Chapter 417: Excellent Achievement

The movie 'The Great Wilderness: Houyi Shoots the Suns' had its key delayed, only released on September 15, mainland box office cumulative 22.73 hundred million, once again breaking the Chinese-language film box office record.

Converted to USD, that is 3.61 hundred million.

This result, even if placed in the North American market, would still be quite impressive.

Because this year's North American summer box office champion, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2), only took in 3.81 hundred million USD.

The problem is that The Great Wilderness: Houyi Shoots the Suns also has box office from Xianggang and Treasure Island; Xianggang box office is over 79 million, which converts to ten million USD, while Treasure Island contributed about twelve million USD.

In other words, The Great Wilderness: Houyi Shoots the Suns achieved a staggering 3.82 hundred million USD in total box office in the Chinese film market, surpassing the North American summer box office champion.

After the news spread, it immediately sparked widespread discussion.

Some southern media outlets published articles claiming that China's summer box office beat North America's, signaling that the Chinese film market is rapidly rising, surpassing North America to become the world's largest film market, which is not unexpected.

Moreover, The Great Wilderness: Houyi Shoots the Suns' box office in North America is 2.9 hundred million USD, which is highly likely to rank among the top three for the year in the North American film market.

Meanwhile, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) only earned 4.13 hundred million in China, which converts to less than one hundred million USD.

In other words, the strongest films of the US-China summer box office, in their respective markets' final results, still see China victorious.

However, in the global market, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) should have a slight edge, because this film's box office performance in Europe and America is very high, after all it's an adaptation of a British author's novel, so that side definitely offers more support.

Moreover, this Great Wilderness epic was originally filmed all at once, then split into two parts during post‑production editing; when the sequel is released and the results are combined, it will be truly explosive, making people envious and jealous—let alone domestically, even the major Hollywood studios would be green‑with‑envy.

Yet Jiang Heng still refuses to come over and cooperate, so from time to time someone claims that Jiang Heng's films should be restricted.

However, Jiang Heng's films have already penetrated the North American market for over ten years, having cultivated a loyal fan base.

Whenever voices arise calling for restricting Jiang Heng's films, a group of fans will speak up in the media, and occasionally a few notable figures will chime in, after which the matter fades away.

And domestically, Jiang Heng's fans are even more fervent, all guessing when they will be able to break the three‑billion mark (mainland).

As for figures like four billion or five billion, these people still dare not even imagine them.

Thus, Warrior Wolf 2 back then truly came out of nowhere, delivering an astonishing result that nobody could have anticipated.

Jiang Heng being this formidable, his fans now only think about the three‑billion threshold.

At China Film Digital Base, Zhou Xingxing came to visit the set.

Because of Jiang Heng's influence, his filming speed is several years faster than in his previous life.

The reason is also simple: when short of money, Jiang Heng is willing to invest, not quibbling over trifles, making negotiations smooth and quick.

Sometimes when he can't think of a good script, he will chat with Jiang Heng; even an occasional remark opens Zhou Xingxing's mind, sparks inspiration, and makes the script flow smoothly, unlike in his previous life when it required long polishing.

In terms of filming, Outstanding Rising Film Company can provide various conveniences, and post‑production, public release and distribution can also offer a full suite of services.

It can be said that as long as Zhou Xingxing cooperates with Jiang Heng, he only needs to provide his own creativity, script, and part of the investment, focus on filming smoothly, and the rest is just waiting for big box office returns and profit sharing.

Even collecting the money and profit share will be faster.

Everyone knows that Jiang Heng's films have the shortest settlement period.

Thus, the film originally slated to be shot in 2014 and released in early 2016, which would have grossed over three or four hundred million, is now about to start production.

Zhou Xingxing came this time to work out some details.

Regarding investment, Zhou Xingxing budgeted four hundred million, but he does not want to take too much risk, so he is only willing to put up one hundred million.

So Jiang Heng, without hesitation, expressed willingness to bear the remaining three hundred million.

Zhou Xingxing saw this, although he clearly understood, he still froze for a moment, laughing and saying, 'Director Jiang, you're so generous!' He is 'once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes'; the original A Chinese Odyssey lost him so much that he dare not again invest a huge personal fortune in filmmaking.

Jiang Heng laughed and said, 'Three hundred million is nothing. Besides, I'm at ease letting you film; I'm sure I won't lose money, right?'

As he said this, he held a cigar in his hand, exuding the aura of a big shot.

As for Zhou Xingxing, his smile was a bit forced, 'Of course, losing money wouldn't come to that!'

But he was thinking inside, 'I don't even have that much confidence!'

To be frank, Mermaid is very novel from the perspective of genre film.

If you call it a comedy, it certainly isn't as funny as Zhou Xingxing's previous works.

If you call it a romance, it actually isn't that moving.

If you call it a fantasy, purely judging by its visual effects, it simply cannot be compared to the effects‑heavy blockbusters Jiang Heng has previously filmed.

So even Zhou Xingxing himself, when discussing this film with Tian Qiewen, feels there is a certain risk.

If another director were to shoot it, eight or nine times out of ten they'd turn out a major flop, and the box office would be low as well.

Thus Zhou Xingxing is still somewhat moved.

Of course, as a successful and qualified businessman, the feeling is indeed present, but really not much.

When it comes to the male lead, he said he plans to use Deng Chao, a few contracted artists from Outstanding Rising Film Company on this side, and he feels they differ somewhat from his imagined male lead.

Jiang Heng naturally had no objection, merely asking about the choice for the female lead.

Zhou Xingxing mentioned a girl's name, which Jiang Heng had never heard of.

Thinking about it, this is normal; Mermaid was filmed three years earlier, and in his previous life that female lead would still have been in middle school, so choosing another is also normal.

As the talk drew to a close, Zhou Xingxing suddenly became bashful.

'Between us, why be so polite? Just say what you think.'

'Um, in the film there is a scene where the male lead films at Qingluo Bay, after which several big shots go to his house to drink; I'd like to ask you to cameo in the film, playing a big shot!'

Jiang Heng heard this, paused, thought it over, and felt the idea was not bad.

First, he would be playing a genuine big shot as himself, with fitting status.

Second, it would be a legitimate way to help promote the film, possibly boosting its box office a bit.

The only thing making him hesitate is the cameo's screen time; Zheng Zong's 'spraying pesticide' scene is so classic that he doesn't want to steal it.

'Coming as a cameo, that's fine; I'll just treat the comedic bits as filler and be a background extra!'

Zhou Xingxing gave an embarrassed smile, 'Actually, I think Director Jiang, you are a once‑in‑a‑century comedy genius; to bury such talent is truly a shame!'

Jiang Heng laughed heartily, 'You, just keep trying to fool me!'

Because the film still needs to wait a while before shooting begins, cameo details are matters for later; there's no need to discuss them so finely now.

In the evening, Zhou Xingxing was invited to a meal, after which he also left.

(End of chapter)