Chapter 429: The First Public Appearance After Announcing the Relationship

Luo Mo is actually very clear on why Guan Fei is worried about *Monkey King: Hero is Back* being released during the Spring Festival slot.

The Spring Festival slot is the most fiercely competitive period; the box office records for animated films are there for all to see, and judging by data from previous years, the box office for animated films during the New Year period might not even reach one-tenth of other blockbuster films.

In that case, screen allocation would be severely squeezed, and it would be less cost-effective than getting a release in another slot.

At the same time, major cinema chains prefer animated films made for children; the box office foundation for this type of film is relatively stable, and they are always a safe bet, just not very profitable.

Luo Mo Studio and Tongguang Studio have always produced "all-ages" animated works; their works are not just for children to watch.

And in the film industry, looking back at history, this type of animated film... almost all of them died out!

This is just like many years ago on Earth; they all flopped miserably, losing even their shirts.

In Guan Fei's view, never mind whether it is appropriate to release during the Spring Festival slot, it is difficult enough just to compete for the qualification to be released!

It is not your turn to pick it; it is more likely that it picks you.

And there is another very important point: Luo Mo has never proven his 【Box Office Appeal】.

Why is it that in the industry, film directors stand at the top of the contempt chain?

Why do many film directors act so conceited, feeling they are a cut above other directors?

In reality, many great film directors have publicly stated that the reason lies in the fact that films require spending a significant amount of money to watch in a cinema.

This means that your influence is directly equated to hard cash.

After all, in the early years, everyone watched television dramas on TV without spending money.

The film and television dramas directed by Luo Mo are indeed very popular.

But he has never entered the film circle.

A man, you know, you have to have entered it and operated it yourself to prove your ability and level.

Otherwise, it is all empty talk.

Over the years, how many great film and television directors, after diving headfirst into the film circle, made investors wish they could kill them.

Guan Fei is currently on the 【This Person Should Be Killed】 list.

Of course, in Guan Fei's view, the biggest problem still lies in the subject matter.

If this were a film directed by and starring Luo Mo, with him as the male lead, given his heaven-defying traffic and reputation, the cinema chains might still consider it.

Animation... let's just forget it.

Luo Mo, however, feels he can give it a try.

"A film's hype and promotion before release are very important."

"If the buzz is high, then there is room to choose a release slot, and the screen allocation can be higher."

"But the difficulty coefficient for the hype and promotion of a major animated film can be said to be even higher than that of live-action."

"But it can't stump me."

In Luo Mo's view, hyping an animated film does not necessarily have to start from the animation itself; other channels can also be used.

For example—how about a song?

………

………

There is still some time until the Spring Festival.

The production of *Monkey King: Hero is Back* is also still in the final stages.

Therefore, this matter is not urgent for the time being.

In the afternoon, Luo Mo and Guan Fei went to audition several actors, and Ding Xiaoyu was also kept by Luo Mo's side the whole time.

After auditioning several actors, Luo Mo was not very satisfied.

In the drama *Reset*, the bus driver actually does not have many moments of explosive acting. But the character "Auntie Pot" is a real test of acting skills.

The several middle-aged actresses just now were actually all talented performers.

But in terms of image and temperament, they were still lacking.

Because according to the character design, Auntie Pot should be positioned as someone with temperament... a lunatic!

After all, before playing with explosions, her job was a teacher, and at the same time, she was a mother who loved her child extremely.

Therefore, her image and temperament should be of the Gentle, mild, and intellectual type.

Only then, when acting out the outbursts, will that strong contrast make people feel even more creepy.

Just a smile alone can make people feel afraid and can make them feel her madness!

"Wasn't that Chen Sui just now quite good?" Guan Fei said.

Luo Mo shook his head and said, "The explosive power is a bit lacking."

In this drama, Auntie Pot has several moments of outburst; that sense of madness still requires the actor to have extremely strong instantaneous explosive power.

This is a ruthless person who blows up a bus at the drop of a hat, and she even blows up herself and her husband!

Throughout the entire audition and discussion process, Ding Xiaoyu remained silent, just watching obediently from the side.

At this time, seeing her master so troubled, she put down the colorful pen she was using to underline the script and gently tugged at the sleeve of Luo Mo's shirt at the elbow.

"What's wrong, Yu?" Luo Mo asked.

"That... Master, I know a teacher who is quite suitable for this role; she herself is a teacher at the Drama Academy," Ding Xiaoyu said.

In the Drama Academy, some teachers do not go out to act, but some teachers are actors themselves.

Hearing this, Luo Mo's eyes lit up and he said, "That's right, I almost forgot you are a little child star; the actors you have worked with are too numerous to count."

"I should have asked for your opinion sooner," Luo Mo said happily.

Seeing Luo Mo's reaction, Ding Xiaoyu clenched her hands slightly on her lap, and her toes could not help but lift gently, then quietly drop back down.

"Then... shall I contact her?" she said.

"Sure," Luo Mo agreed immediately.

Ding Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, took her phone out of her small bag, and then trotted off to make a call.

She had only run halfway when she was called back by Luo Mo.

"Yu, tell us this person's name first," he said with a smile.

"Oh, oh, it's Teacher Yu Lijuan." Ding Xiaoyu stopped, turned around, and her ponytail swung with her, full of youthful energy.

"Yu Lijuan? Her image and temperament are indeed suitable," Guan Fei said, slapping his thigh.

"Alright, go ahead and contact her," Luo Mo said.

Watching the young girl's Back Shadow as she pushed the door and left, Guan Fei said, "Luo Mo, this little apprentice of yours is really easy to satisfy. She doesn't need any rewards; just a casual compliment from you and she feels like she could fly to the heavens with happiness."

"Is that so?" Luo Mo replied, then added, "And stop calling her 'little apprentice' every other word. She's not that little anymore; she'll be an adult in a few days."

Time had flown by; when Luo Mo and Ding Xiaoyu first met, she was only sixteen, and now she was about to have her coming-of-age ceremony.

After a while, the door opened, but Ding Xiaoyu didn't come in; instead, she poked her head through the crack and said, "Teacher Yu said she can meet this weekend."

"That works," Luo Mo had no objections.

After finishing his work, Guan Fei still had preparation tasks to attend to.

As for Luo Mo, he and Ding Xiaoyu were in the office... eating takeout.

Her mother, Chen Ru, did not allow her to eat "junk food," but... who doesn't love "junk food"?

Just eat a little, it would be fine.

As Luo Mo opened the box of fried chicken for her, he said, "Yu, it's been a while since you filmed a movie, right?"

Hearing this, Ding Xiaoyu said, "After filming *Cat Demon*, I made guest appearances in two movies, and then I haven't acted in any films since."

Luo Mo nodded, handed her disposable gloves, and said, "After we finish *The Beginning*, I plan to stop you from taking on any more film and television projects from the studio for a while."

"Mm, okay," Ding Xiaoyu nodded and agreed.

"I haven't even told you about your follow-up resource arrangements yet, and you're already saying 'mm, okay'?" Luo Mo said, annoyed. "If I sold you off one day, you'd definitely be counting the money with a smile, and might even think I sold you too cheaply."

"I wouldn't be that silly!" Ding Xiaoyu felt her master was exaggerating and protested softly.

Because she would never allow her master to sell her off; she wanted to follow behind Luo Mo forever.

"Eat, eat," Luo Mo urged, saying casually, "When the time comes, I'll give you a few movie scripts, and you can pick the one you like best first."

"Several of them?" Ding Xiaoyu looked up, her face showing surprise.

Luo Mo nodded and said, "Actually, it's just to give you a few different choices."

"Some might be more commercial and have better box office results. Others might be more suitable for winning awards. Didn't Master say he'd get you a 【Best Actress】 title to hold?" Luo Mo added with a smile.

However, if this were to get out, the film industry would absolutely explode.

Listen to that! How arrogant!

It makes it sound as if he can have a box office hit whenever he wants, or win an award whenever he wants.

"Master can make the decision," Ding Xiaoyu felt she was fine with anything.

"No rush, let's talk about it after the New Year," Luo Mo said.

The sun set, and night fell.

Luo Mo had already arranged his time for this evening.

He was going to watch the Live Broadcast of the film festival.

Xu Chujing was attending the film festival, so she would definitely be walking the red carpet.

And this would be her first public appearance since she and Luo Mo officially announced their relationship.

One could imagine how crazy the media reporters on the scene would be, and how curious the audience watching the Live Broadcast would be.

This fire of gossip could not be extinguished at all!

As long as Xu Chujing was willing to open her mouth and answer questions related to their romance, it would one hundred percent Air Drop onto the Hot Search list!

This left the organizers of the film festival a bit speechless.

They looked at the topics and discussions about the film festival online, and at least half of the heat was being propped up by Luo Mo and Xu Chujing.

Many people felt quite regretful; if Luo Mo had acted in a movie, even if it were just playing a supporting role for fun, he could still be considered a film person.

If that were the case, he might have received an invitation, and then they could have watched them walk the red carpet together!

The netizens waiting to watch the Live Broadcast were very clear that the media would definitely not let Xu Chujing off and would certainly ask many questions related to Luo Mo.

And what everyone was curious about was, how would Xu Chujing answer?

(PS: Second update, asking for monthly tickets.

A notification: I'm taking a day off tomorrow. The reason is, as you all know, I've already gotten engaged to my number one wealthy fan, May Zong. Because her name contains the character 'Shan', we are going to get our marriage certificate tomorrow, the 23rd.

After getting it, I plan to take her to Hangzhou for a meal, go shopping, and go on a date. After all, since I work so hard writing books to earn royalties, and all you parents-in-spirit support the legitimate version so strongly, I have to spend it on her.)

(End of chapter)