Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 333 Is the higher-ups cracking down on short videos?
March 1st, Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

"Detective Chinatown 2," which has grossed 30 billion yuan in just over half a month since its release, is holding a celebration banquet here today.

With such success, the film's creative team and production company naturally became the focus of the celebration banquet.

Wang Baoqiang and Peng Yuchang, the Detective Chinatown duo, were beaming as they accepted everyone's congratulations, while directors Xiao Yang and Chen Sicheng also wore proud smiles.

Especially Chen Sicheng, whose greasy lips revealed a hint of excitement.

He remembered that Chen Xiu had promised him a portion of the investment in "Detective Chinatown 3"...

The box office of "Detective Chinatown 2" has reached 30 billion yuan, and this is not the end. Based on the daily increase in box office, it can still reach tens of millions of yuan. The final box office of the film should be between 36 billion and 38 billion yuan.

With such an excellent predecessor, the third installment is sure to do well at the box office!
How could Chen Sicheng not be excited?
Wang Changtian, the CEO of Enlight Media, also thought of the same thing. He was particularly excited today and started chatting with Chen Xiu as soon as he arrived at the celebration banquet.

"Mr. Chen, have you seen the full report on this year's Spring Festival film season?"

"60 billion yuan in total box office revenue, which report is the strongest Spring Festival film season in history?"

"Yes! That's it."

Wang Changtian clenched his fist and his cheeks flushed red with excitement.

His eyes, behind his glasses, gleamed with a burning light, and his voice involuntarily rose in volume.

"I feel that this year's Spring Festival film season will not be the end of the film market, but the beginning!"

"Oh?"

Chen Xiu glanced at Wang Changtian without showing any emotion, thinking: Is he getting too excited? Even if he wants to finalize the investment share for "Detective Chinatown 3" in advance, is this really necessary?
When Chen Xiu sought investment shares in "Ne Zha" from Guangdian, he voluntarily relinquished some of his investment shares in "Detective Chinatown 2," approximately 15%.

Even with that 15%, based on the current box office of 30 billion, the pre-tax profit would be tens of millions.

The higher the box office, the greater the revenue share will be.

In Wang Changtian's view, "Detective Chinatown 2" was a lucky break, and he was already fortunate to have gotten it once.

If he wanted to pick it up a second time, he would have to offer some tangible benefits and provide emotional value to Chen Xiu. That's why he put on such a great "performance".

So when Wang Changtian saw Chen Xiu looking over with a puzzled expression, he immediately launched into a rapid-fire monologue.

"I believe that since last year's 'Wolf Warrior 2,' the box office ceiling for domestic films has been anchored at 57 billion yuan! No film will reach this level in the short term, but many excellent films with a box office of 40 billion yuan or more will emerge."

"In two or three years, once the market adapts to this high box office level and moviegoers' enthusiasm accumulates to a certain point, the upper limit will be raised again. I predict that within ten years, the highest box office for a single film will reach 100 billion!"

Chen Xiu gave Wang Changtian a strange look, thinking to himself: I didn't expect you to have some skills.

"Mr. Wang, it seems you are very optimistic about the future of the film industry."

"Of course!"

Wang Changtian pursed his lips, looking confident and determined.

He thought that Chen Xiu would then enthusiastically begin discussing the future development of the film industry with him.

However, Chen Xiu merely raised her chin in the direction of the actors from "Detective Chinatown 2".

"I believe that even if the film market flourishes in the future, content will ultimately be king!"

"That's true."

Wang Changtian nodded in agreement, then his expression suddenly changed, and the way he looked up at Chen Xiu became strange.

"However, even the best content needs corresponding promotion and distribution!"

Chen Xiu looked at him with a strange expression: "Your words seem to have a hidden meaning?"

"Hehe, what's even more outstanding than the Spring Festival film season this year is Douyin's promotion of the movies!"

Wang Changtian pushed up his glasses, his gaze becoming inscrutable.

"Mr. Chen, I wonder how much Douyin collected in promotion fees during the entire Spring Festival period?"

"This is the marketing department's responsibility, and I haven't specifically looked into it."

"From what I know, it's no less than 200 million, and other smaller promotions are probably also quite substantial."

"..."

Chen Xiu stared blankly at Wang Changtian, and after a long while, she suddenly twitched the corner of her mouth.

"Ha! Mr. Wang knows all this, does that mean he wants to enter the short video market?"

"No, no, no, I don't have the ability to navigate the internet and the entertainment industry... However, there is something you might want to pay attention to."

"what?"

Wang Changtian pursed his lips and glanced at the deserted corner.

Chen Xiu nodded knowingly and then followed him over.

Having arrived and confirmed that no one was around, Chen Xiu looked at Wang Changtian with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, wondering what important information lay behind his mysterious demeanor.

The topic of consciousness has reached a key point, and Wang Changtian's voice has become serious.

"Mr. Chen, to be honest, I've recently heard some rumors that are bad for you."

"Regarding which aspects?"

"There are a few people in the Beijing entertainment circle who think you're not following the rules and want to teach you a lesson; there are also some production and distribution companies who think you're using your personal influence to manipulate Douyin for biased publicity..."

"These two groups have come together?"

Chen Xiu didn't try to explain, because such things were hard to explain.

He just wanted to know how these enemies hiding in the shadows planned to deal with him, and he believed that Wang Changtian would provide the answer.

Wang Changtian, who was eyeing the cake from "Detective Chinatown 3," did indeed give Chen Xiu something in return, as he had something to ask of him.

"They hit it off immediately, and then did some maneuvering. These people weren't supposed to cause much trouble, but I heard there's been talk of cracking down on short video platforms lately..."

"!!!" Chen Xiu's eyelids suddenly opened, staring blankly at Wang Changtian.

Meeting Chen Xiu's gaze, Wang Changtian nodded calmly: "I've only heard about it, but judging from the reactions of those people, it seems to be true."

"OK, thanks."

Chen Xiu's surprise came and went quickly.

On interactive platforms like Douyin, the content posted by users is of varying quality, and many borderline videos employ all sorts of tricks to evade system review.

It's reasonable for the authorities to crack down on the short video industry; we'll just have to see how it's implemented.

Chen Xiu's quick recovery surprised Wang Changtian.

However, when Wang Changtian thought about how he could accomplish such a great deal at his age, he felt it made sense.

"That's all I know. You should be prepared."

"Thank you for reminding."

Chen Xiu nodded at him with a smile, thinking that after the celebration banquet, she would go back to Douyin Company tomorrow...

"Mr. Chen, um..."

"Well, what happened?"

"When does Datang Pictures plan to start preparing for 'Detective Chinatown 3'?"

"The earliest it will be next year is when Chen Sicheng has a project that starts filming at the end of the month and is scheduled to be released during this year's Lunar New Year holiday."

Wang Changtian raised his eyebrows, realizing that he couldn't win over "Detective Chinatown 3" today, but he still wanted to try.

"When we're making the preparations, I wonder if we could include Guangmang in the project?"

"Given the right conditions, Enlight Media will definitely be a top priority for investment in Detective Chinatown 3."

Chen Xiu didn't give a definitive answer, intentionally dragging the timeline to next year's summer season, so that he could use the share of "Detective Chinatown 3" to exchange for investment in "Ne Zha 2".

Wang Changtian understood the underlying meaning: if Enlight Media wanted to invest in "Detective Chinatown 3," money alone wouldn't be enough; there also needed to be a corresponding exchange of resources.

He understands this.

"Understood. I hope our two companies can cooperate more in the future."

"That's what I wanted too."

Chen Xiu extended his hand to Wang Changtian with a sincere expression and shook hands with him.

After finishing their conversation, Wang Changtian bid farewell to Chen Xiu and walked into the crowd with a beaming smile, beginning his social interactions and pleasantries with others.

Chen Xiu stayed where she was, her mind starting to wander to the issue of the higher-ups cracking down on short videos.

He felt that Douyin should probably not have any major problems.
Without knowing the standards, the assessment I'm providing is also highly uncertain...

"Boss, are you free?"

Chen Xiu's body trembled, and she slowly turned around. She saw Yang Mi, wearing a blue deep-V thin-strapped dress, looking at her expectantly from a short distance behind her.

"What's up?"

"hey-hey."

Yang Mi chuckled twice and walked over, wearing a pair of lotus root-colored high heels.

She looked at Chen Xiu with her fox-like eyes slanted upwards, and asked expectantly, "Boss, I'm still quite free this year. I wonder when the movie the company has arranged will start preparations?"

Upon hearing that she had come to him for resources, Chen Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Didn't Yang Ming tell you about the movie resources?"

He said the time hasn't been decided yet.

"Yes, Lu Yang is preparing for 'The Longest Day in Chang'an,' which is expected to start filming next month. After filming is finished, he will start preparing for the movie, which is expected to start filming at the end of the year. The female lead has been confirmed as you."

"Huh? Director Lu Yang's new film?"

Yang Mi's reaction of pursing her lips and widening her eyes was not the kind of surprise of having her expectations met, but rather the feeling of being taken advantage of and losing out.

Chen Xiu asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"How can his new movie be considered a resource arranged for me by the company?"

Why doesn't it count?

"I worked with director Lu Yang on 'Brotherhood of Blades 2'. For his new film, I can definitely get the lead role myself, without needing the company to arrange it!"

Yang Mi's trembling lips and aggrieved eyes were a clear protest against Chen Xiu's unfair two-for-one deal!

However, Chen Xiu only gave one response to her confident statement.

"Are you sure that if you try to win over the female lead, Lu Yang will choose you?"

"when……"

When Yang Mi met Chen Xiu's meaningful gaze, she abruptly slammed on the brakes, then stared at Chen Xiu with a pale face.

Chen Xiu exchanged a glance with her and pointed to the adoring, star-studded Reba.

"She was the female lead in 'Wolf Warrior 2', and also the female lead in 'Detective Chinatown 1,' and had a cameo role in 'Detective Chinatown 2.' Do you think you still have an advantage?"

"..."

Yang Mi stared blankly at Chen Xiu for a long time, then gave a very serious half-bow.

"Boss, please make sure the company arranges for me to play the female lead in Director Lu Yang's new movie!"

"The conditions written in the contract are of course no problem."

(End of this chapter)