Chapter 467: The Speechless Fans

The second-day box office for *Rouge* reached approximately 52 million, falling just short of the 100 million mark. The figures exceeded the forecasts of all major prediction agencies and surpassed industry expectations.

The box office for *Road to Glory* showed little change.

Meanwhile, *Happy Hour* also saw a "reverse-drop," achieving a daily box office of around 19 million.

One media outlet commented: "Looking at the reverse-dropping box office, in reality, the combined total of the two days doesn't even reach the box office results a normal commercial film would achieve during a holiday slot."

Another media outlet commented: "It has been a long time since we've seen art-house films achieve such outstanding box office results in the market. It looks like all three of these art-house films might break the 100 million mark."

Of course, there was no shortage of media expressing confusion: "I don't understand why *Road to Glory* isn't expanding its screenings. If one could say they were conservative on the first day and unwilling to increase the scope of advance screenings, why, after the first day, is there still only 7% of screen share on the second day? We communicated with major cinema chain managers, and they reported that it's not that they don't want to allocate screenings, but that the distributor is only willing to do 'small-scale' advance screenings. *Road to Glory* has truly missed a prime window to rake in box office revenue."

The media's discussions were chaotic and noisy.

The industry was even more concerned with where the final box office for these three art-house films would land.

Some asked, will the box office performance of these three art-house films drive more film companies to produce art-house films?

Entertainment critic Guan Su Chen responded directly to this question: It's not very significant. These three art-house films all returned with awards from film festivals, and *Rouge* and *Road to Glory* both feature top-tier directors or movie stars. Their halo is too large; even if the box office is high, it won't increase the industry's interest in art-house films. However, it might increase the interest of film stars in the industry to appear in art-house films, and perhaps that could conversely drive the greenlighting of art-house projects.

On the third day, the daily box office for *Rouge* remained stable at just over 50 million. Over the three-day holiday, the box office approached 150 million. According to the results from box office prediction agencies, the final box office for this film might reach 400 million.

The third-day daily box office for *Happy Hour* slipped significantly, only reaching 13 million, but the three-day cumulative total reached 45 million. For this low-budget film with a production cost of only 800,000, it can be described as a "huge profit." And it is a huge profit for director Yu Qin alone—this film was basically shot with money she put up herself.

Only *Road to Glory* saw its three-day daily box office stuck at around 17-18 million, mainly because the screen share rate limited its performance. Counting the previous advance screenings, the total box office was close to 60 million.

This was a box office victory for the three art-house films.

Almost every media outlet hoisted the slogan of "Art-house Renaissance."

While art-house film fans felt excited and thrilled, the industry only viewed it as a joke.

Because they all knew that such a box office miracle is almost impossible to encounter or seek out.

The prerequisite is that you must first take a turn around international film festivals, win an award, and especially have the film's reputation and word-of-mouth be very good, capable of forming a strong momentum of praise, and then obtain such an "exclusive slot" domestically without competition from commercial films, only then can you replicate such a miracle.

However, regardless of what is said, box office is box office; it is what audiences bought ticket by ticket to see in the cinema.

Art-house films just happened to have a small moment of popularity in a cold month like September.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival slot, *Road to Glory* once again reduced its screening sessions, returning to its previous level.

This left many fans who wanted to see it by reputation once again in the frustrating situation of being unable to buy tickets.

Slowly, a voice of complaint appeared on the internet:

—It's the first time I've wanted to see a movie and couldn't buy a ticket, not even for the very first row or the very last row on the side.

—Is *Road to Glory* engaging in hunger marketing?

—I'm not watching it anymore; a crappy movie making it so hard to buy tickets.

However, no matter how loud the outside discussion was, *Road to Glory* persisted in its strategy, harvesting about 30,000 in box office every day, steadily and slowly building the aesthetic image of the film *Road to Glory*.

This strategy of *Road to Glory* also left many in the industry unable to understand, scratching their heads.

Why did it have to arrange such a long advance screening?

Now that the market's enthusiasm is so high, why not expand the screening scale?

What are they waiting for?

Are they waiting for the National Day slot to let it compete with the blockbusters of the National Day slot?

Are they crazy?

Facing these voices of doubt, *Road to Glory* still made no response or reaction.

On September 17th, Lu Yan He and Ceng Qiao suddenly attended a drama promotion event held by Maxine in Thailand for *River of Silence* together, and officially announced the broadcast time for this drama: October 9th.

Domestic audiences were stunned, asking why the first drama promotion event for this show wasn't held in China, but went to Thailand.

Then they discovered that the investors for *River of Silence* were not domestic film and television production companies; this was a custom-made drama by Maxine with director Chen Lingling.

It wasn't even scheduled on any domestic video platform and might not even be able to be broadcast domestically.

This shocked the fans who had long been looking forward to this drama.

Even if it's a Maxine drama, isn't there any domestic video platform that will buy it?

At this time, Bingyuan Video belatedly announced that *River of Silence* would be broadcast simultaneously on Bingyuan Video.

The car stopped in the parking lot of the Bingyuan Video company building.

At the elevator entrance, two staff members wearing work badges were waiting to pick people up.

After the car was parked, Wang Biao got out first, kept the car door open, and turned his body to invite Lu Yan He to get out.

Lu Yan He got out of the car wearing a casual suit, wearing sunglasses, looking very imposing.

Coming to the Bingyuan Video company today, he put on the airs.

Zou Dong also got out of the car and came to Lu Yan He's side.

The staff members who came to receive them hurriedly greeted them, their faces wearing enthusiastic smiles.

"Teacher Lu, welcome to Bingyuan. I am Zhao Yurui, responsible for taking you upstairs."

"Hello." Lu Yan He nodded politely, "Sorry for the trouble."

Zhao Yurui immediately waved his hand and said, "No trouble, my colleagues all wanted to snatch this job from my hands, but I defended it firmly."

Zhao Yurui's words deepened his impression in Lu Yan He's heart by a few points.

"Thank you." Lu Yan He thanked him.

Coming to Bingyuan Video today was to record some promotional material for *River of Silence*.

At the same time, the person in charge of Bingyuan Video, Li Quansen, also wanted to meet with him.

Zhao Yurui took Lu Yan He directly to the studio. Lu Yan He first cooperated with the director from Bingyuan Video to complete the filming of more than a dozen promotional materials.

The filming lasted for about an hour.

After filming, Zhao Yurui appeared again, taking Lu Yan He to Li Quansen's office.

"Li Zong is already waiting for you in the office."

Lu Yan He nodded and followed him to Li Quansen's office.

This was not Lu Yan He's first time seeing Li Quansen. He had encountered him on other occasions before and had met him, such as at a charity event not long ago. But Lu Yan He had never chatted with Li Quansen one-on-one.

This time Li Quansen took the initiative to suggest he wanted to meet with him, and Lu Yan He readily agreed.

Unlike Lin Desheng of Beijiguang Video, Li Quansen was an older person with more legends in the industry.

If Beijiguang Video was a new upstart, then Bingyuan Video was an old relic.

The history of Bingyuan Video can be traced back twenty years. At first, it was a film and television production company, then, after acquiring four or five bankrupt film and television companies, relying on a massive film library and the barbaric growth of the internet era, it built a video website, which is now Bingyuan Video, and spent about thirteen or fourteen years in a wild phase. It wasn't until the rise of web dramas that Bingyuan Video suddenly ushered in its opportunity.

Whether it was Lin Desheng or Li Quansen, they were both people who caught the era's opportunity.

Therefore, after going through round after round of financing and burning money, and fighting who knows how many battles, they finally occupied their current position in the current video platform matrix.

However, although the two companies currently occupy a similar share of the video platform and their industry status is about the same, the reputation of Lin Desheng and Li Quansen in the industry is very different. The biggest difference is that Lin Desheng is not very active on the internet; he is basically not a boss who likes to be active in front of the screen. But Li Quansen is the exact opposite; he is even more active than some star artists, and you can see him at various events.

"Li Zong." After Lu Yan He entered Li Quansen's office, he took the initiative to call out and say hello.

Li Quansen immediately stood up and strode over, his face beaming with an enthusiastic and bright smile, his affinity could be given full marks, and that smile didn't give people a sense of hypocrisy at all.

"Yan He, congratulations, congratulations." Li Quansen held Lu Yan He's hand with both hands. He gave Lu Yan He the feeling of a giant bear—of course, his own build was also very much like a bear. "The box office for *Rouge* and *Road to Glory* has been a great success, and you've won awards internationally. You are truly a young man full of miracles."

"Li Zong, you praise me too much." Lu Yan He said modestly, "A small achievement, completely incomparable to a big platform like Bingyuan Video. You are the role model I learn from."

Li Quansen laughed out loud, "Sit."

The two exchanged pleasantries.

Li Quansen said: "Actually, I have wanted to meet you for a long time, but the time never matched up. Look, your fate with our Bingyuan has also been long-standing, starting from the program *Young Days*."

The program *Young Days* has been broadcast on Bingyuan Video.

Of course, because this program was made by Li Zhenzhen's team, Bingyuan Video was just the broadcast platform and did not participate in the production, so Lu Yan He and the others didn't have much contact with Bingyuan Video.

At this time, climbing up some relationship, appearing to have some connection and closeness, this is a very normal operation.

"You have cooperated with Beijiguang on so many projects in one go, and I am also depressed. Why didn't our Bingyuan Video cooperate with you?" Li Quansen pretended to sigh and said, "You can't just cooperate with Beijiguang in the future. We have such a deep fate, what they can give you, I can also give you."

Lu Yan He nodded with a smile; of course, such words cannot be taken seriously directly.

"Okay, Li Zong, we will definitely have the opportunity to cooperate in the future." Lu Yan He said.

Li Quansen immediately asked: "Then do you have any projects you are preparing to do later? Just say it, as long as it is something our Bingyuan Video can help with, we will definitely help."

Lu Yan He smiled, "Currently, I haven't encountered any difficulties."

Help?

Thank you. If it's cooperation, it's mutual benefit. Ask you for help? It seems like I still owe you a favor.

Lu Yan He didn't care whether Li Quansen had this intention or not; he just didn't take the bait.

Li Quansen: "That's good, you not encountering difficulties is the news I most want to hear."

Lu Yan He almost couldn't help but take a deep breath on the spot.

Is it necessary to speak so directly and not be afraid of being cheesy?

Li Quansen said: "Actually, it's really a pity. I heard before that you have two film scripts looking for cooperation. Our Bingyuan Video's film business hasn't taken off, so we can't help much. Otherwise, why would I insist on holding onto those copyrights? I respect you creative talents very much. As long as we can reach a consensus on cooperation and let Bingyuan always have the priority for renewal, I don't need the copyright to be in my hands."

The words were spoken very nicely, but they were meaningless.

The point of this paragraph was still "our Bingyuan Video's film business hasn't taken off, so we can't help much." No matter how nicely the other words were spoken, they were just a statement of "talk is cheap."

"..."

Lu Yan He maintained the smile on his face.

Li Quansen suddenly remembered something and asked: "However, I heard that the copyrights for films like *Lost in Journey* and *Rouge* are still in your hands?"

"Yes." Lu Yan He nodded.

Li Quansen: "Are you interested in adapting these two stories into TV dramas?"

"Ah?" Lu Yan He was stunned.

Li Quansen: "Actually, these two stories are quite suitable for adaptation into TV dramas. The film volume is relatively small. If adapted into a TV drama, more details can be displayed."

Lu Yan He immediately shook his head and said: "Sorry, Li Zong, I don't have the idea of adapting them into TV dramas for the time being."

Li Quansen asked: "Why?"

Lu Yan He said: "On one hand, I already have quite a few projects on hand and simply don't have the time to do a TV drama version. On the other hand, I also feel that the stories these two stories want to tell have already been told very thoroughly in the films. Adapting them into a TV drama version wouldn't have any new stories to expand upon."

Li Quansen said: "Then what if we buy the adaptation rights and find screenwriters to adapt them ourselves?"

"Ah?" Lu Yan He was stunned.

Li Quansen said: "I know you are very busy, and asking you to adapt the script is basically unrealistic, but these two stories are both very good stories. Especially *Lost in Journey*, I want to use the concept of embarrassing things happening on the road to create a series of short dramas, each possibly only 80 or 90 episodes, not long, making comedies. It's not that I want to replicate the stories in the film exactly. *Rouge* is about making some expansions on the current story. For example, there is a lot that can be expanded about Ruhu's story in the brothel, as well as the things in Twelve Young Master's family. The film's focus is entirely on the two of them, but in reality, there is a large amount of content that can be expanded around them."

When Li Quansen said this, Lu Yan He also reacted.

Li Quansen suddenly mentioning that he wanted to adapt them into TV dramas was definitely not a whim, but he had already thought about how to adapt them before mentioning it to him.

Actually, whether it is adapting a TV drama into a film or a film into a TV drama, whether it is modifying the original plot or just using the name or the concept of the worldview, it is not rare.

People all over the world are doing this.

Lu Yan He didn't refuse immediately but fell into deep thought.

If it were possible to let the stories of *Lost in Journey* and *Rouge* continue, especially the latter, Lu Yan He would be very willing to see it.

Just as Li Quansen said, *Rouge* is a story that focuses very much on the main line. In fact, it could completely enrich many details based on the original work. One of the most attractive points of this story includes the debauchery and the eerie ghost atmosphere revealed in the era of Ruhu and Twelve Young Master. The atmosphere of that era presented by this film is something many films with the same theme haven't achieved.

If it could be presented more richly, Lu Yan He also felt it would be quite good.

However, with the pearl in front, whether it can be presented more richly is also something that makes Lu Yan He feel worried.

Li Quansen saw Lu Yan He's worry.

He said: "Although you don't have time to serve as the screenwriter yourself, I very much hope you can serve as the artistic supervisor for the adapted drama and participate in the production of these two dramas. This way, you can also personally check the quality."

Lu Yan He was silent for two seconds and said to him: "Li Zong, thank you for your invitation. I need to go back and consider this matter."

Li Quansen nodded, expressing understanding, "No problem."

Lu Yan He came out of the Bingyuan Video company building, and his phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Chen Ziyan.

"Sister Ziyan?"

Lu Yan He originally thought Chen Ziyan was calling to ask about his meeting with Li Quansen, but he didn't expect what Chen Ziyan said was completely not about this.

"Schmidt Lawley from Green Valley Film Company in the United States contacted me." Chen Ziyan said, "He confirmed that he wants to go for this year's awards season for *Road to Glory*. He proposed that he can also lobby for performance awards for us, but hopes we can sponsor a portion of the lobbying expenses."

"Ah?" Lu Yan He was surprised, "What's the situation?"

"In the United States, lobbying for awards is permitted." Chen Ziyan said, "And every year, companies that have hope of winning awards will take out tens of millions in lobbying expenses to conduct lobbying. This has already formed an industry, and there are even specialized lobbying companies in Hollywood that do this."

Lu Yan He had heard of it more or less, but he hadn't understood these things in such detail.

In his simple understanding, awards should be objective and authoritative, not something that can be lobbied for.

Chen Ziyan said: "The lobbying system for the American awards season has very strict permitted and prohibited behaviors. Bribery and such are absolutely not allowed, so don't think crookedly. Just understand it this way: every year there are so many films, everyone definitely won't watch every film, and many films are even unknown. At this time, professional lobbying promoters are needed to push the film in front of those who have the right to vote, from going on shows to accept interviews, to buying advertisements in major media, and even sending DVDs to judges, to explain the advantages and artistic value of this film to influential people. These are the most common lobbying methods. Also, there are various cocktail parties and events that accompany the three or four-month awards season."

Lu Yan He nodded and said: "Okay."

Chen Ziyan said: "I communicated with Star Entertainment, and they very clearly stated that if you don't renew your contract with Star Entertainment, they definitely won't be willing to pay this lobbying fee for us. In your current situation, there is no need to renew your contract with Star Entertainment. So, I'm asking for your opinion."

"If I lobby for performance awards, can I win an award?"

"Almost impossible." Chen Ziyan said, "Let alone winning an award, you might even find it hard to get nominations for a few influential awards. However, I think since *Road to Glory* wants to go for the awards season, we can indeed borrow this momentum. One is to understand the tricks inside lobbying in advance and make some connections that need to be made this time. Second is to let some North American filmmakers know you and recognize you, because your performance in *Road to Glory* is indeed outstanding. Even if you don't get any nominations, you can let some influential media, film critics, and even filmmakers see your performance, and perhaps you can accumulate some fame."

Lu Yan He asked: "Then I think we can give it a try."

Chen Ziyan said "um" and then said: "Let's pay this lobbying expense from our Linghe Film and Television Production Company."

Lu Yan He said: "No need, let's pay it from my personal account."

If paid from Linghe Film and Television Production Company, Chen Ziyan, as another major shareholder, would also have her interests damaged—although Lu Yan He believed Chen Ziyan definitely didn't care about this little money; she was much richer than him.

But Lu Yan He felt that since it was lobbying for him, and his agency relationship was not at Linghe now, it was better to calculate the accounts clearly.

Not leaving any contradictions of economic disputes was a principle Lu Yan He had determined very early on; he would rather suffer a little loss himself.

He already earned more than many people, so in this kind of economic account, he would rather suffer a little loss himself than let others suffer—don't let two people who originally had a good relationship become estranged because of a little economic matter; it's not worth it.

Chen Ziyan didn't spend much time arguing with Lu Yan He about this matter.

Lu Yan He took the initiative to propose that he would pay for it himself, so he could pay for it himself.

Chen Ziyan didn't intend to take out much at once either.

This time her goal was very clear: to test the waters first and see what the depth of the American awards season lobbying set of things really was.

To prepare for the future.

Just as the matter of *Road to Glory* preparing to go for the North American awards season was confirmed, *River of Silence* started its pre-broadcast promotion in a big way.

When *River of Silence* was being filmed, although it was said to be a dual-male lead drama, it was actually based on Ceng Qiao as the lead and Lu Yan He as the supporting lead.

When all the official announcements were sorted with Ceng Qiao as the first lead and Lu Yan He as the second lead, Lu Yan He's fans were a bit dissatisfied. They believed that Lu Yan He's status had already surpassed Ceng Qiao's, and since it was clearly a dual-male lead drama, why did the crew always list Ceng Qiao as the first lead?

Lu Yan He saw some fans making a scene under the official blog, so he replied directly:

—Don't make a scene blindly. When signing the contract, it was signed that Brother Qiao is the first lead. Isn't it normal for me to play the second lead for Brother Qiao? Can we not argue about this kind of thing? Everyone filmed very happily, and our relationship is also very good. Don't let these unnecessary disputes affect the harmony of our crew.

Lu Yan He's speed of reply and his attitude in the reply shocked many people.

In recent years, there have been many arguments about billing, happening almost every few months, with such news popping up. Lu Yan He was the first to directly point it out and reply to fans to stop making a scene.

The key is that Lu Yan He's attitude was not hidden at all, very magnanimous, and it even gained him a wave of favor, although some fans were not very satisfied.

They felt they were fighting for Lu Yan He's rights; why did Lu Yan He jump out to criticize them instead?

Even if Lu Yan He was the second lead when he signed the contract, but now, with Lu Yan He and Ceng Qiao's status in the circle today, is Ceng Qiao still worthy of sitting in the first lead position?

Lu Yan He didn't even want to pay attention to this kind of talk.

Immediately, some fans holding this idea began to promote a theory: The reason Lu Yan He had such an attitude was because of his personal relationship with Ceng Qiao, which forced Lu Yan He to stand out and express his position; it was all Ceng Qiao using his personal friendship with Lu Yan He to make things difficult for Lu Yan He.

This kind of talk was unreliable and unreasonable, but some fans believed it and were all forwarding it, stating firmly that it must be like this.

Lu Yan He almost couldn't help but reply, "If you have delusions, go to the hospital for treatment," but felt that saying so was a bit too much, so he held back.

At this time, a media outlet suddenly released the news that Ceng Qiao's starring film *Deviation*, after being taken off the shelves, had been purchased by HP for global exclusive broadcast rights.

This media outlet also miraculously knew the role Lu Yan He played in it, saying: According to reliable news channels, this cooperation between *Deviation* and HP came from Lu Yan He's matchmaking.

Soon, HP also announced the news that *Deviation* would be launched on October 12th.

"This work was indeed recommended to us by Lu Yan He." The person in charge of HP's Asia-Pacific region generously admitted in an interview at a forum, "After our evaluation, we believe *Deviation* is a film that can resonate all over the world."

Now it's good, those fans of Lu Yan He who wanted Lu Yan He to be the first lead instantly straightened their backs.

—Look, Ceng Qiao's starring *Deviation* still needs Lu Yan He to help sell it to HP to recoup the cost!

—How can Ceng Qiao be so shameless? It's one thing to ask Lu Yan He to help save the film *Deviation*, but he still has the face to continue letting Lu Yan He play the second lead for him.

—Lu Yan He is too miserable; he is just too kind and always thinks for his friends, but have the so-called "friends" thought for him?

These remarks made Lu Yan He so angry that he was fuming.

His relationship with Ceng Qiao was originally fine, nothing happened, but it was stirred up like this, making it a mess.

Just when Lu Yan He was annoyed, Ceng Qiao sent him a message: Yan He, don't worry about what's said on the internet, don't take it to heart. We both know what's going on.

Lu Yan He felt even more sorry in his heart.

At the same time, Maxine's Zhong Benshuo was so angry at this news that his mouth was trembling.

Lu Yan He had also recommended this work to him, and he also intended to buy it. After all, *River of Silence* starring Ceng Qiao and Lu Yan He was broadcast on Maxine. If *River of Silence* was broadcast well, then *Deviation* could borrow the heat of *River of Silence*.

However, Tom White's bid was higher than his, and *Deviation* was snatched away by HP just like that. Now, they are even deliberately releasing it a few days after *River of Silence* goes live—the face of someone trying to ride the coattails is clear and plain to see.

Zhong Benshuo was very annoyed.

At this time, seeing Ceng Qiao and Lu Yan He still being rumored and smeared by many fans because of some broken things.

Zhong Benshuo's brain turned, and he had an idea. ===== CHAPTER 468 =====