This director only directs blockbusters.

Xu Qin waited until the door closed before speaking: "You had Duoduo do all this because you're planning to go down the 'mysterious expert' route?"

"Yes." Yang Ning sat back down at the table. "Hollywood's marketing tactics are too blatant."

Let's do it the other way around—instead of actively proclaiming "how awesome we are," let others guess "who they really are."

He opened the publicity plan: "We'll release the first batch of materials in early December, which are these analytical videos edited by Duoduo."

I only post on professional forums and niche websites; I don't buy Google Ads slots.

"and then?"

"After word-of-mouth spreads for a week or two, we'll release the first official trailer in mid-December," Yang Ning said.

"But the trailer doesn't focus on the story, it focuses on the production—using visuals to show the audience that this is a film that has reached international technical standards."

Xu Qin wrote in her notebook: "What about domestic propaganda?"

"We'll take two approaches," Yang Ning said. "First-tier cities will focus on the 'high-end technology' route, in sync with our overseas promotion."

In second- and third-tier cities and lower-tier markets, the strategy is to focus on "visual spectacle" and "star-studded casts."

He paused for a moment: "But everyone needs to convey one message: this is not an ordinary domestic film, this is a movie that can compete with Hollywood."

Xu Qin put down her pen and looked at him: "You're that confident?"

"It's not confidence," Yang Ning said, "it's a fact. You've seen the analysis videos that Duoduo edited; those special effects are top-notch worldwide right now."

"But the audience doesn't understand the technology."

"So they need guidance," Yang Ning said. "Find a few influential film critics, have them watch the film in advance, and let them analyze it from a professional perspective."

Find film school professors to write articles from the perspective of film industry development. Even—

He thought for a moment and said, "We can ask China Film Group to organize a 'Symposium on Breakthroughs in Chinese Film Technology' and use 'The Purple Cloud Era' as a case study."

Xu Qin laughed: "Are you trying to elevate this film to the status of an industry benchmark?"

"It deserves it," Yang Ning said calmly.

There was a knock on the office door, and Liu Yong poked his head in.

"Director Yang, all the materials are ready," he said. "Three poster designs, five drafts of the outdoor poster, and two TV poster versions, one thirty seconds and one sixty seconds long. Would you like to take a look?"

Yang Ning stood up: "Let's go to the conference room."

---

The whiteboard in the meeting room was covered with design drafts.

The first poster features a close-up of Huang Xiaoming, his face smeared with blood, his eyes resolute, against a backdrop of burning city walls. The large title reads: "The apocalypse has arrived, one man defends one city."

The second one is a group portrait, with all the main characters present, against a backdrop of ruins shrouded in lightning. The title is: When the world collapses, we are the light.

The third design is the simplest—it features only a hand emerging from the ruins, with purple lightning coiled in its palm. There's no title, only the movie name and release date.

"The first one is commercial, the second one is sentimental, the third one..." Liu Yong scratched his bald head, "I added the third one myself, I thought it had a bit of an artistic feel to it."

Yang Ning stared at the third poster for a long time.

"This one is good," he said. "Let's make this our flagship product."

"Huh?" Liu Yong was stunned. "But the first two have a lot of celebrities, so they sell more tickets..."

"It's precisely because there are so many celebrities that it's vulgar," Yang Ning said, pointing to the hand. "This scene has suspense and room for imagination. The audience will ask: Whose hand is this? What happened? Why is this hand electrified?"

He turned to Xu Qin: "Sister Qin, what do you think?"

Xu Qin walked up to the poster and looked at it carefully.

"This is certainly unique," she said, "but it's also risky. Theater managers might not be interested; they prefer headshots of celebrities."

"So we need to convince them," Yang Ning said. "We'll turn this poster into a series—the first week we'll release 'Hands'."

The second week will feature a 'half-face' photo, and the third week a 'full-body' photo. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it will be slowly revealed.

Liu Yong's eyes lit up: "That's great! It'll create suspense!"

"Where's the TV?" Yang Ning asked.

Liu Yong turned on the projector and played a 30-second version.

Rapid cuts: explosions, running, lightning, tears, screams. The soundtrack is a powerful symphony, culminating in a freeze-frame of Huang Xiaoming raising a signal flare.

"Stop," Yang Ning said.

The image freezes.

"The pace is too fast," he frowned. "The audience doesn't have time to feel the emotions."

Re-edit, slow down. What I want isn't "this movie is exciting," but "this movie is worth watching carefully."

"But thirty seconds..."

"Then let's use the 60-second version," Yang Ning said. "Qin Jie, you go and negotiate with the TV station. Even if it costs more, we want the longer version."

Xu Qin nodded: "I'll go and talk to them."

Yang Ning walked to the whiteboard and looked at the design drafts and GG storyboards.

Three months ago, they were working hard on the film set.

Three months later, they will have to fight in the market.

"There's one more thing." He turned around, "Those analysis videos of Duoduo should also be released in China."

"Where to send it?" Liu Yong asked.

"Film Academy BBS, Tianya Film and Television Forum, Sina Entertainment Forum..." Yang Ning said.

"The main purpose is not for ordinary viewers, but for film critics, media professionals, and industry insiders."

I want everyone to know that this film is technically serious.

Xu Qin seemed thoughtful: "You mean... you want to conquer the industry first, then conquer the market?"

"That's right." Yang Ning nodded. "Ordinary viewers are easily swayed by marketing, but people inside the industry have a sharp eye. If we can win them over, half the battle in building a good reputation is won."

He paused for a moment, then added, "And these people can influence media opinion."

The phone rang.

It's Jiang Zhiqiang.

Yang Ning answered: "Boss Jiang."

"Yang Ning, there's been progress in overseas distribution." Jiang Zhiqiang's voice was filled with laughter. "In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have all confirmed that it will be released simultaneously on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Japan and South Korea will be a week later; they need time for localized promotion.

"What about North America?"

"North America is more complicated," Jiang Zhiqiang said. "Mainstream theaters have concerns about Chinese-language science fiction films. I contacted several independent theater chains to release them on a small scale first, and then expand the screening based on word-of-mouth."

"Sure," Yang Ning said, "but the promotion in North America needs to keep up. The analytical videos that Duoduo made can be sent to film critics and media there."

"It's already in the works." Jiang Zhiqiang paused. "Also, in Hong Kong, I'd like to hold a premiere. Invite some stars, directors, and media to generate buzz."

"time?"

"Mid-January. Just two weeks before the Spring Festival, the hype can pick up right away."

"Okay, I'll arrange for the main creative team to go there."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ning told Xu Qin about the situation.

"The Hong Kong premiere..." Xu Qin thought for a moment, "Won't all the actors be going?"

"All the main actors will be there," Yang Ning said. "Huang Xiaoming, Fan Binbin, Zhou Xun, Peter Ho, and Hu Ge. You coordinate their schedules with their agents."

"The cost..."

"It's from the studio," Yang Ning said. "It's part of the promotion."