Who says Beijing Film Academy has no great directors? (2002)

At the end of August, things piled up. Just as he finished casting for "So Young", he received a message from "Alice in Wonderland" saying that the special effects were ready.

After the special effects version arrived, Chen Yan was the first to take it and watch it with Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei sat on the sofa, overjoyed. She hadn't noticed it during filming, but once the special effects were put on, the green screens instantly transformed into a dreamlike wonderland.

"The special effects are really well done!"

Chen Yan agreed, saying that when it comes to special effects blockbusters, we still have to look to the US. China is far behind and can only make films about relationships, comedies, and action movies.

This is also largely due to domestic film companies, who are hesitant to invest and only want to try their luck with small investments.

Even if you invest in and produce several blockbuster films, the profits are often cut off at various stages of production. For example, a straw hat from a certain film crew cost $6.

The investors of "The Crossing" lost a fortune, but the director still made a killing. Chen Yan admires that such a director can be reused again and again.

Whoever chose him to direct "Red Cliff" and "The Crossing" deserves to lose money.

"This is so well made." Liu Yifei's eyes lit up after watching it, and the TV series "The Return of the Condor Heroes" from the previous two days didn't seem so appealing anymore.

Chen Yan patted the girl's head and said, "These are all 2D. They would look even better in 3D."

Liu Yifei raised her small face, "So, will I be able to shoot 3D blockbusters then?"

Chen Yan replied confidently, "Of course."

Liu Yifei then started grinning foolishly again.

Chen Yan thought to himself, "This girl is too easy to take care of."

......

In early September, Zhang Jizhong first revealed that he would be collaborating with Ms. Liu Yifei again on "The Return of the Condor Heroes," with filming scheduled to begin in October.

The entire report focused on Liu Yifei, with the male protagonist Huang Xiaoming only mentioned briefly.

As expected, the effect was very good. Fans who had previously followed Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils expressed their anticipation for Liu Yifei's other Jin Yong martial arts drama.

When Chen Yan presented the meticulously edited version to Han Sanping, the latter was surprised. Was that all?

I quickly called Wanda and invited them to come and see the master tape.

When Ye Ning arrived, Chen Yan was still looking at recent movie release schedules with Han Sanping.

Ye Ning smiled and said, "Director Chen, Chairman Han, I'm not too late, am I? I came over as soon as I got Chairman Han's call."

Chairman Han called out, "Not too late, not too late, come on over, we've been waiting for you."

The three of them went to the China Film screening room.

After the film finished showing, Han Sanping nodded: "We still need to make big-budget films. This production is exceptional!"

Ye Ning also agreed, "Sony's special effects are among the best in the US, which shows that Director Chen put a lot of effort into it."

He was initially worried that Chen Yan might not be able to do a good job making such a big-budget film, which was his first time working on one.

Now there's nothing to worry about; Chen Yan is very experienced.

"Shall we have lunch together?" Chairman Han naturally took the lead.

Ye Ning spoke first: "Sure, I'm fine. Where's Director Chen?"

Chen Yan naturally agreed.

The three of them met at the same quiet and secluded place where they had eaten last time.

During the dinner, the topic naturally turned to when the film would be released.

Chen Yan thought for a moment: "I want to avoid the Lunar New Year film season. 'Kung Fu Hustle' and 'A World Without Thieves' in December are both strong competitors. There's no need to go head-to-head with them."

Han Sanping nodded silently; that was what he thought too, which was why he pulled Chen Yan aside to look at the movie schedule as soon as Chen Yan arrived.

Ye Ning naturally thought of this: "Does Director Chen think the National Day holiday release would be better?"

The National Day holiday is a 7-day long weekend, and Sino-foreign co-productions are not suitable for the Lunar New Year film season.

Chen Yan smiled and said, "President Ye, we're on the same page. I think October is the most suitable month."

Moreover, there's a culprit in October: Lu Chuan's "Kekexili" is scheduled for release on October 1st.

Han Sanping's eyes lit up as he realized this as well, but he didn't say much. China Film Group was only involved in the distribution of "Kekexili," but "Alice in Wonderland" was a real investment by China Film Group.

"Then shall we set it for October 1st?" Chen Yan asked Han Sanping tentatively.

Han Sanping replied with a smile, "I think that's a good idea too. The National Day holiday is a great time to book!"

Thus, the matter was settled, and Chen Yan was going to beat Lu Chuan again.

But no one at the dinner table mentioned Lu Chuan or "Kekexili," as if no one cared whether he lived or died.

On the contrary, once the schedule was set, everyone felt relieved.

The official announcement will be made three days later.

Alice in Wonderland is scheduled to premiere on October 1st, with simultaneous broadcasts in various regions. Overseas releases will be a little later. Although the main focus is still overseas, its popularity in China has remained consistently high.

This is a Sino-foreign co-production directed by a Chinese director, and the main characters are also Chinese.

Yes, Liu Yifei's nationality has been changed.

Chen Yan's uncle put in a lot of effort in this matter. Chen Yan was afraid that some people would bring up the nationality of the lead actors in "Alice in Wonderland", so he specially chose to finish it in a hurry before the publicity.

Throughout September, Liu Yifei worked with Chen Yan to promote "Alice in Wonderland". Chen Yan felt sorry for her and wanted her to rest more. In October, she was also busy and was about to join the film crew.

However, Liu Yifei refused outright, saying she wasn't tired, so Chen Yan let her have her way.

Another victim has already gone home to find his father.

Lu Chuan, with tears streaming down her face, followed her father's tearful account of how Chen Yan was chasing after her and trying to kill her, using a blockbuster special effects film to attack her own "Kekexili"—wasn't that just bullying?

But with wolves in front and tigers behind, he was caught in a dilemma regarding his schedule.

Let's postpone it. "Kung Fu Hustle" and "A World Without Thieves" are still lurking in the shadows, and there's another big movie, "The Bourne Identity," waiting for him in November.

He carefully selected the October slot, and he felt a pang of regret at having to give it up, thinking about the 7-day National Day holiday.

Lu Chuan's father wiped away his son's tears, "What are you afraid of? What he said is just a ridiculous fairy tale movie, nothing but nonsense."

Lu Chuan was stunned. Right, that was an adaptation of a fairy tale movie.

Then he laughed again: "Yeah, if I can beat him during this period, I'll be incredibly awesome! Let's see if he'll still have the nerve to curse me online!"

Lu Chuan's father nodded, his son had finally made progress.

No, I still have to talk to my old friend. The cinema definitely needs to give my son more screenings. Compared to Chen Yan's film, my son's film has a much deeper meaning!

Good films like this should be given more opportunities!

On October 1st, the two films set up their battlegrounds and went head-to-head.

"Kekexili" was instantly destroyed.

On its opening day, "Alice in Wonderland" grossed 987 million yuan, a resounding success.

"Kekexili" had 23% of screenings in the morning, but this was reduced to 18% in the afternoon, with the extra screenings being given to "Alice in Wonderland".

The first day's revenue was only 18 yuan, most of which was attracted by the plagiarism incident of "Kekexili" a while ago.

Upon seeing the first day's box office figures, Lu Chuan went home crying and shouting, "Dad!"