China Entertainment's Standout

Chapter 1102 Reaching the Summit, the Flames of War for the New Year

"Snow in the Middle of the Year" became a huge hit thanks to the core fans and popularity accumulated from its predecessor.

It is widely recognized as the best drama of the year.

In terms of popularity, it surpasses even "The Story of Minglan".

However, times have changed, and by mid-year, the young lions had been beaten so badly they couldn't lift their heads.

Now that she's in the top spot, she's naturally feeling triumphant and starting to swagger around.

There are plenty of trolls online who pretend to be fans and stir up trouble.

How could the fans of the fairy next door tolerate this?

Just then, Liu Yifei posted a set of photos of her daily training on Weibo.

Wearing a black, tight-fitting training outfit, she was slim where she should be and curvy where she should be.

Holding a long sword, Liu Tianxian's sharp eyes made her look every bit the valiant female general.

Isn't this preparation for "Mulan"?
The fans of the Heavenly Fairy were greatly encouraged and soon engaged in another fierce battle with the Little Lions online, fighting until the Great Dao was almost obliterated.

Such a lively scene of the two Lius vying for power is quite common.

After all, the three parties involved in the "Double Liu" incident are all top-tier celebrities.

The rumors of a love triangle are endless and complicated, and even though Zhou Yutang has connections everywhere, he can't stop the gossip from countless people in private.

By this time, the people who were having fun had already set up their stools, were eating melon seeds, and were watching the show.

As we enter the middle of the month, several major films in the Lunar New Year film season are entering their final promotional sprint.

These prime-time slots have always been fiercely contested, and naturally, they attract many veteran entertainment industry leaders.

Huayi, which has been embroiled in a tax scandal this year, is determined to make a strong comeback during the Lunar New Year holiday season.

Ge You, a symbol of the Lunar New Year film season, was specially dispatched to star in "The Lost Tomb," which is touted as the most anticipated comedy film of the New Year's Day season, going head-to-head with Happy Twist's "Hello, Mrs. Money."

Both marketing teams spent a considerable amount of money on marketing, making it a fierce and evenly matched battle.

Bona Film Group, fresh from the box office flop of "Kung Fu Monster," is making a comeback with "Ip Man: The Legend of Cheung Tin-chi."

This is a spin-off of the popular Hong Kong film series Ip Man. Master Ip is no longer able to fight, so this time they invited Zhang Jing, a top action star from the Jiangdong family, to play the lead role. They also invited boxing champion Dave Batista, international action star Tony Jaa, and Michelle Yeoh to join the cast, making it a force to be reckoned with.

As for Cehua Films' debut film, "Long Day's Journey into Night," it gained a solid reputation in the industry after advance screenings. The public relations team's marketing capabilities were top-notch, with pre-sale box office for the midnight screening alone exceeding 2000 million yuan, making it a dark horse among art films.

"Call Me Crazy," a collaboration between Song Ge of Beijing Culture and Huanxi Media, boasts a star-studded cast including Tong Dawei, Ma Li, and Huo Siyan.

"Like a clay chicken or a clay dog, not worth mentioning."

Looking at the schedule report compiled by his secretary, Zhou Yutang didn't pay any attention to it. He only noticed the listing of "Weather Forecast" on Xiaomi Pictures and couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's Boss Lei up to?"

"Mr. Lei considered it for a long time and finally made a difficult decision."

Chen Duling said slyly, "We should bring our talent to the film and television industry."

"You're slandering him like that, be careful you don't get a lawyer's letter."

"I didn't say anything negative; he said it himself at the press conference."

Lei Jun not only wants to manufacture cars, but also wants to establish a foothold in the film and television industry, having invited Xiao Yang, Gao Ye, Chang Yuan, Xiao Shenyang, and Yue Yunpeng, making for a fairly strong cast.

Of course, the most anticipated film of this year's Lunar New Year season is still the industry's undisputed blockbuster – "The Wandering Earth".

Domestic cinemas began preview screenings simultaneously half a month in advance.

"This sci-fi blockbuster, made exclusively for China, is a perfect fit for the top-of-the-line IMAX 3D giant screen."

This is the consensus reached by representatives from dozens of leading cinema chains across the country after attending an internal screening.

Zou Zhongyan was in charge of the film's overseas promotion and distribution.

To prevent the film source from being leaked, all participants in the screening are prohibited from bringing mobile phones, cameras, or other filming equipment into the venue.

The first batch of award-winning film critics who received tickets to the preview screenings also posted on their respective social media accounts, giving their fair and objective reviews.
"It still has to be *The Great General of Jiangdong*. Visually, it gets a perfect 5 out of 10, and overall, it scores 4.8. The special effects are on par with top Hollywood productions, and several key scene designs are truly stunning. The transitions and camera work are incredibly impactful when showcasing grand scenes. The plot is meticulously detailed, and the overall pacing and emotional progression are very smooth and natural. It got my blood pumping! Without a doubt, this is the most anticipated film of this year's Lunar New Year season." — I'm the Whitest

"The full movie completely lived up to the high expectations of the trailer! A pioneering work of domestic science fiction that deserves support, with outstanding highlights, a complete and smooth adapted story, a stunning climax, and extremely impactful special effects. It's totally worth the ticket price! I suddenly have a feeling that Chinese science fiction films are about to rise!!" — Wei Junzi
"."

The initial screening reviews naturally avoided spoilers, but almost all critics gave positive reviews, which undoubtedly piqued the curiosity of casual viewers.

At this time, there were still nearly half a month before the film's official release, but the promotional momentum was like mercury flowing freely.

Its popularity exploded on Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Weibo trending topics, Zhihu hot lists, and forums such as Hupu, far surpassing its competitors.

Meanwhile, the crew of "The Captain" moved to the glaciers of the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau for filming.

Seeing Ren Zhonglun, who was puffing out his beard, glaring, and panting heavily, Zhou Yutang kindly advised, "Chairman Ren, if it's really not working out, let's go back first. We can meet again in Beijing for the premiere."

Ren Zhonglun knows how to pick his time; he happened to come to visit the set while the crew was filming on location at Dagu Glacier.

Dagu Glacier Scenic Area is located in Heishui County, Sichuan Province, China.

It is a rare modern mountain glacier and another boutique scenic area developed in AB Prefecture after Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. The scenic area features glaciers, snow-capped mountains, colorful forests, Tibetan villages and lakes complementing each other.

However, Zhou Yutang didn't have time to experience the local barley wine culture and armor dance, as he was busy finishing up the "Captain" project.

A proud Chinese man can't stand hearing the word "no".

Who are you saying is no good?

Ren Zhonglun retorted, his neck stiff with a stubborn refusal to admit his age, "We're already here, and we can still keep up with this level of intensity. You don't know how much tougher the conditions were when we were working. Besides, this is a project invested in by Shanghai Film Group, how could I be absent?"

As he spoke, he waved his hand.

The accompanying photographer immediately understood and stepped forward with his camera to take photos of Mr. Ren giving instructions.

If one does not endure the bitter cold and snow, how will people know where the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from?
In reality, the entire production team was run by Zhou Yutang, with Ren Zhonglun being merely a nominal producer.

However, the impact of the behind-the-scenes footage being released later is very important to him as the producer.

Seeing through it but not saying anything, Zhou Yutang let him be.

That's what Zuo Shandiao did in the past.

In such a harsh environment and with such a heavy workload, even young people find it hard to cope, let alone Ren Zhonglun, an old man in his sixties.

After his initial stubbornness subsided and he struggled for a while, Ren Zhonglun had to take a lot of oxygen to recover. He then smiled wryly and remarked:

"I'm an old man nearing retirement, I really can't compare to you young people back in the day."

"Chairman Ren, don't dwell on the past."

Zhou Yutang quickly interrupted, "Isn't it too early to talk about retirement now?"

"It's almost time."

Ren Zhonglun, wrapped tightly in his heavy cotton-padded coat, looked at the spirited and high-spirited Governor Zhou and sighed softly:

"My era with Lao Han is over, it's up to you from now on." The system emphasizes a smooth transition. Ren Zhonglun is of a certain age and still has two years before his actual retirement, but many personnel arrangements still need to be made in advance.

"Even though Lian Po is old, he can still eat a lot. Besides, Mr. Ren, you're only over sixty, the perfect age to build your career."

Zhou Yutang smiled and waved his hand, "This whole Shanghai Film Studio can't function without you. You were the one who led the team that got the Golden Goblet Awards started."

It's often said online that the Grand Commander of Jiangdong was extremely skilled with women, and people regard him as their patriarch.

But Chen Duling, who was beside him, could see it clearly. Sometimes, the simplest truths are the best. Most of the time, Zhou Yutang didn't need to take the initiative at all; those women were all very sensible.

On the contrary, it's no exaggeration to say that the track for entertaining the elderly is the best in the world.

The fact that Governor Zhou was able to achieve his current position is largely attributed to the fact that he had Han Sanye, whom everyone agrees is highly capable of doing, completely under his control.

The late Raymond Chow, a giant of the Hong Kong film industry, handed over Golden Harvest before Zhou Yutang had even made his fortune!

Wu Heru, the head of the New United Cinemas, also considered Zhou Dudu a close friend despite their age difference. Whenever he came to Shanghai, he would always find Zhou Dudu to drink with, and they would not leave until they were drunk.

Ren Zhonglun's leadership of Shanghai Film Group Corporation (SFF) made him a formidable figure in the Shanghai film and television industry.

That's a big shot of the highest rank, no ordinary person.
At this moment, whether it was due to excessive oxygen intake from altitude sickness or from eating too much of Governor Zhou's pancakes, his face flushed and he burst into laughter:

"In this last year, I have nothing on my mind. After finishing this project and taking on the roles in 'Ghost Blows Out the Light 3' and 'Mulan' next year, I'll have a proper ending."

As the two were talking, the production assistant quickly approached and whispered, "Mr. Zhou, we can start the aerial filming now."

"Has it been checked?"

"The crew checked and found no problems with the equipment or the flight path."

No matter what, Zhou Yutang always puts his own safety first.

The pilot in charge of flying the helicopter this time was an elite pilot sent by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, who has 10 years of experience flying at high altitudes.

"Chairman Ren, shall we go together?"

Before boarding the plane, Zhou Yutang asked a question.

"Walk."

Ren Zhonglun readily agreed: "I've been in this industry for so long, and I've never actually tried aerial photography before."

The two then boarded the helicopter together.

At first, Ren Zhonglun was a little apprehensive. Being thousands of miles in the air, he always had a feeling of weightlessness that made him feel uneasy.

Looking down, I felt my scalp tingle.

Seeing Zhou Yutang directing the filming, they gradually calmed down.

As the ancients said, "One must climb to the summit to survey all the mountains below."

However, high in the sky, atop the summit, looking down...

It truly is a land of ice and snow, with mountains dancing like silver snakes, standing alone against the heavens!
Ren Zhonglun was unaware that, let alone aerial photography, even taking aerial photos over a thousand miles a day was something the Grand Commander of Jiangdong could do with ease, and was definitely not a problem for him.
……

Before "The Wandering Earth", "Li Cha's Aunt" fired the first shot in the New Year's film season.

With the box office success of films like "Goodbye Mr. Loser" and "Hello Mr. Billionaire," Mahua FunAge has long established itself as the leading comedy brand in mainland China.

The film "Li Cha's Aunt" has attracted investment from various parties, generating considerable buzz even before its release.

The production company chose to move up the release date to avoid a clash with "The Wandering Earth" at the end of the month; with two tigers, one is bound to be injured.

According to the pre-determined publicity strategy, after the film is released, the main cast will hold roadshows in multiple locations to continuously increase the film's popularity and generate buzz.

Unfortunately, audiences didn't seem to buy it; on the film's opening day, a flood of negative reviews poured in online.

"I seriously doubt if this is produced by the same company as 'Hello Mr. Billionaire'? The difference is just too big!"

"I'm not saying this to be mean, but the cross-dressing premise and the performance were both very awkward. The lead actor, Huang Cailun, was so over-the-top and greasy that I fell asleep watching it."

"The Grand Commander once said that the most important task of a comedy film is to make the audience laugh. But this movie was not funny at all, and the atmosphere in the theater was extremely awkward at the time."

"The intention was to satirize materialism, but the resulting expression of the theme was a complete mess and utterly incomprehensible!"

"Damn it, they said Shen Teng would be in it. I thought it would be like 'Hello Mr. Billionaire,' but he only has a few scenes. Isn't this a scam?"

"The funniest thing is that Shen Teng and Chang Yuan, who were just guest stars, were actually the few funny moments in the film."

"The film was poorly made, and the jokes were vulgar and outdated. Is it just a money-grabbing scheme?"
"It's all over, even the Grand Commander has fallen."

"Do you even have a brain? This wasn't supervised by the Grand Commander."

"Hey, Zhou Xiaozi, stop washing! Let's see if your master will even give you a penny."

"."

Chen Duling scrolled through the comments online, feeling inexplicably angry.

She knew better than anyone that Zhou Yutang had served as the producer of "Hello Mr. Billionaire" and even participated in and made a cameo appearance in the project planning.

However, "Li Cha's Aunt" is an independent project operated entirely by Happy Twist.

Governor Zhou has been so busy these past few months that he has no time to deal with this matter.

Zhang Cheng initially brought his team to Jiangdong to discuss the release schedule, and the subsequent distribution was handled by Maoyan, so it had little to do with Zhou Yutang.

Besides, with the resources Zhou Yutang currently possesses, if he really wanted to make money, why would he bother making movies?

In the capital market, it's incredibly easy to reap profits through equity operations; even the female stock market guru and the double-gun general would have to call him "brother."

The internet is full of all sorts of strange and monstrous things, and there are quite a few people with ulterior motives who try to stir up trouble.

Chen Duling acted a little willfully, banning every account that smeared her boss.

Before the movie was released, Mahua FunAge heavily promoted it by claiming that Shen Teng made a cameo appearance, which attracted many of Mahua's comedy fans.

It can only be said that the audience's aesthetic sense is normal, and the film's quality failed to meet expectations, so it is normal for it to attract backlash and criticism.

Moreover, there were two Hollywood blockbusters still dominating the film market at that time.

Marvel's "Venom" unexpectedly garnered an astonishing 20.35 billion yuan at the Chinese box office, and its subsequent animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," co-produced with Sony, continued its strong box office performance.

It raked in $35.4 million in its opening weekend in North America, setting a new record for the highest-grossing animated film opening weekend in December!
In addition, the film swept 10 awards and nominations, winning the crown and aiming straight for the Oscars!
The Wall Street Journal hailed it as "the best Spider-Man movie ever," but that's not quite the case in China.

After all, the character of Black Spider lacks a significant cultural background in China, and ordinary viewers do not have a deeper sense of identification with him.

However, the film's youthful, dynamic, and cool visual design still attracted a large number of young viewers, coupled with the fan base that Marvel Studios had painstakingly built.

Thanks to the contrast with its Chinese counterparts, it raked in a total of 3.01 million yuan at the box office in a single week.

Paramount's "Bumblebee" was practically drooling with envy, and after its release, it didn't disappoint, raking in over 4 million yuan at the box office in its opening weekend.

Domestic film and television companies are crying and lamenting.

It turns out that sometimes, spinning a top really can make your skin numb.
(End of this chapter)