It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 248 Taro the Skewer Eater and Zhou Xun, who lost his Golden Horse Best Actress award... (Seeking monthly votes)
Partnering with Hollywood?
$1.3 million?
Creating a big-budget animated film?

At this moment, all the media reporters in Ruiyue Animation's conference room were completely dumbfounded!
Some people even subconsciously pinched their inner thigh, wondering if they were still asleep and dreaming.

Lu Rui remained calm, raised his hand to quell the commotion in the room, and glanced at the shocked faces before continuing his introduction with composure:

"This animated film is called 'Kung Fu Panda,' and the main character is a clumsy but ambitious panda named Po."

It was unexpectedly chosen to become the 'Dragon Warrior,' and under the guidance of a group of kung fu masters with extraordinary skills, it fought against evil forces and protected peace..."

He spoke while switching between projected images.

The screen then displayed a line drawing of a round panda, accompanied by rudimentary kung fu movements.

"The action design will incorporate the essence of traditional Chinese martial arts, including the softness of Tai Chi, the strength of Shaolin, and the skill of Wing Chun, so that Po's every move is both in line with the clumsy nature of a panda and the agility of kung fu..."

After the introductions, Lü Rui turned to look at everyone, his tone firm:

"Our goal is very clear: to create an Eastern animation IP that can become popular worldwide."

Not only does it present the ultimate Chinese style in the picture, but every detail, from pavilions and towers to ink wash landscapes, exudes oriental charm.

Furthermore, the story should convey the core themes of inclusivity, growth, and perseverance, so that audiences from different cultural backgrounds can resonate with it…

At this point, he read out another string of names:
"In this collaboration, in addition to top Hollywood animation production teams, we have also partnered with domestic companies such as Blue Fox, Wingsound, and Original Force."

As soon as he finished speaking, another commotion and heated discussion broke out in the audience.

The reporters looked at each other, their heads filled with questions.

"Blue Fox? Is that the Blue Fox who made 'GG Bond'?"

"Aren't Wingsound and Original Force the producers of 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf'?"

"Holy crap? So all these currently popular children's animation IPs are related to Lü Rui? He actually secretly invested in so many animation companies?"

Suddenly, doubts surged like a tide.

However, what shocked them even more was yet to come!
Seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, Lü Rui continued, "The $1.3 million investment will be used entirely for technology research and development, visual production, and global promotion."

There has never been an animated film project of this scale in China before, and our presence is meant to break down prejudices!

Chinese animation is not limited to children; it can also produce top-notch works comparable to Disney and DreamWorks.

We hope that "Kung Fu Panda" will become a milestone in Eastern animation, not only achieving a breakthrough in global box office, but also allowing Chinese kung fu and Chinese culture to enter millions of households around the world through animation, a more easily disseminated medium..."

The audience fell completely silent.

The reporters stared blankly at Lü Rui, their minds momentarily unable to process the sheer volume of information.

$1.3 million...An Eastern version of DreamWorks, Disney?

Even popular children's cartoons like Piggy Hero and Pleasant Goat have his backing...

Just how many secrets is Lü Rui hiding?

It should be noted that there was absolutely no prior information available.

Now, the sudden release of "Kung Fu Panda" is clearly aimed at completely reshaping the landscape of Chinese animation!

After explaining the core information, Lü Rui calmly stepped down from the stage and sat down in a seat to the side.

Following them, Tian Xiaopeng, Xu Chengyi, and others took to the stage.

The former provides a detailed breakdown of the character design and scene concept design for "Kung Fu Panda," while the latter shares the progress in preparing for animal motion capture technology...

Hollywood producer Christopher Meledandri then spoke, emphasizing the configuration of the international production team and the plans for global distribution channels.

Representatives from other partner companies also took turns on stage to elaborate on their respective areas of technical support and content collaboration.

At 12:00 noon, the project launch conference officially came to an end.

Ruiyue Animation did not prepare boxed lunches, but instead gave each reporter present a red envelope.

Of course, the invited media reporters had no interest in eating at this point. After receiving their red envelopes, they hurriedly left and rushed back home.

This kind of breaking news must be headlined as quickly as possible.

Before 2 PM, just as Lü Rui returned to the Pacific Rim set, the entire internet and the Chinese entertainment industry were completely ignited by the news of the Kung Fu Panda project being greenlit.
"$1.3 million poured into Chinese animation! Ruiyue Animation bursts onto the scene with 'Kung Fu Panda,' aiming for the global market!"

"Breaking down prejudices against children! Lü Rui has assembled the production teams of Piggy Hero and Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf to create an Eastern version of Disney blockbuster!"

"Top-tier cast revealed! Christopher Reece, producer of 'Ice Age,' joins Ruiyue Animation's new film; 'Kung Fu Panda' aims for Hollywood!"

"Lu Rui has been secretly planning his animation project for many years, and today the mystery of his $1.3 million project is officially unveiled..."

"Pandas know kung fu? 'Kung Fu Panda' project approved; Chinese-style animation may reshape the global IP landscape..."

Online forums, social media platforms, and blogs are now abuzz with discussion.

"Holy crap? Really? Director Lü is behind GG Bond and Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf? And Qin's Moon... How many more hidden businesses does he have that he hasn't revealed yet? Spending $1.3 million on animation, is he crazy?"

"Wow? I'm not seeing things, am I? The producer of 'Ice Age' is collaborating? Ruishijie is trying to take Chinese animation straight to Hollywood!"

"The Oriental DreamWorks? The Oriental Disney? Wow, that sounds amazing!"

"Wait a minute? I remember our domestic animations were mostly for young children, so how come they're aiming for the global film market? Are they also Sino-foreign co-productions?"

"..."

If netizens are still confused, then Han Sanping, who had just woken up from his afternoon nap and was still groggy, was completely jolted awake by this thunderous news!
$1.3 million? For an animated film?

Upon hearing his secretary's report, his hand, which was rubbing his temples, suddenly stopped, and his pupils contracted sharply!
After a long pause, he slammed his hand on his desk and suddenly remembered everything.

A few months ago, when a foreign animation team came to the mainland, he called Lü Rui.

At the time, Lü Rui simply mentioned wanting to develop an animation project.

He didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a minor stunt and didn't take it seriously at all.

But now, this kid has managed to make such a big commotion without saying a word!
He grabbed the phone from the table and dialed Lü Rui's number.

As soon as the call connected, he got straight to the point: "Kung Fu Panda? Is this the animation project you were talking about back then?"

“Yes.” Lü Rui said calmly.

"Why didn't you let me know beforehand about something this big?" Han Sanping's tone was tinged with resentment, yet he couldn't help but press, "1.3 million US dollars, is all the funding in place?"

"That's enough," Lü Rui retorted, feigning innocence. "I don't recall China Film Group having any involvement in animation, do they?"

Han Sanping was momentarily speechless, but then stopped dwelling on it: "Are you confident? This is a project worth over 10 billion RMB. Can the domestic animation market support it?"

He knew nothing about the animation industry and couldn't understand where Lü Rui got the confidence to spend so much money.

"Let's give it a try. There's still the overseas market, isn't there?" Lu Rui's voice was filled with certainty. "Someone has to take the first step and explore more avenues for Chinese-language films, right?"

These words truly resonated with Han Sanping!
He nodded repeatedly in approval: "Great! This idea is definitely worth supporting! Wait, I'll go to the bureau right now and see if there are any relevant support policies, and try to get a few for you."

Lu Rui's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, "Then thank you very much, President Han. We'll leave the domestic distribution entirely to China Film Group."

With the head of China Film Group about to retire, Han Sanping's power is growing.

In his future development in the domestic film and television industry, he will inevitably have to deal with this key figure, and Lü Rui has no intention of avoiding him.

After all, despite his usual cheerful demeanor, his ruthless methods are well-known in the industry.

It is always better to be on good terms than to be on bad terms.

"Haha, no problem!"

Han Sanping laughed heartily, and even as he hung up the phone, he was still secretly sighing.

Lü Rui, that kid, he was right about him. Not only does he have guts, but he also knows how to behave properly. He's so shrewd!

...

All afternoon, Lü Rui's phone kept ringing.

On the other end of the phone were CEOs of film and television companies, investors, and even CEOs of other animation companies.

Almost no one was optimistic about "Kung Fu Panda".

Spending $1.3 million on domestic animation is seen by many as madness!
However, Lu Rui's certainty and confidence made everyone suspicious, with many guessing that he was either stupid or had a hidden plan that he hadn't revealed yet.

Han Sanping, Ren Zhonglun, and Wang Changtian were quite practical, and proactively offered to provide additional funding.

As for the others, they were all there to gather information and find out what he was planning.

And no one wanted a piece of the pie.

Because nobody thought the project would succeed.

The success of Hollywood animated films relies on a mature industrial system, global distribution channels, and years of accumulated experience in IP operation.

To them, investing so much in Chinese-style animation is simply foolish.

The situation in Hong Kong is even more outrageous. Rumors have circulated that a certain veteran has called on all martial arts choreographers in the Hong Kong film industry to boycott "Kung Fu Panda," urging everyone not to help direct the action scenes, and even threatening to watch the project die...

When Lü Rui received the message, he was speechless. "They're all so delusional."

Don't even mention that he never intended to find a martial arts choreographer. Even if he did, there are plenty of martial arts masters at Beijing Sport University. Who cares about the opinions of the Hong Kong entertainment circle?

After pursing his lips, Lü Rui took Shen Ao back to his room after filming wrapped up for the day, and continued to guide him in polishing the new script.

The recent spate of news from the "Nanjing! Nanjing!" area has infuriated many people.

In particular, Lu Chuan's statement that "the Nanjing Massacre should not be used as an opportunity to insult and hate ordinary Japanese people" angered netizens, who called him a traitor!

When Jiang Wen visited the set of "Pacific Rim," he even gave him a new name:
"I think he shouldn't be called Lu Chuan anymore, he should just be called 'Skewer Taro'. His dad met his mom while eating skewers, and after drinking, he accidentally created this stupid thing..."

"Japanese devils are Japanese devils, there are no good Japanese devils or bad Japanese devils! These beasts should all be killed!"

Shen Ao looked furious; he was definitely a radical!

That's the kind of drive that Lü Rui wants.

He flipped through the memories in his mind and slowly said, "The refugees, the cunning traitors, the desperate families, and the brutal Japanese army all gathered in the small 'Auspicious Photo Studio,' together recording the war-torn, ruined ancient city of Nanjing, and that unforgettable national memory..."

Shen Ao listened with a serious expression and quickly took notes in his notebook.

At the same time, the premiere of "A Battle of Wits" was being held.

The online discussions about "Kung Fu Panda" were in full swing, and Wang Zhonglei naturally saw them too.

Sitting in the front row with his legs crossed, he curled up a disdainful smirk: "$1.3 million to make an animated film? Lü Rui is getting too cocky. Does he really think he's omnipotent?"

Doesn't he know what kind of domestic animation is? It's just throwing money down the drain.

Sitting next to him, Wang Zhongjun frowned slightly: "Don't underestimate him. This kid always manages to stir things up. He might actually succeed."

"Anyway, I don't think there's any hope." Wang Zhonglei was unconvinced. "Can animation and live-action movies be the same? Even Hollywood doesn't dare to throw so much money into animation with Eastern themes. Do you think Lü Rui can succeed?"

Wang Zhongjun thought about it and didn't continue to refute.

To be honest, he also felt there was no chance of success, and he didn't know where Lü Rui got his confidence from.
At this moment, the actors on stage are being interviewed.

Fan Bingbing's in-depth analysis of the character not only won the director's frequent nods, but also garnered cheers from the film critics in the audience.

Wang Zhongjun looked at her, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

In his opinion, Fan Bingbing is much smarter than Li Bingbing, both being members of the "Double Bing" group. She is superior in talent, emotional intelligence, and IQ.

This can be seen in everyday marketing.

Li Bingbing's marketing always revolves around "hard work," which seems inspiring but actually exposes that she has no other strengths besides hard work.

Fan Bingbing has so many marketing opportunities.

Exquisite features, a flamboyant aura, precise character control, and that daring and adventurous ambition—each of these qualities is more memorable than just "hard work"!

Thinking of this, Wang Zhongjun couldn't help but sigh and said, "Didn't you talk to her again? We can offer another percentage point for the brokerage contract split."

Wang Zhonglei shrugged: "We talked, but it was no use. She's determined to leave, and we can't stop her."

"Sigh, alright then." Wang Zhongjun nodded helplessly, then changed the subject, "When is the start date for filming 'The Forbidden Kingdom'?"

Wang Zhonglei frowned: "Let's wait until Fan Bingbing leaves. We need to use this project to offset the impact, otherwise her departure will have too much of an effect."

"Okay, let's do it."

Wang Zhongjun responded in a deep voice.

……

On the 23rd, "A Battle of Wits" was officially released.

Unfortunately, the box office on its opening day in China was only 400 million RMB, which was roughly in line with Lü Rui's estimate.

In this situation, unless they can achieve impressive box office returns or copyright prices in other Asian countries, they will definitely suffer huge losses.

On the 25th, the 43rd Golden Horse Awards ceremony was held at the Taipei Arena.

Several films produced by Ruishijie last year and this year are on the shortlist.

Logically speaking, if Lü Rui decides to attend, he will definitely win either "Best Director" or "Best Film".

At that time, the Golden Horse Awards had greater authority and credibility than the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, while also being more open and inclusive than the Hong Kong Film Awards.

However, despite the organizers' enthusiastic invitation, Lü Rui declined to attend, citing his busy schedule with Pacific Rim.

He also forbade others under Ruishijie's umbrella from going.

The main reason was that he learned from Han Sanping that two awards in the Golden Horse Awards had suddenly changed their names.

One was the Best Taiwanese Film of the Year, and the other was the Best Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year, which were renamed the "Formosa Film Award" and the "Formosa Special Award".

Upon hearing those two names, Lü Rui, who was originally planning to attend the conference, immediately canceled his flight, feeling nauseous.

Dogs can’t change eating shit!

If they're so eager to court death, let them be.

Even though these two awards, which begin with "Formosa," are only given to Taiwanese people and their own films, Lu Rui still can't accept it.

This tactic is clearly a test, and sooner or later they will take advantage of the situation.

Poor Jiang Wen, who was happily preparing to receive the award, received the news upon landing and didn't even leave the airport before flying back with his wife.

For a worshipper like him who admires the "sun," the word "Formosa" is absolutely not something that can be associated with Chinese-language film awards.

He neither accepts nor approves of it!

"Damn it, it seems I can't participate in any other domestic awards besides the Huabiao Awards anymore. They're all such rip-offs..."

After getting off the plane, Jiang Wen called Lü Rui, grumbling and complaining.

However, some people, whether pretending to be stupid or what, still went with great enthusiasm.

But when the award results were announced, I was completely dumbfounded!

The Best Actress award at this year's Golden Horse Awards was won by Zhou Yun, the lead actress in "The Sun Also Rises".

Although she didn't attend the ceremony and had already returned to China with Jiang Wenfei, the award was still given to her since it had been arranged in advance.

In contrast, Zhou Xun, who was full of enthusiasm and thought he would receive a prize if he went there, was completely stunned in his seat.

Chen Kexin won the Golden Horse Award for Best Director for "Perhaps Love".

As for the Golden Horse Best Actress award that was originally promised to her, it once again became a mirage.

She was completely numb.

It's worth noting that she made extensive mental preparations for this Golden Horse Best Actress award, even enduring the sensitive pressure brought by the word "Formosa."

But when she arrived, she discovered that the pressure was far greater than she had anticipated!

State-owned enterprises and film bureaus in mainland China did not send anyone over, clearly indicating that they were silently resisting the disgusting practices of the Golden Horse Awards.

Meanwhile, there are various problems and scandals in the local area, and those attending the Golden Horse Awards are all tainted and embroiled in scandals.

But for the sake of the award, she still endured it, forcing a smile at everyone.

But to her utter surprise, even so, she still missed out on the Golden Horse Best Actress award.

When she returned to the mainland and landed at the airport, she was still dizzy and had not yet recovered from the blow.

She made every effort just to win the Best Actress award and make a name for herself.

But now, things have turned out badly. She didn't win the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress at the beginning of the year, and she also missed out on the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress, so all her efforts have been in vain...

"Jingle Bell!"

The phone rang urgently.

Zhou Xun subconsciously pressed the answer button, and then heard an anxious voice coming from the other end: "Sister Xun, something bad has happened, a lot of negative information about you has been exposed online..."

"what?"

Zhou Xun's expression changed drastically.

Meanwhile, at Hongxingwu, Liu Xiaoli was sitting in her office chair, legs crossed, watching the show.

Her eyes were cold as she pondered to herself.

You bitch, how dare you bully my daughter?

Previously, Hongxingwu lacked the capability and could only passively defend itself against public opinion.

Now look what's happened! You've brought this on yourself, so don't blame me for being ruthless!

"This time, even if I can't kill you, I'll make you suffer!"

(End of this chapter)