Chapter 55: with translation of chapter title

-> translation from 【4】: "At the end of 1999, the Xianggang film scene, box office remained very sluggish."

Translate: "At the end of 1999, the Xianggang film scene, box office remained very sluggish."

-> translation from its own guidance: same as above.

-> translation from 【9】: "Films released in the Lunar New Year slot, the best-performing 《Blazing War Chariot 2》 had only over 15 million."

Translate: "Among the Lunar New Year film releases, the best-performing 《Blazing War Chariot 2》 had only over 15 million."

Guidance line.

Guidance line (starts with "Thus line 2:").

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Conversely, the Spring Festival slot after the New Year, Andy Lau earned over 35 million box office with 《Lonely Men and Women》."

Guidance line.

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Guidance line.

Guidance line.

Thus line: "That year, the former Xianggang film scene box office hegemon 'Double Week One Cheng', all withdrew from the Xianggang Spring Festival slot, seemingly heralding the end of an era."

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng's side, naturally chose to release in the Spring Festival slot."

Chinese line.

Translate: "This version of 《A Man's True Colors》 has decent action, with current popular star Wu Yanzu, and Jiang Heng also took on the producer credit; expecting a box office of ten to twenty million is certainly possible."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "As for the mainland, they chose to release in the Lunar New Year slot, still handled by Broad Sodium Film Industry for distribution."

Chinese line.

Translate: "The original film grossed 34 million in mainland China in 2007; this time, with current star Wu Yanzu and Jiang Heng, the big director of commercial films as producer, considering ticket price and inflation factors, Jiang Heng felt the box office would surely reach around thirty million."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Selling the rights to Japan-Korea, Southeast Asia, and Treasure Island would also bring a small profit easily."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Broad Sodium Company, after Yu Dong looked at the sample footage, he gazed at Jiang Heng in considerable surprise."

Guidance line.

Chinese line (with quotes).

Guidance line.

Thus line: "This film is not bad, the action scenes are very exciting, especially Wu Jing; I really couldn't tell, his baby face playing a villain is still quite impressive!"

We need to keep the exclamation and quotes.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng laughed, 'Of course it's not bad, what did you mean by that look just now?'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "I heard that when you went abroad, you left the storyboard and script, and Hong Jinbao almost just filmed exactly according to it; I thought the effect would be ordinary, but I never expected it to be this good—you're practically catching up to Zhuge Liang's Stratagems!"

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng was speechless, and after a moment said, 'What are you even talking about?!'"

Chinese line.

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Yu Dong laughed, 'I've been doing Hong Kong film distribution for so long, how could I not have a few Xianggang friends! Let me tell you, I've already gone to talk to Xiang Huaxi's side, preparing to distribute their 《Legend of Shu Mountain》!'"

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng jumped in surprise, hurriedly asking, 'Did you settle it?!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "Yu Dong said proudly, 'Of course!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "'Profit sharing or outright purchase?'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong said regretfully, 'I would have liked to buy it outright, but they won't sell; they insist on profit-sharing distribution.'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng let out a breath of relief, 'That's good, that's good!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "Although he is a major shareholder, he usually doesn't bother with Broad Sodium Film Industry's affairs, and he almost neglected it."

Chinese line.

Translate: "If we were to spend heavily to buy the mainland distribution rights for 《Legend of Shu Mountain》, we'd end up being the big sucker!"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong, seeing this, wondered, 'How, what's wrong with 《Legend of Shu Mountain》?'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng said, 'That person Xu Lao Guai likes to slip in private agendas when filming. His 《Legend of Shu Mountain》 has a grand conception, many characters, and relentlessly pursues special effects visuals!'"

Guidance line.

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong murmured, 'Grand conception, many characters, and relentlessly pursuing special effects visuals!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "He then looked toward Jiang Heng."

Chinese line.

Translate: "'What do you mean by looking at me?'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng, somewhat dazed by his stare, then realized, 'You mean 《Lion Camel Ridge》 has a grand conception, many characters, and relentlessly pursues special effects visuals?'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong quickly waved his hands, 'No, no, I didn't say that!'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng snorted, 'Although you didn't say it, I understand the meaning!'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong smiled helplessly, without explaining."

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng naturally has confidence in his own film; the plot is slightly weaker, but in terms of special effects visuals, if not limited by 'on‑paper production costs,' he could whip up a film whose visual effects surpass 《Avatar》 in a split second!"

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Actually, what you're thinking about isn't important at all; do you know what the crux of the problem is?"

Chinese line.

Translate: "'What is it?'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "'It's to find the key problem!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "Yu Dong was somewhat dazed; what he said, what I just heard, how each word is clear, yet I'm still confused!"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng, seeing that, also stopped talking about 'nonsense literature'."

Guidance line.

Translate: "He directly said, 'The key is getting past the review!'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "'Yo, hearing you say that, the problem is not small!'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "'That's right! Your extensive connections and ideas let the film pass review smoothly.'"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Yu Dong said, 'No problem, I'll try first; if it doesn't work, I'll have to ask Han San Ye, who is now the 'sect leader' of China Film, and his influence is not ordinary!'"

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Jiang Heng nodded slightly, thinking to himself, 'Since coming to the mainland, I've proactively cooperated with Han San Ye; isn't that exactly what I'm after?!'"

Chinese line.

Translate: "If it weren't for the Beijing Film Factory about to merge into China Film, with Han Sanping not wanting any mistakes, this film might have been a joint production."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "As for now, there are both pros and cons."

Guidance line.

Translate: "The good is that all revenue belongs entirely to oneself; the bad is that it might be cut down to bits and pieces."

Guidance line.

Translate: "And every cut cut off is box office!"

Chinese line.

Translate: "《Lion Camel Ridge》 is still in the 'post‑production' stage, not rushing into operation; 《A Man's True Colors》 is a standard Hong Kong cop‑action film, with nothing overly out‑of‑the‑ordinary in content. After submitting for review, cutting two cuts and making some changes would earn the Dragon Standard, after which Broad Sodium Film Industry began large‑scale promotional activities."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Speaking of the mainland's 1999 Lunar New Year slot, there wasn't a single strong contender."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Originally, the Lunar New Year film director Feng Xiaogang, after finishing his trilogy, filmed the 《A Sigh》 he had long wanted to make, which only premiered in September 2000."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "In 2000, however, there was an excellent work 《Life and Death Choice》 that grossed over 100 million, a rare major anti‑corruption drama, with a box office of 116 million."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "Naturally, this film could achieve such high box office only because of 'buy‑out' screenings, which almost monopolized the entire summer."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "If 《Lion Camel Ridge》 were released at the same time, it would definitely be affected; otherwise, we might have to move its release window forward!"

Guidance line.

Translate: "Speaking of this year's Lunar New Year slot, there are still good films, such as 《Happy Times》 directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Benz Da Shu (the nickname?), a very warm‑hearted film; the blind girl played by Dong Jie is gentle and kind, truly moving."

Guidance line.

Guidance line.

Thus line: "Speaking of this year's Lunar New Year slot, there are still good films, such as 《Happy Times》 directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Ben Da Shu, a very warm‑hearted film; the blind girl played by Dong Jie is gentle and kind, truly moving."

Guidance line.

Translate: "However, such warm‑hearted films generally don't achieve high box office."

Guidance line.

Translate: "《Happy Times》 is no exception, earning only over five million in box office, hardly affecting 《A Man's True Colors》."

Chinese line.

Translate: "Speaking of the week before the film's release, Broad Sodium Film Industry held a premiere, with Jiang Heng leading Hong Jinbao and the main crew to the auditorium."

Guidance line.

Chinese line.

Translate: "After watching the film clips and entering the Q&A session, once Jiang Heng finished speaking, the reporters' questions were all about the plot of 《Lion Camel Ridge》."

Chinese line.

Translate: "In their view, 《A Man's True Colors》 is just a rather clichéd Hong Kong‑produced cop‑action film; they couldn't imagine any novelty, and the 《Lion Camel Ridge》 backed by a fifty‑million‑dollar investment is far more worth looking forward to."

Guidance line.

Jiang Heng, can you tell me the scheduled release time for 'Shituo Ridge'?

「Director Jiang, how would you rate the film Lion Camel Mountain? Can it surpass the previous The Matrix and 10,000 BC? 」

「Director Jiang!! 」

Jiang Heng's head was buzzing from the questioning, and he felt that if he didn't let the group in on a little, these people wouldn't just let it rest!

So he said: 「Lion Camel Mountain is tentatively set for release on May Day! 」

(End of chapter)