Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 437, Section 435: Panicked

The lights in the Hunan TV studio in Changsha went out, but the huge waves stirred up by this televised debate had only just begun to spread and impact every corner of the Chinese cultural world.

Online forums and chat rooms were flooded with messages immediately after the live stream ended.

Young netizens who support Wang Sheng are overjoyed, analyzing his brilliant moments in the debate frame by frame, especially his statement "Mr. Wang alone is enough" and his sharp rebuttal that turned the label of "cultural inferiority" back on him, which are regarded as classics.

His confidence, composure, and clear logic stood in stark contrast to the anxiety and detachment from reality that his three opponents could not hide in the later stages. This direct difference in appearance was more persuasive than any theoretical preaching.

"Brother Sheng is awesome! This is the kind of cultural confidence our generation should have!"

"Those three old fogies were stunned and were led by the nose by Boss Wang the whole time."

"From now on, if anyone says that Shengying only makes commercial films, throw 'Postmen in the Mountains' and 'The Birth of a Warrior' in their face!"

"As it turns out, a truly good movie is one that can both make money and export culture!"

Of course, the voices of doubt and criticism have not disappeared, but in the face of Wang Sheng's almost impeccable public performance, they have become scattered and powerless, and it is difficult for them to form a united force.

In the minds of the general public, especially the younger generation, the tide has quietly turned in favor of the young man who dared to challenge the old rules and proved himself with his achievements.

……

Beijing, New Pictures Film Company.

The heavy door to the general manager's office was tightly closed, isolating it from the noise of the outside world.

Zhang Weiping sat alone in the large executive chair. The huge television screen in front of him had gone dark, leaving only a blurry reflection of his ashen and distorted face.

On the solid wood tea table in front of him, a set of valuable Jingdezhen porcelain teacups was now shattered to pieces. Warm tea and broken porcelain shards were scattered all over the floor, just like his shattered schemes and anger.

"Useless! All of you are useless!" Zhang Weiping growled through gritted teeth, his chest heaving violently. "Three seasoned old fogies, tied together, can't even out-argue a mere brat! This level of knowledge dares to call themselves cultural elites? Bullshit!"

His carefully planned strategy was to have these three "cultural standard-bearers" thoroughly refute Wang Sheng in front of a large audience, and ideally, to label him a "cultural comprador" and a "capitalist lackey."

As long as Wang Sheng's momentum falters, he can seize the opportunity to raise the banner of "Hero" as a "domestic art blockbuster," occupy the moral and public opinion high ground, attract market attention, and even gain more initiative in negotiations with theaters regarding screen allocation.

But now, it's all over!
Wang Sheng not only didn't lose, but also used this national stage to complete a perfect public relations campaign for his personal and corporate image.

He portrayed himself as a pioneer in the market-oriented reform of the Chinese film industry and the export of cultural confidence, nailing his opponents to the pillar of shame for being "self-isolated" and "culturally inferior."

After this incident, any attempt to attack Wang Sheng with the same charges will be far less effective.

"Damn it, looks like we're not going to be able to snatch the 'domestic blockbuster' banner..."

Zhang Weiping loosened his tie in frustration, a sense of powerlessness washing over him.

With blockbuster projects like "Night at the Museum," Wang Sheng has firmly established himself as a benchmark for "commercial blockbusters."

He can only settle for second best now and focus all his efforts on promoting the "artistic" and "cultural" aspects of "Hero" in the hope of differentiating himself from the market and attracting viewers and critics who are skeptical of purely commercial entertainment.

But... is that enough?

A deeper worry, like a cold, venomous snake, quietly coiled around his heart.

Given Wang Sheng's ruthless and vindictive nature, given his resentful nature, will he seek revenge afterward? Will he investigate the mastermind behind this media storm?
Although the number of people and forces challenging Wang Sheng this time is countless—including those from Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai circles, as well as some independent forces—the situation is very murky, and Wang Sheng may not be able to easily uncover all the connections. But... what if?
What if Wang Sheng acts unconventionally, ignoring others and concluding that Zhang Weiping was behind it all?

After all, New Pictures and Sheng Ying are the most direct competitors right now, and "Hero" and "Night at the Museum" are destined to clash head-on at the end of the year.

"What if this guy doesn't investigate and just assumes I did it?" Zhang Weiping muttered to himself, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He recalled the terrifying distribution capabilities of the "Shengying Group" under Wang Sheng's control.

"China Film Shengshi United Cinema Circuit" is already a significant force in the domestic cinema circuit industry, not to mention the intricate connections and influence of Shengying Media with other cinema circuits across the country.

If Wang Sheng really uses scheduling tactics to jeopardize "Hero"...

The consequences would be disastrous!
The investment in "Hero" was huge, and it was Zhang Weiping's life and fortune at stake. If the screening was blocked and the box office failed, he would be doomed!
"No! We absolutely cannot sit here and wait to die!" Zhang Weiping suddenly stood up and paced anxiously amidst the mess on the floor.

"We have to do something... We need to quickly visit the heads of various cinema chains, build relationships, and sound them out. Even if we have to give up a few more percentage points of revenue, we have to ensure that the screenings of 'Hero' are not affected!"

The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became, feeling as if an invisible eye was already watching him from the shadows.

Wang Sheng's calm and confident face on television now appeared incredibly terrifying to him.

……

Meanwhile, in a quiet courtyard or secluded private club in Beijing, several middle-aged and elderly men, dressed simply and with composed demeanor, had just finished watching the recording or live broadcast of the entire debate.

The room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was heavy.

After a long silence, an elderly man with gray hair and black-rimmed glasses slowly exhaled a smoke ring, breaking the silence: "The younger generation is truly formidable..."

A middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and short, thick fingers sneered, "Sharp-tongued and attention-seeking! He's just relying on his youth and quick wit. He's far from having any real cultural depth!"

“Old Li, you can’t say that.” Another elderly man, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. “What he said may not be entirely unreasonable. Marketization and industrialization are the general direction set by the higher authorities. If we stubbornly stick to them, we will be at a disadvantage and easily give others a handle to use against us.”

"Are we just going to let him stir up trouble like this? Look at his arrogant attitude on TV!" the middle-aged man, known as Old Li, said with dissatisfaction.

“The trend is irreversible.” The elderly man in the Zhongshan suit gently tapped the table. “In this debate, he has gained a firm footing. If we continue to attack him from the aspects of ‘cultural stance’ and ‘original sin of capital,’ it will not be very effective. On the contrary, it may backfire and we may be labeled as an obstacle to reform.”

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "We can't deal with him head-on. We need to change our approach and plan for the long term. For example... with his company expanding so rapidly, will there be problems with his cash flow? Were there any flaws in his IPO process? And his 'Shengying Group,' with its vast scale, can its internal management keep up? These are all areas we can work on."

“Most importantly,” he lowered his voice, “we cannot let our actions disrupt the overall plan. Cultural industry reform is a grand strategy, and we must be patient.”

The others fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

They knew this meant that the overt offensive would come to an end in the short term.

Wang Sheng is a much tougher nut to crack than they imagined, requiring more covert and patient methods to deal with him.

Young people have plenty of energy and quick reflexes, so they are at a disadvantage in head-on confrontations.

But time doesn't always work in the favor of young people.

(End of this chapter)