China Entertainment's Standout

Chapter 1081 Entering the Game Alone, Illuminating Mount Emei, the Dragon Head Forms the Game
The box office figures for "Venom" have left the entire film industry breathless.

Looking back at the fierce competition during the National Day holiday, "Cry Me a Sad River" ultimately grossed 5.17 million yuan.

Although Enlight Media applied for a key extension, its daily box office revenue has fallen below one million, and its potential is about to be exhausted.

As for "Fat Buddies" and "Golden Job," the former delivered a box office of 3.14 million yuan, allowing Bao Beier to successfully complete his transition from actor to director; the latter grossed 4.48 million yuan, with Bona Film Group reheating a perfectly good old dish.

It was still the director's "Shadow" that grossed 10.13 billion yuan, barely keeping the reputation of domestic films up.

Other low-budget domestic films released in November include "Last Letter", "Dream Breaker", and "China Blue Helmet".

Compared to the overwhelming power of Marvel superhero blockbusters, they are simply not good enough.

The next day, Venom's screening rate increased to 54.5%, remaining as stable as ever, and its daily box office surged again to 3.09 million!
In just two days, it swept away all other domestic films released at the same time.

Previously, people in the industry criticized Zuo Shandiao for relying on foreign powers, but now that it's La Peikang, he can't escape the same fate either.

The film grossed 7.95 million yuan at the end of its opening weekend, almost breaking the 8 million yuan mark, causing a major earthquake in the domestic film industry.

Maoyan's dynamic box office prediction is as high as 21.47 billion!
If nothing else,

This will be the second highest-grossing imported blockbuster this year.

It still surpasses "Jurassic Park 2" and "Ready Player One," only inferior to "Avengers: Infinity War," another Marvel blockbuster.

Seeing their rivals enjoying their food with gusto, Warner Bros. couldn't sit still any longer.

This year, Disney is sweeping through Hollywood, and Warner Bros. is also making big moves.

Just last month, Time Warner officially announced its acquisition by AT&T for a record $850 billion, causing a sensation in Hollywood.

AT&T is America's telecommunications company, and its market position is roughly equivalent to that of China Mobile and China Telecom.

This acquisition, which has shaken the global entertainment industry, had actually been rumored as early as last year.

However, the American Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging monopoly issues, which dragged on to the federal court.

In November of this year, the matter was finally settled, and the company was officially renamed WarnerMedia.

According to Zhou Yutang's reliable insider information, Warner Music has begun a major reshuffle.

The CEOs of Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner were both replaced by newcomers from AT&T, and seven veteran executives resigned, resulting in a near-complete reshuffle of the management team.

"Zhou, the champion of palace intrigue, probably won't be in the CEO position at Warner Bros. for long."

Old Bob also picked up the bad habits and started calling Kevin by his nickname, "Skewer Kevin."

It doesn't matter who sits.

Zhou Yutang leaned back in his office chair, speaking calmly: "It won't have any impact on the outcome."

A new emperor brings a new court; this has been true since ancient times.

He signed a two-film contract with Warner Bros. at the time.

Now that they've reaped the benefits of "Joker," "Aquaman" will be their last collaborative project.

Then, they can simply pack up and leave, while still enjoying another round of Warner's back-end channel dividends.

As for the overseas distribution of "The Wandering Earth," an independent contract was signed long ago, and it is completely unaffected by the power struggles within WarnerMedia.

At this time, the crew of "The Captain" spent most of their time discussing the phenomenal box office success of "Venom" in China, in addition to their regular filming schedule.

Domestic films were lackluster in November, with no strong contenders to compete with them recently.

Warner Bros.' blockbuster IP, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," was no match for Venom. Other new films, such as "Crazy Rich Asians," "102 Not Out," and "Blood Brothers," received lukewarm market feedback and were directly crushed by Venom.

"Damn, domestic films are so disappointing, there isn't a single one that's any good."

"9527 calling the Grand Commander."

"Stop calling, the Grand Commander is still playing with the flight attendants on set."

"Promise me, Xiao Hu, don't give it to Zhou Gou, okay?"

"Hu Lianxin is just average, Zhang Tianai's figure is truly rich and generous.gif".

"Wang Churan is the real gem, look at those legs and that big butt. (Image attached)"

"."

As the saying goes, only in times of national crisis can we think of good generals.

Every time the Grand Marshal reigns supreme in the Chinese film industry during prime time, there are quite a few people who criticize him for his unseemly greed.

But whenever imported blockbusters are rampant, they all involuntarily think of Zhou Yutang.

However, the discussions among netizens always seem to veer off course, eventually returning to his gossip and scandals.

"The Captain" has been generating buzz since its official announcement, with the character of Jiangdong Dudu alone guaranteeing its popularity.

In addition, the film is a rare aviation-themed movie, and the actresses playing flight attendants, such as Janine Chang, Li Xin, Zhang Tianai, and Hu Lianxin, are all recognized beauties in the industry.

The costume photos released by the production team in advance went viral online, attracting a large number of lewd fans.

Thus, the tired trope of "[Commander Zhou instructing flight attendants on acting at night on set]" was born, with various fantasies of him having sex and partying every night on set.

Jiangdong's public relations department didn't get a single penny of salary for nothing. They worked day and night, burying a large number of marketing accounts, and similar jokes are still going viral on social media platforms.

"Honey, what are you looking at?"

"Oh, nothing, I just saw the news about President Zhou's meeting."

“I saw it too! It seems that President Zhou is going to take on another mainstream project and even met with the leaders of the department.”

"Hehe, maybe, but I'm not really sure."

Zhang Junmi quickly and discreetly exited the marketing article that blatantly fantasized about herself and the Grand Commander, but her heart was still burning.

While condemning marketing accounts for their shameless and inhumane pursuit of traffic, I couldn't help but feel a secret, smug satisfaction.

She subconsciously crossed her plump, long legs, which were covered in flesh-colored stockings, trying to hide the strangeness on her face.

Fortunately, Wang Churan, who was not very experienced in the ways of the world, did not notice anything amiss.

Just a few days after filming began, the Grand Commander was urgently summoned to the capital by several imperial edicts issued by his superiors.

The film made the entertainment headlines only after a meeting at the ministry; filming is still ongoing.

Assistant director Rao Xiaozhi has solid basic skills and strictly follows the shooting plan set by Zhou Yutang, so the progress is not greatly affected.

During a break between scenes, Zhang Junmi and Wang Churan started chatting.

Compared to Hu Lianxin, who went to participate in the group's tour, and Zhang Tianai, the gatekeeper of the first-tier actresses, Zhang Junmi is closer to Wang Churan, the little flower of Jiangdong.

Firstly, the two are compatible in personality, and her best friend is also from Shandong Province, so she naturally feels more at ease with the straightforward girls from Shandong.

More importantly, Zhang Junmi needs to establish her own information channels within the film crew.

Indeed, as a core member of the Grand Commander's harem ice party, Janine Chang shoulders another important responsibility upon joining the cast.

That means helping Teacher Fan keep a close eye on those unruly vixens in the film crew.

There was no way around it; it wasn't that Teacher Fan was being prescient, but the Grand Commander's charm was simply irresistible.

"There's definitely no problem with Li Xin's side. After all these years, it's pretty much what my cousin back home wants."
He'd never even met Wang Churan before. This young girl isn't cunning, so he could trust her. But you'd better keep a closer eye on Zhang Tianai and Hu Lianxin.”

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Teacher Fan gave her instructions in person, and specifically mentioned the names of Zhang Tianai and Hu Lianxin.

Zhang Junmi confidently patted her chest and agreed.

She is, after all, a woman from a prominent family in Taichung, and has been working in the entertainment industry for so many years. With her experience and emotional intelligence, she can certainly succeed.

Controlling these two brats is a piece of cake.
When they finally met at the training base and entered the formal filming stage, she discovered that things were far more complicated than she had imagined.

With those long legs, she could probably easily defend against Zhang Tianai alone.

However, Zhang Junmi was somewhat powerless when faced with a youthful and invincible beauty like Hu Lianxin.

There are no women who stay young forever, but this industry is never short of young beauties emerging.

Hu Lianxin debuted as the center of Rocket Girls, relying on her stunningly beautiful first-love face to gain a huge following, as well as the strong support of powerful figures behind her.

As for Wang Churan, she is widely known in the industry as a "little fairy".

It goes without saying which deity's aesthetic it aligns with.

As they gradually became more familiar, Zhang Junmi noticed that whenever the Grand Commander of Jiangdong was mentioned, the little girl's eyes would light up, as if her heartstrings had been touched.
The undisputed number one spot on the list of Asian male gods speaks for itself, so it's understandable that young girls are smitten.

The most troublesome one, however, is Li Xin.

She can be as gentle as she wants, and as sweet as she wants.

Zhang Junmi originally thought that the relationship between cousins ​​was indeed as Teacher Fan had described.

Unexpectedly, after observing them after joining the crew, it became clear that the two were very close in their daily interactions, and their relationship seemed to go beyond that.

Considering that netizens had previously photographed Li Xin returning to his hometown with Governor Zhou, it's hard not to speculate.

"Being an undercover agent is so difficult!"

Zhang Junmi only then realized the predicament she was facing. She wasn't alone in this situation, but rather, she was part of a larger group tasked with eliminating Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
……

With several women in the film crew and several scenes to perform, Governor Zhou naturally had no time to attend to them.

After a series of meetings at the Ministry in Beijing, I returned home and took my precious daughter from Da Meiyuan.

Princess Jiangdong also inherited the genetic advantages of her parents.

On that delicately sculpted face, her large eyes resembled those of a beautiful woman.

Nestled quietly in Zhou Yutang's arms, neither crying nor fussing, her chubby little hands gently rested on his collar, so obedient that it melted one's heart.

Compared to her more lively older sister Zhou Yi, she has a quieter personality, which makes her all the more endearing.

Zhou Yutang held his daughter, growing happier with each glance.

She didn't hand the baby over until she fell into a sweet sleep and the postpartum nanny came to take over.

"Auntie made a soup with goji berries, white fungus and bird's nest. You've been staying up late every day for meetings lately, so you need to replenish your energy."

Da Meiyuan came over carrying a bowl of warm soup.

She wore a beige loungewear set, her long hair loosely tied back, exuding a languid, married woman's charm.

"Don't you know whether I need it repaired or not?"

Zhou Yutang casually pulled the beautiful woman into his arms. She sat on his lap, gracefully brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, and asked curiously, "How did the talks go? Have you finalized anything?"

"It's settled. Zhang Yongxin has been chosen as the director, and I'll just be listed as the producer."

"What about movies about the Korean War?"

"Let's see, it's not decided yet."

After the mainstream ideology became the current mainstream trend, the relevant departments that received the organizational task pre-selected the Grand Commander of Jiangdong as their number one target.

As a top figure in the entertainment industry, Zhou Yutang's reputation and achievements speak for themselves.

The Six Doors and the Navy have successively benefited, and the aviation system has also followed suit.

And that is precisely why he was ultimately burdened by his great fame.

The leaders of the Central Propaganda Department specifically requested that CCTV and the State Administration of Radio and Television jointly set up the stage for this project, "The Age of Awakening."

As the leaders intended, it was natural to have Governor Zhou personally take the lead and direct and star in this patriotic drama.

Unfortunately, the Grand Commander's schedule was too full, so they had to settle for having him as a nominal producer.

The Film Bureau also has an idea: to create a patriotic film project based on the Korean War. They also have their sights set on Jiangdong, but the project is still in the negotiation stage.

"You're really busy."

"Who says it isn't?"

Zhou Yutang took a sip of the nourishing soup, and to be honest, it tasted pretty good.

"I'm telling you, you must be really busy on set, with so many flight attendants surrounding you?"

Da Meiyuan's voice was tinged with jealousy as she slapped away the hand that was rubbing its round shape.

"Where is it."

Zhou Yutang put down the soup spoon, smiled, and hugged her tighter, quickly changing the subject.
"If it weren't for the boss specifically requesting it, and Mosquito and the others having a full schedule, I wouldn't have been interested in this film."

Most of the filming of "The Captain" was done in a studio, so it posed no challenge for him at all.

The only challenge was training newcomers like Hu Lianxin and Wang Churan, but with Liu Tianchi on set providing extra help, it was still within expectations.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "As for the Korean War project, Director Zhang personally spoke up for it, so there's no way to back out now. I'd rather spend more time with you and our daughter."

"You have some conscience."

Da Meiyuan couldn't resist Zhou Dudu's affectionate gaze and was immediately touched on her soft spot. Her voice softened a few degrees: "Work is important. I will take good care of the family."

The thought that he had traveled all the way back to Beijing from out of town and came to see her and her daughter as soon as possible made her little bit of resentment disappear instantly.

As for any scandals or gossip, if Gao Yuanyuan really cared about that, how could she have gotten to where she is with Zhou Yutang today and even given birth to his daughter?

If Bona's Fatty Yu heard these words, he would probably cry with envy.

A well-fed person doesn't know the hunger of a starving person!
Bona targeted the main theme track around the same time as Jiangdong, but failed to win the bid in several attempts.

Because the higher-ups directly named the leader to organize the event.

Everyone here is the Grand Commander of Jiangdong and a key figure in the Chinese film industry. What is your status, Fatty Yu?
Bona is considered an industry giant, but it didn't even have the chance to take over Jiangdong's business.

Zhou Yutang gently ran her fingers through Da Meiyuan's soft hair, and, having heard that she would be joining a film crew soon, felt a little curious.

"What's going on? The movie 'The Wind and the Fire' has been filming since last year and it's still not finished. What is Juno Mak doing?"

"Yes, Director Mak said he wasn't satisfied with a few shots and wanted them reshot."

Da Meiyuan's voice carried a hint of helplessness: "I don't know how this future big director of Hong Kong's entertainment circle will produce the final product; I certainly don't have much confidence."

Having grown accustomed to Governor Zhou's workload and pace, she was actually a little stunned when she heard the news.

He regretted taking on the project out of personal favor.

"This guy has something wrong with his head."

After listening to the behind-the-scenes stories from the film crew overheard by Da Meiyuan, Zhou Yutang's expression darkened slightly, and he gave his assessment.

In pursuit of so-called artistic effect, an explosion scene was filmed dozens of times, and burning through millions of dollars on props was a minor matter.

This Juno Mak almost caused a major incident on set.

It's said that there's a hanging scene in the movie, and the stunt double was required to hang himself for real, without the use of safety equipment or special effects.

The original plan was to shoot for no more than 10 seconds, but the director did not call "cut" on time during the actual shoot, resulting in the stunt double being suspended for as long as 1 minute.

Fun fact: Medical advice suggests that exceeding 10 seconds can greatly increase the risk of injury.

The stunt double struggled in pain on set and was rushed to the hospital after filming ended due to injuries to his neck and other parts of his body. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

Even someone as good-natured as Ren Xianqi couldn't tolerate him, which shows that this person is not easy to get along with.

Zhou Yutang couldn't hold back any longer and said bluntly:

"You'd better not go. Stay home and rest. Those shots can be edited in post-production. I don't think this project will amount to anything."

"Forget it, I'll still go. I owe someone a favor from back then."

Since Da Meiyuan insisted, Zhou Yutang didn't say anything. However, on his way to a company meeting the next day, he made a special call to Mr. Lin from the Hong Kong entertainment circle.
"Good morning, Mr. Lin. I heard that 'Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain' is still being reshot?"

From the other end of the phone came Mr. Lin's signature Cantonese-accented Mandarin: "Mr. Zhou, yes, yes, this project has indeed been delayed for quite some time."

Zhou Yutang doesn't have much contact with people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, but he does have some connections with several top-tier business owners.

This film was made possible by Juno Mak's father's connections, with the major investor being the owner of Media Asia, and a large portion of the Hong Kong entertainment industry joining forces to support it.

In addition, there's the once-powerful boss, Ms. Qin, of Xingmei.

Speaking of which, Boss Lin seemed to harbor some resentment.

“It’s good that young people have ideas, but they don’t know how to handle things properly. Mr. Zhou, you don’t know, this project was originally planned to be completed in six months, but it’s been almost a year now, and the budget has exceeded it by nearly 50 million.”

After listening quietly to Boss Lin's long-winded complaints, Zhou Yutang shook his head. Chen Duling asked curiously, "Boss, does Boss Lin want to bring you into this scheme?"

"Does someone with the surname Mai even deserve it?"

Zhou Yutang sneered, "Like father, like son."

"Boss, what do you mean by that?"

"It was his father who forced Andy Lau to pay off his debts back then."

Juno Mak's father was Mak Siu-tong, a wealthy businessman in Hong Kong.

This person once collaborated with Andy Lau on Teamwork Motion Pictures, but the good times didn't last long. Due to poor management, the company suffered losses year after year, and the conflict gradually escalated.

Mak Siu-tong filed a lawsuit against Andy Lau, accusing him of breach of contract and demanding compensation of up to HK$1.5 million, and even attempted to ban Andy Lau from performing on stage.

The incident caused quite a stir at the time, and it was Mr. Lin, the owner of Huan Ya, who mediated the dispute. After Andy Lau paid compensation, the two had no further contact.

Juno Mak's success is undoubtedly due in no small part to his father's strong support behind the scenes.

In 2002, Edwin Siu, Juno Mak, and Yu Wenle were all nominated for the Best New Male Artist award at the TVB Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation. Mak Siu-tong actively worked behind the scenes, and in the end, Edwin Siu beat Juno Mak to win the gold award.

At the celebration banquet, Edwin Siu said "evil cannot prevail over good," which angered Mak Siu-tong, who then used his connections to freeze his career.

She only recently reappeared on the variety show "Singer".

Zhou Yutang couldn't care less about the guy surnamed Mai causing trouble for others in his own production team.

But if he dares to make things difficult for Da Meiyuan, then he will know what true cruelty is.

Even if his father, Mai Shaotang, came, he would still do it without hesitation.

……

(End of this chapter)