Huayu Entertainment: You have been directing for three generations, are you comparing your qualifica

Chapter 127 Han Sanping's Plan, [Wuji] Reputation!
I only remembered to check the text messages I received after leaving the training camp.

On one side is a partner worth billions, and on the other is a young, artistic woman with a mental illness. It's obvious who to choose.

Ignoring Gao Yuanyuan's invitation and continuing to keep her hanging, he replied to Zeng Li.

I turned the steering wheel and drove in the familiar direction.

On the other side, Zeng Li cheered upon receiving the text message and took out the ingredients she had put away again.

Make a delicious meal as quickly as possible.

Tian Xiaole, familiar with the area, arrived at the building and sent Zeng Li a text message.

Before long, a beautiful figure came into view. Although she was covered up very well, her good figure was immediately apparent, and the aura she exuded made it clear that she was a great beauty even without seeing her face.

Tian Xiaole stepped forward, intending to put her arm around Zeng Liqian's waist, but Zeng Liqian dodged her.

Zeng Li snorted, rolled her eyes, and looked quite arrogant.

Judging from her timid and girlish behavior, I guess she's been a little angry because I haven't spoken to her for a while.

Upon arriving at Zeng Li's house, Tian Xiaole pressed her against the door, grabbed her mouth with one hand, and kissed her fiercely.

Some women just can't be spoiled. The more violent you are, the more they may seem to be struggling on the surface, but they are actually excited inside.

Zeng Li is like that.

Making "woo woo" sounds from its mouth~
There was no pushing motion, as if she had flipped a switch.

And so, they kissed and took off each other's clothes.

Zeng Li's legs went weak, and she was panting heavily.

Tian Xiaole carried the person to the sofa.

···
"I didn't know you had this skill. It looks delicious."

The three dishes and one soup on the table were all home-style dishes, which made Tian Xiaole very hungry.

"This is the best soup in Hubei. Drink some before meals to warm your stomach."

Zeng Li had changed into casual clothes, but the blush on her face hadn't faded yet, proving that the battle had been intense just now. She served Tian Xiaole a bowl of pork rib and lotus root soup.

"It's really good, very fresh."

Tian Xiaole took two sips and found the taste to be quite good, so she gave it a thumbs up.

"Director Tian, ​​I've been idle lately, I'm practically getting moldy, I want to find something to do."

Zeng Li spoke hesitantly, mentioning the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry: exchanging one's body for resources, and that's exactly what she's doing now.

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiaole put down her chopsticks and thought for a moment.

[Extreme Profession] Female police officer would be suitable, as her height and temperament are both appropriate, but the position has already been given to Dong Xuan.

Over here in the Pacific Rim...

For both Jing Tian and Liu Yifei, the role of base assistant is a big problem due to their youth; even with mature makeup, they still look too immature.

Zeng Li is a good fit in terms of both age and temperament, so we should give her a chance.

Seeing that Tian Xiaole didn't speak, Zeng Li became a little anxious and said in a casual tone:

"Actually, it's good to be idle. You can read more books when you have time."

"Here's what we'll do: you go to the Pacific Rim training camp tomorrow. As for what role you'll play, we'll decide later."

Tian Xiaole decided to give her a chance.

"Really?"

Zeng Li never expected that a casual complaint would lead to her being involved in such a large project.

"Don't be too happy yet. If you can't persevere in training to the end, you'll be eliminated."

Zeng Li didn't care about anything else and pounced on it immediately. This was the biggest project in the country, coveted by countless actors and stars.

No matter what role you play, it will greatly benefit you.

···
Han Sanping has recently set his sights on another big project. Once the success story of [Wuji] comes out, he will get involved.

With his role in "A Better Tomorrow," John Woo became a phenomenal gangster film that year, which also helped him successfully enter the Hollywood market.

Following that, they successively succeeded in "Ultimate Target", "Broken Arrow", and "Face Change", all of which were exemplary cases of making big profits with small investments, allowing investors to make a fortune.

Therefore, he was invited by Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise to film the Mission: Impossible 2 series.

Despite its low critical reception, it was a box office success, becoming the champion of the new millennium.

But nothing is ever smooth sailing. The movie "Windtalkers" had an investment of over 100 million US dollars, but only grossed 70 million US dollars worldwide, causing MGM, the investor, to go bankrupt.

The failure of "Memory Rift" became the last straw for John Woo, and from then on, no Hollywood investor dared to hire him to make movies.

John Woo is a nobody in Hollywood, but he's highly sought after in the country.

In 04, influenced by the movie "Hero", Poly Huayi and John Woo hit it off and decided to make a big-budget historical drama, "Battle of Red Cliffs"!
Han Sanping had his eye on this project and wanted to get involved as well.
If it weren't for Tian Xiaole's rise to fame, this would have been Han Sanping's second blockbuster project.

He now defines it as his third blockbuster.

···
On the 15th, "The Promise" will be released in theaters nationwide.

Many viewers went to the cinema because of the Palme d'Or-winning director and the film's strong cast.

Chen Kaige's influence was fully demonstrated in his first commercial film.

The preview screenings grossed 800 million yuan, breaking historical records, and the media was already cheering. Major cinemas once again increased their screenings of the film.

Before the first day was even over, it was announced that the box office record of 1700 million held by "Kung Fu" had been broken.

News outlets and social media portals are filled with praise and acclaim.

Many people have higher expectations, aiming for the record held by that large ship.

China Film Group also released one press release after another, showing Chen Kaige with a big smile on his face, immersed in flowers and applause.

He's just waiting for the overseas release of "The Promise" to bring him both fame and fortune, allowing this Palme d'Or-winning director to once again ascend to the pedestal of commercial films.

Zhang Yimou and others were once again trampled underfoot.

The first day of the premiere of "The Promise" has ended, and as expected, it has broken the record of 1800 million yuan held by "Titanic" on its opening day.

The box office grossed 2115 million!
Online reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with praise and admiration pouring in, as if "The Promise" represented the hope of Chinese cinema.

On the 16th, [Wuji] earned 2240 million in a single day!
Film critics gave it high praise:
"Director Chen's use of color is once again showcased to its fullest extent. The grand scenes, the complex emotional entanglements, and every line full of philosophical meaning make it feel like Shakespearean dialogue..."

Such positive reviews were prominently featured on major online platforms.

"Boss, why are the reviews of [Wuji] on other websites different from those on Rotten Egg? They're all negative reviews here."

"There's no doubt about it. There are no problems with our website, and all the reviews are genuine from netizens. With such a large investment from China Film Group, we wouldn't allow any negative reviews to appear in the first few days after the movie's release."

Upon hearing Huang Jixin's report, Tian Xiaole could only marvel at the effort China Film Group had put in to keep the audience's mouths shut.

"And what about us here..."

"Don't worry about it. Even if you try to shut the audience up, there will be times when you can't."

All we can do is hope for Han Sanping and Chen Kaige; with the internet developing so rapidly these days, the truth will eventually come out.

On the 17th, [Wuji] earned 2500 million in a single day!
It broke the single-day box office record of 2300 million set by "Kung Fu Hustle".

After three days of word-of-mouth spreading, genuine reviews could no longer be suppressed.

Major online websites, offline print media, and individual film critics have all given their honest reviews.

"The seemingly philosophical dialogue lacked any emotional impact or climax. In one word: foolish! In four words: pretentious. I couldn't see what Chen Kaige was trying to express..." (Southern Metropolis Daily)
"The plot of 【The Promise】 is messy, the story is not clearly expressed, the dialogue is pretentious and empty, the space and character logic are chaotic, and the seemingly romantic and profound ideas are actually childish and immature."

"The special effects are very rough, the dialogue is extremely exaggerated, the acting is extremely artificial, and the plot and character development are incomprehensible."

Reporters and media outlets were also busy, chasing after industry insiders to get their opinions on "The Promise".

A number of reporters were waiting downstairs at Xiao Le Pictures. Tian Xiao Le is not only a big director, but also in charge of a major project like Pacific Rim.

The reputation of [Wuji] has begun to collapse, which has led to the media and netizens amplifying and increasing the attention on [Pacific Rim], the largest investment project in China to date.

Tian Xiaole has been avoiding reporters these past few days, coming to the training camp to find some peace and quiet and get some exercise.

The industry has shown remarkable tacit agreement this time, remaining collectively silent and refraining from expressing any opinions.

Tian Xiaole clapped her hands, attracting everyone's attention.

"This is actress Zeng Li, who will join the training camp later and is one of the subsequent cast members."

Zeng Li's arrival made Jing Tian and Liu Yifei feel threatened. They thought their training results hadn't met Tian Xiaole's requirements, which was why they were being replaced. The others didn't think much of it, but they were very curious about Zeng Li's relationship with Tian Xiaole.

After all, with such a large project, the sudden involvement of an individual is bound to lead to unbelievable speculation that there was no transaction involved.

"Brother Xiao Le, are you dissatisfied with me and Sister Qianqian, which is why you brought in other people?"

Jing Tian's eyes were red, and she was almost crying. She had never suffered since she was a child, but she never expected that she would not be recognized.

Liu Yifei, standing next to her, pouted, her eyes also red.

Seeing their behavior, Tian Xiaole was a little overwhelmed and explained:
"What are you thinking? The choice of the female lead will definitely be made from among you. Keep up the good work!"

Upon hearing this, Jing Tian smiled, exchanged a glance with Liu Yifei, and their fighting spirit was ignited.

"Xiao Le, what's going on with you?"

Seeing Tian Xiaole approaching, Jiang Wu asked curiously.

Following the gaze, Zeng Li was already chatting with Jing Tian and Liu Yifei.

Tian Xiaole casually explained:

"The role of base assistant needs to be a bit older and have a unique temperament to fit the character, so we added Zeng Li."

Jiang Wu, Hu Jun, and Zhang Hanyu all had an expression that said, "Oh, so that's how it is."

Tian Xiaole didn't care what they thought.

In the entertainment industry, it's normal to have some private deals.

Jiang Wu changed the subject, saying, "【The Promise】received overwhelmingly negative reviews, yet its box office continues to soar. I don't quite understand it."

"This is the first commercial film by a Palme d'Or winner, a reputation he has built up over twenty years. If people hear that a big director makes bad movies, it can attract a group of curious viewers to go to the theater to see if it's true or not."

Besides the poor quality of the film, the possibility of external forces manipulating the narrative cannot be ruled out.

Tian Xiaole's words aroused everyone's curiosity. It's just a comment that a movie is not good, so why is it involving political factors?

"Is there... something we don't know about this?"

Hu Jun asked curiously, and the others also looked over.

The discussion attracted the attention of three girls nearby, who also came over.

Seeing the eager looks in everyone's eyes, Tian Xiaole explained to them:
"In mainland China, there are only four directors who can make commercial films: myself, Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang, and even if you include Ning Hao."

The market is getting better and better now, and four directors like us are definitely not enough. Most of the film season is occupied by Hong Kong films and Hollywood imports.

Some people naturally do not want any new commercial film directors to emerge in mainland China.

Especially for a director like Chen Kaige, whose achievements have already been proven in awards, he possesses immense appeal.

Jiang Wu, Hu Jun, and the others carefully pondered what Tian Xiaole had said.

They quickly realized that what he said made a lot of sense.

If it weren't for the rise of new generation talents like Tian Xiaole and Ning Hao, only one film, Chen Kaige's "The Promise," would have been released this year.

Zeng Li and Liu Yifei seemed to understand but not quite, but that didn't stop them from nodding and agreeing that it made sense.

Jing Tian blinked her big eyes and realized that Tian Xiaole was right.

"Could it be Hong Kong Island? They have the most films on the market, so they definitely hope that the mainland will rise and have fewer commercial film directors."

Tian Xiaole shook her head and ruled out the possibility:
"Hong Kong films are ultimately Chinese-language films. They can't get into the underworld and police genres. They can only make historical costume dramas. They are still from the same source and can't have any impact on the audience."

But the United States is different. With the world's strongest military, colonizing a country in the new century is extremely difficult. The best method is cultural colonization. Hollywood blockbusters are the best weapon for invading the cultures of various countries.

The current quota for importing Hollywood blockbusters is 20, and this number will be increased in the future.

Our film industry must be upgraded as soon as possible, otherwise domestic audiences will all go to see Hollywood blockbusters.

Hu Jun said in a heavy tone, "So, the movie 'Pacific Rim' is not just the first science fiction film in China, but also a vanguard in resisting the impact of Hollywood?"

Tian Xiaole nodded, agreeing with his statement:
"This film also gives confidence to domestic filmmakers and proves to the audience that our domestic special effects blockbusters are just as good."

Upon hearing this, a newfound resolve appeared in everyone's eyes. They no longer viewed "Pacific Rim" as just a big-budget production, but rather as a beacon of hope for Chinese cinema.

"I still have two sets left to finish today, I'll go and catch up now."

Zhang Hanyu walked to the gym area and silently began lifting weights.

The others also made various excuses to do two extra sets of practice.

"Brother Xiao Le, I will train harder. If I fail to meet your standards, please feel free to eliminate me."

Jing Tian spoke very seriously. She had never imagined that a movie could have such a high theme, and she didn't want to hold Tian Xiaole back.

"Me too, if you don't meet the requirements, just eliminate me."

Liu Yifei nodded emphatically.

“Even if you didn’t tell me, I would still do it.”

Tian Xiaole prioritizes film quality and would never lower his standards for actors because of other factors.

China Film.

Han Sanping's face was frosty as he looked at the newly published newspaper on the table and the negative comments that kept popping up online. He had tried to cover it up for three days, but it was no longer possible.

【The Promise】was his first step in revitalizing the national film market about to fail? He was getting a little irritable.

Chen Kaige even had the nerve to call him and ask China Film Group to intervene in the negative comments.

Little did he know that this was already the result of intervention.

Especially on the internet, the speed at which posts are deleted cannot keep up with the large number of negative reviews.

Han Sanping looked grim. If word-of-mouth continues to spread, the impact of public opinion on box office revenue will be obvious.

He had defied all opposition, and China Film Group had taken the majority of the investment in "The Promise." If it failed at the box office, the pressure he would face was unimaginable, especially since it was a crucial period for him to rise to power.

"How's the box office going?" Han Sanping asked.

"Including the preview screening on the 14th, the film grossed 7452 million yuan in its first five days," the secretary replied.

Hearing this data, Han Sanping was quite satisfied, as it had already set a new record for the highest-grossing week in Chinese film history.

Hopefully, this data can be maintained, but given the current consistent reputation both online and offline, it's unlikely to be achieved.

The only consolation is that "The Promise" is vying for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. If it wins, all the negative comments will disappear.

···
Meanwhile, at Chen Kaige's home, he had already smashed several of his favorite teapots.

Chen Hong stood by, unable to persuade him no matter what she did.

The overwhelmingly negative reviews of "The Promise" shattered the pride of this proud man.

"I spent three years traveling to the best natural scenic spots in China. Such a heartfelt and sincere work is not something that ordinary people can understand..."

"Kaige, I understand you. Your talent and achievements are beyond the appreciation of ordinary people. There's no need to feel bad for them."

Chen Hong hugged the proud man from behind, her head pressed against Chen Kaige's back.

Having grown accustomed to the praise of those around me, the sudden barrage of negativity and negative reviews pushed me to the brink of a mental breakdown.

“Ah Hong, someone must be behind this, just jealous of my talent. Don’t you think it’s Zhang Yimou? His movie is about to be released.”

Chen Kaige now sees everyone as a bad guy. Along the way, he has received countless honors, and he has become complacent with the status and reputation that these honors bring.

"Kaige, calm down. Zhang Yimou's film is an art film and won't have any impact on the box office."

Chen Hong was genuinely afraid that Chen Kaige would be so devastated that he would never recover. Fortunately, she remained clear-headed and kept trying to ease his stress.

···
Amidst a chorus of criticism and pessimism, the box office for "The Promise" plummeted from 25 million a day to just over 10 million.

Not only viewers and netizens complained, but even some media outlets that are not in the entertainment industry published pessimistic comments.

Han Sanping looked at the predicament facing "The Promise" and wanted to stop the situation from spreading, but he was powerless to do so. The movie plot was truly indefensible.

Within the group, some people have already taken this opportunity to start making trouble for him.

Fortunately, he also succeeded in many projects and invested in Hollywood blockbusters, which quickly silenced the doubts, but it also made him very angry.

He has already put the "Battle of Red Cliffs" project out of his mind; now his biggest concern is the release of "The Thieves."

This movie can't afford any more mishaps, otherwise his chances of rising to the top will be in serious danger.

(End of this chapter)