Chapter 291: Putting eye drops on competitors

Returning to the residence, Cao Yang checked his phone and had more than a dozen missed calls.

When watching the movie, he turned the phone to silent and forgot to turn it back.

"You wash up first, I'll make a call."

Cao Yang shook his phone and said to Fan Bingbing.

Fan Bingbing nodded, took out pajamas from the closet, patted Cao Yang's butt when passing by him, and pinched it again, then walked quickly to the bathroom with a giggle.

"Wait!"

Cao Yang dropped a "cruel" word and called back to Tang Mu Rothman, the executive director of Columbia.

He had the most missed calls from him just now.

"Sorry Tang Mu, I just came back after watching the movie." After the other party answered the phone, Cao Yang said.

"I was too anxious. Knowing you went to watch *Superman*, I couldn't wait to know your thoughts," Tang Mu Rothman explained.

"Tang Mu, you should have seen it too, right? What do you think?" Cao Yang asked.

Tang Mu Rothman pondered for a moment and said: "The special effects are okay, there are highlights, but no plot."

Then, he added: "But this is a superhero movie. What plot do you need? Just watch Superman be cool and invincible. I have to say, this Superman was chosen well, at least he is quite handsome."

Cao Yang thought about it and felt that Tang Mu Rothman was right. For a superhero movie, who needs a plot? Just watch the protagonist kill all sides.

However, the director obviously had other ideas and didn't want *Superman Returns* to become a pure popcorn movie.

"You are right, Tang Mu."

Tang Mu Rothman asked softly: "From the director's perspective, how do you think we should find some trouble for it?"

Cao Yang's heart moved. It seemed that Tang Mu Rothman wanted to find some "black material" to provide to film critics and the media so that they could take action.

"This film doesn't look like a 270 million blockbuster. There are no big stars, and there are not many big scenes."

Cao Yang gave a hint.

"This is also my thought. Anything else?"

Hearing 270 million, Tang Mu Rothman laughed.

As a veteran filmmaker, he has participated in many films, and most of them were participated in as a producer, so he can roughly estimate the production cost of a film.

According to his estimation, for a film like *Superman Returns*, without big stars, let alone 270 million, even 170 million is not needed.

"Director Bryan has a lot of ideas and wants to shoot a different superhero movie, well, a movie with religious implications," Cao Yang said.

Tang Mu Rothman immediately became energetic and asked impatiently: "Hurry up and tell me."

"A father with superpowers sends his son to Earth to save humanity, letting people on Earth see the hope of survival. For a long time, Superman has been branded with Judaism and Christianity, causing great controversy.

However, this time, the director has raised these to a new level.

When Superman falls to Earth after being injured, the posture mimics Jesus nailed to the cross; the plot of being stabbed by Kryptonite also mimics Jesus being stabbed by Roman soldiers.

Then, this film also quotes the narration of the first Superman film: Humans have the ability to perfect themselves, but they lack the talent you have. It is for this reason that I gave you to them... my only son..."

What can such a narration remind people of? In the Bible, God "gave" his only son to humanity...

These metaphors might not have been anything before. It is an inevitable result for superheroes to be related to religion.

However, just before *Superman Returns*, a religious discussion was just set off—*The Da Vinci Code* had too many religious metaphors, which made people very disgusted, and many people spontaneously boycotted it, which caused its reputation and box office to collapse.

*The Da Vinci Code* is still being screened in some second-tier and rural theaters, and the discussion about religion and the heated debate have not yet faded. People are still disgusted.

The United States is considered a Christian country, with about 70% to 85% of people claiming to be Christians.

Although they are not as extreme about faith as Arab countries, if you blur Superman and make a superhero in a comic book equivalent to Jesus, they are still very disgusted.

Tang Mu Rothman hung up the phone. He already knew what to do.

Don't blame him for using the media and film critics to "smear" *Superman Returns*. Two weeks later, *Inception*, which currently has an actual investment of 170 million US dollars, is about to be released, and it is in a competitive relationship with *Superman Returns*.

"Smearing" competitors, isn't that a normal operation?

It's not that only Columbia would do this. When several films form a competitive relationship, which opponent doesn't try their best to secretly buy drafts to smear others.

After finishing the call with Tang Mu Rothman, Cao Yang's phone rang again. This time it was an overseas call from Han Zong.

"Junior brother, I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"

It is past ten o'clock in the evening in Los Angeles, and it should be past one o'clock in the afternoon in Jingcheng.

"It's okay, senior brother. I just came back from outside too. I've been promoting the film these days. Today is the release of *Superman*, so I took some time to watch this film."

Cao Yang explained with a smile.

"Oh, I was just about to tell you this."

Han Zong organized his language and said:

"It's almost the end of the month, and the domestic film protection month is about to end. *Superman* is a film introduced by China Film Group. They have been negotiating during this period, wanting to release it in early July, but I have been suppressing it."

"Senior brother wants to leave July for *Inception*?"

Cao Yang asked with a smile.

"Yes, although *Inception* is a co-production, it can be released in other months. However, it is not bad to have a gimmick of global simultaneous release."

Han Zong also smiled. *Inception* had already been scheduled, and Warner Bros. wanted *Superman* to be released on July 1st, but he had been suppressing it.

This morning, Warner Bros. came again and found someone with some power to pass a message, still for the same purpose, wanting to be released in the country on July 1st, more than ten days earlier than *Inception*.

Han Zong naturally disagreed.

Can the nature of *Superman Returns* be the same as *Inception*?

*Inception* is a co-production, China Film Group has a stake in it, and the director is Cao Yang. If it sells well, it is the political achievement of China Film Group, and it is the political achievement of Han Zong during his tenure.

Even if the box office of *Superman Returns* is good, what can it do?

"Junior brother, I called just to hear your opinion. What is the quality of *Superman*? If I arrange it early, for example, early August, will it cause an impact on *Inception*?"

Han Zong said.

He is not a fool, just making an analogy. How could he arrange *Superman* to be released two weeks after *Inception*? That is not robbing *Inception* of its box office.

He said this just to know the quality of *Superman*.

"Haha, senior brother, you are overthinking. Do you know why Warner Bros. wants to be released before *Inception*? They are afraid that after my new film is released, it will suck away the domestic box office.

Senior brother, you tell the people at Warner Bros. that you want to arrange *Superman* in early August, and ask them if they dare? *Superman* has influence in the US, but in the country, it is just so-so.

Besides, the plot of this film is weak, and the special effects can only be said to be okay. The box office in the country will not be very high."

It is not that Cao Yang is arrogant. Warner Bros. must understand Cao Yang's influence in the country, which is unique. How could they let *Superman* be released two weeks after *Inception*?

After hanging up Han Zong's phone, Cao Yang smiled. He understood Han Zong's meaning. In fact, there is no need to tell Cao Yang about this kind of thing. Just press *Superman* and don't let it be released in early July.

However, Han Zong called this time, which can not only show that he values his relationship with Cao Yang, but also let Cao Yang understand that he is also under pressure from above to suppress *Superman*.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 292 =====