I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

Simultaneous broadcast?

What is this person saying?

I recognize each word individually, so why can't I understand them when they're put together?

"You...you calm down, don't be impulsive. Do you want me to come over now? I should be able to get there in half an hour by car."

Only then did Li Zijian's mind begin to work.

Movies originally slated for theatrical release are instead shown on television and video websites, which is a much more serious problem than simply being postponed.

First, cinemas have already invested money in the film. After the free screening, these pre-sale tickets will definitely be refunded. Furthermore, the film's revenue will be significantly reduced, especially for a big-budget film like Lu Ban. This means that billions of yuan in industry revenue will be lost.

Secondly, given what happened, Lu Ban will definitely have to compensate these cinemas, which will be a huge expense. Moreover, those cinemas may not agree, and it will be difficult to reach an agreement in such a short time.

Finally, given the short timeframe, while video websites might be okay, television stations might not have the time to air Lu Ban's work. In Li Zijian's view, if Lu Ban's plan could be realized, it would be an absolute miracle, and not just one.

“Brother Li, I’m very clear-headed. I think now is the best time to do this. You don’t need to worry about the money. Just make sure the movie is released tomorrow.”

Lu Ban talked to Li Zijian for a while longer, and then hung up the phone around 1 p.m.

His idea was simple.

My films are meant to be seen by more people and to change their worldview and perceptions.

In this context, amidst the swirling snow and apocalyptic atmosphere, this film is sure to resonate even more deeply with audiences.

It is precisely because humanity is in distress that we need films that address disasters.

Therefore, Lu Ban doesn't need to make money. As long as the movie can be broadcast on TV stations and video websites, a huge number of people can see it. It can be considered as Lu Ban's Spring Festival gift to everyone who is in the midst of the snowstorm.

At 3 a.m., the news that "The End of the World" would be canceled from theatrical release and instead released on television and video websites on the first day of the Lunar New Year was announced on Weibo, forums, major cinema websites, and social media.

There was an uproar.

Chapter 538 Is this just hype?

At four in the morning, medical student Zheng Li was still awake. He had just won his first game of the new year, a hard-fought victory.

Although he was extremely sleepy, he still picked up his phone while lying in bed.

I was genuinely sleepy, and I was genuinely using my phone.

[Man burns tongue while performing reverse smoking, sues cigarette factory]

A man attempted suicide by jumping into a river, but upon seeing someone urinating in the river, he got up, beat the person, and threw them into the river as well.

The Spring Festival Gala skit has sparked heated discussions, with viewers exclaiming that it was hilarious and incredibly creative.

A man's arrogant walking posture led to three passersby stabbing him seven times.

[Theatrical release of "The End of the World" terminated, to be streamed online for free]

[A girl ate a pound of garlic, saying it would help her be found by search and rescue dogs sooner in case of an earthquake.]

Three elementary school students threw firecrackers into a manhole, causing a methane explosion.

"Holy crap?"

Zheng Li hurriedly clicked on the video of the methane explosion and saw three children playing with firecrackers as they walked. When they saw a manhole cover, they threw the firecrackers into it and waited to see it explode.

As it turned out, the manhole cover was likely fermenting with filth and producing methane gas, which exploded and overturned the cover. The three children who were looking out were hit by the manhole cover and flew up like feathers, scattered in all directions.

Zheng Li had seen plenty of naughty kids causing trouble during the Lunar New Year, but this was the first time he had ever witnessed something so gratifying.

After watching, Zheng Li prepared to continue scrolling through short videos.

Suddenly, he felt like he had just seen something.

Scrolling back, Zheng Licai saw news about "The End of the World".

He didn't buy advance tickets for the premiere, mainly because the cinemas in his hometown were a bit run-down, and he felt he should go to a bigger cinema to see the IMAX, so that he could do justice to such special effects.

Therefore, seeing the theatrical release terminated now, Zheng Li's mind is full of question marks.

He clicked on the news article.

"...It is understood that due to snowstorms and other natural disasters affecting cinemas worldwide, Lu Ban has chosen to terminate the theatrical release of his new film 'The End of the World' and instead release it for free on television and video websites. This move has attracted widespread attention. According to our reporter, the film's global promotional investment was previously..."

The following sections contain information about the film and Lu Ban.

After reading this news, Zheng Li was completely sober.

"What's going on?"

Although he knew that the blizzard situation in the country was quite serious, he did not know that it was this serious.

After searching further, Zheng Li discovered that most of the other films scheduled for the Spring Festival were postponed, while Lu Ban's "The End of the World" chose not to be shown in theaters, but instead to be broadcast directly on television.

This is absolutely unprecedented!

"Has Lu Ban lost his mind or does he have too much money? Is he treating everyone to a free movie?"

Zheng Li wasn't a professional in the industry, but he knew that Lu Ban's previous films had all grossed billions at the box office. If they weren't shown in theaters, they would lose billions.

Even if you're rich and powerful, this isn't how you play the game!

Moreover, even if a film cannot be shown on the big screen for various reasons, the production company will mostly choose to stream it on video websites for a fee. Showing it on TV is probably only done after squeezing out the last bit of remaining value from the film before it is packaged and sold to TV stations for repeated broadcasts during various long holidays.

Lu Ban's move has generated a lot of buzz and may even attract an unprecedented number of viewers for the movie, but what's the point?

Is Lu Ban really some kind of sage sent by heaven, choosing to let everyone watch blockbusters for free in order to improve the aesthetic standards of audiences worldwide?

Zheng Li sat up. The heating made the room very warm, and he was even wearing short sleeves and shorts. He should be glad that the heating plant was still working normally, otherwise the northern winter would definitely be unbearable.

Zheng Li had heard many southerners talk about the magical damage in winter, but in his opinion, temperature is the biggest damage. In temperatures tens of degrees below zero, where even peeing will freeze into an icicle, whether it's magic or physical damage, it's all real damage at its maximum.

Lu Ban's big news was the first bombshell of the Spring Festival, even surpassing the few topics that were criticized during the Spring Festival Gala, and became the number one trending topic in just a few tens of minutes.

Zheng Li initially thought it might be some new April Fool's joke, but when he saw the Weibo post on the official website of Silent Media and the discussions below, he realized that it didn't seem to be a joke, but real!

[Holy crap, has Lu Ban taken the wrong medicine? Free streaming is going to cost them a fortune!]

Are you still worried that Lu Ban will lose money? He makes billions from just one movie, so a small loss is nothing to him.

[Exactly, you guys didn't even invest in this movie, are you really just spiritual capitalists?]

I had bought an opening day ticket, and I was worried about how I would get to the cinema because of the heavy snow outside. Now it's all good, I can watch it at home.

[Lu Ban, you're so kind of you to choose this approach so that everyone can see your movie in the New Year!]

I remember Lu Ban's movies were all pretty thrilling and suspenseful, so isn't it a bit odd to air them on TV on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

That's still better than those TV dramas that have been airing for years, right? TV stations also take holidays during the Lunar New Year; they just rebroadcast programs. Wouldn't it be better to air a movie instead?

What if I don't have a TV at home? Oh, there are some online too, no problem then.

[What a pity, I really wanted to watch this movie in IMAX; my TV at home just isn't big enough!]

Holy crap, is the snowstorm that bad? It only snowed a little here.

[Dude upstairs, this is a coastal area, usually it's over 20 degrees Celsius in winter, and now it's snowing? This is ridiculous!]

What? The movie isn't showing in theaters anymore? Which website and channel is it streaming on? What time?

[It's so late at night, all the firecrackers outside have stopped, and you're still surfing here?]

[Is Lu Ban just creating hype? He's already pulling out a gimmick on the very first day of the new year.]

[Who uses billions in box office revenue for hype? If this is indeed hype, then I can only say I'm rooting for Lu Ban!]

Am I the only one hoping it will be re-released in theaters? Watching disaster movies on a small screen isn't nearly as exciting!

Zheng Li followed the comments and searched for it.

Wow, it airs during prime time on the first day of the Lunar New Year, at 9 PM, on several major TV stations and video websites. You can enjoy the best picture quality and resolution without a membership or registration.

Is Lu Ban really here to do charity work?

Zheng Li immediately forwarded the message to the group he had created when he made an online bet with someone to see "The Crying," but it was too late and almost no one was online, so his message received no response.

It wasn't until around 8 a.m. the next morning that someone suddenly spoke in the group.

"Holy crap, my friend and I were already at the movie theater, and now they're saying it's not showing anymore?"

Chapter 539 Rural Teacher

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, just as the weather forecast predicted, the snow fell even harder.

Lu Ban got up from the sofa, opened the curtains, and could see that the thick snow had even submerged the roads and flower beds. The thick layer of snow had bent and broken many trees. Looking further into the distance, the whole world was shrouded in a white expanse.

There was no heating in Jiangcheng, and the living room only had air conditioning, so it was already quite cold. Lu Ban glanced at the air conditioner unit outside the window, which was covered with a thick layer of snow, and then he opened the window.

call--

A cold wind immediately rushed into the house. Lu Ban heard a wail coming from the bedroom, but he ignored it and instead patted the air conditioner unit, causing the accumulated snow to fall.

After closing the window, Lu Ban felt a little warmer.

I don't know how long this snowstorm will last, and it looks even heavier than last night.

For the first time, people hoped the weather forecast would be wrong, just like in the past.

Lu Ban turned on the TV and switched to the news channel.

Reporters on the field reported through the snowstorm and observed that further north, the snowstorm had even disrupted transportation and power supply, leaving some remote mountain villages without electricity and heating and awaiting rescue.

"...The power supply department is carrying out emergency repairs to ensure that residents have access to electricity and heating..."

Listening to the reporter's words, Lu Ban even suspected that this was the work of some chosen one from another realm.

Such abnormal weather could probably only be created by those indescribable evil gods.

"We can't get in touch with Feng Yu either. I don't know how serious the problem is on her end."

Lu Ban still believed in Feng Yu's idea.

"You're up so early? Don't you ever want to sleep in?"

Qin Tiantian's voice came from behind her; she was still wrapped in Lu Ban's blanket.

Last night, the snow was too heavy, so Qin Tiantian stayed at Lu Ban's house. She lay on Lu Ban's bed and within three minutes, she was snoring away with Leica in her arms, and a tuft of hair was curled up next to her.

Lu Ban lay on his sofa for a while last night. At his level, sleeping has become an enjoyment rather than a necessity. Being able to bask in the sun is enough to replenish his energy.