Chapter 543

The two arrived at the cinema and watched the film Dear starring Huang Bo.

Although the name is somewhat ambiguous, it is not a romance film but a story about searching for a child directed by Chen Ke Xin.

The box office of this film was not high; by the time it left theaters, it was only over 300 million.

However, its reputation was very good, and it was called "the most moving film of the 2014 National Day holiday season."

How could a little girl like Zhang Ruo Zhu withstand such a super tear-jerking film, crying hysterically.

Jiang Heng had prepared tissues in advance and occasionally helped her wipe her tears.

Upon seeing the latter part, he even embraced her, occasionally giving her a light pat twice.

After the film ended, Zhang Ruo Zhu, still immersed in the film's atmosphere upon returning to the car, couldn't shake it off, wiping her tears and saying: "Those abducted children are truly pitiful!"

"Indeed, when a child is abducted, it changes not only the child's life but also destroys that family!"

"Can you help them?" Zhang Ruo Zhu pleaded, tears in her eyes, looking pitifully at Jiang Heng.

"Of course, thanks to you bringing me to see this film, otherwise I really wouldn't have remembered this! But after all, I'm just a director, what I can do is limited; at most I can call on society to pay attention to anti-abduction efforts, and also contribute money and effort, donating some funds to those in need."

"That's impressive; with your help, it will surely change many people's fates!"

Jiang Heng said: "That's just fulfilling a social responsibility."

"That's also great!"

Jiang Heng laughed: "I think you're the amazing one!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruo Zhu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered: "Where are we going now?"

"I'll take you to eat something!"

The two went for a late-night snack, after which Jiang Heng promptly sent her to the hotel and then drove back to his own mansion.

He originally had some other thoughts, but tonight's film was not appropriate.

If it had been a romantic love story, it would have been fine, but instead it was this heavy-topic child-searching theme.

After returning to his mansion, Jiang Heng first took a shower.

Afterwards, he took a photo of the ticket stub for Dear with his phone, intending to post a Weibo update.

But upon second thought, if he posted that, netizens would likely focus not on anti-abduction but on why Jiang Heng went to see the film so late and with whom; so he searched Weibo for updates about Dear.

He quickly found a post from an official newspaper's Weibo, which was about amendments to legal provisions, roughly meaning that the buyer is also guilty.

Jiang Heng immediately reposted that update, while also mentioning the official Weibo of the film Dear and liking it.

Then he turned off his phone and went to sleep in the master bedroom.

However, he didn't expect that keen-eyed fan netizens would quickly discover his Weibo post.

Immediately someone left a comment: "Director Jiang, did you go see Dear?"

"Director Jiang is speaking up for the families searching for abducted children!"

"Director Jiang truly is the conscience of the film industry!"

"Yes, the film has been out for so long, yet we haven't seen many stars helping to promote it!"

"Yeah, but Director Jiang is promoting a film from another company—his perspective is just different!"

In Jingcheng, at a hot pot restaurant, Huang Bo was drinking and chatting with several friends.

The phone on the table suddenly rang; upon picking it up, he saw it was his agent calling.

Huang Bo was a bit puzzled, since his agent rarely contacted him at this time. "What's up? Did something happen?"

"Something big has happened—quickly check the Weibo hot searches; Director Jiang reposted that earlier official newspaper commentary!"

"What?"

Huang Bo didn't react at first, but soon he hung up and opened Weibo on his phone.

He opened the hot search ranking and indeed saw hot search content related to Jiang Heng and Dear.

After clicking in and taking a look, Huang Bo truly felt a joy that came out of the blue.

"Holy cow, Director Jiang gave us an assist!" Huang Bo exclaimed delightedly.

The others at the table hurriedly asked what was going on; Huang Bo explained briefly, and everyone was quite shocked.

Although the film Dear was shot very well, in terms of box office performance it can only be described as average.

It's already 2014, and with only over 300 million in box office, it shows most audiences didn't feel much for this film—it didn't even reach hot status.

After checking, there is not a single mistake in the version!

But once Jiang Heng's Weibo post came out, things changed.

First, a large number of fans left comments; then keen-eyed netizens discovered that Liu Yifei also reposted the update and commented.

Not long after, Jing Tian, Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, Han Dong, Zhang Ruo Yun, and other contracted artists of Outstanding Rising Film Company all simultaneously began promoting another company's film.

The next day, Jiang Heng drove to the set, where the company's vice president told him that, as of now, over eighty stars in the Chinese-language entertainment circle had reposted his Weibo update.

Dear, which had been released for over twenty days and was already nearing the end of its run, was about to see its box office explode again.

Jiang Heng smiled and said: "Not bad; at least it can draw society's attention to this issue, the state will likely give more help to those families searching for relatives."

As expected, all major theaters increased the screening schedule for Dear that day.

The film's daily box office rose to over 35 million, actually surpassing its opening day.

Because the film's opening day box office, including over 12 million from preview screenings, only amounted to 45 million.

With just one Weibo post driving promotion, it directly pushed this film to the peak!

That very day, director Chen Ke Xin called Jiang Heng to thank him for his support of the film.

Jiang Heng laughed: "Of course; such a good film shouldn't be buried. To be honest, I admire you directors who make realistic-themed films. I can't do that—I only can make special-effects blockbusters, and I wouldn't dare intrude on your territory."

Chen Ke Xin even thought Jiang Heng was being modest, and laughed: "Director Jiang is just joking; this kind of film isn't that hard, whereas your special-effects blockbusters are something few can pull off."

Jiang Heng thought to himself, "That's not something easy to say!"

For blockbusters, as long as the story is told well and the effects are done well, there's basically no problem.

Even many Hollywood special-effects blockbusters have poorly told stories, relying purely on super shocking special effects to make money.

Realistic-themed films are the opposite: lacking shocking visual effects, they rely purely on story, ideas, and acting to move the audience.

To be honest, if I had just been reborn back then, filming a few realistic-themed movies after The Matrix wouldn't matter—good or bad, either would be fine.

But now he dares not try lightly, fearing poor reputation would ruin the "golden signboard" he painstakingly built over many years!

After a few casual remarks, Jiang Heng invited Chen Keyin, saying that if she had any suitable script, she could come to the Outstanding Rising Film Company Building to find him; investment would not be an issue, and Chen Keyin naturally smiled and agreed.

And on that very day, Ma Yun also called to express her thanks for Jiang Heng's Weibo repost.

Because of this film, it can be considered a production of Ali Film Company. (End of chapter)