I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 228 The Shocking Movie

In 2002, the total box office revenue in the Chinese market was 9.5 million RMB.

In 2003, Huaxia's total box office revenue increased to 23 billion RMB!

In May 2004, with films such as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Gangster" breaking box office records, the total box office in China had reached nearly 950 million RMB. It seemed only a matter of time before the total box office for the year surpassed 27 billion RMB, setting a new record...

After the turn of the millennium, with China's accession to the WTO and the rapid development of its market economy, the Chinese film market has gradually shown astonishing market potential.

Although the total box office is still in its early stages, the large population base and economic growth will sooner or later make the Chinese market a crucial part of the international box office market.

8:40 am.

Mark silently observed the data and films from the Chinese market, his eyes narrowing.

He keenly realized that whoever could control this market in advance would be able to reshape the global box office landscape and even influence the future competitive landscape of the eight major Hollywood studios!

China's five major film companies are naturally among Mark's future strategic partners...

However, the eight major Hollywood studios, including Paimon, had long been strategically penetrating the market of the five companies, and their efforts were roughly equal. In the competition for market share in China, there was not only a game of revenue sharing but also a hidden competition for distribution. Over the past year, the parties had maintained a delicate balance. Mark realized that if he wanted to gain the upper hand in this competition, he had to find a new breakthrough point...

Sunlight streamed through the window and shone onto the desk.

Mark's gaze fell on a document in the far corner that listed a small company called "Xuan Shi Entertainment".

After a moment, he fell into a brief period of contemplation.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

Immediately afterwards, the secretary walked in.

"Mr. Mark, Director Catherine has arrived with that Chinese director, and they're waiting at the door..."

“Oh…” Mark put down the data report in his hand and straightened his suit collar: “Let them in.”

When the office door was pushed open, the first thing he saw was Catherine's slightly pale face.

The female director, known for her dark style of filming, had a wandering gaze and seemed to have some complicated emotions.

The Chinese man following behind her, Zhou Yang, wore an innocent smile and held a black hard drive labeled "Top Secret" in his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Mark!"

..............................

In the Paimon copyright department's screening room.

Mark and several marketing department managers sat silently in their chairs, watching as the staff inserted the hard drive into the machine.

Unless it's a film by a famous Asian director, Mark rarely reviews films himself. At most, he'll hand them over to the film review managers in the marketing department, have them watch them, and then vote on whether the film is suitable for release...

But this time is an exception.

Since the second half of 03, Mark has been keeping a close eye on the developments in the Chinese film market.

He would watch every Chinese film that grossed over 100 million yuan, including "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "Qin," and "A Better Tomorrow," and analyze the Chinese market in detail.

He was naturally following the controversy surrounding "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Lord of the Rings 2" some time ago.

[Huashang Brothers] even submitted their infringement report to [Paimeng Pictures]. As the head of the copyright department, how could he not take a look?

It was that incident that led him to watch the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Rings," and from that movie, he learned about [Xuan Shi Entertainment] and a director named "Zhou Yang."

After seeing how "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Rings" caused a sensation in China and achieved good box office results, a bold idea inexplicably arose in his mind...

It was at this very moment that he received a call from his director, Catherine.

The person on the phone was...

It is also the new work of that director named "Zhou Yang".

"Mr. Mark, let's begin."

"it is good!"

Following the staff's instructions.

Mark nodded.

Then the lights in the screening room gradually dimmed, and a faint light appeared on the screen.

"A bit rough!"

Mark frowned slightly when he first saw the projection screen in the theater.

The first thing that appeared on the screen was a shaky shot, accompanied by heavy breathing.

This rough filming style is completely different from the sophisticated industrialization of Hollywood, yet it inexplicably carries a sense of unsettling realism.

Do you want to understand the meaning of life?

"I want the real..."

"Alive?"

"you……"

"How much blood will be shed to save their lives?"

Just then, accompanied by the sound of darkness, a dry, cold voice gradually rang in my ears.

The voice sounded as if it had been sanded, with each word being inaccurate, but the frequency of the vocal cord vibrations was intermittent, like rusty gears clattering and rattling.

In the darkness, intermittent sounds, mixed with electrical static, accompanied the noise, and then the tone suddenly dropped, turning into some kind of inhuman guttural sound...

In the screening room.

Mark inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine.

Faintly, he seemed to hear a series of metallic scraping sounds coming from the darkness of the screen...

The sound kept repeating, but it grew softer and softer...

When the sound gradually fades until it's barely audible!
Suddenly! Twilight Saw!
Without any warning, the movie title appeared on the dark screen!
Blood-red words, accompanied by cracking, suffocating fissures, seeped blood, staining the entire screen.

Mark, caught completely off guard, was instantly startled!
Next!

On the screen, endless darkness surged in once more, like a gaping maw of an abyss, viciously devouring the words "Twilight Saw".

After a brief silence, Mark heard the sound of water splashing in his ears.

In the darkness, a moving human figure gradually emerged!

The humanoid figure seemed to be struggling desperately!

Yes, it's a struggle!

Mark saw in the dark world that someone seemed to be struggling desperately in a small space, their hands grabbing wildly, as if a madman desperately trying to hold onto something.

Then, the sound gradually rose!
The sound seemed to be struggling and coughing violently, as if it was about to cough up its lungs!
The atmosphere of the movie made Mark feel a little uncomfortable!
It was an extremely claustrophobic and oppressive feeling, so oppressive that even through the screen, he could feel the intense suffocating sounds and the sensation of choking!

Even, whether it was due to the filming technique or something else, his breathing became rapid subconsciously!
"anyone there?"

"Damn it, where am I?"

Is anyone there? Speak up!

"Damn it!"

"Aaaaaaah, is anyone there?!"

"..."

A terrified cry suddenly pierced the darkness, accompanied by increasingly heavy breathing, echoing in Mark's ears again and again!

In the dim light, it seemed as if a wet figure crawled out from somewhere, fell down once, and then desperately roared like a madman!
Then, suddenly, without warning, the lights came on one by one.

Perhaps the eyes have adapted to the darkness!
When the lights came on, Mark blinked uncomfortably, then shook his head.

When I looked at the screen again...

He saw a basement.

The filthy basement walls were covered with mottled bloodstains, and rusty chains and discarded medical tools were piled up in the corner.

The camera slowly zooms in, and following its view, Mark sees two young men bound in shackles, and a motionless corpse lying in a pool of blood…

....................................

In the Paimon Pictures lounge.

The air conditioner was blowing cold air, and the air was filled with the bitter aroma of coffee.

Zhou Yang sat leisurely on the sofa, holding a coffee in his hand, enjoying the bitterness and aroma of the coffee while glancing at the movie posters on the wall.

Planet, Digital Empire, The Lord of the Rings...

Paimon Pictures' glorious achievements over the years are on full display.

Beside him, Catherine was whispering with the Palmont staff about how to arrange and schedule the release of "Twilight".

He, on the other hand, seemed to be on vacation, leisurely flipping through a book titled "The History of the Hollywood Film Industry".

Just then, the door of the lounge was pushed open.

Xu Haibo walked in with his assistant, dressed in a sharp suit and shiny leather shoes, exuding an air of sophistication.

He had just finished discussing the distribution rights for "Disaster" with the marketing manager of Paimon. Although no final decision had been reached, Tianyu Media's terms were very low this time, and they had also briefly reached a temporary agreement with the film department of Huasheng Brothers to jointly distribute the film. It was probably a done deal.

However, when he saw Zhou Yang sitting on the sofa, his smile froze instantly.

A strange sense of unease welled up in my heart without me even knowing why.

But he concealed it well, and didn't greet Zhou Yang. Instead, he sat quietly in the seat next to him, drinking coffee and making phone calls to his assistant to arrange the movies for May.

From May to July this year, Tianyu Media will have a Warner Bros. film, *The End of the World*, released. They have high hopes for this film. In addition, several other Chinese films are in the pipeline, all works by renowned directors, including Chen Kai's *Extreme*. This is Chen Kai's latest masterpiece after the 98 hit *Farewell My Concubine*, which caused a sensation throughout Asia. The entire company is very optimistic about this film…

Just then, a cell phone rang urgently.

Zhou Yang received a phone call as soon as he turned on his computer.

"Are you going to give me 4500 million yuan for endorsement? To make me your brand ambassador?"

"Don't agree yet...wait a bit!"

"Hmm, let's wait a bit longer, he'll offer 5000 million!"

"..."

"By the way, could you send me information on the movies from 'The Haunted Village' to 'The Spirit of Zhao Zilong,' and also a copy of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Rings' to my email?"

"I'll talk to Paimon about a film collaboration later..."

When I heard that sentence...

Xu Haibo stared wide-eyed at Zhou Yang.

Film collaboration?

The eight major Hollywood film studios!
and you?

Movie?

Cooperation?

Damn it!

This person...

Are you still dreaming?

Just then, the door next to them opened.

"Mr. Zhou Yang, hello. Mr. Mark would like to have a chat with you..."