Chapter 684: The Defense, Chen Hong Visits Enlightened Media

On the morning of the 13th, a piece of film industry news landed directly on the front pages of major portals, dominating the Weibo hot search rankings.

For the entire Chinese-language film industry, a giant beast had locked down and occupied the New Year's Day slot more than half a year in advance;

It laid the pressure bare upon all competitors, its posture full of disdain, its aura of intimidation maxed out!

"Jointly produced by Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures, China Film Group, and Le Vision Pictures, directed by Zhang Zhang Yimou, starring Matt Damon, Miss Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, and Zhang Zhang Hanyu;

With an investment of 150 million USD, a China-US co-production, a 3D epic in the genres of period costume, action, adventure, and fantasy, 'The Great Wall' is officially scheduled for domestic release on December 15, ahead of the North American film market..."

When Lin Nan saw the relevant news online, he couldn't help but admire China Film Group's maneuvering.

To be honest, scheduling 'The Great Wall' for the New Year's Day slot at this moment meant it had seized every advantage.

Because of its extremely luxurious lineup of producers, creative team, and investment scale, this film was like a fierce, man-eating tiger descending the mountain;

And those production companies intending to enter the New Year's Day slot, without exception, all had to consider a question in advance: would they fail to snatch food from the tiger's mouth and instead be devoured?

Ordinary low-to-mid-budget films need not be mentioned; it didn't matter, because they were originally meant to eat leftovers;

But those slightly higher-budget or large-scale productions absolutely had to seriously consider whether to avoid 'The Great Wall's' sharp edge.

But this certainly did not include Lin Nan! Setting aside his confidence in 'Operation Operation Mekong River', just speaking of special treatment, he had great confidence.

Lin Nan saw the Weibo post forwarded by Miss Jing Tian promoting 'The Great Wall'; she was the legitimate female lead.

"By the way, this should be my second face-off with Director Zhang, right? Although the release dates differ by 18 days, they are still both in the New Year's Day slot, so there will be a direct clash!"

"It is the second time; the first was 'Coming Home' and 'The Invisible Guest'. What kind of memory do you have?" Liu Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at Director Lin Da and stated very definitely.

Lin Nan responded with a smile, changing the subject and teasing:

"This year's New Year's Day slot is destined to be bloody; later we'll just see which self-overestimating fools will voluntarily enter the game to seek death?"

Seeing Lin Nan still joking around here, Liu Liu Yifei couldn't help but knock on the table. "You have your defense the day after tomorrow; why not hurry up and finish your thesis? Still playing?"

"Liu Qianqian, we're not in a rush; my thesis will be done very quickly, I can finish it this afternoon. I just don't need to revise the first draft; a group of judges don't have as much authority to speak as I do!"

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Liu Liu Yifei immediately laughed, feeling that Lin Nan was being a bit bullying.

Approaching noon, the name 'Iron Tiger' appeared in the completed film public notice file on the Film Bureau's official website.

An extremely simple introduction allowed the media to see only that it was jointly produced by Shanghai Film Group and Yaowei Pictures, and that the starring cast consisted of Jackie Chan, Huang Huang Zitao, Wang Kai, and Wang Dalu.

The list of supporting roles like Xu was completely absent; the matter of Andy Lau's cameo was even less known to anyone. The main focus was low-profile, low-profile, and even more low-profile!

And netizens and film fans across the entire network also learned for the first time that there was such a film?

Facing inquiries and probing from many media reporters, the attitude of Shanghai Film Group and Yaowei Pictures was very unified, namely: out of contact, no response whatsoever!

"The public notice passed review? That's really fast!"

Beside La La Peikang, smiling, muttered, his eyes glancing toward Ren Ren Zhonglun not far away at the cocktail party.

He looked forward to seeing how the authorities would react after the film's release, or rather, he looked forward to seeing what kind of "trouble" Ren Ren Zhonglun would have; but at the same time, he also knew that Ren Ren Zhonglun would not suffer serious damage, after all, the administrative level was there.

"Chairman La, I toast you."

Huang Huang Xiaoming, holding a wine glass, walked over with a face full of spring breeze. Hearing the voice, La La Peikang returned a smile: "'Tang Tang Xuanzang of the Great Tang' is only half a month away, right?"

"Yes, Chairman La."

Huang Huang Xiaoming nodded in agreement; this film was controlled by China Film Group, a project decided after the 'China-India Film Cooperation and Exchange Press Briefing', possessing a certain "mission" and "special significance".

"All the awards that can be entered domestically have been entered; for those not yet started, preparations for entry will be made later. Additionally, the Bureau has recently been preparing for the Oscar submission film; your film has a very high hope."

The phrase "very high hope" made Huang Huang Xiaoming immediately stand there stunned; a moment later, joy overflowed his expression.

An Oscar submission film, this was immense honor and a resume credential; if by chance... not to mention anything else, just saying if there were a nomination, that would be a huge profit!

"Chairman La, this..."

"Just wait; it won't be long, after all, the submission deadline is the end of September at the latest."

Glancing once more at Ren Ren Zhonglun and Jackie Chan in the distance, La La Peikang decisively ended the topic with Huang Huang Xiaoming and walked over there.

The latter stood alone on the spot, his mood even more pleasant. Because from the meaning in La La Peikang's words just now, Huang Huang Xiaoming could hear:

This "mission film", regardless of whether it can win awards abroad, domestically, the awards will not be few! And as the absolute lead, he was the inevitable beneficiary.

The defense for the promotion of associate professor titles in the Performance, Management, and Literature departments of the Beijing Film Academy had started successively from the 10th.

While Lin Nan was rushing to finish his thesis in the afternoon, he could occasionally receive messages from Lao Jiang;

Because he lacked "directorial achievements", he had already given up on the full professor title, but that didn't stop him from going to watch the spectacle.

In Lao Jiang's words, Lin Nan would become the youngest full professor at the Beijing Film Academy, and also the youngest and most undisputed full professor in all national art colleges.

The 13th passed in a rush.

On the 14th, due to Liu Liu Yifei's strong request, Lin Nan carefully proofread his thesis once.

Time flew, and it was already the morning of the 15th.

Miss Liu was even more concerned about his defense than Director Lin Da; she got up early to prepare, wanting to drive along to join the fun.

At eight o'clock sharp, Lin Nan got into the BMW driven by Liu Liu Yifei; it was better to keep a low profile today.

"Professor Lin, fasten your seatbelt; we're setting off."

Liu Liu Yifei put on wine-red sunglasses, then tied her long, loose hair into a ponytail, and immediately smiled and pouted at Lin Nan in the passenger seat.

Reflecting the morning sun outside the car window, Miss Liu's face appeared even more beautiful and bright; Lin Nan was almost dazzled.

"Okay, Princess Liu Qianqian."

With a press of the accelerator, the BMW shot forward.

Just past nine o'clock, Enlightened Media welcomed an unexpected guest.

Wang Wang Changtian had just finished brewing Pu'er tea when the secretary knocked on the door.

"Chairman Wang, Director Chen's wife is here and wishes to see you."

"Who?" Wang Wang Changtian didn't react for a moment and instinctively asked.

"Director Chen Chen Kaige's wife, Producer Chen."

"She doesn't have an appointment, does she?" Wang Wang Changtian asked, thinking it over.

"No. But your schedule — that's something anyone in the circle can find out." The secretary offered an explanation.

Wang Wang Changtian nodded at that. There were bound to be "moles" in the company leaking his work schedule.

"Please, send her in."

"Understood, Wang Dong."

As for the husband-and-wife team of Chen Chen Kaige and Chen Hong, Wang Wang Changtian was quite willing to befriend them — after all, they were a married couple who were a great director and a great producer.

But there was one thing that puzzled Wang Wang Changtian: it seemed he hadn't had much contact with the couple of Chen Chen Kaige and Chen Hong in recent years?

"Coming uninvited today — what's the matter?" Wang Wang Changtian muttered to himself as he poured himself a cup of tea.