Chapter 680: No Reminder!

Zhang Zhang Yimou's joy was something the entire film and television industry could see.

Because he, who had always been unusually low-key, this year actually agreed to let his studio and Chen Ting update photos from his birthday banquet directly on the official Weibo and his personal Weibo, and it was a full-family appearance.

Countless industry insiders knew that the National Teacher's unprecedented willingness to share these was ultimately because he had just become an individual shareholder of LeTV, stepping into the ranks of capital, with his net worth soaring!

And under Chen Ting's Weibo post that read "Last year's birthday, 'The Great Wall' was filming; this year's birthday, 'The Great Wall' is in post-production; been busy for nearly two years, happy birthday, wishing 'The Great Wall' a big hit," nearly the entire film and entertainment circle was playing along, wishing 'The Great Wall' a box-office smash and Zhang Zhang Yimou a happy birthday.

Because in everyone's eyes, Zhang Zhang Yimou was no longer simply a top-tier director—he was also capital: therefore, this flattery had to be laid on even more enthusiastically.

And unlike the low-key, unsociable Director Zhang, the director's wife happened to be a rare breakthrough point—after all, she always liked posting some Weibo related to the National Teacher whether she had something to do or not!

"That's why, after Zhang Zhang Yimou split from Gong Li, he married Chen Ting. Because she's a very traditional Chinese woman, doesn't make trouble, wife follows husband as the guiding principle, Director Zhang is her heaven…"

After returning from the company in the morning, Lin Nan suddenly remembered something equally important; but when he called Wang Wang Changtian, the latter started rambling again.

Wang Wang Changtian's words so startled Director Lin, who was on speakerphone, that he hurriedly looked left and right behind him… New-era women can't stand hearing such dregs as "wife follows husband as the guiding principle."

"Director Wang, I was preparing to talk to you about the movie's release schedule—how did you veer off into whether Director Zhang is an extreme male chauvinist? Do you have a bias against us northwestern men?"

"Hey hey, don't pin labels on me, I was just analyzing, wasn't it because the news online is all about Zhang Zhang Yimou celebrating his birthday in Hollywood? Fine, fine, which movie's release schedule did you want to talk about?"

Wang Wang Changtian chuckled and changed the subject, asking.

"Didn't you say before that once 'I Belonged to You' wrapped, you'd set the release for the second half of the year?"

"Yes, this film's production cycle is very short, putting it in the second half of the year is just right."

"Second half of the year is fine, but absolutely don't go to the New Year slot." Lin Nan instructed very solemnly.

"Wasn't planning to go to the New Year slot, the marketing department's plan is the National Day slot. This kind of small-scale romantic comedy, if it goes into the New Year slot, wouldn't it get crushed until not even bone fragments remain? Pure cannon fodder!"

"That's good, that's good. National Day slot is quite suitable, just go head-to-head against that 'L. O. R. D'." Hearing Wang Wang Changtian's words, Lin Nan finally felt a bit relieved.

"Why do you say that? Did something happen?"

"I was originally planning to put 'Operation Operation Meigonghe' into the National Day slot too!"

"What kind of good is that?" Wang Wang Changtian got anxious.

"Don't panic. Yesterday morning it was just changed to the New Year slot, it's the Bureau's intention! That's why I'm reminding you, to stagger the schedule with 'Operation Operation Meigonghe'."

Wang Wang Changtian immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but before he could speak Lin Nan added: "As far as I know, that 'Railway Tigers' is also in the New Year slot."

In an instant, the other end of the phone went dead silent; after a long while, Wang Wang Changtian's voice came through, but his tone had become much more serious:

"Not remind them? But if we do remind them, it doesn't seem appropriate either? What's the thinking?"

What was Lin Nan thinking? He had thought about it for a long time at the company yesterday morning.

"Not reminding! The year before last, Ren Dong and Cheng held a 'Hongmen Banquet' for me after the General Administration's conference; out of courtesy, I just let it go, anyway it had nothing to do with me at the time.

Later Ren Dong consulted me about any good suggestions for 'Railway Tigers' release schedule, and I said it to his face—not publicly reporting or boycotting them was already the utmost benevolence.

Reminding them now, what would that count as? Since they dare to film and dare to release publicly, they should be mentally prepared to face all negative pressure and censure from top to bottom after release… can't hide from it."

Lin Nan was right, 'Railway Tigers' couldn't hide—couldn't hide from public opinion, and even less from above…

"True, not reminding is right. But, hehe, now the New Year slot will have quite a show to watch."

Wang Wang Changtian smacked his lips, quipping. A moment later, he became serious again:

"After they publicly set their schedule, we'll set ours, making our stance clear.

The funniest part is still Shanghai Film Group—both the main controller of 'Railway Tigers' and a participating investor in 'Operation Operation Meigonghe', though only 5%… just wait to be criticized!"

Over half an hour later, Lin Nan had just put down his phone when he saw Liu Liu Yifei stepping in on high heels, returning from outside.

In a white casual suit, carrying a bag, hair in a bun, she looked like a career woman coming home from work, an urban beauty, yet full of youthful energy.

"Neither Wu nor Xie Nan offered to keep you for lunch?"

"No. Wu was busy packing, leaving tomorrow to lead the team abroad for training. I didn't want to be a third wheel and disturb the couple too much."

Liu Liu Yifei put her bag on the table, took off her jacket, squeezed over to Lin Nan's side and leaned against him, very languid.

"I originally thought they wouldn't depart until mid-month."

Lin Nan smiled and shook his head, the scale of 'Wolf Warrior 2' was far greater than 'Wolf Warrior'. Wu had thrown away all pride and obtained enormous support from the military.

"Here, look at the news, when I left Dengfeng International, they had just contacted our three companies, the joint cast announcement should have been issued by now."

While speaking, Miss Liu had even kicked off her high heels, curling up entirely on the sofa.

Lin Nan swiped his tablet, and sure enough, news of 'Wolf Warrior 2' had dropped onto the Weibo hot search list.

"This morning, Hongxingwu, Enlight Pictures, Dengfeng International Pictures, and Lin Nan Pictures issued a joint announcement:

Directed by Director Wu, starring Wu, Frank Grillo, Lu Lu Jingshan, Wu Gang, Yu Nan, Yu Wan Qian, and others, with an investment of up to 200 million RMB, the military-themed commercial blockbuster 'Wolf Warrior 2' will depart today for abroad… to conduct 30-60 days of military-style training and familiarization with filming locations…"

……

China Film.

If there was no work matter, Li An rarely ran around, let alone coming to China Film.

"The last film was 'Life of Pi', which was released domestically in November, let's put this one in November too, Director La?"

As an international top director with two Golden Bears, two Golden Lions, and two Academy Awards for Best Director, Li An's opinion naturally drew no objection from La La Peikang.

"Mm, that's fine. As for the forum you mentioned, Director Li?"

"Yes, Director La. I hope China Film can cooperate with me in sending a letter of intent to Beijing Film Academy, to hold a 'Directors' Forum' at the film academy, inviting the country's best film directors to exchange on new film technologies… it's also to build momentum for the film's promotion…"

"No problem, this is a good thing. Nearly eighty or ninety percent of the country's top directors came from Beijing Film Academy, holding the 'Directors' Forum' there is just right. I imagine the school would be very happy too."

Shortly after La La Peikang saw Li An out of the office, his secretary came hurrying over with a look of delight.

"Director La, Zhang Zhang Yimou's director studio called, the post-production of 'The Great Wall' was completely finished a few hours ago. Emails from Universal Pictures and Legendary Entertainment should arrive soon."

"Good!"

La La Peikang couldn't help but exclaim at the news, a smile spreading across his face.

'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' and 'The Great Wall', two blockbusters, were the biggest "achievements" in his hands, and both would debut this year.

"Confirm the global distribution arrangements with Universal and Legendary, as well as the scheduling for the two largest film markets in the world—the Chinese-language film market and the North American market. Try to release simultaneously during the domestic New Year slot…"

"Understood, Director La."

Watching the secretary turn and leave, Beside La La Peikang still couldn't hide his excitement; he was counting on these two top-tier blockbusters from top directors with global theatrical releases to give him, and China Film, some face!

The more he thought about it, the more excited he got; La La Peikang was practically unable to wait. "It's fine even without Pacific Rim 2 — these two alone are more than enough! Heh-heh…"

……

Of the few films released on April Fool's Day, only My Grandpa the Spy Agent and Chongqing Hot Pot had box-office numbers worth looking at.

The former posted 168 million over its opening three-day weekend, the latter 140 million. As for the other films, they were all just background filler and cannon fodder.

Then again, the TV drama market — that was far more interesting.

Hu Ge and his ex-girlfriend Jiang Jiang Shuying's Eleven Shuttles could truly be called miserable to the extreme.

After all, in real life everyone already agreed that when she filmed this drama, the woman was just riding on the man's fame; the moment she used his reputation to skyrocket her own status, she immediately broke up.

Under that kind of public consensus, how many people would be willing to watch a TV drama where those two show off their love? Everyone felt it was fake and disgusting!

And Tang Ren was unquestionably dragged down — this soccer-themed drama might not even recoup its costs; the odds of losing money were very, very high.

Then there was the one starring Lin Gengxin and South Korean Girls' Generation's Im Yoon-ah, God of War Zhao Zilong;

Good lord, online it was genuinely a chorus of cursing!

The gaudy costumes, props, and completely brain-dead plot could truly be said to have blinded the eyes of countless history buffs. Of course, fanatics excluded.

Time moved on to the morning of the 5th.

A public notice from the Film Bureau shot straight to the top of Weibo's trending searches, dropping onto the headlines of every major entertainment section.

The long low-key, long-concealed Pacific Rim 2 project was officially revealed before the entire Chinese-language film, television, and entertainment industry.

"Reposted from the Film Bureau's official website, co-production public notice:

Submitted for filing by Western Film, jointly produced by Western Film, Enlight Pictures, Wanda, Crystal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Lionsgate, with an investment of 165 million US dollars, the China-US co-produced sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim 2 has been successfully filed and is hereby approved for project establishment…"

"It is reported that the predecessor to Pacific Rim 2, Pacific Rim, was made with an investment of 160 million US dollars. Since its theatrical release in January '12, it has been four years to date. It once raked in 1.42 billion yuan at the domestic box office… worldwide box office has so far broken past 750 million US dollars, approaching 800 million…

The previous lineup of producers was: Lin Nan Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Lionsgate, China Film, Wanda! The Chinese-side key creative personnel were: lead actors Miss Jing Tian and Zhang Yi, assistant director Guo Fan…"

"The producer lineup for the China-US co-produced blockbuster Pacific Rim 2 has undergone a major shake-up, inevitably sparking speculation… This co-production film project, prior to today, was kept under the tightest secrecy, with not a whisper leaked…"

……