This director lacks vision.

Chapter 221 Pacific Rim Premiere
Seeing that Jiang Yifeng had made arrangements, Meng Ziyi stopped worrying.

But her little mouth just wouldn't stop.

She then asked, "Why wait until next year to film a movie for your cousin-in-law?"

Of all these cousins-in-law, Meng Ziyi's favorites are Jing Tian and Nazar.

Jing Tian and Meng Ziyi have similar personalities and can chat easily; Nazha is Meng Ziyi's idol, and when she first watched Produce 101, she identified with Nazha.

Jiang Yifeng explained, "In the second half of the year, I will be filming the second season of Pacific Rim, and I also need to plan variety shows. In addition, the company is in the final sprint stage of its IPO, so there are quite a lot of things to do."

We can only film it next year.

Once the special effects team is established, they cannot stop working, otherwise the employees will go hungry.

Although the alien special effects company gained some recognition in China after the first season of Pacific Rim aired, the prevailing trend at that time was still to blindly trust foreign products.

Big-budget films definitely hire foreign companies for special effects. For example, the special effects team for Painted Skin 2 of The Legend of the Condor Heroes was from France.

Small-scale special effects, but not much money is made.

The domestic film market is still not big enough.

Therefore, Jiang Yifeng still needs to continue filming Pacific Rim Season 2 and support the special effects team.

Upon hearing Jiang Yifeng mention Pacific Rim, Meng Ziyi immediately pulled a comic book from his backpack and proudly declared, "Look! It's a Pacific Rim comic book! I queued up to buy it yesterday after it went on sale!"

Jiang Yifeng is serious about creating the IP for Pacific Rim.

Not only will a TV series be broadcast, but a comic book will also be published. The comic book will be adapted into an animation, and some fan fiction will be written.

After Fengxing Media goes public, Jiang Yifeng will also collaborate with Soohu Games to establish a new game company to develop a game about Pacific Rim.

Jiang Yifeng's version of Pacific Rim features mechs, mythical beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a world from the Classic of Mountains and Seas on the other side of a black hole, various superpowers brought by the mythical beasts, and even cybernetic modifications. There is a lot of content that can be created.

Moreover, whether it's mechs, superpowers, or subsequent cybernetic limbs, they must all adhere to the characteristics of mythical beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Its advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses, and the relationships of restraint, as well as its various unique abilities, are all related to mythical beasts.

This underlying rule increases the difficulty of creation, but it also improves the world setting and facilitates the development of various fan works.

In its previous life, Pacific Rim was not a commercial success. The first film had an investment of 1.9 million US dollars and a global box office of 4.1 million US dollars, of which 1.12 million US dollars were in China.

In terms of box office revenue alone, Pacific Rim lost 8000 million US dollars.

Sequels are notoriously difficult to produce.

However, Wanda Cinema acquired Legendary Pictures, which spurred the production of the sequel.

The result was that Pacific Rim 2 performed even worse.

The first film grossed $1 million in North America, but the second film only grossed $2800 million, resulting in a larger loss.

But Jiang Yifeng still chose to work on the Pacific Rim project because it had potential.

Although the Pacific Rim's performance in North America has been less than satisfactory, its performance in markets such as Europe and Japan has remained stable.

Both Pacific Rim films grossed around 2 million US dollars in countries and regions outside of China and North America.

This shows that people are interested in the theme of mechs fighting monsters.

The problem is that the Pacific Rim IP wasn't well-developed. Without any groundwork, they rushed into making a big-budget movie, and with such a high investment, failure was to be expected.

Like Jiang Yifeng, filming two seasons of a web series first, publishing comics and fan fiction, and accumulating a certain number of fans before starting to shoot a feature film has a higher probability of success.

Jiang Yifeng looked at the comic book in Meng Ziyi's hand and asked, "Pacific Rim is about mechs and mythical creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Do you think you, as a girl, would like it?"

Meng Ziyi nodded and said, "Of course I like it. The main character of this comic is Si Teng, who is a woman. I can really relate to her!"
Although the male lead, Qin Feng, lacks a strong personality, he's a gentle and warm-hearted man, and his interactions with Si Teng are sweet and quite interesting.

Hearing Meng Ziyi's feelings, Jiang Yifeng nodded. It seems that there is also a female market in the Pacific Rim.

Meng Ziyi then asked, "How are the comics selling? I heard that this time they're being released in seven languages."

"It only went on sale yesterday, so I haven't seen the specific data yet, but it should be good," Jiang Yifeng said. "My requirements aren't high; IP development takes time."

Jiang Yifeng's goal for the Pacific Rim region is to stabilize the market in the Pan-Asian region and establish a certain level of influence in Europe.

As for North America, that depends on luck.

The overseas publication of Pacific Rim comics was handled by the "Author's Cafe".

This publisher has grown into one of Australia's largest publishers thanks to the huge success of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series, and has extensive partnerships overseas.

When the car arrived at Diaoyutai No. 7 Courtyard, Jiang Yifeng took the elevator back home and saw Gao Yuanyuan and Nazha doing partner yoga together.

The two grabbed each other's feet with their hands, one arching his body and the other bending his body backward, forming a circle.

Naza's figure is getting more and more voluptuous, and Gao Yuanyuan is also much fuller than before.

The outside is a large circle, and the inside is a small circle, with rings inside rings.

As expected of that full moon combination.

Gao Yuanyuan had never practiced dancing before, and her body was originally quite stiff. However, after taking beauty drugs, her flexibility improved, and with persistent practice, she has now developed more moves.

Meng Ziyi stared intently at his two cousins-in-law, utterly shocked!

As a girl who is about to turn sixteen, she knows everything.

Looking at the full moon formed by Nazha and Gao Yuanyuan, Meng Ziyi exclaimed, "Cousin, you're living such a wonderful life!"

Even the emperors of ancient times couldn't compare to you!

Jiang Yifeng smiled and said, "Don't disturb them, let's eat first."

Judging from Gao Yuanyuan and Nazha's condition, Jiang Yifeng knew that they had just started practicing.

The two women practice yoga for at least half an hour after dinner. Sometimes, when they are in the mood, they can practice for one or two hours while having fun.

The aunt served the food, and Meng Ziyi washed his hands, turned on the TV, and then sat down at the dining table.

It was exactly 8:02 PM, and the opening theme song of Pacific Rim had been playing for more than half of the time.

"I say cry~~I say lie~~I say lie to the end~Call me, the miracle of Nuwa's intestines~"

Meng Ziyi glanced at the practice room and whispered, "Is this the version that you sang with Tian Tian? It sounds pretty good, even better than the Japanese version of Hot Love."

Jiang Yifeng joked, "If you have an idea, just say it out loud. Why are you whispering like this?"

Meng Ziyi: "..."

Now that it's Naza's home turf, Meng Ziyi doesn't dare to casually praise Jing Tian or belittle Naza.

Afraid that Jiang Yifeng would actually repeat what she had just said loudly, she quickly said, "Let's watch TV and stop talking."

The Pacific Rim movie's opening credits ended on TV, and the main feature began.

On the playground of Zhongzhou Vocational College, two three-meter-tall miniature mechas are performing.

Low-altitude flight, martial arts combat, mobile shooting, scale armor defense—a variety of moves were demonstrated, eliciting gasps of amazement from the students watching.

Meng Ziyi was also captivated by it. He hadn't expected Pacific Rim to be so direct, starting with scenes of mecha right away.

While miniature mechs may not be as awe-inspiring as giant mechs that are hundreds of meters tall, they offer greater flexibility and represent another form of mech development, somewhat like a combination of Iron Man and Transformers.

After the performance, Wu Jing, who played Wu Suowei, and Li Chen, who played Li Songshi, jumped off their respective mechs, looking quite flamboyant. The students applauded and cheered enthusiastically, showing great enthusiasm for the two mech pilots.

The camera then shifted to Qin Feng and Wang Xiaoqiang.

Wang Xiaoqiang said excitedly, "I never expected the mecha team to come to our school to recruit! I must seize this opportunity!"

Qin Feng retorted, "Even if the mecha team expands its recruitment, you still won't be able to get in."

"Bullshit! With my muscles, fighting ability, and super-fast reflexes, I should have been in the mech squad long ago!"

"But you're an idiot, how can you pass the academic exam?"

Wang Xiaoqiang: "..."

"A peaceful and ordinary life is a blessing. The mecha team is too dangerous. Let others do the heroic things. I just want to live a peaceful and ordinary life."

"No! I must join the mecha team. This is my last chance. You have to help me!"

Pacific Rim moves very fast, immediately showcasing the various capabilities of the miniature mechs and then moving into the main storyline—the Central Continent Mech Team is expanding its recruitment, enrolling students from various universities in Central Continent.

The male protagonist, Qin Feng, is a young man who is content with the status quo and has no great ambitions.

In contrast, Qin Feng's friend Wang Xiaoqiang is very hardworking, exercising and practicing martial arts every day, hoping to become a mecha pilot.

Unfortunately, Wang Xiaoqiang is all brawn and no brains; he passes the physical test but never passes the academic test.

To help Wang Xiaoqiang join the mecha team, Qin Feng began to tutor him in academic subjects.

On what day did the strange beast first appear?

"It was on July 7, 2021, that the snails attacked Tokyo Bay."

"Incorrect. The first appearance of the alien beast was on December 12, 2020. The US fleet detected a snipe near the Guam base, but the Americans wanted to conduct secret research and deliberately concealed this information, which resulted in insufficient preparation for various countries to deal with the snipe attack."

This question asks about the time when the monster first appeared, not the time when it first attacked human cities. You need to be clear about the difference.

Wang Xiaoqiang looked helpless and complained, "What's the point of keeping track of these times?"

Qin Feng then asked, "What was the turning point in the war between humans and alien beasts?"

“I know that!” Wang Xiaoqiang said confidently, “In July 2024, a team of Chinese scientists developed the first generation of mecha, the Fish-Dragon Transformation, based on the carcass of the wrasse!”

Qin Feng shook his head: "The development of the Fish-Dragon Transformation is a sign that humanity has begun to fight back."

The real turning point was the Battle of the South China Sea on August 3rd, where two Fish-Dragon Transformation mechs faced off against the Winner. At the cost of one of the mechs self-destructing, they successfully killed the Winner.

This was the first time humanity had defeated alien beasts without using nuclear weapons. This meant humanity could choose the location of the battle and intercept the beasts' attacks in advance, making it a turning point in the war.

Wang Xiaoqiang answered incorrectly again. He was so angry that he scratched his head frantically and cursed, "What the hell is this question? It's so pedantic!"
There are many turning points, why does it have to be the one the expert specified?!

Qin Feng remained calm and said, "Text is too dry; you won't remember it. You should watch more documentaries."

After saying that, Qin Feng played a documentary for Wang Xiaoqiang.

The camera zooms in, and the whole thing transitions into a documentary.

This documentary, which is a little over three minutes long, briefly introduces the historical background of the Pacific Rim.

The documentary is excellent, featuring not only special effects footage of snails attacking Tokyo Bay, but also scenes of two nuclear bombs falling on Tokyo.

Meng Ziyi was stunned when he saw the mushroom cloud of the nuclear bomb rise over Tokyo.

The trailer for Pacific Rim only shows close-up shots of a nuclear bomb exploding on a snail, but not the full view of the nuclear bomb exploding in Japan.

This is a truly panoramic view.

One wasn't enough, so they took another.

Two mushroom clouds once again bloomed on the land of Japan, a magnificent sight that drew gasps of admiration.

The key point is that this kind of scene was broadcast on CCTV-1, which really thrilled Meng Ziyi, a Northeasterner.

The plot continues, and after helping Wang Xiaoqiang catch up on his studies for a few days, Qin Feng returns to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors.

When Meng Ziyi saw Qin Feng's family trekking through mountains and rivers to pay respects to their ancestors, he complained, "Cousin, this part looks a bit fake. Whose ancestral graves are buried deep in the mountains? This is too difficult to do."

Jiang Yifeng took a bite of braised pork offal and said with a smile, "That's because you haven't seen how people from Guangdong and Guangxi worship their ancestors. That's how people build bridges and mountains, a hardcore way to worship their ancestors."

After arriving in the mountains, Qin Feng accidentally entered a cave.

The cave is a kaleidoscope of colors, with stalactites hanging upside down and a babbling brook flowing through it; the scenery is absolutely beautiful.

As Qin Feng admired the beautiful scenery, he unknowingly walked to the innermost part of the cave, where he saw a beautiful woman lying among a pile of withered vines.

The woman was wearing a leaf-colored cheongsam, which accentuated her curves. Her arms were fair and rounded, and her profile was very three-dimensional.

Her cheongsam had leaf-like patterns on it, emitting an eerie glow of purple and red.

It also made her look even more aloof and cold, like a black rose blooming in a land of death.

The camera, following Qin Feng's perspective, focuses on Si Teng, played by Jing Tian.

Seeing this scene, Meng Ziyi felt his heart skip a beat; Jing Tian looked absolutely stunning!
Actors can only truly showcase their charm in film and television dramas.

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then held his breath and walked towards the woman step by step.

The woman suddenly opened her eyes and sat up as her right foot stepped on the withered vine.

Qin Feng was so frightened that he stumbled and fell to the ground.

That concludes the first episode.

Upon seeing this, Meng Ziyi said, "I know why Si Teng woke up. The withered vines under her body are the shell she shed."

Qin Feng was standing on the vines, which meant he was stepping on her body, so Si Teng woke up!

Meng Ziyi had read the comics in advance and had a better understanding of the background story of Pacific Rim.

The first comic book already explained part of Sito's background.

She was captured by an unknown force and had the bloodline of the mythical beast "Nuwa's Intestine" from the Classic of Mountains and Seas implanted into her body, granting her extraordinary strength.

However, during the experimentation and "evolution" process, most of its memories were lost, leaving only some fragmented experimental footage.

These images include the appearance of the mythical beast "Nuwa's Intestines".

According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Nuwa had a human face and a snake's body, and she could change in many ways. Her abdomen transformed into a "god" or a strange beast called Nuwa's Intestines.

Nuwa's intestines were not one, but ten, and they liked to lie horizontally on the road to sleep.

In Si Teng's memory, the corpse of "Nuwa's Intestines" resembled a withered vine.

In addition, she would take a long nap every now and then, and after she finished sleeping, she would shed many withered vines like a snake shedding its skin.

So she named herself Si Teng, a homonym for "dead vine".

When Si Teng escaped from the laboratory and was sleeping in a cave while "molting," she was "picked up" by Qin Feng.

The story unfolds from there.

(End of this chapter)