[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-338":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"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},2260641,4411,"Chapter 338: Movie Breakout, Hong Kong Real Estate, Financing Begins","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-338",338,"\u003Cp>In Shenzhen, when Ning Hao came for a roadshow of The Crazy Race, Yan Li made a special trip to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Ning, Great Director Ning, you’ve really made a name for yourself this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li happily wrapped his arm around Ning Hao; The Crazy Race had broken 100 million in five days and 200 million in eleven, crushing The Battle of Chibi: Part II, and was likely to become the second film after Not One Less to surpass 300 million in the New Year’s slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Yi, just moments ago basking in triumph, was quickly caught up by Yi An.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive success of The Crazy Race naturally lifted Ning Hao’s status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, saying his status rose with the tide is too modest—Ning Hao had been deified in a single battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nowadays, domestic films breaking 100 million aren’t that rare, but many are directed by Hong Kong or Taiwan filmmakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, among purely commercial mainland directors, only Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Feng Xiaogang had crossed the 100 million mark—that’s the origin of the term “Big Three Mainland Directors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crazy Race made Ning Hao the fourth mainland director to enter the 100 million club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was also the third mainland director to break 200 million, and a strong contender to become the second to break 300 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a director barely past thirty, these titles spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If earlier labels like “genius director” or “leader of the Sixth Generation” were Yi An’s marketing hype, now, based purely on box office performance, Ning Hao was unquestionably the one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if someone refused to acknowledge it, Yi An would make them acknowledge it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Yi had gained immense prestige from Feng Xiaogang; Yi An had long been eager to have its own flagship director, and now that Ning Hao had shone, he had to be glorified and elevated to godhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao grinned broadly—he was reaping fame and fortune from the film’s success, how could he not be happy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew The Crazy Race had some artificial elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combined production and marketing costs had already climbed toward tens of millions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That expenditure could rival that of major blockbusters; in other words, The Crazy Race’s success wasn’t solely his own doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What artificial elements? Marketing is part of film commerce—soon, marketing costs will keep rising, even surpassing total production costs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li thought Ning Hao had been influenced by online voices and tried to reassure him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it’s The Battle of Chibi or Not One Less, they also spent heavily on marketing—just slightly less in proportion or total amount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t overthink it, don’t obsess—no matter what, our box office is real, the project is profitable, and that’s the hard truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a director, Ning Hao might think the film itself must genuinely attract audiences, but Yan Li saw further and thought more broadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s society is no longer one where good wine needs no bush; since its founding, Yi An had never relaxed its emphasis on promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marketing doesn’t overshadow the film itself—it enhances and amplifies its appeal as a supporting force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the film itself is weak, no amount of marketing helps; only when both work in tandem can true success be achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be blunt, ramping up marketing is nothing—some companies resort to all sorts of tricks to boost box office: buying tickets, phantom screenings, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to them, Yan Li was practically an honest, law-abiding man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the brand-new Great Director Ning receiving Yan Li’s warm welcome, the male lead Huang Bao also enjoyed excellent treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bao’er, you’ve really made it big—Deng Chao is terrified you’ll steal his top spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Bao flashed his signature grin: “He’s worrying too much—my image? If I became top guy, wouldn’t that embarrass our company?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crazy Race made Huang Bao a star, boosting his fame and status, but claiming he’d dethrone Deng Chao was nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Deng Chao’s People’s Righteous Path is currently a smash TV drama, reaping rewards nearly as substantial as Huang Bao’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the company’s top guy isn’t decided by film box office alone—if it were, Hua Yi’s top guy would be Ge You or Zhang Hanyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Top guy and top girl are judged by popularity, exposure, and commercial clout; Huang Bao, as a serious actor, is lucky to land second place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be modest—I’m counting on you. Put some pressure on Deng Chao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was genuinely pleased: The Crazy Race had produced both a renowned director and a comedy sensation, both under Yi An’s banner—what a windfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More crucially, both Ning and Huang had been nurtured from obscurity by Yi An, powerfully demonstrating its talent development and star-making ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Hua Yi and Orange Sky, whose majority of artists are “mercenaries,” Yi An was far ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li planned The Crazy Race’s victory party for when it broke 300 million, but since he’d come personally, he couldn’t leave without some gesture—he arranged a private small celebration for the crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Gao Jie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Jiu Kong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao introduced each key crew member to Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crazy Race featured many Taiwanese artists because filming took place in Xiamen, and Ning Hao needed performers fluent in Minnan dialect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he couldn’t find suitable Fujianese artists, he turned to Taiwan, where Minnan dialect is also widely spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This decision made The Crazy Race quite popular in Taiwan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since mainland release was complicated, Yi An first sold DVD and online streaming rights, earning a modest profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Yan, thank you for your support—I’ll drink this one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had some fame in Taiwan, though less than in mainland China or Hong Kong, but everyone who worked in the mainland knew him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crazy Race had no major stars, and no one dared to act superior in front of Yan Li—everyone was polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had no airs—he chatted, laughed, ate, drank, and gave each person a gift before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were elegant souvenirs: pens, mugs, lighters—nothing expensive, just a few hundred to a thousand yuan each; Huang Bao and Ning Hao received special gifts: each got a watch worth tens of thousands, a small bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao didn’t mind—he was close to Yan Li and used to free meals and drinks; Huang Bao, receiving Yan Li’s personal gift for the first time, proudly wore the watch, thrilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our boss is really generous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Hao smiled: “Yan Zong isn’t great at many things, but when it comes to paying, he never holds back—the more you deliver, the more generous he becomes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait till the roadshow ends—your next project and commercial deals will be arranged. If you maintain this momentum, your contract terms will be revised proactively.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Bao hadn’t lacked roles since joining Yi An two years ago, but his fame and status meant his income was modest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that The Crazy Race was a smash, Yi An wouldn’t miss the chance to exploit it—Huang Bao earns, the company earns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as expected, Huang Bao was about to enjoy a hot streak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ning Hao himself, he was reaping immense profits: besides his director’s fee, he received royalties, and more importantly, he’d earned the company’s trust, increasing his share of original equity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, he was red-hot, and several companies had offered him deals—he ignored them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yi An had money, clout, and the big prize of listed shares dangling—only a fool would jump ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he stay, Ning Hao warned Huang Bao not to do anything foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t have said so before, but now Huang Bao had a real shot at original equity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were good friends and supported each other at the company; Ning Hao couldn’t let him walk into a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I’m not that foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Bao scratched his head—Yi An was thriving and treated him well; with The Crazy Race pushing him up, he couldn’t leave just as he was rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just out of loyalty—he didn’t think Yan Li was a kind man; if he crossed the river and broke the bridge, Yan Zong might just break him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in Hong Kong, Yan Li was scrolling through reviews of The Crazy Race on his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to The Crazy Stone, this film was more mature—Ning Hao’s signature dark humor, multi-threaded plot, and quotable lines were exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Yi An had a real chance to push The Crazy Race past 300 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with its cast alone, the film simply wouldn’t have drawn that level of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excellent quality, explosive word-of-mouth, successful marketing, plus the contrast with The Battle of Chibi—it had all the advantages of heaven, earth, and human harmony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a pity about Painted Skin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li still felt regret—Painted Skin had missed the National Day slot; though its performance was still excellent, the more so it made people wonder: if it had released during National Day, Yi An might already have two 300 million+ films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he lamented, Yan Li silently calculated The Crazy Race’s profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Yi An had dramatically increased marketing costs—even claiming it was prepared to lose money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, the film was still profitable—and profitably so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the box office broke 300 million, the studio and distributor would split roughly 120 million, instantly recouping the tens of millions in costs, not to mention all the ancillary revenues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Yan Li’s estimate, the film’s total revenue would be between 140 and 160 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only a rough estimate—he wasn’t certain, because truly phenomenon-level films were hard to predict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For normal films, rights and ancillary revenues depended heavily on the market, with prices generally falling within a range, depending on how many rights you could sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was for normal films; The Crazy Race breaking 300 million, in today’s market, was a potential annual champion—a super-hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant its rights and ancillary revenues would inevitably carry a premium—even record-breaking premiums—with diverse buyers, defying conventional logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li and Yi An had experience with this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Painted Skin had been a smash, boosted by the “Double Ice” effect, and its non-box-office rights performed exceptionally well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revenues from TV, online, overseas, DVD, books, commercial partnerships, image licensing, and merchandise totaled nearly 60 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crazy Race had higher box office, but due to its genre and cast, Yan Li thought it unlikely to match Painted Skin—but you never knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if The Crazy Race turned out to be wildly popular in every way?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just half a month ago, no one imagined a film with a few million budget could crush The Battle of Chibi, which cost hundreds of millions.\u003C\u002Fp>",1772,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c7f4cf0c2634ce492d6294c0ea24b5b46085d45ab38b9372447517f2871381d2","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-339","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-337",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]