The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 85 Can you sleep at this age? (6k8)

"The first show was met with enthusiastic audience response, exceeding our expectations in terms of attendance. No need to wait for prime-time performances, we're going straight for it!"

Originally, they planned to wait until the prime time to launch their campaign, but seeing that it might become a disaster, Shen Shandeng seized the opportunity and immediately led the main creative team to take the initiative.

Roadshow!

Shen Shandeng, along with Chen Kun, Wu Jing, Fan Bingbing, Yang Mi, and other main actors, all went straight to UME Huaxing International Cinema, Huaxing Shuang'an Store.

This is a top-tier cinema in Beijing and even nationwide, consistently leading in box office revenue.

Currently, major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou account for the majority of movie box office revenue, while second- and third-tier cities are just beginning to see growth.

Although the first game seems to be a sure thing, it's hard to say how things will be in other cities. Until the very last moment, no one can be sure of the outcome.

For Shen Shandeng, having come this far, he cannot afford to lose.

If "The Supervisor" fails, he may not have another chance.

Do you really think that your private number was leaked "accidentally"?
Within this circle, his views, his practices, and his interactions with reality have severely offended a large number of people.

This is not just a matter of media criticism; it is real and tangible pressure from the real world.

Speaking of the stakeholders involved in "The Evil," if "The Eunuch" fails at the box office and cannot seal the fate of "The Evil," they will definitely rewrite their understanding and launch a counterattack.

Once this storm passes, Shen Shandeng will definitely face retaliation.

If Shen Shandeng were to show even the slightest sign of weakness, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Of course, Han Sanping might try to make a quick buck.

But Shen Shandeng has always been principled and did not want to take advantage of public resources.

At the same time, Shen Shandeng was also worried about the film's content.

Will audiences at this point accept films with a solid foundation? We must avoid being brainwashed by narratives about the "other" and subconsciously rejecting narratives about the "self."

The film also has some flaws: the civil officials weren't actually that incompetent, the bureaucracy in the early Jiajing period wasn't that corrupt, and the eunuch competition was fictional.
Shen Shandeng's expectation for "The Eunuch" is that it will gross tens of millions of yuan, and ideally break 100 million yuan.

In this day and age, breaking 100 million is already an extraordinary achievement!
If the box office exceeds 100 million, he will dare to proclaim himself a great director, standing alongside the three major directors as a rising star.

Once you reach this level of fame, as long as Shen Shandeng doesn't do anything reckless, having the title of a well-known director will save you a lot of trouble.

For some, being a director is a privilege; similarly, since others can use it, Shen Shandeng can naturally use being a director as a shield.

It's about one o'clock in the afternoon.

The creative team of "The Eunuch" took a short break backstage at the cinema, arranged by the cinema manager, while waiting for the screening in the giant screen theater to end.

Chen Kun asked hesitantly, "Director Shen, is this roadshow even useful?"

At this moment, Chen Kun was completely different from the ruthless Chen Shaojian and Chen Zhangyin in the movie; he was filled with trepidation and confusion.

The concept of "roadshow" was completely vague and rare at this time. It was unheard of in the mainland film industry today, and even Hong Kong and Taiwan film crews did not have this concept.

Film promotion mainly relies on press conferences, media interviews, television programs, posters, and trailers.

The creators of a very small number of Hong Kong and Taiwan blockbusters, such as "Infernal Affairs" and "Kung Fu Hustle," only come to a few first-tier cities in mainland China for a short promotional tour and hold a meet-and-greet at a cinema.

With fewer events, a narrower scope, and a simpler process, it's more like a "celebrity meet-and-greet" than the "roadshow" proposed by Shen Shandeng.

The production team of "The Eunuch" arranged for a large-scale, organized face-to-face meeting with the audience in theaters, which is unprecedented in mainland China.

Almost no director takes the initiative to systematically visit major box office cities, let alone go deep into cinemas to communicate face-to-face with ordinary audiences.

Unheard of!

As the lead actor, Chen Kun also lacked confidence in his own star power.

He is scheduled to join the cast of "Painted Skin" next month, but before filming has even started, the media has already labeled him a casting mistake.

Not only Chen Kun, but Fan Bingbing also didn't understand.

Having just finished touching up her makeup, her delicate face showed a slight furrow in her brows as she said, "Director Shen, is this really necessary? Isn't it enough for the audience to just watch the movie?"

Fan Bingbing didn't understand the benefits of interacting with ordinary audience members. What if some audience members didn't like it and asked random questions on the spot?
This kind of propaganda method is not only used in mainland China, but also in Hong Kong and Taiwan. If Hong Kong doesn't use it, how can it work in mainland China?

Fan Bingbing subconsciously felt that it wouldn't work.

“Roadshows definitely play a big role!” Yang Mi retorted. “Everyone loves a good show. If a celebrity appears in a movie theater, they’ll definitely go see it.”

"The reason why the Hong Kong and Taiwan directors and creators were unwilling before was because they looked down on us! They strictly limited the duration of the event, and charged extra money for each additional show!"

Fan Bingbing choked and felt uncomfortable.

Shen Shandeng was very pleased; indeed, corporal punishment was effective, and Da Mimi's intelligence had clearly improved.

As for Fan Bingbing, she simply didn't receive enough education.

Since I can't be by your side to teach you every moment, I can only hope that as time goes by, you'll become more confident.

Wu Jing firmly stated, "I think everyone doesn't need to worry. The feedback from the first screening was very good. Everyone saw the attitude of the cinema manager just now; they are the most realistic."

“In their eyes, ‘Du Gong’ ruined ‘Zao Nie’ and made them earn less money. If ‘Du Gong’ hadn’t sold so well, they certainly wouldn’t have been so enthusiastic.”

The attitude of cinemas best reflects the market situation, because they are truly on the front lines of the market.

Just then, the cinema manager knocked on the door with a smile: "The screening is almost over, Director Shen, everyone, please get ready."

When it came time to face the audience directly, everyone couldn't help but feel nervous.

Wu Jing took a breath and unconsciously pursed his lips.

Chen Kun subconsciously clenched his fist; if this film succeeded, he would benefit the most.

Fan Bingbing secretly clenched her fingers. For her, this drama would determine her future path, whether she would gamble on the future as Shen Shandeng had said, or return to her original path.

For a moment, it felt like being taken to the execution ground.

The cinema manager was the most relaxed, as he knew the real situation: "Gentlemen, let's strictly follow the procedures and not delay the next audience."

The credits rolled and the lights came on.

Only a handful of audience members stood up; most waited for the theme song to finish playing.

Then, suddenly, the audience in the front row noticed several people walking in from the aisle.

"what!"

Upon closer inspection, some audience members exclaimed in surprise.

Some viewers thought it was an illusion, blinked, and when they checked again, the group had already arrived in front of the screen.

The cinema's loudspeaker announced as the host took the stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, please wait a moment! We have a special surprise for you! Welcome to the stage, Director Shen Shandeng and the creative team of 'The Eunuch'!"

Shen Shandeng picked up a simple microphone and said sincerely, "Hello everyone! I am Shen Shandeng, the director of 'The Eunuch'! Thank you all so much for choosing to watch this movie tonight! The movie has just finished showing, so your feelings are the freshest and most genuine! We came here specifically to hear your most direct feelings after watching it! Please feel free to raise any questions or thoughts you may have!"

Wow! It's real! A living person!

"Chen Mo!"

"Wow!"

"Bingbing!"

"Lu Bing!"

"Chen Kun!"

"Wu Jing!"

"Director Shen!"

"Wow!"

"Xu Zhicui!"

"Chen Mo! Your Excellency! So handsome!"

The audience was stunned at first, then erupted in a thunderous roar of screams and applause, instantly igniting the theater!

Even celebrities are unfamiliar with roadshows, let alone the audience.

Later on, the roadshow turned into a private event for fans.

It was truly unexpected!
It was a huge surprise that came out of nowhere.

Some audience members couldn't help but shout that the movie was awesome and great, and that they even met the main cast members offline. They said the ticket was worth it!

Seeing this, the cinema manager was also surprised; this reaction showed that everyone was really satisfied with the movie!
Shen Shandeng was stunned for a moment by this unreserved enthusiasm, and then a huge warm current surged in his heart.

His work has won the audience's recognition!
For the film, the final leap was a success!
Next, we'll see how high and how far the movie ultimately goes.

Faced with the enthusiastic audience, the other members of the production team also relaxed.

Chen Kun subconsciously straightened his back, Wu Jing grinned and showed his signature smile, and Fan Bingbing also quickly adjusted her posture and showed a bright smile.

Yang Mi waved happily; she was going to be a movie star from now on.

This is the benefit of sleeping with the right person—no, following the right person!
After a brief introduction, the host handed the microphone to the audience.

The first person to ask a question was a young man wearing glasses, whose voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Director Shen! The movie is amazing! I want to ask, was the poem Chen Mo recited at the end written in the script or did you come up with it yourself? 'The true realm of humanity need not be found on mountain peaks.' That line is so powerful!"

Shen Shandeng breathed a sigh of relief, not to nitpick: "I wrote it, and of course it's also the result of the screenwriting team."

Chen Kun added, "This poem perfectly captures Chen Mo's state of mind. What he is protecting is not the lofty power, but the faint light of ordinary people on this land."

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The film's themes resonate so deeply with us right now!
Now that "Qi Tongwei" is right here among us, what the audience wants to see is a fight against darkness!

The next question came from a girl, who looked directly at Chen Kun and said, "Brother Kun! Your action scenes are so cool! You're simply the most handsome eunuch in the world! The most beautiful eunuch in the Eastern Depot!"

The audience burst into laughter!

Chen Kun was overjoyed, which showed that his acting skills had been recognized, but he was also a little embarrassed and said, "It's still Brother Jing who did the action design and the stunt doubles. Many of my actions were done by stunt doubles!"

Wu Jing also chimed in with enthusiasm: "We designed two sets of action sequences, one for the Imperial Guards and one for the eunuchs. The eunuch system's actions are more subtle, emphasizing silence and striking the body's vital points."

The girl said, "I saw it. You two were sparring, and every move you made was aimed at Brother Jing's groin!"

The audience burst into laughter again.

Wu Jing, feeling embarrassed, changed the subject and explained the characteristics of Jingzhu's kung fu. He concluded by saying, "The final presentation of the action design is the result of the team's work. It's not just the martial arts choreography team, but also the participation of engineering students and the editing team. It's mainly thanks to Director Shen's leadership that we were able to bring our strength together. That's the charm of the film industry."

Shen Shandeng quickly said, "Thanks to Brother Jing for the action scenes, the entire action choreography team is thanks to him."

Several viewers asked about the special effects, especially the battle between grandmasters, and were all very shocked.

Shen Shandeng briefly introduced the production concept, and then said: "We have limited financial resources, so we must use our resources wisely. In this regard, we would like to thank China Film Group for its support, as well as the modelers and our technical sponsors. We have included an acknowledgment at the end of the film. There are also some behind-the-scenes clips, which we will release to everyone later."

The atmosphere at the scene got better and better. Not only the audience in this hall, but also other audience members who knew that the main creators had arrived came over, and the aisles were full of people.

The initial apprehension of Shen Shandeng and his group disappeared, replaced by excitement and emotion.

They answered every question carefully, shared interesting anecdotes from filming, and sincerely thanked the audience for their support.

Soon, the cinema announced that it was almost time.

Shen Shandeng was reluctant to leave. No one asked him the question he was most worried about. The audience only saw the good points!
Moving!

Goodbye! I won't keep you from having lunch any longer! Thank you all for your support!

As Shen Shandeng and his entourage left under the escort of security guards, the passageway was still crowded with spectators who refused to leave.

"Don't talk about martial ethics!"

Upon arriving at the lobby, many people were still shouting the characters' names and memorable quotes from the movie.

One viewer couldn't help but take out their phone and share with their friends: "I met celebrities here at Huaxing Store. No, I saw the main actors and director of the movie 'The Eunuch,' Fan Bingbing, Chen Kun, Wu Jing, and Yang Mi."

"What for? To share our creative experiences and hear our feedback on the film."

"Really! Everyone asked on the spot, there was no collusion, we didn't even know they were coming, it was a complete surprise attack."

"I didn't get a turn, but those in the front row did. Everyone was just talking about the movie. Of course, no one was picking a fight; the movie was so good."

"Let me tell you, this is absolutely the best movie of the year! The plot is so good that you feel like you're missing something if you don't watch for even a second or two; there's no pointless plot."

"Excited? Really?" The caller paused, then thought for a moment and said, "Yes, excited. It's that feeling of being respected. I've never felt this way before. Do those Hong Kong and Taiwanese stars even give us a second glance? And those big directors?"

"Although I didn't get to ask any questions, I could feel Director Shen Shandeng's respect, and everyone was able to give genuine feedback. Can I ask questions to other renowned directors, or to the Hong Kong and Taiwan teams?"

"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. If I have a temper, I'll only take it out on the local team. So what if I'm a bully within my own team?"

“Now, some people aren’t robbing us anymore; at least they’re willing to respect us, even if it’s just a pretense.”

Many audience members found the experience of the roadshow novel and were reluctant to leave. They didn't really pay attention to what Shen Shandeng and the others were saying; they just enjoyed the atmosphere of interaction.

"Wow, so many people."

Da Mimi almost felt like she wouldn't be able to get out.

As the cast and crew of "The Eunuch" boarded the van, Shen Shandeng looked back and saw the audience who were reluctant to leave, and a sense of satisfaction rose in his heart once again.

After the film was completed, not only his work, but also the audience participated in the film.

It seemed that light was shining into his heart.

Chen Kun was reluctant to part.

At this moment, my feelings are indescribable.

Movies, especially successful commercial films, have a charm that television series and art films cannot match.

Fan Bingbing couldn't help but look back through the back window. Many audience members hadn't left, and the cinema entrance was packed with people in layers.

A business event made her feel that her cold heart was being touched.

Those excited, satisfied, and eager faces, those cheers purely for the film itself, the audience calling out her character's name—it was all out of pure love for the movie, not because of external factors.

When was the last time?
Fan Bingbing felt that Shen Shandeng was about to break down the barriers in her heart with the help of the movie.

The audience response was enthusiastic, and the creative team members were all working with renewed vigor.

After a quick meal, we headed to the New Dong'an Cinema in the heart of Wangfujing's commercial district.

There are successful precedents.

The second cinema went much more smoothly.

Viewers didn't delve too much into historical accuracy; they mostly focused on the characters' charm, the fight scenes, the special effects details, especially the visual spectacle of a master's internal energy sustaining life, as well as the brilliant dialogue.

By the time they reached the third venue, news of the innovative roadshow format of "The Eunuch" had already spread online.

Netizens in Beijing started to meet the main cast and crew offline.

Working until after 10 p.m., Shen Shandeng and the main cast visited several important cinemas in Beijing.

"Factory Flower".

Everyone was in a relaxed mood, joking around.

During the one-day roadshow, Chen Kun undoubtedly attracted the most attention, immediately earning the nickname "Factory Flower".

Zhou Qifeng relayed the distribution manager's report: "As of 10 o'clock, Huaxing's box office has exceeded 300,000! It may exceed 400,000 today!"

In this era, box office statistics were rather crude, and it would take one or two days to know the daily box office figures. The statistics mainly relied on the box office data of cinemas in major cities.

Shen Shandeng was completely relieved. He leaned back in his chair, a smile he couldn't hide on his face.

“We, the audience, are really easy to satisfy. Historical research doesn’t need to be airtight. As long as it’s a story that they can believe, that gets their blood pumping, that lets them see the light, a story that belongs to us.”

The night view of Beijing outside the car window flashed by, but the atmosphere inside the car was as hot as fire.

Even though I answered a lot of repetitive questions today, I don't feel tired at all!
Fan Bingbing was already itching to clap and celebrate with Shen Shandeng in front of Yang Mi.

It wasn't actually in person; she wasn't that comfortable with that. It was just at the same hotel.

During the film crew's promotional period, everyone stayed in a hotel to facilitate quick communication.

Shen Shandeng ignored everyone.

snort!
Gorgeous bitch!

At this moment, he belongs only to himself!

sleep!

Back at the hotel, Shen Shandeng fell asleep immediately.

tired!

From filming, post-production, and publicity of "The Eunuch," everything was done in a race against time, and even his iron-willed body couldn't keep up.

Shen Shandeng was able to sleep, but Han Sanping could not.

The city of Beijing outside the window has fallen asleep, with only a few neon lights flickering.

Han Sanping's office, however, was brightly lit and filled with smoke.

He's under a lot of pressure!

A leader described as highly respected, meticulous in thinking, farsighted, energetic, decisive, courageous, and adept at navigating complex situations would seem like a genius.

However, based on the above adjectives, one could also say: wielding absolute power, having a gloomy mind, being ambitious but unrealistic, causing chaos and unrest, acting arbitrarily, and being adept at social maneuvering.

When these adjectives are used, do they give the impression of someone being a bad person?

Han Sanping considers himself to be the former, but he knows that many people want to put him in the latter category.

The pressure from Shen Shandeng's actions wasn't just directed at Shen Shandeng, but also at him.

The hype surrounding "The Eunuch" was so great that Shen Shandeng even declared that he would take over the film's release schedule, which undoubtedly provoked a lot of people.

"They're really good at causing trouble."

Han Sanping sighed with genuine emotion, "If I had known Shen Shandeng was so troublesome, I would have definitely increased the number of copies from 500 to 800."

Even if someone reports it from within, we will not hesitate.

The main reason is that "Du Gong" taking over "Zao Nie" has a special meaning.

"The Eunuch" not only took over a vacant slot, but also a voice that urgently needed to be redefined.

The succession between mainland China and Hong Kong and Taiwan can be seen as a competition between China and Hollywood for recognition.

Having put himself in this predicament, Han Sanping didn't know what to say.

I'll let you rush ahead, but won't you watch the road while you're rushing?
What if I accidentally miss a step?
The success or failure of the film "The Eunuch" will not only determine whether Shen Shandeng's future directing career can continue, but also whether Han Sanping's ideas about film can be realized.

It's not that Han Sanping is unwilling to provide support, but rather that "The Eunuch" has failed, and there may be other factors involved. He can withstand it, but can Shen Shandeng?
So it would be best to succeed on the first try, not just a regular success, but a complete success, ideally with box office revenue exceeding 100 million, breaking the ceiling!
Han Sanping provided his full support for this.

Do you really think Hollywood movies like to be crammed together? He kicked them all aside.

"Has Huaxing Data reported it yet?"

Looking at the time, Han Sanping's voice was a little hoarse, and his fingers tapped the table unconsciously.

"arrive."

Secretary Liao Yun rushed to the fax machine and tore off the scalding hot sheet of paper.

After taking one look, his eyes widened suddenly, his hands trembled involuntarily, and his voice became more shaky.

"Huaxing achieved 428,000 in a single day!"

The office fell silent for a moment, then Han Sanping took a deep drag on his cigarette.

Starting in the afternoon, he received reports that Huaxing's box office today might catch up with the golden weekend screenings.

But as possible, it's now confirmed!
42 million!
This is definitely the peak of the weekend prime time at Huaxing Cinema!

"New Dong'an! New Dong'an has also signed up!"

"385,000! My God!"

"Eastern New Century! 362,000!"

Liao Yun's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement.

"Star Beauty World City! 287,000!"

"Wanda CBD! 319,000!"

"The Capital Era! 254,000!"

"Meijia Zhongguancun! 221,000!"

Liao Yun's voice was numb and hoarse!
One alarming number after another was announced, like bombs exploding in the small office.

These top-tier cinemas in Beijing have almost all broken the daily box office records for domestic films this year! They even broke the daily box office record for "The Sinner"! They've truly taken over!
The distribution manager held a calculator, his fingers flying across the keyboard, his forehead covered in sweat.

"BJ, BJ, we're sampling these 12 core cinemas."

The distribution manager's voice suddenly rose: "The total has already exceeded 220 million! My God! And this is only a portion of the core cinemas whose data we have! Beijing cinema will definitely, definitely break 250 million!"

"Shanghai! The sampling results from key cinemas under the United Cinemas chain are also in!"

Holding another phone, Liao Yun exclaimed excitedly, "Yonghua, Huanyi, and Zhengda Xingmei... that's almost 200 million in total!"

"Guangzhou! Feiyang, Tianhe, and Zhonghua Plaza—the combined sample size exceeds 120 million!"

The distribution manager then added.

Han Sanping felt his heart pounding wildly, as if it were about to jump out of his throat!
Couldn't you, Shen Shandeng, have gone a little higher? Couldn't you have been a little more blunt?

If you have this ability, why don't you put it into practice?!
Even though he's called Shen Shandeng, he still couldn't get up to pedal when it mattered most!
Han Sanping suddenly stood up, walked to the window, and wanted to get some fresh air, but found that his hands were trembling uncontrollably.

The sample of core cinemas in just these three cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou—already approached 650 million!
This is only part of the data!

"Nationwide, how many is the whole country?"

Han Sanping's voice was very soft, as if he were asking himself, or as if he were asking someone else.

His gaze was fixed on the red landline phone on the table.

The office fell silent once again.

Everyone knows that the crucial total has not yet been released.

They anxiously awaited the final report from the Special Fund Office and China Film Group after the cinema chains had compiled the information.

Every second feels like a century.

Suddenly, the phone on Han Sanping's desk rang, the sound particularly jarring in the quiet of the early morning.

Everyone was stunned.

Whose call is this at this time?

Han Sanping's heart skipped a beat. He knew this came from an old friend who worked in the Film Bureau's Special Fund Office.

A person who keeps an extremely low profile but whose information is absolutely authoritative.

The other party said, "Congratulations, Lao Han. The news is still being updated, but it is estimated that it will exceed 10 million nationwide, which may set a new record for the highest single-day opening of a domestic film this year."

"Clap!"

Han Sanping hung up the phone, turned around abruptly, his face flushed red under the light, but his eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

"How much?" Everyone looked over expectantly.

Han Sanping took a deep breath; even with his composure, he could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart.

This isn't just any kind of success, it's a huge success, a complete success!
Han Sanping raised one finger!
"Ten million! More than that!"

"boom!"

After a brief silence, the office erupted in chaos!

"How many?!!"

"Thursday, a workday, could potentially break ten million?!"

Liao Yun almost grabbed the leader's shoulder, but when she came to her senses, she quickly pretended to be nonchalant.

Han Sanping was completely unaware.

How much did the movie "The Eunuch" cost?

When China Film Group joined in, the production cost was only ten million!

As for the investment in equipment and other hidden support, Han Sanping didn't care at all.

If anyone could do what Shen Shandeng did, what would this little bit of support matter!
"Tell that kid not to get cocky!" Han Sanping ordered with a laugh and a scolding tone.

Giving him a heads-up would put Shen Shandeng at ease. Box office statistics in that era were very rudimentary, and it was only through certain administrative means that he could obtain this information in real time.

Of course, this is a genuine reminder: without successful works, how can you do all this and have a film to rely on?
His junior brother said he was asleep.

Han Sanping was speechless.

If even an old man like him can't sleep, how can you, Shen Shandeng, at your age, possibly sleep?
(End of this chapter)