Chapter 296: Single-day box office record

After the film was released, the promotion in the country didn't need to be too troublesome.

It was enough to let everyone know that Cao Yang's *Inception*, with an investment of 1.5 billion, was released. Cao Yang and the 1.5 billion investment were the biggest gimmicks of this film.

Coupled with international superstars like Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in the film, it was easy to attract the audience to the theater and form a viewing wave.

Facts have indeed proven this to be the case.

Because it was a global simultaneous release, Depp and others stayed in the US to promote the film. Only Leonardo DiCaprio followed Cao Yang to the country. Coupled with Fan Bingbing and Wu Qihua, several people couldn't promote the film in a wide range of cities at all.

In addition, since it was a global simultaneous release, Xiangjiang, South Korea, and Japan were all scheduled for release on July 14th. These are good ticket warehouses, especially South Korea and Japan, which must be visited.

On July 14th, Cao Yang took them to Xiangjiang by plane first. In the afternoon, under the arrangement of Columbia's Asia-Pacific staff, they held a fairly grand promotional ceremony.

It was called a promotional ceremony, but it was actually almost the same as a premiere ceremony.

This time, Cao Yang received unprecedented welcome in Xiangjiang, and a large number of media reported it.

No matter how they didn't want to report it before, an undeniable fact is that, including Xiangjiang and Taiwan, Cao Yang is the most famous business card of Chinese people and the Chinese person with the greatest influence in Hollywood.

Xiangjiang is a city where it is very easy to go abroad, but anyone who goes out, no matter in any Western country, can deeply feel that Cao Yang's influence is not at the same level as Ang Lee, or Jackie Chan, Jet Li, etc.

Of course, the crazy reporting of Xiangjiang media also has the reason for Leonardo DiCaprio coming over.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a global superstar, and his popularity and influence in Xiangjiang are even greater than in the country.

Xiangjiang stars are also very interesting, a bit different from the current country.

For example, domestic stars want to go to the premiere of *Inception*, they have to rack their brains to find a decent reason, for example, going with someone who was invited, which is the most reasonable reason.

However, Xiangjiang is different. Without receiving an invitation, many stars will take the initiative to come to the venue to "stand on the stage" and be very professional when accepting interviews, recommending the film, and how much they admire Cao Yang...

In short, those who don't know the inside story would think they are very familiar with Cao Yang.

Busy, a promotion was held more lively and wonderful than many film premieres, and Cao Yang felt it was one word: tired.

He didn't expect that an ordinary promotion would result in such a big battle, with so many Xiangjiang stars coming.

Not only Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Tsui Hark, Chen Guo, etc., who were still familiar, came, but many Xiangjiang first-line and second-line stars also came.

These were still able to come over to greet Cao Yang. There were many other small stars who wanted to come but were stopped.

It's not that Cao Yang put on airs, but there were too many people coming. Can't turn the promotion of the film into a recognition meeting, right?

Before the film and television industry in Xiangjiang "withered," it was truly prosperous, truly influenced East Asia and Southeast Asia, and was qualified to be called the Oriental Hollywood...

Therefore, one of the legacies left behind is that there are too many stars!

According to the itinerary plan, everyone will go to South Korea to promote the next day, then go to Japan to promote, then return to the country, promote in Shenzhen and Guangzhou for a day, and then go to Shanghai to promote, and Leonardo DiCaprio will leave.

Leonardo DiCaprio is not the male lead.

In name, it is a guest nature, on the poster it is a special starring role, and the scenes are very large supporting roles... No matter how it is defined, with Leonardo DiCaprio's status, being able to do this is already giving Cao Yang a lot of face.

Leonardo DiCaprio speaks very directly and once publicly said in the media that the reason why he guest-starred in this film is that the film is indeed wonderful, but the most important thing is that the director of the film is Cao Yang.

Xiangjiang media are still quite daring to ask. They asked Leonardo DiCaprio today why he would promote the film so hard as a guest-nature guest, is it related to Columbia?

For example, is there any deep cooperation with Columbia next?

Leonardo DiCaprio was stunned for a moment and said directly: "Cooperation with Columbia? No, no, no, I don't have any cooperation with Columbia in my current work arrangement. Of course, this *Inception* doesn't count.

I have clearly said long ago that Director Cao Yang is one of the directors I admire most and the director I want to cooperate with most. I pushed away a lot of work to participate in the promotion of the film. This is my willingness, because the director of this film is named Cao Yang."

Having said that, he spread his hands and laughed, facing the camera and saying:

"Director Cao Yang, see, I am a very professional actor. Next time there is a film plan, as long as the role is suitable, you must call me the first time."

It is estimated that if Depp saw this interview, he would definitely scold Leonardo DiCaprio for being shameless and "robbing" his Director Cao Yang.

This interview of Leonardo DiCaprio caused a huge sensation in Xiangjiang. They ordinary people would never have thought that Leonardo DiCaprio, who is "high above," would be so "flattering" to a director from the country.

Xiangjiang stars were surprised, but also felt it was reasonable. No matter where in the world, as long as the director reaches a certain status, they will always be one level higher than the stars.

Well, thinking about it this way, they felt that it was a wise choice to hold Cao Yang's "stinky feet" today. Didn't they see that even Leonardo DiCaprio was like this?

Cao Yang saw Zhang Baizhi again.

Zhang Baizhi at this time is still very tender, and her whole body is very tender.

Cao Yang has a deep understanding

Cao Yang understood this deeply.

Although Zhang Baizhi hinted that they could go to the hotel where Cao Yang was staying for a bit, um, to sit for a bit.

However, this was Xiangjiang, a place famous for its paparazzi, and Cao Yang's itinerary was not confidential, so he had to regretfully let it go.

There was another reason: there was a flight from Xiangjiang to Incheon, Hancheng, at 12:30 AM tonight, arriving at 5:00 AM, and Cao Yang and his team had to take this flight.

So, there was no time to "sit for a bit."

Oh, right, it's not called Hancheng anymore; in January of last year, the mayor of Hancheng, Li Mingbo, announced that Hancheng was officially renamed Seoul, and solemnly informed the Huaxia government that they could no longer translate their capital as Hancheng.

Because it was still early, everyone went to the hotel arranged by the organizers to rest first.

Cao Yang felt like he had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by the phone.

Picking it up to look, it was a call from Old Han. He didn't rush to answer, but checked the time; it was already past ten in the morning.

As soon as the call connected, Old Han's hearty laughter came through first.

"Little Junior Brother, I didn't disturb your rest, did I? I figured you should be up by this time."

He knew Cao Yang's itinerary; Cao Yang had to go to a welcome banquet arranged by the organizers at twelve noon, so he felt Cao Yang should be awake by now.

Pang Bing opened her eyes; she had also been woken up by the phone.

After arriving at the hotel, the two hadn't done anything; mainly because they were already tired from yesterday and had to catch an early morning flight, making them even more exhausted, so they just hugged and slept a "plain" sleep.

Seeing Cao Yang half-lying on the bed answering the phone, her eyes shifted, and she burrowed into the quilt.

"Hiss... how, how much?"

Cao Yang was shocked; let's just say he was.

"Haha, Little Junior Brother, let me tell you, I didn't believe it when I first heard it either; I confirmed it several times before I finally believed it."

Old Han laughed heartily on the phone, extremely happy. He believed that Cao Yang must be just as shocked as he was when he first heard this box office result.

"Yesterday, the domestic box office set a record, with a single-day box office breaking 50 million, suddenly raising the single-day box office record by more than 10 million. The most important thing is, out of this 50 million, 'Inception' accounted for 41 million! Haha..."

"Hiss..."

Cao Yang couldn't help but gasp, and hurriedly said: "No, Senior Brother, let me slow down; this result is too comfortable, I need to, I need to calm down or move around a bit..."

"Understood, understood, haha, Little Junior Brother, let alone you, even I feel like I'm dreaming right now. Good heavens, your box office for one day is higher than the total box office of the vast majority of films."

Han Zong also gasped, clicked his tongue twice, and finally said: "Little Junior Brother, you calm down for a bit, and I'll calm down for a bit too. In short, congratulations, haha..."

After hanging up the phone, Han Zong couldn't help but fiercely wave his fist.

Afterwards, he slapped his forehead; he had been too happy and forgotten to tell Cao Yang one thing.

Yesterday, 'Inception' was released, and today, not only were the box office figures out, but the word-of-mouth was shockingly good. There was very little negative news, and a viewing craze had already formed, but that wasn't the most surprising part.

The most surprising thing was that the first commercial IMAX theater built last year at the Huaxing Cinema in Jingcheng had already sold out tickets for half a month in advance!

That's right, half a month in advance.

Yesterday morning, everyone who watched 'Inception' in the IMAX theater was shocked beyond measure by the effect, so, very naturally, the IMAX theaters, which were still very rare in the country, became explosive.

Han Zong curiously went to the IMAX theater to try watching it; the effect was truly very, very good, especially the part where the street flips—Han Zong didn't even know how to describe it.

It was a pity that there were too few IMAX theaters in the country right now, otherwise, just based on those ridiculously expensive movie tickets, he believed the box office would have been even more astonishing.

When Cao Yang's group was promoting in South Korea, a situation similar to Xiangjiang appeared, even more exaggerated than in Xiangjiang.

Comparatively speaking, the class division in the South Korean film and television circle was more obvious.

This was the point Cao Yang felt most deeply.

In Xiangjiang, as long as one was a star, although there were strata among them, it wasn't too obvious.

South Korea was different; the "Hallyu" that started to become popular in the country, their "Oppa," their "Goddess," those Korean idol groups, no matter how popular they were, couldn't sit at the table to eat.

Of course, they could when accompanying guests.

(End of chapter)