Chapter 88

Jiang Heng went on stage and stood ready, without waiting to speak, the audience again burst into applause.

It wasn't that the guests were overly enthusiastic, but rather the ordinary audience members who came to see the premiere genuinely felt admiration.

How to put it? In an era when the market was flooded with bad films and money‑making scams, to have a director risk losing money, pour huge funds into a sincere work, and end up with a result far better than the audience imagined— that's how it feels.

That feeling is like paying street‑stall prices for a five‑star banquet; the pleasure and surprise are indescribable.

All we can do is use their applause to express the reverence in our hearts.

Seeing this, Jiang Heng smiled and bowed in thanks.

After more than a minute, host Yao Miao, at Jiang Heng's cue, interrupted the applause and began the promotional Q&A session.

"Director Jiang, hello. Before watching the film, I never thought China could make a mecha movie, let alone one this good. Could you tell me the secret?"

"My secret is to be sincere and realistic. I don't know how everyone feels about the mecha in the film," Jiang Heng tossed back to the audience.

"It's so realistic, it feels as if such weapons actually exist in this world!"

"Yeah, especially the way the mecha walks step by step—that heavy, powerful feel is just awesome!"

"I think I heard that kind of clack‑clack mechanical sound!"

The audience chattered, voicing their most immediate impressions.

Jiang Heng then said: "What you said is right. When I conceived this film and worked out the various settings, I considered exactly those aspects. Actually, someone advised me to make the mecha lighter and more agile to look more high‑tech.

But considering the film's timeline, I ultimately refused. I think if humanity could invent such war mecha back then, it would already be a huge technological leap. Because the film's logic is grounded in the real world—no superheroes, only ourselves and our technology can save humanity!

So, whether it's the mecha's exterior, the cockpit interior, or the base interior, we applied heavy weathering. Because battles are frequent and the budget is limited….

After Jiang Heng's explanation, the audience had an epiphany, recalling details they'd missed during the screening, and their feelings grew deeper.

Simply put, those weathering treatments definitely cost money and time.

If the audience isn't paying attention, they might not notice them at all.

Yet it's precisely those details that the audience might overlook that affect the final film's texture.

The media reporters in the hall also eagerly recorded Jiang Heng's remarks; they'll certainly need to include them when they write their stories later.

During the Q&A, a bespectacled male student said: "Director Jiang Heng, hello. I really like this film, and I especially like the 'Storm Crimson Red' in it. I wanted to ask if there will be a sequel, and if so, will 'Storm Crimson Red' have more screen time?"

As soon as he said that, nearly everyone's gaze in the hall turned to Jiang Heng.

"A sequel is definitely coming. In the next film, 'Storm Crimson Red' will have a greatly increased role, and the fights will be even more spectacular than this one!"

"Whoa!"

As soon as Jiang Heng finished speaking, many young men and women exclaimed, "This part was already awesome; the second part will be even more intense—what will it be like?"

Even more delightful, the 'Storm Crimson Red' will indeed get more screen time, leaving many compatriots both eager and proud.

After a few more questions, Jiang Heng called all the main creators onto the stage—including Xie Tingfeng, who cameoed as the male lead's older brother—and together they answered the reporters' questions, thus ending the premiere event.

The ordinary audience naturally dispersed and went home.

The media reporters received their "transport allowance," grabbed the red envelopes, and hurried back to write their pieces and edit interview footage.

Meanwhile, all the guests headed to the nearby five‑star hotel, where China Film Corporation had set up a banquet hall to entertain today's attendees.

Including the crew that came over, there were more than a hundred people.

At the banquet, glasses clinked nonstop, filled with congratulatory voices.

Han Sanping's face glowed red; he refused no one.

Jiang Heng's alcohol tolerance was a bit low, and before long he felt dizzy.

Fortunately, Yu Dong could hold his liquor well and helped block a lot for him.

Over the drinks, when discussing box office, everyone said it would surely surpass "The Lion's Roar Ridge" and refresh the domestic box‑office record.

But when asked how much it could earn, Jiang Heng smiled and said nothing, while Han Sanping thrust out five fingers and declared boldly, "With a film this good, it'll be at least five hundred million!"

"Good!"

The guests burst into applause and cheers, and the atmosphere instantly peaked.

Seeing this, Zhang Weiping's eyes burned with envy; he glanced at Zhang Yimou beside him and thought, "When will we ever get to be this glorious?"

Xu Ke also joined the applause, but the smile on his face turned a bit bitter.

Just now, under the pretense of a toast, he chatted with a few investors; the moment he mentioned his plan to shoot a new film, they changed the subject, showing no interest in talking at all!

Now, the only recourse is to ask Jiang Heng.

Likewise, Hung Jinbao, another bigwig of the Xianggang film world, remained calm and even hinted at some anticipation.

After the New Year he filmed "Kill Zone," and although he wasn't the lead nor the director, being able to bring his son onto the set again made him very happy.

The brat may be useless, but at least he's obedient—not like that Ah Long kid…

As for the release of "Kill Zone," it was also scheduled for summer, two weeks after "Pacific Rim" hit theaters.

At that time the mecha blockbuster was still hot in theaters, exactly when the media were doing all kinds of promotion; an action film featuring Jiang Heng's participation is about to premiere—who knows how many people it will draw into the cinemas!

"Mecha and monsters—that's a genre foreigners love; this time the global box office is likely to set a record!" Hung Jinbao suddenly said.

Hearing that, Han Sanping's smile faded a bit; after all, he knows the domestic market inside out and can guess it within eighty‑to‑ninety percent, but the international market is harder to predict.

Yet deep down he was already thrilled; when he arrived, he rode in the same car with several deputies, and everyone guessed that "Pacific Rim"'s worldwide box office would break Jiang Heng's previous personal record.

And since they took part in the film's investment, production, and distribution, when they write their year‑end performance reports they can also boast about it at length.

Han Sanping didn't dare speak big words; he turned his head to glance at Jiang Heng.

The latter calmly replied, "Five hundred million dollars is still doable!"

The guests in the hall were first stunned, then they started saying all sorts of things.

"Director Jiang, awesome and imposing!"

"Too modest—five hundred million isn't enough; it ought to be seven, eight, or nine hundred million, right, guys?"

Old Monster Xu suddenly said, "Director Jiang is being too conservative; I think even one billion dollars is possible!"

As soon as he said that, the entire hall froze.

Especially Zhang Weiping, with an expression of not recognizing, he thought, "This Old Monster Xu, he really is different. I, who am nicknamed Zhang Da Pao, wouldn't dare say something like that!"

(End of chapter)