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

New Year's Day.

In China, Pacific Rim has been released.

Actors, celebrities, and singers who have registered accounts on Leyu Weibo are all promoting Pacific Rim.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Tian Xiaole led the main cast and crew to attend the premiere event hosted by CJ.

Thanks to CJ's local connections and Tian Xiaole's international reputation as a director, a large number of South Korean actors attended, making it comparable in scale to a domestic premiere.

The girl group's performance, with their long, slender legs and fair skin, was very pleasing to the eye.

"Tsk tsk, I've only ever seen this kind of scene in a certain club."

"Oh, Xiaoming is very experienced."

Having let slip the secret, Huang Xiaoming quickly changed the subject: "This dance is pretty good, huh?"

The main actors were laughing heartily, while Liu Yifei and Jing Tian seemed a little restless, blending in with the atmosphere.

The premiere was kept as simple as possible. After the performances, the main creators gave a brief introduction, and then the movie started playing.

Tian Xiaole sat in the first row and could hear the audience exclaiming "Shiba, Shiba" from time to time.

The people from the film and television companies present exchanged silent glances. With Chinese special effects reaching this level, they would lose a large number of orders in the future.

When the two-hour film ended, the reaction in South Korea was even more exaggerated than in China; everyone was still immersed in the film's grand scenes and background.

They didn't realize that only Hollywood could make movies of this caliber.

Has the quality of Chinese films actually reached this level?
"Old classmate, you're amazing! The movie 'Pacific Rim' is just as good as any Hollywood blockbuster."

My roommate, Park Jong-hwa, has gained a lot of weight since he started to get fatter. He patted Tian Xiaole's arm, and the fat on his face jiggled.

"You should lose some weight. I'm really afraid of hearing the news of your sudden death one day."

Park Jong-hwa didn't care about Tian Xiaole's teasing and said cheekily, "Even if I die, I'll die in a woman's bed."

Many South Korean celebrities' eyes lit up when they saw Park Jong-hwa speaking so casually to Da Tianxiao, and they started to make their own plans.

······
Domestically, large numbers of families flocked to cinemas.

A miniature steel mecha is displayed at the entrance, its bright Chinese red color creating a striking visual impact.

With its hard, metallic facial features, mechanical arms equipped with various weapons, and a chest reactor that not only glows but also replicates the effect of a rotating turbine, the film attracted a large crowd of moviegoers.

Seeing such magnificent mechs, many men couldn't move.

However, the price of 6999 makes many people hesitate, as it is equivalent to one or two months' salary for an average person. Of course, there are also wealthy families who simply buy it without hesitation.

The miniature mecha was also a hit, and many children tugged at their parents' clothes, clamoring for it, and throwing tantrums if they weren't bought it.

Seeing the mechs on display, moviegoers' expectations for the film were raised even higher.

Not only the production companies are keeping a close eye on the news from the cinemas, but everyone in the industry is paying attention to the film's release.

The domestic film market is experiencing an unprecedented boom. During the entire Spring Festival period, only "Pacific Rim" was released. Other low-budget films that wanted to catch the wave had already changed their release dates when they saw this situation.

As a result, only "Pacific Rim" was released during the entire Spring Festival film season.

Chen Zhixi received feedback from the cinema that the mecha was selling very well and they requested that they restock as soon as possible.

····
After finishing the premiere in South Korea, the group rushed to the island nation.

"Director Tian, ​​the domestic box office figures should be out soon, right?"

Huang Xiaoming sat down in the aisle and asked, turning to the side.

Pacific Rim has been showing in China for a day now, and they still don't know what's going on.

"Not so fast. China Film Group will notify me as soon as the data is compiled."

Tian Xiaole is also looking forward to it, but he has done what he could, and now it depends on the support of fans and netizens.

"Senior Brother Tian, ​​aren't we afraid of being attacked by radical islanders when we go to the island nation to promote our cause?"

Liu Yifei's concerns were shared by everyone else.

After all, the plot is very unfriendly to the island nation, so it's normal for some people to be a bit extreme.

"Lionsgate is handling the arrangements for the premiere in the island nation, so security should be fine."

Tian Xiaole had specifically emphasized this to Lionsgate, and there were also security personnel accompanying him, so they should be able to handle any emergencies.

"Everyone should take good care of their mental health and present a good image to their fans."

"Understood, Director Tian (Senior Brother Tian)."

The first-class cabin fell silent instantly.

Tian Xiaole couldn't rest yet, browsing movie reviews on the "Rotten Eggs" website.

The rating hasn't been unblocked yet; he's using an internal account, which allows him to see the high score of 9.7.

As a commercial film, this score is a bit too high and should be lowered later.

But this also proves that moviegoers like the film, and the initial word-of-mouth is good.

The reviews were all overwhelmingly positive, using almost every word of praise imaginable.

"I watched the whole thing with my mouth agape. The CG effects and emotional impact were so immersive. What's even more remarkable is the film's message: a call to protect the Earth's ecosystem."

"Director Tian Xiaole's films have never disappointed. Pacific Rim is also a very sincere commercial film, with cool mechanical designs and action choreography."

"I recommend watching it in an IMAX theater; it's absolutely amazing. I urge that more 3D theaters be built in China."

"Liu Yifei and Jing Tian's rescue was exactly what I wanted to see, it really got me excited."

"Jay Chou's fans are here to support Pacific Rim. We hope that Director Tian can collaborate with Jay Chou once."

"The movie is incredibly exciting; the scenes of nuclear explosions and daily life are exhilarating and thrilling."

"I never thought that China could produce such a blockbuster. Some directors should really learn from this."

·····
The reviews on the first day were overwhelmingly positive, probably due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from moviegoers.

Those film critics who love to nitpick are probably still writing articles, using a magnifying glass to find fault with films.

Tian Xiaole yawned, pulled down her eye mask, and fell asleep.

Han Sanping was still awake, his eyelids drooping, constantly drinking strong tea to stay awake.

He waited until after midnight for the box office figures from various cinemas to be compiled by the dispatched statistical teams and finally transmitted to the Office of the National Film Development Special Fund Management Committee, or "Special Fund Office" for short.

The national film ticketing information management system then calculates the film's opening day box office.

buzzing...

The phone on the coffee table kept vibrating.

Having weathered countless storms, Han Sanping's hand trembled slightly as he pressed the answer button.

"How many?"

Upon hearing the secretary's report, Han Sanping unconsciously raised his voice, thinking he was hallucinating.

"Is there a correct count?"

"Chairman Han, you heard me right, it's..."

Having received a positive answer, Han Sanping breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, I understand."

"Chairman Han, please get some rest."

The secretary hung up the phone, but Han Sanping couldn't sleep at all.

He couldn't believe that this movie would create such a miracle. He glanced at the time, and fearing that calling would disturb Tian Xiaole, he sent her a text message instead.

······
As the plane landed at Narita Airport, Tian Xiaole was awakened by a "click, click" sound.

I felt a little dizzy and was severely sleep-deprived. I pushed off my eye mask and saw Liu Yifei and Jing Tian taking selfies with their phones.

"Senior Brother Tian, ​​you're awake."

Feeling guilty, the two women hurriedly got off the plane with their luggage.

Tian Xiaole shook her head helplessly. Jing Tian, ​​this pure and innocent girl, would be "corrupted" by Liu Yifei sooner or later.

"Sister Sisi, are you really going to post this on Weibo?"

"Send it out, let the movie fans see how hard Brother Tian works to promote the film."

Liu Yifei gave Jing Tian a mischievous grin and said, "I'll send you the photos, let's post them together."

"Well, yes."

Jing Tian nodded, she was very willing as long as it could promote the movie.

·····
The group appeared at the airport, and despite it being late at night, a large number of reporters were still waiting there.

The production crew did not hide their schedule, hoping the media would continue to follow and report on it to keep the story popular.

The group boarded the Lionsgate airport shuttle and headed to their hotel.

"Director Tian, ​​unless absolutely necessary, no one in the crew should leave the hotel area."

Sitting in the passenger seat, the Lionsgate representative offered a reminder.

"why?"

Tian Xiaole frowned, a guess forming in her mind.

"There are quite a few groups protesting here because of the content of the movie."

I really admire that the country was bombed to the point of being destroyed, yet the movie was still able to be released.

Since America was their master, none of them dared to disobey him.

When we arrived at the hotel, there was a crowd of people outside holding up protest signs.

Speaking broken Chinese, he shouted: Get out of the island nation.

Tian Xiaole got out of the car and, escorted by security, quickly entered the hotel.

The rest of the crew thought they were movie fans, but after hearing the slogans they were shouting, they also quickly went into the hotel.

Everyone gathered in Tian Xiaole's room.

It's already 3 a.m., and the domestic box office statistics should be out by now.

Tian Xiaole was also puzzled; her phone hadn't rung. When she saw the text message from Han Sanping, she was stunned after opening it.

I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

"Pacific Rim grossed 3750 million on its opening day!"

Tian Xiaole looked at the main actors in the room, her eyes sweeping across their faces, their expressions showing anticipation despite their exhaustion.

"The box office figures for the movie's opening day are in: 3750 million."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then erupted in cheers of surprise. All the hard work these past few days had been worth it.

"Director Tian is awesome."

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Tian."

After accepting everyone's compliments, Tian Xiaole said, "Everyone, go back to your rooms and get some rest. The roadshow ahead will be very tough."

The group's demeanor was completely different from before.

The film's high box office success has fueled their motivation.

The second day of the Lunar New Year, in the morning.

The opening day box office figures for "Pacific Rim" were featured on the front pages of major websites.

The film grossed 3750 million, thrilling countless moviegoers who felt it was well worth the price.

An investment of 6 million yuan and three years of polishing—this is a responsible attitude towards the film and towards its fans.

Film industry professionals were stunned, rubbing their eyes to make sure they weren't seeing things.

Does the domestic film market have such potential?

If this trend continues, it will definitely reach a new level. As for what kind of results it can achieve, that depends on the audience.

Even in China, where piracy is rampant, many netizens still harbor the intention of watching pirated content.

When Tian Xiaole and his entourage headed to the premiere in Japan, he was trending on Chinese social media again.

Liu Yifei and Jing Tian posted a Weibo message with the caption: "Director Tian, ​​thank you for your hard work. In order to let more people see the movie [Pacific Rim], you were still handing over the process with the South Korean staff in the middle of the night."

The accompanying photo shows the two of them taking a funny selfie in front of the camera, while the background shows Tian Xiaole sleeping soundly, wearing an eye mask and with messy hair.

·····
The premiere in the island nation was naturally not as lively as in China or South Korea.

After the creators finished their introductions, the movie began.

As the plot progressed, Tian Xiaole glanced back. At first, many viewers were pleasantly surprised; they enjoyed watching monster-fighting movies.

When the island nation was bombed with nuclear weapons, most people were excited, believing that destruction was a new beginning.

Anyway, Tian Xiaole didn't understand this kind of abnormal psychology.

Some viewers were very angry and could not accept the outcome for their country.

You can hear angry shouts like "Baka yarou".

After a brief appearance, Tian Xiaole and the others headed to Hong Kong Island.

The film was released at the same time as its mainland China release, and it grossed HK$730 million on its opening day, which is quite impressive for a mainland film.

Huo Wenxi picked him up at the airport, dressed in her usual urban chic style, exuding an aura that surpasses that of many female celebrities.

"Director Tian, ​​congratulations on the great success of the film."

The 3750 rating achieved by Pacific Rim on its opening day not only shocked mainland China but also surprised filmmakers in Hong Kong.

"You're too kind. Whether we can break even depends on the performance of overseas markets."

"Let's go to the hotel to rest first. A welcome dinner has been arranged for us tonight."

"Okay, then let's arrange it."

Tian Xiaole noticed that the trailer for "Pacific Rim" was playing on the airport billboards, and there were movie posters everywhere.

"The movie 'Pacific Rim' is the company's biggest project in recent years, and we're doing top-tier marketing and distribution for it."

Tian Xiaole could tell that Huo Wenxi was saying good things about his own company.

······
Upon arriving at the hotel, Huo Wenxi said goodbye and then left.

Before leaving, he gave me a defiant look.

Tian Xiaole was tempted, but didn't act on it. It was better to be cautious in an unfamiliar hotel.

He lay in bed and began browsing online reviews.

Sure enough, no matter how good a movie is, self-proclaimed expert film critics can always find something to criticize.

"A popcorn movie with no substance, all the actors' performances are stereotypical, and apart from the big-budget special effects, there are no scenes that impressed me."

"The movie plot is very old-fashioned: monsters invade and are defeated by human civilization. It lacks originality."

"The plot of the movie about a nuclear-bombed island nation could potentially cause a diplomatic dispute."

A bunch of hyenas who can only bark and whine, they nitpick without being paid, and their film reviews are utterly bland and miss the point.

Faced with the outraged moviegoers, we can only keep a low profile. It's rare for a domestic film to rival Hollywood, and we can't let these people ruin its reputation.

The film critic's article was quickly drowned out by netizens' criticism.

Filmmakers in the industry are all paying close attention to the box office performance of "Pacific Rim" in North America.

Whether this film can truly go global depends on whether audiences in overseas markets will accept it.

Just as Tian Xiaole was about to close the webpage, she saw a trending topic about herself. She clicked on it and was stunned.

I knew Jing Tian would be led astray by Liu Yifei; in just a few days, she's already learned how to take photos secretly.

What's with contacting South Korean personnel in the middle of the night?

The comments section was full of messages of thanks for her hard work and advice for Tian Xiaole to take care of herself.

buzzing...

Upon seeing the call from Mike Byrne, Tian Xiaole pressed the answer button, unconsciously becoming nervous.

"Congratulations, Tian, ​​you've achieved great results in the Pacific Rim in North America."

"How much?" Tian Xiaole asked impatiently.

"The film grossed $1500 million on its opening day, which is $1200 million less than last year's Transformers. But Transformers is a well-known IP adaptation with big-name actors, so it's already quite good that it achieved this result."

Tian Xiaole understood this principle, and was quite content with it.

With an all-Chinese cast, and actors who were completely unknown in North America, this success was entirely due to his reputation as the grandfather of horror films.

A Palme d'Or-winning director is useless because this is a commercial film.

Of course, the financial crisis also had an impact, which reduced viewers' desire to watch movies, and everyone was guarding their wallets.

"The movie has received good reviews. If it can maintain this momentum, it will easily gross over 100 million yuan, and may even reach 200 million yuan."

"Understood, Mr. Byrne. We'll leave the other markets to Lionsgate."

Tian Xiaole never imagined that Pacific Rim's box office would surpass Transformers, after all, Transformers is a big IP and its special effects are top-notch Hollywood standards.

However, in subsequent sequels, domestic special effects technology has become increasingly mature, making it possible to compete with it.

Tian Xiaole called Han Sanping and told him about the box office results in North America.

"Xiao Le, is it really possible for it to exceed 100 million US dollars?"

"Lionsgate's predictions are based on word-of-mouth; the outcome depends on whether the audience buys into it."

"Alright, alright, no matter what, we've taken the first step out to sea. We'll celebrate with you when we get back."

That's typical of Han Sanping; he's already thinking about a celebration banquet on the very first day of the film's release.

Soon, China Film Group leaked the news to the media, and it was reported on their website shortly afterward.

"Pacific Rim has been a success overseas, grossing $15 million on its opening day in North America and receiving rave reviews."

If the record-breaking domestic box office performance shocked the industry, then the box office results in North America were truly astonishing.

It's incredible that an all-Chinese cast and crew film, without any big-name stars recognized by North American audiences, could achieve such success.

At the Peninsula Hotel, Tian Xiaole, along with the main cast and crew, attended a dinner hosted by Boss Yang.

The film's success in North America has also been reported by Hong Kong media, and everyone knows about it. Based on its current reputation, the film should not lose money.

As soon as Tian Xiaole stepped into the hall, he was greeted by a chorus of voices, their eyes burning with desire.

"Director Tian*20".

Mr. Yang, as always, wore glasses and appeared very refined: "Director Tian, ​​congratulations on the film's box office success."

"But you're wrong, it's that our box office was a huge success."

"Haha, yes, yes, our box office is booming."

Mr. Yang smiled, realizing that his initial investment had been worthwhile, even though the return on investment was a bit late.

The hall was bustling with people, and it was clear that two distinct factions had formed.

"Director Tian, ​​please feel free tonight. The premiere is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I'm getting on in years, so let Wenxi keep you company."

Mr. Yang smiled meaningfully and left the hall. The artists visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere on site was completely different.

Huo Wenxi walked over with a girl: "Director Tian, ​​let me introduce you to Bai Bing, a mainland actress who just signed a contract."

"Hello Director Tian, ​​I am actress Bai Bing."

"Ah hello."

Tian Xiaole responded indifferently, sizing up the somewhat reserved girl.

With fair skin and striking, harmonious features, she exudes a cool yet alluring charm.

Huo Wenxi's eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity, and he gave Bai Bing a wink:
"Ah Bing, you stay and keep Director Tian company. I'll go and greet the other guests."

"Director Huo, why aren't you keeping a big director like me company? Who else is worth your time and attention?"

Tian Xiaole pulled Huo Wenxi, who was about to leave, and said in a dissatisfied tone.

With so many people watching in the hall, if we really keep this person here, who knows what kind of scandal will spread tomorrow.

Huo Wenxi subtly withdrew his hand and waved to Bai Bing, "Go ahead and get busy, there's nothing for you here."

After saying that, she looked at Tian Xiaole and asked, "Not Director Tian's type?"

"Your agency is acting like a pimp," Tian Xiaole joked, defending her innocence.
"Don't let just anyone come to me, I'm not a casual person."

Huo Wenxi gave a half-smile, as if to say, "You'll see if I believe you or not."

Liu Yifei and Jing Tian, ​​who were not far away, had been observing this area.

When Bai Bing stayed behind, both of them were on tenterhooks.

Seeing Tian Xiaole pulling at Huo Wenxi, their expressions became uncertain again.

Liu Yifei's eyes gleamed with anticipation, as if she wanted to get closer and overhear their conversation.

Jing Tian stared with her big eyes, her little mouth babbling incessantly.

Only after seeing Huo Wenxi leave did a smile appear on his face. (End of Chapter)