China Entertainment's Standout

Chapter 997 The Sweet and Pure Junior Sister, the Virtuous and Talented Governor Zhou

"The romantic comedy film 'How Long Will I Love U,' directed by newcomer Su Lun and starring Jing Tian and Zhang Ruojun, has grossed 14.87 billion yuan in its first month of release!"

"The dark horse of domestic romance films, 'How Long Will I Love U,' has exploded at the box office. According to industry analysis, the project's return on investment is the highest among domestic films this year."

"We have received notification from the production company that the encryption keys for all versions of 'How Long Will I Love U' will be extended by one month!"

"."

As April arrived, several pieces of news made film and television companies in the industry green with envy.

Despite the phenomenal box office performance of "Operation Red Sea" during the Spring Festival, after deducting the revenue sharing with theaters and the various costs incurred by the production companies, investment, and marketing, Jiang Dong's actual earnings were not as high as one might imagine.

This patriotic military blockbuster also carries significant meaning on other levels.

"How Long Will I Love U" is a low-budget project exclusively produced by Jiangdong. Because both Sweet Princess and Zhang Ruojun received friendly fees, the total investment of the entire project did not exceed 50 million yuan, but now it has achieved an exaggerated return on investment of nearly 30 times!
Even potatoes would be horrified to witness this.
Jiang Dong made a fortune, making people numb with envy. But when you think of Governor Zhou, the richest man in the country, a few small goals don't seem like a big deal.
Besides Jing Tian and Zhang Ruojun solidifying their status as A-list celebrities, the one who reaped the biggest benefits was the newcomer director Su Lun.

Just one movie,
It has made a strong entry into the 15 billion yuan box office club.

This is an achievement that many established directors aspire to but have never been able to attain.

The up-and-coming director Su Lun, who has made a name for himself, has gone from being an unknown to about to achieve this milestone and make a name for himself in the Chinese film industry.

But it only takes a month.

The protégé of Xue Xiaolu, widely recognized as China's top female director, has been touring major first-tier box office cities for the past two weeks.

After returning to Beijing and holding a celebration banquet, perhaps feeling emotional, he subsequently posted a heartfelt message on his Weibo account.

"Thank you for the support of the audience. The box office performance of 'How Long Will I Love U' is a pleasant surprise beyond our expectations. This is inseparable from the guidance and help of Teacher Xue. Most importantly, I would like to thank President Zhou for giving me the opportunity and providing me with a great platform."

I've been in the industry for quite some time now, having worked as an executive director. I've learned a lot from Teacher Xue and General Manager Zhou, and I eagerly anticipate bringing more excellent works to everyone in the future.

"Keep it up, Director Su."

The main cast, including Sweet Princess and Zhang Ruojun, also posted on Weibo to celebrate the box office success.

The bustling scene here is something that many new directors in the industry envy.

What incredible luck it must be to receive the patronage of the Grand Commander of Jiangdong!

Many new directors in the industry believe that this kind of commercial romantic comedy was originally Jiangdong Entertainment's comfort zone.

The path has been paved, and with the addition of Sweet Princess and Zhang Ruojun, both top-tier celebrities, the stage has been set up.

Su Lun was just in the right place at the right time; even if it were them, they could do the same!
Jiangdong's dark horse held up the market in March, defeating "Black Panther" and a host of imported blockbusters, and making domestic films proud.

At the same time, another shocking piece of news was released in the industry.

The fantasy epic film "Asura," produced by Ningying Film Studio and starring a host of big names from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, including Wu Lei, Liang Jiahui, Liu Jialing, Zhang Yishang, Feng Jiayi, Dong Qi, and Ming Dao, is expected to be released during this summer's movie season.

According to previous press releases from the production company, the total investment in this film exceeded 7.5 million yuan.

It was also a gamble that Ning Ying was putting all her eggs in one basket, risking her future.

If successful, Ning Ying can establish himself in the film and television industry and catch up with China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group.

Having just finished reviewing the promotional plan for the May Day holiday, Chen Duling is now looking at the film schedule before working on the plan for the summer season.
"Aside from Jiang Wen's 'Hidden Man,' there's also Tsui Hark's 'Detective Dee' final installment. Will our 'Medicine God' be able to hold up?"

She counted them on her slender white fingers, muttering, "This year's summer movie season is really lively."

The summer movie season, being the most popular and golden period of the year, is undoubtedly a sweet and delicious cake.

Every film and television company that wants to grow big will try to take a bite out of this opportunity.

Whether it can withstand the pressure or not, we'll have to wait and see.

Remembering that he had mentioned this fantasy blockbuster to Zhao Wentao of Xi'an Film Studio, Zhou Yutang raised an eyebrow and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

He has fought in countless battles, large and small, and has never been defeated.

He has absolute confidence in himself and is also confident in the quality of the final film, "Dying to Survive".

When he heard that Ningying had invested as much as 7.5 million yuan to create an entire Eastern fantasy series, he thought he had misheard.

Even industry giants like Wanda and Alibaba might not have this confidence.

Jiangdong Entertainment always conducts thorough market research and proceeds with extreme caution when undertaking any major project.

In recent years, Ningbo Film Studio has been in a similar decline to Xi'an Film Studio, failing to produce any impactful projects.

Ning Ying is betting everything on this one big bet.

It sounds unreliable, and in Zhou Yutang's opinion, it's not even as feasible as the "Investiture of the Gods" trilogy that Brother Song was in charge of.

While chatting casually with his secretary, Zhao Wentao from Xi'an Film Studio called.

Last year, when the sequel to "Snowy Mountain" was filmed in Yinchuan, Zhao Wentao helped with the arrangements, saving Zhou Yutang a lot of trouble.

During the Spring Festival, the tender and delicious lamb from Yinchuan delivered to my home shows my heartfelt sentiment.

High-end interpersonal relationships often require the most primitive communication methods.

Zhao Wentao was quite shrewd; he didn't mention anything else, only saying that Governor Zhou had been famous throughout Hong Kong and Kowloon a few days ago, and casually inquired about the post-production of the sequel to Snowy Mountain.

"It should be almost done by next month."

Zhou Yutang said casually, "It will definitely be released during the summer season."

"That would be great!"

Zhao Wentao laughed and said, "The local cultural and tourism leaders are already waiting to make their move."

Jiangdong Entertainment's film and television projects consistently become wildly popular, boosting the cultural tourism industry in countless filming locations.

For example, when the movie "Caught in the Web" was filmed, Ningbo became popular for a while. Later, "The Lonely and Great God" swept across Asia, directly causing Qingdao's cultural tourism to take off.

Back then, many Japanese and South Korean drama fans even came to visit the place.

These foreign tourists always need to eat and stay at hotels, which undoubtedly boosts local consumption.

On a larger scale, it can also enhance China's international image, which is exactly what cultural and tourism leaders love.

Ningxia boasts stunning scenery, but it lacks widespread recognition. The local cultural and tourism authorities are counting down the days, hoping to capitalize on Governor Zhou's fame to promote themselves.

Communicating with seasoned veterans within the system is always a pleasant experience.

After the conversation had gone around in circles and the situation had largely settled, Zhao Wentao finally got to the point and asked about the anthology blockbuster.

Zhou Yutang smiled and said, "President Zhao, I just talked with Director Zhang yesterday."

"Oh, what do you say?"

Zhao Wentao's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement.

Zhou Yutang didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "This mixed-media project is jointly operated by Jiangdong Film Group, China Film Group, and Shanghai Film Group. We can also add one more spot to Xi'an Film Group."

The entire project was handed over to Jiangdong for overall market-oriented operation, while Huaxia and Shanghai Film Group were responsible for ensuring the main theme and tone.

Adding Xi'an Film Studio to the list of production companies wouldn't be a problem.

"Mr. Zhou, I don't know what to say, thank you so much!"

"Mr. Zhao, you're welcome."

Listening to Zhao Wentao's heartfelt words, Zhou Yutang smiled and said, "Xi'an Film Studio has a wealth of experience, and I still have a lot to learn from them."

He had a meeting to attend, so Zhao Wentao tactfully hung up the phone.

He was so excited that he almost jumped up from his seat, clenched his fist, and waved it at the air.

The secretary, who was just tidying up the files: "."

He seemed to have seen something he shouldn't have.

However, the leader didn't pay attention and instructed, "Xiao Zhang, go and notify Lao Wu and the others to come to a meeting. Tell them it's confirmed that Xi'an Film Studio will have a spot for that 70th anniversary tribute film!"

"Yes, sir!"

Even a fool could see that the leader was in a good mood. Secretary Xiao Zhang put the documents aside, noted down the matter, and casually flattered, "It's all thanks to President Zhao's influence. I heard that several companies that approached the Grand Commander were rejected. Our Xi'an Film Studio is finally going to have a better time!" Being able to participate in such a project and have one's name listed as a producer is significant in itself.

Zhao Wentao leaned back in his boss's chair, a smirk that was harder to suppress than an AK.

Sometimes, a helpful mentor can put someone in the spotlight.

For Xi'an Film Studio, Zhou Yutang was this benefactor!

He wants to make Xi'an Film Studio great again!
As April arrived, the finale of "Idol Producer" hosted by Kiwi Fruit came to an end.

Zhou Dudu's brother-in-law, Fan Chengcheng, originally thought that Kunkun was there to assist him, but he did not expect that Kunkun's popularity would suddenly rise.

Xiaohong relies on support, Dahong relies on life.

Sometimes, audience appeal is a really strange thing.

Faced with the opportunity, Kun Kun did not hesitate to sign his management contract with Idol Century, a subsidiary of iQiyi.

After offering his pledge of allegiance, Kun Kun ultimately debuted in the center position without any controversy, ushering in the era of Kun Kun as a top idol.

On the other hand, Tencent, together with Mingjie and Bilibili, launched a girl group talent show, which was not to be outdone.

After the Asian audition phase concluded, the official lineup of mentors was announced, including Lo Chih-hsiang, Hu Yanbin, Jackson Wang, Yang Chaoyue, and Song Qian.

Subsequently, the list of 101 female trainees from various Asian countries was published on the official website.

Wow, this Japanese girl is so cute!

"I choose Wu Xuanyi! She loves milk tea!"

"If you had fifteen yuan, and each of these girls cost three yuan, which ones would you choose?"

"Children make choices, I want them all."

"I envy Governor Zhou for having to choose a concubine again."

"."

The show had already generated a lot of discussion during the auditions, and now that all the girls have returned, it's truly a gathering of beauties that's dazzling to behold.

The initial rankings have also brought more attention to the top contenders.

These contestants are said to be amateurs, but in fact, their agency contracts have already been signed with companies associated with several platforms.

This applies to all talent shows; capital doesn't do charity.

Zhang Yibei handled the entire program's operation, and Zhou Yutang did not get involved.

I didn't expect Chen Duling to be pursuing Sun Yining. When I asked, I found out that the secretary was actually supporting Sun Yining.

Even though Wang Jianlin of Wanda Group had a rumored relationship with this stunningly beautiful internet celebrity who was unattainable for him, Zhou Dudu didn't have a deep impression of her.

There are countless women in the industry who have been rumored to be romantically involved with him. If he were to take them all seriously, then Governor Zhou would have nothing to do all year round but would be revolving around women.

However, Chen Duling was quite interested, so he also inquired about it:

"Why is Kim Ji-won participating in the audition too?"

Where can I find Kim Ji-won?

Chen Duling leaned over for a look, then chuckled to herself, "This is Hu Lianxin, okay? She really does look a lot like Kim Ji-won. She's quite popular."

This is what a boss with face blindness looks like.

But to be fair, their judgment was indeed quite accurate.

At a glance, she spotted the most beautiful girl among hundreds of pretty girls.

"She seems to be your junior colleague, boss."

"Ok?"

"The art exam results are out."

Chen Duling said, "She seems to be the third in the Beijing Film Academy. Guo Tingting's company also has a partnership with Tencent, and her management contract is with them."

"He has good potential and is quite suitable for pursuing an artistic career."

Zhou Yutang gave a brief comment.

From a director's perspective, this face is perfect for the big screen.

Investing your talent in your face is like being blessed by God.

Most importantly, she also gained the title of "Little Junior Sister of Governor Zhou," so her future is definitely promising.

"Yes, the results are out! I'm a little excited. I hope I'll have the chance to go to the same school as my idol and learn from him."

During an official interview arranged by "Produce 101", Hu Lianxin, with her hair tied in a ponytail, smiled with a pure and innocent charm unique to high school girls.

"Who is this idol you're talking about?"

"It must be Governor Zhou."

Hu Lianxin said, "I grew up watching his works, and my favorite is 'Someday or One Day.' He is a senior artist with both virtue and talent, and there are many excellent qualities that I can learn from him."

"If you had the chance to meet, what would you most like to do?"

"Maybe we should take a photo together!"

Hu Lianxin covered her face shyly and laughed.

"No, I've already evolved into a respected and virtuous veteran artist?"

Zhou Yutang stared blankly at the interview video of this sweet junior sister.

Chen Duling, who was standing next to her, covered her mouth and laughed, "She's a post-2000s generation. When you debuted, she was still a primary school student."

Zhou Yutang: "."

He then realized how fast time had passed.

Now, it's the era of the post-2000 generation taking center stage.

"Boss, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing that Zhou Yutang was speechless for a moment, Chen Duling couldn't help but ask.

"I'm thinking, maybe it's time to retire from the martial arts world."

"what?"

Chen Duling's beautiful eyes widened: "Why are you suddenly saying that?"

"A new generation replaces the old; no one can withstand the test of time. We must hand over the stage to the young people; the future belongs to them."

Zhou Yutang has a genuine passion for the entertainment industry.

But he's only human; with so many schedules and announcements, he gets tired too.

Especially since it's lonely at the top, one can feel a sense of desolation after being at the peak for too long.

"Have you forgotten that you're only thirty years old this year?"

Seeing Zhou Yutang's condescending tone, Chen Duling put her hand to her forehead, barely able to contain herself.

To be precise, he hasn't turned thirty yet.

It was only because Zhou Yutang became an instant sensation upon his debut and remained popular for ten years that people began to feel that he had been active in the entertainment industry for a long time.

"Boss, you're not serious, are you?"

"Of course not now, I was just saying."

(End of this chapter)