Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 406 Celebrating Victory, A Decade-Long Dream

1月14日上午，当地时间1月13日晚，奥斯卡正式公布了2009年第81届奥斯卡最佳外语片奖第二阶段的“九强”名单。

In the latest list of advancing films, "Building Dreams 2008" representing mainland China and "Cape No. 7" representing Taiwan were both eliminated.

The news was not surprising.

"There really haven't been any really strong films this year; it feels like something's missing."

"It's a pity that Wu Chen and Zhang Yimou don't have any new films, and Chen Kaige's 'Mei Lanfang' won't be finished before October."

"."

Netizens expressed their amazement, while industry insiders were extremely excited.

After the start of the year, "Bad Genius" surged forward with unstoppable momentum, quickly approaching 300 million yuan at the box office, and is about to set a new record.

Although it hasn't reached 300 million yet, this shows the potential for box office revenue this year.

At that very moment, the 2008 CCTV China Economic Person of the Year awards were announced, and Han Sanping, Chairman of China Film Group, was named one of them.
The signal couldn't be clearer.

Anyone with a discerning eye can understand this.

The film and television industry is really about to boom.
Han Sanping was exceptionally happy at this moment, and he made no attempt to hide his joy when Wu Chen called to congratulate him.

"Haha, to be honest, I never would have imagined a few years ago that this award would be given to someone in the film industry. How much is our market value?"

Wu Chen smiled and nodded upon hearing this.

Compared to other industries, the film and television industry is really small.

Han Sanping's tone still carried a hint of emotion: "Wu Chen, when you came to me with 'The Dark Side' to distribute it back then, did you ever imagine that our country could produce two films with box office revenues of 300 million yuan a month?"

"Chairman Han, you don't sound like someone who's won the China Economic Person of the Year award," Wu Chen couldn't help but tease. "You have to think bigger things out of this."

Han Sanping chuckled, "That's true. By the way, is your 'Bad Genius' celebration party confirmed for the 17th?"

"Well, before the CCTV ceremony on the 20th, Mr. Han, you could give an acceptance speech at the celebration banquet."

"What's there for me to say? Last year's 'If You Are the One' had nothing to do with China Film Group, and this year's 'Bad Genius' also has nothing to do with China Film Group."

Han Sanping couldn't help but feel a hint of resentment, while Wu Chen chuckled softly.

"Chairman Han, it's all small change."

"How much did you sell the copyright for?" Han Sanping couldn't help but ask.

"Not all have been sold yet, only a portion has been sold, currently around 800 million US dollars."

Han Sanping was stunned for a moment and remained speechless.

It's already sold eight million dollars and it's still not sold out. Isn't "Bad Genius" going to be a huge hit?
He knew that this movie was quite popular throughout Asia, and the copyright fees in Europe and America would be higher. Besides, Wu Chen said that not all copies had been sold.
Although China Film Group doesn't need to make a lot of money, the above message has already been issued.

Starting this year, China Film Group must take a comprehensive approach to balancing "box office targets" and "ideological risks."
This means that box office revenue will also be a part of what China Film Group must achieve.

“I have to vote for Ning Hao’s new script no matter what,” Han Sanping paused slightly, then added with a hint of suspicion, “You guys didn’t find someone else to fill the quota again, did you?”

He was fooled last time, thinking it was a small investment and not worth the millions.
That won't happen.

Hearing Wu Chen's words, Han Sanping felt much relieved.

The time soon came to the 17th.

As expected, "Bad Genius" successfully surpassed 3 million yuan in cumulative box office revenue after 16 days of release.

Media reports were numerous:

"The film 'Bad Genius,' directed by Ning Hao, grossed 3.06 million yuan in just sixteen days after its release."
"Bad Genius" became the third domestic film to surpass 300 million yuan at the box office, making Ning Hao the fourth director to achieve this milestone, following Wu Chen, Wu Yusen, and Feng Xiaogang.

"A female lead has emerged at the 300 million yuan box office. This is the only domestic film to break the 300 million yuan mark, told from the female lead's perspective."

"."

Similar reports have been continuous.

At this moment, the crew members were discussing the filming of "Extraordinary Perfection" in Tianjin during a break.

Compared to other films, such as "If You Are the One," which relied heavily on actors like Ge You, with Ge You bearing the brunt of the film's development and box office success, "Bad Genius" is entirely different.
"Three hundred million."

As Zhang Ziyi read the report, she sighed inwardly, feeling quite envious.

A female-led film like "Bad Genius" is what she needs right now, or she needs a film with a full international cast to broaden her future career path.

Now, the new generation is closing in, and she hasn't made any breakthroughs in the past two years. Her only hope, "Inception," has also been taken away.

"It must be her."

She couldn't think of anyone else who could get the role in Inception.

She learned from her boyfriend that Nolan had invited Marion Cotillard, the previous year's Oscar-winning actress, to play the lead role, and was also hinting that the second female lead role would be played by an Oscar-nominated actress.

Fan Binbin was standing opposite Zhang Ziyi, with a staff member holding an umbrella for her.

The two are about to put on a "battle for love" in the snow.
Three hundred million was a huge sum for her, but she knew that such a movie was a pipe dream for her at the moment. What she needed to do now was to increase her popularity and fame as much as possible, and leave her peers behind.

Zhang Ziyi, on the other hand, is much more high-profile than her; she has a large entourage of people accompanying her whenever she goes in or out.
At 7 p.m., the celebration banquet for the 300 million yuan success of "Bad Genius" was held as scheduled at the State Guesthouse.

To celebrate the box office success of its 300 million yuan film, Enlight Media didn't want to lose out to Huayi Brothers, which had done so a few days earlier. Almost all the crew members, theater representatives, distributors, media personnel, and film critics were present.

At the celebration banquet, a banner displayed a long string of figures: 3.02 million, and a large block of ice was placed on the stage.

Standing on the stage, Ning Hao couldn't help but joke, "It's so cold. On such a freezing day, Mr. Wang insisted on bringing up such a huge block of ice."

"Our hearts are warm."

Wang Changtian knew how to respond, and the audience burst into laughter.

Han Sanping also sat in the audience, smiling and clapping.

Ning Hao struck the ice block with his hammer but failed to break it, so he simply handed it to Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei held Wu Chen's hand, and the two of them struck the second hammer together, finally revealing the note inside that read "300 million".

"It seems Director Ning didn't eat dinner tonight," Wu Chen joked. "Still not satisfied with 300 million? Are you waiting for 400 million?"

"Hahaha"

The guests and media were having a great time.

Ning Hao waved his hands repeatedly, "I'm satisfied, I'm satisfied. It's impossible for 'Bad Genius' to make 400 million. I'll have to leave that expectation to Director Wu's 'The Martian' in April."

Han Sanping nodded in deep agreement.

He's now eagerly anticipating The Martian in April.

Seeing this, the media immediately turned their attention to Wu Chen, who directly declined to answer their questions.
"Don't ask me if I'm confident. Today is a celebration party for 'Bad Genius,' so let's talk about that movie. We'll talk about 'The Martian' again in April."

Liu Yifei, arm in arm with Wu Chen, added with a smile, "The 300 million yuan box office isn't just my achievement. There are many cast and crew members involved in making a film; it's everyone's contribution."

At this point, Ning Hao naturally became the focus of the interview.

"Congratulations, Director Ning! You've become the fourth director in China to surpass 300 million yuan at the box office. What are your thoughts, especially considering that Director Feng Xiaogang's box office also surpassed 300 million yuan a few days ago?"

"This was unimaginable to me before. Director Feng's movie was released on the 18th, and today is the 17th, exactly one month later."

The fact that two movies with box office revenue of 300 million yuan can be generated in one month is truly remarkable. It's not that I'm amazing; I just feel that times are progressing.

This is thanks to the development of the Chinese film market. For example, Han Dong receiving the 2008 CCTV China Economic Person of the Year Award demonstrates that Chinese films are on the rise.

Ning Hao's words struck a chord with Han Sanping, who, despite not intending to offer any comments, couldn't help but speak up:
"I had a dream that lasted for ten years."

Ten years ago, when I visited the Disney and Warner Bros. studios, I felt a sense of bittersweetness and tragic grandeur.

After returning, I had this dream for ten years: to create a modern, first-class production base for China and Chinese-language films, a base for Chinese directors and all artists who love Chinese films, and for Chinese audiences, where high-quality films can be produced.

After dreaming about it for ten years, we finally started to realize it three years ago, and last year we fully realized it. Our dream came true.

With a host of outstanding directors like Zhang Yimou, Wu Chen, Chen Kaige, Ning Hao, and Feng Xiaogang, I now realize that China is capable of producing world-class art films and commercial films.

(End of this chapter)