This director is vindictive.

Chapter 211 Your movies may not entertain the masses, but you yourself can!
Chen Mo had also read Zhou Xiaobin's analysis, and he had to admit that the analysis was indeed very insightful, as evidenced by the many comments left by netizens below.

"It really is true, it's all right! Seeing those people being deceived, the desperate situation, and their experiences didn't seem that scary to me. But what's truly terrifying is that Gu Tianzhi's every move was calculated and even predicted in advance!"

"The best part of the movie is that it tells us why, despite being advertised every day and everyone knowing about the scam of online order boosting jobs, so many people still fall for it. It's so realistic!"

"And then there are recruitment scams. To put it bluntly, it all boils down to one thing: anything that falls from the sky is poisonous!"

"Even the best swimmers can drown; that's the truth. Gu Tianzhi's mentality is so relatable. I've thought about that before too, and I was even smug about getting something for nothing from a scammer. But thinking about it now, I still feel a chill down my spine!"

"The 'fear' felt after watching the movie is its real-world significance!"

"The main problem is that these things are too close to us, they even happen around us, or they happen to us."

"Lu Bingkun was once Pan Sheng, that's the scariest thing, isn't it?"

"If even 1% of the audience can learn to trust properly, make careful choices, and be vigilant after watching 'All or Nothing,' and pull back from the brink before being deceived, then the film's real-world significance will be realized."

At this moment, however glorious "All or Nothing" is, "Shanghai Fortress" is just as miserable.

Although the box office has exceeded 100 million, it has almost stopped there.

The main creators, director Teng Huatao and the original author Jiang Nan, have both come forward to apologize to the audience on Weibo! You could say the apology was sincere, but in the end, no one expected that this apology would actually cause trouble.

It even gives the impression that Teng Huatao suffered a complete defeat in the film industry, but is trying to turn the tide in this way.

The controversy mainly stemmed from an interview with Teng Huatao, in which he responded to negative reviews and controversies surrounding the casting of actors. He explained, "I apologized without any coercion or commercial motive; it was simply a personal choice."

See how sincere they are? Their main selling point is genuine sincerity!
In the conversation, he also talked about the huge controversy surrounding the film's character Lu Han, saying that he had no technical issues with Lu Han, but he overlooked the difference in actor types. "I miscast Lu Han, putting him in a type that didn't suit him."

Although he quickly explained, "It's not that Lu Han is bad, but that we haven't made this type of film before. We didn't make a good judgment at the time about whether we could let an idol like him act in it. Of course, I chose all the actors, and they are innocent. After all, it's unrealistic to expect people to say anything when the film is not doing well."

The reporter who interviewed him was also cunning, and directly asked: "But director Chen Mo's film 'All or Nothing' also used Zhang Yixin, a member of the same group as Lu Han, but Zhang Yixin's performance in 'All or Nothing' has been recognized by many people. What do you think?"

Teng Huatao suddenly felt an urge to kill the reporter. Why the hell did you have to bring up such a sensitive topic?
"Sorry, I haven't seen 'All or Nothing,' so I don't know!" He chose to avoid the topic, mainly because it was too damn embarrassing.

He had just said that Lu Han was not suitable, but then he forgot that Lu Han, a member of the same group, was highly praised in Chen Mo's movie, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable!
After Teng Huatao's interview was released, it unsurprisingly caused a great deal of controversy.

The main issue is that his words do seem to be an attempt to shift blame, especially considering that Chen Mo, who also used a popular celebrity, received a lot of praise for his performance in "All In," making the difference between the two quite obvious.

The key point is that Teng Huatao's remarks were indeed a bit strange, as he directly said that the actor was not suitable for this type of role.

This point alone makes it difficult to avoid controversy. You chose the actor, and now you say he's unsuitable, which is not only contradictory but also directly negates the actor's potential.

No matter what is said afterward, it cannot cover up this irresponsible accusation and the suspicion of shifting blame!

This immediately put Teng Huatao's response in the spotlight.

"That's a really good question from the reporter. Both are considered top-tier celebrities, both come from the same group, but their fates are completely different. Tsk tsk, and they even misused Lu Han. That's a brilliant way to shift the blame!"

"It doesn't seem like you're shifting the blame, does it? But first of all, it's really bizarre that a director like you can't even cast the right actors for a movie, okay?"

"The simplest question is, Lu Han, who has long hair, is playing a soldier, and she can still make such a basic mistake. I don't think that if the director had asked her to, she would have insisted on not cutting her hair. If that were the case, then there would be something to discuss. But obviously, she shouldn't be so lacking in professional ethics, right?"

"If he wasn't a top-tier celebrity back then, would you have used him? You used him today, so please take better care of your actors! Are you sure you're a director? What kind of director would shift the blame onto the actors? Are you even a man? You can't even shoulder this kind of responsibility, so you should quit this industry! Go back to school, you have absolutely no professional ethics as a director!"

"What the person upstairs said is absolutely right. Even though Guo Jingming's movie flopped, at least he took responsibility and told everyone to criticize him if they wanted to. Although he was all tears and whining, he certainly showed a lot of courage and accountability in this regard!"

"I'm just baffled. You're a director who made a huge flop. What gives you the right to dismiss an actor and judge him as unsuitable for this type of role? Where does your confidence come from? Have you no shame?"

The comparison is the thief of joy! And even Guo Jingming would have to shake his head at Teng Huatao's actions.

Not to mention, there's an even stark contrast right before our eyes: Zhang Yixin and Lu Han, both debuted as popular idols, both were "young and handsome," and both underwent career transformations, but what were the results? Vastly different!

Well, if a movie flops, the actors might have issues, but it's definitely not just the actors' fault.

Moreover, netizens and movie fans can comment on this kind of issue, but the director is the only one who cannot comment.

For example, when Zhao Liying starred in "The Monkey King 3," many people criticized her for not being suitable to play the Queen of the Women's Kingdom, saying that she should take the blame for the film's failure. Similar to this film, both movies used their most popular actors as the main promotional force, which in itself speaks volumes.

If you weren't after their traffic, would you have used them?
This kind of thing is a double-edged sword. If used well, it can bring traffic; if used poorly, it can backfire.

But if you make a mistake, you have to admit it, and if you get punished, you have to stand up straight!

Saying an actor's performance is bad means they really did a bad job, but while fans can say that, directors can't. The director of "The Monkey King 3" showed a lot of "high emotional intelligence" in his response.

What people are saying is that the Queen of the Women's Kingdom in this movie should have a girlish feel. See, that's what a director should say. When you're casting, you definitely have to consider whether it's suitable or not. You should only cast someone if you think it's suitable at the time. If you don't even know if it's suitable or not, what are you casting for?
Because, frankly speaking, domestic directors are the soul of a film most of the time. Of course, the case of Lu Chuan and Jiang Wen is a special case and cannot be generalized.

(Lu Chuan: I work 8 AM! How come I'm everywhere?)
If a movie flops, the director absolutely bears the greatest responsibility. You can't even blame the screenwriter, because in China, the system is director-centric!
When Chen Mo was promoting "All or Nothing" and was interviewed, he was inevitably asked about Teng Huatao and "Shanghai Fortress".

To be honest, Chen Mo didn't really want to answer.

The main reason is that it was really unnecessary. Perhaps Teng Huatao did have a grudge back then and wanted to prove himself.

Perhaps he did indeed see him as a hypothetical enemy, but as the victor, "Shanghai Fortress" even indirectly helped with publicity because of Teng Huatao's connections. With "Fortress" falling, "All In" directly benefited. As the beneficiary and the biggest beneficiary, Chen Mo really had no intention of kicking someone when they were down.

There's absolutely no need for that. We're all at different skill levels, okay?

Therefore, he tactfully said, "I haven't paid much attention, so I won't comment!"

Unfortunately, he tried to avoid the topic, but the interviewer was unwilling to give up.

So another question was asked: "What was the idea behind casting Zhang Yixin, a 'young and handsome' actor, as one of the leads in 'All for the Winner'? Was it because of his popularity?"

Chen Mo glanced at the other person. He really couldn't not answer this kind of question, so he simply took the opportunity to promote "Ne Zha".

"Have you seen 'Ne Zha'?" Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"I've seen it! What do you mean?" The reporter was a little confused. "So, prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain! Let me answer your second question first, is it because of his popularity? Do you think my movie needs it?" Chen Mo spoke calmly, but his domineering aura was still evident.

Because he certainly has the right to say that.

In Chen Mo's movies, even though he doesn't appear on screen, he's the biggest star in the crew. Look at Chen Mo's past movies; even with a bunch of relatively unknown actors, what happened? They still became hits!

The reporter was immediately stumped by Chen Mo's question. "Isn't that right? Does he need it? Doesn't he need it?" "He really doesn't need it!"
"Actually, I used to have prejudices against 'young and handsome' and 'traffic stars,' I admit that. But after getting to know them, I found that it's not entirely like that. For example, Zhang Yixin is not young anymore. He's 28 this year, so he's really not a young and handsome star anymore."

Moreover, I've always believed that if someone is willing to try, to work hard to change, and to learn, then if I, as the director, can't guide them well, then the problem lies more with me!

"The result is obviously pretty good, isn't it?" Chen Mo said with a smile.

I'm quite satisfied with Zhang Yixin and Chen Mo. Just because someone's a "young heartthrob" for a day doesn't mean they'll always be one.
There are plenty of idol stars out there, and many have successfully transitioned into mainstream celebrities, right? As long as the attitude is right, then it's OK!
Moreover, this was indeed Chen Mo's idea. As a director, you must have considered which actors to use. If they are not suitable, you should replace them as soon as possible. If you don't replace them, you must train them properly yourself. Although he didn't say it, he was somewhat disdainful of Teng Huatao's statement.

What do you mean by "unsuitable for this subject matter"? Your movie is such a mess, no one would be suitable to play the role, right?

Most importantly, what he said was truly below par. Look at those who criticize popular celebrities; they simply refuse to work with such people. You made your choice, and then you turn around and criticize them. It's a classic case of hypocrisy!

Moreover, as a director, the most basic thing you have to do is protect the actors, just like a team that loses a game, the coach will definitely protect his players first.

Otherwise, anyone who wants to work with you in the future will have to be careful. If the movie is good, everything is fine; if the movie is bad, you'll have to take the blame for the director.

Upon hearing Chen Mo's answer, the reporter in charge of the interview immediately brightened up.

Chen Mo was a little confused. Wait, what did I say? Your gaze is wrong!
But it's no use. They don't want your opinion, they want my opinion!

See, the news came out very quickly.

"Same group, different fates! Chen Mo said he used to have prejudices against 'young idols,' but the director is the key to how well an actor performs!"

"Chen Mo subtly implied that Teng Huatao was unqualified as a director, saying he couldn't even cast the right actors, so what kind of movie was he making?"

"The critical and commercial success of 'All or Nothing' contrasts sharply with the failure of 'Shanghai Fortress,' and the biggest difference may lie in the directors!"

Chen Mo subtly criticized Teng Huatao for having a narrow vision and lacking the responsibility a director should have!

The media's words are deceitful; even Chen Mo was a bit confused. What the hell did I mean?
The media, in any case, were fanning the flames, hoping that Chen Mo and Teng Huatao would start arguing again.

The main reason is that there have been very few news reports about Chen Mo arguing with people in the past, and it's rare that this topic is so relevant.

Look, Zhang Yixin and Lu Han are both from the same group, and their popularity is about the same, with the latter even being a bit higher than the former.

But what were the results? Both were young, popular idols who debuted and starred in two highly anticipated movies, but the outcomes were completely different.

Zhang Yixin's portrayal of Pan Sheng in "All for One" received considerable praise after its release.

Lu Han's performance in "Shanghai Fortress" was not only criticized by moviegoers after its release, but even the director said that "he was miscast"!
After Chen Mo's interview was reported, it naturally sparked considerable controversy and discussion once again.

"It's really hard to judge luck. An actor might become a good actor if he meets a good director, but a good actor might be criticized a lot if he meets an unreliable director or a bad production!"

"Just like Wang Baoqiang and Zhao Liying, they both started out as extras, but they met a good director who changed their fate. So a good director is a talent scout! Obviously, Teng Huatao is not a good talent scout!"

"Chen Mo is absolutely right. The director knows best whether an actor's acting is good or not. If the director has the ability and confidence to train the actor well, then use him; if not, then replace him. There's no such thing as using the wrong actor or not using the wrong actor!"

"Teng Huatao has truly lost this round completely. If you think it's inappropriate, shouldn't you have known this during the filming of the movie? What's the point of being a hindsight expert?"

"You can't compare them like that, right? Chen Mo himself is the epitome of high traffic. When it comes to his movies, people are primarily focused on Chen Mo himself. He's a big director and an investor, so his movies are basically his own show. If, and I mean if, his movie flops, everyone will immediately blame him. But to be fair, Teng Huatao and Chen Mo are completely different. He doesn't get that kind of treatment, you know?"

Of course, this isn't to whitewash Teng; it's just the truth. However, to say the wrong actor was cast after the fact is indeed a bit odd.

Just when everyone was expecting Teng Huatao to show the courage he had when he used to "recite poems" and "quote classic sayings" and continue to be outspoken, he chose to disappear.

This left both the general public and the media somewhat disappointed.

Teng Huatao: Do ​​you think I'm stupid?
Media: Come on, say a few more words! Movies can't just entertain the masses, but you can!
However, as the summer movie season draws to a close, the box office champion for this year's summer season has been revealed: "Ne Zha" has taken the top spot.

The second place went to Chen Mo's "All In," which grossed nearly 3 billion yuan.

The media and netizens immediately found a new focus.

There's no way around it, the previous predictions have come true once again. Someone mentioned before that Chen Mo was going to dominate the charts again, and sure enough, he really has!
The two best-received and highest-grossing films of the summer season are directly related to him!

"Holy crap, I'd call Chen Mo the movie industry's Demon King! He's dominated the box office again this summer! The two highest-grossing films are one he heavily invested in and one he directed himself, raking in the profits! There are so many movies in the summer season, and he just happened to pick the two highest-grossing ones, it's outrageous!"

"As expected, 'Yunnan Insect Valley' was just an accident. This is the right way to do it. You can always trust the god of investment in the film industry!"

"Can I say that I made money on my stocks again? Hahaha, as long as Chen Mo's movies are released, or movies he invested in are released, buying Shengshi Pictures stock is like picking up money!"

"Holy crap, the guy upstairs has really found the secret to wealth!"

"This really is a money-making secret! Shengshi Pictures has made a killing this time! Not just from the movie box office, but also from the merchandise!"

"Just as you couldn't have guessed that 'Shanghai Fortress' would bring an end to the domestic science fiction film industry, you also couldn't have guessed that 'Ne Zha' would reach such heights!"

Indeed, this is true; the biggest winners of this summer's box office were Shengshi Pictures and Enlight Media.

In particular, Shengshi Pictures' stock price has once again returned to over 100 billion.

Moreover, the consecutive success of these two films has caused Shengshi Pictures to hit several consecutive daily price limits, and its current stock price is close to 150 billion!

It stands head and shoulders above all other listed film and television companies in China.

(End of this chapter)