported you back then, would you have everything you have now?"

"You've become famous and forgotten your roots. Aren't you afraid of being criticized by other people in the industry?"

Ling Bingbing looked at the other person expressionlessly: "Back then, my agency promoted me, and I signed the corresponding labor contract. I don't think you knew me back then, right? What does it have to do with you?"

"..."

Director Lu was taken aback, but immediately shouted, "What you're saying is ridiculous! You didn't know me back then, but weren't we in the same circle? You..."

“Lu Chuan, I’m already being lenient by letting you stay here to talk to me. If you continue to make a scene, then please leave.”

"You're going to have me kicked out?!"

Lu Chuan's eyes widened, and she pointed at herself incredulously: "I'm Lu Chuan, are you kidding me?!"

He pointed to a middle-aged man next to him: "You're working with Chi Ye, fine, I won't say anything. Yes, Chi Ye is popular now, he's a sensation, but you clearly didn't want to act in that movie 'The Martian,' yet you still went to audition, artificially boosting their popularity and giving them buzz. Isn't that a bit too much of a bootlicking?"

"To tell you the truth, I'm not here on my own initiative. What you've done is utterly disheartening, you know? Ling Bingbing, you know better than anyone how you got your big flower status. If you continue to play these games, then I can tell you very clearly..."

Ling Bingbing frowned deeper and deeper, having no patience to listen to Lu Chuan's rambling any longer. She waved her hand and signaled, "Have someone carry him out. He's a lunatic, coming here to cause trouble while drunk."

"Uh…"

The middle-aged man paused. He was Zhang, Ling Bingbing's partner, and hesitated, "This... isn't a good idea, after all, we're in the same industry..."

Does he consider me one of his own?

Ling Bingbing said expressionlessly, "What am I in his eyes? He doesn't want to respect others, so I'll teach him how to respect others."

"Get out."

Lu Chuan had indeed drunk quite a bit today, otherwise he wouldn't have come to confront Ling Bingbing in broad daylight. It's just that his family, career, social circle, and even "love" have all suffered devastating blows recently.

He is not willing to give in.

So, after hearing Ling Bingbing's words, he was completely stunned.

They tried to struggle a bit more, but unfortunately, they were on Ling Bingbing's territory and had no room to move around. They didn't even know how they got out.

After a chaotic commotion, everything returned to calm.

Mr. Zhang said worriedly, "Now look what's happened. Whether he was drunk or not, the way you've done this means that in the future, we'll all be running into each other all the time, and I bet other people will blame you too."

"Let it be strange."

Ling Bingbing has already passed the stage of an ordinary artist. Her resources are far superior to Sheng Ning's, and her network of connections is incomparable to Sheng Ning's.

She no longer relies on the Beijing entertainment circle, but the Beijing entertainment circle needs her "golden brand".

Therefore, there is nothing to mourn.

"...It's clear that everyone is concerned about your collaboration with Ikeno..."

Mr. Zhang stopped talking and looked at the two former investors who were craning their necks to watch the show, but were also hesitant to speak.

“Uh… Mr. Zhang, Bingbing.”

The two greeted each other awkwardly.

"...Please excuse my poor attempt."

Mr. Zhang's expression remained unchanged. He invited the two of them in and sat down before he began to subtly try to save face.

But the two were no longer interested in listening to any of that. Having witnessed Lu Chuan's drunken antics, their resolve had only grown stronger. Seizing the opportunity, the man surnamed Lang asked, "Um... there's something..."

"So it's confirmed that Bingbing will be working with Ikeno in her next project?"

Ling Bingbing and her partner exchanged a glance and nodded frankly: "Yes, if you two feel it's inappropriate, then I can only say I'm very sorry..."

"No, no, no."

The man from Shaanxi waved his hand hastily: "That's not appropriate, it's very appropriate, very appropriate!"

Ling Bingbing: "?"

"Um... we actually came here to ask if Bingbing, your new project with Chi Ye, is it still short of investment?"

The investor cautiously asked, "If you're still short, we happen to have some money on hand..."

Now, Ling Bingbing and President Zhang finally realized what was happening. They exchanged a glance and both saw a different emotion in each other's eyes.

Ling Bingbing—Look, this is the current situation.

Mr. Zhang – you truly lived up to your reputation, you made the right bet.

Ling Bingbing shook her head, indicating that this was not a gamble, but simply that what was meant to happen would eventually happen.

It is expected that this batch of Beijing-based capital is only the first batch. They are all small-scale investors who were once on the periphery of the Beijing circle. When the Beijing circle was making money, they would flock to it to make money. They would only provide funds and not care about other dirty things in the circle.

But when they find that this industry isn't profitable, they naturally have to look elsewhere.

As events unfold, more capital that once held sway may choose to "abandon" this old circle and embrace new partners.

Actually, similar things have happened occasionally in the past, but why add "similar"?
Because people like Chen Sicheng and Xu Zheng play the game of "win-win cooperation." Although they have gained momentum, they will eventually choose to cooperate with the Beijing circle when faced with pressure from all sides and for various reasons.

Therefore, there is naturally no "choose one of two" issue.

It's different here in Ikeno.

As everyone knows, Ikeno and the Kyoto circle have developed to the point where it's a choice between two options: one survives, and the other is wiped out.

As for who will ultimately be killed...

Previously, people thought that one person could single-handedly take on an entire circle, especially the Beijing circle that had dominated the film industry since the beginning of the domestic entertainment industry. The answer is obvious.

But looking at it now...

At least for now, Ikeno seems to be... a bit more formidable?
The success of "Flu" has brought a huge shock and shock to everyone in the industry. This success indicates that Ikeno's future works will most likely continue to follow the "world premiere" route.

Who could resist this level of temptation?

"I'm sorry, I'm working with Ikeno on a TV series. As for the movie... it's been filming for a while now, you've probably all heard about it, right?"

"Yes, we know that TV dramas are fine too. We came here specifically for TV dramas."

(End of this chapter)