Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 695 Backstabbing, Stabbing in the back

The global promotional tour for Interstellar is now heading to London.

As soon as they got off the plane, Wu Chen and Liu Yifei were surrounded by British media's cameras and microphones.

Universal Pictures has booked the entire top floor of the Savoy Hotel on the banks of the Thames.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Wu Chen could see the London Eye slowly turning under the gloomy sky.

The media here are more "gentlemanly" than those Americans, and their questions tend to focus more on art and philosophy, but they haven't lost any of their inherent arrogance.

"Wu, your films always explore grand cosmologies. Is this related to your background in Eastern philosophy?"

"Matthew, why do you think you can play a father well?"

"Crystal, I heard that you play an outstanding scientist in the film. How did you understand and portray this character?"

The group handled the situation with ease.

The press release was quickly published.

[The Times: Interstellar – Wu Chen's Eastern Epic Dedicated to the Universe!]

Liu Yifei perfectly embodies the combination of wisdom and beauty!

[A Guardian film critic predicts that Interstellar may be the greatest science fiction film since 2001: A Space Odyssey!]

【.】

Meanwhile, in China, the battle between film producers and theater chains had reached a fever pitch.

Rumors started flying everywhere, saying that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television couldn't stand it anymore and intended to step in to mediate, preparing to hold a closed-door meeting so that everyone could sit down and discuss things properly.

At this critical juncture, the theater chains are not to be outdone either.

The already fragile "production team" has produced a traitor.

Yu Dong of Bona Film Group made a decision that shocked everyone.

Instead of joining Zhang Weiping's "price increase" camp, he directly announced that the 3D blockbuster "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate," which will be released during the Lunar New Year season, will fully comply with the existing 43% revenue sharing rule and will not raise prices!
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they realized what it meant.

Bona Film Group seems to be trying to win over theaters to secure a better screening schedule for "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" during the Lunar New Year holiday, thus gaining an advantage in its direct competition with "The Flowers of War".

From a business perspective, this operation makes no mistake; it's all about making money.

But many production companies see this as blatant backstabbing, which is extremely unethical.

"That Yu Dong... Heh!"

Wang Changtian, from Enlight Media, looked at the news, shook his head with a cold smile.

He had originally hoped that Zhang Weiping could make this happen, so that everyone could benefit from it.

Now that Yu Dong has done this, Zhang Weiping's plan is probably doomed.

Unless someone else steps forward.

He couldn't help but think of Wu Chen, who was far away in England.

"This Zhang Weiping is petty. If he had teamed up with Xingchen Pictures, there might have been a chance. But now, with this whole mess..."

Zhang Weiping was currently cursing loudly in his office.

I just cursed Wu Chen for being treacherous last night, and today another traitorous scoundrel has appeared.

"Damn it! Yu Dong! You traitor! That bastard Zuo Shandiao shouldn't have let you leave China Film Group back then!"

After he finished cursing, he calmed down and thought about it, and suddenly realized a really shitty fact.

It seems that these so-called "allies" are not as reliable as Wu Chen, whom he labeled "insidious and cunning" last night.

"He got off too easily."

Zhang Weiping snorted coldly, feeling quite uncomfortable.

The atmosphere in Han Sanping's office at China Film Group was even more tense than in Zhang Weiping's.

He made a phone call directly to Yu Dong and started cursing at him.

"Yu Dong! Are you brainless? Huh?! I'm asking you if you're brainless!" Han Sanping's voice trembled with anger. After all, Yu Dong was a soldier he had trained.

"Boss, no, that's not it," Yu Dong said, his voice filled with grievance.

“Zhang Weiping can’t do it! The eight major cinema chains have already joined forces, and our side is just a loose alliance; we simply can’t withstand it! I’m doing this for the company.”

"For the company? Even if it's urgent, can't you fucking wait a couple of days?!"

Han Sanping took a deep breath and felt his blood pressure rise.

He discovered that after Yu Dong went into business, he became increasingly obsessed with money, and his fat brain had nothing left but profit.

Even if we're in a hurry, we have to wait until Zhang Weiping's scandal has died down before we can talk about this.

Even if you don't get along with the new visuals, you shouldn't stab them in the back at this time.

Zhang Weiping called him Zuo Shandiao (a famous bandit leader), but what did he say about it for the sake of the bigger picture?
"Boss, could it be Director Wu's side?" Yu Dong seemed to realize something and instantly thought of something.

"You made your own decision, so you can deal with it yourself!" Han Sanping was too lazy to waste any more words with him and hung up the phone directly.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, a person who had been completely invisible suddenly appeared.

Director Lu Xun broke down in tears during a media interview, lamenting that his film "The Last Supper" was out of money again and pleading with investors not to withdraw their funding.

People in the industry were shocked when they saw this news.

"Hasn't this movie already cost nearly 100 million? Isn't that enough? What on earth is he filming?"

"I heard that their film crew is notoriously slow. They don't do any real work all day, they just sit there studying the script and researching history."

"Hilarious! What era are we living in? Still playing this game. The investors are really unlucky."

Everyone just treats it as a joke.

Anyway, the headache is for the investors at Star Media.

The director is crying like this, and the project is stuck here. I guess in the end, the investors will have to grit their teeth and scrape together enough money to let him finish filming.

London, hotel room.

While promoting the event, Wu Chen also learned about Yu Dong's betrayal from Xu Dong's phone call.

“Mr. Wu, from a business competition perspective, Yu Dong made the most advantageous choice for himself and his film at the time.” Xu Dong’s tone carried a hint of disdain. “But this man is too unethical.”

Wu Chen was also aware of this.

Those who started in the cinema industry in the early days, especially those who had some connection to real estate, all had a bit of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit.

This kind of loyalty has its good and bad aspects, but he still appreciates it quite a bit.

"Let's not talk about him anymore." Wu Chen changed the subject. "You'll represent me at the meeting at the General Administration the day after tomorrow. I have something to tell you, so pay attention."

Xu Dong was thrilled as he listened on the other end of the phone, especially when Wu Chen mentioned several key figures, he couldn't help but gasp.

If someone else had said that, he would have thought they were bragging. But coming from his own boss...
He felt it could work!

"Oh, by the way," Wu Chen said, then seemed to remember something and casually asked, "The company has a new project coming up, and I'm planning to allocate a portion for internal subscription. Do you want some?"

As a veteran of the cinema chain who has been with me for so long, this kind of benefit is naturally something I have to give them.

Of course, he didn't specify what project it was, and he wanted to see what Xu Dong would choose.

"Yes! Of course I want it!" Xu Dong answered without hesitation. "Boss, how much? I'll fill it up! I'm just... I'm worried I won't have enough money."

He's not a fool.

How could he not know his boss's standing in the film industry?
He couldn't imagine how bad the portion that was specially set aside for everyone could be.

The boss isn't someone who's short of money.

"It's not expensive." Wu Chen chuckled. "Of course, if you don't have enough money, the company can cover it for you first, and then deduct it from your bonuses."

However, I must warn you, investing in movies involves risks.

"Don't be afraid!" Xu Dong chuckled on the other end of the line. "I trust the boss!"

(End of this chapter)