Entertainment from Divorce

February 1st arrived in the blink of an eye.

The capital city was still shrouded in the chill of deep winter.

At 10:00 AM, the State Administration of Culture officially announced the final box office results for the New Year's Day holiday period.

Lin Qingye sat at his workstation, his fingertip hovering over the mouse, hesitating to click on the link he had already saved.

The chrysanthemum tea in the thermos on the corner of the table had cooled down considerably, but he was completely unaware of it.

The office area was quiet, with the sounds of keyboards clicking and hushed discussions creating a steady rhythm, as everyone was immersed in the work routine at the beginning of the new year.

With less than a month to go before the Spring Festival, all departments are working hard to finish up their pre-holiday tasks.

The occasional conversations that drifted over always revolved around the topic of this year's New Year's Day movie releases.

With its solid storyline and delicate emotional appeal, "Time Ticks" has already become a hot topic of discussion in the industry.

However, this heated discussion carried a more complex weight for Lin Qingye.

He actually had a feeling about it two weeks ago.

At that time, the box office growth of "Time Tick-Tock" began to slow down, while "Happy Together", which was released at the same time, still maintained a strong box office curve thanks to its family-friendly comedy theme.

Mr. Wu approached him with a detailed data analysis report and told him in a tactful tone that it would be difficult for the long-tail box office to catch up, and it was almost impossible to win the New Year's Day box office championship.

At that moment, Lin Qingye felt as if something was blocking his heart, making him feel suffocated and even his breathing became heavier.

This is his first film.

Prior to this, he had already made a name for himself in the television drama field, with three consecutive realistic dramas becoming annual hits. He was dubbed a "golden director" by the audience, and those in the industry would praise him for "capturing people's hearts."

However, the success of the TV series made him even more eager to prove himself in the film industry.

Film has a more condensed narrative pace, more precise cinematic language, and more restrained emotional expression. Every aspect is more challenging than television series and can better test a creator's skills.

He desperately wanted to use this film to complete the perfect transition from "theater director" to "film director".

He poured almost all his energy into preparing for "Time Ticks".

From script selection to polishing, he reviewed hundreds of story outlines before finally settling on this theme about time and family.

They revised the script more than ten times together.

Although Mr. Tan gave key suggestions on strengthening emotional conflict and optimizing narrative logic, the core idea and story framework were his hard work.

In casting, he rejected popular celebrities.

In terms of set construction, in order to recreate the old watch shop and alley scenes of the 1990s in the drama, he led the art team to travel all over the old city of Beijing and finally found a suitable filming location in an alley that was about to be demolished.

During the filming and editing phase, he worked non-stop, sleeping only three or four hours a day.

He originally aimed to be the box office champion during the New Year's Day period.

It wasn't out of vanity, but rather a desire to use this achievement to give his film directing career a solid foundation, and to give an explanation to those who trusted and invested in him—especially Tan Yue.

This trust made him even more eager to repay it with his best results. But reality ultimately did not meet his expectations.

"Director Lin, the results are out on the State Administration of Culture's website!" Zhou, the intern at the next workstation, whispered a reminder, her tone tinged with caution.

Xiao Zhou was involved in the preparation of promotional materials for "Time Ticks". He witnessed firsthand the effort Lin Qingye put into the film and knew his expectations for it to be a box office champion. He was afraid that the result would disappoint Lin Qingye.

Lin Qingye took a deep breath and clicked the link with trembling fingertips.

In the few seconds it took for the page to load, his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest, and he could even hear the thumping of his own heart.

My gaze swept quickly across the dense text, finally settling on the string of bold numbers.

"Time Ticks" has grossed 2.832 billion yuan, ranking second in the New Year's Day box office; the first place is "Happy Together", with a cumulative box office of 3.305 billion yuan.

I had expected this result, but when it was actually presented to me, I still felt an indescribable sadness.

Just like when he was a child taking an exam, he clearly put in all his effort to get first place, but in the end he missed by a few points and came in second. That kind of regret and resentment clung to his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

He leaned back in his chair, slowly closed his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the mouse, and even his breathing became heavier.

The sounds in the office area seemed to fade into the distance, while the sense of loss in my heart continued to grow.

Two billion three hundred and two million—this figure would be considered a phenomenal achievement for any new director.

Many people in the industry have begun to pay attention to him, and several large film and television companies have even expressed their intention to cooperate, offering very generous terms.

But Lin Qingye knew in his heart that he wanted more than just that.

What he wants is a breakthrough, to prove that he can not only make good TV series, but also make top-notch films that audiences will remember and that the market will recognize.

He wants to repay all the trust and expectations with a championship result.

But now, it's one step short.

Just then, a soft knock came from the direction of the office area entrance, breaking his reverie.

Lin Qingye opened his eyes and saw Tan Yue's assistant, Chen Ye, standing not far away with a gentle smile on his face, his gaze fixed precisely on him: "Director Lin, President Tan wants you to go to his office."

Chen Ye had followed Tan Yue for many years and was known for his composure, thoughtfulness, and keen observation skills.

She naturally noticed Lin Qingye's slightly dejected expression and roughly guessed the reason. Without asking any further questions, she simply stood there quietly waiting for him, giving him time to calm down.

Lin Qingye nodded, slowly stood up, subconsciously straightened the hem of his clothes, and tried to make his expression appear calm.

He knew that Tan Yue was looking for him because of box office issues.

Lin Qingye walked exceptionally slowly from his workstation to Tan Yue's office, a distance of only a few dozen meters.

The corridor was softly lit, reflecting the posters of the company's film and television works hanging on the walls. The most eye-catching one was the main poster for "Time Ticks".

This is the poster design he personally finalized, symbolizing perseverance through time and the inheritance of family affection. When he finalized the design, he smiled and said that he wanted the audience to feel the warmth of the film at a glance.

But looking at it now, Lin Qingye felt a mix of emotions. Reaching the door of Tan Yue's office, Lin Qingye gently knocked.

"Come in." Tan Yue's voice came from inside, still steady and powerful.

Lin Qingye pushed open the door and went inside.

"Director Lin, you're here? Please have a seat."

"President Tan," Lin Qingye responded, sitting down in the chair opposite the desk, his hands unconsciously resting on his knees, his posture somewhat restrained.

Tan Yue poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to him; the rising steam blurred the patterns on the cup.

"You just saw the box office figures released by the State Administration of Culture, right? 2.832 billion yuan, that's a very good result."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a reassuring power.

Lin Qingye took the teacup. The warm touch spread from his fingertips, along his arm, and throughout his body, but it couldn't dispel the disappointment in his heart.

He looked up at Tan Yue with a hint of apology in his eyes and said softly, "Mr. Tan, I'm sorry I couldn't win the New Year's Day box office champion and let you down."

Hearing this, Tan Yue couldn't help but smile, his eyes filled with gentle warmth.

"Qingye, you're wrong. 2.832 billion yuan, second place in the New Year's Day box office, that's already a top-tier achievement for a director making his first film."

"Do you know how many people in the industry are talking about you right now? They say you are the most successful case of a TV drama director transitioning to a film director. There are even quite a few investors who have asked me to pass on their messages, wanting to work with you."

Lin Qingye lowered his head, his gaze falling on the tea leaves in his teacup, and said softly, "But I originally aimed for the championship. There are still many areas where I couldn't have done a good job with this movie. If I had been more precise in controlling the pacing of the script and made the later plot more compact..."

His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, and the self-reproach in his tone became increasingly apparent.

“Being able to see your own shortcomings is the most valuable thing, and it’s also the key to your continuous improvement.” Tan Yue leaned forward slightly and spoke sincerely, “Director Lin, the process of transitioning to film is itself a process of continuous exploration and improvement. No one can reach the top in one step. This film, ‘Time Ticks’, has already shown many people your talent and potential, and that’s enough.”

Tan Yue paused, picked up a document from the table, which was the reputation analysis report of "Time Tick".

"You know better than anyone how fierce the competition is during the New Year's Day period."

"With the support of a mature comedy IP and the lead actors being comedy stars with extremely high national popularity, 'Joyful House' already has a wide audience. In addition, everyone wants to have some fun during the New Year's Day holiday, so its subject matter advantage is indeed obvious."

"Our 'Time Ticks' is a heartwarming story, which has a relatively narrow audience. To get second place in this environment has already exceeded many people's expectations."

"For a director, creating works that resonate with the audience and convey positive values ​​is more meaningful than winning the box office championship, isn't it?"

Tan Yue's words were like a warm current, gently flowing through Lin Qingye's heart.

He looked up and met Tan Yue's sincere gaze, and the disappointment in his heart gradually dissipated.

Yes, the essence of film is to convey emotions and evoke resonance. It allows the audience to feel the warmth of the work and to think and be moved after watching it, which is indeed a kind of success.

He recalled the private messages he received from viewers. Some said they called their grandfathers, whom they hadn't contacted in a long time, after watching the movie; others said they took their parents to see it a second time, crying as they said it reminded them of their childhood...

Aren't those sincere feedbacks the best recognition for this film?
"Mr. Tan, thank you for your understanding and support." Lin Qingye's voice was choked with emotion, and his eyes were slightly red.

"Through this experience, I have truly realized many of my shortcomings."

"Whether it's controlling the pacing of the film's narrative or accurately grasping market demands, there's still a lot of room for improvement. For my next film, I will definitely work harder, polish every detail, and strive to produce a better work and achieve better box office results."

Seeing his fighting spirit rekindled, Tan Yue nodded with satisfaction, his tone becoming more relaxed: "I believe you can do it. I've never doubted your talent and resilience. But you don't need to rush into thinking about your next movie now."

Tan Yue continued, "You've worked hard during this time too. From preparing for 'Time Ticks' to the film's release and promotion, you've hardly had a proper rest. You were even running around promoting the film during New Year's Day."

"There's less than a month until the Spring Festival. I'll give you a break so you can go home and spend time with your family, or go on a trip and relax."

"We're not in a rush for the next film. We'll take our time to polish the script and reflect on our work. Creation requires inspiration and the right mindset. Only when we're mentally prepared can we create better films."

Hearing Tan Yue tell him to rest, Lin Qingye was filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Tan." Lin Qingye stood up and bowed deeply to Tan Yue. "Thank you for your trust and support during this time as well."

"Don't mention it." Tan Yue waved his hand and said with a smile, "Go pack your things and enjoy your vacation. We can talk about it when you get back."

Lin Qingye nodded, turned around and walked out of Tan Yue's office.

The moment he closed the office door, he let out a long sigh of relief, and the depression and disappointment in his heart completely dissipated.

Instead, there is anticipation and longing for the future.

Perhaps a short rest and reflection will allow him to be in a better state to create his next work.

After Lin Qingye left, Tan Yue sat back down at his desk, picked up the box office summary report for "Time Ticks" and began to read it carefully.

The report provides a detailed analysis of various aspects of the film, including its box office performance, target audience, and word-of-mouth feedback.

Tan Yue nodded in satisfaction, his fingertips tapping lightly on the report.

He was initially drawn to the emotional power of the script and Lin Qingye's directing talent.

He knew that heartwarming stories had a relatively narrow audience, and it wouldn't be easy to stand out during the New Year's Day holiday. But he believed that good stories and good works would eventually be seen by the audience.

As it turned out, he was right.

Although it failed to become the box office champion during the New Year's Day holiday, the film's reputation and box office performance were already quite successful.

The matter of "Time Ticks By" has come to a temporary end.

It had already been confirmed that this film would not be released overseas.

One reason is that the emotional expressions and historical background in the film are closer to the lives of domestic audiences, while the cultural differences in overseas markets are greater, and the acceptance may not be high.

On the other hand, it is also to focus on the subsequent development of the domestic market and maximize the value of this film.

Next, the company's main focus will be on the subsequent copyright development of "Time Ticks" and the filming of "The Three-Body Problem".

Lu Chuan sends daily progress reports on the filming. Judging from the feedback, the filming is going smoothly, the actors are in excellent condition, and the special effects team has completed the initial cut, with results exceeding expectations.

Tan Yue continued reading the documents. (End of Chapter)