This director is vindictive.

Chapter 296 Director Chen's Mouth, the Feng Shui of Box Office!

"Hahaha! Is it really okay for you to say that?" Yang Mi couldn't help but burst into laughter after they got into the car in the underground parking lot.

"Anyway, it's going to trend on social media, so it doesn't matter whether I say anything or not!" Chen Mo shook his head and said.

This is true. Chen Mo's identity is special, and from the moment he was caught by reporters, he was already destined to be a trending topic.

Rather than remaining silent and letting the media report wildly, it's better to stay single.

Although it will inevitably cause some controversy, it is better than being subject to unfounded speculation.

Sure enough, before the two even got home...

#ChenMo and YangMi spotted at Wanda Cinema#
#Chen Morui's Commentary on Heart Transplant in Sheep's Murder 2#
#ChenMo publicly criticizes Sheep Without a Shepherd 2#
#Chen Yin-Yang Master reappears, accidentally killing 2 and suffering severe punishment#
The terms quickly rose to the top of the trending searches.

Actually, the main producers of "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" are Wanda and Enlight Media, who are also old friends of Chen Mo.

Sure enough, as soon as the trending topic came out, Lao Wang from Enlight Media and Zeng Maojun from Wanda Group called each other.

"Director Chen! If you want to see a movie next time, just let me know, and I'll deliver it right to your house!" Old Wang said with a wry smile.

He didn't accuse Chen Mo of "drag him down" or anything like that, because he knew that given Chen Mo's status, it was completely unnecessary.

But Chen Mo's influence is indeed huge!

Don't underestimate Chen Mo's comments; his few words might just cost the movie tens or hundreds of millions less at the box office.

Zeng Maojun's call conveyed the same sentiment as Lao Wang's: they were both family members, one in the palm and the other in the back!
Although they didn't invest in "Flying Swordsman", Shengshi Pictures is a shareholder!
And they're also among the publishers!

Given Chen Mo's status and position, they were hoping he wouldn't launch a surprise attack, leaving them unsure how to respond.

If you were anyone else, they could control the comments in no time, but Chen Mo is a big shot, okay?

Old Wang and Chen Mo were only equals in status, while even a high-level employee like Zeng Maojun had to put on a smiling face.

Sure enough, the video of Chen Mo and Yang Mi being filmed at the movie theater, along with the interview video, quickly began to spread online.

After Chen Mo hung up the phone with the two film company executives, Yang Mi glanced at the trending topics on her phone and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Well, now netizens have even given you a new nickname, 'Chen the Yin-Yang Master'."

She swiped the screen and read out a live comment: "'Director Chen is just short of saying that 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' is a medical miracle'—this generation of netizens can make up more stories than you."

Chen Mo chuckled and shook his head: "Let them make a fuss, anyway, I'm just stating the facts."

He paused, then added with a slightly teasing tone, "But Old Wang might actually send someone to deliver a copy of his new movie to my house next time, saving me the popcorn."

Meanwhile, the controversy continued to escalate on Weibo. Fans supporting "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" posted box office data to refute the claims, arguing, "Why take the logic of commercial films so seriously?"

However, many netizens countered: "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2 focuses on reality, okay? If this kind of movie doesn't make sense, then what movie does?"

"I want to refute Chen Mo's claim that the title of the film 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' does not match the content of the movie. On the contrary, I think the title of this movie is very much in line with the content, because Sheep Without a Shepherd 2 is about killing the audience!"

A well-known film critic joked when he shared the relevant video: "Director Chen is still too gentle. If you ask me, the biggest bug in 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' is that it can beat for a full 120 minutes."

At the same time, some people are questioning Chen Mo's "comparison and denigration"!
"Putting aside whether the movie 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' is good or bad, is it really appropriate for Chen Mo to use his influence to so openly and blatantly put down his competitor when his own movie is released?"

"Indeed, this move is too small-scale. Chen Mo is also a director, and this way of directly using his identity to crush his opponent is indeed a bit petty!"

"I watched 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' and thought it was good and I loved it. What I hate most is someone like Chen Mo, who acts like an authority figure to belittle his opponents in order to achieve his goal of putting them down. His motives are obviously impure!"

However, many more netizens support Chen Mo.

"I'm speechless. Was Chen Mo doing that on purpose? He was clearly cornered and had no choice but to speak up, okay? What did you expect him to say? That he liked Sheep Without a Shepherd 2? If he actually said that, you guys would probably say that Chen Mo is no longer the Chen Mo who dared to speak the truth!"

"I support Chen Mo! Some film companies treat their audience like fools, and then forbid people from telling the truth?"

"You guys said the same thing when Chen Mo predicted 'Detective Chinatown 3' and 'Hi Mom, Mom.' Aren't you ashamed enough?"

"Chen Mo's evaluation is quite objective, okay? Shouldn't realistic films pay more attention to basic logic?"

"An adult's heart can be transplanted into a child? Ridiculous!"

Under such public opinion, the box office performance of "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" was inevitably affected to some extent.

But as Chen Mo said, "If a realistic story hits a nerve, the audience is willing to pay for it. But the word-of-mouth is another matter!"

The same is true.

Sheep Without a Shepherd 2 performed well at the box office, but its reputation was mixed.

Chen Mo didn't really care about this matter, because when he made those remarks in the interview, he had anticipated this situation.

His "movie week plan" with his female confidantes did not come to a standstill.

Soon after, he took Zhang Yuqi to see a movie.

This time, however, it wasn't a live-action movie, but an animated one!

Lion Boy!
To be honest, Chen Mo was pleasantly surprised after reading it!
In his past life, he was also one of the many people who loved mythological animated films such as "Ne Zha," "Ne Zha 2," "Jiang Ziya," and "Monkey King: Hero Is Back."

Therefore, animated films like "Lion Boy" don't receive as much attention.

But after watching it, he genuinely felt that it was a very good animated film—except for the character designs.

However, Chen Mo secretly shook his head when he thought about the film's marketing and distribution.

Although this is a good domestic animated film, it is not a very "mainstream" film!

Simply put, this is not a children's entertainment, but a work that can provoke thought in adult viewers.

"Is this considered a realistic animation?" Zhang Yuqi looked at Chen Mo with some doubt after watching it.

Chen Mo nodded and said, "Yes, it can be considered a breakthrough in realism for domestic animation. However, it's a pity that this movie will probably have a limited audience!"

"Why? I think it's done quite well!" Zhang Yuqi didn't quite understand.

"Well, you said it yourself, this is a realistic animation, but the problem is that animation and realistic themes are, how should I put it, not quite compatible! Also, I don't know what the main creators were thinking, but the character designs in this film are a bit outrageous!" Chen Mo said after thinking for a moment.

“Animation is inherently unsuitable for realistic themes and a serious tone! Therefore, this film will most likely be critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful! Moreover, the film's marketing is also problematic,” Chen Mo added.

"I looked at the movie's promotional materials. The initial promotions focused on 'Chinese style animation,' but they didn't tell the audience that this was an animated film with the core selling point of 'realism + inspirational growth'!"
"When you hear about domestically produced animated films or animations with a traditional Chinese style, what comes to mind first?" Chen Mo asked Zhang Yuqi.

“Ne Zha? Monkey King: Hero Is Back?” Zhang Yuqi asked uncertainly.

Chen Mo nodded: "See, you think so too! In fact, the average viewer's expectation for domestic animation is still 'mythological IP + exciting and explosive' like 'Ne Zha' and 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back'. And so far, the most brilliant, influential, and memorable domestic animations are still those in this category."

Moreover, this movie is really not suitable for the whole family! It's especially unsuitable for children, because many of them probably won't understand the core message at all!

"Of course, even without these factors, this movie would probably still have a hard time achieving high box office returns," Chen Mo added.

"Why?" Zhang Yuqi asked.

"Because of the barriers to movie viewing!"

"Viewing threshold?"

"That's right. The biggest taboo for animated films is having too high a viewing threshold! It's even more taboo than for live-action films."

Animated films are generally considered by many people in China to be suitable for all ages, such as "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" and "Ne Zha". However, "Lion Boy" is clearly not a film that can truly be suitable for all ages!
As you just saw, the title "The Young Lion" itself already carries a certain cultural threshold.

The film makes extensive use of Cantonese dialogue, colloquialisms, and Lingnan folk customs. While authentic and rich in regional characteristics, this can easily create a cultural barrier for some northern viewers, affecting their ability to connect with the story. Furthermore, you can't expect children to understand the film's portrayal of social issues such as the urban-rural divide, left-behind children, and the plight of migrant workers. "These are clearly made for adults!" Chen Mo sighed.

This time, Chen Mo and Zhang Yuqi were not recognized like last time.

Naturally, there was no recurrence of the situation where reporters cornered him for "evaluation" as happened last time.

However, after returning home, Chen Mo recalled the content of the movie and realized that he really liked it.

So, that very night he acted as a "recommendation officer" for the first time!
He unusually recommended this movie on his personal Weibo account.

I'd like to recommend a movie to everyone, "Lion Boy"!

Recommendation reason: This is a rare domestic animated film with a realistic theme!

Its existence proves that domestic animation can be more than just "fantasy and action-packed" stories; it can also tell the stories of ordinary people. In the long run, the exploration of this type of work is of great significance to the diversified development of the industry.

The film focuses on ordinary people at the bottom of society, showing real life, genuine emotions, and a complete growth story.

The visuals, animation, and music are all top-notch among domestically produced animations.

The core of the film is not "defying fate," but "how ordinary people can persevere in pursuing their dreams under the pressure of reality." The ending does not have the clichéd happy ending, but leaves a realistic aftertaste, making it more profound.

Overall film review: Worth watching, but expectations need to be adjusted.

Recommended for: viewers who enjoy realistic themes and value emotions and details; people interested in the diversified development of Chinese animation.

Selected audience: Audiences expecting "mythical IP + action-packed thriller"; audiences sensitive to character portrayals or who prefer fast-paced narratives.

P.S.: I suggest hiring a professional image consultant to redesign the character's appearance! The character's appearance in the movie is really ugly!

Chen Mo's influence is considerable, especially since this is the first time he has ever used his personal Weibo account to recommend a movie so seriously.

Many people have noticed that the movie "Lion Boy" has absolutely nothing to do with Chen Mo.

The producers and distributors of this film have no business dealings with Chen Mo.

Chen Mo's previous scathing review of "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" was still trending on social media, so when this Weibo post was published by Chen Mo, it quickly sparked a wave of heated discussion.

The main point is that, compared to "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2", Chen Mo's evaluation and recommendation of "Lion Boy" is really too different.

They both use the phrase "worth watching," but the content is completely opposite.

"Director Chen has really broadened his horizons this time! He just criticized 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' and is now recommending a niche animation. He must be genuinely moved by the movie, right? I watched the trailer overnight, and the lion dance scene was truly amazing!"

"I agree! This is what professional film criticism should be like: good is good, bad is bad, no double standards!"

"Compared to yesterday's sharp comments about the 'medical miracle' in 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2,' today's praise for 'Young Lions' is actually described as 'top-notch.' I love this contrast!"

"I've watched both 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' and 'Lion Boys.' Chen Mo's reviews are really objective, but too objective. 'Lion Boys' does have a bit of a barrier to entry, and it's not really suitable for children!"

Of course, there are also some mischievous and silly netizens.

"Beware of new propaganda tactics! They said there was 'no conflict of interest,' but it turns out the director of 'Lion Boys' is Chen Mo's junior from Beijing Film Academy [eating popcorn]!"

"Case solved! No wonder the recommendation was so detailed!"

"What the hell? Does the person upstairs spread rumors without even thinking? I did some research, and wow, the director has absolutely nothing to do with the Beijing Film Academy! He graduated from Xiangbei Academy of Fine Arts, what does he have to do with the Beijing Film Academy? What does he have to do with Chen Mo?"

"If we're talking about vested interests, Wanda and Enlight Media were the main investors in 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2,' weren't they?"

"The most intriguing part of Chen Mo's recommendation is the phrase 'adjust expectations'—essentially helping the film filter its audience. Ticketing platforms now show a 17% surge in viewers aged 35 and above for 'Young Lions,' precisely targeting its intended audience!"

Of course, there are still controversies; the character designs in "Lion Boys" are indeed not very appealing.

"Heh, another 'realism' praising-to-destroy tactic. The protagonist looks like someone with Down syndrome and they insist on praising his high aesthetic standards. 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' also uses 'realism,' but it's so hypocritical, okay? Is Chen Mo now so obviously sponsored?"

However, this controversy was quickly refuted by netizens.

The main reason is that Chen Mo's persona is too well-established.

Especially since the other party is making it so obvious that Chen Mo is currently doing this for a living, it will be very difficult to smear Chen Mo.

"You know more about animation than the director? The character modeling was clearly based on photos of a Guangdong lion dance inheritor! Although the character designs are indeed not very appealing, the flaws don't detract from the overall quality!"

"Seriously, this is the level of haters? Why do you have to criticize Chen Mo for this kind of thing? Does Chen Mo need to make money from this? The revenue from 'Swordsman' is enough to buy ten animation companies! Selling the entire 'Lion Boy' production team wouldn't even cover Chen Mo's PR expenses, okay?"

"Saying that Chen Mo recommended this movie just to make money is really going too far, it's a completely mindless attack! He's worth hundreds of billions, you know that, right?"

"Furthermore, 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' is a competitor of 'Swordsman Online,' but isn't 'Lion Boy' also a competitor?"

Soon after, the official Weibo account of "The Young Lions" and director Sun Haipeng tagged Chen Mo to express their gratitude.

Sun Haipeng jokingly added, "I'd love to become fellow students with Director Chen, but there's no chance!"

And soon, the power of Chen Mo's recommendation became apparent.

An industry blogger, @BoxOfficeObserver, posted an article
"Data tracking: After Chen Mo posted on Weibo, the pre-sale box office of 'Lion Boys' surged by 300%, but the refund rate also rose by 15%. This confirms the judgment that it is 'unsuitable for children' - many parents chose to refund their tickets after finding the subject matter too heavy!"

"Director Chen Mo actually pointed out the deadlock in Chinese animation: making mythological works gets criticized for being formulaic, while innovating with realistic themes faces market risks. The producers of 'Lion Boy' should indeed thank him; at least now people are discussing the issue of cultural barriers!"

The screening schedule for "The Young Lion" underwent a dramatic change within 48 hours of Chen Mo's recommendation, with a significant increase in the number of screenings in theaters. However, the attendance rate was polarized: the number of family viewers during prime time dropped by 40%, while the weekday morning screenings saw an unusual phenomenon of white-collar workers booking out the entire theater.

A manager of a chain cinema complained on his WeChat Moments: "This movie has completely disrupted our customer profile. Now we have to add extra screenings for middle-aged viewers during tea breaks."

Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Chen Mo's "double standards" in the film and television industry continues to escalate.

Famous screenwriter Wang posted on Weibo: "When evaluating 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2,' he emphasized that 'realistic themes must be logical,' but when recommending 'Young Lions,' he praised it for 'having a strong sense of realism.' Is Director Chen's standard of judgment too flexible?"

This Weibo post quickly garnered 3 likes, but the comment section was soon flooded with comments from netizens: "Isn't the detail of the migrant worker sleeping in the lower bunk in 'Lion Boys' more realistic than the heart transplant in 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2'?"

"Animated realism ≠ distorting medical common sense; some people are deliberately confusing the concepts!"

However, this controversy suddenly turned extremely heated.

Those who are dissatisfied with Chen Mo say: "Some 'film judges' use their privileged status to control the market. Today they say that film A is unprofessional, and tomorrow they praise film B for its depth. In essence, it is all about monopolizing the right to speak."

That evening, the hashtag #DoesTheFilmAndTelevisionIndustryNeedThePrivilegeToCriticize# suddenly became a trending topic.

Chen Mo's influence is so exaggerated that it has indeed alarmed his peers.

After all, "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" serves as a cautionary tale!

Chen Mo's influence is also a double-edged sword.

However, netizens reacted differently.

A highly-rated comment from a netizen who supports Chen Mo says it all: "Letting professionals say what they're good at is better than capital controlling public opinion."

"That's right. There are only two criteria for judging a movie: whether it is sincere and whether it is professional. The medical flaws in 'Sheep Without a Shepherd 2' are a matter of professionalism, while the portrayal of ordinary people in 'Lion Boys' is a matter of sincerity."

Faced with the controversy, Chen Mo showed no intention of responding.

Because there's no way to respond to this, not responding is the best course of action.

(End of this chapter)