Chapter 434

After several years, Director Feng Feng Xiaogang returns to the New Year slot with a comedy. "Private Customization" earned 71.5 million yuan on its opening day.

Media coverage once again demonstrated Feng's comedy dominance and combat power in the New Year slot.

With still over a month left until the New Year slot, producers of films yet to be released or about to be released were all on edge, under immense pressure.

Because market feedback indicated that "Private Customization" had already bared its fangs as the undisputed box office king of the New Year slot.

On the other hand, whether among industry actors and artists or online audiences and fans, most evaluations were highly positive.

The former might have been influenced by their desire to flatter Huayi and Feng Feng Xiaogang.

But the latter group gave praise solely because they had watched a genuinely excellent film.

After all, it's a comedy—expectations can't be too high. As long as it's not clichéd or forced for laughs, even if the plot is front-heavy and weak at the end, audiences will still accept it readily.

Moreover, "Private Customization" incorporated many sharp real-world issues, paired with a group of professional actors, truly offering a refreshing experience.

Especially its lines quickly spread and became hot topics on Weibo:

…

"If you were a driver, you could pay homage; now that you're a leader, you can't. You can only have one belief."

"If you really want to pay homage, wait until closing time—I'll sneak you in."

"I never accepted anything from them—how did they know I don't take bribes?"

"Don't claim 'water too clear has no fish'—don't shut me out; let society's corrupt ways blow in."

"I can refuse, but they can't stop offering!"

"Is this bribery? Or are you just asking me to do you a favor?"

"Testing cadres like this? Which cadre couldn't withstand such a test?"

"Keep enduring for a few more years—when your hormones stop secreting entirely, you'll finally settle down…"

"You donated a billion—why not donate a car?"

"—Because I really do own a car."

"Keep working hard—next year, I'll find you a wife."

…

Undoubtedly, the most striking part of this film was Fan Wei's performance.

As netizens put it: "Power, fame, money, relationships, beauty… one of these will corrupt you!"

Indeed, Fan Wei's character—a driver obsessed with becoming a high-ranking official—ultimately fell for Li Xue Xiaolu's beauty.

Unlike most audiences' praise, film critics found new work to do.

Strangely enough, every time Feng Feng Xiaogang releases a film, critics bash him.

Only during "1942" did the criticism lessen slightly—but they still criticized.

In their words, "Private Customization" was merely a castrated version, a full copy wearing the shell of "Goodbye Mr. Loser."

This film was Feng Feng Xiaogang's greedy, shoddy, money-grabbing trash.

Feng Feng Xiaogang had become a target for reputation-building, relentlessly attacked and insulted by the critic corps.

True, Feng himself made this film purely to make quick money, to offset the losses from "1942."

He was willing to endure audience criticism, because audiences were spending money to bash him—he accepted it.

But critics? He wouldn't tolerate them.

There are wrong names, but no wrong nicknames.

At eight a. m., "Little Cannon" posted seven Weibo messages in a row, rebutting and retorting one by one:

"Audiences bash me—I accept it. What are you, big-tailed wolves?"

"You watch free movies, even get paid, yet your criticism misses the point entirely—uneducated, what the hell do you know…"

"Over the years, how many of you have lived off me—how did I end up raising these ungrateful sons?"

…

Thus, Feng Feng Xiaogang fought a one-man war against the critic corps, with countless netizens cheering him on.

This back-and-forth drama delighted everyone in the film industry—brilliant!

Opening day: 71.5 million yuan. Second day: 71.1 million yuan. Third day: 98.86 million yuan. Fourth day: 72.86 million yuan!

Thus, "Private Customization" earned 314 million yuan in its first weekend.

The media and film industry were stunned—not because this opening weekend figure was extraordinary, but because of the daily box office numbers.

Media reported consecutively for two days:

"On the third day of release, Saturday, 'Private Customization' set a new domestic box office record with 98.86 million yuan daily, surpassing Lin Nan's directorial work 'The Girl on the Train,' which held the previous record of 78.05 million yuan."

Even after two days, insiders still couldn't believe the record had been broken.

Many still tagged Lin Nan on Weibo, jokingly asking what he thought.

What could Lin Nan think?

He had merely "slipped his finger" and reposted another trending movie news item.

"Lin Nan's directorial work, 'The Invisible Guest,' has been screening in North America for three weeks, with cumulative box office reaching $194.1 million, nearing the $200 million mark."

Although North America doesn't have strict release window restrictions like China.

But box office trends are the same everywhere—daily earnings decline steadily, and when revenue dries up, theaters naturally pull the film.

As Tom told Lin Nan, daily earnings had already dropped to just over three million dollars, and would fall below one million by early next month.

…

The 23rd, around four p. m.

"Aren't you two coming with me?"

Lin Nan stood at the door, asking Liu Liu Yifei and Watching Shu Chang for the second time.

"Not going, I'm busy."

Miss Liu raised her head with a sweet smile and refused outright.

"Right, not going."

Shu Chang chimed in as well, "Ah, Liu Qianqian, save me."

"Are you stupid? Run over here to me."

Watching the two of them bicker back and forth, Lin Nan smiled and shook his head — the online game business?

"Fine, I'll go alone."

After saying that, Lin Nan headed to the garage.

At the box office, *Personal Tailor* pulled far ahead of the pack.

Tonight, after the premiere of *New Police Story 2013* wraps up, it will also join the New Year film season battlefield tomorrow.

After all, Lin Nan had invested thirty million, so he definitely had to show his support.

It was December, and night fell early.

Around a little past five, close to six, Lin Nan arrived at Wanda Cinema — the sky had already gone dark.

But this was the capital, and the city's brilliant lights reflected off the sky overhead, giving it an unnatural glow.

Wanda, a galaxy of stars, Lin Nan Pictures, a subordinate unit of the Ministry of Public Security… Jackie Chan, Miss Jing Tian, Liu Ye…

With a lineup like this, the number of industry insiders showing up was practically countless.

When Lin Nan walked the red carpet alone, reporters even pressed him on why Liu Liu Yifei hadn't come.

He nearly replied, "She's at home fighting monsters, leveling up, and doing quests!"

Wanda's gesture was quite grand — the entire cinema had been closed since noon for the evening premiere.

"Oh, isn't this our director from the two-hundred-million-US-dollar box-office club? Just waiting for tomorrow's noon data update!"

With Ning Hao's joking remark, a large crowd of industry people began congratulating Lin Nan.

"Keep it low-key, keep it low-key."

Although *Bad Genius*'s box office, converted, exceeded two hundred million US dollars, *The Invisible Guest* was different.

The latter had been released in North America, with the box office calculated directly in US dollars — among mainland directors, Lin Nan was indeed the first.

"Lin Dao, why are you alone today? Where's Liu Yifei?"

Jackie Chan led Miss Jing Tian and the rest of the main creative team over.

"Big Brother Lin."

Lin Nan nodded at Miss Jing Tian, then looked at Jackie Chan and said solemnly, "She's busy with something else with Shu Chang."

"Big Brother, Tiantian, you two should go entertain the other guests — you don't need to worry about me."

"Haha, you're the producer, of course you don't need entertaining."

Jackie Chan laughed and teased. After the group chatted for four or five minutes, he led the main creative team away.

Lin Nan had come tonight with no intention of socializing — he was purely here to watch the movie and eat.

Ning Hao was also a focal point of the event — *No Man's Land* had been out twenty days and wrapped up with 260 million at the box office, a big win.

"This one looks like she's forcing a smile, doesn't she?"

Seeing Zhong Zhong Lifang turn and walk away, Lin Nan only then stepped forward and asked.

"Pony has only one week left. In just this short while, she's already met with several giants — Huayi, Bona, Orange Sky, and others."

Ning Hao glanced around and said quietly:

"No one's willing to help — it'd be good enough if they didn't kick her when she's down. Half an hour ago, Wang Wang Zhonglei, right in front of everyone, directly invited Zhong Zhong Lifang to join Huayi, with shares and all."

"So she turned him down?"

Ning Hao nodded. "Pretty decisively — she said Director Li trusts him a lot, and there's no way he'd jump ship."

"Quite a temper. But a week from now, she'll most likely be saddled with over a billion in cash debt." Lin Nan muttered with a smile.

After hanging out in a corner cracking sunflower seeds with Ning Hao for a while, the premiere began.

In the front row, there were two officials in uniform — they were here to show support.

Lin Nan and Ning Hao's seats were next to each other, and the two stared at the big screen, ready to see this "custom-made film."

As time ticked by second by second, Lin Nan could only sigh — sure enough, this had absolutely nothing to do with the old *Police Story* series.

This was a purely domestic police film, with a lot more helplessness and constraints.

Jackie Chan was no longer that "leaping across rooftops," kung-fu-flipping Chan Ka-kei, but Miss Jing Tian's crying scenes were actually pretty good.

"They'll buy out the house, right?" Ning Hao asked in a low voice.

"How would I know, but probably — there'll be some accommodation."

Lin Nan glanced at the two in uniform, feeling sixty to seventy percent confident.

"Tsk tsk tsk, wouldn't that be a guaranteed profit…"

The movie ended quickly, without the usual media Q&A session. Walking out of the theater, the banquet outside was already ready.

What came next — socializing or a proper meal — depended on each person's own choice.

Lin Nan didn't care about any of that. He found a quiet corner and sat down.

At the banquet, the ones always bustling about with smiles on their faces were, as always, mostly the actors. But seeing Lin Nan's unapproachable look, none of them dared come over and bother him.

Rarely, Lin Nan ate a peaceful meal.

He watched the clock, got up and left before 10 p. m., declining Ye Ning and the others' attempts to keep him.

……

The next morning, Monday's box office data was reported.

*Personal Tailor*'s daily box office plummeted from 72.86 million to 32.65 million.

Even considering the reason for entering the weekly cycle, this drop is indeed quite alarming.

Clearly, the verbal battle between Feng Feng Xiaogang and the film critics has brought some negative impact.

Huayi, Chairman's Office, the atmosphere here is somewhat oppressive at this moment.

Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei's faces were not very good, but not because of the daily box office.

"Private Customization is a blockbuster for the New Year's holiday season; even with the release of that New Police Story 2013, it couldn't pose a threat. It fully meets the hard requirements, but..."

Wang Wang Zhonglei spoke halfway and couldn't continue.

On the second day of the film's release, he went to the Film Bureau to apply for an extended secret key for Private Customization, for a period of one month.

He originally thought this matter was a sure thing, but the notice from the Film Bureau this morning was: Rejected!

"The box office data for films already released during the New Year's holiday season are all displayed online; we have no rivals," Wang Wang Zhongjun said coldly.

"But the Film Bureau's notice is right here too, rejecting the extended secret key application, with reasons given: conditions not met! And they don't even clarify which condition isn't met?"

Wang Wang Zhonglei cursed on his lips, but he knew clearly in his heart that this was just a casual excuse given at will, impossible to question.

Lin Nan sat in the office yawning, on the desk was a printed list of actors and a stack of actor profiles.

This was sent by Hou Hou Hongliang this morning, just printed out.

Lin Nan was used to reading paper versions; it was comfortable for the eyes, not the electronic version.

"This is their finalized casting list. To be honest, if there were no personal connections involved in this, I wouldn't believe it."

Yue Jun stood opposite the desk, leaning forward and pointing with his finger at the very first entry on the finalized casting list, joking with a smile.

Lin Nan also smiled. "It is quite... something."

Looking at the finalized casting list, Liu Tao would play Princess Princess Nihuang and would also have to call Hu Ge "Brother Lin Shu."

This person already looked older than her age, and in reality, she was four years older than Hu Ge.

This made Lin Nan subconsciously think of another legendary figure, Liu Zuo Xiaoqing.

"Sss, giving me goosebumps."

"Haha, I'm reminded again of when she announced in front of the media that she was quitting the entertainment industry to devote herself entirely to her husband and children," Yue Jun laughed.

Lin Nan thought about the familiar artists around him.

Alright, he had to admit one thing: even if he wanted to replace her, there really was no candidate available for the time being.

"Lin Dao, should this list be approved or not? I need to reply to them."

"Wait a bit first."

Lin Nan once again topped the media headlines, becoming the most conspicuous figure in the industry.

"Lin Dao Nan's work, The Invisible Guest, has been released in the North American film market for 23 days; the box office has officially broken 200 million, closing at 202.1 million US dollars..."

"The Academy Awards are about to enter the nomination voting phase..."

This time it was truly different; before, Lin Nan had the title of an international great director only by virtue of the Golden Lion and Silver Bear trophies.

And now, he had added the most important actual box office achievement, crossing the threshold of 200 million US dollars in the North American film market, truly making it complete.

To say something not modest, he was now absolutely the most dazzling director in the domestic film circle.

Although there was still a Palme d'Or ahead of him, Lin Nan believed he was young; sooner or later, he would defeat Chen Chen Kaige!

(End of this chapter)