Chapter 542: Hot Screening

The National Day holiday box office still lags behind the Spring Festival, New Year, and summer seasons; moreover, 《Great King, Don't Panic》 is merely a work that Jiang Heng produced and wrote, not a big-effects blockbuster he directed.

The cast is also not very strong.

So the box office on the first day was 172 million yuan.

Compared to Jiang Heng's previous single-day box office record, it falls far short.

But compared to other companies' big films, it's quite competitive.

Especially, the film's reputation is quite good, with a Douban rating of 8.1, which is excellent! After all, satirical works are rare these days.

Like the crosstalk of Jia Xuming and Zhang Kang, many people heard it for the first time on short-video platforms, having never seen it before!

But after listening, everyone really says it's good.

There are also satirical sketches like 《Internet Health Check》, which, by laying bare the unsavory side of internet companies, have been hailed as masterpieces by countless netizens.

Of course, the satirical bite of 《Great King, Don't Panic》 isn't that sharp, but it wins because there are hardly any similar works right now, so its standing in viewers' minds is different.

Many moviegoers, after leaving the theater, not only posted their ticket stubs on WeChat Moments, Weibo, Douyin and other internet platforms, but also many directly recommended the film to friends, strongly urging them to watch it.

Through word of mouth, the number of people entering the cinema kept growing.

In this atmosphere, Jing Tian wanted Jiang Heng to accompany her to see the movie.

It turned out that she had been away filming a variety show elsewhere, so she missed the premiere of 《Great King, Don't Panic》, but she had been keeping an eye on the news.

Seeing the publicity team post videos on their Douyin account of audiences laughing hysterically in the theater, Jing Tian was already eager to go watch it.

After returning, her colleagues all recommended she go, so Da Tian Tian thought of going together with Jiang Heng.

Huairou, inside Jiang Heng's luxury villa.

Da Tian Tian, wearing pajamas and lounging on the sofa while scrolling on her tablet, suddenly said, 'By the way, how about we go see 《Great King, Don't Panic》 together tomorrow?'

"Ah?"

Jiang Heng blinked in surprise, because counting the internal screening after production wrapped, he had already seen it three times.

Da Tian Tian, unhappy with Jiang Heng's hesitation, pouted slightly and said, 'Ah, just come with me to watch it—online everyone says it's great, it's your script, I want to see it!'

Jiang Heng let out a small sigh and said, 'No problem, let's do it after we finish work tomorrow evening!'

Da Tian Tian brightened up, smiling, 'Honey, you're great—finish shooting early tomorrow!'

"Understood!"

The next day, Jiang Heng went early to the set of 《Monkey King: Hero Is Back》 to film.

Da Tian Tian arrived only after eleven o'clock, not only buying milk tea for the whole crew, but also bringing Jiang Heng a cylindrical food container.

"You cooked again?" Upon opening it, she found it contained black-bone chicken soup.

Jiang Heng looked puzzled, while Da Tian Tian turned her face and whispered, 'It's to nourish you!'

"Hey!"

Jiang Heng's explosive temper—this little girl is practically rebelling! He glared at her fiercely, took a sip with a spoon, and the taste was actually not bad.

"Did you make this?"

"No, I ordered it in advance!"

"You rascal!"

The chicken soup amounted to more than two bowls, making him feel warm all over.

He therefore shortened his lunch break, skimmed through the less important scenes, and wrapped up work exactly at six in the evening.

Jiang Heng drove, first taking Jing Tian to eat, then going to the China Film Red Ribbon Cinema in Huairou to watch the film—after all, it's his own property, so he definitely had to support it!

Now that the National Day holiday is over, on weekday evenings around eight o'clock the theater still has about a 30% occupancy, showing the film remains popular.

Moreover, many hilarious segments from the film have spread widely on Douyin short videos.

But many viewers, after watching it in the theater, still couldn't stop laughing. Jing Tian was especially delighted, leaning on Jiang Heng and whispering, 'It's filmed so fun!'

Having watched it for the fourth time, Jiang Heng felt it was as tasteless as chewing wax.

He chuckled sheepishly, 'So-so, I guess.'

"How interesting!"

"Mm!" Jiang Heng replied perfunctorily.

After the screening ended, Da Tian Tian was still immersed in the plot of 《Great King, Don't Panic》.

Jiang Heng drove, and she pulled out her phone to scroll through Douban reviews.

She also looked up the film's box-office info and sighed, 'Online estimates say this film could gross 2.4 billion!'

Jiang Heng replied offhand, 'Online they just exaggerate—2.4 billion definitely won't happen, but the chance of exceeding 2 billion is still very high!'

"That's pretty amazing—I wish I could make a film that awesome!"

At a glance, it's flawless!

Hearing this, Jiang Heng was so startled he almost stomped the brake to death, glaring and saying, 'What, you want to be a director too?'

Jing Tian looked astonished and said, 'Can I too? Has the barrier to becoming a director gotten that low?'

"Then what do you say?"

"I was just saying it casually!"

Da Tian Tian said with a satisfied smile, 'You wouldn't actually want to support me becoming a director, would you?'

"Absolutely, impossible!"

"Hmph!"

However, Jing Tian had stayed in Jingcheng for a while, then left due to commercial performance activities.

Although she has gradually faded from the film and television circle and rarely films nowadays, because she has taken part in many variety shows her popularity has surged, so the number and fees of her commercial performances have actually increased.

She originally wasn't too keen on these, but the organizers of various events really pour money in—Jing Tian, bored and idle, with her agent and assistants urging her on, ended up taking on commercial engagements.

Liu Yifei is still filming in Hengdian, while Yang Mi has gone to Shanghai to shoot 《Tiny Times 4》.

This series of movies had poor reviews, but the box office was still strong, making director Guo Jinming earn a lot of money, and he also ambitiously shouted that he wanted to shoot a special-effects blockbuster.

He had also asked Yang Mi to pass a message to Jiang Heng, wanting to cooperate with the Outstanding Rising Film Company he loved.

Who would have thought Jiang Heng wouldn't even pay attention to him at all, making Guo Jinming angry enough to snap; he announced to the fans that he would definitely shoot a work that could rival Jiang Heng's special-effects blockbuster.

At least he wasn't that extreme, just shouting the two words 'surpass'.

Several beauties were not by his side, and in the midst of his busyness, Jiang Heng felt increasingly lonely.

Fortunately, when Zhang Ruoxi had time off, she would come to the set under the pretense of studying to see him.

According to this girl, Jiang Heng's level is far superior to their school's teachers.

Rather than listening to teachers lecture in the classroom about obscure, impractical things, it's better to watch Jiang Heng guide actors into their roles on set, which is far more useful than what is taught at school.

Jiang Heng knows there's a lot of flattery in those words, but he still loves hearing them.

People, as they age, show signs of becoming muddleheaded! This weekend, Zhang Ruoxi came to the set again to 'study,' and after work they ate together.

Jiang Heng saw her hesitant expression, a look of wanting to speak but holding back, and couldn't help but say, 'Just say what's on your mind!'

Hmm, how about we go see a movie later?

After saying that, Zhang Ruoxi lowered her gaze, not daring to look into Jiang Heng's eyes.

Uh, no problem, as long as we don't watch 'Don't Panic, Your Majesty,' anything goes!

Ah! This time, Zhang Ruoxi was stunned. (End of chapter)