Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 165 Do you understand the significance of a box office exceeding 100 million on its opening day?
September 22nd, just one day before the release of "Take My Brother Away".

The production team of "Take My Brother Away" released a new trailer on Weibo, following the release of the initial trailer.

A month later, the production team released the final trailer.

The film "Take My Brother Away" was announced in August with a release date set, and the first trailer was released at the end of August.

The final trailer was released in September, interspersed with various press releases and marketing materials from the production team. This, coupled with Gu Jingyi's already massive fanbase and the increased attention generated by his recent appearance on the variety show "Back to Field," further boosted the production's popularity.

In the past few months, regardless of whether people care about Gu Jingyi or not, news about him has been heard everywhere, which has made "Take My Brother Away," touted as "Gu Jingyi's first film," a dark horse hit.

Youth films themselves attract a young audience, and fans and casual viewers alike eagerly await the release of "Take My Brother Away".

On September 22nd, the final trailer for "Take My Brother Away" was released. It immediately caused a stir, leaving students in class and white-collar workers who had just started working feeling uneasy.

I quietly placed my phone under the table and opened the trailer.

As a fan of Gu Jingyi's looks and a loyal follower, Zhang Ling spent the entire morning repeatedly refreshing the official account of "Take My Brother Away".

Suddenly, she saw that the account had posted a video. The posting time was "just posted," and Zhang Ling's mood instantly lifted.

"Coconut, here it comes."

She quickly patted Zhou Ye's arm, lowering her voice and her eyes were full of excitement.

"What's coming!?"

Zhou Ye remained calm as she took notes in her notebook with a carbon pen.

"The final trailer for Gu Jingyi's movie is coming! Go to Weibo! It's been officially released!"

"I'll look at it after class; I don't have time now."

Although it was just a general education course, Zhou Ye followed the rules very well.

With ten minutes left before get out of class ended, Zhang Ling, though somewhat disappointed, managed to hold back.

She knew that Zhou Ye wasn't particularly interested in most movies and TV series in the Chinese entertainment industry these days.

Especially youth films, which seem even more like money-grabbing schemes.

Thanks to the film "So Young" directed by "Old Swallow," Zhou Ye now remembers her second year of junior high school when she heard the word "youth film," and she went to support it because of the hype surrounding "Old Swallow's" directorial debut.

As a result, they were tricked and watched as the second female lead inexplicably had an abortion and "died".

No matter how normal things seem at the beginning, they all follow the trend of "starting high and ending low".

So when Zhou Ye heard that "youth films" were all produced by female directors, she subconsciously equated them with "Old Swallow 2nd Generation".

It wasn't that she was questioning her friend's taste, but mainly because she didn't dare to have too high expectations for this kind of youth film.

As long as it doesn't happen like that time in middle school, making her fall asleep in the movie theater would be a success...

The genre of domestic youth films is just too prone to melodramatic clichés…

However, because I've seen some of Gu Jingyi's stage performances, listened to his meticulously produced albums, and witnessed his natural and unpretentious attitude on "Back to Field," I've also noticed his talent.

Zhou Ye actually had a good overall impression of Gu Jingyi, though she wasn't quite ready to become a fan. She wasn't exactly a sucker for his looks, but spending a few dozen yuan to support her best friend's "idol" was acceptable.

It's only about the price of a Starbucks coffee, so consider it a place to rest.

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class, the students rushed back to their dormitories.

Zhang Ling shook Zhou Ye's arm, her puppy-dog eyes looking at her pitifully.

"Okay, okay, I'll watch it now."

After casually giving her friend a quick pat on the head, feeling secretly pleased with herself, Sister Zhou slowly opened Weibo.

I checked the official Weibo account for "Take My Brother Away" and sure enough, the account had released a new trailer!

Only 12 minutes after it was posted, the combined number of likes, comments, and shares shown below has already approached one million.

This demonstrates Gu Jingyi's current popularity.

To describe Gu Jingyi as "extremely popular" would be an understatement; he is now "red to the point of being scorching hot."

"Wake the pig up, I'm watching the pig, the pig's in bed~"

As Gu Jingyi's quirky little tune began to play, Zhang Zifeng jumped up.

She looked at herself in the mirror, at her hair tied up, and screamed in despair, "Shifen!!!"

After the siblings bickered, Zhang Zifeng and Zhao Jinmai walked together on the side of the road complaining, "Shi Fen should really get out of the brother circle. I hope someone will take him away soon!"

"Hey! I really want one," Zhao Jinmai said with a cute smile, wearing round-framed glasses.

"Then I'll give it to you."

Suddenly, the perspective shifted, and Gu Jingyi, holding an "electronic candle" that appeared on his phone screen, smiled and said to Zhang Zifeng, "Come on, make a wish."

As the candles were blown out, Gu Jingyi continued walking with Zhao Jinmai. They seemed oblivious to everything around them, as if the world had changed.

The fast-paced plot also piqued Zhou Ye's interest.

It seems that this movie is not like other domestic youth films that use the youth film label to "put up a sheep's head and sell dog meat".

After revealing the names of the main actors, the trailer ended.

Zhou Ye seemed a little unsatisfied, "Where did you get your tickets for tomorrow? Do you need me to book another one now...?"

"No need, sis. You forgot? I bought tickets for the roadshow. Do you know how much scalpers are getting for each ticket right now? They're making more than ten times the price!"

Zhang Ling said with a grin, her tone very smug.

Zhou Ye also smiled and gave a compliment, "Amazing, no wonder you're Sister Ling. This hand speed beats 99.99% of people."

"Please be more serious, hahaha, I beat 99.9999% of people."

Zhang Ling boasted arrogantly, and the atmosphere between the two was very harmonious.

"Ding"

Suddenly, a new notification popped up on my phone.

Zhang Ling immediately picked up her phone and looked down to check it.

"Wow, the crew isn't so botted today. They know to post things we like to see. If they post more about Gu Jingyi, you'll get more views, right?"

Zhang Ling complained as she quickly tapped the video.

Bathed in a warm orange glow, Gu Jingyi, wearing a loose white sweater, sank into an old sofa. He was looking down, intently reading a book.

"Brother Shifen~"

Zhao Jinmai's voice suddenly rang out, and a hand suddenly appeared in front of the camera.

Gu Jingyi chuckled as he stood up. "Miaomiao, you're really childish."

The next moment, as the camera zoomed in, Gu Jingyi had already placed his chin on her palm. As he lowered his eyes and chuckled, his eyelashes cast shadows in his eyes. His cheeks were pressed into her palm, making them appear softer.

When he suddenly looked up and met the camera's gaze, there was a certain tension, and the background music was perfectly timed with the violin tremolo of "City of Stars".

Zhang Ling's phone fell to the ground with a "thud," but she covered her face with an excited expression.

Zhou Ye was startled by the sound of the phone being smashed, and she used the action of picking up the phone to cover up her embarrassment.

"Waaaaah, what a magnificent face! We should have more of this kind of face filmed and released; I love watching them!"

Zhang Ling was suddenly struck by lightning, overwhelmed with excitement and intense emotions.

Zhou Ye helped her put her phone on the table, but then casually opened the comments section.

@Gu Jingyi Xingcheng Fenyi

"Help! Is this the facial folds a human should have??? Gu Jingyi's face-holding video should be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status! The shadow cast by his eyelashes under his eyes is clearer than my life plan! The height of his nose bridge is enough to make the East African Rift Valley ashamed and fill it in! Sisters, look at that cheek mole peeking out between his fingers—this isn't just a cheek mole, it's a vermilion mark personally applied by God during the Renaissance, a nuclear weapon that would make all Mary Sue novel authors unemployed! I hereby unilaterally declare Gu Jingyi's face the place where the 2018 Nobel Prize in Aesthetics will be awarded!!"

@GuGu's Yan Research Institute
"Consort Jing climbed Mount Kongtong overnight!! Did this guy get a Nuwa creation SSS-level VIP card?! The angle of his thumb and forefinger hitting his jawline when he cups his face is precise to the nanometer level, and the frequency of his eyelash fluttering perfectly replicates the golden ratio of a butterfly's wings! I suggest analyzing the parabolic trajectory of his hair falling frame by frame when he lets go—this is a top-level beauty dynamic that even mathematical modeling wouldn't dare to simulate! Gu Jingyi, you better confess! When you cup your face, did you use your fingers or Cupid's arrow?!"

@Gu Jingyi, the male lead in the escaped Green River:
Gu Jingyi's appearance is practically flawless; his height and looks are perfect. Some handsome men may be considered handsome by some but not by others, but I feel that everyone would find Cha Eun-woo handsome, fulfilling all human requirements for appearance.

@一只园：

I never really understood his looks before, but now I suddenly do! [heart emoji] He looks even better without filters!!! All those blurry, weird skin-smoothing effects make him seem the same all the time, but without filters, his natural features come through, making him look more defined and handsome. I love this kind of look! [cheering emoji]
@Gu Jingyi's Donuts:
[He wasn't just flattering my reputation! He was sacrificing my fragile moral compass!]
For some reason, Zhou Ye appreciated the comments from the previous few people with a smile on her face.

Upon seeing this comment out of the blue, her smile instantly turned cold.

Upon entering the homepage, I found that the super topic level was 12.

[Tch, acting like you're his girlfriend. Where did this dream girl come from, already dreaming about him?]
Zhou Ye unfolded the comment section of this post, about to reply, when she saw many folded comments: "Ahhh, we caught Sister Sweetie!", "Number one!"
[However, I still advise deleting this. The original poster's wording is too suggestive; it's easy to assume that Gu Jingyi and you actually have something going on.]
Zhou Ye edited the chat box, selecting the reply she felt was the least offensive.

After sending it, she watched the video of Gu Jingyi holding his face in a solo pose again.

Zheng Fenfen is such a great photographer; it's true that only women understand what girls really want to see.

This still makes her think of Gu Jingyi's slightly trembling eyelashes when he lowered his eyes from time to time.

Tearing... I can't think about it anymore, it might discolor.

He's so handsome, I see Gu Jingyi everywhere.

She was momentarily mesmerized, her mind filled with Gu Jingyi's every move in the trailer. Especially that face-holding pose, and Gu Jingyi's smile—it struck a chord deep within her! This guy is a true face genius, unifying the aesthetic standards of the fandom.

Because she is also an actress, besides admiring Gu Jingyi's looks, she was also very curious about the movie.

Zhou Ye couldn't wait to open the comments section, wanting to see what everyone thought of the movie.

Although it's just a trailer, I still want to get a sense of what the audience thinks in advance.

So Zhou Ye ignored the comments below the final trailer that were clearly controlled by Gu Jingyi's fans, and quickly scrolled to the comments with the most likes that seemed to be from ordinary netizens.

[The trailer, which is a little over a minute long, seems pretty good; the story is quite interesting. The sibling banter feels really realistic, like something out of a movie. I just wonder if it will have the melodramatic plot twists often found in domestic youth films…]

[I don't think it'll be too melodramatic, since the original manga is a heartwarming comedy about the relationship between siblings. The Ghost Sisters are the screenwriters, so there's no need to worry about it being drastically altered. The cast is also quite impressive. Gu Jingyi goes without saying. His casting as Shi Fen is like a Ferrari suddenly appearing on a street corner in a small town. Gu Jingyi is truly amazing; he has good looks, popularity, and acting skills rarely seen at his age. Add to that Zhang Zifeng and Zhao Jinmai, two young actresses born in the 00s, both outstanding performers among the new generation.]

[My God, do you understand how shocked I am? I checked the production company's financial report, and this movie only cost 4000 million to make. Gu Jingyi gives me a feeling of being outclassed. I estimate that even if he gets 2000 million in salary, it's still far less than other TV dramas or movies with high viewership ratings. He's truly one of the rare people in the industry who has a clear mind and a well-defined plan for his acting career.]

I'm not really interested in top-tier celebrities. Whether it's Chris Hemsworth's *Somewhere Only We Know*, Li Yifeng's *Flipped*, or Lu Han's critically acclaimed *Back to 20*, no matter how good the marketing is, I have no desire to see them in theaters. But Gu Jingyi's film debut, even just the trailer, gave me a refreshing feeling. If his acting in *A Love So Beautiful* was truly up to par, then *Brother Fast* will definitely be excellent as well.

[I don't understand why you insist on judging Gu Jingyi by the standards of an actor. He's only 19. He has a long road ahead. Even if this movie doesn't turn out well, it won't affect his future career on the big screen. No domestic film that relies on star power to boost box office has ever achieved both critical and commercial success. Don't be so harsh on Gu Jingyi. The fact that his face is even appearing in theaters is already a huge satisfaction for fans who appreciate good looks.]

[I think the person upstairs is a bit pessimistic. Just looking at the trailer, you can see the director's skill, right? The camera work is smooth and the transitions are natural. Anyway, youth films are already terrible, so even if this one is bad, it can't be worse than average. I think the idea of ​​replacing the older brother with someone else's older brother is quite interesting. Maybe this movie will be a hit.]

When official accounts post things like this, fans will definitely try to control the comments.

Zhou Ye had a hard time finding these comments, as they were all quite late in the list. She had to dig through them for a long time before she finally found them.

Gu Jingyi possesses a level of public appeal that other top celebrities lack, resulting in generally positive feedback from the neutral comments that garnered likes and upvotes. These comments didn't adhere to their usual harsh criticism, sweeping generalizations against all popular celebrities.

Zhou Ye also breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Take My Brother Away" was Gu Jingyi's first film to be released after entering the film industry.

It was his debut film, and its importance to him is self-evident.

If Gu Jingyi really fails, he will almost always get supporting roles in movies after that.

Even now, the domestic film industry is still dominated by a group of veteran and middle-aged actors.

If the younger generation wants to rise to prominence, they only have two paths left: youth films and mainstream films.

If Gu Jingyi flops in his film debut, he'll essentially be sacrificing his own future career. Good youth film production teams won't even consider him. The scripts that come his way will almost all be terrible.

That's the harsh reality of the film industry. Without a signature film, if one movie flops, it's almost impossible to find another opportunity.

With capital flowing into the internet age, the market is becoming increasingly less tolerant of traffic.

Zhou Ye suddenly couldn't laugh anymore; even a top male celebrity like Gu Jingyi was having such a hard time.

Moreover, the competition among actresses is even fiercer, with a constant stream of new generation actresses emerging.

"Coconut, don't think about it anymore. Just trust Gu Jingyi; he always wins his bets."

Zhang Ling thought her best friend was worried about Gu Jingyi, so she quickly went over to comfort her.

"it is good"

Zhou Ye nodded, "It's probably a problem with Weibo's recommendation mechanism."

Big data is beginning to take shape, with appearance-oriented videos related to Gu Jingyi constantly appearing in the system.

Zhou Ye naturally clicked on Gu Jingyi's visually appealing video, and bombarded by Gu Jingyi's face, her taut lips gradually broke into a cheap, forced smile.

Zhang Ling shook her head. "Hey, Gu Jingyi's looks are indeed enough to melt even the most icy person, it's not just a joke."

Time quickly came to September 23rd, and Gu Jingyi slept until he naturally woke up.

The screenings for "Take My Brother Away" won't start until the afternoon, so releasing it on September 23rd isn't a good time to release it.

Caught between the end of the summer movie season and the pre-National Day holiday season, the market is not as invincible as Xiao Zhan's "Jade Dynasty" which was released during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

9月之有《蚁人2》（8.24上映）、《碟中谍6》（8.31上映）等进口大片上映，直接凭着特效抢市场。

Although September 23rd marked the beginning of a box office decline, it still accounted for 15%-20% of screenings.

Meanwhile, "Hello Mr. Billionaire," which was released on July 27, has grossed over 25 billion yuan and still has about 5% of screenings due to the long-tail effect.

Along with the movie, a song called "Calories" also became a hit.

Rocket Girls successfully made it onto the trending list thanks to their quirky and trendy style and the nationwide enthusiasm for weight loss.

However, the most popular meme comes from "Burn my calories (angry, off-key version)".

Girl groups don't necessarily have to be the most talented; differentiation can also attract a lot of attention with its uniqueness.

If this off-key line had been sung by the two members of "Meixuan" who have experience in overseas group activities, it would have been ridiculed and trended on social media.

Sung by a village beauty, it is both absurd and laughable, yet also contains a touch of reason.

After all, it took more than three months of recording for "Produce 101 China," and even after the group was formed, there was still someone who couldn't dance to the theme song...

No one would have any expectations of her based on her abilities.

So when "Calories" was released, there were comments about the lyrics, which were clearly sung off-key.

The trending topic was also #VillageBeauty'sGrumpyLittleVoice#, showing that people are always more tolerant of the vulnerable.

When Gu Jingyi heard that lyric, he immediately had the same expression as the old man on the subway looking at his phone.

Never mind, it's normal for her to be like this.

After all, she was labeled as "the hope of the whole village" and had a grassroots image, but after the group was formed, it was revealed that she had been living with a coach of an e-sports team while she was an e-sports streamer.

Someone who claimed to have never been in a girl group was exposed for dancing outside of C2C.

The mermaid girl singing "Troublesome Girl" still can't learn this, so she can only be thrown away as a nuisance.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yimou's "Shadow" and Happy Twist's "Hello, Mrs. Money," both scheduled for release on September 30 and vying for the National Day holiday, have also opened their pre-sale channels.

The entire production team was gloomy upon learning of the predicament that "Brother Kuai" would face upon its release.

Only Gu Jingyi remained calm; he wasn't worried about the success or failure of the film at all.

Even a complete newcomer like Peng Peng was able to make a splash with this movie and quickly enter the audience's field of vision.

There's no reason why "Take My Brother Away" would lose to others with him, a top-tier idol, in the lead role. He always believed in his fans and the market's aesthetic.

For any movie that combines "traffic stars + IP", the box office performance is boosted by the actors' existing fan base after its release.

Those who watch youth films are the same fixed audience, and word-of-mouth spreads afterward.

They are also willing to pay to sit in the cinema and enjoy the movie.

On September 23, "Take My Brother Away" was officially released.

Gu Jingyi would wake up at home and immediately start reading the script, his mind completely unaffected.

He's already got the script for "Better Days," and he'll have to get a buzz cut to match the movie.

For a top star, this is nothing short of a breakthrough in their image.

However, Gu Jingyi will be joining the cast of "Go Go Squid!" after finishing filming "Better Days", and the male lead's age has been changed to 27.

In order to create a mature and sophisticated image, Gu Jingyi's hair cannot be too long.

It's like "two ways to eat a chicken," which comes in handy.

Gu Jingyi spent the whole day at home studying, making circles and dots on the script of "Better Days" with a carbon pen.

The next day, early in the morning, Lin Ze called and woke Gu Jingyi up.

"Jingyi, the box office figures for yesterday's movie are out. Guess how much it is!"

Lin Ze's voice was filled with excitement, and even trembled slightly.

"1.27 billion?"

"It's 1.46 million!!!"

Lin Ze's voice became even more excited, just like Fan Jin's excitement at the imperial examination.

"Oh, I see."

To his surprise, Gu Jingyi was not as excited as he had imagined.

It's as if this suspicion arose from the very beginning of the script selection process.

"Jingyi, who do you think will win the next World Cup?"

"How would I know?" Gu Jingyi was speechless.

He's not even a football fan, it's all the fault of the "Sea Cucumber Team" for ruining his expectations of football!

"I can guess that's normal. The pre-sale tickets from fans reached 8000 million. The various marketing and promotions before the movie's release also played a role. The first day's box office will definitely be the highest."

What a joke! He doesn't want to be studied as an oddity.

The identity of the reborn person will never be revealed under any circumstances.

(End of this chapter)