Chapter 279: Domestic Film Gambling? Realistic?

Many netizens and industry insiders discovered that there were more and more leaked news about *Bad Genius* in the media.

Lin Nan, taking Liu Yifei and others, had already started wandering between various first-tier cities, promoting the film.

Excluding the staff, the group of six handsome men and beautiful women was always particularly eye-catching.

Quite a few candid photos appeared on the internet.

The three girls were in unified casual attire, white hoodies, high-waisted jeans, white sneakers, and trench coats on the outside.

On their delicate nose bridges, they wore sunglasses half the size of their faces, their fair and smooth faces looking particularly pleasing to the eye.

And the three men were like bodyguards following by their side; the key was that they were all very tall!

"It's very rare to see Lin Dao and Liu Yifei working so hard!"

"Speaking of which, the last time Lin Dao ran promotion so far in advance was *Time Cruise*, right?"

"Seems like it, it was back then during *Time Cruise*."

"It looks like Lin Dao Nan doesn't value *Bad Genius* just a little bit."

……

"This should be the first time best friends Liu Yifei and Shu Chang have collaborated on the big screen.

The earliest was *The Story of a Noble Family*, in a blink of an eye, it's already been ten years; time passes really fast..."

"That newcomer also looks good, with a kind of exotic beauty."

…………

Promotion cannot be finished in one go; it has to be divided into stages.

In five days, they ran to 4 cities; saying they weren't tired would be a lie.

Today, Lin Nan and his group just flew back to the capital, and everyone went home to prepare to recharge their batteries and wait for the next round of promotion.

"This group of women, when they tear each other apart, it's endless, and they use all kinds of methods?"

Lin Nan rested his head on Liu Yifei's tight thighs, looking at the entertainment news on his phone, greatly shocked.

Several well-known entertainment magazines in Hong Kong reprinted foreign news, reporting that top actress Ms. Zhang had earned 700 million by sleeping with people, and was currently being investigated and prohibited from leaving the country...

Entertainment circle matters getting involved with politics, this could be fatal!

Ms. Zhang headed straight to Hong Kong and America, suing several Hong Kong media outlets in succession, as well as the Hollywood media that was said to be the source, and posted on Weibo implying that someone was deliberately spreading rumors.

Following that, a certain screenwriter and individual websites in the mainland jumped out, directly posting articles, implying that International Fan was the mastermind behind the scenes.

This kind of thing, with a little bit of force, could possibly make one of the actresses completely finish; they were all first-tier or even super first-tier, and if any one of them fell, it would be enough for a large group of people to eat at a funeral banquet, the kind where they eat until they're full.

Li Bingbing also joined in the fun; she didn't care who the mastermind or the other black hand was, although her relationship with both of them wasn't good.

She directly supported International Zhang in reporting it to the police, suspected of kicking Fan Bingbing while she was down.

Now, Fan Bingbing's studio had to pay attention, immediately responding, suing several parties for infringing on her reputation, and demanding each party pay 500,000 in mental distress compensation...

The chaotic war between the big stars started just like that, and the circle was in a state of turmoil again.

"It is a bit crazy, daring to spread any rumors."

Liu Yifei said while gently pressing Lin Nan's temples.

Her long black hair hung down, the tips sweeping back and forth on Lin Nan's face, itchy, with a faint fragrance.

"Xixi, rest for two days, and we'll continue."

"Mm, okay."

…………

Xu Zheng spent more than a month completing the post-production of *Lost in Thailand*.

During this period, he basically lived a two-point-one-line life between home and Tiangong Color; this professional dedication was admirable.

Lin Nan, Jiang Xuerou, and others watched the finished film of *Lost in Thailand* at the company; the 100-minute film was edited quite well.

"Lin Dao, there shouldn't be any inappropriate shots, right?"

It was about to be sent for censorship, so Xu Zheng asked a bit uneasily.

"I don't see any place that could be blocked; even the story background isn't in the country, what is there to pick on?"

Lin Nan said affirmatively.

"That's good."

"Send it to the Film Bureau; this film will pass in at most a week, there's no problem at all."

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Xu Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief; the film he had worked so hard on for so long had finally reached this step, just waiting for censorship and release.

…………

That day, Xu Zheng went to the Administration with employees of Lin Nan Film Industry, and the media draft soon appeared on the internet.

"Produced by Lin Nan Film Industry, directed by Xu Zheng, the film *Lost in Thailand* has been formally submitted to the Film Bureau for review..."

"Currently, the release schedule for *Lost in Thailand* is not yet clear."

…………

To be honest, a film not even starting filming but already having a set release time was almost non-existent in the mainland, but the Hong Kong team dared to do it.

"Two generations of Xu Wenqiang gather in *The Last Tycoon*", this gimmick was loud enough.

Bona held a high-profile press conference for this 150 million investment *The Last Tycoon*, and the lineup could be called luxurious.

Chow Yun-fat and Huang Xiaoming playing the same character at different ages was indeed very topical.

At the press conference, even though the film hadn't been shot yet, Yu Dong had already set the release for the New Year schedule, his words incomparably confident, just because the director was the famous fast shooter, Wong Jing!

"I didn't even respond to the Golden Horse, Shanghai? Are you kidding?"

Lin Nan only sent people to the Shanghai Film Festival to reserve a booth to promote *Bad Genius* at that time, and then received an invitation to participate in the film festival.

Everyone was a clear person; who didn't know the nature of that side?

In the minds of a group of big directors, the Shanghai International Film Festival couldn't even compare to the Hundred Flowers Awards.

So for so many years, very few big directors would go there to participate; even if they went, it was just to promote the film, and the actors were aiming for the red carpet and the lens.

"Then I'll decline that side?"

"Mm, go ahead."

Lin Nan noticed the precursor to the Shanghai Film Festival, the Magnolia Awards.

Among the group of TV actors last year, Liu Shishi and Nicky Wu defeated the second-place Yang Mi and Feng Shaofeng, winning the audience's online vote for Best Actor and Actress.

The fans of *Scarlet Heart* and Liu Shishi could be considered to have swept away the shame of the Weibo Night, and Tang Ren's press releases were sent everywhere within half a day.

Those who didn't know would think she had won the Magnolia Best Actress; even Song Jia, the proper Best Actress, wasn't that flamboyant.

…………

*Bad Genius* set off again; this time the promotion location was Shanghai Theatre Academy.

"Returning to your own school to promote a film, is it both exciting and nervous?"

Zhu Yawen was unreliable, actually teasing Especially Reba.

"Ah? It's a little bit nervous, quite embarrassed."

"You'll get used to it; we still have to go to The Central Academy of Drama and Beijing Film Academy later." Lin Nan joked.

Beijing Film Academy was still quite satisfied that Lin Nan put his alma mater last; the higher the status, the later the appearance.

"The last time we ran a roadshow to Shanghai Theatre Academy to promote a film was *Time Cruise*."

Zhu Yawen smiled, "A student from the 03-level acting major at Shanghai Theatre Academy asked Lin Nan why he never used Shanghai Theatre Academy actors in his films, haha..."

"Luckily I was witty at the time, dragged it out for two sentences, and thought of an excuse. Said I hadn't graduated yet, didn't have much time to cast, and Beijing Film Academy and The Central Academy of Drama were close, so I chose actors nearby."

"This time there's Especially Reba, this problem shouldn't appear." Liu Yifei joked.

…………

Lin Nan admitted that his luck was quite good; he could even run into Chen Kaige's *Caught in the Web* film crew.

However, *Caught in the Web* was in the morning, while *Bad Genius* was in the afternoon.

Within one day, two big directors were promoting films at Shanghai Theatre Academy, and the school appeared unusually lively; a large number of students who were running auditions and looking for opportunities outside all came back.

Even some actors, stars, and graduated students in Shanghai also ran over to support.

"Director Chen, Sister Hong."

……

"Lin Nan, Yifei."

……

The two film crews met at Shanghai Theatre Academy, and it was another exchange.

Gao Yuanyuan introduced her boyfriend to Lin Nan, a Taiwanese actor.

Chen Kaige's *Caught in the Web* had brought together another pair.

This couldn't help but make Lin Nan recall *The Promise* back then, but it was still a bit different.

Quite a few people in the circle from Shanghai came, among them Hu Ge; he could be considered locked in Tang Ren, and he couldn't get into the film circle.

The theme of Chen Kaige's promotion in the morning was "cyberbullying", while Lin Nan's side was "cheating on exams"!

Relatively speaking, most students were still more interested in "cheating".

"Lin Dao, will Shanhai Media sign more people later? For example, Shanghai Theatre Academy students."

"The matter of signing people is the responsibility of Yue Jun and Jiang Xuerou, the two directors; I only make the final decision.

But currently, we have 5 signed actors, three of whom are from professional backgrounds, and two are from Shanghai Theatre Academy."

Lin Nan's answer left the teachers and students of Shanghai Theatre Academy unable to pick any faults.

……

"Cheating on exams, this subject matter is very, very close to us in life. May I ask, among those present, how many haven't experienced it in so many years? Can't guarantee it, right?"

……

"I play a female academic tyrant, starting from helping a good friend cheat on the smallest class exam, to helping a group of people cheat on international exams with Zhu Yawen, the story is very exciting..."

"Mm, I am that friend of Xixi!"

"The film also reflects the serious wealth gap and the unfair distribution of educational resources..."

…………

When it was almost over, a student asked a question that many people wanted to know.

"Lin Dao, why did you start promotion two months in advance this time? You haven't done this for several years."

Lin Nan smiled and looked at Liu Yifei.

"Let the producer tell everyone."

"Because, we hope the box office of this film can exceed 1 billion, or even more. Later, we will talk to the theater chains again about the gambling agreement, so we have to be more dedicated in promotion."

Liu Yifei said sonorously, with a confident smile on her face.

She had also heard about the gambling agreement from Lin Nan two days ago, and she listened to Lin Nan completely.

"1 billion? Another gambling agreement!"

The scene instantly fell into chaos, and quite a few industry insiders couldn't help but open their mouths, surprised.

However, thinking carefully, wasn't the current box office record for domestic films in the hands of Lin Nan on stage? 901 million!

But exceeding 1 billion, can domestic films really do it?

And gambling, domestic film gambling, is it realistic?

Even Chen Kaige and others sitting at the very back had strange smiles on their faces.

"Saying 1 billion at this time, is it a bit early?

His film investment is only 30 million; even counting their salaries, it's far less than the cost of his *The Thieves*, and that play was an ensemble cast!"

Chen Hong was a bit skeptical; where was it so easy to get 1 billion box office? An extra month of promotion wouldn't have such a big effect.

"Wait and see when the time comes; maybe the success of *The Thieves* made him too confident? Hehe..."

In Chen Kaige's laughter, there was a bit of disdain and contempt.

Although he admitted that Lin Nan's previous box office results were all very good, 1 billion wasn't just talk.

It wasn't simply 100 million more than 900 million; it represented a qualitative change, representing that domestic films had officially entered the 1 billion box office era.

"The two of them are still too young."

"Domestic film gambling? Hehe..."

…………

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 280 =====