Entertainment from Divorce

a few days later.

Brilliant Entertainment Company.

Tan Yue sat behind his desk, his fingertips tracing the draft actor contracts for "The Three-Body Problem" on the computer screen.

The agreement for Ma Guoliang to play Wang Miao has been drafted and is just waiting for both parties to sign it.

Zhang Shengli has also had initial contact with them, and they have shown great interest in the role of Chang Weisi, agreeing to come over in the afternoon for a detailed discussion.

On the desk, a purple clay teacup held freshly brewed Longjing tea, its aroma rising gently, mingling with the smell of ink from documents and papers, creating a familiar working atmosphere for Tan Yue.

He had just finished noting a few clauses that needed to be modified on the actors' contracts when there was a knock on the office door. Zheng Tong pushed the door open and entered, holding a thick document in his hand and wearing a capable smile on his face.

"Mr. Tan, you called me? This is the latest global box office review report for 'Interstellar' from the overseas distribution department, as well as market analysis data for the New Year's Day period. I brought everything you asked me to compile."

Zheng Tong is the deputy director of the company's overseas distribution department. He has worked with Tan Yue for many years and is experienced and steady in his work.

"Sit down." Tan Yue gestured to the chair opposite him and took the documents handed to him. "How's the market situation for the New Year's Day release? Are there many competitors?"

"Not many, but their strength is not weak." Zheng Tong sat down and opened the market analysis data.

"There are currently three films scheduled for release on New Year's Day. One of them is the martial arts epic 'Sword Shadow Jianghu,' which has an investment of 3 million yuan and stars A-list celebrities."

"One is the comedy film 'Family Fun,' directed by Zhang Lei, who has directed hit comedies."

"There's also the animated film 'Lilo & Stitch,' which is aimed at family audiences. If our company's film is scheduled for release on New Year's Day, we'll still have an advantage in differentiated competition."

Tan Yue nodded, quickly flipping through the report, making plans in his mind.

Lin Qingye's "Time Ticks By" is a heartwarming and realistic work that focuses on the inheritance of traditional crafts.

In a release window crowded with comedies and martial arts films, this kind of subject matter can actually attract audiences who prefer heartfelt stories. As long as the promotion is done well, the box office should not be bad.

Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the office door.

Lin Qingye ran in, panting, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. He was clutching a red-covered document tightly in his hand, his face full of excitement and urgency.

"President Tan! Director Zheng! The review...it's approved! We've got the official seal for 'Time Ticks'!"

As he spoke, he handed the red document to Tan Yue. The words "Film Public Screening License" in gold on the cover were particularly eye-catching, with a clear approval number printed below.

Tan Yue took the license, gently stroking the cover with his fingertips, a relieved smile on his face.

"The efficiency is impressive; it was three days faster than I expected. I thought the review process would take at least a week, but it came through so quickly."

"The main reason is that the teachers in the review department also really liked this movie. They said the story was heartwarming, conveyed the spirit of craftsmanship, and there was nothing that needed to be modified, so the approval process went very smoothly."

Lin Qingye wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone full of excitement.

"I received the notification this morning, so I immediately went to pick up the permit and rushed over to report to you."

Zheng Tong also chimed in with a smile: "This is great news! With the film license in place, the distribution process can officially begin. Director Lin, your first independently directed film has passed censorship smoothly; that's a very high starting point."

Lin Qingye scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face, but his eyes couldn't hide his pride.

Tan Yue placed the license on the table, leaned forward slightly, and said earnestly, "Director Lin, we've got the film license. Next is distribution. I called you and Zheng Tong here today mainly to discuss with you whether you've considered a global release for this film."

"A global release?" Lin Qingye looked up abruptly, his eyes wide with surprise, almost thinking he had misheard. "President Tan, you mean... to release 'Time Tick' all over the world?"

“That’s right.” Tan Yue nodded, his tone certain.

“Now, Brilliant Entertainment’s overseas distribution channels are very mature. Interstellar has been released in more than 120 countries and regions around the world, accumulating a lot of theater resources and distribution experience. With our company’s current strength, there is absolutely no problem in pushing Time Tick to the global market.”

Zheng Tong added, "Mr. Tan is right. Our overseas distribution department now has a dedicated team responsible for distribution in different regions. We have already established relationships with theater chains in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia."

"If we decide to release it globally, we can simultaneously arrange multilingual subtitle translation and overseas promotion. Although the investment will be larger than that for domestic distribution, if we can open up overseas markets, it will greatly help the company's and your personal international influence."

Lin Qingye fell silent, his fingers unconsciously picking at the corner of the table. The excitement on his face gradually faded, replaced by deep contemplation.

He looked down at the public screening license he had brought, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

A global release is an opportunity that many directors dream of, especially for a new director like him, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

But the more he did this, the more cautious he became.

He recalled the huge success of Interstellar worldwide. The film, in terms of production quality, science fiction setting, and cast, reached the top international level, which is why it was invincible in the global market.

"Time Ticks" is a low-budget, heartwarming, realistic film that focuses on the preservation of traditional Chinese crafts.

The story's background and cultural core are heavily influenced by local culture, and it remains to be seen whether overseas audiences will be able to understand and accept it.

More importantly, he didn't want his film to damage Brilliant Entertainment's international reputation.

The company has finally gained a foothold in the overseas market. If "Time Tick" performs poorly overseas or even receives negative reviews, it may cause all the previous efforts to go to waste.

“President Tan, Director Zheng, I…I’ve made up my mind.” Lin Qingye raised his head, his eyes resolute. “I’ve decided that ‘Time Tick’ will only be released in China.”

Neither Tan Yue nor Zheng Tong were surprised; it seemed they had anticipated his decision.

"Can you tell me why?" Tan Yue asked calmly.

He wanted to hear Lin Qingye's true thoughts.

"First of all, this film is my directorial debut. Although it passed censorship smoothly, I still have some doubts."

Lin Qingye continued frankly, “The success of Interstellar has earned Brilliant Entertainment a good reputation internationally, and I don’t want my film’s poor performance to damage the company’s reputation.” “Secondly, Time Tick is a realistic film about an old watchmaker in China. Cultural differences may make it difficult for overseas audiences to resonate with it, and its competitiveness is definitely not as strong as science fiction or action films, which have a wider appeal.”

"Finally, I think it's better to focus on the domestic market first and build up a good reputation than to risk a global release. Once we have a more mature work, we can consider overseas distribution later."

Zheng Tong nodded in agreement: "Director Lin is right. Heartwarming and realistic themes do have limited acceptance in overseas markets, especially since there are no internationally renowned actors involved, making promotion quite difficult."

"Moreover, this is your first time directing a film independently, so there's no need to put too much pressure on yourself. First, establish a foothold in the domestic market, accumulate experience and reputation, which will be more beneficial for your future development."

Tan Yue looked at Lin Qingye with admiration in his eyes: "I'm very pleased that you think this way. You weren't blinded by the allure of a global release; instead, you were able to calmly consider the company's interests and your own actual situation."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, I also have this concern. I'm worried that if this film doesn't perform well in overseas markets, it will damage your confidence. Since you've decided to only release it domestically, let's focus on doing a good job with the domestic distribution and strive to deliver a great result."

Next, the three of them turned their conversation to the movie's release date.

"Now that we've obtained the film license, the most crucial thing is to set the release date." Zheng Tong opened the market analysis report for the New Year's Day release.

"There is still a week until the National Day holiday. The National Day holiday is one of the biggest box office periods of the year, with a large number of moviegoers and great market potential."

"But the time is too tight, with only one week for promotion. There's simply not enough time to do sufficient promotion. Trailers, roadshows, and press conferences can't be arranged, and the box office results may be affected due to inadequate promotion."

Lin Qingye also frowned: "The National Day holiday release schedule is indeed too rushed. Our film doesn't have any big-name stars; it mainly relies on word-of-mouth. If the promotion doesn't keep up, many viewers won't know about the film and naturally won't go to the cinema."

"Moreover, the competition during the National Day holiday is too strong. Several big-budget films are scheduled for release during the National Day holiday, and our low-budget realistic films are easily overshadowed."

Tan Yue tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his mind racing with calculations.

While the National Day holiday period has great box office potential, the time frame is indeed too short, which is not suitable for a film like "Time Tick-Tock" that needs to build a reputation.

While the box office volume of the New Year's Day period is not as large as that of the National Day period, the competition is relatively mild, and there is two months of promotion time, which is enough for them to make full preparations.

"Then let's schedule it for New Year's Day."

Tan Yue continued firmly, "The National Day film season is too rushed, which is not conducive to publicity and positive word-of-mouth."

"Although there is competition during the New Year's Day period, we have two months to prepare, which is enough for us to do a solid job of promoting the film. Moreover, the New Year's Day holiday is suitable for family viewing. Our film is heartwarming and healing, which fits the festive atmosphere and is likely to attract family audiences and young couples."

“I agree.” Lin Qingye nodded immediately, a smile of approval on his face.

"Two months of promotion time is indeed enough. We can produce multiple trailers, hold preview screenings, invite media and film critics to watch the film in advance, and build word-of-mouth."

"We can also arrange for actors to travel to various places for promotional tours, interact with the audience face-to-face, and increase the film's visibility."

Zheng Tong added, "The market potential for the New Year's Day period is also considerable, and there are no absolute blockbuster films during this period. As long as our film 'Time Ticks' has a good reputation, it has a good chance of standing out."

Tan Yue looked at the two of them and nodded in satisfaction: "Okay, then it's settled."

“Also,” Tan Yue added, remembering something, “during the promotion process, we need to highlight the film’s unique advantages.”

"There are too many commercial blockbusters on the market now, and audiences are already tired of them. The warmth, healing, and focus on traditional crafts in 'Time Tick' are its biggest selling points."

"We can collaborate with some cultural media outlets to produce a series of special reports on the inheritance of traditional crafts, which will not only promote the film but also enhance its cultural content."

"That's a great idea!" Lin Qingye's eyes lit up.

"I know several experts who study traditional crafts. I can invite them to participate in special reports to endorse the film and increase its credibility and cultural depth."

Zheng Tong nodded in agreement: "That's right. This will not only attract ordinary viewers, but also those who are interested in traditional culture, thus expanding the film's audience. I can also contact some short video platforms."

The three hit it off as they chatted, discussing everything from promotional plans to film scheduling strategies, from advance screenings to artist collaborations.

Before they knew it, the sunlight outside the window had gradually begun to set in the west, and the golden afterglow shone through the window into the office, casting a warm halo over the three figures.

Tan Yue glanced at the time; it was almost 6 p.m. He smiled and said, "Let's stop here for today. Zheng Tong, you should organize a meeting with the relevant departments tomorrow to discuss the specific publicity plan in detail."

"Director Lin, you should go back and rest early. You've worked hard these past few days, and the upcoming publicity work will require a lot of your energy."

"Yes, Mr. Tan." The two stood up, preparing to leave the office.

Zheng Tong patted Lin Qingye on the shoulder: "Don't worry, leave the publicity and distribution to me. Let's work together and strive for a box office hit during the New Year's Day holiday!"

The two exchanged a smile, then turned and walked out of the office.

The office returned to silence. Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, stretched, and felt completely at ease.

The release date for "Time Ticks" has finally been confirmed, and the publicity and distribution work has a clear direction. The next step is to move forward step by step and strive to deliver a satisfactory result.

He picked up the draft of the "Three-Body Problem" actor contract on the table and continued to revise it.

Ma Guoliang's contract is basically finalized, and Zhang Shengli will come over this afternoon to discuss Chang Weisi's role.

The cast for "The Three-Body Problem" is nearing completion, the storyboard is mostly finished, and pre-production is proceeding smoothly. Filming is expected to begin at the end of the year.

Tan Yue picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of the slightly cooled Longjing tea, and looked out the window.

The capital city looked exceptionally beautiful under the setting sun, with skyscrapers standing side by side and streets bustling with traffic, presenting a scene of prosperity.

The road ahead is long. Filming "The Three-Body Problem" will face many difficulties, the release of "Time Ticks" will also face the test of the market, and the company's overseas expansion still needs to be continuously strengthened.

But Tan Yue is confident that with his team and resources, and with his passion and dedication to the film and television industry, he will be able to overcome all difficulties, realize his dream, make Brilliant Entertainment a top global entertainment company, and bring Chinese film and television culture to the world.

He picked up his phone and sent Chen Ziyu a message: "I'll go home early tonight and have dinner with you." (End of Chapter)