Chapter 81: Premiere

The first day of National Day.

A flood of viewers poured into the cinemas.

Two years of production, a budget of 300 million.

The Olympics, Shenzhou 7, the spacewalk, plus the news from the premiere of "The Martian Rescue."

Film fans were full of anticipation for this movie.

Several producers kept a constant eye on news from the cinemas.

China Film, Huaxia, Wanda, and Enlight had all concluded that this film would be the highest-returning investment of the past two years.

The people from CASIC even told Lin Nan that if he ever wanted to make films about space or other planets in the future, he could keep coming to them.

"They can make that kind of promise, so just count yourself lucky.

From now on, if you make this kind of subject matter again, the difficulties you run into won't be anything you need to worry about…"

Lin Nan understood this logic. Only in the short term, he really wouldn't touch this kind of film again.

In the afternoon, reviews of "The Martian Rescue" began appearing online.

"Holy crap, I can hardly believe this is a film made in China."

"Back then I had water in my brain, cursing Lin Dao Nan for playing to the gallery."

"Same, water in the brain…"

"This is what a film that cost 300 million looks like. Those other few films must have been pocketing the money…"

……

The reviews during the daytime of the first day were unanimously good, because the critics were probably still writing their pieces.

Text messages and QQ messages kept pouring in.

"Lin Dao, 'The Martian Rescue' is amazing."

Yan Yan Danchen had been rushing to finish work on set earlier, so she hadn't gone to the premiere; she went to catch a screening at the cinema now.

Lin Nan's QQ hadn't added any new people for a long time. The Class of '02 group chat was buzzing, everyone talking about the film.

He silently lurked, just not saying anything.

At dusk, sure enough, negative reviews began appearing online.

"No one could entertain themselves in that kind of environment. The protagonist is just a botanist, not a psychologist."

"The script is a bit uneven. That little bit of popular science knowledge simply can't support his survival…"

In Lin Nan's view, these people didn't have it easy either — after searching for half a day, the force of their criticism amounted to only this much.

What does that say? It says they couldn't find any major flaws either, and could only nitpick.

Even the few flaws they picked were quickly drowned out by the flood of comments from netizens.

The whole industry was watching the opening-day box office of "The Martian Rescue," and many film people stayed up until the small hours.

Someone from China Film's Distribution and Exhibition Company called Han Han Sanping in the middle of the night — this was at the latter's request.

"Han Dong, the opening-day box office is out…"

"How much?"

"36.42 million."

Han Han Sanping let out a long sigh. "Mm, I see. Thanks for your hard work."

"You're too kind, Han Dong, it's all in a day's work. Then I won't disturb your rest any longer."

…………

Early the next morning, Lin Nan's phone kept ringing nonstop.

"The opening-day box office broke the record. Go take a look yourself."

Lin Nan browsed through the news online.

The opening-day box office figures for "The Martian Rescue" were headline news on every portal site.

If the numbers kept going at this pace, surpassing "Red Cliff" was absolutely no problem.

As for whether it could reach a new level, it would depend on the audience — after all, piracy in the country really was rampant.

On the second day, the box office was still 32 million.

The third day, 30.4 million.

The fourth day, 28.1 million.

……

The seven-day National Day holiday came to an end.

Lin Nan got the aggregated figures from China Film: "The Martian Rescue" had brought in 186 million, once again breaking the opening-week box office record.

"'The Martian Rescue' will become a milestone for domestic sci-fi films. It has already set the yardstick right there…"

Though these words from the Bureau were praising and complimenting Lin Nan, they were also putting him on the hot seat a bit.

Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang called and asked Lin Nan to come back to the school for a visit. The latter had a premonition that it wasn't anything good.

Walking through Beijing Film Academy, everyone he met congratulated him — teachers and students alike.

When he arrived at the graduate school of the Directing Department, Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang was waiting for him in his office.

"Congratulations, the box office is great."

"You're too kind, Teacher. You asked me to come over today — is there something?" Lin Nan asked after sitting down.

"There is something. You'll be graduating in the first half of next year, and the school wants me to ask for your opinion."

"What opinion?" Lin Nan was very curious.

"Whether you'd be willing to stay on at the school."

After Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang finished speaking, he picked up the tea cup on the desk and took a sip.

"Stay on at the school?"

Lin Nan had never considered the matter, and for a moment was at a loss.

"Honestly, I really never thought about it. Even if I stayed, what would I do—be a teaching assistant?"

"How could the school possibly let a Silver Bear director, a big commercial-film director like you, be a teaching assistant?"

Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang glanced at Lin Nan, lowered his voice and went on: "If you're willing to stay on at the school, within a few years you'll become a professor—that's the school's own words."

"Teacher, forget it." Lin Nan sighed; deep down he genuinely resisted the idea.

Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang suddenly laughed.

"Ha ha ha, I guessed you'd refuse. Staying on really doesn't suit you.

Then let's talk about something else.

The school wants you to sit in on this round of graduate-student interviews—proper graduate students, not MFA candidates."

Lin Nan could hardly believe his ears. "Teacher, isn't that against the rules?"

"It isn't. Your awards and grades are fully up to standard. This was passed at a meeting of the school leadership; I'm just responsible for talking it over with you."

"But my graduation showcase hasn't even started yet—I probably won't be able to spare the time."

"Don't tell me you can't free up two days. After all, by February your film should be wrapped too."

"Ha, two days I can manage.

Then you'll have to coordinate with the Performance Department—don't bother me this year."

Lin Nan stopped declining; it was the last time anyway.

"Mm, none of that's a problem."

…………

Leaving Beijing Film Academy, Lin Nan was still a little moved—the school really knew how to calculate, rushing him to squeeze out every last minute.

The box office of *The Martian Rescue* was still climbing by nearly twenty million a day.

Every film and TV company in the industry was watching eagerly; Wanda and Enlight had been riding high lately.

"Lin Dao, your fee has gone up."

Someone at the company mentioned it in passing, and only then did Lin Nan pay attention.

Within the industry, his director's fee had been pegged at twenty million—on the same tier as Zhang Zhang Yimou.

As for whether anyone would actually offer that price, that was hard to say.

"Feels pretty good, actually."

Yue Jun knocked and came in.

"Lin Dao, *Lurk* should wrap next month, and TV stations have already started bidding."

"You handle the coordination."

"Also, here's the latest list of copyright purchases—this time it needs your signature, Lin Dao."

Lin Nan looked up and took a few pages of A4 paper and a financial sheet from Yue Jun.

In an instant, Lin Nan's pupils focused.

Good lord—all big fish, every one of them things Lin Nan had missed, all genres covered.

"Director Yue, your year-end bonus this year is getting doubled."

"Ha ha, you serious, Lin Dao?" Yue Jun laughed.

"Not joking—I'll add a seven-figure car for you."

"Then just cash it out. Having it in the card feels more solid."

Lin Nan smiled and shook his head. Yue Jun's temperament was quite traditional—a rare quality.

He signed the financial sheet in one smooth stroke and handed it back to Yue Jun.

"Move fast—don't let anything slip."

"Nothing will slip. A lot of them, the moment they heard it was our company, their interest shot right up—especially those few sci-fi ones…"

"How's Zhou Yi doing?" Lin Nan cut off Yue Jun's flattery.

"Still barely holding on. I figure they can keep going for at most another year."

"Mm, keep in touch with them, and keep an eye on their screenwriting team."

…………

The total box office of *The Martian Rescue* kept climbing higher and higher.

Attentive media noticed that several floors inside Lin Nan's company building had been cleared out and hung with new signs.

"Tiangong Color?"

News of Lin Nan setting up a new company spread very fast; it was already searchable on the official website—ten million in paid-in capital.

"He actually followed through? Tiangong Color Visual Technology Co., Ltd.!"

"Will they take outside investment?"

"Lin Dao's people at the company said they won't take outside funds. But it looks like they barely have any employees yet."

……

Lin Nan took calls one after another from Han Han Sanping, Ren Ren Zhonglun, and Wang Wang Changtian.

The gist was much the same—asking whether they could buy in.

After all, everyone knew this kind of company burned through cash fast in the early stage, and they were also hoping to pull the relationship closer.

"No need for now. When I really can't hold on, I'll come to you all."

Seeing Lin Nan's firm attitude, the men didn't press further, only saying to speak up whenever he needed anything.

The film's box office smoothly broke through two hundred million, then two hundred and fifty million.

On the 16th of the month, "The Martian Rescue" had surpassed a cumulative box office of 300 million.

The second domestic director to join the 300-million box office club was born.

Moreover, the daily box office growth of "The Martian Rescue" remained not low, still holding around ten million, with plenty of staying power.

When Feng Feng Xiaogang saw this news on the set of "If You Are the One," he was also somewhat moved.

"I wonder how much box office our film can get in the end?"

"This is Director Feng's specialty genre film—your drawing power during the New Year slot, who doesn't know it?

When the time comes, the 300-million club will absolutely have you in it," Shu Qi said with a smile, flattering him.

"Haha, well said. If it passes 300 million, let Director Feng give everyone red envelopes," Ge You quipped.

"I'll give them, if we get there, I definitely will."

…………

Lin Nan's "Ip Man," co-produced with Yinghuang last year, has been officially scheduled for mid-December.

Yang Yang Shoucheng wanted to ride Lin Nan's fame to promote it a bit, since after all it was the latter's script.

"Lin Dao, would it be convenient for you to make time for the premiere when the time comes?"

"Can't make it, I might not even be in the capital then.

Once the matter of 'The Martian Rescue' is wrapped up, I'll have to get started on my graduation thesis film."

Yang Yang Shoucheng now cares a great deal about the results of "Ip Man"—this decides whether Yinghuang can continue to cooperate with Lin Nan.

The emergence of "The Martian Rescue," especially that record of having already earned over a hundred million before even being released, made Yang Yang Shoucheng very envious. The entertainment circle of Hong Kong Island had recently been discussing this matter.

As long as the cooperation continues, there will be chances to grab a share of the spoils in the future. If the cooperation breaks off, then Yinghuang will truly become the laughingstock of the circle.

"Since Lin Dao can't make time, then forget it. I wish Lin Dao's graduation thesis film will be another award-winning picture."

"Haha, it's not that easy. But I still have to say thank you—I'll borrow Chairman Yang's auspicious words."

Lin Nan exchanged a few perfunctory words and hung up the phone.

The matter of him filming a graduation thesis film was known throughout the entire circle; Yang Yang Shoucheng couldn't possibly not have heard.

As for the purpose of this phone call, it was very simple—just maintaining the relationship.