Chapter 925: The Earthquake in Hollywood; The Turmoil of the Spring Festival Slot!

After 20 months, Weinstein Company still hadn't fully cleaned up the mess left by its founder and CEO, Harvey Weinstein.

So when the sun rose in the east, Chinese internet was flooded with entertainment news about the "great earthquake" in Hollywood.

When the wall falls, everyone pushes; the representative figure of the Red Sofa was collectively "turned against" by the entire Hollywood community; even Harvard University issued an urgent announcement: revoking the Dubos Medal awarded to Weinstein three years ago...

Weibo was a bit chaotic; although major media outlets merely adopted a "watching the melon" stance, afraid to stir trouble because the matter was too huge, netizens were unwilling to stop there;

Especially a small portion of some people's fans, "they" had already started tallying up a certain domestic female star who had intersected with Weinstein Company. The intention was obvious: best to kill and ruin the other party.

"She responded. Through her spokesperson, she responded to foreign media interviews, saying the other party had tried to invite her to act in movies multiple times, but she had refused each time.

She even said the other party once offered to help her public relations campaign for an Oscar Best Actress award in exchange for her acting in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2', but she refused that too."

"These people are a waste if they don't become detectives and paparazzi! They actually dug up the public relations project list from Weinstein Company's official website back then, and right there on it was a project to help Gong Er publicize for an Oscar Best Actress..."

"Holy cow, there are even photos of her wearing a backless gown and smiling all over her face while dancing with the other party at a cocktail party? But her ex-boyfriend seemed to be right there on the side; how many years ago was that?"

"Her ex-boyfriend and Weinstein had a wolf-and-fox relationship for years; the two partnered to open a company..."

"Tell them to stop gossiping and focus on their work."

Lin Nan, holding a carton of milk and sipping through a straw, passed the first floor of Tiangong Color and found a large group of employees chattering heatedly about online events.

He immediately called out to the supervisor in charge of that floor; in less than ten seconds, the work atmosphere on that floor became much more serious.

"Day after day, enjoying the spectacle without caring if things get worse."

After muttering that, Lin Nan went to the floor above, preparing to help Guo Fan with his work.

"I say, Lin Dao, our company is clearly closer to your home, yet you didn't even arrive at Bad Monkey earlier than Liu Yifei," Lin Dao Da had barely entered the door when Guo Fan looked down on him on the spot.

"I drove an SUV; she drove a sports car, so the startup time was different. Besides, although the capital is a bit congested, her driving skills are truly something I feel ashamed to compare to; steady and fast..."

Lin Nan made up various excuses for himself, while he had already glanced at the real-time information on the computer screen—it was a candid photo of Liu Liu Qianqian in casual wear getting out of her car in front of Bad Monkey, very cool!

"Tsk tsk, Lin Dao, how about for the remaining ten-odd days, you let Liu Yifei give you a ride to work? That way, you can help me work at least half an hour more every day."

"Dreaming on?" Lin Nan scolded playfully with a smile.

Let alone working an extra half hour; he didn't even want to come to the company at all; his work for this year had been successfully concluded after the closing of the Venice International Film Festival, and now he was in an overloaded state!

"Since you're already dreaming, I might as well dream beautifully, haha."

While working and chatting casually, time always passed very quickly.

And the atmosphere of the outside world "watching the melon" grew increasingly intense as the morning wore on.

Even Tom sent an email to Lin Nan, teasing Jennifer Lawrence:

"This bitch's backing has finally collapsed; her days in Hollywood will never be as arrogant as before; because no one will spoil her anymore, she'll have to keep her tail between her legs and behave; so many actresses despise her... I wonder if she'll fall on the Oscar red carpet again..."

Qingdao, Oriental Movie Metropolis.

Dong Ping had arrived quietly the night before, but he only notified Ning Hao's assistant this morning that he would visit the set in the morning, so the entire crew was caught off guard.

Especially his strange behavior of sitting in the crew all morning, just watching everyone film without talking or greeting anyone, made Huang Bo and Shen Teng detect a hint of something unusual.

Something is up; is this aimed at Director Ning!?

After a "Cut," Ning Hao waved to everyone: "Wrap up half an hour early this morning; lunch is a seafood and steak buffet, sponsored by Boss Dong who came to visit."

Ignoring the deafening cheers and thanks, Ning Hao walked straight to Dong Ping. "Let's go, take a walk by the lake."

"Okay." Dong Ping had been waiting for exactly this sentence.

Shortly after, by the scenic artificial lake with a considerable area, Dong Ping brought up the fact that he and Xu Zheng had gone to Bad Monkey Pictures the day before yesterday.

Seeing Ning Hao completely ignoring him, only admiring the fountain performance in the distance, Dong Ping fully understood the former's meaning; he decisively changed the topic, which was also what he and Xu Zheng had agreed on beforehand:

"Xu Zheng's side is confirmed, but since his schedule is fully booked for the time being, he plans to start preparing the fourth installment of the 'Lost' series from the second half of next year. Hmm, controlled by the group.

Additionally, Zhang Zhang Yimou, Gu Gu Changwei, Chen Chen Kexin and others will also have projects launching and entering production one after another... Ning Hao, as a founding shareholder, you must also think for the group; at the very least, there must be an explanation, even if it's just a project plan."

The two continued strolling around the lake; Ning Hao remained silent for quite a while before speaking: "After Huanxi relisted and went public, I even joked with Lin Nan, saying I could finally lie flat and take a good rest for two years.

But what happened? First, I served as the director of photography for his 'Operation Operation Mekong', then I directed 'Second Generation Fairy', and now I'm busy filming and preparing two blockbusters.

I won't dodge the group's projects, but let's wait until 'The Wandering Earth' and 'The Father' are completely finished, let me rest for two more years, and then we'll talk.

With Xu Zheng, Zhang Zhang Yimou, Gu Gu Changwei, and Chen Chen Kexin's projects leading the way, Huanxi really doesn't need me for the short term, does it? Everyone's movies don't need to be clustered together, do you agree?"

Ning Hao looked at Dong Ping and asked with a smile. He could guess the latter's and Xu Zheng's intentions: if they couldn't get a bargain out of 'The Father', then let him focus on the group's business—start a movie, make at least a commitment, and put it on the schedule.

"Of course, as long as you have this preparation and plan. Our projects can flow steadily; no need to cluster. After all, the stock market is where everyone makes their main money; it's better to be long-term."

Dong Ping nodded in satisfaction. At that moment, only two words flashed through Ning Hao's mind: "As expected!"

"This movie, aiming for awards?" Suddenly, Dong Ping changed the subject and asked again.

"Hmm." Ning Hao didn't hide it.

"No wonder you're in such a hurry and unwilling to share the profit share; I suppose Hongxingyu also explicitly rejected Huanxi from the very beginning?"

Ning Hao didn't respond; he truly didn't know how to answer this question. Because Dong Ping wasn't really asking him, but telling him; this was a statement tone.

"Here, I'll wish you success in advance. If you succeed, it's also a boost for Huanxi, isn't it? Haha."

At this moment, Dong Ping's laughter and blessings were completely heartfelt. Because Huanxi would neither lose nor gain regardless; it was just a matter of how much profit. Moreover, for the group, Ning Hao was the most important; they couldn't sacrifice the root for the branches over one movie and hurt everyone's harmony!

Three days passed; the four movies that had been rapidly "declining" since the National Day holiday break finally saw the first one eliminated.

On the morning of the 14th, 'Sky Hunter' was blatantly hung on the headlines of film and entertainment news, once again becoming the object of ridicule by countless people in the industry.

"The air force-themed commercial blockbuster 'Sky Hunter', jointly produced by 18 units including the Air Force Political Department, China Film, Huaxia Film, China Central Television, and Capital TV, factually ceased screening last night."

"It is reported that the movie 'Sky Hunter' was screened for 15 days, with a total box office cumulative of 281 million; the film's daily revenue dropped below 50,000 yesterday, and this morning the comprehensive screening rate was cut again, dropping to 2.2%."

"According to public information, in addition to the large amount of free military equipment invested, 'Sky Hunter' still had a production cost of 200 million.

Its box office revenue of less than 300 million indicates that this air force-themed commercial blockbuster ultimately suffered heavy losses, especially its hidden reputation and prestige losses..."

"This morning, Lin Nan Pictures, Enlight Pictures, Wanda, Shanghai Film, and Western Film, together with Director Lu Yang, issued a joint announcement:

Starring Wang Wang Baoqiang, Liu Liu Haoran, Xiao Yang, Dilireba, Zhao Zhao Jinmai, Wang Xun, and others, 'Detective Chinatown 2' has successfully wrapped filming in New York's Chinatown… The main creative team will return to China within 24 hours."

"Lin Nan Pictures, together with Enlight Pictures, issued a scheduling announcement for the comedy film 'Detective Chinatown 2,' officially scheduling it for the Spring Festival of 2018; it will go head-to-head with the Navy main-melody commercial blockbuster 'Operation Red Sea,' to achieve complementary track positioning…"

If this morning 'Sky Hunter' was being laughed at by the entire industry, then 'Detective Chinatown 2' was undoubtedly being cursed by the entire film circle. Especially those producers with films releasing during the Spring Festival window — they cursed the hardest.

Because after all these years, this is still the first time a Lin Nan Pictures-led and co-invested film has been scheduled on the same day, and on the biggest window of the year — the Spring Festival window.

The ulterior motive is as plain as day; even a blind man could see it. This is completely refusing to leave a way out for anyone else — it's total annihilation, hogging the whole pie!

But who among them would admit defeat and accept fate? Then bring it on! The deer dies — by whose hand, still unknown.

……

"'Detective Chinatown 2's scheduling has essentially turned the Spring Festival window into a dragon's pool and tiger's den. Those film producers who've been hesitating about whether to schedule for Spring Festival day will probably all back off now."

Zhang Zhang Hongsen's fingers lightly tapped his desk as he spoke with an easy, breezy smile.

"Director Zhang, in less than two hours, quite a few people in the industry have already come to file complaints." Seeing the leader was in a good mood, the secretary took the opportunity to report on work.

"Complaints? Let's hear it — how exactly are they tattling?"

"They say Lin Dao's company's heavy-handed scheduling behavior is extremely detrimental to the healthy, sound development of the film market, because this Spring Festival window has a high probability of developing into a one-company-dominates situation.

And the year-long efforts of so many companies and countless people in the entire industry could all turn into bubbles, stolen during the Spring Festival window… Multiple blockbusters from one company stuffed into the Spring Festival window at the same time carries the suspicion of leveraging market influence to monopolize…"

"This is a market economy. 'Wolf Warrior 2' has already proven how big the potential of the film market is, and the Spring Festival window's box-office potential is even bigger than the summer window.

Could it be that they think 'Operation Red Sea' and 'Detective Chinatown 2' can drain the Spring Festival window dry? No confidence in yourself, so you run to the teacher? But the teacher also favors the child with the better grades!"

Zhang Zhang Hongsen chuckled and cut off the secretary. There was one more thing he hadn't said — after the Spring Festival window ended, the Film Bureau would be going to the Central Propaganda Department, while he would be staying at the General Administration…

Therefore, for the last Spring Festival window in his hands, he naturally wanted results.

As for the Spring Festival window's results, they would most likely not be created by the "poor students" outside the top three, but by the top-three star students!

"Oh right, let me guess — most of those complaint viewpoints you just mentioned should have come from the 'Monster Hunt 2' side, right?"

Zhang Zhang Hongsen looked at the secretary with considerable certainty. Sure enough, the latter smiled and nodded, "That's right, it was them. Edko Films over there probably isn't doing too well right now — I'd guess it's pretty chaotic."

"'Operation Red Sea' and 'Detective Chinatown 2' going head-to-head with Edko's 'Monster Hunt 2' in the same window? That's too interesting. There's already bad blood — this is going to finish off Jiang Zhiqiang, hahaha."

Thinking about how the entire circle was probably watching Edko's spectacle right now, Zhang Zhang Hongsen couldn't help but want to laugh. These past two years Edko's cinema chain really had been pretty miserable — both sides had long been mortal enemies!

At this very moment, on the other side.

The Hong Kong circle already knew, and they were all muttering as they watched the show — Edko's 'Monster Hunt 2' would be blocked and besieged in the Spring Festival window by two blockbusters company-produced by that mainland big director's company!

"Although 'Monster Hunt's' box office was also very high — 1.9 billion — for this Spring Festival window, I still don't have high hopes for Edko's sequel. Huo Wenxi, think about it — what was 'Detective Chinatown's' box office? Over three billion!

And 'Operation Red Sea' is the third main-melody commercial film Lin Nan Pictures has participated in producing after 'Taking Mount Mount Weihu' and 'Operation Meigonghe' — its pulling power is simply maxed out! Lin Dao is also the producer, with two great directors, Guo Fan and Lu Yang, co-directing…"

Huo Huo Wenxi looked at her own boss's gloating expression and was, for a moment, quite speechless, but she understood her boss's mentality.

Hong Kong Island is small, but also very big, because there are several entertainment giants alone; the Hong Kong circle is big, but also too small, because it has been declining, and now the several major giants can't even get enough to eat.

So much so that our company and Edko are indeed the most direct competitors, whether in Hong Kong Island or in the mainland!

Edko.

Just as Zhang Zhang Hongsen's secretary said, inside the meeting room, it was indeed a bit chaotic at this moment.

Edko Films had always been marketing 'Monster Hunt 2' as a key project, determined to surpass the first film's box office this Spring Festival.

Originally, apart from 'Operation Red Sea,' the company team hadn't taken any other same-window films seriously; even with the competitive impact of the former, the vast Spring Festival window market was more than enough to let 'Monster Hunt 2' rake in profits and surpass its predecessor.

But all the plans and visions were "shattered" this morning — more precisely, the outlook was no longer so bright.

Because another shark had swum into the Spring Festival window — no, an orca had swum in!

The worst part was, this whale had been let in by that old rival Lin Nan Pictures — deliberately let in — and it couldn't be ruled out that the other side still had means of specifically targeting 'Monster Hunt 2' afterward.

"Director Jiang, what do we do now?"

Jiang Zhiqiang's eyes were unusually sharp. He looked expressionlessly at the third executive on his left:

"This Spring Festival window situation is indeed destined to be very unfavorable for us; but after all, there's still four months until the mid-February release. If we prepare thoroughly, it's not impossible for us to win."

"Then the publicity budget may urgently need to…"

"Mm, double it again. Also, have Director Xu Chengyi lead a team starting in early November to do publicity — build momentum three and a half months in advance.

Later, contact Tony Leung in my name. I hope during the film's publicity period, he can cooperate with at least three roadshows. Of course, the premiere cannot be missed either."

Jiang Zhiqiang's voice grew increasingly icy. It had already been over two years since 'Monster Hunt' was released.

For these past two-plus years, whenever Lin Nan Pictures had a film, Edko's cinema chain had to be mocked by the industry, despised and cursed by audiences… By Spring Festival it would be a full two and a half years — he'd had enough! This time, gritting his teeth, he had to outsell at least one of the other side's films!

……

Lin Nan felt he was truly a bit wronged, because the scheduling suggestion for 'Detective Chinatown 2' had come from Lu Yang, and he hadn't even paid attention to 'Monster Hunt 2's' schedule at all…

But his acquaintances in the circle just didn't believe it, all teasing him, saying it wasn't as if he'd go to the trouble of finishing off one 'Monster Hunt 2' and along the way wipe out all the other Spring Festival films in one pot — too brutal!

"Let's put it this way — Edko doesn't have that big a face, worth having 'Operation Red Sea' and 'Detective Chinatown 2' both target them.

When we first set the schedule, we were purely going for box office; because these two films belong to different tracks, and two of the production companies overlap, so only in the biggest window can they perfectly complement and reinforce each other. Of course, we'll be guiding this point from the publicity side."

Lin Nan rarely got to talk on the phone with Han Han Sanping, so he held nothing back.

The latter had mainly come to talk about 'A Cool Fish,' which should be wrapped in just over a month; he asked Lin Nan to reserve a project team at Tiangong Color in advance to assist Han Jianü with post-production.

After chatting for a while, Han Han Sanping hung up; from the voice on the other end, it sounded like he was about to start shooting again.

At this moment, a crisp "ding-dong" text-message sound rang out. Lin Nan glanced at it — it was Liu Liu Yifei who hadn't gotten through on the phone so she'd sent a text, asking him to go to Bad Monkey for lunch.

"Director Guo, I won't keep you company for lunch — Liu Yifei's calling me to a big meal."

"Lin Dao, this is betrayal of revolutionary friendship…" Before Guo Fan could finish, Lin Nan had already vanished at the door.

'The Father,' like Zhou Zhou Xingchi's 'Mermaid 2,' is a film resource the entire entertainment circle has been watching these days.

In terms of priority, the former far outranks the latter. Because the industry is all quite certain that Ning Hao's new film is an awards-chaser.

As for Zhou Zhou Xingchi's 'Mermaid 2,' the circle has already gotten the inside scoop through special channels: the male and female leads are set!

Therefore, these past two days there have been especially many in-circle actors at Bad Monkey Pictures — and all of them are proper actors, not celebrities.

When Lin Nan arrived, the restaurant's car had just pulled up two minutes ago.

Liu Liu Yifei was directing the waiters to set the plates in the conference room, while Xing Aina frowned, still flipping through actor profiles on the side.

"Casting for this drama has been the hardest I've faced in all my years in the industry." Glancing at Lin Nan's figure, Xing Aina helplessly complained.

"Because you care too much; in other words, you're too nervous, so you can't make up your mind."

Lin Nan smiled as he took the stack of materials, then his smile vanished. He said awkwardly, "Hmm, I do need to weigh this carefully."

"You spoke too fast; look, you've contradicted yourself." Liu Liu Yifei's delicate nose wrinkled slightly, showing no mercy to her own big director.

"I didn't quite expect so many from the Yanji Sect to come audition voluntarily. It's usually very hard to see so many at once." Lin Nan humbly accepted Liu Liu Yifei's criticism and said to the two of them.

"Because the industry rarely has a top-tier resource that can offer so many major roles for actors of a certain age."

Xing Aina stated with firm conviction. "The Father" was undoubtedly a rare film resource, and an opportunity for those Yanji Sect actors who usually lacked star power and traffic!

Beijing Film Academy.

Cao Bao had already completed his departure procedures from the school this morning. For the next four months, he would devote himself entirely to the work on "Her Killing".

"Cao Dao, I wish you a successful start to filming on "Her Killing" right here in advance."

Seeing that Cao Bao, having packed his things, was preparing to leave the office, Xue Xue Xiaolu hurriedly stopped him with a smile and offered her blessings. She knew very well that Cao Bao's film was aiming for awards.

"I accept your auspicious words; I also hope this film goes smoothly." Cao Bao smiled and clasped his hands in a bow. Then he noticed the draft on Xue Xue Xiaolu's desk and instantly became interested: "Have you started creating your new script?"

"Since I'm idle anyway, I happened to have some inspiration, so I just put pen to paper; but the title is already chosen. Cao Dao, would you like to help me correct it?"

"I wouldn't dare to correct it, but I am truly curious about the script's title." As he spoke, Cao Bao walked over with a smile.

He saw that the title of Xue Xue Xiaolu's new script was indeed very simple, consisting of only three characters: "The Whistleblower"!