[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-9":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286845,4473,"Chapter 9: Release","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>The budget was four million, and it really did come out to about that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan took the film back to school for post-production editing; it would be foolish not to take advantage of the cheap labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The school was also very generous; after all, eighty percent of this film was made by the school's students, so if they didn't support it, who would?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this film's strengths lay in its premise and plot, and the costs were low, the post-production was also simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike those big-budget commercial films or movies with special effects, where the post-production alone takes years to calculate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of seniors thumped their chests, guaranteeing they would get it done in half a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them so fired up, Lin Nan knew they would definitely stay up late working overtime; after all, the film was like their own child, and everyone was still full of passion at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matters regarding censorship and the screening permit were all handled by Shanghai Film, so he figured there wouldn't be much of a problem; the sample reel and the final cut were absolutely identical as planned, and the censorship was only for content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next thing to consider was when to release it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of last month, when Lin Nan and the others were filming, there was a big move in the domestic film and television industry: \"Hero\" was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole country was in a frenzy, and the man behind the Great Director Zhang once shouted the bold words: \"If 'Hero' doesn't win, who will?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, it lost to the German film \"Nowhere in Africa,\" and public opinion shifted its tone for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fortunately, two days later, it won the Golden Bauhinia Award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard that they were currently in Hong Kong attending the Hong Kong Film Awards, and if nothing unexpected happened, the major awards would all go to \"Infernal Affairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others have the same founding purpose as the American Academy Awards, serving only their own people; at least the one across the ocean has a Best Foreign Language Film category for foreign films to compete for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Hong Kong Film Awards here have their sights set incredibly high, and they will only become more biased in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan checked his account; the four million could be said to have been spent exactly where it mattered most. The salaries for the schoolmates and the fees for the seniors from other departments had all been settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to the equipment rental fees and production costs, Lin Nan couldn't afford film, so he rented a digital camera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting up all the bits and pieces, there was still over eighty thousand left. Lin Nan planned to give them bonuses once post-production was finished, and if there was still some left over at the end, then they would go out for a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shanghai Film and Lin Nan finally confirmed the completion time for post-production, and he swore solemnly that it would be done before the middle of the month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the result of Shanghai Film stepping in was that the censorship and permits were perfectly resolved; what was called post-production was really just some minor touch-ups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, when it came to the release date, Shanghai Film wanted to push it to the second half of the year, but Lin Nan refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want to commit suicide; \"Cell Phone\" and \"Infernal Affairs\" were coming up later, and he would be dead in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan wanted the first half of the year; for the second half, the latest he could accept was early August, because \"Infernal Affairs\" was being imported for a release in early September, and \"Cell Phone\" in December.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some back-and-forth, since he wanted the first half, let's make it May 1st; it just happened to be Labor Day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan accepted decisively; this was 2003, and Labor Day was a seven-day holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the time was set, Lin Nan had to go check on those seniors in charge of post-production; was he being too reckless by setting the release date like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if something went wrong? Would he really have to screen the sample reel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time Lin Nan arrived, they gave him good news: it was already finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calming his anxious heart, Lin Nan contacted Shanghai Film to come and see the final cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The plot is completely consistent, the color and sound are even more perfect, and some continuity errors have been touched up very well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shanghai Film took away the final cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brothers, we're releasing on May 1st. All in all, it only took a month to finish filming. The time to witness our results has come. Remember to call more people to the cinema when the time comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan asked everyone to mobilize the people around them, and they gladly accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many classmates supported them, but the majority scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of film can a bunch of kids who haven't even left school make? The box office will definitely flop to their grandmother's house.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people were just watching for the spectacle, and only a small number of people in the school were involved in the crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the angry Zhu Yawen and the others, Lin Nan could only urge them to stay calm and not get worked up, \"I invested 1.8 million, and I'm not even angry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the 24th, Liu Yifei returned to school, \"I signed a new drama, it's a game adaptation, and I'll join the crew at the end of the year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan knew it was \"Chinese Paladin 1.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn't you tell me you were making a movie?\" Liu Yifei was very fierce, glaring at Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fierce look was very pretty, and her eyes were very big.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your mother said you already had arrangements,\" Lin Nan didn't lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he contacted her, it was Mother Liu who answered the phone, and that was exactly what she meant, and she wished Lin Nan all the best; she was very polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, my mother never told me that,\" Liu Yifei instantly had a look of annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan didn't speak, just looked at the girl like that; it was very comforting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps in Mother Liu's eyes, most of her daughter's classmates were unlikely to have much of a future, including Lin Nan, this poor kid from the Northwest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time came to the end of April, and some newspaper media began to report on this film academy student crew. Shanghai Film had contacted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Lin Nan and the others accepted interviews, including his participation in Li Yang's \"Blind Shaft\"; these were all materials for promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was credited as director, screenwriter, and producer; this news hit the papers and was mocked by many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The world is going downhill...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone and their dog is becoming a director.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Linzi, don't pay attention to those words,\" Zhu Yawen comforted Lin Nan, but the latter didn't take it to heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Lin Nan went to find his teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to change your major?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhou looked as if she had seen a ghost, looking at her student, and confirmed it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, teacher,\" Lin Nan affirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The school had this regulation, provided that Lin Nan met the conditions above and applied for it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic review, department transfer review, and proving that he was indeed more suitable for the department he was transferring into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was certain that he wasn't approved. Lin Nan left; he would wait until after the film was released to talk about this issue again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen didn't know where he got an MP3 player, wearing headphones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Mu brought one over; it was Zhou Dong's \"The Little Blacksmith of Milan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bought it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, you gave me my pay, and I bought this that same day, along with a new phone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer was impeccable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screening room was playing \"Farewell My Concubine\"; it was a pity for Cheng Dieyi, who couldn't get past his troubles and left at the beginning of the month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One has to say, this film was shot really well; the Great Director Chen began to go downhill from then on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when watching films, they were required to study the acting of the actors inside and put themselves in their shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan began to try to watch films from a director's perspective. The teacher didn't agree to the major transfer and told him to go back and think about it, but that didn't stop Lin Nan from self-studying first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Lin Nan ran to the directing department to audit a lecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although having an extra person was very conspicuous, no one cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day before May 1st, Li Yang called Lin Nan to ask if he was nervous; \"Blind Shaft\" was considered completely hopeless for release, killed off with one blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On May 1st, Lin Nan and a few classmates went to the cinema. Shanghai Film's promotion was quite diligent; there were many posters and the hype was not small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the beginning of the millennium, film promotion had nothing to do with the internet; promotion relied entirely on grassroots efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>President Yu, who came from the Beiyingchang, founded the first private distribution company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shanghai Film handled the distribution and promotion entirely on their own, not getting involved with any department or company here at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in the cinema, the few of them were anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is my first time making a movie, and I'm the lead actress,\" Zhou Yang drank a big gulp of cola and burped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who isn't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not,\" Lin Nan said silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were quite a few people in this screening hall, two-thirds full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the small number of films nowadays, not reaching the explosive output of later years, Lin Nan felt that they should be able to make money; as for how much, it depended on fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This film cost four million, it was just a simple house; if released later, it might just be a one-week run in theaters, a cold season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 2:00 AM on the 2nd, the classic Nokia ringtone woke Lin Nan up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, you said... how much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan spoke weakly and perfunctorily turned off the phone; he was too sleepy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, the dormitory door was knocked on loudly, \"Linzi, open the door!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubbing his eyes and yawning, Lin Nan began to put on his clothes, \"Can't even let people rest on a holiday, what is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Box office, box office!\" Zhu Yawen shouted loudly outside. Fortunately, it was a holiday and everyone had gone home, just like Lin Nan was the only one in the dorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Box office? Oh my, where's my phone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening the door, Zhu Yawen rushed in impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was turning on his phone; he couldn't remember how much that phone call last night said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"1.85 million on the first day!\" Zhu Yawen jumped up and down, more excited than Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, there was a string of missed calls on his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, another one came in, \"Hello, who is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"President Ren? Shanghai Film? Oh, oh, oh, hello, I'm Lin Nan, I'm Lin Nan...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the call, Lin Nan sat there; having such a big shot call him personally didn't feel real at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Linzi, did you hear? They're calling for you,\" Zhu Yawen pushed Lin Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not crazy, and it's nothing, it's just 1.85 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're impressive, you've already started acting cool,\" Zhu Yawen said, sitting on the bunk opposite Lin Nan, crossing his legs and giving a thumbs-up from time to time, \"calm enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go, let's go out to eat. My treat. While we're at it, see who else is still at school and call them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan slapped his thigh and made a decision; it was time to reward everyone. After giving bonuses to the seniors who did the post-production last time, there were still 20,000 left, which he counted as his own bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was the May Day holiday, most of the crew members were still around, keeping their eyes on the results. Before, when they joined the crew, they were just assisting and doing odd jobs, but this time the significance was different; they had truly taken charge themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The May Day long holiday was quite thrilling for everyone; Lin Nan received calls from the Shanghai Film Studio every day, with the data updating daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seniors or classmates at school would also pay attention to the box office or ask Lin Nan directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all the time he had owned his SIM card, the calls he received before May Day didn't add up to as many as he got on the first and second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calls from his own class teacher, other teachers, school leaders, and teachers from the Directing Department and Cinematography Department—they all had students who participated in the film's production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the teachers and leaders, this was a teaching achievement that could be written into reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the students, this was a glowing resume; anyone with a normal brain could see that this film's box office could definitely go even higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the seven-day long holiday, the box office reached just over 15 million, and it was expected that starting on the 8th, the box office would plummet.\u003C\u002Fp>",2246,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","eb2d1965cb17bcd11ff93674abe0a753c5d5ee0d615ee709bd76423dafdaebb1","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-10","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-8",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]