Chapter 631

Co-productions are fundamentally different from imported films and can avoid many policy risks.

For example, physical reviews, tariffs, and such nonsense—the Americans are always playing this game.

But if it's a co-production, it's already been reviewed from the start, even before filming begins; imported films require review only after completion, when you want to enter another country's market.

Whether it gets in is up to them—you must make changes or cuts as demanded, or don't enter at all.

Moreover, co-productions enjoy high revenue-sharing terms, with both sides benefiting, since they're treated as local films in both countries.

Previously, when we made The Martian, we thought and rethought, changed and rechanged, even made a special version, all to avoid offending any country's culture.

Also, for awards, both sides can compete in their own domestic awards—Golden Rooster Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Huabiao Awards Awards, Oscars, and so on.

Fundamentally, the United States has no concept of co-productions, but it does have the concept of local films.

Local films naturally enjoy their global distribution network and can be released simultaneously worldwide—this is also one reason to be based in the United States.

The Martian didn't have a global simultaneous release; instead, it rolled out by time zone and region at different times—some days apart, some a week apart.

There's no way around it—imported films must be reviewed by them.

Many things hinge on political factors; everything requires national strength—if you're not strong, talking more is just empty words.

As Jiang Wen said, first get the aircraft carrier right; when our aircraft carrier can sail to someone else's doorstep, that's when our films will rule the world.

American movies are often terrible, yet the whole world accepts them because they have aircraft carriers as backing.

Any form of output requires powerful political force as backing—that's a fact.

The Martian's major stakeholders have mostly reached an agreement—roughly a hundred million U. S. dollars in budget, just the initial amount; more will be added if needed.

The behind-the-scenes team is mostly Chinese; Universal provides funding and technical support, plus two well-known Hollywood actors.

After all, this film will be shot domestically, not overseas, because China already has places resembling "alien surfaces."

In the Western Regions' deserts and wastelands, there are countless towering rock pillars and gullies, along with reddish-brown sandstone.

And wind-eroded rock pillars and castle-like landforms closely resemble the Martian surface.

Although the scenery resembles an alien world, these areas are No Man's Land—feeding, housing, transporting, and managing thousands of crew members will be extremely difficult.

So we must communicate with local governments in advance; without their help, many things simply can't be done.

Also, the weather is harsh—without safety officers, you won't know when a sandstorm will hit or what to do when it does.

Moreover, the place is said to have extreme day-night temperature differences—shorts during the day, coats at night, very hard to endure.

When the local authorities in the Western Regions heard the Principal wanted to shoot a film here and drop hundreds of millions, they immediately went on high alert to arrange support, as long as they provided guarantees.

They dispatched personnel to help find suitable filming locations and arrange material logistics.

The Martian will begin shooting in September, just as autumn arrives, avoiding the hottest desert days and finishing before the coldest winter.

Many things for this film were already prepared in advance; Jiang Zhiqiang's job is merely to coordinate and manage.

In short, he solves problems—communication and coordination issues, external political issues, publicity and promotion issues.

The Martian's core team of over a thousand people hold meetings big and small to ensure the project proceeds smoothly and stays on schedule.

On August 25, Liu Tianxian's fans routinely celebrated her birthday, as they do every year—fans across the country placed posters, sent flowers, decorated the scenes warmly and romantically, then posted photos online to wish her well.

Online, photos from countless fan groups celebrating her birthday flooded everywhere—this day is memorable and a gathering point for Liu Tianxian's fans.

Of course, some fans specifically went to Liu Tianxian's Weibo to wish her "Happy Birthday!"

But none of this stirred any waves—fans celebrating her birthday remained confined within their own circle.

Passersby glanced briefly and showed no reaction.

Then, at this moment, several reports appeared online, and soon more and more followed.

"Exclusive! Liu Tianxian and the Principal spotted enjoying themselves at Ocean Park Hong Kong—long hair, sunglasses, black outfit, extraordinary aura!"

"Shocking! Liu Tianxian spotted sightseeing in Hong Kong—wearing a black hoodie, relaxed and casual! Intimate with the Principal!"

"Laughed to tears—Hong Kong MTR reports Liu Tianxian and the Principal biting fingers during their outing."

"The 'biting fingers' moment captured! Liu Tianxian: Do I have no dignity?"

Suddenly, these headlines paired with a few photos filled every corner of the internet, pushing their appearance in Hong Kong to trending status.

The top trending topic was still "Liu Tianxian biting fingers"—this gesture and these images were both adorable and carefree, and netizens loved them.

Many photos of the two were taken by bystanders: walking down the street side by side, talking and laughing;

also, both watching golden snub-nosed monkeys at Ocean Park, Liu Tianxian looking at Fang Hong as he pointed at something distant.

Of course, there were also solo photos of Liu Tianxian—the biting-fingers ones.

In every photo, Liu Tianxian had long hair flowing over her shoulders, black sunglasses, and a black hoodie, with extraordinary aura.

Both looked relaxed and casual, as if they didn't mind being photographed or others' gazes—just enjoying themselves.

"Hmph! These two really—going to Hong Kong without taking me along!"

"If you came along, you'd be a giant light bulb—how could they be romantic?"

"After all this time, they finally showed up."

"Finally saw them together again—how long has it been?"

"They're so cute together—I hope they stay together long-term, don't divorce in two years."

"Yes, wish them well."

"A great beauty stands out instantly in a crowd."

"Not many people around—if there were, they'd be surrounded!"

"Happy birthday, Xixi!"

"Principal, please take good care of my Xixi."

Their affair drew massive online attention from fans and netizens alike—with comments ranging from blessings to birthday wishes for Liu Tianxian.

Of course, some were heartbroken—the Principal had stolen their goddess away.

The reason this sparked such massive attention is that this was their first public appearance since marriage and their first reunion in a long time.

So for a time its popularity was unprecedented, making it one of the hottest topics on the internet.

Of course, no matter how hot it got, it still wasn't as hot as the recent feud between Xiao Wang and Mango TV, with both sides trading insults back and forth until the General Administration had to step in.

Here's what happened: Mango TV has a reality show called "Up Idol," which invited well-known veteran actresses like Lin Qingxia, Zhu Yin, and Cai Shaofen to participate.

After the show aired, viewers questioned that its segment design was very similar to the South Korean variety show "Heroes."

The guest groupings, interaction modes, and so on were all strikingly similar.

So Xiao Wang, who calls himself the "Discipline Inspection Secretary of the Entertainment Circle," reposted media reports blasting "Up Idol" for plagiarism, and posted: "They really can't even copy properly."

He also mocked Mango TV for loving to plagiarize and rehash old content.

He even used the term "copyright cancer" to criticize domestic TV stations for lacking originality — such a broad attack hit a wide target.

But netizens love watching catfights, so for a while it was quite the spectacle.

Then a deputy director surnamed Tang from Mango TV, the person in charge of the Propaganda Department, posted on Weibo to fire back: "Whether it's good or bad, right or wrong, it's not for you to decide! Beauty surrounded by ugliness and evil only shines brighter! Let the bickering and hype get lost! Go home and tend your own little plot of land! Stop being a burden to your father!"

Who is Xiao Wang? This was clearly pointing at his nose and cursing him — he certainly couldn't take that, and fired back quickly: "Has your station developed a sense of superiority from copying? Even your response is this low-level."

The two trading insults naturally escalated the situation, landing on the hot search and drawing flocks of media reports and interviews.

That surnamed Tang person faced the media and continued the attack: "Chinese variety shows need room to grow. Borrowing isn't the same as plagiarizing. Some people stand around talking without feeling the strain, contributing nothing constructive to the industry."

Xiao Wang kept attacking: "From 'Dad Where Are We Going' to 'Up Idol,' which show actually bought the original rights? If you bought the rights, admit it — don't be a hypocrite. That surnamed Tang person: stop whitewashing plagiarism, your professional ethics are questionable!"

Mango TV then stepped in to shield their own, personally attacking: "Mind your own little plot of land!"

Meaning: none of your damn business, we copied and that's that.

Netizens were also sharply divided — those siding with Xiao Wang felt he had exposed the industry's chaos and protected copyright, especially singling out the Satellite TV executives' "shielding their own" behavior.

Those supporting Mango TV felt Xiao Wang was applying double standards, because his family's Wanda business had previously been embroiled in copyright disputes too.

Wanda got dragged into a copyright dispute because Nanchang Wanda Park was accused of plagiarizing Disney.

Also, after Wanda acquired the Swiss Infront Sports & Media Group, the football and Winter Olympics event rights this company represented had triggered contract disputes.

Anyway, there have been a lot of copyright disputes lately — seems like they were premeditated, all exploding in just the past few years.

It's perfectly normal: capital is heavily laying out content copyrights. You lay out, I lay out. You don't have it, I do, so we start restricting each other — conflict naturally follows.

This is also, in another form, starting to block the road, preventing latecomers from rising through content.

Because once copyright prices go up, the barrier to entry in content rises too. If you want to start your own video platform, talk to me after you can afford the copyrights.

In his past life, Douyin was able to rise later because users created their own content — and even then there were plenty of copyright disputes.

The copyright war is surging beneath the surface in every field. Fang Hong didn't want to fight either; he wanted to live an ordinary life. But there was no choice — being in the game, he had to respond early.

People always say he has many enemies and makes enemies everywhere. It's been ages since he went after anyone — did those capitalists back off? No, they kept going at each other just the same.

Would retreating to a quiet corner bring peace?

No. In the early days of a dynasty, unification is the trend — it's in the bones. Only when expansion can go no further will everyone finally settle down.

Xiao Wang and Mango TV's uproar pushed this matter to the forefront in an instant. The General Administration stepped in, demanding that all Satellite TV stations clearly mark the source of program copyrights.

This is yet another incident pushing copyright regulation forward!

But "Dad Where Are We Going" was authorized by Jade Rabbit, which drew netizens' attention to Jade Rabbit — that is, the Principal.

"The Principal is a repeat offender." That's exactly how Xiao Wang posted about him on Weibo.

You could say Xiao Wang is outrageously arrogant. Before, his old man was furiously attacked by the Principal, and now he's rushing up to cause trouble again.

But it seems the Principal never bothered with this person, never once responded — as if he utterly disdained him.

Still, a Jade Rabbit spokesperson came out to clarify: "The rights to 'Dad Where Are We Going' were purchased through legal channels; there is no plagiarism."

One can ignore Xiao Wang, but the General Administration's requirement to mark sources must be followed.

(End of this chapter)