This director is vindictive.

Chapter 208 Six Years of Hard Work? Why Learn from Poet Chen?

In fact, the video of Chen Mo being threatened had a considerable impact after it was released.

The main problem is that telecom fraud gangs are really too rampant.

So, the publicity effect was quite good, mainly because everyone was united in their hatred of the enemy, didn't they? Look, the other side even dared to threaten a big director like Chen Mo.

The promotion of the anti-fraud app went quite smoothly. Of course, this had little to do with Chen Mo; it was mainly because it was just too easy for the official platform to promote something.

Moreover, this is something that many people do need right now.

As netizens have said, even if you can easily identify a scam call, you may not be able to use it yourself, but for elderly people in your family who are not familiar with mobile phones, this app is really useful.

Compared to the publicity for "All or Nothing", the publicity for "Shanghai Fortress" was even more overwhelming.

Their slogans were incredibly loud.

"The world is invaded by aliens, major international cities fall one after another, Shanghai becomes the last line of defense for mankind, and China becomes the main battlefield of the decisive battle in a science fiction war for the first time."

"Five years in the making, with an investment of 400 million yuan! 'Shanghai Fortress' is another major domestic science fiction film following 'The Wandering Earth'!"

"Popular celebrities + talented actors + the best special effects team in China! From the film director, screenwriter, actors to special effects, it's all made in China!"

In terms of publicity and promotion, even "All or Nothing" can only look up to it.

During this period, you can see ubiquitous advertisements whenever you turn on the TV, and online articles are also promoting them relentlessly.

It has indeed raised the expectations of many science fiction fans and moviegoers to a very high level.

Suddenly, quite a few people started discussing the scheduling issue.

Following the enduring popularity of "Ne Zha," and the equally impressive performance of "The Bravest," the film is now facing off against another major domestic sci-fi blockbuster: "All or Nothing" by a director with a film budget exceeding 10 billion yuan is going head-to-head with "Shanghai Fortress."
Many people feel that this time slot is too crowded.

Moreover, judging from both financial statements and publicity, this moment, with the success of "The Wandering Earth" preceding it, can be considered the best era for domestic science fiction films.

At least now, unlike before, people don't immediately think of domestic science fiction films as bad movies with cheap special effects.

While "The Wandering Earth" may not have received top-tier critical acclaim, it is undoubtedly unique in the realm of domestic science fiction films. It can be said that this film opened a crack in the domestic film market, which was once considered a wasteland for science fiction films.

Judging from the posters and trailers, the special effects in "Shanghai Fortress" are indeed quite good. Although they may not be comparable to the top level of Hollywood, the audience is still quite satisfied.

Therefore, many people have high hopes for this film!
Of course, that doesn't mean "All or Nothing" is no match for it. It's a new film by a director with billions in box office revenue, and it's an anti-fraud film, so it has a natural advantage.

But it also depends on who you're comparing it to, right?
"The Wandering Earth" achieved the second-highest box office ranking for a domestic film, so people naturally compared it to "The Fortress," which is also a sci-fi blockbuster.

The highest-grossing realistic film is still "Dying to Survive," which was directed by Chen Mo. The ceiling is more than 10 billion yuan lower!
While it's not fair to compare them directly, it's clear from a promotional perspective that Fortress's promotional reach is much wider!
Media reports often make connections, especially this time, since Chen Mo and Teng Huatao have a history of "grudges"!

Both of them had their eyes on the movie "Love is Not Blind" back then, but Chen Mo beat them to it. To exaggerate a bit, without "Love is Not Blind" back then, Chen Mo might not be where he is today.

Or, to put it another way, if Teng Huatao had gotten the role in "Love is Not Blind," his achievements today might be even greater.

As a result, the media widely reported that the two directors clashed again after eight years!

The key point is that, on the surface, the two films really do seem to be evenly matched.

Chen Mo knew about the movie, so he didn't take it too seriously, but Teng Huatao himself was different.

This film can be considered his directorial debut, a big-budget production, and high hopes are definitely placed on it.

He still harbored resentment about what happened back then, especially after watching Chen Mo rise step by step from "Love is Not Blind" to become a big director with billions in assets. It was impossible for him not to feel envious, jealous, and resentful.

In fact, anyone would feel the same way in this situation.

If he had never had the opportunity, then there would be nothing to say, but he was once just one step away from that movie!

Some opportunities, once missed, will never come again.

Therefore, this time, when he faced Chen Mo, he was full of ambition and eager to win the battle.

He was particularly excited when he thought about how he had finally taken on Chen Mo, a director who had become a billionaire after many years.

To be honest, the marketing for "Shanghai Fortress" is worth taking note of.

For example, lead actor Lu Han came up with a unique way to promote the upcoming film "Fortress" by "carving" the movie's name and release date onto crayfish, writing "Fortress in Shanghai, August 9th".

The promotional method of not even posting a selfie is really cheeky, but some fans still managed to see the meaning behind it, commenting: "Red means prosperity, spicy crayfish means popularity, put them together and it means the Fortress will be a box office hit on August 9th!"

Whether it is or not, the fortress must become a hit and sell like hotcakes!

However, some of the promotional materials are rather baffling.

For example, when you promote yourself, you can claim to be a die-hard football fan who watches games even when you're not filming!

No, are you promoting the movie or yourself as a football fan?
When Chen Mo was promoting the film on the roadshow, he was interviewed by the media about his thoughts on releasing the film on the same day as "Shanghai Fortress" and whether it was because of Teng Huatao.
After all, why did you choose to release "The Bravest" on the same day as "Shanghai Fortress" instead of any other release date? Isn't that clearly telling everyone that you're targeting us?
"Why do you all think that? I don't think I have any grudges with Director Teng, do I? You media people just like to make things up. Back then, we just didn't reach a cooperation agreement for 'Love is Not Blind'. If that counts as a grudge, then there are no friends in the film and television industry." Chen Mo said somewhat speechlessly.

"As for why it was placed in this time slot, there are competitors every day during the summer season. The main reason is that we originally wanted to release it in August. After all, the film was completed in July, and it would be too rushed to release it in July. Moreover, 'Ne Zha' was also released at the end of July, so we definitely had to avoid a situation where we were competing against each other."

As for the upcoming National Day holiday, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and there will be a lot of commemorative films during the National Day holiday, which is obviously not suitable for "All for One". Therefore, August is the only option.

"As for it just so happens to be a coincidence, I can only say it's a coincidence. Besides, I believe the current domestic film market can accommodate several films that are both box office hits at the same time," Chen Mo said calmly.

There was one more thing he didn't say: even if he was unwilling, it shouldn't be him, right?

"Does Director Chen think 'Shanghai Fortress' will affect 'All or Nothing'?" the reporter asked slyly.

No matter how Chen Mo answers this question, they can accept it, because it's news!
Chen Mo wasn't too surprised by this; after all, they're media reporters, and that's how they make a living.

Moreover, he didn't mind the media stirring things up. After all, the other party had a lot of publicity, and there was no problem with promoting them together, especially since he knew what kind of film it was. Chen Mo couldn't be happier.

"The two films are of different genres, so there might be some impact, but I'm still quite confident in 'All or Nothing'!"

The reporter was immediately satisfied upon hearing this; that was enough.

What? You're saying Chen Mo didn't say anything?

No, I've already said it! Given Chen Mo's status and position, saying this much is enough, okay? After all, from this perspective, he was bullying Teng Huatao, okay?

Sure enough, when the media reported on it, they used a provocative tone: "Chen Mo said that 'All or Nothing' is not afraid of any opponent, and 'Shanghai Fortress' is no exception!"

"Chen Mo, a director with billions in box office revenue and a leading figure in realistic films, is full of confidence in his new film 'All or Nothing,' boldly stating that no competitor will have any impact on the film! Including 'Shanghai Fortress'!"

"After eight years, the two directors of 'All In' and 'Shanghai Fortress' finally face off. Chen Mo claims that 'All In' has no rivals!"

After this report came out, the general public got excited.

They were hoping the two would fight.

But Chen Mo was both amused and exasperated. These entertainment reporters really had no bottom line. Was that what I said? Was that what I meant?

Oh well, whatever! At least it's good publicity for myself.

On the other hand, Teng Huatao was somewhat displeased.

In fact, under normal circumstances, most of the time, directors are familiar with entertainment media reports, which are even more exaggerated than matchmakers.

But he couldn't help being so resentful about what happened back then! This time, he was full of ambition and ready to prove himself.

Besides, "Shanghai Fortress" isn't bad either, right? It has Shu Qi as a powerful actor and Lu Han as a top idol, plus it's a sci-fi blockbuster adapted from a major IP. Losing? Impossible.

The media, naturally, wouldn't just interview Chen Mo unilaterally; Teng Huatao certainly wouldn't be spared either.

He began by talking at length about the creative process behind the film.

"Looking back on the six years of creating this film, we thank the more than two thousand staff members for their hard work. The true fortress is the determination and courage of all the staff members to challenge the film industry system."

He also said that he went to Hollywood to study for a long time specifically for this film.

Then the media reporters quickly revealed their true intentions.

What was it like to miss out on "Love is Not Blind" back then?

"I don't feel anything. It's just that many families want a daughter, which means everyone has good taste. That's all!" Of course, Teng Huatao couldn't possibly say what he really thought.

"Director Chen Mo's new film 'All In' and 'Shanghai Fortress' are released on the same day. He said he is not afraid of any competitors, including 'Shanghai Fortress.' Director Teng, do you think 'All In' will have an impact on 'Shanghai Fortress'?" The reporter went straight to the point.

It's practically shoved right in your face, now it's your turn!

Similarly, Teng Huatao was put on hold, and they had a choice of how to answer him.

"I spent six years polishing the film 'Shanghai Fortress,' and I have a lot of confidence in it!"

"As for competitors like 'All or Nothing,' it's impossible to say there's no impact at all. But similarly, when a movie is released, there will always be competitors, no matter the release date. So I just need to focus on doing my best!"

Perhaps it's because she feels like she's being a coward by saying that?

This won't do! We can't back down! How can we back down when it comes to movie promotion?
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him, and he said, "Let me borrow a line from Jia Dao's poem: 'Six years I've honed this sword, its frosty edge yet untested. Today I present it to you; who has a grievance to redress?'"

At that moment, Teng Huatao felt radiant and his entire being was elevated!
The reporters were immediately energized. Although there were reports about Teng Huatao being cowardly, they clearly preferred this kind of head-to-head showdown!
That's more like it! Look at Chen Mo, he directly said he's not afraid of any opponent.

Chen Mo: ??? Did I say that?

Then he asked, "So, isn't six years to make one movie too long? You know, director Chen Mo makes almost one movie a year."

Is this never going to end? You're shoving Chen Mo in my face again. Is Chen Mo your dad?
If entertainment reporters knew what he was thinking, they would probably answer directly: Yes! Chen Mo is a walking news-making machine. As long as there's news, you can be my dad!

Teng Huatao is not usually that obsessed, but he can't help it. Chen Mo and "Love is Not Blind" are really a nightmare for his career!
He didn't say it, but how could he possibly get over it? He even wondered if he, instead of Chen Mo, had directed "Love is Not Blind" back then, could he be the first Chinese director to have a net worth of 33 billion yuan today?

So, after the reporter said that, he really got a little carried away.

He immediately thought of Little Ma, and without thinking, blurted out: "I've waited six years for an opportunity. I want to prove myself, not to show off, but to tell people that I will get back what I've lost."

As soon as he finished speaking, he regretted it. Why the hell did he have to say what was on his mind?

The entertainment reporter who was interviewing him was so excited that he wanted to hug and kiss him.

Good heavens, this is absolutely good heavens! Chen Mo isn't my father, you are! My benefactor, my brother!
After six years of honing a sword, here comes another classic quote from Little Ma!

Oh no, I'm having trouble making decisions! It's a happy problem, but at least my bonus for this month is settled!
Teng Huatao regained his senses and then refused to continue the interview.

Although I felt a little unsatisfied, it was enough.

Soon, the news broke, and this time it was much more explosive than Chen Mo's story.

"Teng Huatao has spent six years honing his skills, expressing his aspirations through poetry, vowing to reclaim the opportunities he once lost and prove that he is no less capable than Chen Mo!"

Teng Huatao boldly declared: "Shanghai Fortress is a masterpiece that has been six years in the making. Anyone who tries to write it will fail, including Chen Mo and 'All or Nothing'!"

"After eight years of feud, it's finally time to settle things. The two directors, wielding film as their weapon, are about to stage a showdown of epic proportions!"

Netizens are thoroughly enjoying the drama!

"Holy crap, holy crap, this is amazing! Even Little Ma's classic quotes are being used, plus the six years of hard work... wow, this pre-match pep talk is a complete victory for Director Teng Huatao!"

"The imagery comes to mind instantly, but to be honest, if I were Teng Huatao, I would definitely be resentful too! Just think about Chen Mo's current wealth and status, it all started with 'Love is Not Blind'!"

"No, isn't that a bit much? Even if he were given the opportunity to direct 'Love is Not Blind,' he still wouldn't reach Chen Mo's level, okay?"

"But there are no 'what ifs'! So let's wait and see!"

"The tension has instantly escalated. I didn't expect the movie to be promoted so aggressively even before its release!"

"Judging from the trailer, 'Shanghai Fortress' is actually not bad, it has potential!"

Chen Mo was also a little confused after seeing the report. No, of all people to imitate, why did you have to imitate the poet Chen?

Six years to make a masterpiece? Chen Mo could imagine that when "Shanghai Fortress" fired its cannon, it would probably be another case of six years to make a masterpiece, just to extinguish the last glimmer of hope that "The Wandering Earth" had brought to domestic science fiction films!

Also, in Chen Mo's memory, this Director Teng was not someone who was easily provoked by reporters, so why was he so engrossed?
He's not young anymore, but he's still so passionate and a bit of a chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur). It's rare to see someone so enthusiastic and even a bit immature!
But you know what, you really shouldn't say it.

The publicity effect was immediate. Purely from a publicity perspective, Teng Huatao's campaign was indeed more effective than Chen Mo's!

Look, netizens have even created memes, and they're even animated GIFs!
Whether it's reciting poems like Chen Shiren or using Little Ma's classic quotes, it definitely attracts a lot of attention!

After all, propaganda is just bragging.

Of course, there's a prerequisite: the movie has to be at least decent; otherwise, the boomerang could easily bounce back.

Netizens certainly enjoy watching this kind of gimmick that involves "grudges and love affairs".

The media was happy to fan the flames, and for a time, the two films were used as a battleground for each other during every promotional event.

In reality, the two films didn't really overlap much except for being released in the same period, but since the audience and netizens loved watching them, the media had to cater to them.

Thus, it's absurd that when "All In" goes on a roadshow in one city, and then the next moment, "Shanghai Fortress" goes on a roadshow in another city, the media can portray it as a tit-for-tat confrontation.

Whenever Chen Mo gives an interview, it is always misinterpreted as him being directed at the other party.

The same goes for Teng Huatao; no matter what they say, they can always bring Chen Mo along!
It even extended to the actors, mentioning what one actor said and what another actor said.

The media's manipulation has made it seem as if they really said it because the other party said it!

Chen Mo was completely baffled. What was this about being at odds?
Then the media even created a power comparison chart for the two movies.

We will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the two films one by one, from the director and actors to the special effects.

(End of this chapter)