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

Chapter 251 Hong Kong filmmakers in despair and collapse... The entire "Steamed Bun Trilogy" is revealed! (Seeking monthly votes)
Once inside the premiere venue, interviews were inevitable.

When the main creators took the stage, more than a dozen microphones were handed to Lü Rui.

A reporter from Sina.com asked curiously, "Director Lü, as far as I know, the story of 'New World' is full of the style of Hong Kong crime films. As a mainland director, why did you choose to create such a work?"

Lu Rui tilted his head slightly, as if lost in reminiscence, and said with a touch of emotion:
"Back then, when I won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director for 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' I saw many senior figures in the Hong Kong film industry sighing and lamenting the current state of Hong Kong films.

To be honest, it really pained me to see this. Hong Kong films influenced a generation's youth, but now they are gradually declining. I wanted to try to do something, to find another way out for Hong Kong films in my own way..."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, but many people in the audience who knew the situation were trying to suppress their laughter.

Has the Hong Kong film market really sunk this low? It actually needs a mainland director to "save" it?
It goes without saying that if these words were to reach the ears of those self-important people in Hong Kong's entertainment circle, they would probably be furious.

However, Mr. Yang, who was sitting in the guest seats, nodded repeatedly.

Because he genuinely felt that what Lü Rui said made absolutely no mistake.

The year is almost over, but the highest-grossing film in the Hong Kong film market only made HK$3000 million, which is less than a fraction of the box office of a medium-sized film in mainland China.

Isn't this just hoping that the mainland market will save Hong Kong films?

If Hong Kong films don't revitalize themselves through the mainland market, they're really going to disappear completely!

At this point, another reporter pressed further: "Since it's a Hong Kong film style, why choose mainland actors for the lead roles instead of Hong Kong actors?"

Lu Rui then began to analyze in a serious tone: "In my opinion, when choosing actors, we should consider the suitability for the role and the market's capacity to support them."

One of the core issues that has made it difficult for Hong Kong films to produce blockbusters in recent years is the declining box office appeal of their leading actors.

In recent years, apart from a few senior actors, very few young and middle-aged actors in Hong Kong have been able to generate box office revenue in the tens of millions.

Mainland actors not only better fit the mainstream aesthetic of contemporary Chinese-language film audiences, but also have a greater advantage in box office appeal, allowing their works to reach a wider market.

To make a movie that audiences will buy into, you have to use the most suitable actors. This isn't about regional prejudice; it's a market principle…

These words earned him a silent thumbs-up from the audience.

Ostensibly analyzing the market, it actually points out the pain point that "Hong Kong actors can't carry the box office" in every sentence, showing absolutely no mercy!
"He really dares to speak his mind, leaving no room for maneuver in the Hong Kong entertainment circle!" Wang Changtian sighed softly.

Han Sanping chuckled beside him, his eyes full of admiration: "For him, there's no need to save face. He has production capabilities, market influence, and good scripts. He has the confidence to speak the truth, unlike us..."

Upon hearing this, many people around nodded in agreement, and their gazes toward Lü Rui became more respectful.

In today's entertainment circle, where people are still used to being "polite" to Hong Kong celebrities, Lui Rui's straightforwardness and confidence are truly admirable.

After the brief interview, Lü Rui voluntarily stepped down from the stage, giving the opportunity to appear on screen to Lu Yang and the rest of the creative team.

As newly signed directors of Ruishijie, and with the addition of lead actor Hu Jun, the two were undoubtedly the most eye-catching focus at the event.

A reporter asked Lu Yang curiously, "Director Lu, what are your expectations for the box office of 'New World'?"

As a staunch supporter of Lü Rui, Lu Yang spoke with certainty but with a hidden sharpness: "It's hard to predict the exact figure, but I think the minimum in the Hong Kong market should be no less than HK$3000 million."

Upon hearing this, the reporters were taken aback.

Clearly, Lu Yang's words were blatantly saying, "My movie is aiming to break your Hong Kong film box office record this year!"
Everyone secretly sighed, "As expected, the soldiers are just as good as their generals."

This fearless, youthful spirit is exactly the same as that of Lü Rui back then!
Ten minutes later, the interview ended and the lights in the screening room went out.

The noisy discussions at the scene instantly disappeared, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the screen, ready to appreciate this unique "Hong Kong film".

As the opening credits roll, the story of "The New World" slowly unfolds.

Lee Ja-sung has been an undercover agent in the triads for many years, forging a deep brotherhood with triad boss Ding Qing. Torn between the pressure from the police and the trust of his brother, he struggles on the edge of the law.

The film features a series of exciting scenes.

The scene where the Yanbian F4 chase a murderer on the street with weapons is violent yet has an absurdly funny feel.

The elevator battle scene was absolutely explosive!
Ding Qing fought against a group of people in the cramped elevator. Blood splattered as his fists and feet clashed. His movements were swift and ruthless, filled with despair, which caused gasps to rise from the scene every now and then!
What's most shocking is the scene after Ding Qing's death.

Lee Ja-sung stood by the hospital bed, looking at his brother's cold body, without uttering a single line, his eyes reddening, his fingers trembling slightly.

From suppressed grief to the resolute determination burning in his eyes, the emotions build layer by layer, and the inner struggle and transformation are vividly portrayed through expressions alone!

Especially the acting in the latter half of the film, which lasted for half an hour without a single line of dialogue, was simply divine!
In a daze, everyone seemed to see another movie of just as high quality as "Infernal Affairs" being born!
At the end, when Lee Ja-sung sits in the chairman's seat, everyone present finally realizes why the movie is called "New World."

I'm dead. The female undercover agent who knew your identity and her undercover henchman are also dead. Deal with the rest of you yourself. This is the "new world" I'm giving you!
As the screening ended and the lights came on, the room fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous applause.

Han Sanping nodded repeatedly in admiration: "This film is in no way inferior to 'Infernal Affairs'!"

Jiang Wen slapped Lü Rui on the shoulder, his voice rising several decibels with excitement: "Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

"It feels even better than 'Infernal Affairs'!" Ren Zhonglun muttered to himself, his eyes full of surprise.

Han Sanping chimed in, "The main thing is the ending where the character turns evil and rises to power, which really gets people in the right place at the right time."

"Tsk tsk, only Hong Kong films could make an ending like this. If it were made in mainland China, it probably wouldn't pass censorship." Ren Zhonglun said, pondering to himself.

Shanghai Film Group is close to the Hong Kong film industry and has a lot of collaborations with them. Should we test their limits?
"It certainly took a lot of effort to get this movie approved," Han Sanping said, looking at Lü Rui with a meaningful expression.

He suddenly realized that although this kid went to the Hundred Flowers Awards and didn't win any awards and got ripped off, the benefits he gained afterward seemed to be much more valuable than the Hundred Flowers Award trophy!

Who among those who can sit in high positions is a fool?

Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly... Han Sanping finally began to realize what was going on.

"Come on, come on! I've prepared some great food and drinks at the hotel next door. Let's drink until we drop and celebrate the successful premiere of 'New World'..."

Lu Rui's enthusiastic calls interrupted Han Sanping's thoughts.

His brow relaxed, and he followed with a smile, completely forgetting those thoughts.

As long as Lü Rui continues to produce high-quality works, these twists and turns are completely unimportant.

Moreover, the mainland distributor of "New World" is China Film Group.

Judging by the quality of this movie, this is definitely a sure-fire way to make money!
Just as the banquet was in full swing, the media announcement was released overnight, the content of which had a somewhat provocative tone:

"Lu Rui bluntly stated that Hong Kong films have declined, and Hong Kong actors can no longer carry the box office; the mainland is the savior!"

"The premiere of 'New World' received high praise; film critics say its quality is in no way inferior to 'Infernal Affairs'!"

"Is it arrogance or confidence? Lu Yang declares that 'New World' will definitely break 3000 million at the Hong Kong box office! Aiming at the annual box office record for Hong Kong films!"

An industry insider slammed the Hong Kong entertainment circle: "The market has cooled down, who are they trying to impress with their airs?"

"A new pinnacle for Chinese-language crime films! The premiere of 'New World' was a resounding success, with Jiang Wen and Han Sanping showing their strong support..."

The news spread the next day, causing a sensation across the internet.

Mainland netizens cheered: "Finally, someone dares to speak the truth! Hong Kong films have been dead for a long time!"

On the other hand, some people in the Hong Kong film and television industry, even though they were furious, still refused to admit defeat.

"Hilarious! A mainland director dares to tell Hong Kong films how to do things? 'New World' is bound to flop!"

"Surpassing Infernal Affairs? That's wishful thinking! It's nothing but sensationalism."

"Do Hong Kong films need the mainland to save them? What do they know about our golden age! Just wait and see them make a fool of themselves."

"3000 million in box office? Ha! That's just bragging. Hong Kong audiences won't buy it!"

"Mainland actors as the main characters? How can a movie made like that be called a Hong Kong film? It's a complete sham!"

~

On December 6th, the Hong Kong premiere ceremony of "New World" was held under the preparation of Yinghuang.

Lü Rui was not present.

Firstly, Pacific Rim is entering its final stage, and he needs to polish the last few major scenes.

Secondly, a wise person avoids dangerous situations. In such circumstances, it's best to stay away, as there's no guarantee that some idiot won't jump out...

Sure enough, that afternoon, Lu Yang called, reporting with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "Director Lü, someone here actually tried to cut the power to stop the movie screening, luckily we were prepared..."

Lu Rui was speechless.

It's normal for people to exchange a few insults, isn't it?

If you're not satisfied, then just make a movie and let's have a head-to-head, real competition at the box office, right?

They actually sent someone to pull the power switch?
Using such petty and underhanded tactics, aren't you ashamed enough?

While most business battles are indeed simple and straightforward, this kind of behavior that hurts the enemy eight hundred while damaging oneself a thousand is really stupid.

On the 7th, just before the release of "New World," the Hong Kong entertainment circle's counterattack came belatedly.

With the official announcements of the projects for the films "Red Cliff" and "The Warlords," Hong Kong media outlets have been reporting on them extensively.
"Today, the historical/war epic 'Red Cliff,' directed by Wu Yu and starring Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Chang Chen, officially launched its project... Mainland actors will only play supporting roles in the film..."

"The action/war film 'The Warlords,' directed by Chen Kexin and starring Li Lianjie, Liu Dehua, and Takeshi Kaneshiro, with an investment of up to 4 million RMB, has officially started production and will continue the lineup of Hong Kong actors as the main stars... Stay tuned."

In no time, Wu Yu and Chen Kexin were hailed as celebrities in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, and their fame soared!

Arguments such as "reviving the glory of Hong Kong films", "surpassing mainland films", and "Hong Kong filmmakers are the coolest" are everywhere.

Clearly, they wanted to use these two major productions to stifle the momentum of "New World".

But all of this was destined to be in vain.

On December 8th, "New World" officially premiered in theaters across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

At this time, the Lunar New Year film season is in full swing.

"Curse of the Golden Flower" has not yet been released, and "A Battle of Wits" is still showing in theaters, but after nearly half a month of release, its box office in mainland China has not yet exceeded 5000 million yuan.

The media then dragged Liu Dehua into the controversy surrounding the lead actor of "New World".

There is no doubt that he is indeed a good actor with good acting skills, but it is a fact that he cannot drive the box office, and the Hong Kong entertainment circle has no way to refute this.

As for "The Knot," because it is a patriotic film, its release was mainly to convey its message rather than to generate box office revenue.

This undoubtedly gave "New World" an excellent opportunity to break through!

With publicity remaining high, competition between the mainland and Hong Kong film and television industries is fierce, controversies between actors and the market are ongoing, and netizens and media are exchanging barbs...

With multiple buffs stacked on top of each other, the popularity of "New World" has soared to its peak!
With the high number of screenings secured by China Film Group and Emperor Motion Pictures, the film generated an amazing chemical reaction as soon as it was released.

On the morning of the 9th, as soon as Lü Rui arrived at the Pacific Rim set, he saw Lu Yang already waiting for him, his face flushed with excitement.

"How's it going? The first-day box office figures are in?" he asked curiously.

"It's out!" Lu Yang's voice trembled. "The opening day box office in mainland China was 1735 million yuan, and in Hong Kong it was 412 million Hong Kong dollars, which is 10 yuan higher than 'Kung Fu Hustle,' successfully breaking the opening day box office record of the 'Infernal Affairs' series!" "Good!" Lü Rui nodded in satisfaction. "Don't stop the promotion, keep up the good work!"

"Yes, Brother Rui!"

Lu Yang readily agreed and continued promoting the show with the actors without stopping.

Excellent plot, novel subject matter, extremely high quality, superb acting...

When these conditions are combined with high screening frequency, hot publicity gimmicks, and distribution support, the result is an outstanding box office performance!

The box office for "New World" began to soar:
1735 million, 1936 million, 2007 million... The mainland raked in a whopping 5678 million over the first three days of the weekend!
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong market achieved sales of HK$412 million, HK$435 million, and HK$449 million, garnering a total of HK$1296 million in three days!
Limited by market factors, Hong Kong's box office performance is almost never able to reach the scale of over ten million in a single day, as it does in mainland China.

Even so, "New World" still managed to reach fifth place in Hong Kong's annual box office rankings for its opening weekend!
It achieved such results in just three days of release.

It goes without saying that breaking the annual box office record of 3020 million yuan set by "Fearless" is almost a certainty.

Hong Kong's entertainment circle fell silent instantly.

The facts are undeniable; they'll have no choice but to accept them, even if they don't want to!
Only a few people still pin their hopes on the unreleased "Confession of Pain," claiming that its release will definitely stabilize the dominance of Hong Kong films.

However, while they were still stubbornly insisting on their position, the audience had already turned against them.

Positive reviews are flooding Hong Kong's major film review forums:
"I feel that 'New World' is even more touching than 'Infernal Affairs'! It's been a long time since I've seen such an excellent Hong Kong-style crime film!"

"The acting skills of mainland actors are amazing! Hu Jun's portrayal of the villain is simply divine. Hong Kong actors really need to learn from him."

"This film truly embodies the spirit of Hong Kong cinema! I hope the Hong Kong film industry will stop being complacent and learn more from the mainland."

"No dull moments! The plot twists are incredibly exciting. I've already watched it twice and highly recommend it to all Hong Kong film fans!"

"It turns out that mainland directors can make such great Hong Kong films! Hong Kong films need to revitalize themselves, learn from their strengths and make up for their weaknesses, and stop being so concerned about saving face."

The fact that viewers in their own market have turned to the "enemy" has caused heartache and outrage among the older generation of Hong Kong celebrities.

However, even heavier blows were yet to come.

Over the next three days, the box office of "Dragon Tiger Gate", "Peace and Harmony", and "Re-entry" was successively crushed by "New World".

By the 14th, when "Curse of the Golden Flower" hit the Hong Kong market, "New World" had already grossed over HK$2000 million, ranking third for the year. It was about to surpass "Rob-B-Hood" and was only one step away from "Fearless"'s record!
At this very moment, Yinghuang's move rubbed salt into the wounds of the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

The film "New World" has officially announced that it will be submitted for next year's Hong Kong Film Awards.

The procedure is legal and the conditions are compliant; no one can find a reason to refuse.

However, this move put the Hong Kong Film Awards board of directors in a dilemma.

Okay, now how should this award be judged?
In terms of quality and market performance, "New World" is comparable to "Infernal Affairs" back in the day.

If the award is not given, it will inevitably be questioned by the entire internet, which will lead to a sharp drop in the credibility of the award.

Judging from the director and cast, the cast of "New World" consists entirely of mainland Chinese, not members of the Hong Kong entertainment circle.

If an award is given, not only will all our previous efforts be in vain, but we will also have to watch helplessly as outsiders defeat our own people, resulting in a complete loss of face.

Logically speaking, this award should definitely not be given, but which other film deserves it?

If it were given to other Hong Kong films, wouldn't they be criticized and condemned by the media?
"A calculated scheme! This is definitely Lu Rui's calculated scheme! He's doing this to destroy the Hong Kong Film Awards and get revenge on us! This kid is ruthless!"

John Chong, vice chairman of the board of directors of the Hong Kong Film Awards, was slamming his fist on the table and cursing angrily. But the next second, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, unconscious, clearly having been so angry that he fainted.

"Vice Chairman Zhuang!"

The assistant cried out in surprise and rushed over.

In an instant, the entire conference room descended into chaos...

At the same time, after filming wrapped up for the day, Lü Rui, along with Zhao Peng, Shen Ao, Rao Xiaozhi, Lu Yang, Liu Yifei, Tang Yan, Shu Chang, and others, headed straight to a nearby cinema.

Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower" officially premiered today.

The industry has very high expectations for this film, and they naturally want to personally assess its quality.

Upon entering the cinema, one is greeted by a vast expanse of giant posters for "Curse of the Golden Flower" covering almost every corner of the lobby.

It's no exaggeration to say that even films like "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" from back then didn't have this kind of success.

Zhang Weiping has been boasting louder than ever these past few days, claiming things like "conquering Hollywood," "breaking mainland box office records," and "being determined to win the Oscars"...

Even "Taken" was dragged out and criticized, its arrogance is unmatched.

"I'm going to buy popcorn, who wants some? Name your numbers!" Liu Yifei grabbed Shu Chang and Tang Yan and rushed straight to the snack section.

Lu Rui raised his hand: "Get me a blanket."

"Huh?" Liu Yifei was a little confused.

Why would you need a blanket to watch a movie?

However, she has a good habit: she never questions what Lü Rui says.

So she actually obediently went to the front desk and asked for a blanket.

As they entered the theater and waited for the movie to start, the three girls chatted excitedly, stating that their goal was to become an actress like Gong Li.

In terms of looks, all three of them could easily outshine Gong Li.

But when it comes to temperament and presence, no actress in the industry dares to say for sure that she can surpass her.

Even Zhang Ziyi, who has been marketing herself for years, is just imitating Gong Li in her early days.

More importantly, Gong Li's figure is absolutely stunning!
At the beginning of the film, when she appeared as the "Queen," Lü Rui could tell at a glance that her figure was naturally voluptuous and not a product of silicone.

"Wow! Zhang Yimou really went all out this time!" Zhao Peng exclaimed, staring at the screen.

"What did you say was big?" Tang Yan, standing next to him, widened her eyes and quietly placed her hand on his waist.

"I said the scene was big enough!" Zhao Peng hurriedly explained.

"Oh." Tang Yan then withdrew her hand.

"Wow, it's so big... How did it grow so big?"

As Liu Yifei was silently reflecting on her feelings, she turned her head and saw that Lü Rui had draped a blanket over himself and even closed his eyes.

"Aren't you going to watch a movie?" she asked curiously.

"look."

"Then why don't you open your eyes?"

"Why open your eyes when watching a music video? I can just listen."

MV? ??

Liu Yifei scratched her head, looking completely puzzled, unable to understand what Lü Rui was saying at all.

Little did they know, Lü Rui had made a plan before he arrived.

First, feast your eyes on the opening "big white steamed bun," then take a comfortable nap, listen to the end credits song when the movie ends, and then leave.

As for the plot? What's so interesting about that?
Zhang Yimou's box office appeal far surpasses that of Chen Kaige and Feng Xiaogang.

The next morning, as soon as Lü Rui arrived at the film set and turned on his computer, he saw that the internet was already flooded with news about "Curse of the Golden Flower":
"Warmest congratulations! 'Curse of the Golden Flower' has grossed 1500 million RMB at the midnight screenings!"

Zhang Weiping once again made a bold statement: It's not that "Thunderstorm" is better than "Hamlet", but that Feng Xiaogang doesn't understand the core essence of period dramas.

"Reprinted from The Hollywood Reporter: 'Curse of the Golden Flower' hits North American theaters, aiming for the Oscars!"

"A new box office record for Chinese-language films is about to be set, beating out 'New World' and crushing 'Taken'!"

"..."

Zhang Weiping's marketing tactics are indeed impressive, but his underhanded approach of belittling competitors is truly repulsive.

Of course, all of this stems from Zhang Yimou's confidence; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to be so arrogant.

Influenced by the success of "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", movie fans have very high expectations for "Curse of the Golden Flower".

In just three days, it grossed a staggering 9600 million yuan at the domestic box office, easily crushing "New World".

However, as the film's run continued, its flaws gradually became more apparent...

First of all, the box office performance in Hollywood was rather disappointing.

After three days in theaters, it only grossed a little over $300 million, a far cry from the box office success of "Taken".

Clearly, this Hollywood-made adaptation of "Thunderstorm" failed to meet the expectations of overseas audiences, falling far short of the international influence of "Hero."

As news of the box office failure in North America reached China, the negative reviews that Zhang Weiping had suppressed for many days finally erupted:
"It's all pornography, the whole city is full of big-breasted girls, what kind of crap is this?"

"It's far inferior to 'Hero.' The epic feel has been reduced to nothing more than nudity. What's the point of showing skin? Does this really win battles?"

"The scenes are grand, the colors are rich, and the actors are eye-catching, but they can't save the thin story."

"The whole thing felt like watching a music video, except for 'Chrysanthemum Terrace,' which was somewhat pleasant to listen to."

"What kind of epic blockbuster is this? Zhang Yimou has ruined ancient China like this, airing his dirty laundry in public. What are his intentions?"

It's one thing to criticize online, but what's even more ruthless is that netizens directly grouped "The Promise," "The Banquet," and "Curse of the Golden Flower" together, calling them "A Bloodbath Caused by a Steamed Bun," "A Bloodbath Caused by Two Steamed Buns," and "A Bloodbath Caused by a Pile of Steamed Buns," respectively.

The "Steamed Bun Trilogy" has officially debuted, and its level of ridicule has skyrocketed!
Just then, "Confession of Pain" was officially launched.

To be honest, Zhang Weiping is quite cunning.

Not daring to directly target "New World," he signed agreements with theaters in advance, demanding that some theaters allocate all their screenings to "Curse of the Golden Flower," thus drastically squeezing out the release space for "Confession of Pain."

This outrageous move angered Yu Dong, the distributor of "Confession of Pain," who cursed him for being shameless!

Zhang Weiping responded remotely, calling him a dog of the Hong Kong film circle who only wags his tail for Hong Kong movies...

The two were working enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, "New World" quietly developed and steadily progressed, firmly suppressing "Confession of Pain," a film that the Hong Kong film industry had high hopes for and which was created by the original team behind "Infernal Affairs."

At the same time, the box office record of "Rob-B-Hood" was officially broken by "New World".

In this fierce battle of the Lunar New Year film season, Rong Xinda's thriller "The Door," Starlight Brilliant's "Anaconda," created to promote Jing Tian, ​​and a host of other low-budget films all became cannon fodder that no one cared about...

(End of this chapter)