Chapter 300: Ye Ning

"This should be the first time in domestic film history, right? After a film gets the Dragon Mark, it gets reviewed again."

Facts have proven that going out and running your mouth will indeed get you "educated." Director Lou's *Mystery* is just like that.

This film, after obtaining the screening permit, has been participating in the Venice Film Festival in recent days.

It is also the only Chinese-language film shortlisted for the official unit, the "Orizzonti" module, and it is even the opening film.

Other directors, at most, film movies reflecting the suffering of the domestic bottom-layer people and the dark side of society to take them to exhibitions.

This one is good; whenever he has nothing to do, he confronts the Film Bureau and criticizes the domestic censorship system, almost explicitly saying he is being oppressed and suppressed.

The result is imaginable; while he was still in Venice, the producers back home received a notice from the Bureau that *Mystery* needed to be reviewed again.

"They already got the public screening permit, and it was going to be released on the 19th of next month. He probably thought it was stable, right? Being reviewed at this time is indeed the first case in the country; it's a record!"

Lin Nan took time out to have a small gathering with Ning Hao, Huang Bo, and others, chatting about the several film festivals outside these past two days.

Lu Chuan took *The Last Supper* to Toronto to hold a global premiere ceremony; it seems the country can no longer contain him.

Press releases were sent back ten or more times a day, looking like a grand Chinese blockbuster shocking the international scene; he's very good at acting cool!

"Anyway, I don't think his film can stir up any waves."

Lin Nan leaned on the back of the chair and said contemptuously.

"So you prepared *Lost in Thailand* for him, letting a newcomer director like Xu Zheng go head-to-head with him, so no matter who wins or loses, Lu Chuan won't get any advantage?"

Huang Bo poured a glass of beer and laughed.

"You're one of the leads anyway, be tougher, how could you possibly lose?" Ning Hao glanced at Huang Bo and interjected.

Lin Nan also pointed at Huang Bo and shook his head in disdain.

"Humility, I'm being humble, okay!" The latter waved his hand and immediately defended himself.

"By the way, I just received an invitation to host this year's Golden Horse Awards ceremony as a guest.

Lin Dao, we'll see each other at the Golden Horse then; I look forward to you and Yifei winning big awards."

Lin Nan was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile. Huang Bo has been a regular at the Golden Horse for the past two years. "Fine, I'll take your kind words."

…………

Since *The Martian*, Lin Nan established Tiangong Color, with Crystal Film responsible for talent incubation.

Over the past few years, Tiangong Color has also been the most prestigious film and television special effects company in the industry, with a constant stream of big and small business.

Until today, another company aggressively announced its successful entry into the special effects industry.

The entire film and television circle was caught off guard by the announcement from Xiaoma.

They teamed up with another Indian company to buy Digital Domain, a Hollywood special effects company that had just filed for bankruptcy protection.

This special effects company, founded by Cameron and acquired and grouped for listing by Michael Bay, was once one of the top special effects companies in the world.

Just as Lin Nan returned to the company, Yue Jun and two managers from Tiangong Color rushed over.

In their view, Xiaoma's special effects business will be the biggest competitor to Tiangong Color in the future.

"How much did they spend to buy it?" Lin Nan asked calmly.

"Xiaoma teamed up with an Indian company and spent 30.2 million USD, snatching it from the hands of dozens of companies.

They hold 70% of the shares, and the other company holds 30%. This is what Zhong Lifang said when she accepted a media interview today."

Hearing this amount, Lin Nan really couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"A few months ago, this company's market value was as high as 400 or 500 million USD. You don't really think that just because someone went bankrupt, they are only worth 30 million USD, right? And that's the final auction price!

This is a special effects company; the most valuable things are the people, equipment, technology, copyright, and business, and these won't depreciate."

Hearing this, Yue Jun frowned instantly; he really hadn't reacted to these things.

He had been blinded by the one-sided cheers and applause in the industry.

Lin Nan looked at Xiaoma's announcement and Zhong Lifang's statement on the computer webpage; it was almost like a perfect bargain.

The industry media's reports were also extremely flattering. A large number of industry insiders were all acting as if they felt honored.

"Xiaoma will become the second film and television company in the country to have a large-scale special effects production business, standing toe-to-toe with Tiangong Color."

"Ms. Zhong Lifang, President of Xiaoma Film, personally admitted that the company has obtained all the core businesses of Digital Domain, including:

Film, visual effects, advertising production, virtual portrait synthesis technology, two special effects studios located in California and Vancouver, and the joint production rights for the sci-fi blockbuster *Ender's Game*……"

……

Lin Nan glanced at Yue Jun, who had clearly sobered up, and said with disdain:

"30.2 million USD, to be able to buy so many things, do you think it's possible? Have the brains of those Hollywood film companies all been flooded?"

"Does Lin Dao mean they bought an empty shell?"

Lin Nan hesitated for a moment, then nodded:

"According to the valuation adjustment mechanism, there are only 15 months left until the final deadline for Xiaoma's listing. However, this move is a bit too sword-leaning."

"Forget it, don't pay attention to them; Xiaoma can't pose a threat to us.

Right now, they are just gamblers, mortgaging all their assets and buying some things that are gold and jade on the outside but rotten on the inside, in order to achieve the purpose of addition……"

……

Lin Nan thought of Zhong Lifang recently walking around, winning over and signing many well-known directors, screenwriters, and studios.

She even competed for Zhang Yimou's studio before, but failed; these are all their chips and capital for listing.

……

All domestic films in September have started a propaganda war.

The first one to step onto the stage to fight against a group of imported films is *Sad Fairy Tale*, produced by Enlight and starring Liu Shishi.

Tang Ren's Weibo, Tang Ren artists' Weibo, are all promoting this film.

A large number of Tang Ren fans online are shouting, calling, and advocating to walk into the cinema together to support this year's "Golden Eagle Goddess."

This movement is indeed a bit big. A group of film companies in the industry are watching; could it be another first-line actress who can bring box office?

Enlight saw this situation online and immediately expanded the propaganda intensity on the basis of the original propaganda, looking forward to good results.

On the day the film was released, starting from the morning, the internet and some media were full of praise.

"*Sad Fairy Tale* is released, audiences shout that it's satisfying!"

"Liu Shishi perfectly interprets the workplace life of urban white-collar workers, performing a romantic love story……"

……

A whole day of praise made many people in the industry feel surprised and expectant.

Until the box office of the second day came out…… good grief, it dropped the jaws of a group of people.

"*Sad Fairy Tale*'s first-day box office reported 2.2 million; the box office performance is extremely unsatisfactory."

"Low attendance rate, the female lead's performance is stiff and dull, with no highlights, and a large number of negative reviews were deleted. *Sad Fairy Tale* is suspected of hiring water armies……"

……

"It's hilarious; yesterday it was full of praise, today the box office is a direct slap in the face."

Lin Nan really wants to know what expression Wang Changtian has right now.

"Chairman Wang, he wouldn't use water armies, right?"

Liu Yifei stepped on the floor with bare feet and walked to Lin Nan in two or three steps.

"Chairman Wang shouldn't; his face is more valuable than this film, but others might not be, haha……"

Tang Ren's specialty skill, this time it is estimated that they will offend Wang Changtian.

Because people who don't know the truth will only think that Enlight is brushing for good reviews. This wave of operation smeared Enlight's reputation for no reason.

The stepping and trampling between female actors is reflected here.

Between the first line, those with grudges take revenge, those without grudges will also step on them, and the second line is also pulling down.

"This should be the most watery first-line female actor, with no box office appeal. Where is that huge fan base usually? Are they all fake?"

"The first film she starred in flopped like this. The heat of *Scarlet Heart* hasn't passed yet, and she just won the Golden Eagle Goddess! With such high popularity, is there no box office conversion rate at all?"

"The first-day box office is so low that it is destined to be box office poison. Which film crew will dare to use her in the future? Whoever uses her dies!"

"If it really doesn't work, just stay in Tang Ren and film TV dramas honestly; don't get involved in the film industry, leave it to other female actors……"

……

Online, many female actors' fans attacked Liu Shishi in groups, with all kinds of mockery and ridicule.

On the second day, *Sad Fairy Tale*'s box office reported 2.1 million, accompanied by a large number of negative reviews that erupted.

The box office results of two days can already see the final result; it is destined to be a bloody loss.

How glorious *The Four* was before, Enlight is that embarrassing right now.

Tens of millions of film investment just drifted away like this.

……

"President Cai, Enlight notified that all subsequent propaganda plans have been cancelled, and the scheduled programs…… Shishi doesn't need to go either."

Hearing this news, Cai Yinong's heart skipped a beat; she knew very well what those big companies were thinking.

In the future, it is basically impossible for Enlight to give Liu Shishi another chance to be the female lead.

Those film companies in the industry will also be very cautious when choosing roles; if they can avoid using Liu Shishi, they will.

People who mix in this industry, especially film production companies, will be more or less superstitious. The four words "box office poison" online are too dazzling.

The key is that Cai Yinong never thought that the box office of *Sad Fairy Tale* could be so rotten.

So much so that the "brushed good reviews" completely became an act of "there is no three hundred taels of silver buried here," and it offended Enlight for no reason.

"Got it, you go and tell Shishi, let her not make any response to this film.

Push away all media interviews. This month, try to keep a low profile, wait for the film to leave theaters……"

This is Cai Yinong's method of handling it: silence, wait for the wind to pass before talking.

At that time, use some water armies, find a topic to hype it up, if it really doesn't work, find a first-line female star to step on, and Liu Shishi will still be that Tang Ren's top sister, a first-line female actor.

"Okay, President Cai."

……

Ye Ning's phone call came, they planned to prepare a film and asked Lin Nan if he wanted to participate.

"Chairman Ye, you should first talk about what the project is. Asking me if I want to join as soon as you come up, I'm very confused!"

Lin Nan joked with a smile.

"Eh, could I possibly fool Lin Dao? It's definitely a good project, the male actor is big enough, and he is willing to lower his salary……"

Next, he listened to Ye Ning rambling for half an hour.

The script is being perfected, the male and female leads have been decided, and relevant departments will also participate in the filming and promotion.

The more Lin Nan listened, the more familiar he felt. Relevant departments? Which department?

"The female lead wouldn't be Tiantian, right?"

Lin Nan asked tentatively, subconsciously.

"Haha, Lin Dao is wise, the female lead is Tiantian."

Good grief, Lin Nan didn't know what to say; it's another film!

…………

(End of chapter)