Chapter 315: with translation of chapter title

Perhaps because Jiang Heng helped with promotion, Let the Bullets Fly was very popular.

Mainland box office exceeded 800 million yuan, achieving a good result of 868 million yuan.

Apart from Jiang Heng's works, after Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, it became another box-office hit.

This news was a huge stimulus to the mainland film market.

Because Let the Bullets Fly is a 2D film, not a special-effects blockbuster.

Doesn't that mean a 3D film with a great story could hope to break the one‑billion‑yuan box office? Plus overseas rights and profit sharing, even a larger investment could be recouped, and might even bring a big profit.

For a time, hot money surged through the Chinese‑language entertainment circle.

Actually, after Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons was released in May of the first half of the year, capital already intended to invest in the film market.

But after an investigation, they found there was no chance to participate in Jiang Heng's works.

As for Zhou Xingxing, he's not exactly a good collaborator.

As for other directors, either their previous works didn't do well at the box office, or they have a record of failure.

Let the Bullets Fly is different; its director Jiang Wen previously made artistic films, box office wasn't his forte, and he even had the experience of being banned from directing for five years.

Just achieving over 800 million yuan in box office from that is truly astonishing.

Moreover, with the 3D concept currently hot, many investors and film people naturally think that as long as they make a decent‑looking 3D blockbuster, they will surely make a huge profit.

Thus, during this period, major investors in the Chinese‑language entertainment circle have been contacting various directors, hoping to produce a blockbuster.

The first to announce the project was Thus output: Chen Kaige, in cooperation with Shanghai Film Group and D Guang Chuan Media Industry.

Actually, long before, Director Chen had already negotiated with Shanghai Film Group, and the screenplay was naturally written long ago.

But Shanghai Film Group feared Thus output: Chen Kaige might again exhibit 'abnormal behavior', so they delayed making a decision.

Seeing that even someone like Jiang Wen, a 'box‑office poison', could turn things around, they finally dared to make a decisive bet.

Thus output: Chen Kaige was naturally excited, and when facing the media he said the film would release a 3D version.

But in fact he did not want to release a 3D version, mainly because he didn't know how to shoot it.

However, in recent years no capital wanted to work with him, so to be able to direct a big production he reluctantly agreed to the producer's demands.

Fortunately, the producer had no intention of letting Thus output: Chen Kaige shoot a 3D film, saying he had already consulted overseas post‑production companies.

They could convert the 2D version to 3D in post‑production, the cost wouldn't be high, yet the box office would bring in much more money.

Thus output: Chen Kaige was displeased upon hearing this, saying if the converted 3D effect is poor, isn't that ruining my reputation? The producer, hearing this, was dumbfounded, thinking, 'You made Wuji into that mess, and you still have the nerve to mention reputation?'

Naturally such words couldn't be said, but after some persuasion Thus output: Chen Kaige reluctantly agreed.

Then came the project's approval and casting…

The second is Liu Weiqiang, who plans to make the film Wind and Cloud 2.

After the box‑office failure of The Investiture of the Gods, Liu Weiqiang felt depressed for a while, and logically he shouldn't be able to get a big‑project assignment in the short term.

But now that 3D films are hot, Hong Kong and Taiwan capital are very eager.

Jiang Heng's side couldn't participate either, so naturally they thought of making a film themselves.

After considering various subjects, they still thought Wind and Cloud was not bad. The 1998 film Wind and Cloud: Dominating the World, once released, became the yearly box office champion.

If it weren't for the decline of Hong Kong films and the market collapse, a sequel would have come out long ago.

Now the mainland film market is hot, and with the addition of a '3D' gimmick, it can be said to have instantly stirred the thoughts of all the Hong Kong film people.

The quickest was Wang Jing, the fat Wang Jing; shortly after The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven premiered, he rushed to the capital, sincerely and earnestly asking Jiang Heng how to shoot a 3D film.

Jiang Heng was not stingy; he briefly outlined the general process.

Wang Jing then asked, 'Is there any way to save money? You know, I'm afraid I can't afford a huge investment!' Jiang Heng laughed, roughly understanding what this guy was thinking.

Yet he didn't hide anything, and explained the method of converting the 2D version in post‑production.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jing was overjoyed, thanked him profusely, and then ran off.

Yuan De saw this and laughed, saying, 'That dead fat guy surely isn't holding back a good fart!'

Yuan Hua said, 'However, he does have a knack for shooting beautiful women; if he really made a beautiful‑woman 3D film, it would be a benefit for the audience!'

Yuan De said: 'Now that Hong Kong films have declined, I'm afraid suitable actors can't be found!'

Yuan Hua sighed, 'Indeed, it's not like before!'

Besides this, the producer of the originally scheduled Spring Festival release Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Heavenly Capital, Huayi Company, told the media that it had spent heavily to convert the film to 3D, and would release a 3D version whose visual effects would not be inferior to The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven, attracting widespread media attention.

In the top floor of the Outstanding Rising Film Company building, in Jiang Heng's office, Yu Dong held a cigar, pointed at the newspaper news and said: 'The Wang brothers really can brag, even putting themselves on par with The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven—how much money have we spent, and how much have they spent? They truly aren't afraid of being exposed and losing face!'

Jiang Heng laughed: 'Promotion is essentially just bragging; getting the box office by deceit is the true way!'

Yu Dong heard this, was stunned for a moment, then laughed: 'Indeed that's so, but ours are all solid, with little exaggeration!'

In Yu Dong's view, Broad Sodium Film Industry's promotion is truly down‑to‑earth, basically saying exactly what there is.

For example, the upcoming The Legion of Heroes is naturally also a post‑production 3D conversion; not long ago they just held an internal screening, which truly left many company executives stunned.

Because in their view, the film's 3D effect seems not much worse than that of The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven.

If one focuses on the plot and doesn't compare too carefully, one might even feel that there isn't much difference.

From this angle, Broad Sodium Film Industry says that The Legion of Heroes' 3D effects are comparable to The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven, and there is nothing wrong with that.

One could even be more exaggerated and say it surpasses The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven! But Jiang Heng does not approve of such exaggeration; such promotional talk was therefore rejected! What standing does Huayi have to dare use the same promotional tone as them?

"It's a pity they're not releasing in the same window as us; otherwise we'd definitely crush them!" Yu Dong said with some regret.

Jiang Heng laughed: 'The audience's eyes are sharp; if you deceive them too often they'll remember. Before, people looked for big films and trusted Outstanding Rising Film Company; in the future, it'll be the same!'

Speaking of another timeline, after Avatar sparked the 3D film craze, the market was flooded with many 'fake 3D' movies, quickly ruining the reputation of 3D.

Jiang Heng naturally cannot go along with them; he must continue to produce quality works so that the audience's first thought when they think of 3D is Jiang Heng and Outstanding Rising Film Company!

Building such a brand and reputation can save a lot of promotion costs and bring in a lot of box office revenue.

After chatting a bit, Yu Dong remarked about the upcoming premiere of The Legion of Heroes: 'When The Monkey King's Havoc in Heaven was released, the premiere held in the cinema was really too rushed, and it bears no relation to its later achievement of ranking first in global box office.'

This time, holding it at the Olympic venue, I believe The Legion of Heroes' results will also not be too bad!

(End of chapter)