China Entertainment’s rescue plan is hard to come by

Chapter 939 My Husband Has the Best Eye for Choice [Part Two]

On the last day of April, the overall data report for the domestic film market in the first quarter was released.

As professionals in the related industry, Sun Yi and Yang Fan, along with other managers from Xingkong, immediately held a meeting to analyze the situation.

In the first quarter of this year, the domestic film market was like a spectacular blockbuster being released, with domestic films undoubtedly taking center stage. They made a remarkable comeback, while Hollywood, which had previously put immense pressure on domestic filmmakers, showed a significant decline in the first quarter.

According to data from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the national box office revenue in the first quarter of 2013 reached 78.65 billion yuan, of which domestic films accounted for 56.3 billion yuan, while imported films only accounted for 22.35 billion yuan. The market share of domestic films reached an unprecedented 71.5%.

Sun Yi's "Edge of Tomorrow" and Stephen Chow's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" alone accounted for a large portion of the total.

Director Tong called Sun Yi specifically to encourage him and urged him to continue contributing to the development of domestic films.

Regarding the development of the domestic film market, the entire management team of Starry Sky, including Sun Yi, is in complete agreement: to focus on the domestic market and then expand overseas, taking a two-pronged approach while keeping the domestic market at the core.

In the overseas market, frankly speaking, Liu Tianxian is still the main force; she is the main attacker for the entire Starry Sky team, and others are still a bit lacking. Domestically, although Sun Yi doesn't have much time, he hasn't fallen behind, continuously solidifying Starry Sky's market share by producing a large amount of excellent content and works.

On the very first day of the May Day Golden Week, the first film produced by Starry Sky will be released this year.

Sun Yi and Liu Yifei happened to be in China and both had holidays. Since they hadn't planned where to go, they decided to combine work and personal life and go to the movies.

On a May evening, the wind carried a hint of early summer's intoxication, but it couldn't dispel the subtle tension and anxiety hidden beneath the red carpet and flashing lights at the premiere of "Goodbye Mr. Loser".

That's right, the first film released on Starry Night this year is Happy Twist's "Goodbye Mr. Loser".

From the completion of production after the Lunar New Year to the start of promotion, this film has faced numerous difficulties.

Despite being co-produced by Starry Sky Pictures and supervised by director Sun Yi, the reviews from major mainstream media outlets showed no mercy, forming an almost unanimous wall of public opinion.

"Adapted from a stage play? It's just a collection of sketches, how can it have a cinematic feel?"

"Shen Teng and Ma Li? Their names sound auspicious, but can they carry the box office?"

"With so many jokes piled up, it's probably just going to elicit awkward laughter and you'll forget it as soon as you finish watching it."

Such arguments dominated the entertainment sections of major media outlets almost throughout the film's promotional period.

Even though Starry Sky Image has used a lot of resources for public relations and channel development, the results have been minimal.

Suddenly, the titles "Sun Yi and the Starry Sky" seemed to have lost their appeal.

Just a few months ago, Sun Yi had raised the box office record for domestic films to 20 billion yuan.

On the way to the premiere, Liu Yifei was still very puzzled. "Honey, why is the media's opinion so one-sided this time? Don't they consider Starry Sky's past achievements at all? Don't they trust us?"

To be honest, Liu Yifei was a little frustrated. She thought that after these years, Xingkong had produced a series of high-quality works and had already established a good reputation among the media and the audience.

Unexpectedly,
Hearing the girl's question, Sun Yi shook his head and chuckled, "You've got it exactly backwards."

"Huh! It's reversed?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Liu Yifei asked, completely bewildered. She didn't understand at all. "These media outlets are all expressing a negative view!"

“Yes, we are not optimistic about it.” Sun Yi smiled bitterly, “But if we didn’t have our previous reputation, it wouldn’t be these words, but rather a barrage of insults.”

Liu Yifei's long, curved eyelashes fluttered twice as she looked at Sun Yi, her beautiful eyes brimming with curiosity.

"It would have been better if this movie didn't have my name on it or be produced by Starry Sky. The media and audiences wouldn't have paid any attention to it at all; at most, they would have just released a few template-style press releases."

"But, precisely because of the starry sky and me, the attention has greatly increased, but the market and the audience do not approve of this kind of behavior of sketch or stage actors turning into movies."

“In fact, deep down they might feel that this is a disguised way of making money.”

Sun Yi explained, then pointed to himself with a wry smile, "If it weren't for my sake and Xingkong's, they would have already cursed like this, and they would have said even more nasty things."

"No, that's not the case, is it?"

Liu Yifei understood a little, but still felt that her husband was exaggerating. It's just that sketch comedy actors have switched to making movies; it's not like they haven't done it before.

For most viewers, they first became acquainted with the film's lead actors, Shen Teng and Ma Li, through a skit on the Spring Festival Gala.

"Not really?" Sun Yi chuckled and asked in return, "Think back now, which movie did the sketch comedy actor who transitioned to acting leave the deepest impression on you? Don't hesitate, just say it."

"The most profound 'A Simple Noodle Story' ever~ Ugh!!!"

Liu Yifei shut her mouth and looked at Sun Yi with an expression that said, "I finally understand."

“Yes, so,” Sun Yi nodded, “how are the media and the audience commenting? Or rather, how are they criticizing them? Let’s compare.”

"That's true."

Liu Yifei pursed her lips and chuckled.

Upon comparison, she immediately understood why the major media outlets and audiences were so pessimistic about the film.

It's really thanks to Sun Yi and Xingkong's support that they were able to avoid being severely criticized.

The last time they disgusted the audience so much, it left a deep impression on us.

Sun Yi sighed softly, feeling helpless.

Personally, he likes Uncle Benshan very much and respects Master Zhang, but some things he does are just really messed up.

I can't say.
The scene backstage at the premiere was quite lively. Shen Teng kept the atmosphere lively with his signature "cheeky smile," and the tall and strong Ellen chimed in.

Ma Li sat quietly to the side touching up her makeup, moving very slowly. She would stop almost every time she touched up her makeup to check if there were any flaws that might affect her first premiere.

The regimental commander, Zhang Chen, was dressed in a sharp suit. He would occasionally look in the mirror to see if there were any extra wrinkles on his suit.

The Happy Twist team, from leader Zhang Chen to core members Shen Teng and Ma Li, has been promoting their work for over a month, running around to various cities for roadshows and events. They greeted people with smiles and promoted the company with great effort, but the results were extremely limited. In particular, the audience's reaction was enthusiastic, but there always seemed to be a layer of distance between them, and the media reports were always somewhat scrutinizing and reserved.

It was tough, really tough. That feeling of powerlessness, like hitting cotton with all your might, lingered in everyone's heart.

"Everyone! Tonight, it all comes down to this one decisive battle." Zhang Chen walked to the front of the stage, his voice low and filled with obvious pressure.

Even so, he continued to cheer everyone on.

"Yes, we'll definitely pull off this one-off deal!" "Mahua is the best!" "Go for it!"

"Wow, morale's so high!"

Just as everyone was cheering, Sun Yi took Liu Yifei's hand and walked backstage.

"Mr. Sun, Director Sun, Miss Liu, Yifei!"

The various titles were almost all mixed up, but it was clear that the atmosphere backstage changed after Sun Yi appeared.

Hello everyone, hello everyone.

Sun Yi greeted him with a smile, walked over to Zhang Chen, patted him on the shoulder, and asked with a grin, "Old Zhang, how's it going? Feeling confident?"

Zhang Chen was somewhat embarrassed. "President Sun, we at Mahua are certainly confident in our script, but we're worried about the current climate. After all, this is our first time venturing into the film market."

Shen Teng and Ma Li also looked at Sun Yi, their expressions identical, clearly showing that they were also worried about this.

Sun Yi glanced at the group, smiled slightly, and deliberately raised his voice, saying calmly, "Everyone, relax. Even the best wine needs advertising, but our Mahua tea is good enough. After tonight, the wind will definitely change!"

After speaking, he looked at Liu Yifei, as if seeking her approval. Their eyes met briefly, and at that moment, Liu Yifei seemed to be possessed by a divine wisdom, as if she and her husband were of one mind, instantly understanding Sun Yi's meaning and nodding in agreement.

"Yes, everyone, don't worry, the wind will definitely change. I'm also an actor, and to be honest, I watched your performance from the audience. I laughed until tears streamed down my face."

"Such a great performance will definitely be accepted by the majority of movie fans, really, I mean it!"

Liu Yifei's playful smile at the end drew applause and cheers from the Mahua FunAge team backstage.

To be honest, they were all confident in their performances, but when facing a new field, they inevitably felt anxious and worried, thinking about what if they failed, what if they ruined their reputation, and so on. All sorts of possibilities were magnified at this time.

Thinking about it this way, the pressure in my heart is unimaginable.

When Sun Yi and Liu Yifei personally appeared and sincerely encouraged them, the effect was maximized.

Just think about it, one is a Palme d'Or-winning director, and the other is a Venice Film Festival Best Actress winner. They are practically at the very top of the Chinese film industry. With their endorsement, what is there to be afraid of at tonight's premiere?

Just do it!

Seeing the change in the mood of the Mahua group, Sun Yi was very pleased. He naturally reached out and gently squeezed Liu Yifei's palm, while giving her a "My wife is awesome!" look.

Feeling the warmth from her palm, Liu Yifei pursed her lips slightly, squeezed back a little, and a bright smile bloomed on her pretty face.

To be honest, she wasn't that confident to begin with. She hadn't seen the whole film; she only had a small cameo role during filming, which lasted less than half a day.

A good stage performance doesn't necessarily mean a good movie performance.

But the problem is that Sun Yi is full of confidence.

Her confidence came from Sun Yi.

She would follow her husband's lead, no matter if he was wrong!
During the red carpet ceremony, when the two walked hand in hand as the last to appear after the main creative team, they instantly became the focus of the entire event.

Sun Yi, dressed in a sharply tailored dark suit, exuded composure, while Liu Yifei, in a flowing champagne-colored gown, was elegant and graceful. They smiled and waved to the media and fans, pausing before the autograph board.

"Director Sun, what are your box office expectations for 'Goodbye Mr. Loser'?" a reporter asked loudly, holding up the microphone, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

Sun Yi maintained his smile, took the microphone, and without the slightest hesitation, his voice clearly resonated throughout the venue:
"I believe this film will be one of the most joyful and moving films during this year's May Day holiday, and even throughout the entire year. I have absolute confidence in its market performance!"

He paused, turned to look at his wife beside him, and said in a gentler tone, "Yifei's cameo in the film is also very impressive. You might want to look for it when the film comes out."

Liu Yifei immediately understood and smiled sweetly as she leaned closer to the microphone: "I was so amused by Teng Ge and Li Jie's performance. I hope everyone can have the same fun in the movie theater."

The couple's tacit support injected a strong dose of confidence into the somewhat skeptical scene.

Regardless, the reputation of Sun Yi and Liu Yifei's works in recent years is evident to all, even though there were various speculations and skepticism from both the media and the audience before.

However, with Sun Yi and Liu Yifei personally sharing their experiences, the crowd's emotions were inevitably stirred, and a strong sense of anticipation arose in their hearts.

In the premiere theater, the lights dimmed, and the movie officially began.

On screen, Shen Teng, dressed in that comical feather outfit and with messy hair, sneaks into the wedding of his first love, Qiu Ya. His cowardly appearance, trying to show off but lacking confidence, instantly elicits the first wave of low laughter from the audience.

A humorous and relatable teacher-student storyline quickly draws the audience in.

Immediately afterwards, Ma Li, playing Ma Dongmei, rode in on a bicycle with great fanfare, her Northeastern accent ringing out, "Xia Luo! You bastard!", accompanied by a powerful door-kicking action, instantly igniting laughter from the entire audience!

"Hahahahaha!"

Laughter erupted like a tidal wave.

Liu Yifei smiled and pursed her lips slightly.

Afterwards, Charlotte hid in the bathroom and dreamt of returning to 1997. He beat up Teacher Wang, forcibly kissed Qiu Ya, and burned down the classroom. His series of actions were both despicable and satisfying, and the laughter at the premiere was almost non-stop.

Liu Yifei was completely absorbed in watching, and had long forgotten about managing her facial expressions.

When she saw Xia Luo's utterly dejected expression, she laughed so hard she leaned against Sun Yi's shoulder, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, afraid of laughing too loudly and losing control, but her crescent-shaped phoenix eyes and the occasional glimpse of her pink teeth revealed her joyful mood.

At this moment, no one doubted the excellence of the film.

Sun Yi was completely relieved, enjoying his goddess-like wife's "embracing" while chuckling along with the plot.

Although he had seen it countless times in his previous life, the atmosphere at the scene and the reactions of the people around him still felt fresh to him.

Moreover, the current version is not exactly the same. It lacks some of the internet memes that became popular later, but it retains all the core jokes. In fact, because it fits the historical context better, it has a kind of original and raw charm.

When Na Ying played herself, looking completely bewildered as Xia Luo dragged her to sing "Meet in 1998," the entire audience burst into laughter.

When Liu Yifei, who was making a guest appearance as a mentor on "The Voice of China," seriously commented to Xia Luo and Na Ying, "This contestant, your voice is very distinctive, but it's a bit difficult for Teacher Na Ying," she couldn't help but burst out laughing. Then she quickly buried her head in Sun Yi's arms, laughing so hard that her whole body trembled.

Sun Yi looked down at her little ears, which were flushed from laughing, and couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch them, earning her a coquettish glare in return.

In the latter half of the film, the emotions gradually intensify, and amidst the laughter, the theme of cherishing the people around us quietly touches our hearts.

When Xia Luo finally understood how precious Ma Dongmei was, and as the end credits rolled, many viewers smiled while secretly wiping away tears.

As the lights gradually came on, the entire audience stood up and erupted in applause!

The applause was enthusiastic and sustained, filled with the heartfelt recognition and excitement of the movie fans!
"Awesome!" "Great!" "Hilarious!"

The creators of Happy Twist embraced each other excitedly, with Shen Teng and Ma Li even having tears in their eyes. All the pressure and anxiety turned into immense joy and relief at that moment.

The media interview area was completely transformed. Reporters rushed in, their questions filled with enthusiasm and amazement.

"Mr. Shen Teng, congratulations! This movie is hilarious! Have you adjusted your box office expectations?"

"Ms. Ma Li, the character Ma Dongmei is portrayed wonderfully. How did you manage to do that?"

The scene reversed very smoothly.

When it was Sun Yi and Liu Yifei's turn, the reporters' questions were even more direct.

"Director Sun, it seems your previous prediction is about to come true! Could you elaborate on how much you think 'Goodbye Mr. Loser' will ultimately gross?"

Sun Yi held Liu Yifei's hand, a confident and composed smile on his face:

"As I said before, I had confidence in it. Now that I've seen the finished film, I'm even more confident! A billion-dollar box office may just be the beginning! I believe it has the potential to break even higher records! It proves that a good comedy is the biggest guarantee of box office success!"

After saying that, he looked at Shen Teng and Ma Li, who were still a little dizzy beside him, and patted them hard on the shoulders:

"Finally, I must once again recommend our Happy Twist's treasures—Shen Teng and Ma Li! Please remember them well! I dare say that starting tonight, the two of them will sweep the nation and become household names in comedy!"

The flash of the camera captured Shen Tenghe and Ma Li's excited yet slightly shy smiles.

After the premiere, on the way home, Liu Yifei was still immersed in excitement, chattering away while clinging to Sun Yi's arm:
"Honey, this is hilarious! Seriously! Sister Ma Li is so cool! And Shen Teng, he's so funny! It's even funnier than the play, my stomach hurts from laughing!" She imitated a line from the movie, "'What a disaster!' Hahaha!"

Looking at her lively demeanor, Sun Yi gave a helpless twitch of his lips. "Sister, I'm driving, don't mess around!"

However, he still deliberately adopted a sarcastic tone and teased, "Who was it that lacked confidence before?"

"Who? No one," Liu Yifei pouted forcefully, refusing to admit it at all.

The next second, she leaned on Sun Yi's shoulder with a silly grin, pouting her little mouth, looking smug.

"I knew my husband had the best eye!"

(End of this chapter)