China Entertainment's Standout

Chapter 1019 The First Sister's Prestige, Grand Premiere
Since the two countries signed the agreement, whenever a blockbuster film is imported and wreaks havoc, the Chinese film and television industry is always left in a state of utter devastation.

The strong never complain about the environment.

But some people always define themselves as the weak.

They not only complain about the environment, but they also complain about the strong.

At that time, foreign films were rampant, and Han Sanping, the head of China Film Group, was bound to be criticized. Combined with his domineering behavior, he was given the nickname "Mountain Eagle".

But whenever imported blockbusters were rampant, all the usual sarcastic remarks like "Zhou the Dog" disappeared, and everyone just hoped that Governor Zhou would step in to suppress the turmoil caused by foreign blockbusters.

"How are you feeling? Any pressure?"

"Pressure? I would feel pressure?"

"Awesome, then it's up to you."

On the day of the premiere of "Dying to Survive", Tian Ming gave Zhou Yutang a thumbs up and joked.

The film "Dying to Survive" was produced by Shanghai Film Group, so the premiere was scheduled to be held in Shanghai.

As the local boss, Mingjie was a close friend of Governor Zhou, so of course he wouldn't be absent.

The Shanghai International Film Festival awards ceremony had just concluded, and many celebrities were waiting to attend the premiere of "Dying to Survive".

Posting invitations on social media platforms seems to have become a trend.

The reason is simple: not everyone is qualified to go to Xia Ke Island to drink Laba porridge; they must be renowned masters in the martial arts world.

In this ostentatious world of fame and fortune, all you need is an invitation to the premiere of Governor Zhou's new film.

That is a symbol of status.

From now on, he will only say to others that he started as a second-tier celebrity or above.

The Shanghai International Film Festival has come to a successful close, and the Belt and Road Initiative Alliance has been officially launched, drawing high praise from higher authorities.

Ren Zhonglun had already popped the champagne last night, but the real victory settlement hasn't arrived yet; he's just waiting for "Dying to Survive" to be served.

It is said that Zuo Shandiao (a notorious bandit leader) loved grand displays, but Ren Zhonglun was no less so.

This time, Governor Zhou used the excuse that it was too hot in Shanghai and he was too lazy to move to do anything, so he just stayed put. Ren Zhonglun took the lead in organizing and inviting many big names in the industry, and the premiere was quite grand.

China Film Group, Xi'an Film Group, Xiaoma Film Group, Enlight Media, Wanda Group, Yinghuang Film Group, Cehua Film Group, New Classics Media, Tangren Media.
Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Zhu Yilong, Zhang Ruojun, Hu Ge, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, and Fan Bingbing
Wong Kar-wai, Jiang Wen and his wife, Ning Hao, Benny Chan
In terms of scale, it surpassed even yesterday's film festival awards ceremony.

"Has the specific process been coordinated with Little Li yet?"

"Chairman Ren, it's confirmed. He will attend, including the dinner."

"Good good!"

Ren Zhonglun was beaming with joy.

Although newly crowned Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix and Oscar winner Anne Hathaway attended the opening ceremony, they had other commitments and returned to Hollywood, thus missing the premiere of "Dying to Survive" at the end of June.

But Leonardo DiCaprio was traveling in neighboring Japan with his South American supermodel girlfriend, who was probably his umpteenth girlfriend but had just turned 20.

He arrived in Shanghai with his young model girlfriend the night before the premiere, and was even photographed by fans on the Bund, which made him a trending topic that night.

Needless to say, this was naturally aimed at Governor Zhou.

There were over two hundred media outlets present. Japanese and South Korean reporters stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the spectacle.

"Si Guoyi!"

"Damn it, why are there so many people?"

"Hiss! Is this the network of connections of the Emperor of Entertainment in China?"

The eyes of both Chinese and foreign reporters were on Zhou Yutang and the beautiful woman who was walking slowly towards him, arm in arm with him.

The female celebrities at the scene all looked at Liu Shishi with envy, as she wore light makeup and a simple white chiffon dress.

She stood quietly and gently beside Zhou Yutang, yet they looked like a perfect couple, and the flashbulbs never stopped.

Upon arriving at the scene, Zhou Yutang only heard Ren Zhonglun discussing "The Bombing" with the general manager of Xi'an Film Studio.

After the awards ceremony last night, Mr. Wang from Huayi Brothers hurriedly left, and today, only a manager came to support the premiere of "Dying to Survive".

There's a story behind "The Bombing"...

Mr. Shi, the former head of Kuailu Investment, was a notorious tycoon who was on the list of those who "butchered pigs" (a metaphor for exploiting investors), and also one of the bigwigs in Shanghai's business circle.

They orchestrated and produced this sensational Sino-US co-production.

Even when Huang Shengyi fainted on the Oscars red carpet that year, Boss Shi was one of the people behind it all.

Now Mr. Shi has gone to America to breathe some fresh air. This project was later taken over by Mr. Yang of Juling and Huayi. There are many deep-seated interests behind it, which cannot be discussed in detail.

"Old Cui has really stirred up a hole in the sky this time."

"The higher-ups mean a clean sweep, with no room for compromise."

Zhou Yutang treated this so-called Sino-US co-production blockbuster as a joke. After greeting a few old friends, he personally went to welcome Lu Yong backstage.

This is the prototype of the story of "Dying to Survive". Not very familiar with the entertainment industry, Chen Duling was explaining the whole premiere process to him in a friendly manner.

As the director, Zhou Yutang sat on the stage with actors such as Zhang Songwen and Zhang Yu.

"Mr. Zhou, congratulations on 'Dying to Survive' winning two Golden Goblet Awards. Do you have anything to say?"

"I said everything I wanted to say on stage yesterday."

Zhou Yutang smiled and said, "But I still want to thank Brother Lu Yong for his understanding, because in order to serve this story, the film's plot has undergone a lot of artistic embellishment based on reality."

"That's understandable. In reality, I run a clothing business, not sell aphrodisiacs."

Under the spotlight, Lu Yong was slightly flustered and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "But President Zhou made a very good film. It's a wonderful movie, and I hope everyone will enjoy it."

"Mr. Zhou, what are your expectations for the film's box office performance?"

"We'll leave that question to the audience to answer at that time."

"."

Liu Shishi sat in the first row, her eyes fixed on Governor Zhou on the stage as he was being interviewed.

Many female celebrities behind her were looking at the top star's back with envy.

With a swan-like neck and square shoulders, she possessed an exceptionally graceful demeanor.

The positions in situations like this are not randomly assigned.

Just two days ago, during the Weibo Movie Night held concurrently with the Shanghai International Film Festival, an interesting incident occurred.

Eddie Peng, the handsome guy praised by countless netizens, swapped his seat card with that of Lianhua, a top actress in the Chinese entertainment industry, who was sitting in the row in front of him.

Sister Lotus has been embroiled in a dual contract scandal these past few days, and is in a terrible state of mind. Her seat was changed that night, but she remained defiant and stood backstage all night.

Every top actress who has reached this position has some connections and influence.

The news has been spreading like wildfire these past few days, almost overwhelming the handsome guys in Taiwan.

Liu Shishi is now sitting in the first row, surrounded by people like Ren Zhonglun, SMG CEO Wang, and Xi'an Film Studio CEO.

Who dares to step forward and cause trouble?

Countless people looked on with envy. Liu Shishi raised her snow-white neck slightly, her smile as gentle as ever.

In her eyes, however, there was only Zhou Yutang, who was performing with ease on stage.

Once the required procedures are completed, the lights are turned off.

The curtain lights up.

The familiar dragon mark appears.

Everyone was wondering why Lu Yong, the real-life inspiration for the story, said such a thing.

Once you see the movie, you'll understand everything. The protagonist, Cheng Yong, is portrayed as the owner of an Indian herbal oil shop.

The neon signs hanging high outside the shops and the mosaic floor tiles common in the 1980s give the place a strong local flavor.

Zhang Songwen, dressed in a worn-out brown leather jacket, had a cigarette in his mouth and his hair looked like it hadn't been washed for days.

He's a perfect example of a greasy, middle-aged man from the bottom of society.

"Holy crap, the Grand Commander is really daring! Is that Zuo Shandiao (a notorious bandit leader)?!"

Some sharp-eyed observers have already noticed that the owner of the Love Inn, who is wearing a cotton coat and plaid pajama pants, is none other than Zuo Shandiao, whose name is known throughout the Chinese film industry!
A buzz of discussion erupted on the field. Han Sanye had also made cameo appearances in some film and television works.

But they are all dignified superiors, and it's truly a rare sight to see someone like Deng, who is all talk and no action, playing such a greasy old man.

"Sister Han, what do you think?"

"Hehehehehehe, Lao Han's acting is quite down-to-earth."

"."

Han Jianu was also present, and when she heard her friend ask this question, she burst out laughing like a goose.

The little girl with the leaky coat was gloating. Luckily, Master Han wasn't there, otherwise his face would probably have turned as black as charcoal.

The movie continued, but the several renowned directors in the front row were secretly marveling at its excellence.

The filming technique of "The Grand Commander of Jiangdong" can be described as masterful. With only a few shots at the beginning, Cheng Yong's predicament is quickly explained.

Unable to pay rent, his father critically ill, and his ex-wife wanting to take his son away.

This is setting the stage for Cheng Yong's next actions, which then naturally propels the story forward.

Together with Lü Shouyi, pole dancing mother Liu Sihui, Pastor Lao Liu, and rural teenager Huang Mao, they formed the Medicine God Team.

The first half of the movie is quite smooth and cheerful.

Especially in the scene at the nightclub, when Cheng Yong saw Zhang Ruojun, who was playing the role of a nightclub manager, performing a pole dance, everyone stared wide-eyed in astonishment, and then burst into laughter.

Tang Yixin, who came to the premiere with her boyfriend, nudged Xigou with her elbow and asked, "You can do this too?"

"Don't look at me like that, Tang Ge forced me to do this. He didn't say anything about doing this before we went."

Zhang Ruojun wore a wry smile, looking at his alluring self on the big screen, and really wanted to dig a hole in the ground with his toes and crawl into it.

However, as the story progressed, the scene quickly fell silent again.

Cheng Yong's overnight fortune also attracted the attention of legitimate pharmaceutical companies and the police.

He chose to sell the agency rights to the unscrupulous businessman Zhang Changlin and withdrew from the business, resulting in a surge in drug prices and patients running out of medication.

His former partner, Huang Mao, died tragically in a car accident, and Lü Shouyi committed suicide in despair.

Having witnessed everything firsthand, Cheng Yong chose to return to his old ways, this time charging only cost price or even losing money to deliver medicine to thousands of households.
A good movie has a power to touch people's hearts.

Paper, of course, cannot contain fire.

Cheng Yong pleaded guilty, was sentenced, and was eventually put in a prison van.

During the escort, thousands of people lined the road to see them off.

I saw thousands of leukemia patients take off their masks on the roadside to bid farewell to the "Medicine God".

Some of the girls at the scene were already sobbing softly.

In the end, Cheng Yong was released from prison early, and the country included Gleevec in its medical insurance program, resulting in a positive outcome.
As the film ended, thunderous applause erupted.

Wow!
As the chairman of the jury at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, Jiang Wen had seen "Dying to Survive" before, but watching it again now still felt incredibly satisfying.

From a director's perspective.

Whether it's narrative structure, visual language, performance staging, or genre fusion, none of these aspects alone can be considered invincible.

However, when these essential elements of film are combined, they perfectly transform a realistic subject into a superior work that combines commercial appeal with profound themes.

Even someone as stubborn as Jiang Wen couldn't find any fault with it after reading it.

The thunderous applause brought Jiang Wen back to reality from his reverie.

He glanced at the reactions of the crowd, then leaned back heavily into his seat.

"Old Jiang, should we adjust the release date?"

Zhou Yun, who was standing next to her, clapped her hands and then whispered a question in her husband's ear.

Having been married for many years, she naturally knew what Jiang Wen was thinking.

The final installment of the Republican-era trilogy, "Hidden Man," was released only ten days after "Dying to Survive."

Previously, the media had already been promoting the passionate head-to-head duel between these two top directors in the Chinese server.

Jiangdong Grand Commander's "Dying to Survive" was released first, and Jiangdong also promoted it through multiple channels. At that time, "Hidden Man" was going to compete with "Dying to Survive," which had reached the peak of its reputation. Just thinking about it made people's scalps tingle.

Zhou Yun intends to develop in the direction of a producer, and what she said was also for the overall consideration of the project.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wen raised his head and laughed.
"Need not."

"."

Zhou Yun opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, only letting out a soft sigh.

This is Jiang Wen.

This is the real Jiang Wen.

"The premiere of 'Dying to Survive' in Shanghai was a resounding success, with thunderous applause lasting for five minutes. It already shows signs of becoming the king of the summer box office!"

"Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio praises the latest masterpiece by the Grand Commander of Jiangdong, which has received rave reviews!"

"A roundup of the latest works from renowned directors: who will dominate the summer box office?"

"."

The premiere of "Dying to Survive" has come to a successful conclusion, and the first wave of film reviews has been released. Related news reports were already plastered all over social media that evening.

This is the fourth film produced by Jiangdong Entertainment this year.

Moreover, it was personally directed by the Grand Commander of Jiangdong!

Since his mad dance in "Joker" last year, which amazed the world, the Grand Commander of Jiangdong has been deified.

Even for films with a heavy, realistic theme, many film critics in the industry still unanimously believe that the film will be guaranteed a box office of 20 billion yuan.

15 billion seems like nothing special compared to Zhou Yutang's achievements.

However, for the entire Chinese film industry, the box office ceiling for this type of realistic and heavy-themed film is obviously limited; even reaching 5 million to 10 billion would be considered an extraordinary performance.

In other words, the title of Grand Commander of Jiangdong is equivalent to a billion yuan in box office revenue!
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the film "Commander Zhou" is expected to propel Jiangdong Entertainment's total box office revenue for films produced by Jiangdong Entertainment this year to surpass 10 billion yuan.

It's only been half a year!
Moreover, this doesn't even take into account the debts owed to Jiangdong International Film Industry!
The word "terrifying" is not enough to describe Zhou Yutang's terrifying dominance in the film and television industry.

"The reign of the media tycoon of the Celestial Empire continues!"

"Chinese tycoons are infatuated with South Korean actresses, suggesting a possible upcoming marriage; investigations indicate their ancestors may have Korean ancestry!"

"."

Reporters from both Japan and South Korea came to the Shanghai International Film Festival, largely due to Zhou Yutang's influence, which has reached a new level.

The total box office revenue of the Japanese film market in the first half of this year was 1024 billion yen, which is about 60 billion yuan at the current exchange rate. However, this is a total of nearly 600 films.

South Korean films have a total box office of nearly 900 billion won, and this is only a little over 5 billion won.

This also includes hundreds of imported films.

In other words, this aircraft carrier from Jiangdong could easily overturn the box office of Japan and South Korea!
(End of this chapter)