Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 315 Breaking 100 Million, Celebrating Success

January in Beijing is already winter, and pedestrians on the roadside all hunch their shoulders and hurry along.

The car was warmly heated, and the windows were covered with a thin layer of fog.

"The reporter didn't give you any trouble, did he?" Liu Yifei asked, gripping the steering wheel with a slight smile and a relaxed tone.

"how do you know?"

“They caught me red-handed the last time I came back from New York.”

"It's just a small matter. Let's just consider it as helping them achieve their sales targets. It's so cold, everyone has a tough time."

Wu Chen rubbed his neck and looked out the window at the people dressed in thick clothes. If there were another heavy snowfall, the world would seem to have changed completely.

The car turned a corner on the east side of Sanlitun and drove onto a familiar alley.

"By the way, my sister knows you're coming back today, and she said she wants us to go out for lamb spine hot pot together."

"Then let's go. They just wanted to eat since there wasn't enough food for the two of them, so they invited us along."

Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at him and said with a playful laugh, "Then they're not like that."

The hot pot restaurant is not far away, hidden deep in the alley. A handwritten "Today's Special" sign is posted at the entrance, the characters crooked and slanted, exuding an old-fashioned casualness.

A wave of heat wafted out of the private room.

The air conditioner was humming inside, and the red soup under the charcoal stove was bubbling and steaming, while a pot of lamb spine was bubbling and emitting a fragrant aroma.

"Senior brother, how much more do we need to go to break 100 million at the box office?" Wu Chen asked casually as Liu Yifei picked up another piece of lamb spine for him and slowly ate it.

"Still 40 million short"

Ning Hao's eyes lit up when he talked about the box office of "Racing," it's a sure thing that it will break 100 million.

"I just don't know if the movie can break 200 million at the box office?"

Liu Yifei added a sentence at the right time.

"Disaster."

Before Ning Hao and Wu Chen could speak, Xing Aina shook her head, "Although this movie started off not much worse than 'Assembly,' it's a pure comedy with a dramatic plot. Once pirated copies are released, the box office will drop very quickly."

"really."

Wu Chen nodded in agreement. Although special effects blockbusters or large-scale movies have large investments, they also have corresponding advantages. In addition to copyright, their ability to resist piracy is stronger than that of movies like "Racing".

"By the way, why didn't we choose that old hot pot restaurant next to our school?" Wu Chen glanced around at the surroundings. Although it was comfortable and clean, it lacked that familiar, lively atmosphere.

“Speaking of which, we first met Wu Chen at that restaurant, so we really should go back and eat there,” Xing Aina couldn’t help but say.

"Oh, really?" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up with curiosity, and she asked eagerly, "Director Ning, so where did you and Wu Chen meet?"

"If I remember correctly, it was around December 2003. At that time, Director Wu was still working on the script for 'The Dark Side' with Director Mu, and, well, Song Ri as well."

"Song Ri is practically a cinematographer now, not to mention Director Wu."

As Xing Aina spoke, Ning Hao recalled the scene from that time and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Back then, he was just a small-time director making an art film, but now...
"Come on, congratulations, senior brother. It hasn't been easy these past few years. The box office is about to break 100 million. Now that we're driving, let's not drink alcohol. Let's have tea instead." Wu Chen raised his glass with a smile.

Congratulations, Director Ning!

A few glasses clinked together, and steam, the smell of alcohol, and laughter mingled together.

"To be honest, it wasn't that difficult. Ever since I met you and then Wu Chen, it all felt like it just fell into place."

Ning Hao was good with words. Holding Xing Aina's hand, he looked very affectionate, which immediately drew a reproach from Xing Aina, but more than that, she was delighted. "Director Ning is so good with words," Liu Yifei whispered with a grin in Wu Chen's ear.

"Speaking of which, after we finished eating hot pot that time, Sister Na was still calling out from outside the door."

Wu Chen was interrupted by Xing Aina and Ning Hao halfway through his sentence:
"Wu Chen, let's not talk about this anymore, it's ancient history."

"Junior brother, stop talking, it's awkward," Ning Hao said with a smile, stopping him.

Liu Yifei's eyes widened, her curiosity fully piqued, and her voice rose and fell: "Tell me quickly, sis, I want to hear what you shouted!"

"I'll have Wu Chen tell you when we get back." Xing Aina smiled, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

"Go back and have Director Wu talk to you about it."

At night, the car slowly drove back to the villa.

"So what did Sister Na shout?" Liu Yifei turned her head, her eyes sparkling.

Wu Chen held back for half a second, then chuckled softly: "She was shouting at the entrance of the hot pot restaurant: 'Ning Hao, you will definitely succeed, you definitely will.'"

Liu Yifei was taken aback, then burst out laughing as if a scene had flashed through her mind.

"It really happened, that's great."

"Um"

The first few days of 2008 were a time of mixed emotions, with some people rejoicing while others grieved.

The box office of "The Warlords" has been declining, barely managing to move up by a hair's breadth. Two hundred million seems like an insurmountable obstacle. In contrast, "Assembly" and "Crazy Racer" are still reaping box office rewards.

"Assembly" is expected to gross 300 million yuan, and Huayi Brothers also hopes to use this to help Feng Xiaogang break through 300 million yuan and become the second person in mainland China to do so. In recent days, the publicity from major media outlets has not decreased but increased.

On January 7th, "Crazy Racer" officially surpassed 1 million yuan in box office revenue, and media reports that had been prepared in advance began to be sent out:
[“Racing” surpasses 100 million yuan at the box office in ten days, Ning Hao officially joins the 100 million yuan box office club as the fifth mainland director after Zhang Yimou, Wu Chen, Chen Kaige, and Feng Xiaogang]

【.】

From this moment on, Ning Hao is no longer a second-tier director, but a first-tier commercial film director, as evidenced by his box office success. Currently, there are only five such directors in mainland China.
Many production companies in the industry are envious.

A great director can support an entire company. Feng Xiaogang built Huayi Brothers, Zhang Yimou made New Pictures a success, and Wu Chen has supported Starry Night Pictures.

Now, however, Starry Sky Pictures also has Ning Hao.
The two directors, who have both directed films with box office earnings exceeding 100 million yuan, have a close relationship and work closely together; who wouldn't envy that?

China Film Group specially arranged a celebration banquet for the 100 million yuan box office achievement that day, which was attended by the main creative team, Han Sanping, Wu Chen and others.

When faced with interviews, Ning Hao, Huang Bo, and the others were in high spirits tonight, refusing all requests:
"I'm very happy that the box office has exceeded 100 million. I haven't let down the two investors. As for my personal new movie, I don't have any ideas yet. I'll share them with everyone when I do!"

"We can't talk about the share, but we can say that everyone has made a lot of money!"

"To be an assassin, you have to love what you do; the same goes for being an actor—you can't let your love lead you astray."

"Hahaha"

Wu Chen and Han Sanping couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

The next day, news of the "Racing" celebration party spread, but it was overshadowed by the Golden Globe Awards.

The first major Hollywood red carpet event of the year is going to be cancelled.

A few days ago, when the Screen Actors Guild announced that the 72 actors nominated for the 65th Golden Globe Awards would collectively boycott the awards ceremony in support of the striking Hollywood screenwriters, it practically sealed the fate of this year's Golden Globes.

The Hollywood Reporter Association seemed to be working hard to negotiate, but ultimately succumbed to pressure a week before the awards ceremony, and Association President George Camara announced that the 65th Golden Globe Awards would be presented in the form of a press conference.

The news caused an uproar.
(End of this chapter)