Chapter 724

It's spread through the circle, Director Gu isn't pretending anymore?!

In the morning, at the premiere of the film *For a Few Bullets* held in Beijing, Gu Changwei also went to show his support.

Throughout the entire event, Zhang Jingchu, wearing a white designer-style ladies' casual suit, with her hair in double ponytails, bright-eyed and white-toothed, and radiant, was inseparable from Director Gu, chatting and laughing the whole time.

The two of them didn't avoid the gossip from a few days ago at all, having quite a feeling of "bitterness ending and sweetness beginning" and being "open and aboveboard."

The industry saw it, and the vast majority of people understood immediately:

This was a complete showdown to the outside world. From now on, the couple would each play their own games without interfering with each other, so there was no need to hide or cover things up in a low-key manner anymore.

Eating post-meal fruit, Ning Hao couldn't help but laugh and tease:

"Director Gu's change in attitude is probably highly related to confirming his signing with our Joy Media. About to become capital, he's completely let go."

"That's why I say, your Joy Media isn't a good place. Dong Ping is a pure capital businessman, dark-hearted; Xu Zheng has been playing wilder and wilder these past two years, his home life must be very chaotic, right?

Wong Kar-wai is someone who loves to put on airs, and he's second to none when it comes to pitting investors; Peter Chan's stance is a bit crooked, and he doesn't like to bathe... As for you, tsk tsk tsk..."

"I tsk your grandfather, stop spouting nonsense here and slandering my character." Ning Hao got anxious and immediately pointed at Lin Nan's nose to refute him, almost cursing out loud.

Liu Yifei leaned against Lin Dao, rocking back and forth, laughing non-stop; while Xing Aina gave Ning Hao a cold glare, her eyes filled with a clear, warning anger.

"Alright, alright, one gets stained by the company one keeps. I'm just knocking some sense into you for Sister Na's sake; to save you from drifting further and further apart one day..."

Hiss... Lin Nan shut his mouth halfway through his joke; because Miss Liu was pinching the flesh on his waist, just pinching a tiny bit.

"Worrying about nothing all day long. Don't look at me as a fellow Shanxi native with Director Jia, but in my past life, I was a Sichuan-Chongqing man."

Looking at Director Ning "confessing" to Xing Aina with a straight face, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei couldn't help but look at each other: Forget it, he doesn't even want his face anymore!

Throughout the afternoon, the scale of the chaotic battle in the film market seemed to have been raised by several levels;

After all, starting three days later, the climax of the summer season would officially begin, with dozens of films and over ten blockbusters flooding in one after another!

However, the most eye-catching film news online still belonged to *Rock Dog*.

It's estimated that Huayi wanted to kill Zheng Jun, because the latter challenged the major domestic theater chains for the second time in less than 48 hours.

"No matter how well a film is made, it's actually not important. Whether it's good or not is up to the theater chains. It's not that you can see whatever film the audience thinks is good, but you can only watch whatever film the theater chains show you.

This is my first time stepping into the film industry, and it's also the first time I've seen these 'dirty' things. I never thought it would be like this before: locking screenings, cold screening times, no screenings...

*Rock Dog* had test screenings in North America, and the audience there gave it a super high rating of 9.5, and the theater screenings were also very high;

But what I didn't expect was that I would encounter this kind of 'insulting' treatment at home. I find it very hard to understand and very aggrieved.

Here, I want to say to the major theater chains, I will never kneel to you to beg for screenings like *Song of the Phoenix*, I will only extend my middle finger to you..."

On Huayi's side, it was already a mess, and Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei were so angry they were about to explode.

People from the distribution department came to report that most theater chains had fed back information that they would drastically cut the already low screening rate of *Rock Dog* starting tomorrow;

As for how much it would be cut, it was currently unknown.

"He deserves to be washed up. He's really stayed in that small rock circle for too long and is used to being fawned over... His head is full of crap, and he actually ran to the film circle to act all high and mighty, just causing me trouble!"

Wang Zhongjun cursed through gritted teeth with a dark face, not caring at all that Wang Zhonglei and other employees were still in the office.

"What we need to do now is to save it as much as possible, to lose as little as possible." Wang Zhonglei said helplessly; he had already given up struggling.

"What are you people in the distribution department doing? It's been three days, and the screening rate is still half-dead? And now..."

Cursing to this point, Wang Zhongjun's voice stopped abruptly... It was useless to curse anymore. "Didn't you hear Chairman Wang? Why aren't you going?"

"Alright, Chairman Wang, we'll go talk to the theater chains right now..."

After a group of people left the office in a hurry, Wang Zhonglei finally brought up the matter of another film:

"When *I Am Not Madame Bovary* is released at the end of the year, we must learn from this lesson. We must put great effort and cost into distribution. This distribution was too trashy."

"Mm, I know. After this film is pulled from theaters, the vice president in charge of the distribution department must be removed."

"Alright, then remove him, and replace him with Ye Ning!"

After a night passed, the time finally arrived at the 12th.

The box office situation in the film market yesterday was just as expected: everything was cut in half, or even a landslide!

*Cold War 2* dropped from 95.3 million on the third day to 48.16 million; *Big Fish & Begonia* fell from 73.9 million to 39 million;

And *Rock Dog* was the most miserable, plummeting directly from 10.8 million to 1.81 million!

Not only that, the major theater chains seemed to have discussed it in advance, and they stabbed Huayi's animated blockbuster with a decisive attitude!

"According to data from multiple theater chains, the animated blockbuster *Rock Dog*, exclusively produced by Huayi with an investment of 60 million USD, saw its comprehensive screening rate plummet today, cut from 5.7% to 1%;

The film has been released for four days, with a total box office of 26.42 million, and it is feared it will stop before the 40 million box office threshold, almost completely losing money..."

"Jointly produced by Red Star Dock, Lin Nan Film Industry, and Bad Monkey Film Industry;

Directed by Ning Hao, produced by Xing Aina, starring Liu Yifei and Lin Nan, with Shen Teng, Guo Jingfei, Jiao Junyan, Meng Ziyi, Kang Keyan, Chen Yao, and others participating;

The urban, fantasy, romantic light comedy *Hanson and the Beast* officially started filming this morning at the China Film Digital Center..."

"Multiple media outlets reported that the *Hanson and the Beast* crew has strict confidentiality measures and declines all media visits. The specific situation on-site is currently unknown..."

The crew was quite lively, with everyone chattering and laughing non-stop. The filming team was also busily setting up camera positions and checking props...

"It's truly an honor to work with Lin Dao and Producer Liu for the first time, and I'm overwhelmed with trepidation. As for Director Ning, I've already made a cameo in your *Breakup Buddies*, haha..."

Although Shen Teng didn't have any shots in the first few scenes, he still chose to stay with the crew, and he even arrived very early in the morning. Look, the way he spoke just now was quite pleasant!

"Your flattery is truly naked." Ning Hao sat in the director's chair and teased with a smile.

At this time, Lin Nan, Liu Yifei, and the supporting actors who had scenes in the first few parts were all busy with makeup and costumes, wanting to laugh but having to hold it in.

"Director Ning, Lin Dao, the Tiangong Color team is ready."

Before Shen Teng could take over Ning Hao's words, an assistant had already run over to interrupt everyone.

"Mm, got it."

Ning Hao waved his hand, then looked at Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, and teased: "This first scene is a green screen studio, Yifei is about to transform into a fox spirit."

"That's right, let you see what I look like when I transform after drinking; it's called being carefree and heroic." Liu Yifei, who had finished her light makeup, stood up, wrinkled her delicate nose, and said jokingly.

Her makeup and costume were very simple, wearing a white, graceful dress, focusing on a youthful, beautiful, and minimalist style. Well, her external conditions were truly too good!

"It's here, it's here, Yifei, your shoes."

At this moment, Xing Aina was seen leading people from the logistics department inside, with an uncontrollable smile on her face.

"By the way, what were you thinking, using plastic sandals that cost a dozen yuan?"

"Hey, don't say that, Yifei doesn't look tacky or low-class at all wearing these, it's actually quite interesting."

Watching Liu Yifei kick off her high heels and put on pink plastic sandals, a group of people couldn't help but praise.

"The initial setting for her character is a fox spirit who just came out and is naive. Silly and goofy." Lin Nan explained, looking at Liu Yifei with gentle eyes.

"You're the silly one, you're the goofy one. I'm the one who's going to pick up trash to support you!" Liu Yifei glared back at Lin Nan upon hearing this.

"Haha..."

"I'm dying of laughter, this plot is too sweet."

"I'm looking forward to Yifei's scene, it must be quite funny and moving." Xing Aina also joined in the fun.

Just as expected before, the crew really spent the morning working together, and it wasn't until the afternoon that they officially started filming.

After 3:00 PM, with Ning Hao's "Action," the first shot of the first scene of *Hanson and the Beast* began.

Outside, the circle knew that Lin Dao and his group had already entered the crew. For the next period of time, they should be immersed in filming.

Although these "big names" in the *Hanson and the Beast* crew would most likely not attend the premieres of several films in the second half of this month, every film production company still prepared invitations meticulously.

In addition, the *Rock Dog* incident at Huayi also alerted a group of film producers that distribution must be closely monitored and must not be neglected.

Among them, *League of Gods*, which China Star and Bona invested 500 million in, was valued immensely by both companies;

And Bona, as the sole distributor, was even more cautious, striving to do the distribution work to the extreme.

But sometimes, you reap what you sow, and it's not something you can remedy just because you say you will!

At Shanghai Film Group, Ren Zhonglun made a call to La Peikang.

"Looking at this, China Film Co., Ltd. should be ringing the bell a week ahead of Shanghai Film Co., Ltd.?"

"About that. China Film should be on the 10th of next month, and you'll be a week later," La Peikang recalled.

"Bona's vice chairman came to cozy up to Shanghai Film Group again today, wanting higher screening rates. Haha, this daydream is quite beautiful. How much is China Film preparing to give?" Ren Zhonglun asked; this was the main purpose of his call.

The other end of the phone was quiet for a moment, and then La Peikang's voice sounded:

"The market probably won't be very optimistic about this film, so the screening rate given by China Film on the first day won't be higher than 10%, and it will decrease day by day?"

Ren Zhonglun couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

The market wasn't pessimistic at all; the market was very optimistic! Many theater chains planned to give it a high screening rate; after all, that film was truly full of big names and had maxed-out special effects!

But the "market" of Shanghai Film Group and China Film certainly wouldn't be optimistic about it.

"Mm, not exceeding 10% on the first day, decreasing day by day. Shanghai Film Group thinks so too!"

"Then it's settled?"

"Mm, it's settled!"

Two rivals had rarely reached a consensus on an issue, which was to advance and retreat together.

After a day passed, arriving at the morning of the 12th, public opinion online was once again in an uproar and boiling over.

An arbitration that was completely illegal produced a result, floating over the South China Sea, making the entire nation and the entire internet furious...

So much so that the news coming back from the San Sebastian International Film Festival was completely suppressed to the second place on the trending list; the disparity in heat was like heaven and earth!