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

Chapter 359 Mr. Zhou, please let me go!

Hollywood, bathed in the glow of sunset.

【Wyman Pictures】

A gust of wind blew in through the window and onto Karl's face.

The global co-producer of "Dark Knight" is Wyman Pictures.

After experiencing a downturn, [Weiman Pictures] has finally ushered in the most important opportunity for the company.

The global box office frenzy of "Dark Knight" gave Wyman Pictures its first enviable surplus, but Carl stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Los Angeles headquarters, the smoke from his cigar swirling between his fingers, his eyes clearer than ever.

He knew that the success of this Chinese-Chinese co-production was only a temporary respite!

They absolutely cannot, and will not, place their bets on a "borrowed opportunity," otherwise, there would be no need for [Wyman Pictures] to exist.

On the desk, the rough cut of "Iron Man" lay quietly. This comic book adaptation, which cost $1.4 million and mortgaged the company's last assets, was the real life-or-death gamble.

He recalled that desperate night in 2001...

When the board threatened to break up and sell the Marvel character rights, he watched helplessly as the film rights were sold off one after another, and as one hope after another was dashed. In the end, he slammed his fist on the table and made a solemn pledge to save the rights to Iron Man.

The gold and red armor seen in the special effects shots today embodies not only the fantasy of superheroes, but also the tragic sense of doom and gloom of the entire [Wyman Pictures] fighting a desperate battle.

in fact……

The reason the rights to "Iron Man" were saved was simply because the movie was based on a second-tier comic book, and Hollywood investors didn't have high expectations for it...

He's gambling right now!
They bet that audiences would buy into this alcoholic genius, and that this steel suit flying towards the sunrise could tear apart Hollywood's prejudice against second-tier comic book companies.

The secretary rushed in, her face grave, and handed over a document: "Mr. Carl, the eight major Hollywood studios have just reached a consensus to impose a technology blockade and distribution restrictions on all overseas companies cooperating with Zhou Yang. If we continue to insist on the joint distribution agreement between *Iron Man* and [Xuan Shi Entertainment], even the North American theatrical release schedule may be affected."

Carl stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the cigar between his fingers gleaming in the setting sun.

He stared at the news on the screen about China Capital's massive investment in over thirty films to annihilate Zhou Yang, and shook his head: "Those idiots used 100 million to build a pedestal for Zhou Yang with 'Dragon Knight,' and now..."

Carl turned and stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his glasses. "I'm not betting on a movie, but on the arrival of a new era—the fact that all the capital is frantically targeting him precisely exposes their fear."

He picked up the joint agreement on the table, glanced at it calmly, and then tore it in half: "We will not sign this agreement, and we will never sign it."

"Tell Zhou Yang for me that we at [Weiman Pictures] will only fight alongside President Zhou's [Xuan Shi Entertainment] to the very end..."

The office suddenly fell silent.

The secretary nodded, but her expression was complicated.

The sound of the air conditioner echoed in the office.

Carl walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the neon-lit Hollywood in the distance.

“Perhaps he will be the godfather of the future Chinese film market…” Karl said, gazing into the distance.

"But what if he fails?" the secretary couldn't help but ask.

Karl paused for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "How will we know if we'll win if we don't take a gamble? If we win, our distribution channels in the Chinese market will have a greater advantage than any other company; even if we lose..."

Karl closed his eyes.

He didn't even consider the word "defeat"!

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

After a lull in Hollywood films in March and April, the Chinese film market welcomed a frenzy of imported films in May.

To make room for the upcoming "Domestic Film Protection Month," major cinemas have released five Hollywood blockbusters in just two months.

Among them, superhero movies led by DV Pictures were particularly eye-catching, with works such as "Aquaman" and "The Uncanny Four" appearing one after another. Although their box office performance did not surpass the peak record of 4.6 million yuan set by "Dark Knight," they still sparked a wave of movie-going enthusiasm, with each film breaking through 4 million yuan and ranking among the top five in the Chinese film charts...

Until Spider-Man 2 was released in China on May 28th...

This superhero sequel, directed by Rémy Pick, grossed 4800 million yuan on its opening day, setting a new record for imported films.

The epic showdown between Peter Parker and Doctor Octopus on screen thrilled audiences, and the hashtag #SpiderMan'sMostClassicBattle# on social media surpassed 80 million views for the first time.

After ten days of release, the film grossed over 4 million yuan and eventually topped the Chinese box office chart with an astonishing 6.03 million yuan, becoming the first Chinese film to break the 6 million yuan mark.

Its global box office performance set a new record for the series, grossing an astonishing $9.2 million and breaking the global record for superhero movies...

Market analysts found that 62% of the audience watched the film more than once, and the occupancy rate of IMAX theaters remained above 95%.

Even more surprisingly, the line "With great power comes great responsibility" in the film, although mocked by Zhou Yang's previous film "Black Robe Alliance 2" and criticized by some, has sparked a continuous stream of in-depth discussions among moviegoers about Eastern and Western views on heroism...

When the post-credits scene lit up, and superhero movies began to sweep across screens worldwide, the entire Chinese film industry realized...
This summer is destined to belong to those superheroes in their tight suits.

And with the strong rise of Spider-Man 2 to the top...

Suddenly, the name of another movie flashed through the minds of countless movie fans—"The Black Robe Alliance".

Rumors circulate that "Black Robe Alliance 3" is in secret development, but this has yet to be officially confirmed by [XuanShi Entertainment]...

seem!

Shen Long, the director of "Black Robe Alliance 3", is currently still under a ban from [XuanShi Entertainment].

Unlike in the past, this ban was carried out exceptionally thoroughly—aside from occasional discussions among fans, there was virtually no online search for any reports linking Shen Long to [Xuan Shi Entertainment].

Time flies, and it's already mid-June. The 2006 "Domestic Film Protection Month" is about to begin.

Major investors are already gearing up for a fierce battle for film slots during the summer season...

With several films, including "Building Dreams in the Entertainment Industry," about to be released, the competition in the capital market to create "gods" is becoming increasingly fierce.

Since March, major film companies have been investing heavily in film projects, all hoping to create a "second Zhou Yang," leading to severe market saturation. Now, the "Domestic Film Protection Month" has become the last chance for capital to make money, with various forces desperately vying for screening slots, even resorting to raising costs and creating hype, all to seize the prime summer movie season...

However, as market competition intensifies, various problems have begun to emerge: some low-quality films rely on marketing gimmicks to seize screening resources, while works with true artistic value are squeezed out of their space to survive.

The entire industry seems to have fallen into a vicious cycle of "creating a god," with major companies frantically chasing the birth of "the next Zhou Yang." All sorts of bizarre films are emerging one after another, and the competition for "internet traffic" among companies has reached a fever pitch. Various forms of traffic buying are rampant. There are reports that China's largest film review website, [MovieHome], has earned nearly tens of millions of yuan in traffic advertising fees. Meanwhile, Zhou Yang himself and his company have maintained an unusually low profile…

They seem to have relinquished the entire market, neither announcing new project plans nor participating in this battle for viewership, and they haven't even used the media resources of their subsidiaries, "Movie House" and "Quickbo," to promote their company...

Faced with an increasingly chaotic market environment, relevant departments were ultimately forced to convene an emergency coordination meeting, inviting representatives from the five major film companies in China, including Zhou Yang, to participate in in-depth discussions on issues such as how to regulate market order and prevent vicious competition from damaging the industry ecosystem.

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

6 month 25 day.

There are only 5 days left until the official start of the "Domestic Film Protection Month".

As the release date approaches, many Hollywood blockbusters are finishing their theatrical run, freeing up market space for domestic Chinese films.

7 o'clock in the evening.

In the conference room of the China Film Administration.

The meeting room was filled with smoke, and arguments rose and fell.

The heads of China's five major film companies were arguing heatedly over the June release slots, with some even slamming their fists on the table and shouting insults at each other, creating a tense atmosphere.

The moment Zhou Yang pushed open the conference room door, the previously noisy room fell into a deathly silence. Through the swirling smoke, the heads of the four major film and television companies turned their heads in unison, their eyes initially flashing with wariness and hostility, followed by a complex emotion.

Then, one by one, they stood up...

"Mr. Zhou, I remember you personally said you wouldn't touch the protected period." Deng Baichuan of Tianyu Entertainment stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, breaking the silence first: "What, now that you see the market is hot, you've changed your mind?"

Zhang Zhonglei of Huasheng Brothers sighed, his tone pleading: "President Zhou, we all know your movies are great. But the market is so big, could you leave us a way to survive? Our companies are counting on the 'Domestic Film Protection Month' to break even."

As the two spoke, a murmur of discussion arose in the conference room.

“Mr. Zhou!” The representative from [Starlight Media] shook his head with a wry smile: “Devil Knight has already raked in so much box office revenue. You’re not going to try and steal our market share during the protection month, are you? What about our projects that have been in preparation for half a year? We’re not afraid of fair competition, but when it comes to marketing and promotion, all of us combined are no match for you. Please, have some mercy on us and give us a chance to make a living…”

Wu Kebo of Shengshi Entertainment looked at Zhou Yang with a complicated expression: "President Zhou, this protection month is mainly for cultivating new directors and reserving talent for Chinese cinema. We hope you can be lenient and give us a chance. I know you're unhappy that we took many of your film projects before, but you also know that the capital behind us has invested real money..."

Before Zhou Yang could even speak, the group started crying and complaining.

Looking at the endless stream of people in charge, Zhou Yang was at a loss for words.

Just at this time……

The conference room door was pushed open again, and Zhang Changlong, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, strode in.

He looked around and smiled as he tried to smooth things over: "Everyone, we invited you all here today to coordinate schedules and jointly plan the development of domestic films, not to argue!"

He walked to the head of the table, opened his folder, and said, "This year's film protection month has 15 new domestic films being released. Because there are so many films, we need to allocate resources reasonably."

Before he could finish speaking, Deng Baichuan from Tianyu Media interjected, "Director Zhang, we at Tianyu Media will fully comply with any arrangements. A 5% reduction in our screening share is no problem!"

As she spoke, she stole a glance at Zhou Yang.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhang Zhonglei of [Huashang Brothers] immediately chimed in: "Our new director's film can be moved to the morning showing on a weekday, we definitely won't cause any trouble for the industry!"

The representative from [Starlight Cinema] even stood up and said, "Director Zhang, we are willing to give up three IMAX theaters! As long as..."

He looked at Zhou Yang with a hint of hesitation: "As long as the market environment is fair and healthy, that's fine."

Looking at this group of people in charge who were suddenly so cooperative...

Zhang Changlong was both amused and exasperated: "I haven't even mentioned the specific plan yet."

"No need to say anything, Director Zhang!" Wu Kebo of [Shengshi Entertainment] patted his chest confidently: "We guarantee to abide by the rules and will never engage in unfair competition! Mr. Zhou, don't you agree?"

He suddenly turned the conversation to Zhou Yang, his face plastered with a fake, ingratiating smile.

The air in the conference room froze instantly. Everyone held their breath and stared intently at Zhou Yang, as if awaiting some kind of verdict.

Looking at the tense scene before him, Zhang Changlong rubbed his temples in exasperation.

This group is clearly trying to morally blackmail Zhou Yang.

And Zhou Yang...

These people can't be morally blackmailed by them!
This guy!
They have absolutely no morals...

"Mr. Zhou, what do you think... Mr. Zhou..."

Zhang Changlong coughed lightly, his gaze shifting between Zhou Yang and the other responsible persons.

He secretly considered that if Zhou Yang really wanted to compete for this slot, he might be able to give Zhou Yang some leeway in resource allocation, and also save face for him...

After all, the success of "Dark Knight" is undeniable, and giving it appropriate preferential treatment is justifiable.

However, other films from [Xuanshi Entertainment] may need to be released outside of the protection month and cannot be released during the [Domestic Film Protection Month]. Otherwise, the entire [Domestic Film Protection Month] market would explode, and the whole industry would only become more chaotic...

Just at this time……

Everyone watched as Zhou Yang silently stood up.

Zhou Yang looked around at everyone present.

He shook his head helplessly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am sitting here today with very complicated feelings." Zhou Yang sighed: "Since the release of 'The Devil Knight,' I have been thinking about a question—for the Chinese film industry to truly rise, does it depend on the efforts of one person alone, or on the flourishing of the entire industry?"

After saying this, Zhou Yang looked around at everyone, his tone gradually becoming heavy.

“Over the past few months, what I’ve witnessed is heartbreaking. Any project that [Xuan Shi] has shown interest in is immediately snapped up at inflated prices; any director we’ve contacted receives double the offer the very next day.” Zhou Yang’s voice was filled with anguish, tinged with a bitter smile: “This makes me wonder: are we working together to cultivate the market, or are we sabotaging each other?”

Seeing that everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to meet Zhou Yang's gaze, and seemed somewhat guilty, Zhou Yang sighed, his tone softening as if he were restraining something.

"However, Director Zhang is right. The industry needs coordination and needs to consider the overall situation. Today, I am sitting here with the utmost sincerity to express our position: for the long-term development of Chinese films, [Xuan Shi Entertainment] is willing to voluntarily give up market space during the protection month."

When they heard this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then became excited, somewhat incredulous.

“However!” Zhou Yang paused, narrowing his eyes, “I must make this clear from the outset: if certain companies continue this vicious competition and short-sighted approach, continuing to disrupt the industry ecosystem through price gouging and poaching…”

Halfway through his sentence, a chill settled over the entire conference room, gradually intensifying...

"Forget it, everyone understands the big picture. I just want you all to remember: Hollywood's attacks have never stopped, and our real rivals are across the Pacific. I can back down today, but please ask yourselves honestly—what you've gained is market share, or the future of Chinese cinema?"

"That's settled then. We're withdrawing from the film protection period. We hope everyone cherishes this opportunity and creates works that truly live up to the expectations of the audience and this era. After all, only when the Chinese film industry grows bigger can everyone have a share."

As Zhou Yang finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief silence.

Immediately, Deng Baichuan from Tianyu Media stood up abruptly: "President Zhou! Your vision and magnanimity are truly remarkable! Yes, the future of China's film industry really depends on you. I knew it! President Zhou wouldn't compete with us for the 'Domestic Film Protection Month' slot, nor would he use his resources to restrict our screenings... We were just being petty and judging him too harshly..."

His voice trembled with excitement. He pointed at Zhou Yang with a solemn expression, as if he wasn't the one who had been the most aggressive in vying for the slots.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Zhonglei of [Huashang Brothers] immediately followed up: "President Zhou! You've sacrificed your own interests for the greater good! On behalf of all Chinese filmmakers, I thank you!"

He then shook hands with Zhou Yang, his hypocritical manner making one want to vomit.

Zhou Yang shook hands with him with a forced smile. Immediately afterward, Wu Kebo from [Shengshi Entertainment], his eyes red and choked with emotion, came to Zhou Yang's side: "Mr. Zhou's words remind me of my initial aspirations when I entered this industry."

Before he could finish speaking, he was drowned out by a barrage of praise such as "vision," "realm," and "role model."

Deputy Director Zhang Changlong watched as these officials changed their expressions faster than flipping through a book, and silently stuffed the mediation plan he had just taken out back into the folder.

Zhou Yang stared at the group of people, narrowing his eyes.

"I don't want the 'Domestic Film Protection Month,' but I do want the Golden Week slot on October 1st. If anyone has objections, we can discuss it further."

"no problem!"

"Mr. Zhou, such an important schedule definitely needs to be entrusted to you!"

"Yes, we have absolutely no objection!"

Everyone readily agreed verbally, but they had absolutely no intention of arguing!
Although October 1st, the National Day holiday, is a prime time for movie screenings, this year it coincides with a large number of Hollywood blockbusters being released.

Meanwhile, major investors are positioning themselves for the National Day holiday season through a "real estate + cinema" business model, planning to leverage the box office appeal of imported films to boost consumption in their commercial complexes. These investors are all counting on imported films to boost box office revenue and stimulate surrounding consumption.
They couldn't be happier to pass this hot potato to Zhou Yang and let him go head-to-head with Hollywood!
Moreover, I heard...

It seems the movie "Transformers" will be released ahead of schedule...

Yes, it seems like it's going to be released ahead of schedule again...

(End of this chapter)