Chapter 129: The Number One Popular Person in Mainland Entertainment

November 1, 2002, later generations called it "Little Singles' Day."

Of course, there is no such saying now, but there is a golden bachelor in the entertainment industry who has become a sweet pastry coveted by major actresses and talent agencies.

This stick is thick and hard, and it's shining...

That is the light of the Golden Lion Award, and also the light of the mainland box office champion as of November!

From the premiere of the Golden Week on October 1 to the end of the Western Halloween on October 31.

This directorial debut, which Boss Lu could be said to have poured his heart and blood into, grossed a total of 48.77 million at the mainland box office!

Where was the heart and blood?

Calculated and adapted the original play to win the Golden Lion Award, casting a golden body for the film to export to domestic sales;

Previously invited the little king Zhou Jielun to join, and with the establishment of the latter's sales champion status of *Eight Dimensions of Space*, it drove the box office and the harvest of fan economy;

Carefully selected the release cycle to compete with *Together* and *Heart-wrenching* and other mobs, avoiding the Hollywood blockbusters like *Harry Potter* in the first two months, and also avoiding the behemoth *Hero* in December;

Then there was the roadshow and publicity strategy he personally formulated for Yu Dong's team at Poly Bona, which has been talked about by the industry and named "Deep Distribution";

Plus the endless soft articles and publicity activities on the blog network, such as writing reviews to draw movie tickets, forwarding posters to send phone bills, etc.

One by one, they jointly created the staggering number of 48.77.

What level is this number in 2002?

Referring to the mainland box office in the original timeline, there are only three films ahead of 48.77 million. Except for *Hero*, the other two are Hollywood special effects blockbusters.

*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* and *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*.

Fatty Yu called Seeing Lu Kuan several times at the end of October, "begging" him to agree to apply to the Film Bureau for an extension of the screening, just to make up the number of 50 million.

Seeing Lu Kuan felt it was unnecessary. It's not like you only eat this one meal. If you extend the screening and block the release window of the following films, you will be hated.

You can't have an ugly eating posture.

Besides, the box office growth was already relatively sluggish, so there was no need to be obsessive about the integer box office number.

The reason for the sluggishness in the later period was, of course, the appearance of pirated discs.

To be precise, pirated discs appeared in mid-to-late October.

Given the official attitude toward intellectual property protection and the crackdown on piracy in this era, the official *Whiplash* only symbolically appealed to the audience to support genuine products.

The DVD copyright of the film was also sold to a cultural company in Guangdong for 1 million, and Boss Lu even suspected that they were the largest pirated manufacturers...

Pirated manufacturers with such "both righteous and evil" identities are very common in this era. 1 million is their road money. I bought your copyright for 1 million. Don't worry about how many pirated copies I print.

After *Hero* was released at the end of 2002 in later generations, Zhang Yimou and Zhang Weiping specifically took out 4 million to crack down on piracy, and the Ministry of Culture and the National Anti-Pornography Office set up a joint group to specifically investigate this matter.

But pirated discs still swept the country, and even provocatively wrote the words "Assisted by China Film Pirated Production Company" on the opening screen, which was simply shocking.

Along with the explosive box office, of course, there was explosive word-of-mouth.

With the blog network, countless ordinary audiences and film critics had a place to speak freely.

【Also a musical art film, Seeing Lu Kuan's "Whiplash" has taught Chen Kaige a good lesson.】

【Just like the "no-pee-break" that Director Seeing Lu Kuan said at the Beijing premiere, this film is indeed no-pee-break. In the 120-minute whole film, not a single audience member in the cinema went to the toilet. The rhythm, plot, and connotation are all top-level! Looking forward to Seeing Lu Kuan's next film!】

【It's a pity, if I could see this film before the college entrance examination, it would have given me infinite motivation! I like that classic line of Teacher Feng Yuanzheng too much!】

Boss Lu also instructed the internal staff of the blog network to launch a voting list of "Top Ten Inspirational Films in China" on the website, and *Whiplash* ranked first.

Of course, there was no lack of public relations for opinion leaders, such as the blog network's designated cultural star Han Han.

He wrote in his blog account, which had accumulated three million fans:

This film allowed me to reflect on the East Asian educational atmosphere under the influence of Confucian culture from a more profound perspective. It can be said to be the best film I have seen in recent years.

From then on, besides Hollywood blockbusters, I have one more reason to be willing to pay out of my own pocket to walk into the cinema: Seeing Lu Kuan.

Where there is praise, there is criticism, especially from the "academic cliques" and film critics representing the film industry, such as Huang Shixian and Zhu Dake.

【Huang Shixian】: Except for the deliberate flattery and fawning of commercial films in the Hollywood style, I did not see any traces of exploration in audiovisual language and film techniques by a talented young director, which is particularly regrettable.

【Zhu Dake】: Film is a spiritual art, and Seeing Lu Kuan treats it as a marketing commodity. Judging from the overwhelming offensive and the vulgar publicity slogan of "no-pee-break" at the beginning of the release of *Whiplash*, I suggest that this freshman director student at Beijing Film Academy should continue to cultivate his internal skills.

Once these two big names in the criticism circle came out, countless film critics who held the banners of art films and new waves swarmed in.

They lashed out at *Whiplash*, a four-unlike film that is neither art nor commercial, as if Boss Lu did not get 47 million box office, but 4.7 million box office.

Criticism is their job, and it is their means to gain fame and make money.

People are afraid of being famous, and pigs are afraid of being strong. These disturbances naturally cannot shake Seeing Lu Kuan's mind, and he has no mood to pay attention to these first-generation internet sprayers for the time being.

With public opinion tools in hand, as long as it is within a reasonable range, it is not that everyone is not allowed to express their opinions.

But if it crosses the line or is detected by Boss Lu as an organized smear behind the scenes, then don't blame the official navy and permission dogs for coming down.

On the evening of November 1, the *Whiplash* crew held a celebration banquet for the big box office at the Media Hotel in Beijing.

This is a momentum, and it is also a publicity.

In fact, when the box office exceeded 30 million, Seeing Lu Kuan wanted to hold one in Beijing, which could not only boost the confidence of the distribution team, but also be an unobtrusive advertisement.

Audience friends who haven't seen it, our box office has exceeded 30 million, the first in the mainland, why don't you come and see it?

It was just abandoned because the roadshow schedule was too tight.

Around six o'clock in the evening, the Media Hotel was bustling with noise, red carpets were laid, flowers were praised, and it was like a film festival red carpet.

In addition to the crew members, there were still a group of big names and small names who came to show support.

Not only Seeing Lu Kuan's old friends Zhou Xun, Zhang Jizhong, Chen Kun, Gao Yuanyuan, etc., but Zhang Yadong did not come this time.

Of course, there were also a group of "new friends."

"Director Lu, long time no see!"

The one who greeted him was Zhao Wei.

Fans had long been screaming for this top stream, and her popularity was at its peak at this time.

Don't hit the smiling person with your hand, Boss Lu was naturally a round of pleasantries.

Although he didn't know her purpose, the scene of parting unhappily when he told her fortune last time was still vivid.

"Director Lu, I miss you so much since we parted in Venice!"

It is worthy of being rich in the deep mountains and having distant relatives. Wang Xiaolei and Wang Dajun brothers also came together today, not Seeing Lu Kuan's invitation.

He glanced at Fatty Yu who was receiving, not knowing if it was his handwriting.

All who come are guests. Boss Lu communicated closely with the senior company bosses in the industry. The big and small Wangs came here just to get closer.

Just as Wang Xiaolei thought in Venice, Yanda Huayi cannot rely on just one Feng Xiaogang.

As for the previous small conflict?

Presumably a smart person like Seeing Lu Kuan would not take it to heart.

Now not only the surrounding actresses, but even Zhao Wei looked at Boss Lu welcoming and sending off with great surprise.

At that time, he was still an unknown little god stick, and now he is a sturdy "show wood" growing in the entertainment industry.

She also secretly calculated in her heart that no matter what purpose, she must get along with Seeing Lu Kuan.

As the guests arrived one after another, a heavyweight guest also came uninvited.

Little flat head!

Boss Lu stepped forward to greet him, and he understood the sudden visit of Yanda Huayi's big and small Wangs.

This is following the leader's footsteps!

"Seeing Lu Kuan, well done! You have added glory to Chinese cinema!"

Han Shanping was still an opening and action language with great momentum. At Seeing Lu Kuan's invitation, he took the microphone to give a speech.

"Chinese cinema is in the darkness before dawn. As the vice chairman and deputy general manager of China Film, I represent China Film Group to express my most heartfelt congratulations to young director Seeing Lu Kuan!"

Today is someone else's home court, and Han Zong also gave face and did not talk at length, only drank a glass of water wine with Seeing Lu Kuan and Jiang Zhiqiang and other big names in the industry before leaving.

The status and prestige of the leader must still be maintained.

His visit today was also a temporary arrangement by Gao Chengsheng. In order to make up for the regret of the last failed cooperation, Han Shanping felt that his posture of being virtuous and corporal was done very well.

With his arrival and endorsement, the eyes of the agents and female guests on the scene today probably couldn't leave Boss Lu.

The only unhappy one was Fatty Yu, who wanted to continue to fly with Seeing Lu Kuan, but faced the competition of China Film...

No, still have to find a way.

Send... send a woman?

The staff quickly pushed a huge "4888" ice sculpture. The box office was still more than 110,000 away from this number. It was just for a good omen.

Seeing Lu Kuan picked up the microphone, thanked the stars who came to show support, and then called a group of crew members such as Tian Zhuangzhuang, Feng Yuanzheng, Liu Yifei, Huang Bo, etc., even Zhang Ruoyun and his son asked for leave to come to the scene today.

Only Zhou Jielun did not fly to Beijing specifically because of the production of a new album.

With a few crisp sounds, the 4888 ice sculpture shattered, and the scene also erupted in applause.

The crew members hugged and cheered each other, instantly becoming the focus of the venue.

The actresses looked at Liu Yifei, who was jumping around Seeing Lu Kuan, and couldn't help but feel jealous.

Perhaps only Bingbing was better, but she was still thinking about the film role that Boss Lu promised her.

Li Bingbing recently heard some gossip about Fan Bingbing and Seeing Lu Kuan, and felt secretly happy looking at her unkind face.

Is it useful to have a scandal with Seeing Lu Kuan? People don't seem to bother to pay attention to you!

Looking at Liu Yifei, who was petite and cute beside Boss Lu and was distributing cake, she also sighed.

Youth is really good.

The celebration banquet was, of course, a cold meal system, which was to leave space for the guests to socialize.

But the two original protagonists of the whole meal seemed to have forgotten their main work, and they hadn't stopped their mouths since they took the dinner plate.

"Xiao Liu, why are you still able to eat so much?"

"I've grown taller again. I'm 1.7 meters now, and wearing high heels is almost catching up with you!"

Boss Lu smiled noncommittally: "Wang Yuyan is a fairy sister, you eat like this and get photographed by reporters, won't the big beard be anxious to death?"

Zhang Jizhong's hype for *Tian Long Ba Bu* from casting to filming never stopped.

In this life, with the blessing of the blog network, Liu Yifei's beautiful ancient costume style continued to sweep the internet without accident, adding another label to her.

The first generation of "Lu Girl", the Oriental Princess on the red carpet in Venice, the Fairy Sister Wang Yuyan.

The means of the internet era were mastered by a prophet like Boss Lu, and creating gods is just that simple.

Although Liu Yifei now has only one Golden Lion Award film with very few scenes, the endorsements of consumer goods such as Wrigley and Mars have already reached a price of one million, comparable to the status of some first- and second-line actresses in the industry.

But Boss Lu decisively let Yang Siwei refuse all of them.

Status needs to be raised. With Liu Yifei's current development speed, she will accept high luxury and top magazines, or image ambassadors of countries or regions in the future.

That is a later story.

The little girl is only 15 years old and has a long way to go.

"Seeing Lu Kuan, do you remember the last time we sat and ate buffet like this?"

Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen each other for a while, Liu Yifei seemed less interested in bickering with Seeing Lu Kuan, and turned to chat about some emotional topics.

"Don't remember."

The little girl looked at him angrily, inexplicably feeling that this dog man was pretending.

"That time you were vomited on your face by me with milk, don't you remember?!"

Boss Lu was speechless, you wait, sooner or later I have to... come back.

Jiang Zhiqiang walked over with a smile, looking at this pair of young children with kindness.

"Yifei, can you borrow your Director Lu for ten minutes? I have a friend who wants to know him."

Boss Lu and Liu Yifei hiding here to eat was entirely to avoid drinking. After running the roadshow for a month, he had been drinking and lusting too much recently.

Last night, he only tasted Bingbing a few times, and then he was not interested, which made the big actress provoke him frequently.

Liu Yifei's face suddenly turned into a big red cloth, but she had no bad feelings for Seeing Lu Kuan, so she didn't argue too fiercely.

"Director Jiang, you guys talk, I'll go find my mother."

Jiang Zhiqiang watched the little girl walk away in a hurry, and his friend seemed to be unable to wait to come uninvited.

"Director Lu, I am Wu Dun, nice to meet you!"

Boss Lu looked back at the man with the big shot style nodding to him, inexplicably feeling that the name was a bit familiar.

When he saw Jia Jingwen greeting him with a smile beside Wu Dun, he suddenly realized!

Wu Dun, Jiangnan Case, the general protector of the Bamboo Union Gang!

The godfather of Shi Xiaolong and Jia Jingwen is also here!

How did he bring his "god-daughter" to the mainland?

Thinking about Gao Yuanyuan he met when toasting just now, Boss Lu understood that this was to accompany her to film *Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre*.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 130 =====