Chapter 553: Chinatown

Five months later, the entertainment industry once again witnessed what a "superstar" of the new era is, and what "fan mobilization power" truly means!

Following Wu Wu Yifan's return to the country in mid-May, a second member of the top Asian boy group EXO has filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment.

Similarly, he left without saying goodbye, "snuck" back to the country, and then filed a lawsuit in Seoul citing personal health and limited development opportunities.

The demands were exactly the same: the exclusive agency contract with SM Entertainment is invalid, and an unconditional termination is requested. It almost perfectly replicated Wu Wu Yifan's "breakup mode"!

A single Weibo post saying "I'm home" sent millions of fans into a frenzy; the post shot straight to the top of the Weibo hot search list, with traffic figures that left people stunned.

Even the Weibo servers were running at full capacity! One can only imagine how explosive he is and how massive the fan market is!

The moment the news spread, the domestic entertainment industry was rocked, and the media erupted in shock.

Film companies, entertainment firms, and agencies within the industry all turned their heads, eyes gleaming green, ready to offer olive branches.

The treatment Lu Han received was no less than what Wu Wu Yifan enjoyed initially, and perhaps even more!

Since the industry had already proven the former's market value, the latter's was self-evident.

Lu Han, likewise an "idol superstar" of the fan market, an unparalleled sweet potato!

Veterans and top-tier stars in the domestic film and entertainment circles could not help but sigh with emotion and envy the massive fan market scale and astonishing fan mobilization power possessed by these "young people."

Because in the film and entertainment industry, market presence determines status; this is the iron rule of the film and entertainment sector in the internet age.

Without a doubt, another twenty-something super A-list idol superstar is about to emerge within the industry!

"SM Entertainment is really in a sorry state. They call the shots in the South Korean entertainment industry, but the ones who 'don't listen' happen to be of Chinese descent and Chinese nationals. Backed by the mainland market and the nation, they dare not offend them, hehe."

Yue Jun's words were spot on; the unwritten rules in the South Korean entertainment industry are even more extreme, with nothing they can't think of or pull off.

However, they dare not exploit foreign artists too much, because if something goes wrong, the impact would be huge.

"Nowadays, everything is about traffic; his traffic is indeed terrifying. The top of the Weibo list, I'm afraid he'll dominate it for several days, and the hot search will likely hold for ten days or half a month, right?"

Lin Nan said with interest and a smile.

"By the way, is Wu Wu Ershan at Tiangong Color right now?"

"Yes. The team has confirmed that the post-production editing and special effects for 'The Mummy' will take at least half a year.

Since Huang Huang Xiaoming and the others have many schedules, the wrap party was cancelled. Therefore, Director Wu Wu Ershan came to the company early this morning and has already started working."

"Mm, as long as it has started, that's good. I estimate it will be released in the second half of next year."

Regarding the post-production period of over half a year, Lin Nan had no objections.

'The Mummy' is inherently a special effects film; under its bizarre and fantastical background story, the strange and unpredictable special effects shots and visuals are its biggest selling point.

The final film quality must not be perfunctory to the audience, or it would be a desecration of the major IP 'Ghost Blows Out the Light'. The result would certainly be Lin Nan Pictures being besieged and cursed by a large number of fans!

Therefore, spending more time and effort on post-production to achieve the highest possible quality is completely necessary and appropriate.

Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' was officially released today; numerous domestic films were on high alert and had already been affected.

However, according to data from the cinema chains, the screening rate for 'Love Is Not Blind' was not reduced too much, still maintaining a share of just over 20%.

The 1 billion box office threshold is absolutely unable to stop 'Love Is Not Blind'. As for how high it can ultimately climb to over ten billion? That can only be done by doing one's best and leaving the rest to fate. Anyway, 2 billion is definitely out of the question!

Sure enough, around noon, Ning Hao called in a panic. The meaning was simple: he asked Lin Nan to help shout and promote immediately.

After all, it was a film invested in and co-produced by their own side, so of course Lin Nan would not refuse.

However, after he posted on Weibo and waved the flag to cheer, he suddenly noticed the promotional press release from Tang Ren; Hu Ge and others were all reposting and promoting with great effort.

"Starring renowned actress and one of the Four Little Flower Dancers, Liu Liu Shishi, the Sino-Japanese co-production film 'Five Minutes Before Midnight' is set to be released domestically on the 23rd..."

"Tang Ren's number one, Liu Liu Shishi, makes her debut on the international stage, joining hands with a Japanese director and actors to appear at the Busan International Film Festival..."

To be honest, Lin Nan approved of Tang Ren's spirit of "working desperately" and "forcefully promoting their number one."

It's just that a Sino-Japanese co-production? It sounds like there's no desire for it.

Moreover, a good Japanese drama film cannot be supported by Tang Ren's number one. Her acting skills? Well, hehe.

Zhang Zhang Yimou's Studio.

Looking at the equity transfer contract before him, Old Lao Mouzi rarely showed a smile.

After cooperating with Zhang Zhang Weiping for sixteen years, the other party had never been as generous as Le Shi this time!

"Director Zhang, as long as you take on 'The Great Wall', this equity transfer agreement with an additional fifty percent can be signed by both parties immediately, taking effect and going public. And the price you need to pay is merely the lowest internal price.

You must know that Director Lin Nan initially only received 8 million shares of Huayi, but that market valuation was hundreds of millions! Once Le Shi Pictures goes public, its market value will absolutely not be lower than Huayi's!"

When Zhang Zhao came over yesterday, he didn't bring any "chips," so nothing was decided.

After returning, he discussed it with Jia Jia Yueting, so today he specifically brought the equity agreement and came over again.

Zhang Zhang Yimou didn't respond but instead flipped through the contract before him.

For the past thirty years, he had been making films and didn't think too much. Now that he has reached this age, although his energy is still good, he cannot think only of films; the times have long changed. The matter with Zhang Zhang Weiping taught him that money is also a very important thing.

"One thousand..."

"How about this figure? Once Le Shi Pictures goes public, the shares held by Director Zhang will be worth at least hundreds of millions, or even over a billion! This is also one of the conditions we promised when Director Zhang initially signed with Le Shi, namely the share allocation, which can now be combined."

Seeing that number, Zhang Zhang Yimou was indeed tempted.

He closed the agreement in his hand, as if making a momentous decision, and finally nodded.

"President Zhang, you can reply to China Film. I am willing to take on the role of director for 'The Great Wall'. I hope China Film, Legendary, and Universal Pictures can provide all the necessary support."

Hearing Old Lao Mouzi's words, Zhang Zhao was instantly overjoyed.

Zhang Zhang Yimou's agreement meant that Le Shi could secure an investment share in 'The Great Wall' as well as the domestic distribution business.

And the valuation of Le Shi Pictures and the stock price of its parent company, Le Shi Network, would also soar!

"Good, Director Zhang can find a lawyer to carefully check the contract; we will sign today."

Zhang Zhao said excitedly, while Zhang Zhang Yimou nodded with a smile on his face.

At the same time, the former was also mocking Lin Nan in his heart:

"Truly brain-damaged. As the director's top choice for the Chairman, yet he gave up such a huge cake! Hehe. But giving it up is good! If he hadn't given it up, where would Le Shi's opportunity come from?"

Placing the outline of "Pacific Rim 2" into the safe, Lin Nan paused for a moment.

From that stack of outlines inside, he pulled out a manuscript.

"'Detective Chinatown'... I've been overusing my brain with 'Pacific Rim 2' these past two days; I'll perfect you later when I find time. The end of the year will be busy, and I don't know if there will be time to start in the first half of next year? I need to calculate, and also avoid the period before and after the wedding..."

Just as Lin Nan was muttering, the mobile phone on the office desk suddenly began to buzz.

He put the outline of "Detective Chinatown" back into the safe, then closed it. Then, in a cheerful mood, he answered the call, because it was Liu Liu Yifei calling back.

"Resting at this hour?" Lin Nan looked at his wristwatch; it was half past two in the afternoon.

"Mm, the press conference just ended an hour ago. Guess what I'm doing right now?"

Miss Liu's crisp voice came through, her tone carrying a touch of playfulness.

"How would I know? At the hotel? Shopping? Or perhaps preparing to return to the country early?"

"Ah, Director Lin guessed correctly, but there's no reward. I'm in the car heading to the airport, hehe..."

This time Lin Nan was truly stunned.

He remembered that Liu Liu Yifei's October schedule did not include the domestic region? Unless she returned early at the end of October after finishing the promotion.

"You're not fooling me, right? Actors who lie to directors will have to accept punishment upon return!"

"Tsk, who's afraid of whom."

Hearing Liu Liu Yifei's tsundere tone, Lin Nan could imagine her little expression at this moment.

Definitely arms crossed or hands on hips, looking down on people with an eye-roll, and even a side-eye!

"Our next stop was originally the Fushan Film Festival, but Warner felt the place was too chaotic, so they changed the itinerary to Hong Kong Island. However, the schedule is tight, with no time to go home again."

"Hong Kong Island?"

Hearing this location, Lin Nan couldn't help but frown. These past two days, things over in Hong Kong Island have been quite unstable.

"You'll see the news there in a bit; it's been a bit chaotic recently, with many Hong Kong circle artists making brainless statements and taking sides. Even Brother Jackie Chan's very normal appeal statement got blasted."

"When the crew goes over for promotion, you must absolutely avoid falling for some reporters' traps, especially regarding recent events; do not touch them." Lin Nan solemnly instructed Liu Liu Yifei.

"Hehe, Director Lin Da, you're underestimating me too much! These years, my public statements have been much more steady than yours!"

Miss Liu retorted very indignantly. Only then did Lin Nan realize belatedly that Liu Liu Yifei seems to be more steady and have a greater sense of the big picture in public occasions than him. This must be due to the disparity in family background?!

"Fine, you are steadier than me."

"That's more like it, hehe."

Deng Chao, Especially Reba, Wang Wang Baoqiang, Chen He, Zhang Jin, Sha Yi, Zheng Kai, and several others were all reposting the Blueberry Channel's information about "Running Man" Season 1 officially premiering tonight; countless fans responded to the news, interacting and leaving comments.

From the project's initiation and public announcement of "Running Man" at the beginning of the year, to just a few hours away from broadcast now, a full eight months have passed!

The related topics and discussion volume online also reached their peak at this moment.

The domestic version of "Running Man" is undoubtedly one of the very top tier in the mainland variety show field.

Industry peers and countless eyes are watching, waiting to "weigh" the substance of "Running Man" tonight, to see what kind of thing Lin Nan Pictures and Light Media actually made?

The joint announcement from Le Shi Pictures and Zhang Zhang Yimou's Studio suddenly came out, catching the entire industry somewhat off guard.

Everyone's first reaction was: From now on, Le Shi will be completely tied to Zhang Zhang Yimou! Just like the relationship between Huayi and Feng Feng Xiaogang, a deep-level interest binding!

Lin Nan also glanced at the news and couldn't help but sigh, "Director Zhang..."

I can never understand those people who "kindly suggest authors finish their works"!

(End of this chapter)