Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 553 5 Million, the Cruel Reality

"Wu Chen and Jiang Wen! What kind of people are these! Do they have no organization or discipline at all?!"

"Lawless! Truly lawless!"

"Disregarding the overall situation!"

At Cannes, Jiang Wen's "Well done" stung the sensitive and fragile nerves of the Film Association members, but their restraint had no effect on Jiang Wen and Wu Chen.

It's a little upsetting.

Many people in the industry are secretly smiling.

Everyone knows it perfectly well, even if they don't say it.

How many strange things has the Film Association done over the years?

From project initiation to award selection, there are many operations that are difficult to understand.

People can tolerate it once or twice, but if it happens every time, morale will quickly crumble.

Feng Xiaogang was somewhat itchy at this moment. Damn it, although he was known as "Little Cannon" outside, it seemed that he and his film "Aftershock" could not afford to offend the Film Association.

He was even hoping to win an award with this film.

After all, unlike Wu Chen and Jiang Wen who have won major international awards, he can't just grumble. If he grumbles too much, he might lose the award.

In the past, his insults were selective and purposeful.

"We have a fairly good relationship with those old geezers in the Film Association, so let them keep quiet about it. As for Wu Chen and Jiang Wen, they love to make a fuss, so let them be."

The official promotional plan for "The Great Earthquake" has already been released. You should cooperate, be sincere and earnest, lower your stance, and elevate your perspective.

Wang Zhonglei put it very bluntly.

Feng Xiaogang understood and nodded.

For the sake of box office revenue, it's normal to be shameless.

Amidst these undercurrents, box office data was quietly released.

Exactly one month after its release, "1939" has officially surpassed the 500 million yuan mark at the box office, despite rampant piracy.

In an instant, major media outlets all spoke out.

[The film "1939" surpasses 5 million yuan in box office revenue, marking a new milestone for Chinese films.]

[Domestic film box office records rise again, "1939" surpasses 500 million!]

[The miracle continues! With box office receipts exceeding 500 million, "1939" has officially entered an extended screening phase, and ticket discounts are now available!]

【.】

On the other hand, Huayi acted extremely quickly.

The official propaganda campaign for "Tangshan Earthquake" swept across the country, fueled by state media and CCTV.

Soon after, Feng Xiaogang's interview was broadcast.

"We are too forgetful. Many pains seem to disappear as soon as they are over."

I hope this isn't a movie that people go to see expecting excitement or special effects. This is more than just a movie ticket; it's a collective reflection on that period of history, a belated tribute.

These words were impeccable, demonstrating a strong sense of humanistic concern and social responsibility, moving many viewers in front of their televisions.

Meanwhile, in the huge film studio, everyone was still working hard for the final shot.

After this scene is completed, the crew will move to Iceland and other locations to begin arduous location shooting.

Just then, a piece of news suddenly spread.

It was Li who made it.

At the beginning of filming, Li An even came to learn a bit. Everyone in the industry knows that Li An has a native 3D movie in preparation, which has attracted a lot of attention both overseas and domestically.

At this time, a news flash from The Hollywood Reporter exposed Li An's predicament.

[Li's "Life of Pi" project has been suspended by 20th Century Fox due to budget overruns.]

The article details that Lee submitted a production budget of up to $75 million to Fox for this 3D film adapted from the bestselling novel.

This figure deterred Fox executives, who are known for their meticulous budgeting, and the project has been indefinitely postponed.
Liu Yifei was a little surprised and couldn't help but look at Wu Chen.

"No way." "It's not a blockbuster, and with a budget of $7500 million, it's normal for Fox to be cautious."

Wu Chen estimated that Li An had been busy with funding for this film for quite some time.

Native 3D looks promising, but there are very few companies worldwide that can get major manufacturers to pay these extra costs and are certain to recoup those costs and make a profit.

Li An was not among them.

The news immediately caused a stir in global media.

The Taiwanese media were the first to react, publishing reports filled with a tragic tone almost immediately:
"Taiwan's Pride Hits Hollywood! Director Lee's Dream of a 3D Blockbuster Shattered, Fox Backs Down Due to Cost."

The words are filled with regret and sympathy for Li An, and condemnation of the cold-blooded ruthlessness of Hollywood capital.

Domestic media outlets were also busy, with major portal websites quickly reporting on the news in their entertainment headlines.

"Ang Lee's new film was shelved due to a $7500 million budget; the Oscar halo couldn't withstand the realities of capital."

Various reports followed one after another, and of course, the most eye-catching comparisons were indispensable.

Much of the article intentionally or unintentionally emphasizes the "extravagance" of Wu Chen's "Interstellar," with a budget of two hundred million US dollars, more than double that of Ang Lee's project.

Moreover, Wu Chen has absolute control over the film, with the investors giving him the green light from the technical aspects to casting.
The comment section below this news article has already exploded with discussion.

"My God, even a big director like Ang Lee, who has won an Oscar for Best Director, is stuck with a studio because of $7500 million? Hollywood is too realistic!"

"Fox made a lot of money from Avatar, right? They can't be broke, can they?"

"Don't be naive, upstairs. This is the way business works. But compared to others, Wu Chen is really too amazing. 2 million US dollars! Universal Pictures has really pinned its bets on Wu Chen."

"This precisely illustrates the difference in status. No matter how capable Li An is, he's still a top-tier 'employee' in Hollywood, and he has to be mindful of his boss's mood."

Wu Chen is different; he himself is a box office guarantee, one of the 'bosses' who can make capital profitable. Universal Pictures practically begged him to make their movies!

"."

Reality is so clear and cruel.

Talent and awards can earn you respect and opportunities, but they cannot guarantee you absolute freedom.

In this enormous commercial machine, there is only one thing that truly allows you to do whatever you want and realize all your artistic fantasies—irreplaceable commercial value, and the resulting power to influence capital.

Studio filming for Interstellar has officially wrapped.

Universal Pictures' publicity department immediately sprang into action, sending countless press releases to major media outlets around the world to showcase the film's progress and maintain the project's buzz.

Wu Chen took a deep breath, turned to face the cheering crew members, and clapped his hands.

"Listen up, guys! The work in the shed is done, great job! Everyone, take two days off. See you in Iceland in two days!"

Soon, new media headlines covered up the old news.

[Interstellar filming has completed studio shooting and will move to Iceland for on-location filming.]

Wu Chen, a passionate filmmaker, created a series of dreamlike scenes for "Interstellar"!

【.】

The eyes of movie fans worldwide are once again firmly drawn.

Meanwhile, in Cannes, France, the film festival was drawing to a close. The sun of the French Riviera shone on the red carpet teeming with celebrities, and the air was filled with hustle and bustle.

At the hotel's outdoor café, Jiang Wen and producer Ma Ke had just seen off a group of American film distributors.
Representative from Well Go USA Entertainment.

They successfully acquired the North American distribution rights for "Let the Bullets Fly" at a very attractive price.

Ma Ke was in a great mood. He picked up his champagne glass and couldn't help but pat Jiang Wen on the shoulder:

"Cheer up, Lao Jiang, you've made a killing! Director Wu's name is fucking effective. These Americans' eyes lit up like they'd seen money the moment they heard the film was related to him, and they were much more willing to negotiate the price!"

Jiang Wen held his wine glass, took a sip in silence, and felt a strange sense of emptiness in his heart.

"My name doesn't work anymore. It's all Chen Kai's fault!"

"Alright, my dear Director Jiang," Ma Ke chuckled, shaking his head and refilling his glass. "A good name is built on Director Wu's repeated successes. That's skill, nothing to be ashamed of. Why don't you give Director Wu a call and thank him?"

"How can that be? Wouldn't that let him successfully show off? I've made a note of this; I'll get my revenge later."

(End of this chapter)