Chinese entertainment starts with Hong Shixian

Chapter 641: Has it suddenly become our burial ground? (5 updates)
In a meeting room in the capital city

The creative team behind "The Great Wall" has moved the entire crew from Qingdao in Shandong Province back to the capital.

This is where the headquarters of major companies are located, and you can better leverage your strengths here.

For example, information is more readily available there compared to that in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

However, this summer's box office season proved to be a difficult hurdle for "The Great Wall."
At first glance, "The Lost Tomb," "League of Gods," "Skiptrace," and Qi Hui's menacing "Operation Red Sea" are all formidable opponents.

What they feared most was not "Operation Red Sea," a high-budget war epic produced by Qi Hui.

It's the special effects blockbuster "League of Gods"!
Like "The Great Wall", "League of Gods" is a traditional Chinese IP!

Like The Great Wall, The Legend of Gods is a big-budget special effects blockbuster!
Like "The Great Wall," this film, "League of Gods," boasts a star-studded cast of many big names.

Li Lianjie, Huang Xiaoming, Liang Jiahui, Gu Tianle, Wen Zhang, Fan Bingbing, Xu Qing...

It truly is a gathering of stars and big names, in no way inferior to "The Great Wall"!
The Great Wall is a fantasy blockbuster, and so is The Legend of Gods... With such similarities, it's hard for The Great Wall not to be on high alert.

For "The Great Wall", Qi Hui's "Operation Red Sea" was just an enemy, but "League of Gods" was a heretic!
We can negotiate with the enemy, but heretics must die!

The only problem is, while they're crushing "League of Gods," can they also take down Qi Hui's "Operation Red Sea"?
Their film "The Great Wall" has a huge investment and a strong cast, but its two opponents are not easy to deal with either.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was somewhat oppressive.

This film is crucial to the survival of LeEco and the success or failure of Zhang Yimou's investment.

Everyone is under a lot of pressure.

As Gan Wei watched this scene, a flame ignited in her heart.

As the boss's wife, she couldn't bear to see her employees looking so downcast and dejected.

She tapped on the conference table and said in a deep voice, "I do not deny the strength of our opponents, nor do I deny the ferocity of our enemies."

"But let's not forget our own strengths and advantages!"

"We have a massive investment of 10 billion, and we have the powerful support of a top Hollywood team behind us!"

"We have the most famous lineup of the new generation of stars and the most powerful top directors of the older generation."

"I don't understand why everyone is so depressed and downcast?"

"I don't understand why we can't unite our will and fight together."

"Previously, we were confident that we had the advantage."

"In just half a month, has the film market changed so drastically that it has become our burial ground?"

His words were passionate and inspiring, and they invigorated everyone.

Even the old man Zhang Yi perked up and said, "You're right!"

We have the largest investment in Chinese-language films and collaborate with world-class Hollywood teams.

Our opponent is powerful, but they cannot defeat us!
This time, the advantage is on my side!
Seeing the spirits lifted among the attendees, Gan Wei slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

This is right!

If they continue to decline, LeEco will be in big trouble!
……

Meanwhile, the creators of "League of Gods" were also having a meeting.

This film was originally made to promote Xiang Zuo.

But as the project grew larger and more celebrities were involved, it became more than just promoting people.

Now, we are at a critical juncture of life and death!

"We have two main competitors: one is 'The Great Wall,' and the other is Qi Hui's 'Operation Red Sea,'" director Xu An said slowly.
"One film has an investment of 1 billion yuan, another has an investment of 600 million yuan, and none of them are easy targets."

"I don't see it that way," the producer objected.

"Qi Hui's film is nothing to fear. They made a terrible mistake by using a lot of real locations for filming, which was extremely foolish!"

When this somewhat outrageous statement was made, the attendees not only did not object, but nodded in agreement.

In their view, only movies with special effects are good movies, can make money, and can become hugely popular.

Real-life footage?

Hong Kong films used to be shot on location, and they even had real fight scenes.

Hong Kong films of the past were also full of real action and real fighting on set.

But what about the results?

They were utterly defeated by Hollywood's special effects blockbusters, weren't they?

Hong Kong films have changed now, with all sorts of special effects. From "The Monkey King" to "The Monkey King 2", which one wasn't a blockbuster film that grossed hundreds of millions or even billions?

These days, special effects are king!
Who's still foolish enough to do real-scene shooting?
It's hard work and exhausting, but the worst part is that nobody likes it!

Therefore, no one present had any doubts about this statement.

Special effects movies are the only good movies; everything else is just a drop in the ocean.

"Let's talk about 'The Great Wall'," the producer said. "That's the key point, that's our biggest competitor!"

Because this movie, like them, is a special effects blockbuster, and it also has the assistance of a professional Hollywood team.

Therefore, The Great Wall is the real problem!

Director Xu An nodded: "I think we should focus our energy on 'The Great Wall'!"

"Regarding the industry competition surrounding 'The Great Wall,' they, like us, certainly have many stars, but the biggest problem with their stars is that they are unlikable—effeminate!"

"I think we can start from this angle!"

"That makes sense!" Upon hearing this, everyone present slapped their thighs in agreement.

Lu Han and Wang Junkai, aren't they just effeminate?

Smear them! Smear them to death!
In this respect, "League of Gods" will not have any problems, because their actors are not effeminate at all!

So, the advantage is on my side!
……

Just as "League of Gods" and "The Great Wall" were gearing up for a showdown, Qi Hui did nothing.

The publicity for "Operation Red Sea" can proceed as planned. He is currently in Taizhou, preparing for the filming of "In the Name of the People".

Over the next few days, we will be filming scenes related to the police command center.

This is a genuine public security command center, involved in the security and stability maintenance work of an entire city.

This is an extremely important matter!
Therefore, the film crew cannot disrupt the normal operation of the public security command center, nor can they occupy it for an extended period of time.

We must finish filming as soon as possible.

Therefore, after discussion, the director of Group B decided to shoot at night.

With fewer people around, it's easier to take photos.

At the same time, we must speed up the filming schedule and complete all filming work as soon as possible.

If there is a delay, the command center will be occupied, and unexpected consequences will occur, which no one can afford.

Inside the Public Security Command Center

Qi Hui, Li Jianyi, and Huang Junpeng went inside, curiously turning their heads and looking around, as if they had never seen the world before.

Actually, they had never seen it before; this was the first time these people had entered the public security command center.

"How is it?" a staff member in police uniform said with a smile. "Isn't this place nice?"

He was a member of Golden Shield, which was established by the Ministry of Public Security, and the two had a very close relationship.

"Hmm, very good." Li Jianyi nodded, and the old man smiled and said, "This is my first time in such a solemn and dignified place."

"Haha, never seen this before, have you?" The man said with a slightly smug laugh.

Qi Hui couldn't help but chuckle at his smug expression.

He doesn't have any bad intentions, but he just likes to show off.

After thinking for a moment, Qi Hui decided to give him a little warning: "It's alright, just average."

"Huh?" The man was surprised and somewhat puzzled.

Qi Hui continued, "It has fewer features than the combat command center of the 054A, but it's still pretty good."

The man looked shocked: "You... what did you say? You served in the 054A?"

That's a missile frigate!
"Please excuse my humble attitude." Qi Hui was extremely modest: "I am an actor and a director. Not long ago, I was directing an escort fleet for filming a movie."

"You know what, commanding a warship is actually quite nice."

The man looked at Qi Hui as if he were seeing a god.

Fuck!
Not to mention him, even Li Jianyi and Huang Junpeng looked incredulous.

Holy crap, commanding warships?
You...you really are a department-level cadre?

(End of this chapter)