Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Reporter: "Director Cheng, what's your box office prediction for the next five days?"

Cheng Er: "We hope to reach 500 million."

"What about the total box office?"

"I didn't dare to imagine it before, but after interacting with audiences in Beijing and Shanghai, we can now shout out the number 3000 million."

After just two or three days of intensive interviews, Cheng'er now faces reporters with ease and confidence, no longer rushing around in a flustered manner...

People rarely talk about box office figures; if they do, they have to talk about the first five days' box office figures a week later, since there's no internet connection and box office figures have to be reported through multiple levels of government.

During this period, everyone also encountered negative reviews from experts.

"Hello Yang Che, I'm from Southern Metropolis Daily. Zhao Lihua published a critical review in the Beijing News criticizing 'My Sassy Girl' for its shallow storyline, exaggerated acting, vulgar scenes, forced humor, and lack of any educational value. What are your thoughts on this?"

"I haven't seen it yet. Sorry, I'm new to this industry. Who is this Zhao Lihua?"

The reporter excitedly introduced: "A renowned screenwriter with a revolutionary background, who has served as a judge for the Golden Rooster Awards multiple times."

To the reporter's disappointment, Yang Che simply nodded and said, "I understand, thank you."

"He said those things about your movie, and you have nothing to say? Aren't you going to refute it?"

"My Sassy Girl isn't a hundred-dollar bill; it can't please everyone. In all our public promotions, we've described it as a romantic comedy. If it's not funny, then it's funny. As for education, we're almost in the 21st century. Let's watch a movie and have a good laugh; after all, we're educated every day."

The reporter from Southern Metropolis Daily was upset that he didn't see the young man Yang Che get angry, but he was also happy to hear so many insightful sentences, so he was experiencing both pain and pleasure.

Meanwhile, the surrounding reporters were already frantically taking notes.

As the documentary "Legal Report" put it, saying things like, "It's not RMB, so it can't be liked by everyone," "This is a comedy, so if it's not funny, then it's funny," and "We're educated every day, so let's have some fun watching a movie," these sentiments spread as reports about the film gradually spread.

All of these factors subtly and continuously influence the public's impression of Yang Che. At least those who know him would not think he is a good-for-nothing; their first reaction is that he is a talented man who speaks eloquently and meaningfully.

.............

While the cast and crew of "My Sassy Girl" were doing a promotional tour in Shanghai, the Guangzhou Cultural Inspection Team received a report that a factory converted from a warehouse in Fangcun was producing pirated DVDs of "My Sassy Girl".

When Deputy Squad Leader Wang Lei received the news, he immediately called Guo Mingyang, the counterfeiter at the factory.

Guo Mingyang looked at the police and copyright enforcement team in front of him with a wry smile; he had been used as bait.

Police Officer Bao chuckled and raised his chin: "Connect it."

Guo Mingyang answered the call with a bitter face; he knew he couldn't make a living in this line of work anymore...

Fifteen minutes later, Wang Lei, deputy captain of the Cultural Market Inspection Team, personally led a team to the warehouse. Upon entering and seeing the harmonious scene, he was stunned and then collapsed to the ground.

The camera flashes started clicking all over him.

That night, in addition to the corrupt officials in the inspection team, the other five people in the entire chain—two employees of the distribution department of Pearl River Film Studio, a cinema manager, and two projectionists—were all arrested.

The process was as follows: On the 20th, China Film Group sent a copy of the 35mm film to Pearl River Film Studio. On the 24th, it was sent to cinemas in various cities. At 1 a.m. on the 26th, after the midnight screening, the projectionist disassembled the film, packed it into a tool bag, and handed it to the pirate Guo Mingyang at the back door at 2 a.m. Guo Mingyang rushed to burn the disc and sent the copy back to the machine room at 6 a.m. After that, the factory carried out expedited production.

The person who coordinated the Guangzhou law enforcement agencies came from the headquarters of the Anti-Illegal Publications Office. They used Guangzhou, where illegal publications were most rampant, as a pilot city. They don't know how many cinemas and underground factories in Guangzhou are doing similar illegal publications.

So on the evening of the 26th, Yang Che, who was at the Yin Xing Hotel, saw CCTV's evening news report on the matter. Unfortunately, there was no video, but at least there were pictures to prove it.

"This is a blatant act of defiance against the law. In accordance with relevant regulations, we will punish the suspect severely and swiftly, imposing not only a fine several times the amount but also pursuing criminal charges..."

Listening to the righteous and righteous Cantonese-accented Mandarin on TV, Yang Che picked up a glass of red wine from the coffee table: "Come on, brothers and sisters, let's raise a toast to the lovely law enforcement department of Guangzhou."

Yes, people didn't attend the elaborate banquets; this was arranged in advance, and they wouldn't do that during the domestic roadshow. After all, no one wants to have to attend social events after a long day. As for social niceties, you can usually just say it out loud, and that makes things easier for the other party.

The people sitting around the sofa and on the floor laughed and raised their glasses. After taking a sip, they felt that the red wine mixed with Sprite tasted even better.

Huang Haibo grinned: "Brother Che, are we about to see our box office take off?"

Liu Chang laughed heartily: "Of course!"

As he spoke, he hugged Ma Shu next to him and kissed her. Ma Shu looked shy and then moved closer to Fan Bingbing... Liu Chang was genuinely happy. Oh, Ma Shu wasn't exactly using her position for personal gain. She had been busy since the beginning of the publicity campaign, and Yang Che had paid her a monthly salary of 1000 yuan.

Everyone chuckled, and Yang Che said, "It's not going to take off like that. People's long-standing movie-watching habits can't be changed by cracking down on piracy once. Cracking down on piracy isn't all good for us either; at the very least, its reach will drop several notches."

Fan Bingbing smiled, like a shy young wife, and unusually, didn't say much.

Meanwhile, in an office at a factory in Longhua, Shenzhen, a portly, balding man picked up the remote and turned off the TV. He then took a deep drag on his cigarette and, amidst the thick smoke, said to the several young men around him who were looking at each other, "Stop it. Hide what's being produced, hide it well, then close the factory and go back to our hometowns for the New Year early."

A blond-haired guy looked distressed: "Brother-in-law, it can't be that bad, can it? We've already collected the deposits from our downlines, and the brothers are counting on this one job."

Mediterranean didn't speak, slowly stubbed out his cigarette, then glared angrily, picked up a metal ashtray and smashed it over the shoulder: "Fuck your sister, can't you understand human language? Fuck your sister, don't I want to fight for it?"

The pent-up anger that had been building up since the phone call half an hour earlier wasn't directed at Huang Mao's sister, but rather at Huang Mao himself...

The henchmen around him quickly stepped forward and pulled them apart.

Similar scenes are playing out across the country, in underground factories of all sizes, and of course, in many others where production continues unabated, with goods eventually reaching retail stores for sale.

Yang Che should be thankful, after all, the mainland still produces more than 300 movies, but there are very few that are worth the effort of pirates.

After chatting and laughing for a while, everyone tactfully left.