This director is vindictive.

Chapter 232 Xu Guangtou's Wishful Thinking
The start of filming for "Making a Name for Oneself" actually caused quite a stir in the entire film and television industry.

The main reason is that while there are many TV series, web series, and online movies being filmed, theatrical films have almost all come to a standstill.

One reason is the lockdown. Filming can't be done in just one location most of the time, and actors can't move around freely either, so it's basically very difficult.

Of course, this is not the biggest reason; the biggest reason is something else entirely.

That is, right now, nobody knows when public places like movie theaters will be able to reopen.

This is the biggest reason why the film industry has been halted.

If cinemas are not open, even if a movie is made, it cannot be released.

Chen Mo took a different approach, making a "script murder mystery" movie like "Fame and Fortune," a single-scene film that was refreshing for many people.

Because a movie like "Making a Name for Oneself" seems to be very suitable for the current environment. Of course, the fact that the movie was able to start filming smoothly also benefited from the fact that people who happened to be quarantined in the same hotel all had the people that Chen Mo needed for the movie.

However, many people are discussing this, including netizens.

"The start of filming for the movie 'Make a Name for Yourself' is indeed good news, but the question is, will this movie be released online like 'Lost in Russia'?"

"Probably? This isn't Chen Mo's first time making an online movie, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't get it in theaters now, right?"

"Online streaming is great. Even if it's paid viewing, as long as the movie is good, I think it's OK. Besides, everyone is staying at home now, so going through online channels is perfectly fine. Haven't online movies been doing well at the box office lately?"

"That depends on who you're comparing it to. Tens of millions in box office revenue is not bad for an online movie, but for a big director like Chen Mo, unless he has an internet giant like ByteDance to fund it like 'Lost in Russia,' it's simply impossible for him to earn hundreds of millions in box office revenue through online streaming!"

"Support online streaming, isn't free great? @ByteDance @Tencent Video @Youku Video @iQiyi Video, hurry up and send someone to contact Chen Mo! What are you waiting for with such a good opportunity?"

What started as casual online discussion turned into a storm in the otherwise stagnant and lifeless film industry, thanks to Chen Mo's movie.

This is precisely why film industry professionals are so furious with "Lost in Russia" and Xu Guangtou; the instigator will surely have no descendants.

If "Lost in Russia" hadn't been the first to set the precedent, no one would have dared to even think about it. But "Lost in Russia" and Xu Guangtou set a bad precedent, making everyone realize that online streaming can earn just as much as theatrical release, so why can't we do it?

Suddenly, the topic of discussion among netizens shifted to whether it was better to stream a movie online or in theaters.

"Online streaming is definitely better! It costs less money, and right now, people can't go to the cinema to watch movies, so I support online streaming!"

"Free things are the most expensive. Once the film industry is truly disrupted, are you sure you can spend less money in the future? Besides, online streaming is just a small screen, which is very different from the big screen, right? If online streaming is really reliable, then why haven't online movies taken off?"

"At this stage, online streaming is definitely more reliable. After all, you can't get it released in theaters even if you want to!"

"Watching a movie in a movie theater and watching a movie at home are two completely different experiences, okay?"

"If it weren't for the special circumstances, television viewership would be decreasing, and the film industry is related to the livelihoods of millions of people. If online streaming really becomes the mainstream, that would be a disaster!"

Then the two sides began to argue from the perspective of investment, investment returns, and investment return cycles.

Netizens are just bystanders; frankly, they're just having random discussions, and it doesn't affect anything.

However, this matter has touched a nerve with many cinema chains and film industry professionals.

The main problem is that they've had a really tough time lately. After all, this industry is quite different from others; many people don't get paid if they don't work.

The impact on celebrities isn't actually that significant, since they could go years without working and still not starve.

However, for the vast majority of behind-the-scenes workers, the vast majority are "temporary workers," and they really don't have food to eat if they don't work!

As you can see, many behind-the-scenes workers in Hong Kong are struggling because of this.

Otherwise, Principal Gu wouldn't have set up a fund specifically to provide subsidies to these people.

After the topic gained traction, even Yang Mi and the others became curious about what Chen Mo was thinking.

The crew of "Making a Name for Oneself".

"Will our movie also be streamed online?" Yang Mi asked curiously.

Hu Ge and the others also looked at Chen Mo, curious about what he was thinking.

Before this, they hadn't thought too much about it, but now they had no choice but to.

Chen Mo didn't answer directly, but instead asked with a smile, "How long do you think this situation will last? Will it continue like this forever?"

"Of course not!"

"How can this be?"

"The number of new cases has started to decline recently, right?"

Everyone unanimously agreed that the current situation would not continue indefinitely.

Chen Mo shrugged: "That's settled then. The difficulties are temporary. There will always be a time when the lockdown is lifted, and it won't be for too long. Cinemas will eventually reopen, which is actually a good thing for us."

"Everyone has been staying home for so long. Once the lockdown is lifted, there will definitely be a surge in pent-up demand. With a scarcity of high-quality films, our movies will certainly receive more preferential treatment and benefit greatly. Why would I want to avoid the risks and do the opposite?"

Chen Mo's thinking has always been incredibly clear.

Online streaming may one day revolutionize the film industry, but at least for now, it's unlikely to happen within the next five or ten years.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

As film industry professionals, they naturally prefer to maintain the status quo.

Because of the disruption to the industry, it is certainly not a good thing for these vested interests.

Chen Mo had expected that several video websites and ByteDance, which had tasted success, would come to him, as would several movie theater owners. But he never expected that the first person to call would be Xu Guangtou.

As for the purpose of his call, Chen Mo could guess.

"Director Chen, it has to be you! In this situation, you can come up with such a brilliant idea. This kind of single-scene scripted murder mystery movie is really perfect for the present moment." Xu Guangtou immediately offered a compliment.

"Director Xu, you flatter me. It's just a small matter. Did you need something from me, Director Xu?" Chen Mo said casually.

There are plenty of people who praise him, so one more like Xu Guangtou won't make a difference.

"Director Chen, what are your plans for 'Fame and Fortune'? Theaters are closed now, and there's no telling when they'll reopen!" Xu Guangtou sighed.

"There will be a day when things recover, and the situation is getting better and better now, so I believe it won't be too far off," Chen Mo said calmly.

“Well, actually, online streaming is a trend. Netflix has precedents in North America, and Director Chen, you were very insightful back then, pioneering the pay-per-view model for online movies, and it worked quite well! Haven’t you considered going the online streaming route?” Xu Guangtou was momentarily speechless at Chen Mo’s words, but quickly continued.

"Director Xu, which company are you here to spearhead for? ByteDance?" Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"Director Chen is amazing, you guessed it right away. Indeed, with the collaboration on 'Lost in Russia,' both sides got what they wanted, and the results were quite good. And Director Chen, don't you think the theatrical distribution share is too high? The key is that we filmmakers bear all the risks, while the theatrical distribution is guaranteed to make money. But it's different if it's a live stream. With your status and position, Director Chen, I believe the price offered by the other party will definitely not be low. What we get is what we get, right?" Xu Guangtou said with a smile.

Chen Mo sneered inwardly. Xu Guangtou really thought he was a three-year-old child. He was overestimating himself.

Chen Mo knew exactly what he was up to.

Isn't it just that he wants to share some of the pressure he faces?

But Chen Mo isn't stupid; how could he possibly be swayed by a few words?
They're all ancient foxes, why are they playing at Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?

"Hehe, alright, I have my own plans, that's all!" Chen Mo had no interest in continuing to play along with him, and hung up the phone immediately after speaking.

Upon hearing the busy tone on the phone, Xu Guangtou's smile froze on his face.

In fact, he was under a lot of pressure during this period.

Moreover, he knew that this was just the beginning, meaning that business had not yet resumed. The pressure would be greatest when the lockdown was lifted.

It was indeed ByteDance that asked him to do it, but in reality, it was he who took the initiative. His goal was simple: he hoped that Chen Mo, a popular director in the film and television industry, could share the pressure with him.

If there's one more Chen Mo, then there will be another, and the group's "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" resistance will become a tree without roots.

Unfortunately, he knew he hadn't persuaded Chen Mo at all; he had underestimated him!
Xu Guangtou's phone call made Chen Mo think a little more; as the saying goes, no one gets up early without a reason.

Moreover, this matter can indeed bring him some benefits for "Making a Name for Himself".

It all depends on whether those few companies will follow the rules.

Although Chen Mo never considered going the online streaming route, the revenue sharing from theatrical releases is high, but how low would it be for online streaming?

Right now, they'd rather lose money to gain publicity than miss out on Chen Mo's new film. But once it truly disrupts the industry, they'll become even more aggressive and domineering.

Don't you see how some online novel platforms can use bizarre reasons like plagiarizing the Analects of Confucius or the Zizhi Tongjian to force you to return your royalties?

Soon, Chen Mo received calls from several video websites.

To be honest, the prices they offered were not low at all.

The price was even higher than that of "Lost in Russia," but Chen Mo remained unmoved.

Although the box office of "Fame and Fortune" was less than 10 billion in the previous life, things are different now.

Just by having his name, Chen Mo, on the film, he was confident that it would gross hundreds of millions more.

Not to mention, his film not only features him as the director, but also stars popular celebrities such as Hu Ge, Yang Mi, and Liu Yifei.

What? Box office poison? A pretty face with no substance? A deadpan actor?

Chen Mo said that none of this was a problem for him.

Therefore, he is quite confident about the box office performance of "Fame and Fortune", especially given the current situation, where he has the advantage!

He is confident that he can secure more screenings and promotional resources for the film.

Several video websites are naturally aware of Chen Mo's influence. It can be said that acquiring "Lost in Russia" might have some impact, but it's not as significant as people imagine.

But if we also take down Chen Mo, the impact will be completely different.

To this end, they spared no expense in offering him large sums of money, and several of them even tacitly agreed to join forces, but unfortunately, Chen Mo had no interest at all.

Chen Mo understood the other party's thoughts all too well, and if the other party offered an "astronomical price" this time, what about next time?

Chen Mo wasn't that short-sighted, especially since he knew about major future trends.

Although the film industry is constantly being criticized, how did the future box office of "Ne Zha 2" reach more than 10 billion yuan?

Such staggering box office revenue is absolutely unattainable for online streaming! Therefore, he naturally wouldn't sacrifice the fundamentals for short-term gains.

Another thing is that watching movies in the cinema is the romance of filmmakers!
In his past life, he made so many online movies, but what was the result? He didn't even make a ripple.

In his past life, he dreamed of developing his career in mainstream films. Now that he has achieved his goal, why would he want to follow the same old path?

On the cinema side, Zeng Maojun, president of Wanda Cinema, was the first to call.

"Director Chen truly deserves to be called one of the top directors in the industry. One film has stirred up a storm. 'Making a Name for Oneself' has truly made a name for oneself!" Zeng Maojun said, offering praise in the same manner as Xu Guangtou.

However, compared to Xu Guangtou, the other party was somewhat more sincere.

"Haha, please excuse my poor performance, Mr. Zeng!" Chen Mo said with a smile.

"No, no, no, I'm telling the truth. The film industry is tough right now. Many film professionals are feeling the pinch and starting to lose faith in the industry. Director Chen's emergence at this time, with the start of filming 'Making a Name for Yourself,' can be said to have boosted everyone's confidence!" Zeng Maojun said, using "no" three times in a row.

"You flatter me, Mr. Zeng, you're exaggerating! The difficulties are only temporary, and this situation can't last forever. I believe it won't be long," Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Director Chen, what are your plans for the film 'Making a Name for Yourself'?" Zeng Maojun finally brought up the purpose of his call.

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, Xu Guangtou called me not long ago."

"Hmph, just a greedy opportunist. I hope Director Chen won't be swayed by his words." Zeng Maojun also hated Xu Guangtou with a passion.

As expected, the negative impact of "Lost in Russia" is starting to emerge.

However, what angered Zeng Maojun was that the other party was being boycotted by theater chains, with tens of thousands of people signing a petition against it, and they were still making a fuss.

Chen Mo was simply being polite by reciprocating; he was saying it on purpose so the other party could hear.

Xu Guangtou's phone call was clearly ill-intentioned, so Chen Mo naturally wouldn't hold back and wouldn't mind making things difficult for him.

Moreover, he believed that the news would spread quickly, and at least many people in the film industry would know about it.

that's enough!
"Of course not, but Mr. Zeng is a businessman. Filming at this time will greatly increase costs and other aspects, and we don't even know when it will be released. I'm worried too!" Chen Mo said with a worried look.

He just wanted benefits, so Xu Guangtou is actually a pretty good guy. With just one phone call, he can get more benefits from me.

"Director Chen, what you're saying is very true. Shengshi Pictures is the first privately-owned film and television company to go public. Of course, I'm here on behalf of Wanda to say that Director Chen's film will definitely be given the highest priority! And I believe other cinema chains will do the same, after all, Director Chen's films are a guarantee of box office success," Zeng Maojun said with a smile.

"To be honest, they really are very sincere! For a moment, I was actually a little tempted," Chen Mo said.

Zeng Maojun understood what he meant, but he laughed instead, because Chen Mo had already made his stance clear.

Saying these things is just a way to gain more benefits.

“We can concede another point! Director Chen, please understand the current predicament of the industry,” Zeng Maojun said.

Chen Mo pursed his lips. One point is nowhere near enough!
"Everyone has their difficulties!" Chen Mo was determined not to act until he saw a tangible benefit.

"Two points! This is our greatest sincerity," Zeng Maojun said through gritted teeth.

"Well then, it's a pleasure to cooperate!" Chen Mo didn't try to make any more unreasonable demands; two points was more than enough.

A movie that grosses 1 billion yuan, two percentage points is 20 million yuan! That's quite a lot, and he can continue to benefit from this, not just from this one movie!
The key point is, you see, I didn't say anything, right? You guys brought it up yourselves.

"Director Chen, would it be convenient for you to issue a public announcement or something? It would help boost everyone's morale." Zeng Maojun also made a request.

Chen Mo naturally wouldn't refuse, as this was also a promotional opportunity: "Of course, no problem!"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mo felt incredibly relieved!

Moreover, he remembered that in his previous life, various places began to gradually recover around mid-July.

In other words, once I finish filming my own movie, it will be ready to be picked up right away.

He doesn't think he'll cause any negative butterfly effect.

In return for the favor, Chen Mo immediately released announcements on social media platforms in the name of Shengshi Pictures and personally.

"Regarding the recent questions about my new film 'Fame and Fortune,' I would like to clarify here: 'Fame and Fortune' is a theatrical film, and it will be the first new film released after cinemas reopen!"

The announcement was short, but the information it conveyed was crucial.

In fact, Chen Mo underestimated his influence. Soon after his announcement, other companies followed suit.

Many expressed their intention to release the film after cinemas reopen.

These announcements directly impacted stock prices, resulting in a rebound in the stock prices of major cinema chains.

(End of this chapter)