Chapter 462: A Lively and Chaotic Release Schedule

The New Year and Spring Festival release window from the end of 2012 to early 2013 was a period without Jiang Heng.

Its hallmark was a gathering of blockbusters, giving the sense that one film finished its song just as another took the stage.

Films such as 1942, The Grandmaster, Zodiac, Life of Pi, the 3D version of 2012 and more than ten other titles were truly lavish productions, while dozens of low‑ and mid‑budget movies waited to fish in the murky waters.

Although no single film wielded overwhelming box‑office dominance, the market seemed even more prosperous, and media reports grew increasingly lively.

Outstanding Rising Film Company, Chairman's office.

Jiang Heng leaned on the sofa reading a newspaper, which featured a photo of Director Feng Xiaogang accompanied by the caption: "Is it because there are so many trash audiences that so many trash movies are made?" Indeed, after 1942's box‑office flop, a rattled Feng Xiaogang erupted in an interview, blaming the audience for the poor earnings, claiming their low standards downgraded commercial films.

But the reporter did not indulge him, retorting to Feng Xiaogang, "Jiang Heng's films hold the mainland's highest box‑office record, exceeding 3.6 billion, clearly backed by a vast number of excellent viewers; from that angle, the audience's appreciation standards are actually quite high!"

That single remark broke Feng Xiaogang once again…

The reporters, naturally pleased, recorded and published the whole episode, which indeed sparked a huge sensation.

A flood of netizens voiced opinions on the term "trash audience," and their arguments basically began with analyses of Jiang Heng's box‑office numbers.

The general conclusion is that the mainland market's box‑office records, raised by Director Jiang Heng from 500 million, to 1 billion, 1.5 billion, 2 billion, and finally a staggering 3.6 billion, must have been supported by a massive, excellent, high‑standard audience.

Because Jiang Heng's films not only sell wildly in the mainland, their achievements in the global market are also among the top.

Therefore, Director Feng Xiaogang's remarks are baseless and untenable.

The truth is singular: the film quality indeed has certain problems.

Finally, the advice to Director Feng is "practice more if you're inexperienced," and to learn well from Jiang Heng.

After such remarks flooded the internet, Feng, furious, flew abroad directly, saying he'd enjoy a few clean days first.

【7】 Feng's 1942 flopped at the box office, while Cheng Long's Zodiac grossed over 900 million, becoming the top‑grossing mainland film for the big brother.

Director Feng's "1942" box office flopped, but Cheng Long's "Chinese Zodiac" took in over 900 million yuan, becoming the highest box office for the elder brother in Neidi films.

Facing the media, Cheng Long said he would redouble his efforts and make even better movies.

When the Spring Festival window arrived, a film that shocked countless people appeared: Zhou Xingxing's Mermaid.

It earned 280 million on its opening day, and in just seven days amassed 1.8 billion RMB, truly shocking the entire Chinese‑language entertainment circle.

Media and audiences, marveling at Xingye's evergreen sharpness and huge profits, then discovered that this box‑office hit Mermaid was also produced by Outstanding Rising Film Company.

In the end‑credits thank‑you list, Jiang Heng's name appears alone on the preceding line, enlarged in font size.

Thus media and audiences exclaimed that although this window had no Jiang Heng film, his presence was everywhere!

Mermaid's box‑office triumph made the other films released the same day look a bit lackluster.

For example, Huayi's production, Detective Dee: The Divine Capital Dragon King directed by Xu Ke, though a 3D effects blockbuster, was mocked by viewers who said the first few minutes of 3D were striking, but later one would sometimes forget they were watching a 3D film.

The subpar visual effects won't even be mentioned; the setting around Luoyang being a sea truly discomforts many history‑minded Chinese.

Consequently, the film's overall reputation and box office were mediocre, and Huayi suffered a major setback this time.

Another film released on the same Spring Festival day, Tiny Times, while receiving terrible reviews, posted a very good box‑office, likely earning a hefty profit.

As for the heavily promoted first part of The Great Ferry, slated for the Spring Festival window, it was suddenly withdrawn and postponed, surprising media and audiences.

"Why was it pulled? I was still thinking we could go watch it together!"

Outstanding Rising Film Company, Chairman's office; Jing Tian, sitting on the sofa scrolling a tablet, suddenly said. After her role as Zhao Min in New Yi Tian, she resumed the assistant‑to‑Jiang Heng routine.

Of course, she wasn't always an assistant; a while back, bored, she even joined the filming of Run, Brothers, and returned raving about the game's excessive difficulty.

Then she continued the pattern of scrolling the tablet and chatting idly in the office.

Regarding Tiny Times, she sneered, thinking Yang Mi really shouldn't have taken the role.

After watching Mermaid, she asked Jiang Heng whether, if one day she suddenly discovered she was actually a "mermaid," she would be like Liu Xuan in the film.

Jiang Heng listened, both amused and bewildered, and after a casual ramble, brushed it off.

This time, the senior sister was curious about the film dubbed the "Chinese version of Titanic."

Jiang Heng sat at his desk, not looking up, and said: "No need to have expectations; it's just a trash movie!"

"Huh?"

Jing Tian was stunned, not expecting Jiang Heng to be so blunt: "Big brother, you still haven't seen it, right!"

"No way?"

"Believe me!"

"Oh, okay!"

The senior sister showed slight disappointment, asking when Heroic Troops 2 would start shooting, saying she'd been too bored lately. "Hmm, after the Lantern Festival, perhaps!"

In fact, preparing a sequel is quite straightforward and swift.

As for the cast, it will certainly be the original team; only a schedule coordination is needed.

Costumes, makeup, props, etc., will naturally continue from the previous work.

As for the script, Jiang Heng had already revised it long ago.

One could say that aside from the slightly troublesome "digital virtual actors" segment, there's really nothing else to prepare.

Lately Jiang Heng has been busy selecting facial‑model actors for "Angel Yan," "Kaisha," and "He Xi," among others.

It was also Du Huan who instructed his subordinates to pick according to Jiang Heng's specifications, then simply brought them over for Jiang Heng to decide, which wasn't a big deal.

"After the Lantern Festival? That's fine too, we can act again, hehe!"

Jing Tian still really likes the Lena role she played in Heroic Troops.

Because the character is both a goddess and occasionally a bit over‑the‑top, matching her own personality perfectly, making the performance effortless and sometimes quite fun.

Jiang Heng laughed, "I see you really enjoy acting; after this, why not keep being an actor!"

Jing Tian showed a surprised expression, "Did I do something wrong?"

Jiang Heng waved his hand quickly, "No, no, I just think when you mentioned being able to act, you looked genuinely happy. Usually you're just a bored, listless sort of person!"

Da Tian Tian gave a forced smile, "It's just that there's nothing to do, so I'm bored!" (End of chapter)