Chapter 38: Setting the Release Schedule

Han Sanping wants stability, so Jiang Heng naturally won't force it.

He actually doesn't lack collaborators at all, nor filming funds, and he's not afraid of risk.

The only reason for cooperating is to broaden his network and influence in the Neidi film market, trying to make himself appear more normal.

After all, most big‑budget films are co‑produced and financed by multiple companies.

Jiang Heng's Outstanding Rising Film Company is just a small workshop; if it invested independently every time and always scored blockbuster box office, that would be too odd.

But he has already collaborated once with Beijing Film Studio; this time, because the content is sensitive, he doesn't want interference, so independent production is fine.

Since the conversation reached that point, it's not easy to continue discussing.

Jiang Heng said directly, "By the way, what do you think about the release window?"

Han Sanping has also been pondering this; at the end of 1998, the New Year slot had two films with the greatest box‑office potential, both produced by Beijing Film Studio.

In the still‑sluggish Neidi film market of 1998, Han Sanping, proud of such achievements, looked across domestic film studios and wondered who could match Beijing Film Studio.

One worry is that his own film has to compete in the New Year slot, and no one can give up their slot; that's really frustrating.

Prehistoric One Hundred Million Years can't be pulled from the New Year slot because it needs solid box‑office numbers to boost its worldwide release.

And the China Film‑produced, directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Ge You, No Meet No Parting, can't be withdrawn from the New Year slot, purely because of its genre.

Without the New Year atmosphere, No Meet No Parting would find it difficult to achieve outstanding box‑office results.

As for Xianggang, it already has one, but the Neidi "Spring Festival slot" that will take many more years to emerge would have hardly any box‑office results.

Why? According to Jiang Heng's analysis, Xianggang doesn't have the Spring travel rush; citizens spend the lively New Year festivities watching movies for entertainment.

Neidi is different: first, the annual Spring travel rush home or away consumes a lot of time. Moreover, in 1998 the familial atmosphere was still strong, and the New Year period was spent visiting relatives and friends, leaving no time for movies.

Unlike the year before his rebirth, when people grew increasingly indifferent to family ties, not even sending New Year messages.

After the first day's breakfast on the first day of the lunar year, it feels like the year is already over.

Except for especially important or nearby connections, people are too lazy to visit each other; watching movies in idle time is a good choice, but there aren't as many good films as before.

Therefore, in this Neidi market, the best window is only one: the New Year slot.

"Both of your films must be released in the New Year slot, with only a week between them; fortunately the genres differ, so competition isn't that fierce. The current main issue is, who goes first!" Han Sanping thought for a while, then finally said.

Jiang Heng flipped through the desk calendar and said, "Let me go first. Prehistoric One Hundred Million Years is more famous than No Meet No Parting, so releasing it earlier will quickly boost the hype. Then you can promote, saying Ge You is this year's New Year king, starring in two blockbusters. Those who saw Prehistoric One Hundred Million Years will also be interested in No Meet No Parting."

Han Sanping nodded, thinking the idea was good.

"Alright, then, is that settled?"

"It's settled, I pick the 12th and the 18th!"

Han Sanping flipped the calendar a few more times, "Fine, the 18th—Saving Private Ryan is already a month old, it won't have any impact!"

In the 1998 Neidi film market, the annual box‑office champion was Titanic, with 360 million yuan.

The runner‑up was The Matrix, with 143 million yuan.

The third place was the currently screening Saving Private Ryan, with a historic box office of 82.3 million yuan.

Because of that film's release, cinemas have been bustling since November, serving as a warm‑up for this year's New Year slot.

Inside a tea house near Huayi Company, Feng Xiaogang was chatting idly with brothers Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei, picking up his cellphone and mumbling a few words before hanging up.

Wang Zhongjun asked, "Is the release window set?"

Feng Xiaogang put down the cellphone, "It's set; this time it's Christmas!"

"Great, this time it'll bring three to four hundred million!" Wang Zhonglei exclaimed delightedly.

Feng Xiaogang felt a bit proud yet restrained, "It's nothing; we can't compare to other big‑budget effects blockbusters!"

"I heard that film wasn't shot very well,"

Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei, both children of the big courtyard and entertainment‑industry insiders, have many friends at Beijing Film Studio, some of whom joined them for a test screening.

Wang Zhonglei laughed, "I also heard the plot is so terrible it's indescribable; that kid has truly run out of talent!"

Feng Xiaogang said, "Monster movies are like that; good stories are rare, but I heard the effects are indeed spectacular!"

Wang Zhongjun wasn't embarrassed either and continued the previous topic, discussing film preparation.

Feng Xiaogang's first two New Year films, Party A Party B and No Meet No Parting, were co‑produced by Beijing Film Studio and Zijin Cheng Film.

When it came to the third film, Feng Xiaogang originally wanted to shoot A Sigh, but when reporting to the film bureau, they suggested that a New Year film should be a trilogy!

Feng Xiaogang, reluctantly, only wrote the script for Endless.

The film's plot came from a joke at the dinner table; everyone joked that Ge You was like Ge Langtai, overly stingy, which became the prototype for the character Ruan Dawei played by Fu Fei.

Halfway through filming, Ge You would sit on the doorway steps each day and say, "Can we stop shooting?", which left Feng Xiaogang in utter anguish.

When released, the film didn't cause a sensation; its box‑office was the lowest among the New Year trilogy, yet it still earned money for Huayi and Feng Xiaogang, making it a film of profound significance for them.

Wang Zhonglei said, "If you stick to your previous shooting style, this film will definitely make money. Don't be fooled by Jiang's current glory; some big productions could end up losing badly!"

Feng Xiaogang thought, "If I could make a film with a hundred‑million‑yuan investment, losing a bit wouldn't matter!"

Of course, he couldn't say that to the investors.

In the 49th District, many were well‑informed.

Rumors about Jiang Heng's new film's test screening at Beijing Film Studio spread quickly; some said the plot was terrible, absurdly far from Jurassic Park by a hundred‑thousand‑plus miles.

Even more outrageous, some claimed the special effects were poor, and Han Sanping was so angry he wanted to audit Jiang Heng's accounts, suspecting him of embezzling post‑production funds; such rumors flew everywhere.

In Beijing Film Studio's office, Han Sanping smashed his water cup in anger.

He had high hopes for Prehistoric One Hundred Million Years and could not bear the cost of a box‑office flop.

He immediately ordered the distribution department to launch a promotion campaign; buses, subways, outdoor ads all had to display Prehistoric One Hundred Million Years posters.

He also gathered major media to hold an early premiere for the new film.

(End of chapter)