Chapter 804

Chen Siqi doesn't know what's wrong with Lu Yanhe.

It seems he wasn't this clingy with her before.

Of course, she is very happy.

She has always felt that there is a wall in Lu Yanhe's heart, blocking everyone out, making everyone think that is the end of his inner world.

Only Chen Siqi herself knows that it isn't like that.

It has been slightly better in the last few years, but only slightly.

However, this time when Lu Yanhe returned, it seems something is different.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm good, very good." Lu Yanhe smiled lazily.

Chen Siqi nodded: "I know you're good, it's strange, I don't even know why I asked you that."

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Are you going to the company today?"

"Not today." Chen Siqi shook her head, "Work is all arranged, I can rest for these two days."

Lu Yanhe asked: "Then how about we go find a place in the mountains and get away from the world for a bit?"

Chen Siqi: "Sure."

Lu Yanhe immediately sent a message to Wang Biao, asking if he had any places to recommend.

Wang Biao's information and resources in this regard are enough for him to open a high-end service company himself.

Sure enough, not long after, Wang Biao sent him three options.

Lu Yanhe picked one and settled on it.

Lu Yanhe finally returned, but the people who wanted to contact him found that they still couldn't reach him.

Not just him, even Chen Siqi couldn't be reached.

At twenty-six years old, three individual Academy Award nominations, two Oscar trophies.

To become famous early, this is more than just early.

The Film Association wanted to hold a seminar on his works, but couldn't find him.

Long Yan wanted to discuss the performance agreement for "Burning Fire 3" with him as soon as possible, but couldn't find him.

Chen Yin wanted to communicate with him about this year's work arrangements for Linghe, but couldn't find him.

All kinds of collaborations wanted to find him, and—

Couldn't find him.

"He didn't even bring his phone, he's completely unreachable." Chen Ziyan said helplessly to the person on the other end of the phone, "Mr. Zhang, it's really not an excuse. Ask around outside; if there is anyone who can reach him, I will treat you to a meal immediately to apologize."

"I'm telling the truth, even I can't reach him." Chen Ziyan smiled and sighed, "If I could reach him, I would definitely tell him."

After bickering a few more sentences, the other party hung up the phone.

Chen Ziyan put down her phone.

Coincidentally, at this moment, Lu Qingzhen knocked and entered, seeing Chen Ziyan's actions and expression through the glass door.

She smiled until her eyes curved and said: "Looking for Lu Yanhe again?"

"Yeah." Chen Ziyan shook her head speechlessly, "It's like this every time, sigh."

Lu Qingzhen: "Which mountain is Yan He on now?"

"Something called Big Girl Mountain?" Chen Ziyan said, "I don't know where that is either, but according to him, it's a place isolated from the world."

Lu Qingzhen: "Such a good place, I'll ask him later, I'll go for a vacation too."

"It really is necessary to have a good vacation." Chen Ziyan nodded, "These last two years, it's been too tiring, too hard. I feel like I wasn't this mentally exhausted when I first started working."

Lu Qingzhen: "How could you be mentally exhausted when you first started working? That was physical exhaustion, using your body to fight for a career."

Chen Ziyan: "My body isn't what it used to be."

Lu Qingzhen smiled slightly, "In your prime, why say you're not what you used to be? We are about to achieve our initial goals."

Chen Ziyan said: "Really? Are we about to achieve them? Why do I feel that the closer we get, the further away it seems? Sigh, I increasingly feel that something like accumulation really doesn't work without time. Compared to those behemoths, our Shihu is too young. And honestly, if it weren't for encountering Yan He, a genius rarely seen in a century, how would we shorten the gap with others? We wouldn't even have the right to speak in negotiations."

"Why think about these things? What do you mean 'if it weren't for encountering Yan He'? We have encountered him now, why think about things that didn't happen? What does this mean? It means heaven intends for us to succeed." Lu Qingzhen said, "Maybe things that could only be done in thirty or fifty years, we can do now. Isn't that great? Do you really want to wait until your hair is gray to lament your bad luck? If you ask me, being able to encounter this current juncture when I am most motivated and most able to fight is the best thing."

"You are becoming more and more high-spirited, while I am less and less willing to struggle."

"You are already standing at a certain height, wanting to stop and rest your feet, to look at the scenery." Lu Qingzhen smiled, "But we can't, we can't stop halfway up the mountain. Yan He is still climbing up, and you said it yourself, you can't hold him back, you have to ensure he has sufficient support behind him."

Chen Ziyan: "Damn it, support my ass! He goes off to vacation in isolation and throws the mess to me! No way, after he comes back, I'm going on vacation too."

Lu Qingzhen: "... So that's the crux of it."

Chen Ziyan: "What? Is that not allowed?"

"With me, is there anything that isn't allowed?" Lu Qingzhen said with a smile, "This weekend, let's take a break and go shopping in France, how about it?"

"Too tired."

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything for the whole trip, you just need to be responsible for showing up."

"Alright then."

Lu Qingzhen rolled her eyes with a smile.

After the New Year, Yan Liang joined the crew to film "Speed of Life and Death".

This movie was not filmed in the United States, but in Germany—to enjoy Germany's tax rebate policy.

Knowing Yan Liang came to Germany to film, Hua Ruzhen specifically helped Yan Liang find a place to stay—Parameter didn't fail to arrange a hotel, but Hua Ruzhen insisted on helping Yan Liang find a more comfortable place, especially for when he didn't have filming days and could rest.

Not only that, knowing that Parameter didn't arrange a separate vehicle for Yan Liang, Hua Ruzhen specifically arranged a car and a driver for him, to serve him at any time.

Yan Liang was shocked.

It wasn't that he couldn't enjoy such service in other crews now, but that Hua Ruzhen doing these things was completely unnecessary for her.

Hua Ruzhen said: "I look at all of you as my younger brothers. If you were filming elsewhere, that would be one thing, but since you've come to Germany, if I don't arrange everything for you, then I might as well not be in contact with you, and you calling me sister would be in vain."

Yan Liang could only smile for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

Hua Ruzhen said again: "Don't have any psychological pressure. Every time Yan He films in the US and wants to organize a party, I help him handle it. Arranging these things is normal work for me, it doesn't take much effort."

"Thank you, Sister Ruzhen."

"That's right." Hua Ruzhen said, "In the future, whatever I arrange, just say thank you and accept it, don't be polite, you know?"

Yan Liang nodded with a smile.

"This time you are filming 'Speed of Life and Death', I estimate your daily filming tasks will be very heavy, so don't skimp on logistics." Hua Ruzhen said, "You actors especially need to protect your state, this isn't something you can just grit your teeth and get through."

"Okay."

Later that evening, Yan Liang told them about this in the group chat.

Li Zhibai said: When I was filming in the US, she took great care of me.

Yan Liang: By the way, she told me that Muken wants to find you to play a role in his next movie, he will probably come to China to see you next month, did you know?

Li Zhibai: I know, Yan He told me. Sigh, can't help it, I'm just this excellent, loved by everyone, every director wants to collaborate with me.

Yan Liang:...

Li Zhibai: Tsk, how can a person be excellent to this extent.

Yan Liang: Get lost.

Li Zhibai put down his phone with a smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Yuqian asked.

Li Zhibai said: "Teased Yan Liang a bit."

Jiang Yuqian glared at him and said: "Can you be serious? It's either teasing this one or that one."

Li Zhibai: "If I don't tease, how boring."

Jiang Yuqian: "The role of Wang Xiaojian is really meant for you, I didn't misjudge."

Li Zhibai: "This character is interesting, different from everything I've played before."

Jiang Yuqian: "Does it allow you to act completely unrestrained?"

Li Zhibai: "I'm afraid if I act unrestrained, you'll want to break up with me."

Jiang Yuqian couldn't hold back the smile at the corner of her mouth and said: "My tolerance is greater than you imagine."

Li Zhibai: "The extent of my craziness is beyond your imagination."

Jiang Yuqian: "Then let's try."

Li Zhibai: "Sigh, do you really want me to act?"

Jiang Yuqian said: "Shall we act as a couple for once?"

Li Zhibai gasped.

"Act, we must act."

In March, the Italian films "Crocodile" and "Housewife" produced by Linghe were released in China one after another.

One sold 13 million RMB at the box office, the other sold 25 million.

Both films basically recovered their acquisition costs through theater box office.

Chen Yin now steadily acquires the distribution rights for seven or eight foreign films in China, not expecting to achieve any dark horse box office, but using these films to open up domestic distribution channels, and at the same time, keeping the promotional channels they worked so hard to build busy.

For these two films, Linghe specifically invited the main creators of the crew, and then invited domestic filmmakers to hold dialogue and exchange activities with them.

These activities were basically held on university campuses or in theaters.

Tickets were required for the venue.

Of course, there would also be live streams online.

This was also a film culture international exchange project specially approved by higher authorities, otherwise, under normal circumstances, live streaming would not be allowed.

However, now that film is an important medium for China's international cultural exchange, coupled with Linghe's background, they still obtained such qualifications.

For films like "Crocodile" and "Housewife", Linghe does not pursue theater scheduling at all, nor does it do large-scale promotion. No popular variety shows, no splash screen ads, none of them. Even outdoor advertising is pushed very little.

Linghe spent almost all its promotional budget on media platforms where literary youths gather, such as "Jump Up" and Ye Mai Net, and then invited reading bloggers, film bloggers, and literary bloggers with large followings on various platforms to watch the films and communicate with the creators.

Under this promotional model, they achieved the most cost-effective results with the least budget.

Although in the eyes of other film companies, these two films were flops, even if they made a profit, it was so meager.

Chen Yin doesn't care what they say, nor does he care if such numbers look bad in the financial report.

Not at all.

Lu Yanhe doesn't care, the company isn't listed, doesn't accept investment from others, and there are no random directors pointing fingers.

Chen Yin feels that this work is incredibly energetic and valuable.

Including many people in the company, they are all very enthusiastic about doing this work.

Still the same saying, for a big project, everyone can follow along to get a sip of soup, but for a bunch of small projects, everyone can see the hope of being on their own.

The carrot hanging in front of the mule is not without meaning.

By the end of March, Lu Yanhe finally reappeared in front of everyone.

This time it was the Honghe Awards ceremony.

Lu Yanhe, as an award presenter, presented the award for Best Actress.

Having disappeared for almost a month, his appearance was quite lively.

After entering the inner venue, almost everyone came to greet him.

Including Li Yuefeng, who was nominated for Best Actor this year, also came.

Li Yuefeng's career has developed very well in recent years, with popularity, buzz, and nominations for awards.

Back then, when Lu Yanhe first met Li Yuefeng, he was an actor who was quite popular but hadn't established a firm footing. Now, he is firmly in the first tier domestically, and his achievements in all aspects are no worse than other first-tier actors.

Last year, he took on a serious drama, which aired on CCTV and had high ratings. Relying on this serious drama, Li Yuefeng received this year's nomination.

Just don't know if he can win the award this year.

Li Yuefeng said: "Really didn't expect you to come today."

Lu Yanhe: "I went to rest for a while some time ago, I had already promised them about the Honghe Awards, I couldn't not come."

Li Yuefeng: "I found that the ancients did not deceive me."

"What the hell? How did the ancients not deceive you again?"

"Since knowing you, not only did I start acting in movies, my acting skills improved, the scripts and roles I played became richer, my vision also improved. After watching the movie 'Crocodile', I specifically sent a review to my acting coach." Li Yuefeng said, "If it weren't for this, maybe I would still be thinking every day about how to make myself handsome, attract fans, and maintain high popularity. The ancients did not deceive me, one who stays near vermilion gets stained red."

"Oh my god, can you not do this, I really have goosebumps." Lu Yanhe laughed and scolded.

Li Yuefeng: "I'm telling you the truth, you have goosebumps, you have lost the ability to feel sincerity at all."

Lu Yanhe: "... I can't stand it."

"Sigh, it's really been a few years of playing several roles I've never encountered before." He said, "Popularity or whatever, I don't care that much now, I increasingly want to play a role that makes me act to my heart's content. Now if you ask me to just act handsome or sell muscles, tsk, boring."

Lu Yanhe: "... Don't tell me, go tell someone else."

"What should I tell others." Li Yuefeng shook his head, "Tell others, they don't understand shit."

Lu Yanhe: "I haven't even watched the TV series you acted in this time."

"You have to go watch it, I've never acted as a lawyer so seriously." Li Yuefeng said, "Oh my god, I even specifically went to a law firm to experience it for two weeks, didn't expect that, right? I didn't even expect it myself."

"Then I will definitely go watch your show later."

"You just need to watch my Cut clips, no need to watch others." Li Yuefeng said immediately, "There are quite a few acting powerhouses in this show. If you watch others, don't give my role to someone else later, I don't want to find competitors for myself."

"Forget it, you and your competitors, now everyone else is competing with you."

"Forget it, you ask me to act, which time have I not overcome all difficulties to clear my schedule, I must act. You can ignore other film companies competing with me, do you need to compete with me?" Li Yuefeng said, "You are like the emperor in ancient times flipping a tablet, whoever's tablet is flipped, they obediently come to serve."

"Shut up, the more you say, the more outrageous it gets." Lu Yanhe was speechless.

Li Yuefeng laughed.

However, it is a pity that this year's Honghe Awards Best Actor did not go to Li Yuefeng.

The one who took Best Actor was He Man, the lead actor of "White Doctor" directed by Luo Yuzhong.

A powerhouse actor who has been acting for over twenty years, winning an award for the first time.

He Man cried with excitement on stage.

And Best Actress was won again by Wan Xin, who had won Best Actress a few years ago.

Second win.

This year there were no stories of young actors rising to the top, the winners were all powerhouse actors aged 40+ and 50+.

After the awards ceremony, Lu Yanhe and Li Yuefeng met again backstage.

He asked Li Yuefeng: "Not feeling bad, right?"

"Not bad, I knew I probably wouldn't win." Li Yuefeng said, "It's not bad to be nominated, I'm very satisfied."

Lu Yanhe laughed.

"Waiting for you to win next time."

Li Yuefeng winked at Lu Yanhe.

"Then you write me a script, and I'll win."

Lu Yanhe: "..."

Lu Yanhe said: "Let's see the performance of 'Corpse Image' and 'My Sassy Girl'."

Li Yuefeng: "I'm starring, do you still need to worry about performance? Definitely box office hit, profitable!"

"Corpse Image" has indeed started promotional warm-up.

This crime thriller movie will be released during the Qingming Festival.

This is a low-budget movie produced by Linghe, with a production budget of 12 million, and Linghe took another 10 million for promotion, with a total cost of 22 million.

According to the conventional calculation formula, this movie needs to get 66 million at the box office to be profitable.

However, Linghe's movies don't rely solely on theaters to recover costs.

Television broadcast rights, from CCTV to Yuehu TV, the broadcast rights for the first three rounds have already been sold, totaling 6 million RMB.

Overseas distribution rights have already been sold to six markets: the United States, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. Although it's not a buyout, the guarantee price is relatively low, totaling 3.5 million USD in income, which is nearly 25 million RMB just from this. The overseas distribution guarantee money already sold has already recovered the cost and started making a profit.

"So, doing business, you still have to expand the market, you can't just rely on one tree to bear fruit."

How attentive is Li Yuefeng to this movie? Not only is the promotional schedule arranged by Linghe itself, but his cooperation is extremely high.

He also used a lot of his own connections and resources, including the shooting of two fashion magazines, which were specifically done around the theme of "Corpse Image".

The box office pre-sale numbers for "Corpse Image" are very beautiful, not even April yet, and the pre-sale has already exceeded 10 million.

The distributor of "Corpse Image" in North America is not Green Valley, but D19.

Because D19 is top-tier in the industry for horror thrillers, Xu Tianming believes that handing "Corpse Image" to D19 is more secure.

D19 is also very capable. After missing "Buried", they specifically invited top voice actors to dub "Corpse Image" and arranged a promotional event at a comic con.

In North America, comic con is a promotional window with very high exposure.

Li Yuefeng and others don't have much fame in North America.

However, D19 is also good at creating gimmicks, describing him as "an actor of the same level as Lu Yanhe, Li Zhibai, and Yan Liang in China", and describing "Corpse Image" as "another Chinese-style thriller movie after 'Buried'".

And for this kind of movie, whether the movie is famous or not is not that important.

After all, many horror movie lovers have heard of "Mermaid in a Manhole", how many people watched it because it starred a certain actor?

The biggest feature of Hollywood movie promotion lies here. They know very well which actors really have box office appeal, so they need to highlight them in the promotion, while the promotion participated in by other actors is to highlight a certain feature or quality of the movie, not the actor themselves.

This is also what Lu Yanhe now requires Linghe to pay attention to when doing film and television promotion.

Must, must not take stars as the end point of promotion, stars are always the medium of promotion, not the promotional content itself.

The majority of people who watch a play are the silent majority who don't care about stars.

The general public is the key.

"Corpse Image", this small and medium-budget movie, because the release time is basically the same, has also started a global promotion model.

Doing this actually has a benefit, which is that it can save promotional expenses.

Distributors in each market can use promotional elements from other markets to save a lot of manpower, material resources, and money.

After Li Yuefeng finished his promotion in the US, he didn't return to China, but went directly to Japan.

Japan is also a big market for thriller movie box office.

In Japan, Jump Up helped him contact a cover shoot for a very famous horror thriller magazine in Japan.

Besides that, Li Yuefeng also appeared at a comic con in Japan, in the image of the movie character, signing and selling movie posters—

He still has fame and fans in Japan.

"Why do I feel that the movie 'Corpse Image' can still achieve a high box office in the global market?"

Privately, Mrs. Huang said to Huang Zhongjing.

Huang Zhongjing said: "Linghe has now laid out global channels, especially since every movie they make now can be released in several overseas markets together with domestic ones, concentrated promotion, a small and medium-budget movie can create the posture of a blockbuster, how to compare, no way to compare."

Mrs. Huang: "Sigh, movies worked so hard on for so long, not as big as someone else's two or three years of work."

Huang Zhongjing: "His vision and pattern are indeed bigger, he dares to do it." (End of chapter)