Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Yang Che smiled and said, "I don't have that ability. On the day of the premiere in Beijing, I was so nervous when I heard the audience behind me discussing the plot that I ran out immediately. I didn't feel at ease until I heard laughter coming from the screening room seven or eight times."

Dong Qing blinked: "Then can I say that you actually value the reaction of domestic audiences more?"

Yang: "That's for sure. My priority will always be the domestic audience."

Dong: "Before interviewing you today, our team specifically contacted the Capital Cinema in Beijing. They said that all tickets for tomorrow's screenings of 'My Sassy Girl,' except for the morning showings, are sold out. We also contacted the Guangming Cinema to inquire about ticket sales for 'My Sassy Girl.' Their manager said that yesterday's occupancy rate was about 85%, and today, 60% of the tickets for screenings after 6 PM have already been reserved. The manager of Guangming Cinema said that this is very rare. We also contacted cinemas in Guangzhou, Tianjin, Jinan, and other cities, and the ticket sales are all good. Do you know why?"

Yang Che scratched his head dramatically: "I know what you're trying to say, but I think it's still because of the movie's word-of-mouth."

"Can you cooperate with me a little?"

After saying something coquettishly, Dong Qing looked at the camera and smiled, "Let's watch a video first."

"....."

Dong: Were you scared at the time?

Yang Che's gaze remained calm: "I wasn't scared afterward. I've never been scared."

Dong Qing looked into his eyes, and they suddenly welled up with tears.

After exchanging a few more words about this matter, Dong Qing steered the conversation back to the movie.

"What are your thoughts on seeing the audience support the film because of your act of bravery?"

Yang: "I'm still not quite sure whether it's because of our good publicity work or because of the 'Legal Report' program. If it is, I'm touched, but I feel more burdened."

I hope this episode airs as soon as possible, and that you tell the audience not to say anything about supporting the box office because of this, as it always makes me feel like I owe someone a favor.

If you like what you see, give it a few compliments; if you don't, feel free to criticize.

Don't say he's a good person and that his movies are simply good movies. That's not good. Audiences are like parents to filmmakers; unconditional praise is spoiling, it's killing with praise.

Seeing Yang Che's pained expression, Dong Qing couldn't help but smile.

Dong: "Then let's work overtime. What are the plans for this trip to Japan and South Korea?"

Yang: "No, I'm just fulfilling my contractual obligations."

Dong: "I thought you were going to talk about learning and exchange or something."

Yang: "They come and go in a hurry, what can they possibly learn?"

"......."

After chatting for a few more minutes, the bus arrived at Pudong Airport. After everyone got off the bus, they walked side by side towards the terminal building, serving as a backdrop for Dong Qing, who was holding a microphone.

"Wishing the 'My Sassy Girl' production team all the best and a huge box office success!"

So, just as the story of Yang Che and his two companions' act of bravery began to spread from the capital to the whole country, they boarded a plane bound for Seoul.

Seeing her boyfriend reading an English book, Fan Bingbing thought she shouldn't disturb him, but she was really bored, and the flight attendant was walking around, and she couldn't touch her.

So they started making conversation.

"Brother, is South Korea particularly developed?"

Yang Che paused for a moment, then put down his book: "Well, a population of about 40 million and a GDP of 500 billion US dollars is 60% of ours and three times that of Russia. Japan is even higher, almost ten times that of South Korea."

Fan Bingbing opened her mouth: "That's not what I'm asking. I'm saying, how come such a developed country, yet such a small one, hasn't released its first-day box office figures yet?"

"I'm not going to say anything more, it'll take three days anyway."

"I forgot. Bro, could we see that singer who does the fan dance?"

Yang Che looked at his girlfriend speechlessly: "Your movie is currently showing in some of the most famous countries in Asia. You'll be an Asian superstar soon. Have some class, will you?"

"Don't be so sensitive, okay? I just think she's pretty cool. Do you know her name?"

Yang Che pouted: "How would I know?"

Of course it's Lee Jung-hyun, but she has to maintain her public image.

It's said that the most popular K-pop group in China wasn't Lee Jung-hyun, but H.O.T. In February 2000, when they held a concert at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing, 7000 fans from all over the country dressed in white and held white balloons, crying more happily than if their father had died.

These fans were organized almost entirely offline, with the outstanding contributor being the magazine "Contemporary Music Scene". The magazine had a section for exchanging addresses and taught fans how to set up fan groups in various cities, etc. It was basically the same method used by later fan clubs to monetize their idols, except that "Contemporary Music Scene" only sold cassette tapes and posters, but the routine was the same.

HOT also made another "contribution" to China: they introduced the "Shamate" hairstyle to the country. Back then, it wasn't called "Shamate" but rather "Korean group style," and people called this group "Korean wave fans."

Of course, the real explosion of the "Shamate" style came with the advent of QQ Space, which is what the public knows as the non-mainstream style.

For nearly two decades, the three most powerful cultural exporters have been the Korean Wave, Japanese animation, and American movies, influencing not only China but also the whole world.

However, things are a little different more than 20 years later. For example, Lee Jung-hyun, who became popular again because of the three Chinese drunkards, became popular on the Chinese internet and then on the international internet.

When the airplane meal was served, Fan Bingbing refused it outright, and the others also suggested that they should just wait and eat it in Korea later.

Yang Che said, "Aren't you going to do any research? Are you just waiting for me to tell you what to do? Your first meal in Korea will definitely be a Korean meal, and it would be a miracle if you could even get full from that stuff."

People watched as Yang Che devoured the bland airplane meal, and could only eat along with some skepticism.

.........

At 1:30, the plane arrived at Seoul Gimpo Airport.

During the exit process, Fan Bingbing was the first to be recognized by airport passengers, all of whom were Chinese.

An older woman with permed hair shouted loudly, "Fan Bingbing, wait a minute, wait a minute!"

Most of the small-eyed people walking around them looked at them with disdain. One of the men who had been staring intently at Fan Bingbing curled his lip, looked away, and resumed his arrogant posture.

It's laughable, though, that Koreans are universally recognized as noisy. Their disdain stems solely from hearing Chinese.

Fan Bingbing didn't care about that: "Auntie, what's wrong?"

The woman laughed and said, "My son really likes you. Come on, let's take a picture together."

"Okay, thank you for your son's support. Let's move aside and not block other people's way."

Although the older woman was a little reluctant to have a Korean background in the photo, she still moved aside as instructed.

Immediately, the woman asked her husband, who was carrying a camera, to take a picture, and also asked Yang Che to take a picture of the couple and Fan Bingbing.