Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 562 A Thousand-Year Dream, Filming Begins for "The Book of Peace"!
Prior to today's press conference themed "A Thousand-Year Dream, Auspicious Start to Filming," the production team had already conducted targeted publicity and arrangements at various stages since the project "The Book of Peace" was officially approved.

The pre-event promotion and topic building efforts across all media platforms, including Weibo and Zhijie Video, and the "Taiping Shu Behind-the-Scenes Salon" program hosted by Liu Yan, have achieved excellent results, from the first episode which used Liu Yifei's top influence to drive discussion, to the subsequent visits of composers such as Ryuichi Sakamoto.

In addition, the production team, together with the Palace Museum, the National Theatre of China and other institutions, held the "Visualization of Chinese Civilization" forum to carry out cross-border collaboration and resource integration;
There are also international promotion and marketing campaigns spanning China, Japan, and South Korea, pop-up events at city landmarks in core areas of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and theater collaborations with Beijing People's Art Theatre and National Theatre of China, all of which are constantly building momentum for this cultural project and providing it with attention and a good reputation.

Even Haidilao, in which Xiao Liu holds a 35% stake, has displayed related stands and posters in more than 50 stores across the country, but further marketing integration has not yet been achieved, which is a matter for later discussion.

Among these, the official Weibo account of "The Book of Peace" is the only official channel for releasing and publicizing all information about the actors, plot, and behind-the-scenes footage. Prior to today's opening ceremony, the official Weibo account of "The Book of Peace" released a preliminary introduction and overview of the series.

This falls under the category of "suspenseful content marketing" in marketing, which uses a "squeezing toothpaste" approach to release information, such as releasing actor costume photos and episode worldview clips in stages, to continuously create anticipation for the audience.

This avoids overdrawing the hype all at once, while creating a ripple effect through phased bursts of popularity.

On December 31, 2009, the day before filming began, the production team released the initial outline of the series, including the length of the episodes and the seasons.

The seven seasons of TV dramas announced are all high-standard productions with 10-15 episodes per season and each episode is about 90 minutes long.

This "trailer of trailers" instantly ignited the market, not only announcing that this was an ambitious long-term project, but also hinting at its epic scale and narrative ambitions, comparable to those of a film.
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Dear viewers, the filming of "The Book of Peace" is about to begin. It is currently planned to be divided into seven seasons, from the late Warring States period to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

This drama aims to systematically showcase the depth and philosophical dimension of Chinese history through an epic narrative spanning two thousand years of civilization. Through Gu Nan's unique perspective, we organically connect different dynasties, not only reproducing the "living culture in flux" such as clothing, etiquette, architecture, and military affairs, but also striving to explore the "unchanging spiritual core," namely the Chinese nation's eternal pursuit of "peace under heaven" and the resilience of its civilization.

We will film, edit, and broadcast the series in an episodic format, with each season focusing on key eras. We strive to upgrade the visual aesthetics while maintaining historical accuracy, thereby promoting Chinese culture abroad in an immersive and story-driven way and achieving dialogue between civilizations and cultural empathy.

Here is a summary of the first three seasons:
The first season, "The Dust and the Throne," traces back to the chaotic period from the late Warring States period to the end of the Qin Dynasty.

This season aims to depict the grand trajectory of the Qin Empire from its iron-fisted rise to its sudden collapse from a detached yet compassionate perspective. Through the eyes of the immortal Gu Nan, we will witness the two sides of strict law and cruelty of war, gaze at the rough texture of the empire's birth and the historical dust raised when it collapsed, and profoundly question the glory and cost of the civilization behind "unification."

The main supporting characters this season include: Bai Qi, Guiguzi, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng.
The second season, "The Gale and the Rebellion," focuses on the turbulent period from the late Qin Dynasty's Chu-Han Contention to the mid-to-late reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

The core narrative of this season is "dynastic change" and "the shaping and transformation of civilization". Viewers will not only follow the female swordsman Liu Yifei to witness the collapse of an old empire and the rise of a new empire, but also take a deep look at a grand civilization system: Han civilization.

And observe how it gradually built its unique texture and skeleton on the ruins of war, and finally showed its outward expansion and internal contradictions at its peak. Gu Nan's journey will take him from the smoke of the Chu-Han battlefield to the court of Weiyang Palace, and finally to the beacon fires in the northern desert and the yellow sands of the western regions.

The main supporting characters this season include: Xiang Yu, Liu Bang, Han Xin, Emperor Wu of Han, Sima Qian, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing.

The third season, "The Fire and the Ambition," spans the era of strategic brilliance and loyalty during the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, up to the Western Jin Dynasty.

This season will delve into the humanistic core behind the strategic storms. It goes beyond presenting the power struggles among heroes; it focuses on portraying different figures such as Zhuge Liang's dedication to the country, Cao Cao's complexity, and Guan Yu's loyalty and righteousness, exploring how beliefs and ideals can become the spiritual torch illuminating history in chaotic times.

The main supporting characters this season include figures from the Three Kingdoms and Western Jin dynasties.

……

In addition to the first three seasons, there is also "The Golden Age" set before and after the Tang Dynasty, "The Elegance and Ode" set in the Song Dynasty, "The Territory" set in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and the final chapter "Sunset".

It is important to explain to the audience that "The Book of Peace" is not a chronological historical drama. Each dynasty will only be presented with a story logic that is detailed and concise, focusing on highlighting key moments, in order to fit the core setting of the female protagonist "observing and appropriately participating in history".

For example, in the second season of "The Wind", Gu Nan tries to remain neutral in the chaotic world, but is repeatedly drawn into it. She may interact with the two heroes as a strategist or a wandering knight, showing Liu Bang's political intrigue and Xiang Yu's tragic fate.
In the fourth season of "The Great Age", Gu Nan enjoyed a relatively peaceful period, immersing herself in the prosperity and culture of the Great Age. However, the outbreak of the An Lushan Rebellion made her witness the fragility of civilization once again.

Especially in the highly anticipated third season of "The Soul of the Three Kingdoms," which is eagerly awaited by audiences in China, Japan, and South Korea, we will not recount the history before and after the Three Kingdoms period in great detail like in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Instead, we will focus on portraying the spirit of an era that produced many heroes and the underlying reflections brought about by war through Gu Nan's perspective.

In this season, viewers can look forward to a dialogue between actress Liu Yifei as Gu Nan and veteran actor Zhuge Liang at Wuzhang Plains, about "fate and human affairs," which will be filled with a tragic sense of destiny.

I look forward to seeing countless "Prime Minister, take care!" comments on the screen; this is a unique kind of romance for us Chinese.

Currently, our writing team has completed the script for the first season. With the support of the world-class filming team, we will maintain a highly effective filming and broadcast schedule, and continuously optimize and adjust the production and broadcast process according to the seasonal drama format of Travel Channel.

Friends, as tomorrow begins, let us embark together on this journey spanning a thousand years. Please follow in the footsteps of the immortal Gu Nan, immerse yourself in this magnificent historical epic, and witness, feel, and reflect with her.

This is not only a visual and auditory feast, but also a spiritual resonance and a pilgrimage to civilization.

In 2010, please look forward to the gradual unfolding of *The Book of Peace*, and to meeting you within its pages!
It can be said that such a significant announcement and "spoiler" successfully created national-level cultural anticipation.

The announcement did not stop at dry promotion, but successfully conducted an emotional pre-sale by depicting specific and emotionally charged future scenes such as "the dialogue at Wuzhang Plains" and "the barrage of 'Take care, Prime Minister'".

It allows viewers to preview and experience these unfilmed scenes in their minds, transforming cold project information into shareable, anticipated, and relatable emotional memories, especially generating heated discussions and community cohesion on Weibo, Hupu, and other platforms that are hubs for public opinion.

Amidst such high anticipation, at 10 a.m., Yangsong Town in the HR district was almost like the Seattle Datong Hotel a month earlier, welcoming a massive influx of people.

The opening ceremony of "The Book of Peace" was attended not only by major local media outlets in Beiping, such as CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, "Renbao" and numerous entertainment media, but also by Japanese and Korean media such as the NHK documentary team and KBS TV, as well as representatives from institutions such as China Film Group, Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Beijing People's Art Theatre, and National Theatre of China.

In addition, the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University, where Iris Chang served as a visiting professor, also sent visiting scholars to conduct this cultural exchange under her guidance. (Chapter 547)
Overall, this has garnered attention from multiple parties across fields and national borders.

When a film or television work is promoted through various press conferences, the purposes and focuses of each conference are naturally different.

Therefore, today's opening ceremony was not like the project launch event, which included speeches from leaders, statements from actors, and Q&A sessions with reporters. Instead, the general director Zheng Xiaolong and leaders from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Culture gave brief speeches before announcing the specific filming arrangements and actor information to the media and the public.

After a brief ceremony, the actors, dressed in their costumes from the play, were greeted with enthusiastic applause.

Liu Yifei, one of China's most popular top female stars, was at the front, followed by a series of "familiar yet unfamiliar" faces.

They are familiar because their classic roles are household names in the domestic film and television industry, but due to the rise of the traffic-driven era in recent years, they are rarely seen.

Reporters unleashed a barrage of cameras and microphones at the first season's cast and crew as they appeared, but what truly astonished them was:
The usually aloof and elegant female swordsman Liu Yifei actually came on stage today "wearing a burlap sack"!

The host, Liu Yan, stood beside the lined-up lead actors and asked Xiao Liu her first question:

"XiXi, it's been a long time. We were just joking that your fans have taken over Huairou today, haha."

"Your outfit today is quite unique, and you're not the female swordsman from the previous promotions. Can you explain why?"

Liu Yifei waved to the screaming fans in the audience, then explained with a smile: "Just a little spoiler, after I, the character played by Lu Kuan, traveled back in time, I reappeared as a street vagrant in the Qin state during the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. That's how I ended up with my master by chance..."

She smiled and gestured politely to Li Xuejian beside her, saying, "I met Bai Qi, played by Teacher Li, and that's how I began my journey and observation over the past two thousand years."

Some reporters in the audience couldn't help but wonder: Xue Jian's acting skills are beyond doubt, but is it really appropriate for him, who is still recovering from a serious illness and has a thin face, to play the role of a butcher?
In fact, today's appearance of the main cast and crew and the brief interviews were for this very purpose:

From the very beginning, the Taiping Book established a “cultural orthodoxy” by using a high degree of historical accuracy.

Historical dramas have always touted themselves as "meticulous," but most have compromised on costumes, props, and historical details to meet commercial demands or creative inertia.

Just as some small and medium-sized business owners in later generations, accustomed to drinking fake Moutai, might mistake the real product for a counterfeit when they first taste it, audiences, having been immersed in crude "historical fiction" for a long time, develop a cognitive bias towards truly rigorous production.

For example, many journalists now believe that Li Xuejian's image is not a good match for Bai Qi.

Are they really incompatible?

Liu Yan stood next to Xiao Liu and began interviewing the second lead actor, posing the question to the actor himself.

Li Xuejian's voice was still a little hoarse, but her breathing was noticeably steady, and her body had recovered quite well.

"I actually had this question at first too, but the historical consultant and screenwriter from the Wenjie team answered it for me—"

"In official histories such as the Records of the Grand Historian and the Strategies of the Warring States, Sima Qian, the Grand Historian, only recorded Bai Qi's military thought and achievements in detail, without mentioning his appearance or physique at all."

"I later studied Bai Qi's information for a long time. He was a fallen nobleman who rose to the top step by step through his extraordinary military wisdom. I think he didn't necessarily gain his status through physical bravery, so I took on the role."

"I experienced this firsthand." Xiao Liu, standing next to me, took the microphone and laughed. "I was right there when Lu Kuan was discussing the role with Teacher Li. Because Teacher Li is very meticulous about roles, Lu Kuan said something that really resonated with me as an actor—"

"He said that in artistic creation, especially in the film and television portrayal of historical figures, the spirit is always more important than the physical resemblance. Whether an actor can convey the soul, temperament and inner complexity of a character is far more important than physical height and physique."

"In artistic expression, a sophisticated technique is to create power through contrast. How can a body that is not tall and is even somewhat thin exude an aura that makes thousands of troops hold their breath? This requires the actor to have top-notch control over lines, eyes, and micro-expressions."

"Teacher Xue Jian is a master of this art. Think of his portrayal of Song Jiang in 'Water Margin'. He wasn't particularly tall, but a single glance or a silhouette was full of complex leadership qualities and a sense of tragedy. This kind of performance, which is like thunder in silence, is far more layered and profound than physical imposing stature."

Li Xuejian also joked, "I played a not-so-tall Qin Shi Huang in 'The Emperor and the Assassin,' and now I'm going to play a not-so-tall war god. It seems I'm going to subvert a lot of classic roles."

Laughter and applause erupted from both the stage and the audience.

Having grown accustomed to the extravagant press conferences that have emerged with the rise of internet traffic, today's conference, where the leader's speech lasted no more than ten minutes and the event immediately focused on the characters, plot, and casting details, was quite refreshing.

Besides the exciting content about the first three seasons released by the official Weibo account yesterday, the entire production team has been very professional and sincere in explaining their creative concepts. However, thanks to Liu Yifei's presence, the show is also generating a lot of buzz, which is a perfect match.

Gu Nan, played by Liu Yifei, Bai Qi, and the third character to appear and be revealed today is King Zhaoxiang of Qin, played by Chen Daoming, a specialist in playing emperors.

Liu Yan posed the question: "Teacher Chen once expressed his weariness with playing emperor roles. How did you accept the invitation to take on this role? Share with us."

Chen Daoming nodded: "I understand King Zhaoxiang of Qin's role not as a tyrant or a wise ruler in the traditional sense. In my opinion, he has always been a solitary figure who has always remained clear-headed in the vortex of power."

"He is patient and decisive, possessing both the ruthlessness of a monarch and the foresight of a strategist. In particular, his interactions with Bai Qi, played by Xue Jian, and Gu Nan, the time traveler played by Yi Fei, are quite interesting."

"In addition, the actors in this drama are all very compatible and have excellent acting skills. I am very happy to participate in such projects. This cannot be called work; it is actually a kind of enjoyment."

In terms of the initial seven seasons of the series, the only main character is Liu Yifei, the female swordswoman. The other emperors and generals take turns appearing, but they don't actually have much screen time.

But what attracts actors and other performing artists of these calibers is precisely the depth and interpretive scope of these roles, as well as the grand scale and historical mission of "The Book of Peace" as a cultural project.

Liu Yifei's character Gu Nan is the "camera," while Chen Daoming, Li Xuejian, and others strive to make their characters leave a classic silhouette in the long river of history under this camera.

This is the most meaningful aspect, especially considering the international perspective and channels of this cultural project.

After Chen Daoming, Yu Chenghui played Guiguzi, who was also the instructor of Gu Nan's swordsmanship in the drama.

Yu Chenghui's hair and beard are all white. He just needs to tone down the chivalrous spirit of his previous roles and reveal the otherworldly aura of a hermit master.

Following them were Ying Zheng, played by Fu Dalong (pictured left below), Wang Jian, played by You Yongzhi (pictured right below), and more than a dozen other main and supporting actors, who made their appearances one by one, giving the audience and media a preliminary glimpse into the world of "The Book of Peace".

In addition, rising domestic idol actress Jing Tian will play the role of Hua Xian in the drama.

This is a talented courtesan from a brothel who has feelings for Gu Nan, who is dressed as a man. She is later brought into the Wu'an Jun Mansion, but because Gu Nan is a woman, the two do not develop any further feelings for each other.

The painting fairy's admiration for Gu Nan was one-sided, and she often thought to herself, "If only she were a young master."

From a certain perspective, it also fits the affection and closeness that Jing Tian has for Xiao Liu, but in the drama, it naturally ends in tragedy. Beauty can never last forever; it is just a fleeting moment of youth.

The press conference that morning came to an end, and the crew of "The Book of Peace" officially started filming in the afternoon. The first season will be directed by Zheng Xiaolong himself.

This veteran director, who joined the Beiping Television Art Center in the 80s, was naturally in high spirits. Even with the backing of the Beijing entertainment circle, he had never fought such a lucrative battle in all these years.

The second season is currently tentatively scheduled to be directed by Zhang Li, the director of "Da Ming Dynasty 1566", with Lu Kuan serving as the chief director and producer.

After that, we just have to wait for feedback on the first season and for the script to establish the tone before choosing a suitable director and actors.

Meanwhile, the hundred or so media outlets present today quickly disseminated key information about "The Book of Peace" online, including its director lineup, production specifications, and season format, sparking heated discussions across the internet.

"If the first season of 'The Book of Peace,' titled 'The Vast Expanse,' can air in 2010, fans of historical and spy dramas will be overjoyed! I'm currently looking forward to 'New Three Kingdoms' and 'Before Dawn,' but of course, I'm most looking forward to 'The Book of Peace.' I won't be short of shows to watch this year!"

"Asia's top film and television production team, top special effects post-production, top cultural capital, plus our country's best performing artists... they're practically going to pierce the ceiling of historical dramas."

"The beauty of 'The Book of Peace' lies in its time-travel historical setting. Although it's not a fictionalized account, it still utilizes a commercially viable theme, which distinguishes it from typical historical dramas. However, the opening ceremony this morning clearly demonstrated the remarkable research and historical accuracy the production team has done. Keep it up!"

"It's great in every way, the only regret is that there are only 10-15 episodes per season, I still want to see more of Sissi..."

"The person upstairs should know that history needs to leave room for interpretation. Gu Nan couldn't possibly witness every period of history, so allocating such a length for each dynasty is reasonable. After all, this isn't some kind of history education film; it's about telling a story to the world. It needs to find a balance between storytelling and rigor, with appropriate detail and brevity. This is quite different from 'New Three Kingdoms'."

Aside from the regular discussions about the plot and the anticipation of the show, the biggest group of fans were, of course, the fervent supporters of Xiao Liu.

"From 'Fairy Sister' to 'Daughter of Time,' Sissi is about to unlock another classic role, and it's a cultural project aimed at the whole world. This is even more significant than an ordinary movie! Looking forward to the sale of the merchandise on the Wenjie Mall!"

"This year has been incredibly frustrating for Liu Yifei's fans. Some big-breasted girl even tried to get close to the top actress while Liu Yifei was on maternity leave? Well, now that Liu Yifei has officially made her comeback, that other girl should just stick to being a concubine in those rotten coffin-like Qing Dynasty dramas!"

"Let's watch how Hunan TV's 'Princess Pearl 4' and Stinky Feet Sheep's 'Palace' compete with Bingbing's 'My Love from the Star' and Sissi's 'The Book of Peace'! Fans of the Heavenly Fairy are ready to fight at any time and beat Stinky Feet Sheep until he goes menopause!"

"From armor to Han robes, from Qin swords to Tang sabers... this is a journey through our own civilization! The introduction is exhilarating! This isn't just a comeback film by a celestial beauty; it's a cultural must-see for our generation. Eagerly awaiting the premiere! I've already prepared my Zhijie Video membership and will be watching CCTV and Travel Channel!" "The burlap sack look at the press conference left me speechless. Top beauties really do look good even in burlap sacks... The official Weibo account for *The Book of Peace* is so damn good at creating drama! They've already spoiled the plot of Gu Nan, played by Xixi, discussing destiny with Prime Minister Zhuge Liang at Wuzhang Plains, and it's even the plot of the third season! Who are you trying to kill us with?! Damn it!"

"Aside from the Golden Horse Awards which Chiang Ching-kuo doesn't care about, and the Hong Kong Film Awards which he's just patting himself on the back, I've already won the Golden Rooster, Hundred Flowers, and Huabiao Awards in China with 'A Home Away' and 'The Sky of History.' It seems like this 'The Book of Peace' is going to be a grand slam for Best Actress. Awesome!"

Among the numerous discussions and heated debates, the most frequently mentioned question revolves around "how long will it take for the first season of 'The Book of Peace' to premiere?"

Zhou Liming, China's leading grassroots film critic, praised the film while also providing a professional analysis based on the standards of the domestic TV drama industry:

Domestic TV dramas, including the ending, typically have an episode length of around 45 minutes. The format of "Taiping Shu" is closer to the globally popular "limited series" and "poetry anthology series".

Generally speaking, top-tier teams inevitably employ multiple parallel shooting sessions to compress the timeline.

Group A is led by the general director Zheng Xiaolong or the director of the season, who will be responsible for the main storyline, filming the dialogue scenes and the core war scenes.
Team B, led by experienced action directors or assistant directors, specializes in shooting fight scenes, large-scale war scenes, and establishing shots. Two or even three teams work simultaneously, making them far more efficient than a single production team.

Currently, the main scenes of the first season of "The Vastness" are relatively concentrated, such as Xianyang Palace, Wu'an Jun Mansion, battlefield, and city life. The crew will concentrate on shooting all relevant scenes at China Film Group Huairou Base, Zhuozhou Film and Television City, Hengdian and other places, which greatly reduces the time spent changing locations. One set of scenes is used by multiple crews in rotation or at the same time, maximizing the use of studio set resources.

With such an unprecedentedly strong cast, I predict that the filming time for the first episode will not exceed four months.

If all goes well, filming for 2-2.5 seasons a year can be completed. Post-production time will depend on the specific series. Apart from major war scenes, post-production is not too difficult, and Butian Pictures can provide top-notch special effects support in Asia.

……

Looking at it from all angles, it seems that the domestic TV drama industry in 2010-2011 is about to be ruined by one thing...

The Book of Peace, which should not be called a catfish but a great white shark, has been turned upside down.

In the entire film and television market:
There are ancient and modern idol romance dramas such as "My Love from the Star" and "Princess Pearl 4", LeTV Culture's "Palace", Sun Honglei's "Men's Gang" and "You're So Seductive" "Temptation of Going Home", and Wenjie's "Nirvana in Fire".
There are historical and spy-themed works such as "New Three Kingdoms", "The Indelible Number", "The Book of Peace" and "Before Dawn";
There are also works such as Chen Sicheng's debut novel "Love Story in Beiping" from LeTV Culture, which focuses on realism, and "Naked Wedding Era" from Wenjie.

Looking at the production companies, apart from established names like "Aircraft Carrier World" and the "reborn" Wuyue, the TV dramas that were approved this year are filled with coal-funded projects.

Including the recent 09 TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber," which also exposed a series of scandals involving corrupt businessmen sending their daughters to the government.

However, looking at the entire cultural and media industry in mainland China, the most eye-catching sector is undoubtedly the mainland film industry, which can be described as "rapidly advancing."

Why not say "Chinese films" but "mainland film industry"?

This was because the absence of Lu Kuan and Zhang Yimou, who missed the Lunar New Year film season twice due to the 2008 Olympics, not only made the domestic film market and the Lunar New Year film season stronger, but also made foreign films more arrogant.

In November 2009, the Lunar New Year film season kicked off with "2012". The film officially ended its run before New Year's Day and grossed an astonishing 480 million yuan at the box office, just 20 million yuan shy of breaking the record for the highest-grossing domestic film in history, "The Founding of a Republic".

Mainland films, naturally dwarfed by such figures, have thus created a situation of "some rejoicing while others grieve" due to the siphon effect.

LeEco Culture's first film after the coal mine owners took over, "Bodyguards and Assassins," grossed 2.7 million yuan, hovering near the cost line. It is currently being sold for its global overseas rights, but the results have been dismal so far.

New coal mine owners are having a rough time, and established fiber optic companies like Berna are also facing difficulties this year due to the strong performance of foreign film suppliers.

Of the four Lunar New Year films invested in or co-distributed by the latter, "Little Big Soldier" grossed 1.8 million yuan in mainland China and 3100 million US dollars in other regions worldwide due to Hendrik Willem Van Loon's influence.

However, apart from these, Chow Yun-fat's "Confucius," Aaron Kwok's "Storm Riders 2," and Jacky Cheung's "Hot Summer Days" all flopped to varying degrees.

Overall, Fiber Optics' Lunar New Year release was a case of losing money to gain publicity, and it exited the market with a small loss.

But this is the Lunar New Year film market in 2010! Seeing other companies making a fortune, this small loss is no different from a huge loss!
Who's making money and drinking the soup?

It must be said that Wanda Pictures, as the second company after Wenjie to fully control production and distribution channels, has achieved a resounding victory in its first battle since entering the content industry.

Wu Ershan's low-budget masterpiece "The Swordsman" had a total investment of 2000 million yuan and, thanks to Wanda's screening advantage, grossed 6500 million yuan at the box office.

Because it is self-produced and self-sold, like Wenjie, it saves a lot of intermediate costs in the distribution process, resulting in a high profit margin after tax.

Now we'll see how Feng Xiaogang's "1942" performs.

Who else is making money and getting by?
Wuyue Culture is led by Bingbing, the top female CEO in China's entertainment industry.

Stephen Chow's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" brought together Huang Bo, Bao Qiang, Shen Teng and others from Wenjie and Wuyue, while Tang Yan from Yinghuang played the role originally played by Shu Qi. It was pulled from theaters around New Year's Day and grossed a total of 4.7 million yuan, only slightly less than the disaster blockbuster "2012".

Because Butian Pictures handled the post-production special effects, the film only cost around 9000 million RMB. In addition, with the Korean and Japanese rights already sold, Wuyue Culture's profit from this film alone exceeded 1.5 million RMB, once again driving up its stock price.

The film that performed somewhat poorly was "Brotherhood of Blades" by Lu Yang, a graduate of the Pan-Asia Film Academy. With a total investment of 30 million yuan, it barely grossed over 100 million yuan at the box office, but for a novice director of commercial films, it was a first step toward profitability.

Among them, Tong Liya's portrayal of the female character trapped in the Jiaofangsi, whose heart is filled with fear and complex emotions, is outstanding, reflecting the tragedy of a beautiful woman in troubled times and her tenacity in surviving between power and emotion.

Industry insiders are taking notice of this actress who has been making her mark for some time but has been developing her career in a very conventional way, especially given her unique exotic features.

Because Xiao Liu frequently interacts with Tong Liya on Weibo, he has gained a lot of attention from Tong Liya's fans.

Thus, starting with the characters in "Brotherhood of Blades," and beginning with various films released during this year's Lunar New Year season, a popular "debate on the status of female celebrities" was sparked at the end of the year.

Domestically, discussions about entertainment gossip generally revolve around topics such as the four leading actresses, the four young actresses, and the "two Bing and one concubine" (referring to Fan Bingbing, Li Bingbing, and Fan Bingbing).

Regarding the "Four Little Flowers" born in the 85s, who have received the most discussion, what is the current situation of these young female celebrities in China?

First, there's the "First Consort," whose status is exceptional. Xiao Liu appeared with "The Book of Peace," which can't really be considered a movie, but its scale, project strength, and popularity far exceed those of ordinary films. We won't include her in the discussion for now, nor is it necessary to.

Of the other four, Tang Yan is on the verge of becoming a sensation due to her roles in "Let the Bullets Fly" and "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons," with over 900 million Weibo followers and heading towards 1000 million. She has also officially announced that she will be filming "Summer's Desire" this year, collaborating with Taiwanese artists such as Roy Chiu.

Su Chang has been vying with Yang Mi for the top spot among the four little actresses, but because Yang Mi starred in the Hollywood co-production "The Forbidden Kingdom," Su Chang has always been half a step behind.

In order to avoid the release of "Inception" which was postponed to early February, as long as the box office doesn't flop like "The Forbidden Kingdom" and drag her down, Yang Mi is definitely going to ride on its neck!

Looking at Yang Mi and Huang Shengyi, their situation during this Spring Festival film season can only be described as utterly miserable...

Yang Mi originally wanted to ride on the coattails of the stars in "Bodyguards and Assassins," but unexpectedly, she shot herself in the foot once again. Following "The Forbidden Kingdom," she is now being called a "box office poison."

Considering the economic value of "Palace," LeTV Culture naturally took great care of it and launched a full-scale crackdown on "blacklisting" across the internet.

The one who felt the most threatened was Huang Shengyi, who was ranked last among the four little actresses. Under the management of Donkey Face, she had a cameo role of more than ten seconds in the Hollywood movie "Wushan Adventure" but it was cut. Her output that year was mediocre and she made almost no achievements.

Thus, the heated online discussions about the "Four Little Actresses" have turned into a chaotic battle:

Tianxian's fans joined Su Chang and Tang Yan's fans in cursing "Bees" (a derogatory term for female fans);
Da Mimi's fans criticize everyone and are unwilling to submit to anyone, especially after she clashed with Xiao Liu's fans because of her previous endorsement of "Penguin Ranch". Currently, the largest number of spontaneous and organized online trolls and anti-Liu Yifei fans are from Da Mimi's camp.

In contrast, Huang Shengyi's fans are rather quiet. They keep trying to get close to Liu Yifei, who is currently very popular, and they often post photos saying that "the two are quite similar." They also frequently criticize Yang Mi's fans for being overconfident.

It's worth mentioning that Song Quede, who went to great lengths to slander Liu Yifei in another timeline, also had a kissing scene with Huang Shengyi in his 2005 film "Eyes of Heaven"...

This is also one of the reasons why he speaks ill of Xiao Liu, because he wants to promote Huang Shengyi.

There is no love without a reason, nor is there darkness without a story. This is simply because Liu Yifei was one of the parties who used underhanded tactics to obstruct the way.

The funniest thing was the verbal battle between Yang Mi's fans and Huang Shengyi's fans.

One person attacked the other for being kept by an uncultured, nouveau riche coal mine owner.

It's a bit blind for someone to insult another person and then date a guy with a donkey-like face.

There's nothing they can do; they can't insult the other three!

Liu Yifei's husband is a world-class billionaire and artist. He is a commoner but is considered extremely powerful both in China and abroad.

Su Chang's boyfriend is the former vice president of Wenjie and the current chairman of Hongmeng Technology. He is also a local tycoon and has a close relationship with Boss Lu.

Tang Yan is relatively low-key and not very noticeable, so she doesn't pose much of a threat and hasn't attracted much hatred.

……

The two-month Lunar New Year film season from November last year to New Year's Day not only revealed the true capabilities of various domestic companies, but also reflected the increasingly fierce competition for star power and popularity within the entertainment industry.

But aside from the fans of each individual, for all onlookers and neutral parties, a very obvious trend and outcome, or what might be called a simple truth about the entertainment industry, is laid bare before everyone:
Whoever gets along well with Wenjie will make a fortune and become famous!
If you don't believe me, just look at LeEco Culture, which lost money in its first year of entering the market and its first film in collaboration with Hong Kong actress Chen Kexin.

Look at the veteran film industry, Fiber Optics, which is also losing money this year but still trying to gain publicity.

The small-scale operation can be attributed to Wu Ershan's initial success, but the prospects for Feng Xiaogang's "1942" are uncertain.

Now look at Bingbing, who entrusted his life to Boss Lu, what kind of reward has he received?
"Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" grossed 1.5 million yuan, "Brotherhood of Blades" made a small profit, and "My Love from the Star," which will be released this year, has an even stronger earning power, and has already made a profit through advertising revenue alone!

The net worth of the top female CEO in the entertainment industry has been soaring since the beginning of the year when the company went public, and now she is second only to Liu Yifei in terms of net worth in the entertainment industry.

Although it happened a bit too often...

This is the overall movie lineup; now let's look at the star power of the actors.

The chaos of public opinion surrounding the four young actresses is a case in point. Apart from Liu Yifei, Yang Mi and Huang Shengyi seem to be heavily supported by capital.

However, it is obvious that Tong Liya and Jing Tian are both on the rise and becoming very popular. If this situation continues, Yang Mi, whom LeTV Culture is desperately promoting, may be in a better position, while Huang Shengyi will definitely be squeezed out and fall off the cliff.

To exaggerate further, if Yang Mi were to "unfortunately pass away" in a few years, then the current situation for mainland actresses and young actresses would no longer need to be described as "one concubine and four young actresses".

The name was completely changed to "Liu Yifei and Her Circle of Friends".

In conclusion, in the first year of the Entertainment Industry 2.0 era, even though Wenjie only had one art film, "Mr. Tree," starring Ning Hao and Bao Qiang, released, it seems that Wenjie has no presence in the entertainment industry.
But its legends are everywhere.

I don't care whether any of your movies make a small loss, a big loss, a small profit, or a big profit, because I've made a killing in the industry.

Whether it's a foreign film or a domestic one, as long as it wants to be released in theaters, there's always a lucrative opportunity to get it.

Regardless, this result is still a slight setback for Wanda and LeEco Culture.

However, this is their first year fully entering the film industry, and as content providers participating in the industry chain, it is understandable that they are not up to the task.

After all, Wenjie's current status is the result of countless mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and battles since 2001. It's not something that nouveau riche can control just by throwing money at it.

Moreover, Wenjie now holds "Wenjie Ticketing," which represents the future trend and has gradually entered a stable state.
Although the latter no longer adopted the aggressive subsidies previously used by Damai.cn, it currently has a market share exceeding 85% due to the absence of competitors, except for Wanda. (Chapter 545)
The longer this timeframe is delayed, the less Ambition, with its Android shares and established mobile phone business, will fear the arrival of challengers.

The entertainment industry 2.0 is glamorous, and the Chinese film market is indeed tempting, but the first year of entry still left newcomers like Wanda and LeTV with a lot of regrets and challenges.

Even if they can make money by following the proper procedures, who wouldn't want to take the biggest or slightly larger piece?
……

With the Lunar New Year film season already halfway through, domestic audiences and industry companies are still hotly debating the box office trends of domestic and foreign films, the competition for star power among male and female celebrities, and engaging in online battles and debates to support their favorite companies and stars.

They clearly haven't realized, or haven't fully realized:
An upcoming Hollywood blockbuster is poised to revolutionize their understanding of the world with its overwhelming power.

This film will completely overturn everyone's imagination of film technology with unprecedented 3D spectacles and immersive experience, and rewrite the ceiling of market box office and the production standards of the film industry.

It was not just a film release, but a complete overhaul of old ideas, heralding the arrival of a new era of globalization and technological innovation in film.

This is of great significance to the Chinese film industry, and it also confirms the correctness of the words spoken by "whistleblower" Lu Kuan on different occasions, warning and advising his colleagues in the industry and relevant departments.

On the evening of January 4, 2010, at Lu Kuan's request, all employees of Wenjie went to their own cinema to watch and learn about the movie "Avatar".

If the previous Avatar grossed a staggering 13.39 billion yuan, and this one is clearly worth far more, then the total box office will serve as a "mirror" reflecting the backwardness of China's film industry.

Those aspiring to become top global film companies should start tonight to "learn from their mistakes and strive for improvement."

Temporary setbacks are due to the times, but we should always know what true world-class status means.

In light of this, Liu Yifei, along with Jing Tian, ​​Su Chang, Tong Liya, Wang Baoqiang, and others who had just returned to China, also came to the Wenjie Jiahe Guomao store to watch the movie.

(End of this chapter)