Chapter 726: Spreading the Word, Creating a Bull Market!

After Zhang Zhang Hongsen's secretary left the audit department, the office instantly fell silent.

Not until someone got up and closed the slightly ajar door did a voice finally speak: "We really guessed right! They won't approve it, but they won't openly say they're blacklisting it..."

"Since they emphasized keeping this confidential, we should keep our mouths shut. After all, this order didn't come from the Bureau, but from above."

"They even made a special point to emphasize it? Heh, that's plainly telling us he doesn't trust us!"

The topic died out, and the office fell silent once more.

A moment later, someone suddenly stood up and said, with mutual understanding, "I'll step out for a bit."

"Ah, why bother?" the old man beside him sighed.

The former paused his steps, but immediately continued walking outside without saying another word.

"We're at an age where whether we can hold onto these positions until the end of this year is already a huge question; let him be. He just wants to leave behind some human connections and favors for after his retirement."

Someone else spoke vaguely, explaining for the one who had just left the office, and also reminding everyone present that day:

There's still a major hurdle in the New Year's film season that's likely impossible to clear; with only a few months left, everyone should make more preparations and plans for their retirement.

"Ah, that's true. This time, it probably won't pass."

"Getting this huge favor from Shanghai Film before retiring isn't actually a loss; it's a gain."

"It's too early to say that. I don't believe the Bureau could just shut down our entire audit department..."

While a group of old folks in the office were "mourning the spring and grieving the autumn," outside, a phone call had already been made to someone surnamed Zhao.

The set of "Second Generation Fairies."

Liu Liu Yifei stomped a plastic bottle flat; her foot, clad in black ankle boots, twisted viciously on the crushed bottle.

On her dirty but still exquisitely fine face, her eyes dug deeply into Lin Nan; her expression showed stubbornness, anger, unwillingness, mixed with a touch of innocence and effort.

She ignored Lin Nan, who looked up at her, and instead turned resolutely with a plastic bag larger than her own body on her back, walking forward to pick up other soda cans.

That's right; inside the large plastic bag on her back were plastic bottles and soda cans, filled to the brim... She was pouting at Lin Nan, the male lead, but deep down she longed for him to chase after her and explain.

When the camera followed Lin Nan as he chased after her, she indeed couldn't help but reveal a aggrieved look while pretending to be cold and strong.

Immediately, she slammed the trash bag on her back down heavily, glanced at Lin Nan as if still pouting, then pulled a handful of loose change from the pocket of her suspender dress, clenched it tightly in her fist, and slammed her fist, along with the money, hard into Lin Nan's hand.

"Cut!"

Ning Hao called for a stop, and everyone instantly froze the shoot upon hearing the command.

"Is there a problem with this shot?" Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei looked toward the director's position.

"I'm telling you, Liu Yifei, be a bit harsher. Clench the money in your fist and smash it right into Lin Nan's chest; just hold back a little on the force, but actually smash it.

Also, show even more anger. Think about it, he secretly went on a blind date with another woman behind your back!"

As soon as Ning Hao finished speaking, the entire set burst into laughter.

"Hmm, that's how it should be. I understand." Liu Liu Yifei nodded, then turned her head to glare at Lin Nan.

Under the makeup and styling, her dirty face couldn't hide her inherent beauty at all; paired with her bun hairstyle, there wasn't a single bit of awkwardness, and it even added a distinct cute vibe.

"Are you using this filming opportunity to take revenge on me?"

Lin Nan looked at Ning Hao speechlessly and complained. Getting punched by Liu Liu Yifei still hurt quite a bit; he had experience...

"Oh, it's for the effect. Come on, get ready; we'll continue in two minutes."

Fine, Lin Nan joined everyone else in adjusting their state of mind.

When the camera started again, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei had returned to the previous setup: one person angrily picking up bottles ahead, the other chasing behind; the scene would pick up from here.

"Action!"

On screen, the scene continued.

Liu Liu Yifei, looking slightly aggrieved and sulking with her lips pouted, pulled a handful of crumpled loose change from her pocket and smashed it into Lin Nan's chest; the latter instinctively caught it, feeling a bit of pain.

"Here for you... wrap up today, earn more tomorrow..."

Just like a young couple after a quarrel, wanting to make up but unable to open their mouths; the girl, while still angry, silently gives, giving with a cold face.

After several pauses and several starts, tonight's scenes were finished.

"Notify Guo Guo Jingfei, Shen Teng, and the others to come early tomorrow morning for makeup and styling; it's their turn to appear."

Taking advantage of the gap while the logistics department packed up, Ning Hao instructed the assistant director, who was essentially the senior general assistant of the crew.

"No problem, Director Ning."

After Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei removed their makeup and changed clothes, the two sat aside to rest, while also watching Ning Hao arrange tomorrow's shooting schedule.

Another ten-plus minutes passed; seeing that it was nearly eight in the evening, all logistics personnel finally finished packing the equipment and props and boarded the group bus to go eat late-night snacks, a perk of the crew.

"Let's go; a few of us should find a place to eat and chat. This shooting schedule is too heavy; it really takes a lot of physical energy."

Xing Aina saw Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei dozing off while leaning against each other and called out with a smile to wake them.

"Okay, let's have barbecue." Liu Liu Yifei smiled sweetly; she had been thinking about barbecue since the afternoon, and hearing Xing Aina's voice instantly woke her up.

"Then let's go; I'm hungry too."

Lin Nan took Miss Liu's hand and headed straight for the business van with Ning Hao and Xing Aina, followed closely by several assistants.

The next morning.

The entire industry's attention was drawn to Wanda once again, because Wanda officially announced to the outside world that it had acquired Europe's largest cinema chain.

With this, it had completely become the world's largest cinema chain operator with absolute advantage. This show of muscle was laid bare, quite nakedly.

However, unlike the vast majority of domestic production companies focusing on Wanda's news, Alibaba Pictures was "at its wits' end" over another matter.

A movie being implicitly blacklisted isn't a huge deal for ordinary non-listed film and television companies; it's just losing that money.

But for a listed company, having a movie implicitly blacklisted in a "muddled" way without the option to reshoot is a major issue.

Because the whereabouts of that already-spent money must be accounted for in the financial report. You can't just say it's a loss; you must explain clearly why it was lost? Why can't you change the cast and reshoot to earn it back?

Even if you lose money after changing the cast and reshooting, there must still be that action and factual result written into the financial report.

But can the reasons and causes for not reshooting be written into the financial report? The answer is definitely no!

"Are you sure the information is accurate?" Zhang Zhang Qiang pinched the bridge of his nose and asked weakly.

"The phone call I received yesterday afternoon came from my teacher's connections, from the censorship department."

After a certain "female Warren Buffett" finished speaking, an executive nearby immediately reminded, "President Zhang, if this is really the case, then this account will most likely become a bad debt! We..."

"At that time, we can blur the lines and count the investment in this film before into the costs of 'The Mermaid', so that in the overall finances, it won't be considered fraud..."

Zhang Zhang Qiang interrupted his deputy's words and gave a "reluctant" solution.

"Is this appropriate? After all, 'The Mermaid' side has already done very high..."

"If I say it can be done, then it can be done!" Zhang Zhang Qiang made the final decision, speaking without room for argument.

"Alright then, I will give the orders later." The executive stopped arguing and decisively chose to accept.

"Alright, you all go get busy first. Director Zhao and I need to talk about something else." Zhang Zhang Qiang looked at everyone and gave the order.

Ten-plus seconds later, only two people remained in the huge office. At this moment, Zhang Zhang Qiang finally asked about the other "big matter".

"How is the progress?"

A certain "female Warren Buffett" immediately reacted to what Zhang Zhang Qiang asked, a smile appearing on her face:

"We are registering a new company, with registered capital of sixty million, paid-in.

According to the plan, after the new company is registered, we can get bank leverage through previous connections as quickly as possible, with the group providing support behind the scenes... We will issue a controlling acquisition intention to 'Wan Jia' immediately... However, the subsequent hype will still require the group to step in..."

Hearing the other party's slightly excited tone in their reply, Zhang Zhang Qiang couldn't help but nod.

"Mm, very good!

How much can the film and television industry actually earn? Even though Lin Nan Film is considered the most profitable company in the film and television industry, last year was their most profitable year, and they still only made a profit of just over one billion at most.

When it comes to truly making money, or even swallowing it whole, one must look at the stock market... In this one year, although the bull market is gone, we can create our own bull market!"

Zhang Zhang Qiang's words were like a strong medicine injected into someone surnamed Zhao, making her mindset instantly become more urgent and excited; because once the plan succeeded, she would also be the one who could cut the leeks on a large scale!

In the morning, on the set of "My Amazing Wife".

Looking at Guo Guo Jingfei whose smoky eye makeup was already smudged, neither Ning Hao nor Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei could hold back their laughter, and the other actors nearby did the same.

Especially Mencius Yi and others who played members of Guo Guo Jingfei's squad, they laughed on set several times during filming, delaying quite a bit of time.

"I still have to say sorry to you. Although it was a fake fight, we didn't coordinate well, so there was a mistake once; um, and also the AD Calcium milk I spat on your head."

Lin Nan apologized on behalf of Liu Liu Yifei, but after his words landed, everyone laughed even more and couldn't stop.

Liu Liu Yifei sat in the canvas chair, laughing while glaring at Lin Nan, then cast an apologetic look at Guo Guo Jingfei again.

"Lin Dao is too polite. Filming should be like this. But how do you think my performance is? I absolutely nailed both comedy and serious drama, steady grip... Later..."

"I will keep an eye out later, if there is a role suitable for you."

Lin Nan interrupted Guo Guo Jingfei, who wore a beaming smile, and rarely made a promise; the other party was indeed very good. If there was a chance, he would use him, in his own movies.

At this, all the actors on set except Liu Liu Yifei were stunned, all looking at Guo Guo Jingfei with envious eyes.

"Ah? Thank you, Lin Dao, thank you, Producer Liu, then I'll just wait eagerly, haha..."

Guo Guo Jingfei originally just wanted to ask for a chance in a joke and didn't really expect anything, but he never expected to receive a promise from Lin Dao Da in person; at this moment, he was truly so happy he felt dizzy.

"Um, Lin Dao, why don't you keep an eye out for me too? I really want to act in your movies, from the bottom of my heart. Besides, I count as your half-employee."

Shen Teng on the side was not as tactful as Guo Guo Jingfei; the character who was just serious with a deadpan face was completely gone. As soon as he opened his mouth, he was shamelessly bold.

Even Ning Hao couldn't help but point at him, shaking his head with a smile.

"That might be a bit risky; it seems I don't have plans to shoot a comedy in the near future." Lin Nan said jokingly but seriously.

Hearing this, Shen Teng instantly wilted; with a helpless expression on his face, he complained:

"Why does everyone want me to stay in the comedy track? Actually, I am a qualified actor, with dreams and ideals..."

"Better to eat your fill first; weren't you famous for comedy sketches originally? Wait until you reach the front of the track, then think about transforming." Xing Ai na teased from afar as the hotel food delivery cart arrived.

"Ai, then I'll listen to Producer Xing's advice; I must learn from Brother Sing, haha..."

Just as Lin Nan had planned with Ning Hao and others earlier, the filming efficiency of "My Amazing Wife" was very high, and the progress was fast.

Moreover, the filming set was always lively and bustling, with most people able to come up with some novel and funny suggestions.

Unlike in other film sets where the director is heaven, only the director can change the plot, and actors offering opinions might even be "scolded";

during the filming process of "My Amazing Wife", this situation simply did not exist; as long as it was a good suggestion, it could basically be smoothly adopted.

It can be said that everyone shooting this movie was truly playing while filming, focusing on comedy and sweetness!

Time, in the blink of an eye, arrived at the very middle of July.

"The Fast and the Furious" starring Lin Gengxin and Zhang Zhang Jingchu, with Tengger and Liu Zuo Xiaoqing in supporting roles, and "Lu Yao Knows Ma Li" directed by Wen Zhang and starring Bao Bei'er, Song Jia, Zhu Zhu Yawen, and Xu Jiao Xu Jiao Junyan, both joined the chaotic battle of the summer season on the same day.

Looking back at the few movies that had already been released for a week:

"Big Fish & Begonia" and "Cold War 2" still brimmed with "fighting spirit", with daily box office revenues of over thirty million and over forty million respectively, fully capable of fighting the newly released movies.

But the situation with Huayi's "Rock Dog" was very dire, because its daily box office was barely hanging on, reduced to only a few hundred thousand.

And its total box office was even more pitiful, a mere 38 million.

It is worth noting that the total box office of "Big Fish & Begonia" and "Cold War 2", which were released on the same day as it, had already reached 400 million and 500 million!

In comparison, it is estimated that "Rock Dog" will be pulled from theaters in just these two days; it will be completely squeezed out by the new films.