China Entertainment's Standout

Chapter 1093 The White Snake's Schedule, the Grand Ceremony of Huabiao

Get lost, don't try to rub against me!
This public clarification letter can be summarized in just a few words.

Simple and straightforward, direct and forceful output, leaving no room for compromise.

It immediately topped the trending search list.

Before Marvel could respond, resourceful netizens uncovered a fatal flaw in the original Shang-Chi comic.

The internet exploded immediately.

"It's rare to see the Grand Commander lose his temper."

"Can't someone explain what's wrong with Shang-Chi?"

"In the original comic book setting, the protagonist Shang-Chi's father is the infamous Fu Manchu."

"Shang-Chi's father, Fu Manchu, can be understood as a typical Western stereotype and demonization of Chinese people, a deeply rooted image of insulting Chinese people."

"Holy crap, does Marvel think we're stupid?"

"Heh, you dare to buy articles to ride on the Grand Commander's popularity?"

"Fu Manchu's dark history can never be washed away. Boycott Shang-Chi, and Marvel, get out of China!"

"."

In the comments section, netizens' anger surged like a tidal wave.

It surged wildly, boiling and raging.

With the nation's growing strength, national self-confidence is now vastly different from what it used to be.

The social atmosphere in China is currently very positive, and the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Unfortunately, Marvel's Shang-Chi project touches on the sensitive issue of insulting women, and nobody tolerates it.

Even the crew members were indignant when they talked about it.

Zhang Ruojun was scrolling through trending topics on his phone and couldn't help but move closer to Zhou Yutang:
"Brother Tang, the internet is going crazy with all the criticism, did Marvel really contact you?"

"That happened several years ago."

Zhou Yutang lowered his head and quickly replied to WeChat messages, his tone nonchalant.

Marvel Studios had contacted the then-powerful Jiangdong Grand Commander years ago, but Warner Bros. was more sincere and signed a contract with Grand Commander Zhou first, which included a non-compete agreement.

Of course, even without a non-compete agreement, Zhou Yutang would never have taken over this project.

"To make 'Shang-Chi,' we must provide the background setting for this character. The most crucial one is the protagonist's father, who is also the second male lead and the ultimate villain in the movie, Fu Manchu."

Putting away her phone, Zhou Yutang's lips curled into a cold smile: "This character is not that simple."

"How to say?"

"Unlike other Marvel villains."

Zhou Yutang sneered, "This Fu Manchu is a systematic vilification of Chinese people that has been ongoing in Western culture for over a century."

Zhang Junmi, who was standing to the side, nodded thoughtfully.

She's actually not interested in Marvel or anything like that.

But my father has a doctorate in law from the University of Munich, and my mother also studied in Germany for seven years and has a master's degree in law.

She can be described as a rare gem in the entertainment industry, possessing both high IQ and EQ.

With just a little guidance, he understood immediately and began explaining to the crew.

“In 1913, there was a novel called ‘The Mystery of Fu Manchu,’ ​​which first established this image: tall and thin, with yellow skin, squinty eyes, and two drooping mustaches, forcibly shaping him into a Manchu official.”

"In the more than one hundred years that followed, there were many derivative works, almost all of which portrayed him as an evil schemer who controlled underground organizations and committed all sorts of evil deeds. This was probably to brainwash Western audiences into believing that all Chinese people were bad, and Fu Manchu was the representative of that."

"This issue was also fueled by the Western upper class, who bombarded the public with movies, comics, novels, and other media for decades, deliberately smearing and exporting their prejudice against Chinese people, thus imprinting a negative ideological imprint on the minds of generations of Westerners. However, the situation is different now."

"What's the difference?"

Zhang Ruojun pursed his lips.

"In the past, global media channels were almost entirely monopolized by Western media groups."

As Zhang Junmi spoke, she unconsciously raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear:

"Thanks to Mr. Zhou's TikTok, it has broken through the competition and its international influence is growing day by day!"

Her beautiful eyes darted around, finally settling on Zhou Yutang with a hint of admiration and respect.

"I recently read an industry report from a reputable overseas institution. The data shows that TikTok's global monthly active users have exceeded 5 million, and more importantly, the user base continues to grow at an astonishing rate."

Being looked at with such admiration by such a talented and beautiful intellectual woman is naturally very pleasing.

Even Zhou Yutang, who was already used to all kinds of praise, was no exception. At this moment, the corners of his mouth turned up almost imperceptibly, and he humbly expressed his feelings in a favorable situation:
“There’s still room for improvement.”

"Brother Tang is awesome!"

Zhang Ruojun struggled for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence.

However, despite the raging online debate, the film and television industry remained calm, with many people tacitly keeping silent.

"Boss, I've heard that quite a few people have been asking about this Marvel character in private."

During her last two days in Wuxi, Chen Duling, after reporting her upcoming itinerary to Zhou Yutang, unusually tattled on him. Yes, yes, yes.

She suddenly remembered that her boss had made a cameo appearance as Xie Ruolin in the TV series "Lurking" years ago, and had said that "two gold bars theory" that pierced through reality.

It truly is a classic among classics!
Now, with two gold bars placed here, which one is noble and which one is despicable?
In this glamorous world, profit is the ultimate goal, and everything is about money!

Tang Wei was able to star in "Lust, Caution" and become an instant sensation, and now many people are still eyeing this amazing resource from Marvel.

As long as I can get the role, it doesn't matter if there's controversy.

If it is released globally in the future, given Marvel's ten years of experience and the star power of the actors, it has a good chance to become an overnight sensation.

"As for China, I want to see how he manages to get ahead."

Zhou Yutang doesn't yet have the power to influence the global film market, but taking advantage of China's home ground, it wouldn't be difficult for him to orchestrate and destroy Marvel's project.

He quickly put the matter out of his mind, so Zhou Yutang turned to Chen Duling and asked:

Has Wang Wei arrived yet?

"On its way, expected to arrive in twenty minutes."

Wang Wei, who had just arrived at the "The Captain" film crew, was slightly shocked.

Director Huang Jiakang, Zhao Ji, the animation director, art director, and others who got out of the van with him mostly shared the same feeling.

The two photography studios alone cover nearly 1 square meters, plus the 1:1 replica of the Airbus A319 simulator cabin.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier production from China.

Full of details!

Everyone looked around like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

Only after Zhou Yutang finished his work did Wang Wei lead his men forward and say, "President Zhou, we've come to learn from your crew's advanced management experience!"

"Well, it's just in time."

Zhou Yutang greeted the team that Wang Wei had brought with them, saying, "Let's eat first."

It is widely rumored that Governor Zhou was fond of beautiful women and delicious food and was used to enjoying life.

Wang Wei was initially skeptical.

If you believe that someone who indulges in sensual pleasures can become the richest person in China at the age of 30, then you've got what you deserve for life.

After tasting the Sichuan chef's cooking, he immediately became convinced and even began to understand. The Grand Commander had fought for so long; he truly deserved to enjoy himself.

At first, Wang Wei's team members were somewhat reserved in front of the renowned Grand Commander of Jiangdong.

After tasting the first bite of twice-cooked pork, they instantly relaxed and transformed into rice monsters, eating with their mouths dripping with oil.

After a satisfying meal, Wang Wei did not forget the purpose of his trip.

"Mr. Zhou, what are your thoughts on the release date of 'White Snake'?"

"It's going to be a bit difficult for the Spring Festival film season."

Zhou Yutang glanced at the film schedule on the tablet his secretary handed him: "It's best not to have it clash with 'The Wandering Earth' at the same time."

This year's Spring Festival film season includes a slew of films, including the Jiangdong super comedy IP "Detective Chinatown 2", Jackie Chan's "The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang", Stephen Chow's "The New King of Comedy", Han Han's "Pegasus", Ning Hao's "Crazy Alien", the ever-popular "Boonie Bears", and a major Hong Kong blockbuster.

With seven major films vying for the Spring Festival box office, there's simply no room for "White Snake".

Meanwhile, "The Wandering Earth," Jiang Dongjia's first hard-core science fiction blockbuster that had secured a spot in the Lunar New Year film season, had already undergone months of promotion.

The latest trailer, in particular, was absolutely phenomenal.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting it.

With the added influence of the Jiangdong Grand Commander's influence, some professionals speculate that with a minimum of 50% of screenings, the entire IMAX theater during the Lunar New Year period will basically be booked by "The Wandering Earth" in advance.

With Happy Twist's comedy blockbuster "Li Cha's Aunt" also being heavily promoted, there was simply no room for other films to survive.

"So what do you mean?" Zhao Ji couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with anticipation.

"Two options: either move the release date forward to the middle of the month to avoid competing with the top films."

Zhou Yutang put down his tablet and offered a fair suggestion: "Or just release it for next year's May Day holiday."

"Then let's stick with the May Day release."

Wang Wei and director Zhao Ji exchanged a glance and made a decision without much hesitation.

As an animated film, "White Snake" already had a limited audience. If Light Chaser Animation Studios hadn't been acquired by Jiangdong, it would probably be virtually unknown.

Rather than struggling to survive in the cracks, it would be better to go for the May Day holiday next year, at least then there would be guaranteed screenings.

"It's not a big problem. I'll let Chen Xi know."

Zhou Yutang put down the tablet, picked up the teacup, and gently blew on the steam: "By then, after applying for two extensions, it should be almost ready."

Huh? Twice!?

Director Huang Jiakang nearly spat out the tea he had just drunk, and another director, Zhao Ji, was also speechless.

I'm not very knowledgeable, do you think this can be done?

When did the film industry start having this rule? A movie hasn't even been released yet, and they're already saying they want two extension keys?!

Generally, the effective screening period for a film is one month by default.

From the perspective of the producers, of course they would like the film to be shown for as long as possible, which means they can earn more box office revenue.

Based on past experience, only films that demonstrate strong box office performance, stable occupancy rates, or positive word-of-mouth during their theatrical run, showing sustained market potential, have a chance of obtaining an extension.

Zhou Yutang glanced at the director Zhao Ji, whose facial expressions were astonishing, with amusement.

The name sounds somewhat familiar.

It seems there used to be an actress with the same name in the industry.

He paused, then added, "Now that the support policies for domestic animation have been relaxed, and your film is of high quality, contact Li Shuang to get in touch, and the application will most likely be approved."

Currently, there are no unified public standards or mandatory regulations for applying for a key extension.

Since there are no hard and fast rules, there is a lot of room for maneuver.

The Grand Commander wants to support the domestic animation industry, so he naturally has that much face to give.

……

The kung fu kid next door, after writing a long apology, is now being praised by everyone.

However, it seems there's a twist in the story. According to his friend, that Japanese woman wasn't a good person either.

He spends Kung Fu Kid's money and frequents nightclubs.

The idea that domestic violence caused a miscarriage is utter nonsense.

In fact, she was not pregnant at all, and afterwards she even made an outrageous demand for 10 billion yen in compensation from the Kung Fu Kid.

"How much is one billion yen?"

"About sixty million."

"Damn, the more I look at it, the more it looks like a pig butchering scam. These Japanese women are too good at it. Even a young man like me can't outsmart them."

"It's a pity. Some of them were originally firmly established as second-tier officials, but now their promising futures have been ruined."

The saying "A wise man does not fall in love" is becoming increasingly valuable.

"."

Even if the situation were to reverse at this point, for Jiang Jingfu, a dismal retirement from the entertainment industry was essentially a foregone conclusion.

This industry is so cruel; new talents replace the old.

Xitian's newcomer, Qu Chuxiao, will probably have to kneel in the living room. With the company's top star retiring, the company's resources will naturally fall to him.

Gossip queen Mao Xiaoyu is always at the forefront of gossip. She just finished chatting with Chen Duling about this and casually asked...
"Dudu, the Huabiao Awards are opening the day after tomorrow, when are you coming back?"

"Tomorrow, I guess. The crew has been rushing to meet the deadline these past two days, and we've been pulling two all-nighters in a row. I feel like I've lost a lot of hair."

"Haha, I actually miss the feeling of working overtime."

"Sister Xiaoyu, you're acting like a Versailles, you know you'll easily get beaten up."

Chen Duling chirped weakly.

Mao Xiaoyu was the first-generation assistant to the Grand Commander.

Even now, having successfully retired and taken up a senior management position in Jiangdong.

But the days I spent fighting alongside Zhou Yutang are always unforgettable.

Just as Zhou Yutang was setting off to return to Beijing, the controversy surrounding "Shang-Chi" on the Chinese internet seemed to have caught the attention of Marvel Studios.

Marvel's PR team isn't going to be idle either; they issued a statement overnight, claiming that it was absolutely not the insulting act that viewers imagined.

However, at this time, not many people cared, as the focus of public opinion had already shifted.

Because the Grand Commander of Jiangdong has withdrawn from the Jiangsu film crew and parachuted into the capital to attend another major event in the mainland film and television industry.

Last month's Golden Horse Awards made a huge blunder, alarming the leadership. Several relevant departments held a series of meetings and finally set the tone:

The situation regarding pineapple cakes and subsequent promotion requires a appropriately assertive approach. Now, thanks to Mr. Zhou's TikTok, which has broken through the competition, its international influence is truly growing day by day!
The awards in mainland China's film and television industry need to regain their greatness!

This year's Hundred Flowers Awards are of a much higher standard than in the past, and the reform of the Golden Rooster Awards is also being subtly promoted.

Now, the Huabiao Awards, along with the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, are known as the three major film awards in China, and their prestige has naturally risen accordingly.

Compared to the Golden Rooster Awards, which focus on artistic quality, the Hundred Flowers Awards emphasize public opinion, while the Huabiao Awards represent the development direction of the film and television industry from a national perspective.

Leaving aside the prestige of the awards, this only applies to celebrities.

Gaining national-level recognition undoubtedly carries significant political importance.

This year's Huabiao Awards, in particular, coincides with the important milestone of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up.

The fact that Long Xuan, the leader who personally attended the awards ceremony, was the main reason why Governor Zhou took leave from the film crew and returned to Beijing overnight.
(End of this chapter)